Nailed

by Claire Wilder

A Steamy Small-Town Age Gap Novella

When my grumpy silver-fox boss invites me to join him at a career-catapulting conference over the holidays, I'm thrilled. While I love my job, his caveman attitude stings—especially because he seems to give it only to me. This conference will be the perfect chance to network with new potential employers, while showing my boss just what he’ll be missing when I quit.

Except spending a whole weekend with my boss is showing me there might be a reason why he’s so grumpy: his decidedly unbosslike feelings for me.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Novella, Contemporary, Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance

146 pages, ebook

Published December 9, 2022

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

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This was wrong. So wrong. But nothing had ever felt so, so right."

A holiday novella in The Naughty List series, Nailed is an age gap romance set in the worlds of Quince Valley and Heartbreaker Trades, bringing together silver fox, Jamie Reilly, and his employee, Sarah Cooper, sixteen years his junior. Sarah had been shining at work, ahead of schedule and under budget, advancing in her career yet failing to earn the praise she deserved from her boss. After initially working so well together, Jamie started to become cold and distant, giving Sarah a much harder time than he did to anyone else, driving her to look for job opportunities elsewhere.

Sarah was attracted to Jamie even though he was pushing her away but she found her voice, deciding to claim her coal and stand up to him. Jamie admitted the attraction was mutual but he had been holding back from engaging in a workplace romance, forbidden in nature as boss and employee, especially in light of recent incidents at his company, Reilly Contracting. He also thought it was too late in his life for him to become involved with someone like Sarah who had her entire future ahead of her.

"Do you want me to be jealous? Because I was jealous the moment you walked into that room. I wanted to kill any man who looked at you -- with my bare hands."

The heat and sexual tension were palpable, the emotions deep and all-consuming, and I could feel my own heart rate picking up speed. I loved how Jamie and Sarah challenged each other, pushing one another to the limits. And speaking of praise and hard, this had to have been Claire Wilder's hottest book to date. The tension and angst built like a snowball, growing more and more intense and culminating in a fiery explosion when Jamie and Sarah finally gave into their feelings. Deliciously hot and steamy but filled with so much heartfelt emotion, this was the story of two people who had been hurt in the past but poured everything they had into one another.

"I took this kiss. I absorbed all the pleasure and all the pain and wrapped it around my heart, where maybe someday I could think about Jamie and it wouldn't hurt."

I loved how Jamie was protective and possessive of Sarah, caring so deeply for her even through his grumpy demeanor. I could feel the depth of their passion and the strength of their connection along with the intensity of their pain as my heart was pulled through a roller coaster of emotions. I loved how Sarah worked through her insecurities and took control of her life, acting like the strong woman she truly was. Underneath the sex and the romance, this story spoke to empowering women both in the workplace and in the bedroom. It was a look at morality and making decisions that may be right even if they initially seem wrong. Love and hurt, pleasure and pain melded and wrapped together, leading to a future filled with possibilities that were better than either of them could have ever imagined or planned. And I loved every minute of it!!

"I was always going to go back for her. Always."

** Special thanks to author Claire Wilder for sending me this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available December 9, 2022. **

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Jamie and Sarah's story. Jamie is that grumpy, alpha male that really is great underneath everything. He's had some hardships in life, so he tends to be a little standoffish, but he would give anyone the shirt off his back.

Sarah is just a positive person, even though she's also gone through some things. She finds herself attracted to her boss.

These two have to work through a couple of things to get where they end up, but it was a wonderful time getting there. Loved the epilogue and getting a glimpse into their future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie is a grump when it comes to Sarah, because she is her employee and 16 years younger than him. He pushes her away, he knows that he won’t be able to give her what she probably wants in life. Sarah knows what she wants and she really isn’t afraid to go for it.

Jamie and Sarah definitely have loads of chemistry. The two of them were heating things up at the conference they were attending together. They find it hard to ignore each other and the connection they have once they cross that line.

I really enjoyed Sarah and Jamie and their story from start to finish.

If you’re looking for an age gap, workplace, holiday romance this is one to check out.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Nailed (Naughty List Series)
Author: Claire Wilder
Hero/Heroine: Jamie & Sarah
Tropes: Age Gap, Workplace, Single Parent,

TW/CW: Death of a child (off page), divorce, mention of infertility,

THE GOOD 😀

Continuing on with the Naughty List series is this incredibly sweet and steamy age gap romance from Claire Wilder. But oh no, it’s not just your average age gap where the hero’s in his 40’s and the heroine is in her 20’s. Nope. The hero in this story is in his 50’s and the heroine is in her late 30’s, and you know what? This, this is what I’m here for. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading stories where the characters are new adults/mid-20’s, however it was so refreshing to read about a heroine who is a similar age to me. Both characters had been through their fair share of heartache and I loved them even more for being so open about it.
Working together at Jamie’s construction company, they’re both attending a conference out of state. Sarah has come to the end of her tether with Jamie and his sudden change in attitude toward her. What happens at the conference though changes everything. Including some stealth fooling around behind a Christmas tree (IYKYK).
Jamie and Sarah were incredible characters and I loved witnessing them trying to handle their feelings toward one another. Both immensely vulnerable due to past experiences, they were a bit reluctant to admit how they felt at first, but trust me, when they did? All bets were off.
Sweet and steamy with two relatable characters, Nailed was another festive romance hit. Will definitely be reading more from this author, can’t believe I haven’t read her books previously, stupid Kira.

THE BAD ☹️

Not a thing.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this to read. This is my honest review.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Sweet and steamy, this book nailed (see what I did there?) the age gap trope
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[booklover1816 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Wilder navigates the issues and the characters just like in real life situations and shows not just the dichotomy between the opposing issues but the reconciliation needed in life to handle those issues. Wilder did a wonderful job of bringing all the elements of life together.

This was such a great book! It had ups and downs; love and hate; disagreements, abandonment issues, loneliness, and a huge age gap!

Definitely recommend!
________

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬/𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
* Grumpy/sunshine
* Age gap (16 yrs)
* Silver fox
* Boss-employee
* Single dad
* Parent grieving loss of child
* Holiday novella
* Small town

[ReadonReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah is this beautiful and incredible woman who knows what she wants out of life with goals to chase after them. Jamie is broody and grumpy only towards Sarah, but it’s the only way he knows how to keep her at a distance because he is at that stage in life where he likes his solitude, wants to retire, but his attraction to her is off the charts. A conference that they are both attending and giving lectures at has them spending time together but with Jamie’s attitude towards Sarah and Sarah’s determination to not let him get to her their chemistry becomes combustible until sparks fly. This quick read was not only cute but emotional and amazing because both characters were incredibly strong and at a place, they knew exactly what they wanted. It makes you feel good while swooning and falling in love.

[BP34 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Age Gap Romances you'll enjoy Jamie and Sarah's story. She works for him and he is fifteen years older. He fights his feelings for her because of the age difference and the fact that she is his employee. He really treats her badly since he wants her to quit so he can eliminate the temptation. Things sure heat up when they attend a work convention together. Steamy and emotional. A good read that is short and sassy I read a free advance copy and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect change of plans?

Jamie is in the second half of his life, planning on slowing down, handing his company over and retiring...so when his perfect woman drops into his life he is devastated. She is younger, with her life ahead of her, not behind her, he can't possibly ask her to take on an old grump like him.
Sarah finally finds her sass but is it too late to claim her man? She knows exactly who she wants, now she just has to prove it to him. Neither one does well with unplanned changes, but this could be the best change of their lives...if only they are brave enough to take that leap.
I read this on Kindle Unlimited.

[Tiffany Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie is constantly being a grouch with Sarah. It's to hide what he's really feeling but he's hurting her just the same.

I loved Sarah! She finally had enough and stood up for herself! I loved when Jamie and Sarah finally got together! Aww love Christmas trees and Betta fish. 😍

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice can be nice, but it's the temptations of the heart that make a love story irresistible. Wilder turns the senses inside out with a little sweet and a lot of naughty that proves to be all heart.

[Donna McEachran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books and getting to know Jamie more. Looking forward to Ellie and Sam's book and, hopefully, more about Heartbreak Trades. Bring on the next one!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Claire and is part of The Naughty List collection. I’ve read several books in this collection and they’re all amazing. Hollie Berry truly set the stage for Nailed. Sarah is 39, divorced and works in a predominantly male industry. As she’s preparing for a weekend trip for work she’s also preparing to leave her job. Her boss Jamie started being an a$$ several months ago and she can’t take anymore of it. But when she’s about to leave, he shows up, just when her car decides to smoke and breakdown. So they travel the 6 hours along with Sam to Maine. The tension is high along with the angst. After a very successful conference these two get a little physical in public, though they were hiding in the corner of the hotel after they confess their feelings to each other. But he’s her boss, 16 years older than her and also a dirty talking silver fox. I absolutely love these two together. They bring out the best in each other when they’re not arguing. The epilogue was perfect. Full of love, spice, tension, chemistry, family, angst, friends, 2nd chances and so much more. Can’t wait to read more from Claire.

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

"Nailed" by Claire Wilder is an age-gap workplace romance between a woman starting over post-divorce and her silver-fox boss. After working together well and happily with Sarah, an exemplary employee, Jamie has become distant and callous towards her, and she can't figure out why. They did share one perfect night together one year ago, before she started working with him, but she's not sure why he has become cold all of a sudden. It turns out Jamie is massively in love with Sarah, but since he is 16 years her senior AND her boss, and since his business has a "no fraternization between colleagues" clause due to an unfortunate incident involving two other employees, it's better for him to be rude towards her than break down his walls and tell her his true feelings. They find themselves together, alone, at a business event where they are both giving speeches, and they may or may not act on their feelings once and for all. Spoiler alert: they obviously do, and it is MAGNIFICENT. There is so much palpable tension and yearning between Sarah and Jamie! When he retreats into his shell and treats her coldly, you want to hate him so badly, but he's doing what he thinks is best, so he doesn't grab her and kiss her in the middle of the workday. Jamie thinks he is way too old for Sarah, who has been divorced and swears she doesn't want kids. He doesn't want her to be stuck with an old codger like him, someone who is in the "downward slide" of his life... but he is OBSESSED with her and wants her so badly that he can't stay away. The temptation is too much for both of them when they find themselves alone at a conference... and boy, is it worth the wait! I loved the pining that's found throughout this book. Jamie and Sarah are totally believable together, thanks in large part to their fantastic chemistry. I found myself rooting for them to move beyond their issues so they could be together as a couple. The spicy scenes are perfect, and the resolution of the book made me swoon and brought a slight tear to my eye. I just wanted Sarah to find someone who was amazing to her, and Jamie proved time and time again why it should be him! I really liked this one. It's a quick, easy read!

Thank you to Claire Wilder and Luna Literary for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[•Cici• Theory of A Dreamer Book Blog♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being new to Ms.Wilder's work i've been wanting to pick up her books! As soon as i found out about this Naughty List one i knew i had to pick it up first! I had to finish it in one sitting. I enjoyed this story so much!

Jamie and Sarah's journey pulled me in! Jamie is Sarah's boss. These two used to get along and now Jamie is cold to her. As they head to the conference over the holidays, it's the perfect time for Sarah to find somewhere new to work. As these two and their paths keep crossing, it becomes harder to ignore the attraction. Can they take a chance?

I was so glad that i got to jump into Jamie and Sarah's minds. These two had me feeling so much from start to finish! I admired Sarah and how determined she was to empower other women, especially through trades. I related to her. I loved how much Jamie cared for Sarah even as he's fighting his feelings. I felt for him as well. The chemistry between these two was oh so heat filled and blushworthy!

I really liked that i didn't know what all to expect with Jamie and Sarah and how that had me even more glued to them.

With Nailed, Ms.Wilder has created such a good holiday read with steam and feels that reminds us all to go after what we want in life! I am so happy i finally got to pick this author's work up! I am so looking forward to reading more of her books in the future!



*I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book from the author*

[Kali Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️
3.5/5 🌶️

I absolutely devoured this holiday novella from Claire Wilder. It was my first book from her and it definitely won't be my last. It was the perfect combination of grumpy/sunshine, age gap and office romance with a side of mutual pining and I loved it.

Jamie was the ultimate silver fox, I just adored him. He was such a grumpy äss, doing everything in his power to shut down his feelings for Sarah and none of it worked. It almost drove her away if not for her own pining and need to stick it out just a little longer.

Sarah was strong and confident, I found her so inspirational. I loved how she spoke about her work and how she dealt with being a woman in a trade career. It was so great to see her and Ellie really stand up for women in work and how that even translated to their every day lives.

I loved the steam factor in this one too. It was short and a slow burn, but once it got going it was fantastic! Sarah loved to be dominate and the boss on the jobsite and in her every day life, but behind closed doors she wanted to let it all go and be told exactly what to do and Jamie was absolutely up for the task.

I really loved Sam and Ellie and I'm really hoping we get more from this world because I need their story asap. it will be student/teacher age gap perfection, I just know it.

[JennyGReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nailed is an age gap, boss employee novella where Sarah decides to #claimhercoal and let her grumpy boss know exactly how awesome she is.

Sarah landed a career advancing job when a change of scene was exactly what she needed. She got along well with her silver fox boss, but when he had to fire a long time employee, his grumpy demeanor eventually faded with everyone but her. Deciding enough is enough, Sarah decides it's time for her to find a new job and uses a work conference as her perfect place to network. She is going to find out exactly why the man she's secretly wanted is always so cantankerous with her before she moves on to bigger and better things.

Jamie couldn't believe his best friend turned out to be a predator who had been harassing women in his office for years and nobody ever told him until one brave woman decided to stop up. Unfortunately for Jamie, he has fallen for his employee, Sarah, but is never going to cross the line. The only way he can handle his feelings is by trying to push Sarah away.

But even though the two find themselves in a difficult situation at the conference, will Jamie stand his ground, or will he finally let go of his control and show Sarah exactly what he feels for her?

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Jamie, the male lead, closed himself off emotionally years ago when one of his sons died. When Sarah, the female lead, came to work for him, he didn’t know how to react to his attraction for her and has behaved like a jerk towards her. Having had enough, Sarah is going to their work conference to look for a new job as well as to continue spruiking her women in trades mentoring. When their mutual attraction explodes at the conference, they both enjoy the “last hoorah” because Jamie is determined it couldn’t work longterm and Sarah’s not waiting forever…

This novella is dual POV, well written, and a fun, steamy, over forty couple with an age gap romance. I enjoyed that Sarah was comfortable knowing what she wanted and appreciated the acceptance of personal difficulties and that a child was not necessary to complete who she was as a person. I was amused by Jamie’s extreme gruffness and empathised with the trauma he struggled to address. I enjoyed his conciliatory action to save the relationship. I’m also really enjoying the stories this author is writing about women in trades - I appreciate the diversity.

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

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chemistry between Sarah and Jamie is hot enough to set off fire alarms. Both know that everything will change between them after this builders conference. His hot/cold attitude has finally forced Sarah to seek other employment and she hopes that her speech and networking at the conference will gain her a few job opportunities. She is tired of hiding her attraction to him and the hurt that she feels at his cold behaviour. Jamie knows he has pushed her away…it is exactly what he wants to do. Having her near him day after day is driving him slowly nuts while he tries desperately to control his attraction, his lust and his love for her. He has deemed himself too old for her, a woman more than a decade younger and in her prime. He didn’t ask her what she wanted, just made some assumptions. Being at the conference is somehow liberating for both of them, so liberating that all those pent up feelings are bound to come out. Find out what happens when you read this very hot and steamy book. Have a old drink handy!.

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

[Brayzen Bookwyrm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy holiday romances are a staple of my kindle tbr every winter, and Claire Wilder’s Nailed definitely hit the spot. This age gap, workplace, small town romance covers a lot of ground in a well-written, emotional novella. Wilder pulls from her newest series, Quince Valley, to give Jamie Reilley the HEA he truly needs and deserves.

Pairing him with Sarah Cooper, a smart, accomplished, talented, younger woman, who also happens to be his employee, sets the perfect scene for him to recognize what he really wants, and how she’s the perfect person to share it with. Jamie is pure silver fox perfection. Yep- all growly, surly, and cinnamon-rolly. And seriously hot as hell. But this is no grumpy-sunshine story. Both characters have heavy histories and vulnerabilities that make them relatable and pull on a reader’s heartstrings, but also exhibit the type of strength and resolve that build that perfect amount of novella-length angst.

Nailed is a standalone romance, but definitely builds enough interest and curiosity about minor characters to want their stories too. And it’s the perfect length for a great holiday read that will make your eyes misty and your heart happy.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly loved this book!! First off, we have older MCs and I was HERE for it!!! Sarah is in her mid 30s and Jamie is a hot silver fox in his early 50s. It was so refreshing reading about characters more in my age range. Our girl Sarah is also a blue collar worker, which is also such a fun change. She gets divorced and decides to move across the country for a job as Director of Construction at Reilly and Sons. A few days before her interview, she has a magical encounter with a silver fox....who she then finds out at the interview is the owner and boss at Reilly and Sons. Jamie is such a sweet man, who has had a hard life and had to deal with do much grief and heartbreak. While he's drawn to Sarah, he knows he can't break his employees trust by dating someone who reports to him. This book is filled with yearning from both sides, angst, heartbreak, and healing. Plus some really hot spice from a Santa Daddy hahaha. This read was so sweet and had such great feel good vibes. If you want to read something that is fun, heart warming, at times incredibly sad, and also like a big cozy hug, definitely check this out!!

[Toni Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie & Sarah have a precarious relationship. As boss and employee, they function more as enemies. They used to get along great, but Sarah has no idea what suddenly changed to make him seem to dislike her.
Jamie admires Sarah for her resilience of being a woman in a man’s world. She’s taken carpentry by storm & is very good at it. He sees her skill…but he also sees her beauty. After having to fire an employee that he considered to be a dear friend, his outlook on relationships with his employees changed drastically.
Jamie’s protectiveness over Sarah is so alpha male & so swoony. He wants to see her succeed and flourish in her chosen field. He sees her potential, and even though he tries to watch her grow from the sidelines, he finds himself rescuing her when she doesn’t know she needs it.
This sixteen year age gap romance has so much spice. Sarah now knows what she wants and deserves & Jamie is willing and able to give it to her. Their feelings go way deeper than either of them know & when they realize it, they are unstoppable.

[Kerri Bonvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Holly Jolly Chritmas Tree (IYKYK). This story had all the feels in this short 146 page book. I was excited to get to see what Seamus’s father Jamie was going to bring out and I wasn’t disappointed. He is the CEO of the family construction company and was getting ready to retire. His backstory is sad and as a Mom I can’t imagine having to go through that. However, I loved that he had moved on but never forgotten.

Sarah and Jamie had several things in common but there was an age gap of fifteen years and he was her boss. I loved that Jamie tried to not act on his feelings towards Sarah because he was so much older and her boss. Sarah had her entire life ahead of her and she was paving the way with her advocacy with women in trades.

But what happens at a work convention stays at a work convention?!? Help with a presentation, hot and cold signals from Jamie have Sarah wearing a revenge dress that may have led to something hot and steamy. When reality hit both of them hard I loved how they made their way through it. There were so many feelings in this story and boy was this novella steamy! Grab it now.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had me from the very beginning!

Even though Jamie came across as the ultimate grump and Sarah was convinced that he hated her, I knew that he was pushing her to fly on her own. He knows she needs to expand beyond what she can accomplish at Reilly & Sons.

Sarah is determined to leave Quince Valley and Jamie behind once this conference is over. She's going to network until she finds a new job. Anything to get away from Jamie.

I loved the way that the author has them work through their miscommunication issues and differences. It was so well balanced and realistic.

Whew! When they get in close quarters though? I'm pretty sure my Kindle has heat damage, thank you very much! There's a Christmas tree that saw things!🥵

Always check the TW/CW:
💥age-gap (16 years)
💥forbidden (boss/employee)
💥child loss (in the past)

Anywho! Time to wrap this up with the goodies:
Read: 4🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 4 🌶🌶🌶🌶
HEA

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Clara Martinez Turco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy silver fox, a 16-year age gap, boss-employee, and lots and lots of steams just before Christmas. Nailed by Claire Wilder ticks all the boxes, including one that made me gasp and say, "good for her!". But my lips are sealed.

Sarah and Jamie's story totally had me invested from the very beginning, when she seriously thought she could make a six-hour drive in the snow with her old car without even having snow tires. Sarah is convinced Jamie hates her, and with good reason. He is grumpy and bossy.

But the truth is he is attracted to her. His cold demeanor is calculated until she decides to "claim her cold" and face him during a work convention that both are attending. There is so much tension between these two that when they finally it's explosive and scorching.

I loved that Sarah knew what she wanted. She wasn't afraid to go for it. And I also liked Jamie's back story. Amid heartbreaking, he quickly knows what to do. But above all, I loved Claire Wilder's writing. I'll definitely read more from her.

[Callie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick read.

I liked Sarah’s ambition and the fact that she knew what she wanted.

I felt like I was missing a little bit of the story since we start with them knowing/hiding feelings for each other, but I was never confused.

I liked Jamie, too, for the most part. It’s my personal preference that I don’t love when there’s an ex wife and kids (in this case, he even lost a child), but it’s not really dwelled on and he doesn’t mention his ex much at all. Sarah was married too, so I guess it was even.

One of my pet peeves is when there’s slight OW drama or jealousy but the guy actually *has* slept with the other woman at some point. That happens briefly here… I always think to myself, this is a romance novel and it can be anything you want, why can’t it just be a random woman and not one he’s hooked up with? 😂

But I digress!

The conflict was a little annoying since Sarah is literally saying she doesn’t want kids and he kind of uses that and his age as an excuse…but it’s a quick turn around so it wasn’t too bad.

Overall, it was a fairly low angst, cute read.

[Samantha (rain.books.and.tea) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 3🌶️

- age gap
- grumpy sunshine
- workplace romance
- mutual pining
- holiday novella

This was my first time reading Claire Wilder and it won’t be my last! I loved this holiday novella it was everything I could have hoped for. It was an age gap, grumpy/sunshine, workplace romance with mutual pining and great spice.

I loved Sarah! I loved her mission of women helping to support women in the male dominated field of construction. She was passionate, driven, and confident. I also loved how she didn’t take any of Jaime’s crap and call him out when he would avoid answering her questions. I was also great to read about a woman whose HEA didn’t involve kids.

Oh man, Jaime was amazing. I mean he was slightly dense and a bit self sabotaging when it came to Sarah, but he had her best interest at heart so I’ll give him a pass. He was such a grumpy, possessive, protective, and supportive man. I loved him so much! It breaks my heart that he experienced such tragedy in his life but I did enjoy the extra depth the tragedy added to his character.

Now I just need to decide which Claire Wilder book to read next!

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A holiday novella that gives us a grumpy/sunshine, single-dad, age-gap romance between an employee and the boss. Jamie is the grumpy boss but he has his reasons and Sarah is done with his attitude. Having to go on a somewhat of a business trip and spend a few hours in a car with one another is not something that they are both looking forward to because they both have very different reasons for it. Jamie has had feelings for Sarah but he will not cross that employer/employee line as well as she is 16 years younger. Sarah also has feelings but at the same time, she is livid with him. Jealously comes into play and things heat up very fast. Christmas trees and dark corners seem to be a thing for them. Will their steamy time together last? Was it just a fling? A way to get them out of their systems?

Ms. Wilder delivers a storyline that was a joy to read as well as gave us a few good laughs along the way.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divorcee Sarah Cooper has been the project director for Reilly Contracting for about a year. She and her boss Jamie got along great the first few months until suddenly they didn't. He'd become more grouchy, cold, distant. It was obvious that after the conference they were headed to she would have to look for another job.

Jamie Reilly knew his project manager was the best he'd ever had but he had to keep his distance. His feelings for her were getting harder to deny but she had her whole life ahead of her, she didn't need to get involved with a man sixteen years her senior. But when the wrong man approaches her at the conference his instinct to protect explodes from within and nothing between them will ever be the same.

When Sarah is offered her dream job will their blooming love stand a chance or will a lust filled mistake ruin everything Sarah wants?
 
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet office, age gap, holiday romance.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in a loosely connected series, "The Naughty List." I liked the heroine very much--she has made her way in the trade of carpentry to become a project manager for Reilly construction. Jamie Reilly thinks he is too old--he is her boss and has a son who isn't that much younger than Sarah, who is 39. At the last minute, she gets invited to present at a construction industry conference, where Jamie is the main speaker. Her car dies, so she ends up riding with him. Another guy, an aspiring tradesman, comes along too. The chemistry between these two is so apparent, but Jamie feels he can't have a relationship. Well, things go from good to steamy fast since they are away from home and have a few drinks. One scene will be etched in my brain forever. NSFW or almost anywhere else.
This is a novella, but it feels like a whole novel. That is Claire's gifted writing in action.
I received an ARC from the author and left this review voluntarily.

[Shani (Bttrflymama88) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nailed by Claire Wilder is part of The Naughty List Series 🎄❤️

Jamie & Sarah

Age gap workplace romance! Forced proximity. Grumpy/Sunshine.

Jamie is stubborn and determined to let the love of his life go thinking that he's too old for her and that he can't give her the things she wants from life. And that's all he wants is for her to live her life to its fullest. He's also her boss. They both have feelings for eachother. She's also a woman who's made a name for herself in a "Man's world". Both hardworking, stubborn. Forced together at a work conference. They're pushed to acknowledge their feelings. One steamy night pouring their feelings. A heart to heart with his son and daughter in law. A realization that he can give her the life she wants and deserves. A Beta fish and a HEA!

Another cute holiday novella! Coal claimed!