Nail Me Down

by Lana Piers

My cheating boyfriend left me alone with his obsessed blue-collar best friend… and now nothing feels safe anymore.

Holly Carmichael thought heartbreak would hurt most.

She was wrong.

Because the real danger is Ford Briggs—
her ex-boyfriend’s best friend, the broody contractor who’s spent years pretending he doesn’t want her.

But one disastrous night changes everything.

A horror movie.
A broken heart.
One accidental sleepover.

And suddenly the quiet, grumpy man who always kept his distance is holding her like he never plans to let go.

Ford knows Holly is off limits.
Knows falling for her could destroy friendships, reputations, and the fragile life she’s trying to rebuild.

Too bad he’s already gone for her.

Now the small town is talking.
Her cheating ex wants control back.
And the more Ford takes care of her, protects her, and worships every inch of her body…

…the harder it becomes to remember she was never supposed to be his.

But Ford isn’t walking away this time.

And Holly’s about to discover that the scariest thing isn’t losing the life she planned—

It’s risking her heart for the man who feels like home.

TROPE STACKBoyfriend’s best friendBlue collar heroHe falls firstProtective obsessed MMCSmall town romanceForced proximityHurt comfort Emotional spicePossessive hero energy


SERIES DETAILSSteamy
Emotional, flirty, comforting
Boyfriend’s Best Friend, Small Town, Blue Collar Romance, Forced Proximity, Protective Hero
Standalone in a connected world
Dual POV
Guaranteed HEA

52 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2026

Reviews

[Nikki Bogard]

Ford Briggs is the definition of a man who loves through actions, not words—and I was completely obsessed.

After a devastating betrayal, Holly finds comfort in the last person she expected: her ex-boyfriend’s best friend. What follows is a heartfelt romance filled with longing, healing, and a hero who never stops showing up for her.

Ford’s quiet devotion, protective nature, and undeniable chemistry with Holly made this impossible to put down. Watching their connection grow from friendship into something more had me rooting for them every step of the way.

A sweet, emotional small-town romance that proves the best love stories often start with the person who was there all along. ❤️📖✨

[Lara]

This novella is pure bliss! Let’s just say that a man who yearns is a man who earns!
If you want a book with that vibe and a boyfriend’s best friend, this one is for you!
Lana and her novellas are everything you need if you want something funny, spicy and delicious!

[Jessica Nason]

Here’s a polished 4-star review in your style:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this novella.

Nail Me Down was a quick, fun read that I finished in one sitting. If you enjoy the boyfriend’s best friend trope with a little bit of revenge mixed in, this one is worth checking out.

Holly finds herself looking for a little payback after the way her boyfriend has been treating her, and Ford just happens to be the perfect person to help her do it. What starts out as a way to get back at someone quickly turns into something more, and I enjoyed watching the chemistry between Holly and Ford develop throughout the story.

As a novella, everything moves pretty quickly, but it kept me entertained from beginning to end. Ford was definitely the highlight for me, and I found myself rooting for him and Holly as the story progressed. There was enough tension, attraction, and drama packed into a short amount of pages to keep me turning them.

This is the start of a series, and after meeting these characters, I’m interested to see where the author takes the next books. Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced romance that delivered exactly what I was looking for.

:::

[KGillespie]

This was a great short story. If you want a quick romance story this is for you.

[Mona]

Nail Me Down — Lit Creek Blue Collar Boys #1
⭐ 3.5/5

Okay, this was a little different from my usual reads because novellas and insta-love are both relatively new territory for me — but I think I’m slowly developing a liking for them. 🥹📖

Ford Briggs is very much the kind of hero who loves through his actions rather than big declarations, and I really enjoyed that about him. His quiet devotion, protective nature, and the way he consistently showed up for Holly made him easy to root for. 🥹❤️

After everything Holly has been through, finding comfort in her ex-boyfriend’s best friend could have easily felt rushed, but I liked the emotional aspect of their relationship and the way their connection developed. The hurt/comfort, forced proximity, small-town romance, and protective MMC combination worked really well for me. 🩷

I also have to mention how refreshing it was to read something this short. Sometimes when I’m in a reading slump, looking at a huge book on my TBR makes reading feel like a commitment 😂 And that’s where novellas like this can be perfect. You get the romance, the emotional beats, the chemistry, and the satisfaction of finishing a story without needing to dedicate days to it.

The insta-love aspect is probably the biggest adjustment for me since I usually enjoy a little more build-up, but for a novella, I think it worked within the format. And honestly, this has made me curious enough to continue exploring more short romances. 👀

Overall, Nail Me Down was a sweet, easy, comforting small-town romance with a hero who shows his feelings through his actions. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but it was enjoyable, and I can definitely see myself picking up the next book in the series. 🩷

Sometimes you don’t need an epic 500-page romance. Sometimes you just need a cute little book to get you reading again. 🥹📚✨

Instagram: @monaafterdark 🖇️

[Mary]

Okayyyy, Ford Briggs. 👀 A broody, blue-collar contractor who has been secretly pining for his best friend’s girl for YEARS?! Say less. 🫠

Holly’s life gets completely flipped upside down when she discovers her boyfriend has been cheating on her, but the last person she expects to be there picking up the pieces is Ford—her ex’s quiet, grumpy best friend who has apparently been hiding a whole lot of feelings. And once that man finally gets his chance?! GOODBYE. 😮‍💨🔥

I really enjoyed Holly and Ford together! Their chemistry was so good, but I especially loved the protective/caretaking side of Ford. There’s just something about a grumpy man who is absolutely GONE for his girl that gets me every single time. Add in the small-town gossip, forbidden feelings, a messy cheating ex, forced proximity, and all that built-up tension, and I was eating it up.

There were a few moments where I wanted the story to move a little faster, which kept this from being a five-star read for me, but overall this was such a fun, spicy romance with plenty of drama and swoony moments.

And honestly? Your boyfriend’s broody blue-collar best friend secretly being in love with you might be my newest weakness. 😂🔨

[Amber (Amber Reads Romance)]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️

Nail Me Down is the first book in the Lit Creek Blue Collar Boys series. It was a cute novella featuring a romance with a boyfriend's best friend.

Holly's relationship with her boyfriend has been on the rocks for a while and they just got into fight when his best friend Ford comes over. She thinks he has never liked her, but the problem is he has liked her a little too much. Ford has been pining after Holly for a while and is just trying to keep distance between them. He ends up staying the night after her boyfriend abandons her and things get revealed.

This was a quick novella with more of a forbidden romance than the previous ones I have read from this author and I appreciated it. I would recommend it if you are looking for something easy to read in on sitting.

I am interested to read all the upcoming romances for these blue collar brothers.

🔨 Boyfriend’s best friend
🔨 Blue collar hero
🔨 He falls first
🔨 Protective obsessed MMC
🔨 Small town romance
🔨 Forced proximity
🔨 Hurt comfort
🔨 Emotional spice
🔨 Possessive hero energy


Thank you to Lana Piers for providing an ARC.

[Tiffany Hill]

**Falling for My Ex's Best Friend!**

"Nail Me Down" is the first book in the new series ***Lit Creek Blue Collar Boys.*** I really enjoyed seeing Ford and Holly finally getting together. Holly had felt that something was off with her boyfriend Damon for months. When he asked his friend Ford to come over and stay with her while he went into “work” after receiving a call, it was the final straw for her.

Ford had feelings for Holly for quite some time, which had kept him from wanting to be around her. With Holly upset and hurting, he couldn’t stand to see her that way. He just wanted to help her in any way he could, plus he saw this as his opportunity to finally pursue her. The chemistry and attraction between Holly and Ford are intense, creating a dynamic that is both exciting and spicy.

This makes for an enjoyable, quick, and easy read and makes Holly and Ford the perfect couple to kick off this new series, blending hot romance with some drama to look forward to, ultimately leading to an HEA.

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

[Cazlovesbooks]

This is a spicy short read of 52 pages.

It’s the first book in the new lit creek blue collar boys series.

Holly finds out her boyfriend Damon has been cheating, on the same night his best friend is staying over . Damon has to go out , and that leaves Ford and Holly alone.

Ford has liked her for a long time, and doesn’t think his best friend appreciates her at all.

Holly knows their relationship has been on the rocks for a while . Left with the knowledge of her cheating ex, and his friend whos liked her for so long, the inevitable happens.


🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

So this was. Short read. It took me about 20 minutes and it was the perfect palette cleanser .

short, spicy, emotional and left you wanting to read the rest of the series .

a perfect boyfriends best friend book, the trope we all love to read !!

Hoping Dakota and (i assume) Cams book is next!!

BOYFRIENDS BEST FRIEND

he falls first

forced proximity

protective MMC

small town romance

[Storied Conversation]

Ford Briggs had been waiting quietly for his chance, and once he got it, that man was ALL IN.

I loved the setup of Holly falling for her ex-boyfriend's best friend, especially because Ford had already cared about her for a long time. He knew she was off-limits and respected that boundary, but he was also paying enough attention to know his friend wasn't treating her right.

This is a novella, so Holly and Ford move pretty quickly once her relationship ends. Normally insta-love can be hit or miss for me, but it worked here because they already had a friendship and Ford's feelings weren't new.

Protective blue-collar hero, small-town romance, forced proximity, a cheating ex I was happy to see gone, and an epilogue I absolutely loved. Lana Piers has me ready for the rest of the Lit Creek Blue Collar Boys.

Thank you to Lana Piers for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Rainbowlovesbooks]

Nail Me Down is book one of the Lit Creek Blue Collar Boys series and the first book of Lana's that I've read.

I really enjoyed it, it was exactly what was described to me.
Fast paced, steamy and happy endings. What's better than that? I'll tell you finding out that there's going to be a series of these books, 6 in total maybe to line up with the six brothers 😍

What to expect
✔️ Instalove
✔️ Dual POV
✔️ Short Read
✔️ Steamy Scenes
✔️ Ex Boyfriend's Best Friend
✔️ Pining (Ford has had it bad since he met Holly)
✔️ Sunshine FMC & MMC
✔️ Cheating (not between the two MCs)
✔️ Very Mild Drama
✔️ Supportive Side Characters (Hi Dakota, looking forward to your book)
✔️ HEAs

A nice, easy read to give you that hit of instalove and Lust straight off the bat. Perfect for when your short on time and need a quick romance hit. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

[whatmrsdobbsreads]

When Holly and Damon’s relationship starts showing cracks, and Ford — Damon’s friend — finds Holly alone, upset, and vulnerable... you just know there’s only one way this story is heading. And I was absolutely here for it. 👀
This short story wastes no time getting into the drama and tension. It has that addictive “uh oh… this probably isn’t going to end well” feeling that keeps you reading because you need to know what happens next.
Also... “Douche Canoe”? 😂 Definitely adding that one to my list because that had me laughing.
For a quick read, this packed in relationship drama, chemistry, and enough entertainment to keep me hooked. If you're looking for something easy to pick up and fly through while sitting in the sunshine, this is the perfect little afternoon read.
Perfect for readers wanting something short, entertaining, and a little bit messy. ☀️📚

[Ginny]

I always love a Lana novella, and this was the perfect introduction to a brand-new series.
Ford had my heart from the very beginning. Protective, loyal, and always there for Holly, he was the kind of hero you can't help but fall for. Holly was stuck in a difficult situation and knew deep down that something wasn't right in her relationship. As her feelings for Ford grew beyond friendship, I found myself rooting for them even more.
Once Holly finally learns the truth, there's no stopping her from being honest about what she wants, and I loved watching these two take that leap. Their connection felt genuine, heartfelt, and completely deserved.
I adored Ford and Holly together, and can’t wait to meet Ford's family, I'm already excited to get to know his brothers and see where this new series goes next!

[Alisha Pascual]

This was a cute little novella. It did feel like the story was a little rushed and the dialogue was a little off, but I feel like if it was stretched out a little it would make a big difference. I also felt like it took place in like either the senior year of high school or the summer after (which it wasn’t) because of the dialogue, it felt really childish. But even with all that I liked the story. The ex’s best friend trope is really good. Finding a better partner in the friend of your ex. Makes it a little naughty hehehe. And I kinda wished it was longer cuz I really would’ve liked to see more of Holly and Fords relationship. Yes I downloaded the bonus scene or epilogue but since that comes later in the future it was a nice read and satisfied my need to know what their future looked like, but I would’ve been even more satisfied to see more of how their relationship progressed. It was really short lived.

[Colinda Trienekens]

This was such a fun, short insta-love romance! From the beginning, it was clear that Holly wasn't happy in her relationship, and I found myself rooting for her almost immediately. The way Ford stepped in and how his long-time feelings for Holly came to light made the story even more enjoyable.

The chemistry between Ford and Holly was intense, passionate, and incredibly hot. Their connection felt natural despite the short length of the book, and I couldn't stop hoping they would finally get their happy ending together.

I love stories like this, quick, engaging, and easy to read in one sitting. Even though it's a shorter romance, it still delivered all the emotions, tension, and steam I was looking for.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book!

[Mrs R]

This book is a fun, quick escape.

Holly is in a dead-end relationship, but has a crush on Ford. Hes been on the sidelines just so he can be close.

Ford was sweet; his quiet devotion, protective nature. He showed his love through actions, showing he paid attention to what Holly liked and disliked.

Watching him step up to comfort Holly after her devastating betrayal felt so satisfying, and their sizzling chemistry made every page spark with tension.

📚 Boyfriend's friend romance
📚 Instalove
📚 Small-town setting
📚 Protective and devoted hero


*Spoiler*

Just a heads up, the relationship between Holly and her boyfriend hasn't technically ended when she gets together with Ford. Although he did cheat on her.

[Jennifer Leigh (jenjenbookfan)]

𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 is the first book in the Lit Creek Blue Collar Boys series by Lana Piers, featuring a short and spicy cheating boyfriend’s best friend, small town romance for Holly and Ford! I mean, when you add a horror movie “date night” gone wrong to an accidental sleepover with the attractive and protective best friend of the one who bailed, it’s bound to get interesting, right?! I enjoyed the passion, the drama, and the emotion that was absolutely crammed into this tiny package that left me wanting more! It was surprisingly well-balanced for such a short format. I think I read it in like 15 minutes. Don’t forget to download the bonus epilogue!! I look forward to Dakota’s story next!

I received an advanced review copy, and my opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

[Lourdes | Lu and her books ♥]

ARC Review
⭐3/5
🌶️2.5/5

Well, this was a quick little forbidden romance that wasted absolutely no time getting messy!

He falls for his friend’s girlfriend, she has feelings for him too, and once they finally give in to that attraction... well, things get interesting. There’s not much time spent on the emotional development since this is a very short novella, but they definitely had chemistry and weren't exactly fighting those feelings for long.

If you're looking for a quick, easy read with forbidden romance, undeniable attraction, a little bit of drama, and a HEA, this one can easily be read in one sitting. Sometimes you just need a short, spicy little palate cleanser, and this did the job!

Thank you to Lana for this eARC!

[Tracy]

Super quick beach day/ wine afternoon/ evening sunset kinda read. It's a boyfriend's best-friend romance where the boyfriend's a bit of a playboy who unfortunately gets caught, but where his friend is dutifully there to pick up his crush's broken pieces and lend a shoulder (or big broad chest) to cry on. There's some pining & yearning (in the span of a few pages) but the author does manage to smush in a lil' backstory to help things along. He's always wanted her, but just can't cross that line because she's always belonged to someone else.

It's a predictable plot, with minimal spice, but I'm a sucker for happy endings so I kinda loved it.

[Julie]

Loved this fast paced short story. Ford and Holly were great characters. Damon was too, for one you love to hate. The chemistry was definately there between the "non-friends", though that's more a cover description for the true feelings. Ford was an upstanding friend and really tried to do the right thing and big adored him for it. This story colorfully sets the scene for this couple to discover their true connection, however their timing couldn't have been worse. Could that one small detail derail them completely?

I was gifted a copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[Abby Bec]

Looking for a cute and short instalove romance novel? Look no further as this one is perfect. The chemistry between both characters starts right from page one and you get the sense of their background from the longing looks and flirting they can’t help. At first I felt like everything happened very fast and did not think it was realistic but then if you think about it, it’s only 52 pages, a novella so of course you will get to the point pretty quickly. And yes, there is spice, because why not ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 You can definitely feel the heat between these two characters.

Looking for someone quick between books, I recommend giving this a try.

[Catarina Domingos]

This one was short, fun, flirty and spicy 🌶️, with just enough emotion and comfort to make it an easy, addictive read.

We get Boyfriend's Best Friend 👀, Small Town, Blue Collar Romance, Forced Proximity and a very protective hero who definitely knows how to make things interesting. 😏

It has dual POV, plenty of chemistry, and that perfect novella energy where you can sit down "just for a chapter"... and suddenly you're done. 😂

Nothing overly complicated, just a quick, steamy romance with a guaranteed HEA and exactly the kind of read you need when you want something light and entertaining. 💕📖

[Kelly]

This was so swooning, spicy, sweet. I love how Ford payed attention to Holly, he knew things she liked and didn't like. Better than her cheating ex.
I will say, I predicted that the boyfriend at the start of the book would be a cheater because the author, to my experience doesn't write the main characters as cheaters, which I LOVE, and I knew something would happen with Holly and Ford! YAY!
I can't finish books where main characters are cheaters, so I appreciate how Lana Piers does this with this book.
I love being on her team and having these Novellas to read. They're perfect for in between other books!

✨️He falls first
✨️Forced Proximity

[Sarah]

💅 Off-Limits & Oh-So-Good! 💅

Holly and Ford had me hooked! 🔥

An ex-boyfriend’s best friend, a blue-collar MMC, and chemistry that definitely shouldn’t be happening—but absolutely should. 😏

Ford was protective, possessive, and completely gone for Holly, and I loved watching these two finally give in to what had been building between them. ❤️‍🔥

This was a quick, easy read that delivered the angst, heat, and swoony moments without dragging things out.

If you love forbidden romance, protective heroes, and a little “I shouldn’t want you, but I absolutely do” energy, add this one to your TBR! 📚🔥

[Nichole Loza]

Nail Me Down by Lana Piers introduces us to the ultimate golden retriever MMC. Not only is Ford Canadian, which means he is super nice, Ford is a sweet, gentle soul, and is totally in love with Holly!! Holly’s boyfriend, Damon, is a jerk, I hated him from the first word that described him. He does not appreciate what he has in Holly. Ford knows this. Although Damon is Ford’s friend, Ford’s need for Holly is greater. I was rooting for Ford to finally give in, to take Holly and make her his. And when he did, oh my yes. Lana Piers always writes characters who are real, vulnerable and relatable. And the spice, off the charts! So good!

[Tampatha]

Quick, spicy, and just the right amount of drama in this one.

Nail Me Down is a short read that I easily flew through. As a novella, things move pretty quickly, but I was still entertained.

Give me a little forbidden romance, boyfriend’s best friend, revenge, and drama and I’m in! These two definitely bring some tension to the story, and the short length made this the perfect read when I wanted something quick.

It’s short, spicy, fun, and packed with enough drama to keep things interesting. I enjoyed this introduction to the series and I’m definitely curious to see where things go from here!

Thank you #lanapiers for the chance to read your story.

[HEATHER]

This is a new series by Lana Piers and it's already off to a great start! I love Lana's quick novellas. It's nice to be able to sit down for just an hour and get everything I need out of a story.

This book had me mad for the main character because her boyfriend was a total douche canoe! But thankfully his best friend was there to save the day! you will easily fall in love with Holly & Ford.

Make sure you grab this quick read and enjoy some spice, some swoony moments and a happily ever after ending! I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Lana Piers for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

[Joanna HL]

3.75 stars rounded up

Nail Me Down was such a fun and spicy little novella

Holly’s newly single after discovering her boyfriend was cheating, and then there’s Ford… her (ex’s )grumpy, protective best friend who’s apparently been hiding some feelings of his own….
It’s super quick and easy to fly through in one sitting. Obviously being a novella everything moves pretty fast, but there’s still some angst and tension packed in before it all pays off.

A lot of fun tropes in beer : Boyfriend’s best friend, forced proximity, he falls first, small-town drama and a nice bit of spice. Super easy to read in one evening.

[Jenna Lundberg]

Nail Me Down by Lana Piers was a fun, fast-paced novella that delivered exactly what I was looking for in a quick romance ❤️🔥. Ford completely stole the show for me with his years of pining, unwavering support, and determination to show Holly she deserved better than being someone's last priority.

With boyfriend's-best-friend tension, plenty of chemistry, minimal drama, and a satisfying happily-ever-after, this was an easy one-sitting read that left me excited for the rest of the Lit Creek Blue Collar Boys series 📚❤️.

[Emilea]

I was fortunate enough to get this as an ARC! It’s a quick read and a nice palette cleanser.

Because of its length, it reminded me of a one-act play. You’re introduced to the characters, develop opinions about each character quickly, then the plot points happen quickly and aren’t drawn out.

The author did a great job on developing characters with such a limited amount of time. It was so quick that I was already disagreeing and disappointed in the FMC’s initial boyfriend.

This was a nice and easy Sunday afternoon read!