Cowboy Heartthrob: A Curvy Girl Romance

by Opal Nicks

He jumped off the stage to save me and the whole world wants to know if Nashville’s hottest rising star just found his forever girl. One viral rescue made me his mystery girl. Now I can’t stop imagining what else those arms could do. Country music’s bad boy, Knox Rylan, is looking for me … and I’m not sure I want to stay hidden.

Knox
They call me Nashville’s next big thing … chart climber, heartbreaker, the man who lives for the stage. But under the lights, I’m done faking it.

I’ve been chasing the spotlight for years—opening acts, honky-tonk bars, sold-out shows that still left me feeling empty.

Now the world finally knows my name.

And I should be happy.

But I’m tired of women who want the brand, the image, the headline --

Not me.

Then I see her.

Curvy, wild-haired, dancing in the front row like the music is hers.

Until something knocks her down … and everything else fades.

I stopped the song. I ran to her. And nothing’s felt real since.

Lily
My life isn’t a highlight reel. It’s spreadsheets, polite smiles, and being the dependable one who never rocks the boat.

But that concert? I danced like no one was watching … because I thought no one was.

Until Knox Rylan jumped off the stage and carried me out like a fairytale gone sideways.

Now I’m the mystery girl in a viral video.

And the man whose voice made me fall harder than I should have … might be writing songs about me.

I don’t know if I’m ready to be seen.

But I can’t stop hoping he’s still looking.

I should stay hidden. But the way he looked at me … the way he took care of me … Maybe I don’t want to be lost.

💘 A steamy, swoony short read with a curvy heroine, a protective country bad boy, and a fairytale moment too big to ignore. No cliffhanger. No cheating. Just heat, heart, and one unforgettable rescue that might be the start of something real. BOURBON & ROSES SERIES Bourbon in the glass. Roses in the air. Love in the Bluegrass has never been this intoxicatingFrom the roar of the Kentucky Derby to the quiet hum of Appalachian backroads, love blooms where you least expect it. In this swoon-worthy series of standalone romances, big-city lights meet small-town charm, and every couple finds their own happily-ever-after against the rich backdrop of the Bluegrass State.

From country music heartthrobs to bourbon kings, horse farm rebels to mountain town dreamers ... each story is a shot of passion with a splash of Southern charm. Here, the stakes are high, the kisses are hotter than July, and the only thing smoother than the bourbon … is falling in love.

Opal Nicks delivers page-turning passion wrapped in Kentucky charm - where every hero is worth falling for and every kiss lingers like the last drop in the glass.

Genres: Westerns, Romance

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2025

About the author

Opal’s steamy stories frequently feature independent, strong-willed females who find themselves surprisingly swept away by alpha males who pursue them with vigor and passion. Ultimately, they can’t resist the sweet satisfaction and protection these men offer. Who could?

On Writing
Opal doesn’t like being restricted to what form her stories take. She breaks rules and bends things a bit to keep the tale the way the characters want it told.

In her writing, Opal Nicks explores many different facets of relationships. She hopes to captivate you with the nuances of love. Whether through a budding early relationship or a tension-filled reunion, she gracefully conveys the power and complexity of love-speak.

Her characters often possess an unbridled energy that gives them strength to take risks and traverse peril—all for love.

Reviews

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

He sang for the world. She heard what was real.

When country music star Knox pulls Lily from a surge of screaming fans, he doesn’t know her name or her past. He only knows he can’t stop thinking about her. Lily isn’t the kind of girl who steps into the spotlight. She keeps to the background, holds her heart close, and avoids chaos. But when Knox starts looking, something inside her answers. What begins as a moment becomes something neither of them expected.

They meet again with no cameras, no crowd, just two people chasing a spark that refuses to fade. From quiet confessions in a garden to late-night drives and comfort meals with family, Knox and Lily build something rooted in honesty and slow-burning trust. What starts out unsteady turns intimate, grounded, and real.

But love like this comes with pressure. Fame asks for a story. Real life asks for a plan. Knox has to choose between what the world wants from him and what he wants for them. Lily’s faced with leaving everything she’s built for something that feels like everything she needs. Together, they navigate it the only way that feels right, side by side.

Lily grows from guarded and routine-driven to brave enough to risk the unknown. Knox sheds the armor fame built around him and learns how to love with intention. Their relationship is messy, layered, and honest, moving from spark to slow burn to something steady, built on trust, vulnerability, and mutual choice.

A steamy, curvy girl, country star, opposites attract, small town romance about exploring love, vulnerability, trust, identity, personal growth, and belonging. It’s about choosing each other when it’s not easy, finding your voice, and letting yourself be seen when hiding would be safer. It’s emotional, charged, and grounded in the quiet kind of love that doesn’t ask to be perfect, only real.

The Elevator Pitch: When a country star leaps offstage to save a woman in the crowd, their unexpected connection sets off a whirlwind of passion, attention, and longing. What begins as a viral moment becomes a tender, electric romance built on trust, heat, and quiet courage. Together, they learn that the best kind of love doesn’t need the spotlight.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Things Happen to Good People -
When Lily accepted the VIP pass for the concert from a stranger, she didn’t know it would change her life forever. Knox was singing for the crowd when he locked eyes with a young lady in the crowd, which made him feel like an electric current had just passed through his body. However, Knox’s moment with the stranger was disrupted by a chaotic incident, that made him anxious, but still couldn’t understand why he felt a connection with this particular stranger. Nevertheless, once everything was resolved Knox knew he had to do every possible to find her, so he could convince her to take a chance on him.

Lily was shocked when she received a message saying Knox was trying to get in touch with her, but she set conditions to her agreement due to her anxiousness. Knox pulled out all the stops to make sure Lily felt safe and out of the public eyes, when they spent time together, but introducing her to his family gave her the confidence she needed to spend more time getting to know him better.

Knox was ecstatic when Lily agreed to his invitation to visit him in Nashville, so he planned an amazing night for them and also set boundaries with his record label to ensure Lily’s life remained the same. However, after Lily and Knox spent the weekend together, she changed her mind about staying hidden, so they came up with a plan to ensure she wouldn’t be hounded by the media. It may not have been a long courtship, but Lily and Knox finally got to have the life they wanted.

I absolutely loved reading this feel-good romance story, that will give hope to anyone about the possibility of finding true love when you least expect it. You will absolutely enjoy reading this book just as much as I did.

I received a free review copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me all the feels. Cowboy Heartthrob is the perfect mix of small-town sweetness, Nashville charm, and swoony rockstar romance with a curvy girl at the heart of it all. From the moment Knox Rylan jumped off that stage to rescue Lily, I was hooked—and I didn’t want to put the story down.

Knox isn’t your typical bad-boy country star. Sure, he has the fame, the voice, and the spotlight, but what makes him unforgettable is his vulnerability. Behind the swagger is a man who craves something real, and the way he sees Lily—not as a headline, but as a woman worth protecting and cherishing—made my heart melt. Lily herself was so relatable: grounded, responsible, not used to being in the spotlight, yet aching for someone to really see her. The contrast between her quiet strength and Knox’s fire lit up every scene they shared.

This story has the dreamy “celebrity falls for a regular girl” fantasy, but it’s told in a way that feels genuine and heartwarming. It’s about second chances at happiness, letting yourself be truly seen, and finding love where you least expect it. The romance is tender, passionate, and just the right kind of swoony—exactly what you want in a curvy girl romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A feel-good, heart-stealing love story that will make you believe in fairytales with a country twist. I didn’t just read about Knox and Lily—I felt their journey, and I’d happily read it all over again.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

She just wants to feel seen and he wants to protect her. Lily attends Knox’s concert and she luckily receives a VIP lanyard for front row access. Knox notices her dancing and when something knocks her down, he instantly jumps off stage and carries her off. Without knowing her name, he knows he must find this mystery girl who has stolen his heart. He wants privacy with her; his PR wants a story. She is swept away with how special he makes her feel. The chemistry between them is overwhelming. Can Knox prove his love for her is strong enough to convince her leave everything behind for him? What a wonderful steamy, opposites attract, romantic story!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm and gooey romance story, loosely based on a Cinderella theme, that reminded me why I keep devouring romance stories like their cookies. I get so caught up in the romance, love the story and how it envelopes you so deep that for a couple of hours your forget all about reality and live vicariously through someone else's thoughts, feelings and journey of falling in love. It's this type of story that I'm glad I finished right before going to bed so that I have pleasant dreams all night long remembering all the good parts of the story as I close my eyes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn61 · Rating 5 out of 5]

When opportunity knocks….you in the head 😜

“I loved watching you move to the music. Next time … we’ll put a helmet on you first.”

Super endearing and sexy read with all “the feels” about a rockstar, Knox, who finds his woman in a most uncommon way!! He falls first - but to fair, Lily was unconscious 😜. I love how tenacious he was to win over her fears and man — he knows how to woo a lady!! And Lana is the best girlfriend ever!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knox and Lily are made for each other, I just couldn't put it down. One of my new favorites from Opal Nicks, I enjoyed many of her stories, these two makes you feel like you are there. I was so engaged, Amazing Opal Nicks,.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Edna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Read

The characters had true chemistry and Knox was so awesome. He took Lily's feelings into consideration and didn't exploit her. I enjoyed this book alot.

[Ineta · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start of the new series - Bourbon & Roses.
Knox, cowboy and the hottest country’s new star and Lily, who always tried to be invisible. What a meeting did they have!
Two amazing and wonderful characters - I just love them both together.
Well written instalove romance- funny, sweet and heartwarming. Enjoyed the reading and can’t wait for more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily was supposed to be just another face in the crowd that day, another body swaying to the music, but fate clearly had other plans. A chance encounter lands her front and center at Knox Rylan’s concert, and for once, the girl who prefers to fade into the background decides to let loose for a while. She dances like the music belongs to her, half-dreaming that Knox keeps glancing her way… until she realizes it’s not her imagination. And when a projectile from the crowd sends Lily to the ground, Knox doesn’t miss a beat. He’s off the stage and at her side in an instant. Suddenly, the world is buzzing about the identity of the mystery girl, and no one is more intrigued than Knox himself. What I loved most was how determined Knox was to protect Lily from the chaos of his fame, to carve out moments with her that existed far away from the flashing cameras and screaming fans. In a world full of yes-people and opportunists, Lily must have felt like a small miracle; someone real, grounding, and untouched by the glittering circus of celebrity. Knox makes her feel treasured and seen, but it’s the quiet, intimate glimpses of his real life, like introducing her to his grandparents, that truly made him feel human and lovable. And while their connection was undeniable, I appreciated that Lily’s fears weren’t brushed aside; Knox had to earn her trust, and that made their story all the more satisfying. Honestly, Knox was such a dream that it would’ve been nearly impossible not to fall for him. I may be a little too old now to fantasize about sweeping romances with my favorite rock or pop star (let’s be real, most of them probably shouldn’t be leaping off stages anymore anyway), but this story brought back those delicious, nostalgic times. It’s a reminder that sometimes, a handful of unbelievable coincidences can collide in just the right way and lead to a forever kind of love.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily is not the girl who wants to be seen. She’s careful, quiet, and content in the background. So when a VIP pass lands in her lap and drops her into the whirlwind of a country music concert, she never expects to catch the eye of the Knox Reynolds—global country star, stage-owning heartthrob, and (as she’ll soon find out) a man with surprising depth beneath the fame.

But it’s not the music or the screaming fans that shakes her—it’s him. The connection is instant and electric, and when a surge of the crowd pushes Lily off balance, Knox steps in without hesitation. In that moment, everything changes—for both of them.

And then… he finds her again.

That was the moment I knew this wasn’t just another celebrity-meets-girl romance. This was going to be something different. Something that aches and heals and wraps around you with slow, steady warmth.

Knox doesn’t just want Lily—he respects her boundaries, shelters her from the spotlight, and waits for her to be ready. Whether it’s garden talks, family dinners, or late-night confessions, every interaction feels intentional. Gentle. Real.

And Lily? She blooms. From a cautious woman afraid of the noise, she becomes someone willing to take a leap, to let someone in, to trust her heart with a man who’s willing to shield it from the world.

Their relationship isn’t perfect. It’s layered with insecurities, fame, anxiety, and the constant pull between private love and public lives. But that’s what made it so powerful. They don’t rush. They build. They choose each other again and again—with open eyes and full hearts.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Opal Nicks]

When I sat down to write Country Heartthrob - A Curvy Girl Romance, I wanted to capture a very specific kind of fantasy: that Cinderella-in-the-crowd moment where an ordinary girl collides with a man that many women fantasize about.

Lily’s story begins the way so many of ours could. She’s at a music festival, one she’s saved money to attend. A last minute gifted VIP pass puts her right in front of the stage, and before she can even catch her breath, life knocks her sideways (literally). Suddenly she’s the girl in everyone’s camera lens, carried off in the arms of country’s star heartthrob.

I love writing these “everyday women swept into the extraordinary” stories, but I also wanted it to feel grounded. You’ll see behind the curtain of Knox’s PR world, the pressure of image versus reality, and what happens when real feelings slip into the spotlight. You’ll also see Lily wrestle with what many of us know too well: that line between being noticed and being truly seen and appreciated for who you are.

This is book one of my new Bourbon & Roses series, which celebrates Kentucky roots.

I hope when you read Country Heartthrob, you’ll feel the heat of the stage lights, the sweetness of stolen glances, and the thrill of realizing that sometimes the heartthrob on stage might just be looking back at you.

With roses, a horseshoe for luck, and an occasional shot of fine Kentucky bourbon,

Opal Nicks

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This romance book really does read like every fangirl’s dream. The setup is exciting, the plot itself is interesting, and overall it’s an enjoyable story that clearly knows how to appeal to its target audience.
That said, the characters—especially the female main character—sometimes pulled me out of the story. Her constant effort to appear “normal” felt a bit forced and, at times, exhausting to read. Instead of feeling relatable, those moments made the character come across as trying too hard, which disrupted the otherwise smooth reading experience.
Despite that, the book is still a good romance with a fun and engaging plot. If you enjoy wish-fulfillment romances and don’t mind a protagonist who occasionally overthinks her own normality, this will likely still be a satisfying and entertaining read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read that takes a pretty shy/anxious gal and gets her an unexpected VIP pass to a concert and she dances like no one is watching. Knox, a rising star performing there, can't help but stare at her...until she gets knocked out. Yikes! He's off stage to rescue her, in an instant, and thus takes off their romance. I love how far he was willing to go to protect her and how he pulled out all the stops to woo her well. So swoony! She may be an accountant and not looking for the limelight, but she does want to be seen. Thankfully, these two find a way to be together and have a wonderful and steamy HEA. Good fun!

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Knox is a country singer who locks eyes with Lily before she is hit with a drink on the head at his concert. Their HEA has all the romance you could possibly want in this page-turner.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Knight Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A down home country story that was well written with an alpha male hero out to protect his woman. Until, she decided, they needed to needed to write their own story in place of letting the media write it for them. A perfectly delicious read to sink your teeth into.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of Bourbon & Roses story of Knox Rylan and Lily Morgan. OMG this one reads like a fairytale come true. I loved how Knox protects Lily from the start and the way Lily is so scared but brave to take a leap and finds forever in the arms of her Singer.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lily attends the latest country music star she never expected to be hit in the head while dancing and Knox comes off the stage to rescue her or when he continues to get to know her. This is a instant over the the top love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok…so I will admit that for a bit of this I was worried…But Ms. Nicks really wrote a beautiful love story here…my heart was happy when I got to the end😍.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[April jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was cute. Romantic but no spice 🌶️. Cute story line

[T.I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The characters drew me in right from the start. I couldn't put it down. Y'all are gonna love it. Happy reading.

[Tracy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowboy Heartthrob: A Curvy Girl Romance
Book 1 of Bourbon & Roses
Opal Nicks

Well written. Great characters, brilliant journey and easy to read.