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Hemp & Honey: A Forbidden Age Gap Romance
He’s my boss’s father. Twice my age. Off-limits in every way.
So why does every glance feel like fire… and every touch taste like honey?
The Caldwell Farm was supposed to be a working vacation with my boss at her family's farm in Kentucky. It would be a couple of weeks in the Bluegrass, then back to city lights.
But the moment I met Tom Caldwell, everything changed.
Silver-fox handsome and strong as the Kentucky soil he works, Tom is the kind of man who commands a room without ever raising his voice. He’s also my boss’s father. Off-limits in every way that matters.
Yet every stolen look burns hotter. Every quiet moment tempts me deeper. Out here among the bourbon sunsets and fields of hemp, it feels like I’m no longer Monica’s assistant. I’m just a woman who’s falling for a man who shouldn’t be mine.
And the more he calls me honey,
the harder it is to remember why I should say no.
💘 A steamy, swoony story with a young, curvy heroine and an older, rich country tycoon. No cliffhanger. No cheating. Just heat, heart, and one hell of a tale of love in the Bluegrass state.BOURBON & ROSES SERIESBourbon in the glass. Roses in the air. Love in the Bluegrass has never been this intoxicating
From 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.
So why does every glance feel like fire… and every touch taste like honey?
The Caldwell Farm was supposed to be a working vacation with my boss at her family's farm in Kentucky. It would be a couple of weeks in the Bluegrass, then back to city lights.
But the moment I met Tom Caldwell, everything changed.
Silver-fox handsome and strong as the Kentucky soil he works, Tom is the kind of man who commands a room without ever raising his voice. He’s also my boss’s father. Off-limits in every way that matters.
Yet every stolen look burns hotter. Every quiet moment tempts me deeper. Out here among the bourbon sunsets and fields of hemp, it feels like I’m no longer Monica’s assistant. I’m just a woman who’s falling for a man who shouldn’t be mine.
And the more he calls me honey,
the harder it is to remember why I should say no.
💘 A steamy, swoony story with a young, curvy heroine and an older, rich country tycoon. No cliffhanger. No cheating. Just heat, heart, and one hell of a tale of love in the Bluegrass state.BOURBON & ROSES SERIESBourbon in the glass. Roses in the air. Love in the Bluegrass has never been this intoxicating
From 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.
113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2026
1 person want to read
About the author
Opal Nicks
46 books23 followersOpal’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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 3, 2026
An Unexpected Love Connection -
If you want to experience passion, tension-filled moment and a rollercoaster of emotions, as you delve into the pages of this captivating romance story, then look no further than this amazing book. From the longing looks to the magnetic pull of the forbidden romance, every moment will leave you breathless and yearning for more. I recommend you grab a copy of this book and entertain yourself for a few hours.
I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you want to experience passion, tension-filled moment and a rollercoaster of emotions, as you delve into the pages of this captivating romance story, then look no further than this amazing book. From the longing looks to the magnetic pull of the forbidden romance, every moment will leave you breathless and yearning for more. I recommend you grab a copy of this book and entertain yourself for a few hours.
I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 3, 2026
A forbidden spark. A quiet farm. A love that won’t stay silent.
When Karla tags along on a trip to her boss’s family farm in Kentucky, it’s supposed to be a working visit. The goal? Assess the hemp operation, help map out the next chapter, and keep things strictly professional. But nothing about Tom feels temporary. Steady, quiet, and impossible to overlook, he’s rooted in the land and the legacy he’s trying to protect.
Tom doesn’t pursue what he shouldn’t want. Karla doesn’t risk what she can’t afford to lose. But every shared glance, every still moment, builds a tension that won’t go away. She’s not just an assistant anymore. He’s not just her boss’s father. The rules feel clear until feelings rewrite them.
They don’t fall fast, but they fall deep. Between long days in the fields and slow nights in the kitchen, something real takes shape. They try to hold the line, but the line keeps moving. What starts with restraint becomes an unspoken understanding that neither of them wants to leave behind.
Karla finds her voice, not just with Tom, but in her work, her choices, and her place in a life that finally fits. Tom starts letting people in again, stepping out from behind the grief he’s worn like armor. What they build isn’t loud or perfect. It’s steady, deliberate, and grounded in mutual respect.
Set against bourbon sunsets and fields of hemp, Hemp & Honey is a story about slow-burning tension, unexpected connection, and the kind of love that grows from truth, not fantasy. It’s about seeing and being seen, choosing what matters even when it’s complicated, and finding your way home to someone who feels like steady ground.
The Elevator Pitch: A slow burn to steamy, emotionally charged romance where a young woman falls for her boss’s father on a Kentucky farm. Their connection simmers with forbidden tension, tender moments, and undeniable heat as they navigate loyalty, restraint, and desire. A heartfelt escape into love that’s unexpected, risky, and worth every step.
When Karla tags along on a trip to her boss’s family farm in Kentucky, it’s supposed to be a working visit. The goal? Assess the hemp operation, help map out the next chapter, and keep things strictly professional. But nothing about Tom feels temporary. Steady, quiet, and impossible to overlook, he’s rooted in the land and the legacy he’s trying to protect.
Tom doesn’t pursue what he shouldn’t want. Karla doesn’t risk what she can’t afford to lose. But every shared glance, every still moment, builds a tension that won’t go away. She’s not just an assistant anymore. He’s not just her boss’s father. The rules feel clear until feelings rewrite them.
They don’t fall fast, but they fall deep. Between long days in the fields and slow nights in the kitchen, something real takes shape. They try to hold the line, but the line keeps moving. What starts with restraint becomes an unspoken understanding that neither of them wants to leave behind.
Karla finds her voice, not just with Tom, but in her work, her choices, and her place in a life that finally fits. Tom starts letting people in again, stepping out from behind the grief he’s worn like armor. What they build isn’t loud or perfect. It’s steady, deliberate, and grounded in mutual respect.
Set against bourbon sunsets and fields of hemp, Hemp & Honey is a story about slow-burning tension, unexpected connection, and the kind of love that grows from truth, not fantasy. It’s about seeing and being seen, choosing what matters even when it’s complicated, and finding your way home to someone who feels like steady ground.
The Elevator Pitch: A slow burn to steamy, emotionally charged romance where a young woman falls for her boss’s father on a Kentucky farm. Their connection simmers with forbidden tension, tender moments, and undeniable heat as they navigate loyalty, restraint, and desire. A heartfelt escape into love that’s unexpected, risky, and worth every step.
January 15, 2026
Monica and Karla are heading to the Caldwell Farm to help Tom, Monica’s father, dissect his business. The moment Karla sees Tom the attraction begins. But she knows that he is off-limits. Could a romance begin? As she really sees the farm and the love Tom has for it, she is aware she is falling in love with him. Will Tom reciprocate the feeling? How will Monica handle what is growing between her dad and Karla? This is a wonderful story that is well written with likeable characters that drew me in and had me all engaged in them. Can’t wait for the next book in this amazing series. The author has a way of bringing the reader into the story so the they can feel every emotion that the characters are experiencing. You not only just read the book you feel it. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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January 4, 2026When I began writing Hemp & Honey, I wasn’t interested in shock value. I wanted intimacy … the kind that sneaks up on you.
This story explores a forbidden connection that unfolds not in reckless decisions, but in restraint. Tom Caldwell is a man rooted in legacy, responsibility, and experience. He’s lived enough life to know what’s at stake. Kayla is young, intelligent, and fully capable of walking away, yet drawn in by something she can’t explain away as a passing temptation.
The age gap matters. The power imbalance matters. The family dynamic matters. None of it is brushed aside and that was intentional.
Kentucky’s Bluegrass isn’t just a backdrop. It’s part of the emotional landscape. The land, the farm, the sense of continuity all reflect the question at the heart of the story: What do you do when love arrives later than expected … but feels truer than anything before it?
I wanted the heat to feel earned, the emotions grounded, and the ending satisfying. There’s no cheating. No cliffhanger. Just two people choosing each other honestly, with eyes wide open.
If you enjoy forbidden romance with depth, silver-fox heroes who know who they are, and stories where love feels both dangerous and inevitable, this one was written for you.
Keep smiling,
Opal
This story explores a forbidden connection that unfolds not in reckless decisions, but in restraint. Tom Caldwell is a man rooted in legacy, responsibility, and experience. He’s lived enough life to know what’s at stake. Kayla is young, intelligent, and fully capable of walking away, yet drawn in by something she can’t explain away as a passing temptation.
The age gap matters. The power imbalance matters. The family dynamic matters. None of it is brushed aside and that was intentional.
Kentucky’s Bluegrass isn’t just a backdrop. It’s part of the emotional landscape. The land, the farm, the sense of continuity all reflect the question at the heart of the story: What do you do when love arrives later than expected … but feels truer than anything before it?
I wanted the heat to feel earned, the emotions grounded, and the ending satisfying. There’s no cheating. No cliffhanger. Just two people choosing each other honestly, with eyes wide open.
If you enjoy forbidden romance with depth, silver-fox heroes who know who they are, and stories where love feels both dangerous and inevitable, this one was written for you.
Keep smiling,
Opal
January 7, 2026
An Age-Gap Romance Where Quiet Moments Speak the Loudest
Opal Nicks' Hemp & Honey is a sweet age-gap romance set in the Kentucky countryside, where the setting is far more than a backdrop. The quiet, rural atmosphere seeps into every page until it feels like a character itself. The romance unfolds just as gently. Rather than rushing into heat, the story takes its time, building something slow, intentional, and ultimately undeniable. The characters don’t just share attraction, but a genuine connection, which is rare in romance novellas.
This story is sweet like honey. If you are looking for an age-gap romance set in the country that isn’t slow for the sake of it, but instead moves with purpose and care, this one is for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Opal Nicks' Hemp & Honey is a sweet age-gap romance set in the Kentucky countryside, where the setting is far more than a backdrop. The quiet, rural atmosphere seeps into every page until it feels like a character itself. The romance unfolds just as gently. Rather than rushing into heat, the story takes its time, building something slow, intentional, and ultimately undeniable. The characters don’t just share attraction, but a genuine connection, which is rare in romance novellas.
This story is sweet like honey. If you are looking for an age-gap romance set in the country that isn’t slow for the sake of it, but instead moves with purpose and care, this one is for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 11, 2026
This was a wonderful age gap romance that hits sweet but also with genuine connection. Karla is in Bourbon country with her boss, Melissa, and finds herself drawn to her father, Tom. He is not only twice her age but, yeah, her boss' dad. That doesn't stop their slow burn romance that unfolds in quite a gentle manner and ends in true love. Don't let the jacket fool you - this is a romance you will feel invested in as you follow them to their fab and spicy HEA. If you love rural romance, this one is definitely for you :D
January 5, 2026
Book 2 of Bourbon & Roses story of Tom Caldwell and Karla. This one had me on the fence for the age, but this is a slow burn that is well worth the read. I was not sure of the cover either but dived in and found myself getting invested in the story. You know that age old saying don’t judge a book by its cover is true.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews