This book was a fun read. It went relatively quick- I read it in less than 2 days. It was super spicy, which was a surprise but well written. Just what I needed after some heavy fantasy books. Do yourself a favor and snag this book. It will make you smile and swoon!

This book is incredibly spicy and definitely not for the faint of heart. I thought the previous title in the Silver Pines series was sexy, but this one took it to a whole new level. Wade and Ivy perfectly embody the grumpy sunshine trope, which is one of my favorites. Their chemistry is off the charts! I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would recommend it to anyone looking for some serious spice!

Training The Heart
•
BRB, I’M MOVING TO A RANCH ASAP 🐴🤠 This is the second book in the Silver Pines Ranch series and I absolutely loved the first book and was so excited when I got this arc! This series has just been a lot of fun…it’s spicy SPICY 🌶️😮‍💨 but the characters and the story still have depth, there are still real struggles and Ivy and Wade are relatable so I just enjoy the hell out of it all, but my closed door cuties may not love all the spice lol We pretty much pick up right where we left off from the first book and it’s like I never left Kentucky. I am fully invested in this ranch and in this family, just call Danielle Ashby. Dual POV, quick chapters, we’re laughing, smiling, swooning…everything, we’re feeling everything. “That’s good Wade, because I never knew home until I found you.” All I’ll say is that Ivy and Wade deserved EVERYTHING, they truly needed it all 🥹 I feel like Paisley Hope writes amazing banter and amazing men 👸🏼 There is a third book that I need immediately lol ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
•
Thank you @authorpaisleyhope @dellromance and @netgalley for this e-arc! Training The Heart hits the shelves December 31, mark your calendars!
•
I would like to add that there are some trigger warnings written by the author : fertility struggles, alcoholism, and emotional abuse ♥️

4.5⭐️ - This book was so good! It was so fun. I laughed and cried. It dealt with some heavy themes but nothing too crazy.

This book is spicy! 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine dynamic and the boss/employee dynamic. There was a bit of forced proximity.

The next book has to be about Ginger and Cole right? I am so here for it! I cannot wait.

I highly highly highly recommend this fun series!

____________________________

SPOILERS AHEAD - STOP READING HERE IF YOU WANT TO AVOID SPOILERS!!!

- The vindictive part of me so badly wanted to see Janelle and Brad find out about Wade and Ivy’s happily ever after. I wanted Janelle to have to swallow that tough pill that she lost and failed at her manipulation and I wanted to see Brad when he found out Ivy was pregnant at a derby event or something. I feel cheated that I didn’t get that experience.

- I predicted that it was Wade that paid for mom’s rehab and that he was fixing the cabin for her so that was no surprise for me.

- The surprise pregnancy wasn’t a problem for me. They were already in love and it was there for a reason relating to the plot.

- idk what to say about this other than Wade using her scrunchy was kinda hot… 🥵

Just as I suspected, while I liked Cece and Nash in book one, I loved Ivy and Wade even more! It was so sweet to see their relationship develop from co-workers to friends to more. I can’t wait to read more of this series!

•Grumpy/Sunshine
•Workplace Romance
•Rancher/Horse Trainer
•Forced Proximity
•One Bed
•Lots of Open Door Spice

Thank you NetGalley for giving me access to an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘦: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I think I set my expectations too high here. Don’t get me wrong, this was a good book but not what I expected.

Let’s start with the good! I loved grumpy Wade and sweet Ivy. Their banter was great. Their physical chemistry was off the charts. I loved that they were both willing to pick up the pieces of themselves after bad past experiences and allow themselves happiness again. And for the readers that love spice, this was well written. It was a very spicy book. Definitely one I’ll recommend to readers who love not only a spicy book but fictional cowboys.

The found family trope always makes me so happy and that didn’t disappoint here. I fell in love with the Ashby family in book 1 and love them even more after this one.

Now for why my rating is a little lower than anticipated. I felt that this was mostly a spice-based romance. There wasn’t much outside of that. The connection between the MCs was purely physical. Or at least that’s how it felt to me.

The conflict resolution left a lot to be desired. Neither of the MCs really had a big moment where things were resolved so that aspect for me just felt very underwhelming.

The premise of the story revolving around Ivy and Wade bonding as they trained a horse for derby racing also just kind of petered out. We had all this lead up to the Kentucky Derby and then weren’t given much in the way of a continuation of that plot.

Altogether an easy read but to me it felt too long for what it was. I ended up skipping over a lot of the spicy scenes because of how many there were. It was more than I needed, personally.

Who do I recommend this for? Readers that love a spicy romance, hot cowboys, strong women, and witty banter.

This is definitely the spiciest cowboy romance I’ve read. I was intrigued by the synopsis of this story on NetGalley, but was not prepared for the amount of spice. I picked up and read Holding the Reins to read before I read this one. It definitely had a lot of heat too, but this one was on fire. I personally don’t need that much spice and would have enjoyed less of that and more story.

The story. That is what I loved. As a woman who has grown up on a home with verbal/emotional abuse and alcoholism I felt all that Ivy felt. Throw in a bit of infertility talk, which hit me dead in the gut as I dealt with years of treatment to bring my own children into this world. The journey to get where Ivy and Wade ended up was beautiful. They both had been hurt deeply by people they trusted and to be able to be there for each other and learn to trust again was amazing.

Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Workplace Romance
Pregnancy
One Bed

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Paisley Hope for allowing me to read an advanced complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5⭐️

I was so excited to get to read Wade and Ivy’s story! I just knew it was going to be electric and I was not wrong!

The moment we met Ivy in the 1st book, I knew she would fit right in with the Ashby family. She is tough and sure with her training, and she doesn’t back down from anything or anyone. She had a rough few years, and is ready for a fresh start at the Ashby ranch.

Wade is the broody rancher we all know and love to read about. He cares about his family and his ranch, and not much else. He is divorced and definitely not looking for anything serious.

Getting the 2 of them together was amazing! I love how they cared for each other, even before they truly knew and understood their feelings. They were both so supportive of each other. They both got their happy endings, which they definitely deserved!

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Wade and Ivy, how I love theeeee. This book was long awaited! I was one of the original crew that got approved for the arc, and then during the exciting news that Paisley Hope was going trad realized… no more arc for us. It was a bittersweet moment of being so excited for Paisley, but a little disappointed for us. Before I begin I just wanted to say the biggest thank you to Paisley and Dell. During the shuffle they were both so understanding, and kept the original arc team in mind. I’m so very thankful to have been included for the eARC and it was well worth the added wait.

This book was so much fun. Right off the bat, their first impression goes terribly wrong. Wade immediately hates having Ivy around. Everything she does, irks him. She’s always leaving hair ties around, distracts his employees, and is the embodiment of sunshine. Basically she’s Wade’s exact opposite. And even more annoying, she doesn’t let his grumpiness phase her for a single second.

Wade cannot stop thinking about her no matter how much he tries. Especially when her crappy ex shows up. The more he learns about their relationship, the more he wants to throttle the dude.

I really enjoyed the tension between these two. Ivy is such a fun character, and I was eating up the way she drives Wade insane. She’s so confident, and doesn’t take any of Wade’s crap. Her past relationship was so toxic, and I loved the way she was stronger because of it.

I love the friendships in this book. Between the not angels and the guy gang, there was so much to love. Their playful way of teasing left me in stitches. This group isn’t afraid to call each other out! Especially when our main characters are not being subtle at all. I really loved the ending. It was heartwarming to see Ivy’s dreams come true.

I’m incredibly excited for the next book! Things are definitely heating up! The chemistry between the fiery ginger and the grumpy single dad cop is off the charts. It makes Wade and Ivy’s tension look like child’s play.

Another thank you to Paisley Hope and Dell!!! I love this series so much and can’t wait for my trophy copies to arrive!

Ivy and Wades story is captivating. Both equally wounded and the need and desire for one another was a real page turning. This booking is enticing and hard to put down!

Wade and Ivy’s story is everything I needed it to be. Grumpy boss/sunshine employee, sassy heroine. There is talk of past emotional abuse, but the relationship between Wade and Ivy is binge-worthy, hot and amazing!

“I go by their hearts. I can usually tell just by watching them if they’re serene but also a fighter and that has to come naturally. You can’t train the heart.”

I am in love with Silver Pines Ranch and the Ashby Family. Wade Ashby is the eldest and has taken on all of the responsibility for his family ranch, so the last thing he needs is a distraction in the form of a new horse trainer. Ivy Spencer is ready for a Derby run and knows she can do that for Silver Pines, she just needs to get past the grumpy Wade.
“I’m starting to realize that grumpy is your love language, so I’ll choose to let it flatter me.”

Ivy was just the distraction Wade needed to get his life back after his divorce. She brought fun and sass into his daily life and it was just what he needed. Meanwhile Wade brought Ivy the support and stability she always craved. They were the absolute perfect pair.

I would love nothing more than my own personal Wade Ashby and his brand of love. Nothing like a man to tattoo mine on his hand just for you 🔥
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥: “I want you to come too, and squeeze my throat tighter when you do.”

This is the second book in the Silver Pines Ranch series and it was AMAZING! Great tropes, swoony and spicy and a beautiful love story.

We had been gifted glimpses of Cece’s brother Wade in Holding the Reins (book 1) and now it is his time to shine. Moody, brooding, grumpy - everything you love in a cowboy. He meets his match in Ivy, his temporary horse trainer. She’s sassy and doesn’t take his grumpiness while falling in love with him and his family.

I adored Holding the Reins and it is so great when a series lets you continue to follow the family. Nash and CeCe from book 1 are heavily featured as well as brother Cole who I think is book 3…and it is setting his book up nicely. I can’t wait. 🩷🩷

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up

The second book in the Silver Pines Ranch series picks up right where Holding the Reins ended and follows grumpy but steady rancher Wade Ashby and Ivy Spencer who is Silver Pines new temporary horse trainer that pushes his buttons from the start.

There’s a lot of tension from them the minute Ivy steps foot on the ranch but also an instant attraction. Despite being opposites in every way, their common ground is wanting to do what’s best for the ranch. They’re also both dealing with past scars and grief which is something that further strengthens their relationship. All they need is a little forced proximity and care taking for things to heat up.

Training the Heart was emotional, spicy, and had the same great found family as the previous book. I had a fun time with this and can’t wait for Cole and Ginger!

Training the Heart is the second book by Paisley Hope that I have had the honor to do an arc read for and just like the first, this one was so damn hot 🥵

Wade is a divorced rancher who is grumpy as all hell after a relationship with someone who was so toxic. Ivy is a little spitfire horse trainer who spins his head right around the second they meet. Ivy comes from just as bad a toxic relationship as Wade so it is clear there is going to be some hesitation to give into each of their feelings for each other… especially since he is her boss 😳

But once they connect, there is not stopping them and holy hell the mouth on that man is 🤯🤯🤯 (I will admit though, I can do without the name calling but that is just my personal preference)

The storyline that goes with this just makes the book all the more great. I highly recommend you give it a read!

Thank you Paisley, Random House and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️ / 3.5 🌶️ / 1💧

Holy shit, Paisley's got me screaming mercy for Wade Ashby (never thought I'd have the hots for a man with that name let me tell you). I did not expect to become that obsessed with him and Ivy, I didn't want this story to end, and I just want to read more and more about them.

I loved Ivy from the moment we met her in the previous book, and I loved getting to see more of that first interaction here - the grumpy x sunshine aspect of their relations was so perfectly done, their push and pull, and the tension that was so deliciously broken - I loved there was no game playing, Wade was all in, in such a mature manner and gave whatever Ivy needed to feel worthy no matter what with her background.

AND THAT DEDICATION - melted. Can't say anything else - you need to read this.

Plus, I need Cole's book immediately.

Thank you to Paisley, Random House and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

and right when you think the cowboys in this series can’t get any better, you read about a grumpy one 🫡🤠 yeehaw. loved the whole cowboy and horse trainer theme, loved the meet “not” cute, and loved everything about their relationship!

~Contemporaty, Romance, Small-Town, and more!~

Training the Heart by Paisley Hope follows Ivy Spencer, the new temporary horse trainer at the Silver Pines Ranch. Her new boss, Wade Ashby, is still grieving his father's death while also recovering from his failed marriage. With the weight of his family's ranch on his shoulders, it is no wonder he comes off as grumpy and closed off. Despite Ivy and Wade's differences, they have one thing in common: helping the ranch succeed, even if they have different ideas on how to do it. Even though they are both determined to keep things professional, sometimes a flame can't be put out, and feelings can't be ignored.

4.75| This book was a nice mix of romance and real life. While some aspects of this book seemed very book-like, there were also realistic elements in there as well, like grief. This is a topic I'm glad wasn't dropped from the last book. Seeing how Wade was dealing with the grief verus how CeCe did was refreshing. The language in this book was a significant upgrade; It felt less forced and more natural than the previous book. The continuation from the last book to this one was great. I loved seeing Nash and CeCe from a different perspective and how their life progresses. If you haven't read the previous book, it might cause some confusion with the backstory; nothing you don't eventually catch on to, but some parts might feel a little lacking. The pacing of this book was good. Some parts felt a little slow or a little fast, but nothing major that ruined the experiance. I did find the time skip a little disorienting; it gets better as the book goes on, but it felt a little sudden at the time. One part this book nailed was the small-town vibe. I also loved the family dynamic and how that extended to Ivy's mom.

I enjoyed hearing more about the horse world throughout the book. I was a bit confused at times; I wish the glossary had been pointed out. I had no way of knowing it was there until the book was already over. It was a fun addition; I just wish I had known it was there. One part I especially enjoyed was how much Ivy felt like a part of the town and family at the end of the book. She forged real relationships on her own, not because of Wade, which was delightful to see. The side characters in this book were top-tier. I love how we got a glimpse of their own storylines throughout the book, and I am hoping to see some of those stories continued throughout the series. I adored Wade and Ivy's relationship. They had so much chemistry, and the banter was off the charts and a joy to read. The scenery and descriptions were great and did a wonderful job setting the scene.

Overall, this was a fun read that was hard to put down. It did have serious points but managed to stay relatively light-hearted. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves some good banter and small-town vibes. I can not wait to see what happens with Ginger and Cole! I look forward to reading more!

live laugh LOVE cowboy romances. i cannot wait to continue devouring whatever paisley hope conjures up, and training the heart was no exception- dare i say i liked it even more than the first one! i def recommend for anyone whose a fan of the chestnut springs series or looking to get into fast paced, steamy cowboy romances

I cannot get enough of these!! The cowboy/ ranch vibes books are my comfort reads right now and this hit the spot. The characters were perfection and it was such a fun, easy read!