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Training Mr. Right
Helen Young has made a career out of fixing other people's relationships while keeping her own heart firmly off-limits. As one of New York City's most sought-after relationships therapists, she's seen it all, and her opinion of men couldn't be lower. So when a cattle ranching couple from Wyoming desperately seek her help, she agrees to travel west, expecting another routine case of miscommunication and wounded egos.
What she doesn't expect is Skip.
The couple's son is everything Helen can't egotistical, short-tempered, and maddeningly dismissive of her "city slicker" expertise. Their first encounter is a disaster. Their second is worse. As sparks fly, but not the romantic kind, Helen finds herself in an impossible position. She came to Wyoming to save a marriage, but now she's locked in a battle of wills with a stubborn cowboy who seems determined to prove her wrong about everything.
Skip thinks Helen's psychology degree makes her a pretentious city snob, while Helen thinks Skip could use a serious lesson in basic human decency. But as the big sky country works its magic and forced proximity turns hostility into something far more complicated, both begin to wonder. Is Helen really there to train Skip into being Mr. Right? Or is he about to teach this cynical therapist that she's been wrong about men all along?
In the sweeping landscape of Wyoming, two stubborn hearts will collide, and discover that sometimes the person who challenges you the most is exactly who you need.
What she doesn't expect is Skip.
The couple's son is everything Helen can't egotistical, short-tempered, and maddeningly dismissive of her "city slicker" expertise. Their first encounter is a disaster. Their second is worse. As sparks fly, but not the romantic kind, Helen finds herself in an impossible position. She came to Wyoming to save a marriage, but now she's locked in a battle of wills with a stubborn cowboy who seems determined to prove her wrong about everything.
Skip thinks Helen's psychology degree makes her a pretentious city snob, while Helen thinks Skip could use a serious lesson in basic human decency. But as the big sky country works its magic and forced proximity turns hostility into something far more complicated, both begin to wonder. Is Helen really there to train Skip into being Mr. Right? Or is he about to teach this cynical therapist that she's been wrong about men all along?
In the sweeping landscape of Wyoming, two stubborn hearts will collide, and discover that sometimes the person who challenges you the most is exactly who you need.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
3 people want to read
About the author
E.E. Byrnes
5 books107 followersE.E. Byrnes writes women's fiction, historical fiction, and romance. Readers often say her books are heartfelt with engaging characters, captivating stories, and unexpected twists that keep them intrigued and wanting more.
Although born in northern California, her natural wanderlust and family history led her to Ireland, where she currently resides with her husband and three children. When she's not busy writing, Erin enjoys baking, reading, and hiking along the nearby beaches and sprawling landscapes while spending time with her family.
Although born in northern California, her natural wanderlust and family history led her to Ireland, where she currently resides with her husband and three children. When she's not busy writing, Erin enjoys baking, reading, and hiking along the nearby beaches and sprawling landscapes while spending time with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 17, 2025
I love reading E. E. Byrnes' work, and ‘Training Mr. Right’ was just as delightful. The main character, Helen, is a couples therapist with a strong personality that can be intimidating. I feel that if I were her client, she would have chewed me up and spit me in the garbage.
Helen’s secretary convinces her to go out one evening and let loose. A gentleman approaches her, and Helen’s behavior becomes hilarious. Of course, there was nothing hilarious about it to her assistant.
Then an email grabs Helen’s attention when a woman writes that she needs help saving her marriage, but lives in Wyoming and is unable to travel. However, she will pay for Helen’s trip and stay if she comes out to them. Since Helen’s assistant is always on her to go somewhere, travel somewhere, do anything besides live behind a desk, Helen agrees to go on this trip.
I found this story so well balanced. What I mean by this is that the humor, sarcastic tones, fright and horror, and love and tenderness all flow together in ways where nothing is too much! It's perfect regarding all emotions. The best part is that, towards the end, there is even self-discovery, which becomes a bonus.
This book is a delightful story with just the right amount of seasoning.
A book I recommend for that all-around good-feel read. Happy reading!!
Helen’s secretary convinces her to go out one evening and let loose. A gentleman approaches her, and Helen’s behavior becomes hilarious. Of course, there was nothing hilarious about it to her assistant.
Then an email grabs Helen’s attention when a woman writes that she needs help saving her marriage, but lives in Wyoming and is unable to travel. However, she will pay for Helen’s trip and stay if she comes out to them. Since Helen’s assistant is always on her to go somewhere, travel somewhere, do anything besides live behind a desk, Helen agrees to go on this trip.
I found this story so well balanced. What I mean by this is that the humor, sarcastic tones, fright and horror, and love and tenderness all flow together in ways where nothing is too much! It's perfect regarding all emotions. The best part is that, towards the end, there is even self-discovery, which becomes a bonus.
This book is a delightful story with just the right amount of seasoning.
A book I recommend for that all-around good-feel read. Happy reading!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2025
Thank so much Erin for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Spoiler Free Review
I had fallen for Helen by chapter 2, her no nonsense straight to the point whilst sarcastic attitude was right my street. She reminded me of Dr Brennan from Bones. Although I liked who she was, it was great to see her relax and become who she was by the end of this book.
What can I say about Skip... Was he an ass? yes. Did i still love him for it? of course!
He's a strong willed man with a heart of gold, and a spicy mouth.
The farm dynamic with all the side characters worked so well.
I laughed, I cried and I will recommend this book to literally anyone who reads romance.
This is a closed door romance, and please read the triggers.
Spoiler Free Review
I had fallen for Helen by chapter 2, her no nonsense straight to the point whilst sarcastic attitude was right my street. She reminded me of Dr Brennan from Bones. Although I liked who she was, it was great to see her relax and become who she was by the end of this book.
What can I say about Skip... Was he an ass? yes. Did i still love him for it? of course!
He's a strong willed man with a heart of gold, and a spicy mouth.
The farm dynamic with all the side characters worked so well.
I laughed, I cried and I will recommend this book to literally anyone who reads romance.
This is a closed door romance, and please read the triggers.
November 11, 2025
It was an enjoyable read! At first I had to make a mense with the fact that I didn't like the main female character. After she grew on me and I got to know her, I got to emjoy te story.
Character development is strong and story is written as if you are on the ranch itself. I didn't like Skip either at first, but he also grew on me.
It may not throw a curfball, but that's okay. This book doesn't need it.
Character development is strong and story is written as if you are on the ranch itself. I didn't like Skip either at first, but he also grew on me.
It may not throw a curfball, but that's okay. This book doesn't need it.
October 31, 2025
The story dives right in, introducing Helen, a fiercely devoted relationship therapist whose expensive NYC practice is a monument to her professional success. She’s so committed, her office door even features a sign about training your Mr. Right. This initial glimpse of her cynical, business-first approach to love makes you immediately question how the man who will challenge her rigid beliefs could possibly penetrate the highly-polished world she’s built.
The next major step in Helen’s career is a paradox: while she’s achieving new professional heights with a nationwide book tour, her cynical views are about to be tested in real-time. This exposure forces the highly-paid therapist, who keeps the world at arm’s length, into face-to-face encounters with countless readers. Her book signings become less about signing pages and more about opening doors—a key element that promises to disrupt her tidy, lonely existence.
The narrative takes a thrilling, 180-degree turn when Helen leaves the calculated competence of NYC for the vast, untamed landscape of Wyoming. This isn’t just a physical journey; it’s a massive emotional one. The story brilliantly sets up the city-girl-meets-country-life trope, using the remote cattle ranch as the perfect setting to strip away Helen’s professional armor and force her to deal with a type of rugged authenticity her client list never prepared her for.
Prepare for an explosion the moment cynical therapist Helen meets Skip. While the audience might expect a charming cowboy, Skip is introduced with a drunken, confrontational attitude that immediately puts him on Helen’s enemy list. The story brilliantly uses this clash—her unyielding professional determination versus his sharp-tongued, cowboy resistance—to create an electric tension. The instant animosity is so strong, it becomes clear he will be the ultimate obstacle, or perhaps, the ultimate test.
The story excels by refusing to let the ranch become a cliché. Instead, it uses a high-stakes, life-and-death situation—the desperate attempt to save a calf—to show the truth behind the cowboy exterior. The immense physical work and the subsequent, palpable grief reveal a depth of character. This experience is essential for Helen, as it proves that masculinity and stubbornness are not synonyms for egotism, but can be rooted in a heartbreaking devotion to their work and the animals they tend.
The core obstacle for Helen and Skip isn’t just their personality differences, but their shared inability to see past superficial indicators—from Skip’s cowboy attire to Helen’s high-priced education. Their initial hatred is fueled by faulty assumptions about who the other person must be, based on their career and background. The journey, for both the reader and the characters, is about painstakingly dismantling these misjudgments and discovering the vulnerable, dedicated person beneath the protective shell.
While Helen believes she’s at the Wyoming ranch to fix her clients, the setting quickly proves to be the catalyst for her own necessary break. The couple’s desire to find meaning beyond their current lifestyle is a direct reflection of Helen’s need to stop viewing life through a purely professional lens. The ranch environment, far removed from her clinical office, functions as a forced intervention, providing the unexpected space and shock required for this determined, work-focused woman to finally step out of her rut.
Favourite characters:
Helen: sharp, ruthless, and NYC’s most sought-after relationship therapist. She charges a fortune and delivers results, but behind the polished facade of designer suits and a stark, masculine office, she’s quietly married to her job, not a person. She sells happiness with a smile, yet views modern romance with a deeply cynical eye.
Skip: a man determined to be Helen’s biggest roadblock. While Helen instantly dismisses him as egotistical and stubborn due to his sharp, unapologetic tongue and outright rejection of her services, the narrative hints at a deeper truth. Readers will quickly recognise him as a fiercely protective and determined force, guarding his parents and the family business from what he perceives as a city-slicker threat. The real fun lies in watching Helen’s rigid professional judgment clash with Skip’s deeply-held loyalty.
The tension between Helen and Skip is ratcheted up by an unexpected event that demands immediate action. The introduction of a serious health and safety issue cuts through the verbal sparring and puts Skip’s abrasive determination to its best possible use. It is in this high-stakes environment that Helen, for the first time, must rely on the cowboy she hates. This change in circumstance doesn’t eliminate their feud, but it certainly makes their inevitable journey toward common ground—and perhaps attraction—feel far more real and necessary.
The tension escalates dramatically when Helen faces a dangerous confrontation that is far removed from her clinical discussions. A character’s drunken, abrasive insistence on dictating a woman’s behavior exposes a vein of ugly realism on the ranch. This cruel treatment immediately highlights the essential difference between the men. It becomes fiercely clear that the rugged masculinity of Skip and other ranch hands is completely antithetical to this toxic behavior, forcing Helen to confront her initial judgments and rely on the protection of the very men she once dismissed.
Forget unrealistic insta-love twists. This story delivers a masterfully paced slow burn that prioritizes realism over speed. The relationship between Helen and Skip is not a sudden switch; it’s a detailed, believable evolution. The narrative carefully focuses on dismantling the foundation of their conflict—mutual judgment and misunderstanding—before any spark can fly. We witness a gradual shift from intense animosity, to reluctant tolerance, to a genuine acceptance of the other’s worth, ensuring the eventual move toward romance feels completely earned and intensely satisfying.
The story’s true genius lies in its unique management of time. While the gradual journey from enemies, to reluctant friends, to desire spans months of in-story time—a testament to its realistic “slow burn”—the book’s pacing feels anything but slow. This is deliberate: the narrative beautifully captures how time passes differently in the countryside versus the city. Events that would be a frantic week in NYC are given the space of months on the ranch, lending the entire development a sense of natural, believable progression. The author uses the Wyoming pace to make the characters’ emotional shifts feel authentic and perfectly timed.
After months of animosity, the story delivers an immensely satisfying payoff. In the final stretch, the book introduces a beautiful, unexpected therapeutic element involving horse riding that serves as the ultimate catalyst. This shared experience strips away all residual armor, forcing both Helen and Skip to drop their misjudgments and share their most guarded experiences and hopes. This raw, emotional intimacy—achieved through shared activity, not just conversation—is the powerful, inevitable precursor to the physical tension finally boiling over. The wait is worth it: the slow burn is about to ignite.
Favourite quotes:
“Typical woman,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Always thinking it’s the man that’s the problem.”
“Typical man,” I scoffed. “Too egotistical to admit his own faults.”
““I may be an excellent relationship therapist,” I continued, “but I’m terrible at personal relationships.””
How it ends:
The book proves that the biggest misjudgment of all was Helen’s underestimation of the ranch women. The final pages reveal a shocking, yet satisfying twist about the “therapy case” that shows the clients were always two steps ahead, expertly maneuvering their son and Helen toward their own future. This ending beautifully ties the knot on the theme of assumptions, providing an incredibly warm, earned conclusion focused on personal growth and self-acceptance that is far more meaningful than any immediate physical payoff.
Favourite part:
The core of the story is the explosive anti-chemistry between Helen and Skip. When these two determined rivals—Helen convinced he’s the picture of rude, male ego, and Skip certain she’s an unwelcome, “high and mighty” city threat—try to broker a truce, the result is anything but peaceful. Their attempt to find a middle ground only amplifies their mutual dislike, turning their negotiation into a battle of wills. This immediate, intense animosity is the fuel that makes their relationship utterly compelling to watch.
Rating out of 5:
This is a masterfully paced slow burn that prioritizes realism over speed. It shines through the brilliant therapeutic irony (the therapist needing her own intervention) and the satisfying, gradual deconstruction of mutual misjudgment. The ending subverts expectations, delivering a powerful and earned payoff focused on self-discovery and acceptance, which makes the entire journey feel incredibly authentic and compelling. It gets a solid four out of five for me!
The next major step in Helen’s career is a paradox: while she’s achieving new professional heights with a nationwide book tour, her cynical views are about to be tested in real-time. This exposure forces the highly-paid therapist, who keeps the world at arm’s length, into face-to-face encounters with countless readers. Her book signings become less about signing pages and more about opening doors—a key element that promises to disrupt her tidy, lonely existence.
The narrative takes a thrilling, 180-degree turn when Helen leaves the calculated competence of NYC for the vast, untamed landscape of Wyoming. This isn’t just a physical journey; it’s a massive emotional one. The story brilliantly sets up the city-girl-meets-country-life trope, using the remote cattle ranch as the perfect setting to strip away Helen’s professional armor and force her to deal with a type of rugged authenticity her client list never prepared her for.
Prepare for an explosion the moment cynical therapist Helen meets Skip. While the audience might expect a charming cowboy, Skip is introduced with a drunken, confrontational attitude that immediately puts him on Helen’s enemy list. The story brilliantly uses this clash—her unyielding professional determination versus his sharp-tongued, cowboy resistance—to create an electric tension. The instant animosity is so strong, it becomes clear he will be the ultimate obstacle, or perhaps, the ultimate test.
The story excels by refusing to let the ranch become a cliché. Instead, it uses a high-stakes, life-and-death situation—the desperate attempt to save a calf—to show the truth behind the cowboy exterior. The immense physical work and the subsequent, palpable grief reveal a depth of character. This experience is essential for Helen, as it proves that masculinity and stubbornness are not synonyms for egotism, but can be rooted in a heartbreaking devotion to their work and the animals they tend.
The core obstacle for Helen and Skip isn’t just their personality differences, but their shared inability to see past superficial indicators—from Skip’s cowboy attire to Helen’s high-priced education. Their initial hatred is fueled by faulty assumptions about who the other person must be, based on their career and background. The journey, for both the reader and the characters, is about painstakingly dismantling these misjudgments and discovering the vulnerable, dedicated person beneath the protective shell.
While Helen believes she’s at the Wyoming ranch to fix her clients, the setting quickly proves to be the catalyst for her own necessary break. The couple’s desire to find meaning beyond their current lifestyle is a direct reflection of Helen’s need to stop viewing life through a purely professional lens. The ranch environment, far removed from her clinical office, functions as a forced intervention, providing the unexpected space and shock required for this determined, work-focused woman to finally step out of her rut.
Favourite characters:
Helen: sharp, ruthless, and NYC’s most sought-after relationship therapist. She charges a fortune and delivers results, but behind the polished facade of designer suits and a stark, masculine office, she’s quietly married to her job, not a person. She sells happiness with a smile, yet views modern romance with a deeply cynical eye.
Skip: a man determined to be Helen’s biggest roadblock. While Helen instantly dismisses him as egotistical and stubborn due to his sharp, unapologetic tongue and outright rejection of her services, the narrative hints at a deeper truth. Readers will quickly recognise him as a fiercely protective and determined force, guarding his parents and the family business from what he perceives as a city-slicker threat. The real fun lies in watching Helen’s rigid professional judgment clash with Skip’s deeply-held loyalty.
The tension between Helen and Skip is ratcheted up by an unexpected event that demands immediate action. The introduction of a serious health and safety issue cuts through the verbal sparring and puts Skip’s abrasive determination to its best possible use. It is in this high-stakes environment that Helen, for the first time, must rely on the cowboy she hates. This change in circumstance doesn’t eliminate their feud, but it certainly makes their inevitable journey toward common ground—and perhaps attraction—feel far more real and necessary.
The tension escalates dramatically when Helen faces a dangerous confrontation that is far removed from her clinical discussions. A character’s drunken, abrasive insistence on dictating a woman’s behavior exposes a vein of ugly realism on the ranch. This cruel treatment immediately highlights the essential difference between the men. It becomes fiercely clear that the rugged masculinity of Skip and other ranch hands is completely antithetical to this toxic behavior, forcing Helen to confront her initial judgments and rely on the protection of the very men she once dismissed.
Forget unrealistic insta-love twists. This story delivers a masterfully paced slow burn that prioritizes realism over speed. The relationship between Helen and Skip is not a sudden switch; it’s a detailed, believable evolution. The narrative carefully focuses on dismantling the foundation of their conflict—mutual judgment and misunderstanding—before any spark can fly. We witness a gradual shift from intense animosity, to reluctant tolerance, to a genuine acceptance of the other’s worth, ensuring the eventual move toward romance feels completely earned and intensely satisfying.
The story’s true genius lies in its unique management of time. While the gradual journey from enemies, to reluctant friends, to desire spans months of in-story time—a testament to its realistic “slow burn”—the book’s pacing feels anything but slow. This is deliberate: the narrative beautifully captures how time passes differently in the countryside versus the city. Events that would be a frantic week in NYC are given the space of months on the ranch, lending the entire development a sense of natural, believable progression. The author uses the Wyoming pace to make the characters’ emotional shifts feel authentic and perfectly timed.
After months of animosity, the story delivers an immensely satisfying payoff. In the final stretch, the book introduces a beautiful, unexpected therapeutic element involving horse riding that serves as the ultimate catalyst. This shared experience strips away all residual armor, forcing both Helen and Skip to drop their misjudgments and share their most guarded experiences and hopes. This raw, emotional intimacy—achieved through shared activity, not just conversation—is the powerful, inevitable precursor to the physical tension finally boiling over. The wait is worth it: the slow burn is about to ignite.
Favourite quotes:
“Typical woman,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Always thinking it’s the man that’s the problem.”
“Typical man,” I scoffed. “Too egotistical to admit his own faults.”
““I may be an excellent relationship therapist,” I continued, “but I’m terrible at personal relationships.””
How it ends:
The book proves that the biggest misjudgment of all was Helen’s underestimation of the ranch women. The final pages reveal a shocking, yet satisfying twist about the “therapy case” that shows the clients were always two steps ahead, expertly maneuvering their son and Helen toward their own future. This ending beautifully ties the knot on the theme of assumptions, providing an incredibly warm, earned conclusion focused on personal growth and self-acceptance that is far more meaningful than any immediate physical payoff.
Favourite part:
The core of the story is the explosive anti-chemistry between Helen and Skip. When these two determined rivals—Helen convinced he’s the picture of rude, male ego, and Skip certain she’s an unwelcome, “high and mighty” city threat—try to broker a truce, the result is anything but peaceful. Their attempt to find a middle ground only amplifies their mutual dislike, turning their negotiation into a battle of wills. This immediate, intense animosity is the fuel that makes their relationship utterly compelling to watch.
Rating out of 5:
This is a masterfully paced slow burn that prioritizes realism over speed. It shines through the brilliant therapeutic irony (the therapist needing her own intervention) and the satisfying, gradual deconstruction of mutual misjudgment. The ending subverts expectations, delivering a powerful and earned payoff focused on self-discovery and acceptance, which makes the entire journey feel incredibly authentic and compelling. It gets a solid four out of five for me!
December 31, 2025
Book: Training Mr.Right
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Cowboy)
Rating: 4 ⭐
5/5 Relationships
4/5 Characters
4/5 Plot
1🌶
Craving a fun, easy read? Look no further.
Training Mr. Right is a light cowboy romance that pulls you in and leaves you feeling content with its roughly 200 pages of slow burn, banter, and cozy charm.
Helen is a city girl and couples therapist with little to no filter. Married to her practice and wholly uninterested in men, she is feisty, stubborn, and unapologetically empowered. Having spent years studying men and their habits through the lens of couples therapy, she has come to find the gender… lacking. Her no-nonsense personality and blunt honesty have left her with an almost nonexistent social life, making friendships — and romantic relationships — particularly challenging. People simply aren’t used to her sharp edges.
When a future client contacts Helen to inquire about her services, her work takes her to a cattle ranch in Wyoming, where she will be counseling a couple while also living with them and helping with daily ranch chores between therapy sessions. What Helen does not expect is Skip — the couple’s son and ranch hand — a stubborn, infuriatingly attractive man whose headstrong nature rivals her own and with whom sparks immediately begin to fly.
I’ll admit that at first, I didn’t like Helen one bit. I found her grating and bordering on insolent. I had been warned of this by the author, though, which helped me push through the first few chapters until the story fully had me in its grasp. As the story unfolds, Helen’s personality begins to soften, allowing the reader to see the woman beneath the sarcasm and defensive armor — and she becomes much easier to root for.
Skip, on the other hand, doesn’t require nearly as much adjustment. His early appearances are a bit jarring, but this quickly fades as his genuine, thoughtful personality comes through and makes him easy to swoon over. As we learn more about his past and background, his reactions and behavior begin to make sense, deepening the emotional connection. Leslie, Frank, and Quincy are strong secondary characters with enough depth to make you care about them without ever overshadowing the main couple.
The relationships throughout this book are thoughtfully crafted — from found family, to friendship, to romance. With Helen lacking a true support system, the bond she forms with Frank and Leslie is genuinely heartwarming. She finally finds her people — those who accept her fully and aren’t intimidated by her sharp edges. Her romance with Skip mirrors this journey of acceptance, as he embraces her flaws while gently challenging her to soften her rigid exterior. Their chemistry is tangible and makes for a very satisfying slow burn.
The overarching conflict tied to Helen’s practice does fade somewhat into the background as the romance takes center stage, though it’s never entirely forgotten. My only real issue is that the resolution of this subplot feels rushed toward the end. I would have loved an epilogue — perhaps a “year in the life” — to provide deeper closure regarding her practice, the ranch, and her relationship with Skip.
The writing itself is concise, engaging, and easy to follow. While the pacing wavers slightly at times — occasionally slow, occasionally rushed — it never detracts enough to negatively impact the overall reading experience.
All things considered, this is a cozy contemporary romance that draws you in quickly, keeps you entertained, and leaves you feeling content once it ends. Anyone who enjoys a good cowboy romance will absolutely enjoy this read.
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Cowboy)
Rating: 4 ⭐
5/5 Relationships
4/5 Characters
4/5 Plot
1🌶
Craving a fun, easy read? Look no further.
Training Mr. Right is a light cowboy romance that pulls you in and leaves you feeling content with its roughly 200 pages of slow burn, banter, and cozy charm.
Helen is a city girl and couples therapist with little to no filter. Married to her practice and wholly uninterested in men, she is feisty, stubborn, and unapologetically empowered. Having spent years studying men and their habits through the lens of couples therapy, she has come to find the gender… lacking. Her no-nonsense personality and blunt honesty have left her with an almost nonexistent social life, making friendships — and romantic relationships — particularly challenging. People simply aren’t used to her sharp edges.
When a future client contacts Helen to inquire about her services, her work takes her to a cattle ranch in Wyoming, where she will be counseling a couple while also living with them and helping with daily ranch chores between therapy sessions. What Helen does not expect is Skip — the couple’s son and ranch hand — a stubborn, infuriatingly attractive man whose headstrong nature rivals her own and with whom sparks immediately begin to fly.
I’ll admit that at first, I didn’t like Helen one bit. I found her grating and bordering on insolent. I had been warned of this by the author, though, which helped me push through the first few chapters until the story fully had me in its grasp. As the story unfolds, Helen’s personality begins to soften, allowing the reader to see the woman beneath the sarcasm and defensive armor — and she becomes much easier to root for.
Skip, on the other hand, doesn’t require nearly as much adjustment. His early appearances are a bit jarring, but this quickly fades as his genuine, thoughtful personality comes through and makes him easy to swoon over. As we learn more about his past and background, his reactions and behavior begin to make sense, deepening the emotional connection. Leslie, Frank, and Quincy are strong secondary characters with enough depth to make you care about them without ever overshadowing the main couple.
The relationships throughout this book are thoughtfully crafted — from found family, to friendship, to romance. With Helen lacking a true support system, the bond she forms with Frank and Leslie is genuinely heartwarming. She finally finds her people — those who accept her fully and aren’t intimidated by her sharp edges. Her romance with Skip mirrors this journey of acceptance, as he embraces her flaws while gently challenging her to soften her rigid exterior. Their chemistry is tangible and makes for a very satisfying slow burn.
The overarching conflict tied to Helen’s practice does fade somewhat into the background as the romance takes center stage, though it’s never entirely forgotten. My only real issue is that the resolution of this subplot feels rushed toward the end. I would have loved an epilogue — perhaps a “year in the life” — to provide deeper closure regarding her practice, the ranch, and her relationship with Skip.
The writing itself is concise, engaging, and easy to follow. While the pacing wavers slightly at times — occasionally slow, occasionally rushed — it never detracts enough to negatively impact the overall reading experience.
All things considered, this is a cozy contemporary romance that draws you in quickly, keeps you entertained, and leaves you feeling content once it ends. Anyone who enjoys a good cowboy romance will absolutely enjoy this read.
November 1, 2025
Training Mr. Right is the perfect cozy, city meets country, found family, enemies to lovers romance. It very much reminded me of the same kind of coziness that the show heartland has, just for reference. It is a
heartwarming story of two unlikely lovers finding each other through chance circumstances, learning and growing side by side to come together and form a lasting connection. E.E. Byrnes is one of those authors that has the special talent of being able to captivate all kinds of readers no matter the topic or genre. I myself am not typically a romance-only type of person, usually because I find that most of the romances I pick up lack depth to the story and characters. If you can relate, I can assure you that this is romance done right! The characters each have their own unique personalities, back stories, relatable qualities, and each add something special to the story to give it that depth that keeps you coming back to re-read again and again. I think this book would be a fantastic opportunity for a series and I would love to see all their stories expand! I MUST find out how Helen and Skip’s as well as Leslie and Frank’s relationships grow!! I would love to see Helen start up and open her new practice, as well as her journey as a horsewoman. I’d love to see the whole family’s day to day as ranchers and even see Helen get to learn and help out! I’d also love to see Quincy find someone of his own and even Susan become a good friend to Helen. Maybe Susan comes to visit and falls in love with him? I just love the life and family that Helen has found in them all, and they her. There’s just so many possibilities for this story!! A fantastic read that I will keep coming back to and will absolutely recommend to others!!! (This story has a touch of spice, very tasteful and not too graphic for those who are not a fan of spice)
heartwarming story of two unlikely lovers finding each other through chance circumstances, learning and growing side by side to come together and form a lasting connection. E.E. Byrnes is one of those authors that has the special talent of being able to captivate all kinds of readers no matter the topic or genre. I myself am not typically a romance-only type of person, usually because I find that most of the romances I pick up lack depth to the story and characters. If you can relate, I can assure you that this is romance done right! The characters each have their own unique personalities, back stories, relatable qualities, and each add something special to the story to give it that depth that keeps you coming back to re-read again and again. I think this book would be a fantastic opportunity for a series and I would love to see all their stories expand! I MUST find out how Helen and Skip’s as well as Leslie and Frank’s relationships grow!! I would love to see Helen start up and open her new practice, as well as her journey as a horsewoman. I’d love to see the whole family’s day to day as ranchers and even see Helen get to learn and help out! I’d also love to see Quincy find someone of his own and even Susan become a good friend to Helen. Maybe Susan comes to visit and falls in love with him? I just love the life and family that Helen has found in them all, and they her. There’s just so many possibilities for this story!! A fantastic read that I will keep coming back to and will absolutely recommend to others!!! (This story has a touch of spice, very tasteful and not too graphic for those who are not a fan of spice)
November 15, 2025
Training Mr. Right by E.E. Byrnes
Training Mr. Right is a big-sky adventure set on a property in Wyoming with all the feels of a solid romance, despite the issues Helen has with men.
Helen Young is a successful relationship counsellor in New York. True to a lot of professions—the mechanic who never fixes his own car, for example—Helen is great at fixing relationships other than her own. Her biggest love is her monster mahogany desk, which she lovingly caresses each evening as she leaves her office on the way home to an empty apartment.
Circumstances find Helen providing live-in marriage counselling to the joint owners of a large ranch in Wyoming. This is where we meet Skip, the sexy-but-oh-so-grumpy cowboy. As the story unravels, further circumstances seem to conspire to trap her there for several months.
To go from the buzz of New York to the vast open plains of Wyoming is a culture shock for Helen; to deal with Mr-Blue-Eyes-Grumpy-Cowboy is an added challenge. Focused on the job at hand, which was to help save the marriage of the co-owners of this property, Helen digs deep in order to apply professionalism and her New York smarts to meet the challenge.
Training Mr. Right explores imperfect characters as they learn about themselves through the eyes of the people around them. The book is well written and carefully edited. It’s an engaging and authentic story of found family and growth, with a slow-burn romance. You’ve gotta love a good city girl/country boy trope!
Training Mr. Right is a big-sky adventure set on a property in Wyoming with all the feels of a solid romance, despite the issues Helen has with men.
Helen Young is a successful relationship counsellor in New York. True to a lot of professions—the mechanic who never fixes his own car, for example—Helen is great at fixing relationships other than her own. Her biggest love is her monster mahogany desk, which she lovingly caresses each evening as she leaves her office on the way home to an empty apartment.
Circumstances find Helen providing live-in marriage counselling to the joint owners of a large ranch in Wyoming. This is where we meet Skip, the sexy-but-oh-so-grumpy cowboy. As the story unravels, further circumstances seem to conspire to trap her there for several months.
To go from the buzz of New York to the vast open plains of Wyoming is a culture shock for Helen; to deal with Mr-Blue-Eyes-Grumpy-Cowboy is an added challenge. Focused on the job at hand, which was to help save the marriage of the co-owners of this property, Helen digs deep in order to apply professionalism and her New York smarts to meet the challenge.
Training Mr. Right explores imperfect characters as they learn about themselves through the eyes of the people around them. The book is well written and carefully edited. It’s an engaging and authentic story of found family and growth, with a slow-burn romance. You’ve gotta love a good city girl/country boy trope!
November 13, 2025
If you're looking for a book that tears down gender stereotypes, then look no further. This book is an introspective look at how even femininity can be toxic, and also how we are all products of our own environment.
The premise had me hooked immediately, and once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I devoured this book so quickly. I'd never read a "cowboy romance," but I LOVED the idea of so many opposites coming together to create this grumpy x grumpy dynamic. The build up between Helen and Skip was amazing, and I loved how you could really see how they chipped away at each other's fragile facades.
The romance storyline isn't as in the forefront as I felt many of the other themes were. In fact, I would have loved more story centered around Helen and Skip's softer sides, especially at the time they realized their true feelings.
Also, I hope to see a story about Quincy in the future!!!
Thank you, E.E. Byrnes, for the ARC opportunity. This honest review has been left voluntarily.
The premise had me hooked immediately, and once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I devoured this book so quickly. I'd never read a "cowboy romance," but I LOVED the idea of so many opposites coming together to create this grumpy x grumpy dynamic. The build up between Helen and Skip was amazing, and I loved how you could really see how they chipped away at each other's fragile facades.
The romance storyline isn't as in the forefront as I felt many of the other themes were. In fact, I would have loved more story centered around Helen and Skip's softer sides, especially at the time they realized their true feelings.
Also, I hope to see a story about Quincy in the future!!!
Thank you, E.E. Byrnes, for the ARC opportunity. This honest review has been left voluntarily.
November 11, 2025
4.5 ⭐ The redemption and second chances in this book are gold. I love how relationship expert, Helen, is a train wreck herself and is basically saved by her own on-site sessions!
Leslie and Frank were such great characters -- showing what family and love means, even in difficult times. The fact that Helen got to experience so many types of love on the ranch was one of my favorite things about this book!
I love how Byrnes did not shy away from presenting difficult material but did so in a thoughtful and tasteful way that allowed the reader to understand circumstances and context that revealed the mindset, skills, and personality and true character of the people on the ranch. Walking along with Helen's mental growth was emotional, but so special. She was so good at building up walls, but could look past her experiences and try new things because of the support and safety she felt. This sincere concept of home was beautiful.
I only wish there had been more time to explore Skip's background. While we come to know key events that shaped his recent past and his initial anger at Helen, I would have loved some more pages, dialogue, or stories that showed us more evolution of his thinking alongside (or after) we see growing physical attraction with Helen.
I would love to read books about other ranch hands finding love too! Helen needs some female friends! Thanks for this wonderful review copy!
Leslie and Frank were such great characters -- showing what family and love means, even in difficult times. The fact that Helen got to experience so many types of love on the ranch was one of my favorite things about this book!
I love how Byrnes did not shy away from presenting difficult material but did so in a thoughtful and tasteful way that allowed the reader to understand circumstances and context that revealed the mindset, skills, and personality and true character of the people on the ranch. Walking along with Helen's mental growth was emotional, but so special. She was so good at building up walls, but could look past her experiences and try new things because of the support and safety she felt. This sincere concept of home was beautiful.
I only wish there had been more time to explore Skip's background. While we come to know key events that shaped his recent past and his initial anger at Helen, I would have loved some more pages, dialogue, or stories that showed us more evolution of his thinking alongside (or after) we see growing physical attraction with Helen.
I would love to read books about other ranch hands finding love too! Helen needs some female friends! Thanks for this wonderful review copy!
November 5, 2025
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. It made me laugh, cry and smile. I truly didn't want to stop reading. I love that the storyline has so much detail. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a well-developed storyline, with characters who gradually fall in love.
The main characters are feisty and fun. (Helen, Leslie, skip) I really related to Helen and Leslie, and loved that this was a book about finding out what is really important in life. City life vs Country life. Enemies to lovers. Helen really lets all the walls she builds crumble and I feel that Skip does the same.
This is a book that I would not normally read as I usually like a spicy book BUT it didn't need it with the storyline. This was definitely a page turner and it is a book that I would reread like one of those movies you could watch a hundred times and still like it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The main characters are feisty and fun. (Helen, Leslie, skip) I really related to Helen and Leslie, and loved that this was a book about finding out what is really important in life. City life vs Country life. Enemies to lovers. Helen really lets all the walls she builds crumble and I feel that Skip does the same.
This is a book that I would not normally read as I usually like a spicy book BUT it didn't need it with the storyline. This was definitely a page turner and it is a book that I would reread like one of those movies you could watch a hundred times and still like it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 13, 2025
Training Mr. Right is the cowboy romance I didn’t know I needed! This story brought all the feelings, and I couldn’t read it fast enough.
Helen, our FMC, is an absolute hoot — dry, feisty, and a total straight shooter. I loved watching her evolve as she slowly let her guard down. And Skip? Just as spicy, but with a heart that could melt the Wyoming snow.
The side characters were just as charming (Leslie, especially — such a sweet, down-to-earth country woman). I could truly picture the Wyoming cattle ranch coming to life through E. E. Byrnes’s descriptions.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Helen, our FMC, is an absolute hoot — dry, feisty, and a total straight shooter. I loved watching her evolve as she slowly let her guard down. And Skip? Just as spicy, but with a heart that could melt the Wyoming snow.
The side characters were just as charming (Leslie, especially — such a sweet, down-to-earth country woman). I could truly picture the Wyoming cattle ranch coming to life through E. E. Byrnes’s descriptions.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
December 4, 2025
enjoyable
I didn’t like Helen at first but she slowly redeemed herself. She just needed the right situation to take the pole out of her bottom. And it was so fun to watch her slowly grow and slowly drop the attitude. Skip was the perfect hero for her. He got to prove her wrong, he got to watch her open up and he got to help her find home. I loved how Leslie and Frank helped her find herself
This was a sweet romance. I really enjoyed the whole thing.
I didn’t like Helen at first but she slowly redeemed herself. She just needed the right situation to take the pole out of her bottom. And it was so fun to watch her slowly grow and slowly drop the attitude. Skip was the perfect hero for her. He got to prove her wrong, he got to watch her open up and he got to help her find home. I loved how Leslie and Frank helped her find herself
This was a sweet romance. I really enjoyed the whole thing.
December 3, 2025
Loved!
A friend recommend this to me and I absolutely loved it! I love complicated characters and I fell in love with all of them. Such a wonder group of people and I almost wish it was a series! Love a cowboy story! This was a winner!
A friend recommend this to me and I absolutely loved it! I love complicated characters and I fell in love with all of them. Such a wonder group of people and I almost wish it was a series! Love a cowboy story! This was a winner!
November 12, 2025
Training Mr. Right is a sweet, enemies to lovers, city vs country romance! I really like Helen and Skip's story! I'm giving this story 4.5⭐. I would have loved to read Skip's POV! This story is a closed door romance, but has some trigger warnings. This is a beautifully written, captivating story!
Thank you EE Byrnes for including me as an ARC reader!
Thank you EE Byrnes for including me as an ARC reader!
November 12, 2025
This was a great story. The tension between Helen and Skip was threaded all the way through the book right up until the very end. I loved how Helen found out she had underestimated skip and who he really was.
I enjoyed the fact that both the MMC AND FMC were both very strong willed and hot tempered. To see how they softened toward each other and progression of the relationship was nicely done.
I really enjoyed the book and recommend it.
I enjoyed the fact that both the MMC AND FMC were both very strong willed and hot tempered. To see how they softened toward each other and progression of the relationship was nicely done.
I really enjoyed the book and recommend it.
December 11, 2025
Absolutely loved Training Mr. Right! I fell in love with the characters, even the ones who tried to be hard to love!
Couldn't put it down and stayed up till 3am, just to find out what happened next. I'm a sucker for a good cowboy romance!
Couldn't put it down and stayed up till 3am, just to find out what happened next. I'm a sucker for a good cowboy romance!
November 14, 2025
I picked this book based on the blurb, and let me tell you it was such a great surprise, as it really challenged me to see the main characters as true damaged, conflicted, image driven, power hungry, self rewarding individual that meet and have to learn to break a bit to fit into the reality of life.
I thin based on the blurb, you get the idea of the book, but there is so much more in this story, Helen, though appears professional and perfect, hides so much of herself that is painful and corrosive. She meets her match in Skip (and yes he is not the nicest), and they spar, and not about attraction or chemistry, this is a fight/challenge of minds, lifestyles, control, power, preconceptions, and the need to show dominance. THe love story -slow burn - takes a back seat in my view, instead you will find that loving relationship in the side characters,
This is an intense read, so be prepared!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thin based on the blurb, you get the idea of the book, but there is so much more in this story, Helen, though appears professional and perfect, hides so much of herself that is painful and corrosive. She meets her match in Skip (and yes he is not the nicest), and they spar, and not about attraction or chemistry, this is a fight/challenge of minds, lifestyles, control, power, preconceptions, and the need to show dominance. THe love story -slow burn - takes a back seat in my view, instead you will find that loving relationship in the side characters,
This is an intense read, so be prepared!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 29, 2025
Enemies to lovers done right... with heart, humor, and healing.
Helen Young is a relationship therapist with more opinions than empathy... until Wyoming (and one maddening cowboy) challenge everything she thinks she knows.
While I initially highly disliked Helen for her arrogance and over-the-top feminism, I loved seeing her grow. She learns to embrace a quieter life, finding joy in cooking, caring for her family, and appreciating the simple, everyday moments—ultimately discovering a deep, lasting happiness in this lifestyle. Watching her realize that men aren’t the enemy—and that compliments don’t have to be chauvinistic—was refreshing. Skip is rough around the edges, but their dynamic feels earned by the end. It’s a story of humility, humor, and unexpected connection.
I had the chance to read an ARC of Training Mr. Right, and all thoughts (and cowboy swoons) are completely my own.
Helen Young is a relationship therapist with more opinions than empathy... until Wyoming (and one maddening cowboy) challenge everything she thinks she knows.
While I initially highly disliked Helen for her arrogance and over-the-top feminism, I loved seeing her grow. She learns to embrace a quieter life, finding joy in cooking, caring for her family, and appreciating the simple, everyday moments—ultimately discovering a deep, lasting happiness in this lifestyle. Watching her realize that men aren’t the enemy—and that compliments don’t have to be chauvinistic—was refreshing. Skip is rough around the edges, but their dynamic feels earned by the end. It’s a story of humility, humor, and unexpected connection.
I had the chance to read an ARC of Training Mr. Right, and all thoughts (and cowboy swoons) are completely my own.
November 13, 2025
Training Mr. Right is my first book by E.E. Byrnes , but it won’t be my last! I really enjoyed her writing style.
Helen was my soul sister. Her sarcasm had me laughing out loud at times.
I loved the chemistry and tension between Helen and Skip. Oh boy skip, he really annoyed me at times, but I get it you can’t do a good enemies to lovers without flaws.
This Is a closed door romance.
I really enjoyed this book so much!
Helen was my soul sister. Her sarcasm had me laughing out loud at times.
I loved the chemistry and tension between Helen and Skip. Oh boy skip, he really annoyed me at times, but I get it you can’t do a good enemies to lovers without flaws.
This Is a closed door romance.
I really enjoyed this book so much!
November 20, 2025
Training Mr. Right was Helen and Skip’s story. It was an engaging read. I received an early copy. And voluntarily leaving this review.
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