Plunged

Heartbreaker Trades #1

by Claire Wilder

As a woman plumber, I’m used to men being jerks to me—but I can give as good as I get.

So, when I get called to the mansion of a billionaire with a bad reputation, I’m prepared to go in, do the best fix he’s ever seen, and get on with my day.

But nothing prepares me for the man I meet inside. He’s no pampered playboy—he’s a grumpy, bearded recluse who hates the world and everything in it.

But when he looks at me with those stormy green eyes, I see the pain he’s hiding.

Maybe he isn’t the beast everyone says he is.

Maybe somewhere in there is a prince.

Plunged is book one in Claire Wilder's Heartbreaker Trades series, following women in trades and the men who love them. This grumpy sunshine billionaire hero story will rip your heart out and put it back together again with a Happily Ever After for the ages.

Genres: Romance, Adult

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2026

About the author

USA Today bestselling author of spicy small-town romance featuring

- Relatable women who always support each other
- Strong, sexy wounded men
- A sometimes rocky but always steamy road that always leads to a guaranteed HEA

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Where to find me:

Website: clairewilder.com
Instagram: instagram.com/clairewilderbooks
Bookbub: bookbub.com/profile/claire-wilder
Amazon: amazon.com/author/clairewilder
Bonus Material: clairewilder.com/extras

Reviews

[cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up thinking it would be a mildly unhinged grumpy-sunshine situation to reset my brain, and instead I got steamrolled by a feral, bearded billionaire. The way this man was down catastrophically from the literal beginning should be studied. Not a slow descent. Not a reluctant fall. A full freefall into obsession. And I ate it UP. 😩😩 The banter had me hooked immediately because Winona does not back down for anyone, least of all some stormy-eyed recluse with a reputation problem. 🙂‍↕️🤚🏼 Honestly Mitchell deserved every ounce of attitude she served him.

“Mitchell Harrington had taken a sledgehammer to these pipes. I should have been terrified. Maybe I was. My heart was certainly thundering against my ribs. But I knew, without a doubt, that he’d done this to get me back here.”

I had to physically put the book down and stare at the wall after that because WHAT DO YOU MEAN he manufactured a plumbing emergency as a flirtation tactic.😭😭 That is not romance-novel behavior, that is FERAL RACCOON behavior😭😭😭, and yet somehow it worked on me. 🫣🫣 The insanity. The commitment. The fact that one accidental encounter with a woman who refuses to be intimidated basically rerouted this man’s entire personality overnight??? Wild. Unhinged. Deeply compelling. (i was SAT)

Winona herself though… absolute queen behavior. 👑 I loved the women-in-trades premise so much because she’s competent, stubborn, proud of what she does, and completely uninterested in making herself smaller to soothe fragile egos. 👏🏼 She doesn’t fix him by being soft; she fixes him by being exactly who she already is. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a man who thought he was beyond saving realize he just needed someone to remind him he still had a heart in there somewhere. 😌

“I didn’t think I was anything until you exploded into my life, Firecracker.”

Did I roll my eyes a little? Yes. Did it also hit me directly in the chest? Also yes. 😭 Because beneath all the dramatics, the book really sells that she gives him purpose in a way that feels earnest rather than savior-complex-y, and I’m weak for that particular flavor of emotional dependency when it’s done right. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

I will say the one thing I felt off about was that the pacing is FAST, but honestly that made it impossible to put down. It’s one of those reads where you say “just one more chapter” and suddenly two hours later you’re clutching your blanket because a random 🌶️chase scene appears out of nowhere?!?!? The spice showed up like it had been lurking behind a corner waiting to jump you, and you’re weirdly invested in these two chaotic people figuring their lives out together.

“You’re all I think about, Winona. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. You inhabit my every waking moment.”

This man was not flirting. He was issuing a medically concerning confession. 😭😭 Down bad doesn’t even cover it. And yet the sincerity of it made it impossible not to root for him, because for all his intensity he’s also weirdly gentle when it actually matters.

“Winona,” he breathed. “Every part of you feels like it was made for me.”

Ridiculous. Excessive. Extremely romance-novel. Everything I’m obsessed with. I highlighted it immediately 🤌🏼🤌🏼 And by the time we get to the realization that this isn’t just obsession for him but something rooted deeper, it lands with a softness after all the chaos.

“Because Winona wasn’t just a passing obsession. Despite what my brother thought, I knew the difference. Winona was in my veins now; pulsing into the beating rhythm of my heart.”

So yeah… four stars, easily. Not because it was flawless or life-altering, but because it delivered exactly what it promised: a fast, addictive, emotionally charged ride with a heroine you want to cheer for and a hero whose love language is apparently catastrophic devotion. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

things to know about the book ↓

✨ obsessive hero
✨ billionaire recluse
✨ woman in trades
✨ touch her and ☠️ energy
✨ he falls first (and hardest)
✨ instant obsession
✨ “who did this to you” vibes
✨ fast burn
✨ dual POV

spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes

Thank you Luna Literary, and Claire Wilder for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

⸻⸻⸻
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read

this has so many tropes that I adore. I can’t wait 🤭🤭

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was promised a plumber.
I got a middling billionaire romance that made me wish I was reading Annika Martin instead.
BUT I WAS PROMISED A PLUMBER.
You could change Winona's job to literally anything else and it wouldn't change anything significant about this story. I'm not convinced the author did any actual research on plumbing. After the first quarter of the book, the main character doesn't even pick up a wrench or look at a pipe.
Well, not that kind of pipe. (SEE? YOU CAN MAKE SO MANY DIRTY JOKES WITH A PREMISE LIKE THIS AND THE BOOK COMPLETELY DROPS THE BALL.)
I wanted camp. I wanted bad puns. I wanted a hard as nails heroine who is making her way in the trades. Heck, I'd have even taken the promised "sunshine" in the trades. I just wanted something that made me root for her as a woman in the trades.
But this book wants to take her seriously. Too seriously. She's not like other girls--she's starting a consortium for all women in the trades. And she's cool--she only works with appropriate racial and sexually diverse women who spend their evening sipping wine and talking about romantic relationships.
Actually, I'm going to pause there and say the female camaraderie drove me CRAZY. Don't get me wrong. I love a good girl gang. And just because you're a boss doesn't mean you can't have a soft side or love a good merlot. But I felt like so much of the strength of these women gets ignored in the pursuit of relatable, soft women giggling over things like boys and job discrimination and shouting 'girl power' every five minutes.
And don't even get me started on the romance.
Actually, too late. I'm going to rant about the romance. I hated it. Mitchell is a billionaire. But like, a cool one because he doesn't actually want all that money. He just leaves it to his assistant to manage and will apologize for it every time it comes up. (Also, said assistant organizes things like his dry cleaning while also running his billion dollar company? Talk about a woman who needs more empowering.)
Anyway, Accidental Billionaire is writing the Next Great American Novel because he has daddy issues and angst. He meets Winona and you can TELL ME it is enemies to lovers but in reality it is him going "why is someone in my house" and her being like "how dare you threaten me because I am a stranger in your house" and then he's like "wow, she's hot" and she's like "he is a billionaire so he much be a jerk" and...then there is a lot of him doing random billionaire things like paying for someone else to clean up her entire neighborhood (organized by the same long suffering assistant) and taking her on a first date where he chases her around an abandoned castle. Because that's not serial killer-y at all.
At one point she cuts her hands on a pipe and is like "oh I hate blood" and he's all macho and turning on the sink. But she works in the trades??? She most definitely has cut herself before???
I, just, I hated it. I hated them as a couple. I hated that there wasn't more actual plumbing. I hated that he stopped water from pouring out of the broken pipes by turning off the water faucet and not, I don't know, the water for the whole house.
Just so much missed potential.

[BookishWithSteph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received by author. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of Plunged, the first book in the Heartbreaker Trades series by Claire Wilder. It’s a delightful blend of various tropes and emotions, creating a captivating and enjoyable reading experience. From the small-town romance to the enemies-to-lovers storyline and the intriguing billionaire, the book offers a perfect mix of elements. But wait, there’s more! Our main character, Winona, is a formidable boss babe with her own company. She’s determined to empower more women in blue-collar trades, adding an empowering and inspiring layer to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book, and the spice simply perfection. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves romance and wants to be swept away by a captivating tale. Five stars!

[Commamirandabooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review 📖
Plunged
Trades Series Book One
Written by Claire Wilder
@clairewilderbooks


Yes! I love the role reversal with these two. She’s a plumper, and he is a grumpy Billionaire and an author. I'm here for it. The way they met is right on brand. The first impressions may not have been the best, but they can't stop thinking about each other, even though Winona hates Mitchell. Unfortunately for her, she has now become his writing muse, and he will do anything to get her in the same proximity as him. The banter between them is another sign that these two have some great chemistry in only a few meetings. Mitchell has the world, but she is the first thing that has given him something to look forward to or focus on, and luckily for him, Winona is curious about him, too.

The text chain between Mitchell and his brother, Blake, is hilarious. His nicknames for her! I love that everyone calls him a beast. I love that she puts him in his place and doesn't put up with his grumpiness. She challenges him, and each time she does it, it's slowly helping Mitchell more than she can ever know. Mitchell is a man obsessed and cannot get enough of Winona, but she wants nothing to do with him because she is not willing to let her walls down with him. I believe these two are perfect for each other. They were meant to meet each other and help each other realize that they are missing each other in their lives.


I love that Winona is from Newfoundland and is a canadian. Not often that you get to read a romance book with a Newfie. Another perk of reading Canadian Romance authors.

I got lost in this story with Michell and Winona and their well-deserved HEA.


Enemies to Lovers
Beauty & the Beast Coded
Antihero
Possessive Hero
Forced Proximity
Billionaire
Grumpy x Sunshine
Hate to Love You
Blue Collar Woman
Small Town
Found Family
Spicy AF

#ClaireWilder
#TradesSeries

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: Yes***
Author: Claire Wilder
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3.5/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Mitchell and Winona
Trope(s): Beauty and The Beast, Enemies To Lovers, Billionaire, Obsessed Hero, Found Family

‘Mitchell, as it turned out, appeared to be everything I never knew I needed.’

I’ve been an active Claire Wilder reader. Her small town feels books are usually lowish angst, enough to add to the story, but not so much that you are completely wrecked. This book is slightly heavier than her norm and she includes Trigger Warnings. And, this book also had a bit more spice with a dirty talking MMC, and an FMC who wouldn’t mind acting out some scenes from the spicy books she loves to read. Winona is strong, independent, and determined to live out her best life. Mitchell, despite his financial success, is searching for how to live out his best life. The sparks fly from their first meeting. And, they do not stop throughout the book. This was an easy, engaging, swoony read.

Winona owns Heartbreaker Plumbing in Quince Valley, Vermont. She settled there years ago with her younger brothers looking for a fresh start. She built a life for them. Now she’s ready to build a life for herself and to bring attention to women in the trades.

Mitchell Harrington has escaped his life in Seattle to work on a passion project, writing a novel. He has been holed up trying at least. When his peace and quiet is disturbed by a stranger in his house, he may have come off jerkish.

But, after his encounter with Winona his creative juices began to flow.

When it dries up, he knows he has to get Winona back in his space. Only she hates him.

Mitchell represents everything about wealthy people Winona cannot stand.

He reveals himself in the text messages he sends that he thinks Winona isn’t reading. But, she is.

Once they crossed the line there was no going back.

Only they have an expiration date.

[Belize Esperanza Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this because, Female plumber romance i didn't know it was a thing. I definitely didn't know I'd love it so much too. Wynonna was the embodiment of woman can do anything (and better than men at that😉) and this man quite literally took over look at her and was like yup im gone for her she's mine. There's a very subtle beauty and the beast vibe to this that I didn't know going into it and it took me a good while to notice it but it's there and im a SUCKER for anything beauty and the beast so when I did notice it made me love the book even more my man Mitchell might be the biggest green flag I ever seen for a slightly morally grey man. I literally flew through this and loved every second and honestly now im so stuck on whet to read next because thid to me by total surprise I never expected to like it so much

[Torey · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the Beauty and the Beast vibe. also loved the blue collar chick vibe with our plumber FMC. She is fabulous.

[Clairsreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the beast is actually a billionaire author who’s been hiding away trying to finish his novel and beauty is the plumber who’s hired to fix something at his mansion.

Winona doesn’t think twice about taking a well paying job until she comes face to face with the owner of the house and runs the other way. While Mitchell seems growly and scary meeting Winona changed something in him and he will stop at nothing to see her again. As he makes himself unavoidable to Winona, she realizes theres more than meets the eye with Mitchell and maybe they should test out some of the boundaries.

This loose rendition of beauty and the beast was so fun and I really enjoyed the push and pull from both Winona and Mitchell. I love a strong confident FMC and she really took no shit- from anyone. Mitchell on the other hand went from grumpy recluse to down bad for his woman in no time at all.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Claire Wilder for the physical copy of Plunged! This cover is absolutely dreamy and these characters were both so sweet with such a unique plot. I can’t wait for book two and to find out about Sarah and her forbidden boss 🤭

[Kristin Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sweetest, spiciest romance and the perfect beginning to the Heartbreaker Trades series.

Winona Chalmers is used to entitled jerks. As a woman in trade, she deals with plenty of them on a daily basis. But when she's called to the house of a reclusive billionaire to fix a plumbing issue, the owner just might take the cake. He's rude, brutish, and off putting, not to mention exactly the kind of guy life has taught her to loathe entirely. But there is something behind his angry demeanor, a softness that she didn't expect that leaves her curious to know more.

Mitchell Harrington is stuck. Despite his successful start up and the billions he's earned, the only thing Mitchell wants to do is write. He's dropped everything just so he can do exactly that. But the words won't come, at least not until he meets Winona. Unfortunately, her presence in his home was a bit of a shock and he behaved abominably. He's pretty sure she hates him. But he can't get the fiery blonde out of his head. He'll do anything to change her mind about him. He just has to get her to agree to see him again first.

As they get to know each other, sparks fly and what begins is a whirlwind romance unlike any of them could have bargained for, but with their lives moving in different directions, they both know this is only temporary. Despite that fact, they're both desperate to enjoy each other while they still can. But when all is said and done, will they really be able to walk away from each other?

Plunged was my first introduction to the writing of Claire Wilder and it did not disappoint! Clocking in at 292 pages, this was a fairly quick romance that I easily devoured. I love the women in trades theme and I'm a sucker for a good pun in the title.

Winona is spunky, feisty, and passionate despite the hand life has dealt her. She owns her own business in a male dominated field and knows just how good she is at her trade but she hasn't left herself much time for fun. Mitchell has had an equally difficult upbringing and has channeled his pain and hurt into becoming an extremely successful businessman but it's left him feeling unfulfilled. Meeting each other is the catalyst that both of them needed to break out of their shells and reach for their dreams. I love the way their romance starts off as a bit of push and pull and eventually balances out as a perfect partnership between two people who genuinely want nothing but happiness and success for each other.

While we have to wait a while to get to any sort of spice, once it arrives it is well worth the wait! Every single scene is indescribably hot. A book boyfriend who aims to be a book boyfriend? Yes please. I had to practically fan myself while reading this one!

TLDR; this is an excellent, easy, quick, fun, and spicy read that is perfect for those who love a good small town, grumpy x sunshine, billionaire romance with a HEA that will leave you swooning. I can't wait for book 2!

[sarah.bookdiary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plunged by Claire Wilder is an intense, spicy romance with strong he falls first and harder energy.
Winona built her life from the ground up. She runs her own plumbing business, raised her brothers, and has a community she can rely on but emotionally, she never wanted to depend on a man. Especially not one with that much money.
Mitchell, on the other hand? He’s gone from the very first moment. One meeting and he’s fascinated, borderline obsessed. Officially, he tells himself he needs her as a muse for the book he’s writing. Unofficially, he just knows he has to spend time with her. That there’s something there. And he doesn’t exactly try to keep his distance.
Despite his billionaire status and tech empire, at his core he’s simply a man who wants to care. Who stays. Who feels deeply. And it’s beautiful to watch Winona slowly allow herself to be cared for, without ever losing her strength.
What grows between them is passionate, intense, and almost painful in its urgency, especially because their time together feels limited.
Emotional, spicy, and featuring a hero who is completely obsessed. 🤍✨

ARC / Thank you to Luna Literary and Claire Wilder

Plunged von Claire Wilder ist eine intensive, spicy Romance mit starkem he falls first and harder-Vibe.
Winona hat sich ihr Leben selbst aufgebaut. Mit ihrem Plumbing-Business, der Verantwortung für ihre Brüder und einem Umfeld, auf das sie sich verlassen kann aber emotional wollte sie sich nie von einem Mann abhängig machen. Schon gar nicht von einem mit sehr viel Geld.
Mitchell hingegen? Der ist ab dem ersten Moment komplett gone. Ein Treffen und er ist fasziniert, beinahe besessen. Offiziell redet er sich ein er braucht sie als Muse für sein Buchprojekt. Inoffiziell weiß er einfach, dass er Zeit mit ihr verbringen muss. Dass da etwas ist. Und er hält auch nicht wirklich Abstand.
Trotz seines Milliarden-Backgrounds und seiner Tech-Firma ist er vor allem eins: ein Mann, der sich kümmern will. Der bleibt. Der fühlt. Und es ist wunderschön zu sehen, wie Winona langsam zulässt, dass jemand sie auffängt, ohne dass sie sich dabei kleinmachen muss.
Zwischen ihnen entsteht eine leidenschaftliche, intensive Liebe, die wehtut, weil sie zeitlich begrenzt scheint und genau deshalb umso stärker wirkt.
Emotional, spicy und mit einem Helden, der absolut obsessed ist. 🤍✨

ARC / Thank you to Luna Literary and Claire Wilder

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

This was just genuinely such an entertaining read.

A grumpy billionaire who secretly wants to write a book and a female plumber. I was in immediately.

The chemistry hits right away. The physical tension is instant and intense, and it definitely has a he falls first vibe, at least physically. The emotional connection builds more slowly though, which I liked. It felt like a solid medium burn where the feelings catch up to the attraction.

And Mitchell might honestly be the greenest grey flag male lead I have ever read. He is obsessive. He definitely flirts with morally grey territory. But he is also self aware and always respectful of her boundaries. That balance really worked for me and kept the dynamic compelling instead of uncomfortable.

What kept this from being a full five stars for me is the depth of the character work. Both of them have complicated and heavy pasts, and there are so many possible reasons for their flaws and emotional patterns. The story brings those things up, but I kept wanting it to go deeper. There were so many strong foundations for meaningful character development that it sometimes felt like too much was introduced and not enough was fully explored.

This especially stood out to me in the kinkier elements of the romance. There are themes of obsession and control, and some power dynamics that could have been really interesting to unpack. Kink does not need to come from trauma, and I do not think it has to be explained or justified. But when characters are written with complex histories and a need to be in control in their lives, it naturally raises interesting psychological questions. I would have loved to see a bit more intentional exploration of how it connects to their overall character arc.

That said, I flew through this. It is tense, romantic, and very easy to binge. If you like obsessive but safe heroes, medium burn chemistry, and romance that plays with morally grey dynamics while still feeling secure, this will probably work for you.

4 stars.

And I will definitely be buying the next book in the series :)

[onlyhereforthehea · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Plunged is the first book in a new series by Claire Wilder and I enjoyed everything about it. The story follows Winona, a no-nonsense plumber and Mitchell, a reclusive, grumpy billionaire who also happens to be a struggling writer. From their very first meeting which was full of anger and heated banter, you can immediately tell there’s a spark between them, even if neither of them would ever admit it.

After their disastrous first encounter, Mitchell finds himself unexpectedly inspired by Winona and begins using her as a sort of muse for writing his book. In an effort to work through his writer’s block, he keeps creating reasons for their paths to cross, telling himself it’s all in the name of writing. Of course, the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore the connection growing between them.

What I really appreciated about this story is that while it starts off feeling like a fun grumpy-billionaire-meets-tough-plumber romance, it quickly becomes clear there’s much more beneath the surface. At its core, this is really a story about two people who have been shaped and in many ways broken by their pasts. Watching them slowly open up to one another and realize that their connection might be the thing that helps put them back together was really beautiful to see.

The chemistry between Winona and Mitchell was great and the spice was frequent and spicy. No notes there. Their relationship felt natural and emotionally grounded and I found myself genuinely rooting for them.

There is a small third-act conflict, but I wouldn’t really call it a breakup so much as a brief hiatus. It didn’t take away from the story for me and I appreciated that in the end it’s really Mitchell, a guy who has spent most of his life comfortable being alone, who realizes what truly matters. Watching him recognize the importance of love and easily make the sacrifices necessary to be with the woman he loves was a really satisfying way to bring their story to a close. A well deserved HEA 🩷

Overall, this was a really enjoyable start to the series and I’m definitely looking forward to continuing it.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

este libro me ha dado tantas sorpresas... me costó pillarle el tono al libro porque antes de empezarlo pensaba que sería más serio de lo que era, luego al leer los primeros capítulos pensé que era muy poco serio, y conforme avanzaba me iba yendo de un extremo a otro según lo que acabase de leer (siendo los extremos "serio - nada serio").

es el típico caso de emperrarme en leer un libro por la portada o sinopsis sin saber absolutamente nada más porque me creo unas expectativas enormes y luego llevarme un chascazo :B

en general me gustó que el mitchell estuviera pining desde el primer momento y q winona tuviera un trabajo diferente (aunque me volvían loca las menciones de la estética pin-up, me recordó a aquel libro con la prota rockabilly). AÚN ASÍ, para darle tanto bombo al trabajo de winona (y q la serie de libros se llama Heartbreaker Trades, que es su gran idea en el libro, no se desarrolla mucho realmente el proyecto aunque sí dejan claro que es el centro de su vida en ese momento…

el libro va así: winona va de fontanera de emergencia a la casa de mitchell un filántropo ermitaño q está escribiendo una novela para darle un zasca a su padre. él se obsesiona en cuanto la ve y ella también es bastante freak, lo que ayuda a verlo a él como más normal de lo q es. su relación se va desarrollando pq los dos la fuerzan un montón, ella por una vez no se pone tonta (como es muy típico de las protas de novela) y se deja ayudar por su love interest trillonario... y poco más. sentí q al final cedían rápido y a la vez q el libro era largo… ni idea.

me interesa el libro de la amiga con el jefe aunque creo que el writing de CW no es para mí a pesar de q al principio pensaba q sí.. mi sensación es de que se lo toma muuuuuy poco en serio y esto podría haber sido más serio (era mi mood).

pd. una cosita que quiero decir es que hay primal play y no me lo vi venir de ninguna de las maneras, jajajaja.

[Kelly (VanIslandCircus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Claire Wilder book, and it certainly will not be my last! The Beauty and the Beast vibes in a modern-day setting were perfection. The “beast” was so much more than the character; it was in their backstories, which were painful and beautiful at the same time, and in their struggle to open up and be vulnerable. The depth of these characters, their banter, the will-they-won’t-they had me in such a chokehold that I couldn’t put the book down. And if that wasn’t enough, Winona is a FMC that I love reading about. She is strong (even stronger due to circumstance), she is independent to a fault, she is fiercely loyal to those that she loves, even at her own expense and a women running a business in a trade that is predominantly male oriented and on top of all that she want’s to continue to encourage and inspire other women to pursue careers in trades - I love everything about this not only as women, but as a mother of a daughter and seeing the possibilities in stories and what that could mean with this out there being an encouraging beacon.

Ok, forgive my little run-on of thought. Back to the book: if you have read this far and haven’t stopped to get a copy for yourself to read, here are a few more reasons you should. Mitchell, the MMC, is brilliant, caring, funny and puts out the complete opposite persona until you truly see him and wow, just wow - this man! All of this alone made for a great read; however, the spice was next level - the chase, the bath, oh my! There were also some great introductions to other characters, and I need all their stories.

I especially need Sarah’s story. My last request, Claire, I need the next morning’s reaction.

Thank you to Luna Literary and Claire Wilder for an ARC of this book.

[Nicole Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧡🩷💜
Plunged
By Claire Wilder

5⭐️
4 1/2 🌶️

I need so much more time in my life to read the entirety of Claire Wilder's back catalogue. There has not been a book, a chapter, a paragraph or word that I've read that I don’t absolutely love.

We enter a whole new world with Plunged.  Set in small town Quince Valley, Vermont we find our FMC Winona.  Winona is literally such a bad ass chick.  Runs her own company in a male dominant field where she hires and advocates for other strong ass women around her. As with Redbeard Cove, I cannot wait for the other women's stories!!!

Winona meets our MMC Mitchell (why is he named after my ex-boyfriend) Harrington, an ultra rich, bearded, grumpy reclusive philanthropist/author when she grudgingly agrees to fix a pipe in his bathroom as a favour to one of her female business connections.  Mitchell is instantly inspired by her.  His book and his life are in desperate need of a woman who give him hope for the future, to make him feel.

I absolutely loved how Winona saw all the way down into the soul of Mitchell.  She somehow knew that he needed her and she absolutely fought (but knew) that she wanted him in her life too. The first kiss was fabulous... being secretly stolen from a party, pulled out a side door... lifted against a wall... belongings strewn... wine bottles dropped.  Then tension of that night was the perfect lead up to their first kiss.

I feel like this book had elements of insta-love but that wasn’t how this played out.  The ongoing phone calls and text messages... the time they spent together, learning about each other’s past and showing up for each other exactly how the other needed.  Incredible.

My last comments are the least impactful to this gorgeous love story that you SERIOUSLY need to read.  The spice in this book is OUT. STANDING.  We have a CNC primal chase... incredible outdoor spicy times.  He reads her smutty books and then recreates scenes in them with the dirtiest of dirty words... the good girls in this book are incredible.  This is contemporary romance, right??? Insane spice.  Claire, you're crazy.

💜 Anti-Hero
🧡 Light Stalking
🩷 Enemies to Lovers
🧡 Found Family
💜 Small Town

📖 Kindle Unlimited

[Vanessa V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this book? An absolute ride.
We’ve got Winona, a blue‑collar plumber who looks like she stepped off a vintage pin‑up poster and carries herself like she’s running the whole operation. She’s confident, capable, and not impressed by anyone’s bank account, which becomes hilarious when she’s called in to fix something for Mitchell, a billionaire hiding from the world (and his own writer’s block).

Mitchell expects… well, swooning. What he gets is Winona, who treats him like a normal human with pipes that need fixing. And he loves it. Cue the funniest internal monologues from a hero ever! Mitchell is basically fighting himself in a mental boxing match over how to behave like a civilized adult around her.

Then he finds out she loves romance novels — the kind with tropes, yearning, and plenty of… imagination. So naturally, he decides the best way to understand her is to read them. The man is out here doing research. Bless him 😊

Their chemistry? Off the charts. And their first date?! A literal chase through the woods. Not metaphorical. Not symbolic. A full-on, “catch me if you can” scenario that had me giggling and kicking my feet like a teenager.

This book is fun, flirty, a little chaotic in the best way, and packed with that delicious blue-collar-meets-billionaire energy. Winona is iconic. Mitchell is unhinged in a lovable, golden retriever sort of way.

If you want something spicy‑ish, heartfelt, and downright entertaining, Plunged absolutely delivers.

4.5 ⭐ And girls, find yourself someone who would sprint through the woods for you 💕

[Emily Knaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always a huge, massive fan of any kind of Beauty & the Beast retelling or even just the addition of small details and vibes that emulate my favorite Disney story! Plunged offers those snippets and at the same time gives you an incredibly unique storyline at the same time. I’ve never read about a company of female plumbers, or really seen much female representation in the trades on or off the page.

Claire Wilder takes a classic Beauty & the Beast dynamic and drops it into a contemporary world with a reclusive billionaire aspiring author and a sharp‑tongued, no‑nonsense plumber who crashes into his solitude, literally and emotionally.

Mitchell is everything I love in a grumpy hero: brilliant, brooding, and hiding from the world in a self‑imposed exile while he tries to prove to himself and the world that he can write a book. He’s prickly, private, and absolutely not prepared for Winona. And Winona? She storms into his life to fix a shower and ends up breaking open every wall he’s built. She’s sassy, grounded, and refuses to be intimidated by his moodiness or his money.

Their dynamic is a delicious mix of enemies to lovers tension and slow‑burn obsession. Mitchell falls hard, the kind of quiet, all‑consuming devotion that feels both tender and feral. He’s sweet only for her, undone only by her, and it makes every interaction crackle. Winona matches him beat for beat, bringing light and warmth into the shadows he’s been living in. The texting banter towards the end of the book, geesh that was SPICY. I lapped it all up.

What I really enjoyed (along with the spice, primal play say no more!) was their shared history of pain. Both carry tragic pasts, and watching them navigate those wounds sometimes clashing, sometimes clinging makes their connection feel so deeply human. Their love story isn’t just intense; it’s healing in the most unexpected ways.

A huge thank you to Claire Wilder & Luna Literary for the early copy!

[Fernanda Giovannini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love the role reversal in this one. Winona is a plumper, and Mitchell is a grumpy billionaire and author—and I’m completely here for it. Their first meeting might not have been perfect, but they can’t stop thinking about each other, even though Winona can’t stand him. The twist? She becomes his writing muse, and Mitchell will do anything to keep her close. The banter between them is electric, showing just how much chemistry can spark in only a few encounters. Mitchell has everything in the world, yet Winona is the first person to give him something real to look forward to—and she’s intrigued by him, too.

The text exchanges between Mitchell and his brother, Blake, had me laughing out loud. His nicknames for Winona are hilarious! I love that everyone calls him a beast, and that Winona doesn’t put up with his grumpiness. She challenges him in ways he doesn’t even fully realize, slowly changing him as much as he’s obsessed with her. Mitchell can’t get enough of Winona, but she’s determined to keep her walls up. Still, they’re clearly perfect for each other, meant to cross paths and fill the spaces missing in each other’s lives.

I also adore that Winona is from Newfoundland—how often do you see a romance featuring a Newfie? It’s such a fun perk of reading Canadian romance authors.

I completely got lost in Mitchell and Winona’s story, and their well-deserved HEA had me smiling the whole way through.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know every reader has had at least one thought of becoming Belle and living out your best life with a huge home library, a found family and a man that will be a little beastly for you. 😉Welp Claire Wilder has given us another little taste of that with her newest release Plunged.

I loved this book and it was such a unique twist on a classic story. I loved how Winona was a plumber it was so different for me. I have never read a FMC who was in a job people typically view as male and not all that flattering, but man did Claire change my mind. Winona was a boss at her job and according to Mitchell she sure did look hot doing it.

Mitchell is definitely a tortured soul, his past his not pretty and it has lasting effects on him in his life now. When he meets Winona he is definitely a little growly at first but that soon turns into a desperate need to have her around. He will do anything to get her to come around again even if it means taking a sledgehammer to his pipes.

This book definitely brings out all of the little Beauty and the Beast vibes while updating it and still being its own story. I got to say one of my favorite scenes was that bathtub-phone call scene, and don’t even get me started on the chase. That card with the single word “run”, I about died.

I can’t wait to continue on in this series. If you haven’t read this yet head on over to kindle unlimited and pick up your copy now, you won’t regret it. Thank you @clairewilderbooks and @lunaliterary.management for an arc copy to review!

Ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes: enemies to lovers, beauty and the beast coded, antihero, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, small town, billionaire, hate to love you, blue collar woman, found family

#clairewilder #beautyandthebeast #smalltown #hatetoloveyou

[Megs · Rating 4 out of 5]

💦🩶Book Review🩶💦

I jumped into reading this one in preparation for Nailed. I absolutely loved it! Winona and Mitchell were the perfect pair of grumpy MCs, and I loved their love. It was real it was hot, and it was true!

Winona was such a strong FMC with her passion for women supporting women in fields that are dominated by men. While she was working at a house, grumpy Mitchel appeared seemingly out of nowhere, which was alarming since she thought no one was home.

That one startling encounter left Mitchell with Winona on the brain, she infested his thoughts and his dreams… so he had to see her again. Leave it to him to destroy his sink with such force, that once Winona saw it, she knew his game. Leaving her more irate that the first time they met.

But once he starts texting her and she never answers and he basically lets her know that he knows she blocked him (which she didn’t) he keeps texting her, and then he catches her reading the texts!
This turns into so much more and their hate turns to “hook-ups” for the season, but it was always gonna be more than that!

These two were adorable in their antics and don’t even get me started on all the text message bubbles!! Ugh I loved those!!

Tropes:
💦Plumber FMC
🩶Billionaire MMC
💦He’s in town writing a book
🩶She has past trauma of men with money
💦Grumpy x Grumpier
🩶No 3rd Act Break-Up
💦Women supporting Women

[Katy Huggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Wilder re-launches her ‘Heartbreaker Trades’ series with this book about a female plumber working to establish a new business to help other female trade workers.

Winona is a strong woman; she raised her brothers and learned a trade. Now that she’s on her own, she’s working to create a non-profit to help other women in industries like hers. A work call takes her to the mammoth mansion where Mitchell is staying.

Winona starts work unaware of the beastly billionaire lurking in the house. Their initial meeting is terrifying for her and frustrating for him. Despite the rough start, they’re both drawn to each other, but while Winona tries to avoid Mitchell, he looks for every opportunity to be in her orbit.

Once they find each other its a story of knowing what to do for yourself and what sacrifices are necessary or unnecessary.

Wilder’s exploration of women in trades is also an examination of gender roles and vulnerability. Winona’s constant inner struggle and refusal to let Mitchell ‘fix everything’ or make her life easier are clear examples.

The conversations and negotiations the characters use to create boundaries is a wonderful way to look at ways people in presumed less powerful situations can assert their control.

And they’re adorable and swoony to boot.

[Hope Marrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧

Okay, now THIS was a fun read.

We’ve got Winona—blue-collar, no-nonsense, walking confidence with a wrench in hand and zero patience for nonsense (especially a man’s. I get it girl). And I mean it when I say she had me hooked from the moment she threw that wrench. Like… I knew right then we were dealing with an icon. She’s competent, sharp, and completely unimpressed by wealth or status—which makes everything ten times better when she crosses paths with Mitchell, our broody, reclusive billionaire with a serious case of “I don’t know how to act around real women.”

Mitchell thinks he’s about to charm her. What he gets instead? Humbled. Repeatedly. And he eats it up. This man is spiraling in the most endearing, slightly unhinged (the sink pipe??) way while trying to keep it together in front of her. Spoiler - he doesn’t.

And then he finds out she’s into romance novels?? Game over. This man really said “let me do it like the men in your books” and dove headfirst into it. Sir 🥵

It’s funny, it’s spicy, and it’s packed with that “opposites attract” energy that’s just 🤌🏼💋. Add in the small-town vibes, the yearning, the chase scene (which absolutely delivers 👀), and the emotional depth sneaking up on you when you least expect it—and yeah, I was all in.

Winona is that girl. Mitchell is down bad. And together? They’re perfect.

[Pat Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️‍🔥ARC REVIEW❤️‍🔥

Plunged, the first book in Claire Wilder's Heartbreaker Trades series, combines small-town romance, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and a billionaire character for an engaging read.

Winona (MFC), a blue-collar business owner, meets grumpy billionaire author Mitchell (MMC). Despite initial tension, they find themselves drawn to each other, with Winona becoming Mitchell’s muse. The banter between Mitchell and his brother Blake is genuinely funny, especially with all the nicknames. Winona stands up to Mitchell, not tolerate his grumpiness, and her challenges help him grow. While Mitchell is captivated by Winona, she keeps her distance, unwilling to let down her guard. Still, it seems they're just right for each other, destined to fill what's missing in each picother's lives. Their lively banter hints at strong chemistry, and both are intrigued by what the other brings into their life. 🔥🔥🔥

This is a cute romance story with just enough drama!!!

Story - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice - 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨ obsessive hero
✨ billionaire recluse
✨ woman in trades
✨ touch her and ☠️ energy
✨ he falls first (and hardest)
✨ instant obsession
✨ “who did this to you” vibes
✨ fast burn
✨ dual POV

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that more and more authors are writing women in the trades. There’s something so compelling about reading a woman thrive in a traditionally male dominated field.

Plunged follows Winona, who takes on an important job in the hills of Vermont for a wealthy client. When she arrives, she is initially greeted by a virtual assistant, but things quickly shift when Mitchell, a larger than life presence, enters the picture. From their first interaction, the chemistry is immediate and intense.

I couldn’t put this book down because I needed to know how everything would unfold. Would Mitchell stay or would he leave? And if he did, would Winona follow him, or stay true to her goals of building a trades business for women?

That said, I ultimately gave this 3 stars. While the story was engaging and kept me turning the pages, the relationship felt a bit forced in the beginning. Mitchell’s intensity came on very strong early on, and at times it made their dynamic harder to fully buy into. If I were Winona, I might have been a little more cautious with how quickly things escalated.

Thank you to Luna Literary and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I am still curious to see what book two has in store.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. This story is dual POV, well written, and an emotional, building to spicy, opposites attract, contemporary small town romance between Winona, the female plumber lead who raised her brothers to keep them safe from their abusive father, and Mitchell, the male billionaire lead who is hiding in a mansion in Winona’s small town, determined to finish the story that his abusive father told him he wouldn’t be able to write. I empathised with the historical trauma both these characters carried. I enjoyed the way they raised each other up. I enjoyed Winona’s blue collar career, and her determination to lift up other women. I enjoyed Mitchell’s neurodiversity-coded obsessive focus, and the achievements he’d completed because of it. I enjoyed the compassionate love he showed for his mother and the research he was funding because of it, especially contrasted with the behaviour he initially demonstrated towards Winona. I enjoyed the increasingly spicy intimate scenes. I enjoyed the supportive secondary characters, and the set up for (hopefully) future stories.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Amilia Poling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness what a sweet book! I loved this one so much, and it was so much fun and felt so unique! I loved Winona and how she kept her eye on her career goals and pushing her company to grow and evolve to be more to the women in her field and her community! I loved how the strength she showed for her family growing up stayed steady throughout for Mitchell and herself, and her business! Plus Mitchell had the best kind of growth from broody and wild to the strong, supportive man that makes you believe in love in the best way! His own journey was so beautiful, and see how he evolved throughout his life, and even continued finding his path after meeting Winona, was so real and wonderful! I loved getting to watch these two clash and come together! Plus all the amazing cast of character in Quince Valley just made the world so much fun, I can't wait to see more of them!! Overall this one was so much fun, and I loved getting to read it!! 4.75 stars; 3.75 chili peppers

Tropes:
- Mistaken Identity
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Billionaire x Plumber
- Ladies in Trades
- Found Family
- Tortured Pasts

[J.p · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another of Miss Wilders book that I just devoured. It has everything I need and want in a book, a strong, powerful and sassy FMc? ✅ , a grumpy, sexy, billionaire MC with a dirty mouth? ✅ a hate to love shouldn’t want you but I desperately do? ✅ hot and steamy encounters?✅✅✅ Winona and Mitchell have both been affected by traumatic childhoods, both dealing with life differently, Winona had to be mother, father, provider and main carer for her twin brothers all the while working in a male dominated industry as a plumber and Mitchell, he was a workaholic recluse that hated everything except his brothers and mother. Their first meeting wasn’t smooth sailing, but over time they see a kindred spirit in each other, they chip away at each other’s hearts and slowly their feelings and passion can no longer be denied. Together they are fire and their chemistry and heat is so strong. Loved this book so much, couldn’t put down ( it’s 3am now lol) loved the MCs, the storyline and that we get another glimpse of Cassandra and Blake ( who is Mitchell’s brother) oh how I’ve missed Quince Valley.

[Marisol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plunged is a grumpy-sunshine, Beauty-and-the-Beast–inspired romance that blends emotional storytelling with small-town charm.
Winona is not your typical heroine. After becoming the guardian to her younger brothers at fifteen and escaping an abusive household, she built her life through determination and hard work. Now a successful plumber, she dreams of launching an organization that helps women enter trade careers and build their own independence.
Mitchell, a successful tech founder who suddenly disappears from the corporate spotlight, is searching for something more meaningful than the life he’s built under his father’s expectations. When he moves to a quiet town and meets Winona, their connection is immediate but both carry emotional scars that make vulnerability difficult.
What stood out most to me was the contrast between Winona’s fierce independence and Mitchell’s journey toward rediscovering himself. Their relationship grows through trust, healing, and mutual support, creating a romance that feels both passionate and emotionally grounded.
This was a strong small-town romance with memorable characters, meaningful themes, and a satisfying emotional arc.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winona is one of the best fmcs I have read about this year, she’s so engaging, independent and so caring.
Mitchell was such a breath of fresh air, he was a little grumpy but he fell hard for “his muse”

“Fuck me. That little firecracker was a good luck charm.”

I flipped the sledgehammer head-up, then took it back to the shed, hanging it on its hook. That done, I picked up my phone. “Sal,” I said the moment she answered. “I’m going to need the plumber’s number.” !!!!!!

“But she spoke to me in a way no one did. That’s why I needed her. I couldn’t fuck this up.”

“I inhaled, and God, there was that smell again. A meadow in the fucking springtime.”

“My chest clenched. How could I have been okay with her leaving before? It felt like death now.”

“You’re not too intense for me, Mitchell. I like your intensity.”

“She laughed. She looked so beautiful, my heart hurt.”

“First of all,” I said, unfazed, “She’s not my girlfriend. She’s the love of my fucking life.” !!!!!!!!!!!

I also loved her having a “normal job” and her dream for the women traders.
I just wanted to see scenes with her brothers.

[Faye With Her Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Plunged is a Beauty x Beast coded romance. Winona is a plumber who gets called to work on reclusive billionaire Mitchell’s mansion. Their first interaction is not exactly a meet-cute. Can Winona finds the prince that hides inside the beast?

You should definitely read if you love strong women, wood chasing scenes, and dirty talking men. I enjoyed reading about women in trades who don’t take shit from men, definitely a fresh reading experience. A lot of emotional trauma from both main characters to unfold and deal with. They aren’t really enemies for long but damn they sure do the lovers part real hard (I’m looking at you pool scene). He also nicknames her Firecracker which I love cause some of these nicknames be overused as hell.

Favorite Quote 🫶🏻 - “But now, I don’t think I was anything until you exploded into my life, Firecracker.”

This book has:
✔️Billionaire x Plumber🔧
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Enemies to Lovers
✔️Found family
✔️Small Town
✔️Open door spice (med-high)

(This book is included with KU subscription)