What can I say? Another winning book from Paisley Hope. This is one of the best grumpy x sunshine romance books ever. The story revolves around Ivy, the new horse trainer at the Silver Pines Ranch and Wade, the owner. Both MCs have been through toxic and bad relationships so both have some reservations about dating and love. But of course, they couldnt resist each other. They are just so perfect for each other. The tension is palpable and you can feel it in almost every page before they even got together. The banter in this book is also top notch. There's a couple of scenes where I laughed out loud or some lovey dovey scenes that made me giggle and kick my feet. I thought Holding the Reins was spicy but this one is spicccccccyyyyyy in a good way 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. When the spice hits, it hits!

I love all the side characters too and cannot wait for their books. This has become one of my favorite cowboy series ever and already want to reread. Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a swoony and steamy love story. Oh I almost forgot - that twist towards the end? Amazing! Like I almost cried for them. Couldnt have happened to a couple more deserving.

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and Paisley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. Love this book!

🌶: 2.5 out of 5
⭐️: 3.25 out of 5
🍿*: 5 out of 5

Training the Heart is a cute small town romance novel that touches on abusive past relationships, one bed, forced proximity and grumpy x sunshine. It follows the story of boss Wade Ashby and employee Ivy Carter as they work at Silver Pines Ranch just in time for Derby season. Overall their love story has all of the components I enjoy reading in a contemporary novel and the characters are so easily lovable. As this is the second book in the Silver Pines Series I have to give a shoutout to my favorite side character, Ginger, for saving the day again!

The spice levels in this book is rated a little lower as I was under the impression Wade liked to be a little spicier in the bedroom but the scenes just didn't do it for me. Wade is still very generous and of course knows what he's doing!! Overall, I would rate this at a 3.25 as I had a harder time relating to Ivy with her overarching issues but the popcornability is at a 5! Popcorn scale is referring to how easily consumable the book is overall - I read this book in one sitting lol

*Warning: Possible Spoilers, Read With Caution!*

A big thanks goes to the author, Paisley Hope, the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Training the Heart, a cowboy boss MMC workplace spicy romance novel revolving around the characters of Wade Ashby and the lovely Ivy. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble upon release. Ivy has come to work on the Ashby's family farm, bringing her talents as a horse trainer and chaos-maker. She's supposed to be helping her boss, Wade, select a new horse to run in the Kentucky Derby in order to bring honor back to the Ashby family name. She chooses an underdog filly and the rest is history!

I loved all the movie references and country music references! If you're a fan of pop culture references in books, this one is going to be right up your alley. She's a bit of a chaotic, clumsy mess, and he's there to help. There's some elements of forced proximity in order to bring them together, and in spending time bonding, they begin to fall. I would say that the book is heavier on spice than story, but I think the story is enough to hold it together. There's lots of spicy scenes and a will they/won't they flirting thing going on, which makes it more satisfying when they do come together. They have to become vulnerable to each other to let each other in, and their shared trauma allows them to feel safe opening up to the other. This part was really sweet and realistic.

Training the Heart also has a lot of text message exchanges which are fun to read in a more modern story like this one. I liked the addition of the groupchats that gave you more insight into their personalities that we may not have had otherwise. Wade and Ivy have to go through several events that force them together, and I liked the idea of falling for each other as they learned more about each other's deepest secrets. The surprise pregnancy at the end felt a bit forced and rushed, but I understand why her character needed to face something to change her perspective. This series would appeal to fans of Elsie Silver. I enjoyed this one overall and would read more by Paisley Hope!

The Ashby family quickly became one of my favorites when I first read Holding the Reins and that proved true again reading Training the Heart! Whewwww Wade Ashby 🔥 he was spicy! And the relationship with Ivy and the not angels- just perfect! I love a strong female and this series is full of them… and all the hot cowboys! Can’t forget grandpa Dean and his fun humor!

From book one holding the reins I knew wade ashby would be my favourite and his book didn't disappoint!!!
I'm loving this series so much and can't wait for Cole's and gingers book
He gets MINE tattooed on his hand scrunchies if you read then you know
and the
I loved their story from the start and there attraction towards eachother and how their relationship developed and how much wade supported ivy through all the tough times
and the spice was spicy trope you will love this book
and if you love a one bed
Thank you NetGalley for approving this arc and thank you @authorpaisleyhope for giving me my new obsession

I read Holding the Reins back in February and was absolutely blown away by Paisley Hope’s talent. After just one book, she became one of my favorite authors, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating this next installment in the Silver Pines Ranch series. Let me tell you, Paisley did not disappoint!

If you thought Nash Carter was swoon-worthy, prepare to make room in your heart for Wade Ashby. This grumpy rancher isn’t just a book boyfriend—he’s a book husband! Wade’s gruff exterior was actually so endearing, but watching him soften for Ivy? Pure magic. He’s the ultimate caretaker: he cooks, he cleans, and in the bedroom... whew, he’s everything. And if you’re after a fierce FMC who knows her worth and doesn’t shy away from a challenge, look no further than Ivy Spencer. She’s a self-aware queen, sassy, and strong, with a love for smutty audiobooks that makes her all the more relatable. I connected with her resilience and strength, especially in the way she bounced back after leaving a toxic relationship.

Beyond the romance, Training the Heart beautifully intertwines themes of self-love, healing, and trust. It’s about opening your heart again, making it so much more than just a love story. If you love a feel-good, emotionally rich read that’ll make you smile, swoon, and maybe even shed a tear, this book is it.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin House for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

⭐️ 5/5
🌶3/5

I needed to take a few deep breaths and center myself before this review because WOW OH WOW did Paisley overdeliver. This book is everything you wanted the sequel to "Holding the Reins" to be (another favorite book of 2024) PLUS a little more spice.

I love love love love loved the friendship between Ivy and Wade in this book. If you are a fan of Elsie Silver, Bailey Hannah and generally a fan of cowboys with dirty mouths (hello, husband if you're reading this), then do yourself a favor and pick this bad boy up.

HAPPY READING! And a huge thank you to Paisley and her publishing team for the ARC!

Thank you Netgally and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who knew I would love the second in this series even more than the first…but here we are!

Ivy and Wade are my favorite! The grumpy sunshine troupe is my favorite! Then thrown in some cowboy romance and it’s perfection!!!! I love this whole family and little town so much!

And I’m just gonna say it Cole and Gingers book better be next!

YALL I didn’t think Paisley Hope could get any better as an author. But hot damn move over Nash Carter, and hello Wade Ashby!

Little backstory I just discovered Paisley Hope last month and I can say without a doubt she is my favorite author of 2024. I have only read 2 books by her this year and they’ve both been 5 stars. Paisley Hope is an immediate auto-buy author. And I need everyone to also buy all of her books because she can do no wrong with swoon worthy cowboys.

Alright back to the actual book review portion. Where do I even begin?!?! Ivy and Wade are everything I hope to one day have in a relationship. They are two genuine relatable caring individuals and they thrive even more together.

Ivy is a sassy, kick ass MFC who has truly been to hell and back but she never lets that stop her. Wade is grumpy, stubborn cowboy who’s had his heart crushed and doesn’t want to let anyone else in. Watching these two go from grumpy vs sunshine and blossom into soulmates was adorable. Their banter and tenderness towards each other had me kicking my feet the entire time I was reading.

If you can’t already tell I will definitely be continuing on with the Silver Pines Ranch series. And I’m hoping and praying that Cole’s book is next! I cannot recommend this book enough. Please go out and buy it! I already preordered my physical copy for my trophy shelf!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin publishing for providing me an arc to read and review!

You guys. Holy smokes. This book. I needed an ice cold shower after reading this. This was NOT another cowboy romance in a different font. This was a spicyyyyyyyyyyyyyy cowboy romance that put spicy cowboy romances to shame. Phew! 😮‍💨

This book had it all; healing journeys for our main characters, found family, growth, the funniest text convos, banter, and more. All I can say is Ivy and Wade forever 🖤

Wade. Ashby. Thats it, that’s the review.

In all seriousness, this book has all the things you want out of a cowboy romance. The banter & tension between Wade & Ivy is perfection, the found family & back story is everything you could hope for, the MAN is 110% swoon worthy, and the spice is SPICY. I knew from book 1 Wade would be that guy, and this just proves it even more. Such a fun, delicious read!

Wade & Ivy are the definition of “you were made for me”🤭 Watching these two souls clash together with the hottest and most engaging banter, was everything I expected from Paisley’s newest release. I truly loved seeing Wade, the grumpy/brooding cowboy, come alive again and protect Ivy from the jump. While seeing Ivy grow back into her own, continuing to be positive and refusing to let anyone break her. It was interesting to see how these two grieved the loss of their fathers, the way it made Wade retreat into himself by not speaking much on jt and how Ivy could remember her dad so openly, using the love daily to reminder self of him. Thank you to Paisley for giving us the perfect grumpyxsunshine, man obsessed love story- loved seeing these two get everything they desperately deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I really loved the first in the Silver Pines series, so I’ve been not so patiently waiting for this one! Wade is one filthy talking cowboy!

Ivy Spencer has started working as a horse trainer at Wade Ashby’s ranch. She’s only supposed to be a temporary solution, but she and Wade grow closer. She received some devastating news a few years back and has an ex that was awful. Wade knows he’s her boss and nothing can happen, but there’s only one bed!

Ivy and Wade fall fast and hard! The spice is spicccyyyy 🌶️ There’s a trope I don’t always enjoy thrown in at the end, but it was handled very well! There’s a big HEA too!

I can’t wait for more!

Read if you like
Cowboys
Small towns
Workplace romance
One bed trope
Spicy scrunchy moments (iykyk)

Paisley.. Are you f’in kidding me?! This. Was. EVERYTHING!

God damn do I love a grump and Wade Ashby delivered. But you know what I love more than a grump? A grumpy simp. And boy is he ever. I will NEVER look at a scrunchie without blushing & smirking.

Ivy is, to put it simply, Wade’s perfect match. She sees his bullshit and raises it ten fold. Our girl is a spit fire and she is not afraid to go toe to toe with the boss man.

Their chemistry?! Someone call the god damn fire department. Wade is both tough and gentle, and that plays out perfectly in the bedroom. You’ll just have to read to see what I mean.

I don’t know what’s in the water at Silver Pines but I’d like a tall glass of it.

This was sooo much better than the last book I read from this author. The hero had me in a chokehold!

Another amazing book in the Silver Pines Ranch series.

I loved Ivy and Wades banter and cute little moments together. I thought a lot of the issues the author brought up in this book were done so well and added a lot of depth to the characters and storyline. I am a huge hater of the surprise pregnancy trope but I actually really liked it here. It added a good twist and brought the characters closer together.

HOLY SPICE THOUGH. There were alot ALOT of spicy scenes in this book! I thought the first book in the series was heavy on the spice but I feel like it was nothing in comparison to this one! If you’re looking for some juicy spice then this is the one for you!

WOW! Could not stop reading, I was glued to the kindle until I finished reading the entire book. The banter, the forced proximity, although the ankle thing was a little over the top but anything for the plot. Wade is the best cowboy to have ever exist and having Ivy they compliment each other. A great book.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE : 🔥🔥🔥💥

Okay Wade Ashby, I see you! This man was the grumpiest of grumps and I loved every single second of him, because beneath that gruff exterior was a man who always tools care of his people… and I swear my panties melted to the floor with this acts of service man.

💜 Ranch Owner x Horse Trainer
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine
💜 Boss x Employee
💜 Forced Proximity
💜 One Bed Situation
💜 Dom/ Sub Dynamics


Ivy and Wade were incredible together! Ivy absolutely gave zero cares to how grumpy this man, she just challenged him anyway… their banter was absolute top tier and Wade needed someone like her to shake him from his routine and make him feel things. The push and pull between them was like a powder keg… and when these two ignited… 🥵🥵🥵🫠🫠🫠

The spice was immaculate. It takes a whole lot to make me blush but this book did it. And the. It did it again.

But I also loved how “all in” Wade was in every aspect of their relationship and how he also helped Ivy heal from past trauma too by supporting her and empowering her!

I also loved seeing the “not angels” and the whole Ashby clan… I’m ready for Cole, even though Wade and Ivy are going to live rent free in my brain forever.

I didn’t think I could love a man in Laurel Springs, Kentucky like Nash from from Holding the Reins… I was wrong.

Wade Ashby is cool, calm, and collected. That is until Ivy Spencer shows up on his ranch to be his head horse trainer for a few months. She’s his opposite, but he’s drawn to her and has forbidden anyone on his payroll from laying a claim. But how long will he be able to stay away from “Trouble”?

This small town romance is full of banter, heart, and TENSION. There is a content warning provided as this books dives into some heavier topics.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House- Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“At the very least, Ivy, you need a man whose hands don’t shake when he touches you.”
“You got steady hands, Chief?”
“Rock fucking steady.”

5⭐️ 4🌶️

What you’ll find:
💜Grumpy x sunshine
🐎Man obsessed (and in denial about it😂)
💜Forced proximity
🐎One bed
💜He takes care of her
🐎No third act break up
💜Spicy AF🥵🔥
🐎He gets a hand tattoo for her👁️🫦👁️

Okay, this books was SO GOOD! While there was plenty of good banter and sweet moments, this book touched on some heavier topics that really helped flesh out the book as a whole. Paisley wrote about them so well and handled them with care (there are content warnings at the beginning of the book👏🏼), and it was so fun to see the growth from the previous book.

Those who know me know I love a grumpy cowboy and a sunshine girl, and Wade and Ivy did not disappoint!

Wade Ashby has skyrocketed into being one of my favorite MMC’s! I absolutely adore a man obsessed who’s in denial about it😂 I liked him as a supporting character in Holding the Reins, but fell in love with him the more we got to see his character get fleshed out in this book. From the beginning, in one way or another, he wanted to take care of Ivy and support her however he could. The way he doesn’t want to be another person that takes from her is so sweet🥹😭 If this man were a love language, he’d be Acts of Service without a doubt!

Ivy was such a fun FMC, and I didn’t expect to relate to her as much as I did. Seeing her get emotional over being taken care of was so heartbreaking and relatable🥺 Ivy being an independent eldest daughter who has been constantly disappointed by men learn how to trust Wade and lean on him was so healing for me.

I think Wade and Ivy shoulder a lot, from being the eldest siblings to having trust issues due to past partners. And while they seem like polar opposites, I think they saw those parts of themselves in each other and were able to heal each other and themselves in the way they appreciate and take care of each other.

Now for the 🔥SPICE🔥
LORD👏🏼HAVE👏🏼MERCY🔥🔥🔥 There was such good tension building in the first half of this book, but once things started to heat up, it HEATED UP! This was so much spicier than I thought it would be, and I’m here for it. I constantly had to pause my reading to fan my face😂🥵

This was such a fun, sexy, and heartfelt read, it makes me even more excited for the next Silver Pines book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.