4.5 stars
I liked this one a bit more I think then Holding the Reins. I love how grumpy
Wade is to Ivy's sunshine. This workplace romance, forced proximity worked very well. Ivy is temporarily hired to take over Sam's place to train the horses. They have a lot of banter between the two and both have bad exes we get to see. This one sure was fast paced and I just loved the Ashby family dinner time that was fun! Can't wait for more.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you to Paisley Hope, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for this ARC! I once again was in the mood for a fun cowboy romance and that’s exactly what I got! I enjoyed Holding the Reins so much and I hoped that this story would be even better since it’s the next one in the series. I will say, the writing and the characters were definitely better in my opinion. I think that I enjoyed this one a little bit more. I loved the storyline regarding fertility and I think it was done pretty well. I felt for the Ivy and what she went through in the past. I admired Wade’s stubbornness and how that translated into his love for Ivy. He was not going to let anyone treat her any type of way! They were such a fun couple but also knew each other so deeply. Not only did Wade know Ivy’s desires, but he went above and beyond to make sure she was happy!

My only complaint with this story was that it was just too spicy for me. The first one was spicy as well but not nearly as much as this one, if I am remembering correctly. I had to skip several scenes because I was just tired of it. This may be great for those who loved Cade in Heartless by Elsie Silver but wanted more steamy scenes.

Overall, I would recommend Training the Heart for someone who wants a fun, spicy cowboy romance with found family.

This was so cute! I haven't always had great luck with cowboy romances but I did really love this one. I thought the characters worked great together, and the banter and chemistry was off the roof. It was kinda giving Done and Dusted vibes, but in the "really good cowboy romance I'll always think about" kind of way. A super fun read for a day in!

I think I loved this second Silver Pines Ranch even more than the first!! A dual POV, grumpy x sunshine, workplace romance between Wade, the eldest Ashby struggling under the burden of trying to restore the family ranch in the wake of his father's death and Ivy, the new horse trainer he hires who he can't help but find irresistible.

Full of forced proximity chemistry, tons of spicy moments, only one bed, cameos from past characters and lots of emotional depth (Ivy also has trauma from her abusive ex). Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Elsie Silver or Becka Mack. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I'm excited for the next book by this new cowboy romance must read Canadian author.

CW: emotionally abusive ex, infertility diagnosis, alcoholic parent

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Wade and Ivy. Her sunshine perfectly balanced his grumpy and helped him find a little sunshine within himself. Their day to day interactions—working together, watching movies together, the ice cream sundaes—really showed how their bond was formed beyond the insane physical attraction.

This may be a me thing but I also loved the glimpses we got into the horse racing world. I’m from an area that is full of old horse breeding and racing families, and I actually got a bit emotional right along with Ivy as her training progressed with Angel. I thought this aspect of the story was very well written.

And as for the spice—Paisley writes some top tier spice, and there is no denying it. The battle for dominance was beyond hot, and Wade is 10/10.

Finally, the Ashby family dynamic is still so good. Grandpa had me laughing. The Not-Angels welcomed Ivy with open arms. And I can’t wait for Cole to accept his match in book 3!

Loved this so so much!! There's truly nothing like a small town romance! I loved being back in this world

4.25/5

I was so excited going into this book after reading book 1 in the series, and it did not disappoint! The chemistry between Wade and Ivy was unmatched!! I love a good grumpy x sunshine and this this was phenomenal. The banter and tension between the two had me HOOKED. The spice was sooo good and didn’t take away from the plot at all, love when it’s done right.

I can’t wait to see how the rest of this series turns out.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

A grumpy cowboy… yes please 🥵 I absolutely ate this book up… paisley Hope can do no wrong, she’s slowly becoming one of my favs cause she writes the best MMCs. Can’t wait for what’s next.
Grateful to NetGalley for this ARC

"Call me whatever you want, Trouble. But I'm not worried one bit. I'm not betting on the horse. I'm betting on you."

Lawd have MERCY!! Training the Heart is HOT!

Wade is one hell of a rough and tough, filthy mouthed cowboy!
Ivy is a sweet and sassy horse trainer new to his ranch!

Wade is hell bent on love, but when Ivy arrives to the ranch looking for work, he can't look away! There's nothing sweeter than seeing a cowboy fall in love! I absolutely loved Wade and Ivy's story.

Read if you love:
*Cowboy Romance
*Grumpy/Sunshine
*Forced Proximity
*Boss/Employee
*Spice and LOTS of it

The second installment in the Silver Pines Ranch series, Training the Heart tells the story of Wade, the gruff yet caring ranch owner, and Ivy, a resilient horse trainer healing from her past. Their chemistry is electric, blending tender moments of acts of service—like heartfelt movie nights—with fiery passion. Wade’s protective nature, Ivy’s spirited personality, and their undeniable connection make their romance both endearing and intense.

While many readers loved Wade’s “filthy yet sweet” duality and Ivy’s charm, some found the heavy focus on physical attraction repetitive. The book’s spice, though abundant, occasionally overshadowed emotional depth. However, heartfelt moments, like Wade supporting Ivy’s mom’s sobriety, added layers to their relationship.

Despite a few familiar tropes and plot similarities to the series’ first book, the story’s dual POV, small-town warmth, and dynamic characters keep it engaging. Fans of grumpy-sunshine romance and slow-burn tension will find much to enjoy.

“𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑰𝒗𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒖𝒔...”

This was my first Paisley book, and I can single handedly say it will NOT be the last! I was not prepared for Wade Ashby AT ALL, and this broody, grumpy rancher surprised me in so many ways.

Wade is looking for a temporary horse trainer for his ranch. But what he never could have expected was the raven haired spitfire that is Ivy Spencer to turn his world upside down. Being her boss makes her off-limits, but will he be able to train his heart to rein in his temptations?

This story was so much fun, and Paisley did not hold back on the spice. I was entertained from start to finish and was sad when I read the last page because I never wanted their story to end. I loved the relationship these two have. Their chemistry was out of this world, their banter was nailed every time, and their growth together was solid and beautiful to see. Paisley does a great job of showing how much they care for one another, rather than just telling.

Ivy was an absolute breath of fresh air. She’s quick-witted, fiesty, and a go-with-the-flow kind of woman. I loved witnessing her growth with the love and support from the Silver Pines family behind her. She’s definitely a girls’ girl and one you want by your side.

Wade, on the other hand, is the type who takes care of business and always seems to have a solution for everything. But don’t let that fool you because this man’s love language is acts of service, and he does not hold back. And while he appears rough and gruff on the outside and sometimes soft and goey on the inside, this man is absolutely filthy! Some of the things coming out of his mouth had me fanning myself.

Now excuse me while I try to find the nearest ranch to call home.

📚 ARC Review 📚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
LIVE NOW!

The Silver Pines series strikes gold again with Training the Heart! This book absolutely shattered me (in the best way), and I’m not sure how to put into words just how much I adored Ivy and Wade’s story.

Let’s start with Wade—the man can do no wrong! From his grumpy exterior to the absolute devotion he shows Ivy, everything he did for her had me sobbing. His journey from routine-loving loner to a man ready to embrace love (and Ivy’s fiery spirit) was so beautifully written. And the way his family, the Ashbys, opened their arms to Ivy? Pure heart-melting perfection.
And Ivy—what a phenomenal heroine! Strong, independent, and determined, she’s the kind of character you instantly connect with. Her struggles were so real and relatable, and watching her find her place with the Not Angels and the Ashby family was incredibly satisfying.

Now, let’s talk about them—Ivy and Wade. Their chemistry? Explosive. Their banter? Top tier. Ivy didn’t back down from Wade’s grumpiness; she challenged him, pushed him, and brought out a side of him even he didn’t know existed. The push-and-pull dynamic between them was like a ticking time bomb, and when they finally ignited… let’s just say the heat level had me blushing more than once. 🥵

The spice? Immaculate. Every moment between them was so perfectly balanced with passion and emotion, it left me swooning (and maybe fanning myself).

This series has completely stolen my heart. I can't wait for Cole and Ginger’s story—I can already tell their banter will be off the charts!

Thank you Paisley Hope and NetGalley or allowing me to read an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Training the Heart is book two in the Silver Pines Ranch series by Paisley Hope.
I just love series! And I love a good cowboy romance!
This was such a fun read, both main characters were so full of spirit and fun.
This was an absolutely incredible read and Paisley never ceases to amaze me.
I hope to get approved from book three Riding the High!

✨ 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:
🤠 cowboy romance
💜 forced proximity
🤠 road trip/only one bed
💜 surprise pregnancy
🤠 grumpy/sunshine
💜 no third act break up
🤠 lots of open door romance
💜 dual POV

𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗕: Wade pours his blood, sweat, & tears into his family’s ranch. After a failed marriage & the passing of his father, Wade keeps to himself & keeps his walls up high. That is until the beautiful, talented, & sassy Ivy begins working as horse trainer on his ranch. Ivy wanted a new start & found herself taking the leap to accept the horse trainer position at Silver Pines Ranch. Her approach to horses is very different than her grumpy boss’ approach, which causes some tension. Ivy gets to experience Wade’s nurturing side when she ends up getting hurt & Wade moves her into his house to keep an eye on her. These two didn’t stand a chance against the witty banter, the forced proximity, the mutual chemistry & attraction, & acts of service/grand gestures.

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦: Wooo baby, Paisley sure turned the heat up high in this one & she’s got me sweating over here! I loved Wade’s grumpy (not really grumpy) self. Ivy had him wrapped around her finger from the moment she stepped foot onto his ranch. Ivy is so sassy & feisty & I am here for it! I just want to hop on a horse, take a trail ride with her, & talk to her about books. There’s just something about the peace that these two find in each other in the calm moments that had me smiling from ear to ear!

Oh my GOD!!!! If I could give this a MILLION STARS I WOULD !!! I freaking LOVED THIS! I remember loving the first one in this series but this truly blew me AWAY!!!! There’s something so special about a grumpy man who falls head over heels for a broken girl regaining her life and strength back, and supporting her the whole way. I LOVED Wade and Ivy like SO much!! Easily will be one of my favorite books this year!! There was so much I loved about this book I feel like it’s going to be stuck in my head for a while. I applied for this arc on netGalley on whim and I’m SO happy I got the email. Huge huge thank you to paisley and her team, this was an damn good I don’t even have the worlds to describe it lol

4.25⭐ for me! We have Ivy, a horse trainer who is leaving a relationship with a narcissistic ex and comes to the ranch for an interview. She's a firecracker and her admitting the reason she was late for her interview let me know I would love her right off the bat! Then, there's her boss, Wade. Wade is loyal to those he loves to a fault but has a rough exterior after a toxic marriage and bearing the weight of everyone else on his shoulders. I was NOT ready for him. If there's one thing Paisley is top tier at, it's the filthy mouth on these men because sheeeeesh! And getting a tattoo on his hand that says "Mine" for when it's around her neck? Ummm... yes please! There was a ton of spice, but I loved the plot too. It touched on fertility, family member with addiction issues, grief, overcoming the trauma of narcissistic abuse (this did not take up a ton of the story but I liked how it was touched on and the actions were realistic. Wade is everything someone would want after going through that), but there was also so much joy and positivity.

This was the perfect cozy, spicy read. While I received it as an ARC, I did go on and buy the physical copy because I just adored it so much.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for my e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Omg, Wade Ashby. Do kiss your mother with that mouth? I knew he'd be filthy but good lord. No complaints though!

We first got a glimpse of Ivy in Holding the Reins, when she comes to the ranch to take over for Sam. I just loved her personality and spitfire, bratty self. She knew it grated on Wade and dammit it did! But he also loved it.

Wade and Ivy have both been hurt by their exes, and just can't seem to escape them. No boundaries with Brad and Janelle-i think those two need to run away together.
What Brad had done to Ivy was extremely disrespectful and the surprise her and Wade got with a baby was so cute.

Them both admitting to the feelings brewing over months was so sweet to see it unfold. They work so well together.

I fell in love with Paisley’s writing last year when I read her first book. I was thrilled when I was able to snag this arc on Netgalley.

This follows Wade and Ivy. Wade runs the family ranch and Ivy is the new horse trainer hired by the ranch. Wade is grumpy and growly and bossy, he has to be in control at all times. Ivy is sunshine and playful and LOVES to push Wade’s buttons and lives to make him lose control.

Read this if you like:
🏇🏽Cowboy romance
🏇🏽Grumpy/sunshine
🏇🏽Forced Proximity
🏇🏽Workplace romance
🏇🏽Family and found family
🏇🏽He will burn down the world for her

Wade Ashby’s love language is acts of service and the small ways he showed Ivy how much he loved her just made me melt, he dries her hair for her, he cooks for her, nightly ice cream and movie dates are just a few of them. I really loved the two of them together, their evolution from boss/employee to fling to lovers. I loved how they got to know each other and learned to trust after both had been hurt.

This one was super spicy 🥵 and I love a good spicy book, but I think I would’ve liked a little less spice. It kind of took away from the romance a bit, I wanted to see a bit more connection between them besides the spice.

I’m loving this series and I can’t wait for the next book. Thank you to Paisley Hope, Netgalley and Random House Publishing for my arc of this book.

*This book does deal with some heavy topics (emotional abuse, alcoholism, infidelity, infertility struggles) take care when reading.

5⭐️

I love me some grumpy x sunshine!!! Wade was such a grumpy man, but little did we know how filthy his mouth can be, *wink wink *. He was so obsessed with his girl even though he tried too hard to fight his feelings for her.

Ivy was such a fun character to read about . I was glad she was able to have her dreams come true no matter how hard they were. If anything, Wade and Ivy deserved to find happiness and love with each other after both of them being with people who manipulated them into thinking that was love just to find out it’s something far from it and what they both experience with each other is actually the real deal.🙌🏼

The chemistry was on fire, the love story was beautiful, and all the characters were fun to read about.

Overall, it was a fun book to read and should be added to your TBR!!! ✨🙌🏼

Training the Heart is a swoony, heartwarming ever endearing love story.
Which will have you laughing for one moment and then clutching your pearls the next.
It was so worth the wait to read this book.