What do you think?
Rate this book
Dug Deep With The Mountain Man: A Steamy Opposites-Attract Mountain Man Romantic Comedy
A Steamy Spring Small-Town Romantic Comedy Rainey Logan didn’t plan to rebuild her life in the Colorado mountains. Fresh off a bitter divorce and fueled by equal parts fury and freedom, she pours every cent of her settlement into a rustic cabin she’s only seen in internet photos. The listing said it needed a little TLC. It needs everything. The soil is stubborn.
The cabin is worse.
And the shovel she just bought might actually kill her.But then she meets Troy Bennett ... Broad-shouldered. Tattooed. Bearded. Infuriatingly calm. The rugged mountain man she meets at the Cady Springs lumber yard watches her wage war on a patch of dirt like she’s personally offended the earth itself—and then makes the mistake of offering advice. Troy doesn’t start what he doesn’t intend to finish. He’s learned the hard way that chemistry burns fast when there are no roots beneath it. So when the fiery redhead storms into town determined to conquer mountain soil—and possibly outrun her past—he offers guidance. Not rescue. Because up here, you don’t plant shallow. Working side by side in the spring sunshine, tension begins to simmer. Rainey is all impulse and spark, ready to leap headfirst into something that feels good. Troy is steady ground, guarding a heart that’s done investing in women who won’t stay. But as the garden begins to grow, so does something neither of them expected. And when Rainey is handed an easy way out, she’ll have to decide—Is this just another fresh start…
or the first place she’s ever willing to put down roots?Dug Deep With The Mountain Man is a steamy small-town romantic comedy • a fiery, fast-talking heroine
• a rugged cinnamon-roll mountain man
• opposites attract tension
• small-town meddling
• slow-burn chemistry
• and a love worth cultivating A guaranteed happily-ever-after in a story meant to be devoured in just a couple of hours. Each book in the Spring in the Mountains Series can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. Put some "spring" in your step and devour them all.
The cabin is worse.
And the shovel she just bought might actually kill her.But then she meets Troy Bennett ... Broad-shouldered. Tattooed. Bearded. Infuriatingly calm. The rugged mountain man she meets at the Cady Springs lumber yard watches her wage war on a patch of dirt like she’s personally offended the earth itself—and then makes the mistake of offering advice. Troy doesn’t start what he doesn’t intend to finish. He’s learned the hard way that chemistry burns fast when there are no roots beneath it. So when the fiery redhead storms into town determined to conquer mountain soil—and possibly outrun her past—he offers guidance. Not rescue. Because up here, you don’t plant shallow. Working side by side in the spring sunshine, tension begins to simmer. Rainey is all impulse and spark, ready to leap headfirst into something that feels good. Troy is steady ground, guarding a heart that’s done investing in women who won’t stay. But as the garden begins to grow, so does something neither of them expected. And when Rainey is handed an easy way out, she’ll have to decide—Is this just another fresh start…
or the first place she’s ever willing to put down roots?Dug Deep With The Mountain Man is a steamy small-town romantic comedy • a fiery, fast-talking heroine
• a rugged cinnamon-roll mountain man
• opposites attract tension
• small-town meddling
• slow-burn chemistry
• and a love worth cultivating A guaranteed happily-ever-after in a story meant to be devoured in just a couple of hours. Each book in the Spring in the Mountains Series can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. Put some "spring" in your step and devour them all.
- GenresSmall Town Romance
115 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2026
About the author
Opal Nicks
55 books31 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 5, 2026
He knows what lasts. She’s never stayed long enough to find out.
Fresh off a bitter divorce, Rainey throws herself into a new life with more nerve than experience. The cabin she buys in the Colorado mountains is falling apart, the land pushes back, and every repair reminds her that freedom can still hurt. Then Troy steps in. Quiet, tattooed, and impossible to ignore, he doesn’t offer rescue. He offers blunt honesty, steady hands, and the kind of help that asks her to stay in the work instead of running from it.
What starts as guidance turns into something heavier the more time they spend side by side. Rainey is all exposed nerve and stubborn momentum. Troy is controlled, capable, and careful with where he puts his time, trust, and want. As he teaches her how to work the land, the tension between them stops feeling manageable. Every lesson cuts closer, every touch lands harder, and the line between practical and personal starts to blur.
The real shift isn’t just the heat. It’s what grows underneath it. Rainey has to decide whether starting over means never staying long enough to be hurt, or finally choosing a place and a man that ask something real of her. Troy has to risk believing that wanting more won’t leave him empty-handed again. Together they build something steady, physical, and deeply earned, where trust and labor turn desire into something lasting.
It’s about starting over after betrayal, learning to trust what feels steady instead of what feels familiar, and finding a love that’s patient, grounding, and consuming without losing its emotional weight. As two damaged people stop running and start building something real, the story settles into the kind of connection that asks for work, vulnerability, and the choice to stay.
The Elevator Pitch: A recently divorced woman buys a crumbling mountain cabin hoping a new landscape might fix what her old life broke, only to find herself face to face with a quiet, guarded man who understands hard ground and harder truths. What begins as practical help turns into a slow, heated unraveling as labor, desire, and trust tangle together in ways neither of them can control. Beneath the tension, it becomes about whether two people shaped by disappointment can choose something steady before fear teaches them to walk away.
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance
Fresh off a bitter divorce, Rainey throws herself into a new life with more nerve than experience. The cabin she buys in the Colorado mountains is falling apart, the land pushes back, and every repair reminds her that freedom can still hurt. Then Troy steps in. Quiet, tattooed, and impossible to ignore, he doesn’t offer rescue. He offers blunt honesty, steady hands, and the kind of help that asks her to stay in the work instead of running from it.
What starts as guidance turns into something heavier the more time they spend side by side. Rainey is all exposed nerve and stubborn momentum. Troy is controlled, capable, and careful with where he puts his time, trust, and want. As he teaches her how to work the land, the tension between them stops feeling manageable. Every lesson cuts closer, every touch lands harder, and the line between practical and personal starts to blur.
The real shift isn’t just the heat. It’s what grows underneath it. Rainey has to decide whether starting over means never staying long enough to be hurt, or finally choosing a place and a man that ask something real of her. Troy has to risk believing that wanting more won’t leave him empty-handed again. Together they build something steady, physical, and deeply earned, where trust and labor turn desire into something lasting.
It’s about starting over after betrayal, learning to trust what feels steady instead of what feels familiar, and finding a love that’s patient, grounding, and consuming without losing its emotional weight. As two damaged people stop running and start building something real, the story settles into the kind of connection that asks for work, vulnerability, and the choice to stay.
The Elevator Pitch: A recently divorced woman buys a crumbling mountain cabin hoping a new landscape might fix what her old life broke, only to find herself face to face with a quiet, guarded man who understands hard ground and harder truths. What begins as practical help turns into a slow, heated unraveling as labor, desire, and trust tangle together in ways neither of them can control. Beneath the tension, it becomes about whether two people shaped by disappointment can choose something steady before fear teaches them to walk away.
Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance
April 1, 2026
Fighting their Inevitable Connection -
Even though the property Rainey purchased didn’t match what she expected, she made her mind up to work on it herself, which led her to meeting Troy in the hardware store. Troy felt an instant connection with Rainey from the moment they met, but he tried everything possible to maintain a platonic friendship with her. However, Troy soon found himself spending time helping Rainey to renovate the property and the garden, which heightened their attraction for each other and led to them changing the dynamics of their relationship.
Luckily, Troy soon realised his feelings for Rainey was the real deal and confessed to her, which led to them embarking on a future together. I really enjoyed reading this fast-paced, sweet small-town romance with strong characters, steamy moments and a fantastic storyline, that had me totally engrossed from beginning until the very end. This is a definite must read book.
I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Even though the property Rainey purchased didn’t match what she expected, she made her mind up to work on it herself, which led her to meeting Troy in the hardware store. Troy felt an instant connection with Rainey from the moment they met, but he tried everything possible to maintain a platonic friendship with her. However, Troy soon found himself spending time helping Rainey to renovate the property and the garden, which heightened their attraction for each other and led to them changing the dynamics of their relationship.
Luckily, Troy soon realised his feelings for Rainey was the real deal and confessed to her, which led to them embarking on a future together. I really enjoyed reading this fast-paced, sweet small-town romance with strong characters, steamy moments and a fantastic storyline, that had me totally engrossed from beginning until the very end. This is a definite must read book.
I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 2, 2026
A bigger commitment than tomatoes?
Rainey is totally overwhelmed and doubting her life choices, Troy sees past her fears, her verbal babbling and the wreck of a house to the strong, determined woman she thinks she has lost.
This is a great journey of discovery for both Rainey and Troy, with plenty of dirty flirting, new starts and a forever they never expected.
A great read on Kindle Unlimited.
Rainey is totally overwhelmed and doubting her life choices, Troy sees past her fears, her verbal babbling and the wreck of a house to the strong, determined woman she thinks she has lost.
This is a great journey of discovery for both Rainey and Troy, with plenty of dirty flirting, new starts and a forever they never expected.
A great read on Kindle Unlimited.
May 3, 2026
It was amazing short read - funny, entertaining and sweet. Loved the shovel with opinions and gardening lessons.
Rainey came to Colorado mountains to cabin she purchased online. When needed fresh start.
And met Troy who doesn’t invest in things that don’t stay long enough.
Amazing read - gardening of hearts. Beautiful characters and wonderful story to enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rainey came to Colorado mountains to cabin she purchased online. When needed fresh start.
And met Troy who doesn’t invest in things that don’t stay long enough.
Amazing read - gardening of hearts. Beautiful characters and wonderful story to enjoy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
May 2, 2026Rainey and Logan meet at the hardware store. He gives her planting new plants, I loved how he was helping her, They have a natural attraction. I loved the story.
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.
Read
April 1, 2026There’s a moment in every book where I know exactly what it wants to be. Then there are the books that make me work for it. Dug Deep with the Mountain Man was definitely the second kind.
When I first started writing Rainey and Troy’s story, I thought I knew where it was going. A fixer-upper cabin, a fresh start, a rugged mountain man who knows his way around tools and land. Simple, right? Not quite.
Somewhere along the way, this story became less about the cabin and more about what it means to stay.
Rainey doesn’t arrive in the mountains with a plan. She arrives with momentum. With frustration. With the kind of energy that makes you say yes to something before you fully understand what you’ve just committed to.
She’s standing in the middle of it all with a bad roof and gutters, stubborn soil, and a porch in need of replacement. Rainey realizes she can’t just walk away without answering a bigger question: What happens if I actually try?
Troy, on the other hand, is the opposite. He’s the rock that never changes and is very intentional. The kind of man who doesn’t start something unless he’s willing to see it through. He’s built a life that works, one that doesn’t rely on chaos or chance.
So when Rainey shows up in his world – fast-talking, impulsive, and completely unprepared for what she’s taken on, he doesn’t rush in to fix everything.
Troy shows her how to stay. That dynamic became the heart of this book.
Not a complete rescue or let me rebuild your castle with instant perfection. In my opinion, something more meaningful. Two people learning how to meet in the middle of effort, growth, and a little bit of mess.
One of my favorite elements in this story is the garden.
It started as a practical solution. Rainey needed something she could build and see progress in. But it quickly turned into something more symbolic. Gardens don’t respond to impatience. They don’t reward shortcuts. You can’t force them into becoming something overnight.
You have to show up. You have to tend. You have to stick with it. That mirrors exactly what happens between Rainey and Troy. Their relationship doesn’t grow because it’s easy. It grows because neither of them walks away when it stops being easy.
This book also gave me the chance to lean into something I love writing: the balance between humor and heat.
Rainey is, without question, one of my more chaotic heroines. She overthinks, she improvises, and she absolutely says things out loud that most people would keep to themselves.
Troy … does not.
That contrast created some of my favorite moments in the story. The kind where tension builds not just from attraction, but from the space between how they move through the world.
She rushes in. He holds steady.
Somewhere in between, they find something that works.
If you’ve read my other mountain man stories, you’ll recognize the tone here with the small-town setting, strong emotional core, and a hero who knows exactly what he wants once he decides something is worth keeping.
But Dug Deep with the Mountain Man feels a little different to me. It’s softer in some places. Stronger in others. At its core, it’s about choosing to stay when walking away might seem easier.
If you’ve already read Rainey and Troy’s story, thank you for spending that time with them and with me. These characters stuck with me longer than I expected, and I hope they linger with you a little, too.
If you’re just discovering this book … I hope you enjoy the dirt, the laughter, the tension and everything that grows in between.
Opal Nicks
When I first started writing Rainey and Troy’s story, I thought I knew where it was going. A fixer-upper cabin, a fresh start, a rugged mountain man who knows his way around tools and land. Simple, right? Not quite.
Somewhere along the way, this story became less about the cabin and more about what it means to stay.
Rainey doesn’t arrive in the mountains with a plan. She arrives with momentum. With frustration. With the kind of energy that makes you say yes to something before you fully understand what you’ve just committed to.
She’s standing in the middle of it all with a bad roof and gutters, stubborn soil, and a porch in need of replacement. Rainey realizes she can’t just walk away without answering a bigger question: What happens if I actually try?
Troy, on the other hand, is the opposite. He’s the rock that never changes and is very intentional. The kind of man who doesn’t start something unless he’s willing to see it through. He’s built a life that works, one that doesn’t rely on chaos or chance.
So when Rainey shows up in his world – fast-talking, impulsive, and completely unprepared for what she’s taken on, he doesn’t rush in to fix everything.
Troy shows her how to stay. That dynamic became the heart of this book.
Not a complete rescue or let me rebuild your castle with instant perfection. In my opinion, something more meaningful. Two people learning how to meet in the middle of effort, growth, and a little bit of mess.
One of my favorite elements in this story is the garden.
It started as a practical solution. Rainey needed something she could build and see progress in. But it quickly turned into something more symbolic. Gardens don’t respond to impatience. They don’t reward shortcuts. You can’t force them into becoming something overnight.
You have to show up. You have to tend. You have to stick with it. That mirrors exactly what happens between Rainey and Troy. Their relationship doesn’t grow because it’s easy. It grows because neither of them walks away when it stops being easy.
This book also gave me the chance to lean into something I love writing: the balance between humor and heat.
Rainey is, without question, one of my more chaotic heroines. She overthinks, she improvises, and she absolutely says things out loud that most people would keep to themselves.
Troy … does not.
That contrast created some of my favorite moments in the story. The kind where tension builds not just from attraction, but from the space between how they move through the world.
She rushes in. He holds steady.
Somewhere in between, they find something that works.
If you’ve read my other mountain man stories, you’ll recognize the tone here with the small-town setting, strong emotional core, and a hero who knows exactly what he wants once he decides something is worth keeping.
But Dug Deep with the Mountain Man feels a little different to me. It’s softer in some places. Stronger in others. At its core, it’s about choosing to stay when walking away might seem easier.
If you’ve already read Rainey and Troy’s story, thank you for spending that time with them and with me. These characters stuck with me longer than I expected, and I hope they linger with you a little, too.
If you’re just discovering this book … I hope you enjoy the dirt, the laughter, the tension and everything that grows in between.
Opal Nicks
May 6, 2026
Rainey moves to town for a restart, a fresh life, and well....the cabin she bought isn't exactly the pretty picture she was sold. She doesn't know how to fix it, but she sure as heck is going to try.
When she meets Troy you really have a good laugh and see the humor and witt Rainey has. Troy is a simple guy but he can't resist the beauty before her, and getting to know her.
I think the thing i loved about this book is really the depth. Its not just meet cute or romance. You really see how life can really change people in ways they didn't know, and sometimes everyone needs a little help. I love how Troy shows her planting roots and giving it time to grow can be a great thing. Rainey is half a foot in as they start, but Troy gives her reason to want to stay.
Troy is full of knowledge, strength, and a quiet steady that pulls at all the strings for Rainey. I love how they gradually fall in love, get to see how you can watch life change as things grow, and a genuine HEA.
When she meets Troy you really have a good laugh and see the humor and witt Rainey has. Troy is a simple guy but he can't resist the beauty before her, and getting to know her.
I think the thing i loved about this book is really the depth. Its not just meet cute or romance. You really see how life can really change people in ways they didn't know, and sometimes everyone needs a little help. I love how Troy shows her planting roots and giving it time to grow can be a great thing. Rainey is half a foot in as they start, but Troy gives her reason to want to stay.
Troy is full of knowledge, strength, and a quiet steady that pulls at all the strings for Rainey. I love how they gradually fall in love, get to see how you can watch life change as things grow, and a genuine HEA.
April 11, 2026
The narrative expresses the scene and sets up the story between the city girl and the mountain man. Rainey buys a rustic cabin without seeing it in person and finds out that there is more work than she thought. She meets Troy in the hardware story and after hearing her story, decides to help get her started. Troy is determined to keep his heart secured but Rainey has a way of unlocking his heart. What starts out as friends helping friends, turn into an attraction that can’t be dismissed. Will Rainey stay and will Troy open his heart fully to her? This awesome little cozy is fabulous. Wonderful characters that make this an enjoyable read and a great storyline packed with feelings to keep me reading! I 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.
April 9, 2026
This was a fun and engaging read that looks at what starting over looks like for a freshly divorced gal. Rainey has bought an 'as is' cabin to renovate and cultivate as her fresh start. However, she finds herself in quite the fight with the stubborn soil and in over her head on the renos ;) Thankfully, Troy offers her some advice and decides to help her out. What slowly grows, aside from their instant connection, is the trust that each will be there for the other, healing and a love strong enough to last. I enjoyed their interactions and the breaking down of their walls to give them that fab and steamy HEA. Good fun!
Review of advance copy
This is a very entertaining romance. Rainey arrives in Cady Springs after buying a cabin sight unseen listed as needing a bit of TLC. When she sees it she nearly leaves but then decides to give it a try. In the hardware story Troy looks at her cart and can't decide what she needs the equipment for so takes her to lunch instead. While helping her with the garden and cabin their forever starts to grow. This is a page-turner.
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.
April 5, 2026
Spring in the Mountains story of Rainey Logan and Troy Bennett. I loved how Rainey gets her man, I will say I loved growing my own food and working with my hands and this story really made me feel like it’s okay to love something small and beautiful. I think I would have kicked Troy when he brought out his tools, make Rainey do that when he could have just said something. I liked how hard Rainey worked to make that place her own with Troy’s help.
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.
May 1, 2026
'The Mountain Man is a steamy small-town romantic comedy featuring:• a fiery, fast-talking heroine
• a rugged cinnamon-roll mountain man
• opposites attract tension
• small-town meddling
• slow-burn chemistry
• and a love worth cultivating'
The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• a rugged cinnamon-roll mountain man
• opposites attract tension
• small-town meddling
• slow-burn chemistry
• and a love worth cultivating'
The characters were very appealing and likeable and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 6, 2026
Outstanding read!
Great storyline. Strong character. Enjoyed reading it. For a quiet mountain man he shows what he feel words aren't really needed.
Great storyline. Strong character. Enjoyed reading it. For a quiet mountain man he shows what he feel words aren't really needed.
August 20, 2026
Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews