A fun read that made me smile repeatedly! Heartwarming and wonderful prose, this was the perfect read to relax and enjoy to brighten your day.

The Grump Whisperer was an enjoyable and heartwarming read! From the moment I picked it up, I was completely immersed in the story. As someone who grew up with a deep love for the countryside, the setting of this book felt like a perfect escape. Katy James did such a beautiful job capturing the essence of life around stables, the bond between horses and humans, and the quiet, yet powerful beauty of rural life. For anyone with a similar background or anyone who appreciates the unique connection between animals and the people who care for them, this book will feel like a homecoming.

What truly stood out to me were the main characters. They were so passionate about their careers, the stables, and the horses they cared for, but what I loved most was their devotion to the people in their lives. They constantly put others first, showing deep care for those around them. The way their love for their work and the people they care about intertwined was really beautiful to witness. If you were a fan of The Saddle Club growing up, like I was, this book will absolutely hit the spot! It’s essentially an adult version of that beloved childhood series, with the same heartfelt connection to horses and the dynamics of working together in a tight-knit community.

That being said, I did find myself wanting a bit more in terms of romance. I would have loved a slower, more gradual burn between the characters, as I tend to enjoy that tension building up over time. The “grumpy” dynamic between the two characters didn’t last as long as I’d hoped, which was a bit of a letdown for me. I enjoy romance novels that are a bit more emotional, insightful, and drawn out, so the faster pace and the way the romance unfolded left me wanting more depth in that department. For that reason, I’m settling on a 3-star rating.

Despite that, I still had a really fun time reading this book! The characters were lovable, the setting was delightful, and the storyline was engaging from start to finish. If you’re a fan of Elsie Silver, cowboy romances, or stories that feature strong bonds between humans and horses, I highly recommend giving this one a try. It’s a sweet, cosy read with a lot of heart, and it’s perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good escape with a touch of romance and a lot of passion for the countryside.

I received an arc of this off of Netgalley. Thanks
The book was an easy book. I loved all the characters, including the horses. You can see a nice community ready to help in any situation.
I also liked the spicy scenes and Ian the grumpy man trying to recover after his horse riding accident. But he stopped being grumpy quite quick.
It’s a quick, well-written book.
I enjoyed the book as I was looking for some easy read with romance and a bit spicy.

A grumpy x sunshine romcom. A great read filled with humour, romance and lots of lovely animals. Would definitely like more from this series

Loved this book from Katy, I love a grumpy x sunshine and this was great. Very my style and I’m super happy I was able to receive

In this charming romance, Bronwen Jones, a capable and determined horse barn manager, finds herself in an increasingly desperate situation. Under new ownership, the barn is falling apart: bills remain unpaid, feed and hay are running out, and the ever-growing pile of manure reflects the chaos surrounding her. Just as things seem hopeless, Ian Kingston enters the picture—a former show jumper with a scowl as sharp as his good looks.

Ian, once a star in the competitive equestrian world, is now a shadow of his former self. An injury has not only ended his riding career but left him bitter and isolated, nursing his wounds with whiskey and avoiding any connection to the life he’s lost. Despite his reluctance, Bronwen refuses to let him stay on the sidelines, especially when the wellbeing of the horses is at stake.

The turning point arrives with Hades, a majestic but traumatised black stallion sent to the barn by Ian’s sister. As Bronwen and Ian work together to care for the challenging animal, they find themselves drawn closer, their shared passion for horses helping them confront their own emotional scars. Vulnerabilities are revealed, trust is tentatively built, and a slow-burning connection ignites between the two.

The dual perspectives bring depth to both characters, showcasing Bronwen’s resilience and independence alongside Ian’s struggle to reconcile his past with his present. The small-town setting and the supporting cast of riders and boarders add warmth and authenticity to the story, while the romance balances sweetness with a touch of spice.

This is a beautifully written tale of two broken souls finding healing and hope, with the horses serving as a metaphor for the challenges and rewards of trust and love. The narrative captures the vulnerability of starting over and the courage it takes to let someone in.

Fans of grumpy/sunshine dynamics, small-town romances, and stories of emotional growth will find much to love here. With heartfelt moments, relatable characters, and a satisfying arc of redemption, this book delivers an uplifting and tender romance that lingers long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is my first book by Katy James and I really enjoyed it, it's light and fun and I will certainly be reading more from her!

I was really taken with this cover as soon as I laid eyes on it, I know, I know you should never judge a book by it's cover, or pick a book by it's cover alone, but I did with this one and I am very pleased that I did, even though I wasn't 100% blown away by the story, I sis enjoy it!

I loved the close knit community feel to the story and the beautiful unspoken message of how healing being around horses and animals can be, I really liked Bronwen and Ian's cosy romance, there's passion and cuteness galour and I really enjoyed the rom-com feel to it, the story is sweet and at times a little too cutesy for my liking, but it's a story you will happily invest a few hours of your time in.

Country Romance. Grumpy Sunshine. Forced Proxemity.

This was a quick and fun read, it does touch on some hard subjects as the two lovers work through their trauma but overall it is a lighthearted romance full of spice and love.

Hades is also a favourite, a grumpy horse with a grumpy owner, with his own trauma. A perfect animal reflection or our love interest and I think the tactics our MC uses work for both.

I love the family feel of the farm, the boarders and riders all so warm and friendly whilst watching with bated breath whether the new owner's brother and the barn manager will spice things up.

I am excited for book 2, I am unsure who this will centre around, perhaps Anne as she is back.

When the Morningsong Farm has a new mystery owner, manager Bronwen fears for the community of the barn. After a devastating riding accident, Ian reluctantly agrees to look after his sister's latest project,t not realising what it entails. I like the passionate connection between Bronwen and Ian, the barn setting and supportive community, and the charismatic horses. It's a cosy rom-com with characters you invest in; it's a lovely read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

If this doesn’t speak romcom perfection I don’t know what does!… I was so delighted with the warm fuzzy feeling this book left me with

I read this start to finish in about 2 hours and it’s quite spicy 🥵 🌶️🌶️
Firmly in my cowboy era and that’s what this was advertised as although it’s not, it’s horsey just not cowboy horsey more like pretty pet horses. Still a really good storyline though. Lots of spice for those that love it.
Ian is trying to get away from his previous life, far away from horses and the horse people that previously surrounded him! Bronwen is struggling to keep the stables afloat and the new owner is nowhere to be seen! When she storms into the house and finds the new owners brother, it’s an instant dislike. Or is it?
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Release date - 21st November

Thank you to NetGalley and Mills & Boon publisher for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for a review!

3 Stars
This book was a really enjoyable and sweet read! I loved the elements of horses throughout the story, as somebody who grew up loving horses and the countryside, the setting of this book was perfect for me. I also really enjoyed both main characters and how passionate they were for the stables, the horses, their career, and everybody in their lives, always putting other people first. If you were a fan of the saddle club when you were younger like me - you would love this book! It’s basically adult version of the saddle club!
I would have enjoyed a more slow-burn romance within the book, and more of an actual grumpy romance as that did not last very long into the story. I do usually like my romance novels more emotional, insightful and longer with a slow-burn element which is why I’m settling on a 3 stars, but I still had a fun time reading this book! If you are a fan of Elsie Silver and cowboy romances I’d recommend giving this one a go!

Grumpy meets sunshine on a ranch full of charm!

Thank you to @MillsandBoon and | Afterglow Books for my ARC copy of The Grump Whisperer

I have used this book as a New release for the #NetgalleyNovemberKnockDown.

This is an enjoyable and quick read. In this book, we are following Browen, a farm manager, as the old farm owner has left and sold the farm to a new one. We are then introduced to the new farm owner, Brother Ian is really grumpy compared to Brownen, who whom Sunshine so if you love that, trope this book is for you. The sister has sent Ian here even though he does not want anything to do with horses, anyone but her incomes, a poor horses who need help called Hades.
The show's star for me is Hades; the horse has such a personality around the ranch. Thought the cast of characters was really fun to read, and I hope to see more of them

#TheGrumpWhisperer #BookReview #ARC #FarmLife #HorseLovers #FictionFans #ReadingCommunity #BookLovers #Netgalley #NewRelease

Title: The Grump Whisperer
Author: Katy James
Pages: 288
Rating: 3/5

Publish date - 21st November 2024

A little different to my usual reads this was a cutesy small town cowboy romance. Typical grumpy sunshine read.

It was a nice low stake read great for holidays. With a small amount of spice.

The storyline is predictable but I still liked it. A short cleanse read between the heavier plotted books.

I definitely made horse riding my personality while reading this and wanted to go and buy a horse. The hubs said no.

You'll love this book if you like
- cowboy romance
- small town
- grumpy/sunshine
- workplace romance

This was a lovely story,I loved the journey of the characters although i kept willing them to get together sooner and groaning when something stood in their way. Really enjoy the story and characters. A nice easy read

This book was a really sweet and light-hearted read that felt a bit like a Hallmark movie. I really enjoyed the in-depth knowledge shared about horses, I ended up learning quite a lot throughout my read.

This book is made for Horse Girls™ and is a very easy, quick read with a sweet romance and cute horses. Was a bit insta lovey for my taste. 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed the horse content in this book as I don’t know a lot about the horse world and it was interesting reading about the different aspects involved. In general I found the pacing a bit slow and the book for me was a bit hard to get through. I did enjoy the romance between the two main characters even if it all seemed to happen all of a sudden. Ian (the main male character) seemed to go from grumpy to a pretty nice guy quite quickly. I liked Bronwen (female main character) and loved how dedicated she was to her work. I found her to be likeable and relatable. All in all this was a sweet romance and something different to what I’d usually read. Thank you to Mills & Boon, NetGalley & author Katy James for providing me access to this ARC.

This book is perfect if you love small town romances, it was a nice read that was easy to get sucked into. It was a grumpy meets sunshine style and Bronwen and Ian's chemistry was clearly there and they were great lead characters. They was portrayed really well and was so easy to fall in love with.

This book is a cosy read for grumpy x sunshine readers. A feel good book about healing, horses and relationships. I really likes how they showed the knowledge of horses without it feeling like a slog and the chemistry was brilliant.
3 stars 1 chilli pepper.