Inspection

Brady Family #3

by Lainey Davis

He closed off his heart when he lost his wife. She is trying to start fresh. Can they rekindle an old flame? Kellen Brady is just fine, thank you. He runs his family business. He cooks family dinners and takes his vitamins. He even gets plenty of exercise. When his daughter suggests he needs to "get back out there," Kellen brushes off her comment and gets back to his work instead. Safer that way. Elizabeth Burns feels like she's waking up from a 20-year sleep. Decades of infertility, then raising an Autistic teen have taken their toll, and when Elizabeth realizes her distant husband is also a dirtbag, she shakes off the fog and heads for a new home and a new life. Elizabeth and her son move into a cute house in a cute neighborhood...directly across from her high school boyfriend. But Kellen Brady is a man now. A man with as much baggage as she's got. As they get to know each other again as neighbors, they start to wonder if their story together could have a new chapter. Can the two of them wade through these muddy waters together without risking heartbreak? Inspection is book 3 in the Brady Family series. If you love messy family dynamics, unforgettable characters, and sizzling chemistry, you'll devour this new release by Lainey Davis, creator of the Stag Brothers.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance Romance, Amazon

188 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2020

Reviews

[Rellim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: Books 1-3 have been combined into a box set.

This is book 3 in the Brady Family series by Lainey Davis. While you can enjoy this on its own, I think it’s best enjoyed after Foundation & Suspension.

I love, love, love that Davis is writing older characters falling in love. Both in their early 50s, Kellen and Beth were once high school sweethearts who reunite after 30 years. Kellen is widowed and Beth recently divorced. In addition Beth has a teen autistic son, Jake.

I could not have been more thrilled at how integral Jake was to the story and that the goal for (almost) everyone in his life is compassion, understanding, and supporting him. While Kellen does have to work to find ways to support Beth without overstepping and she works to let more people in, their relationship is fairly low angst. Most of the tension comes from Jake’s dad.

As always, the Brady Family is funny, loving, and encouraging. Kellen and Beth get a great second-chance romance and do a wonderful job of blending their families.

I’m looking forward to Cal’s story, Vibration.

Narration:
I know I keep gushing about them - but Carly Robins and Tom Taylorson are a fantastic match for each other and Davis’s writing. This one was even better because the main characters are older than those in the first two books … Robins and Taylorson are themselves yet sound a bit more mature, but without dropping into a cheesy elderly affect. It stays consistent throughout the whole audio. They are both terrific at the secondary characters as well. These are super easy to binge.

[Chalice · Rating 3 out of 5]

The couple: Kellan and Beth

Romance trope: older characters; second chance
Series: Brady Family
Length: 129 pages

Plot: Beth is freshly divorced and she and her 15-year-old son Jake have moved back to her old neighborhood. They just happen to move across the street from her old high school fling, Kellan. Kellan is a widower now but is intrigued by this old girlfriend of his. With both of them 50 now, they have some maturity and life experience behind them. But they still have some challenges to overcome as they navigate this new part of their lives.

Commentary: As I get older myself, I enjoy reading about characters who are closer to my age (not all the time - romance novels are about fantasy, right?) sometimes. I also enjoyed the addition of Jake as a secondary character, even while I sometimes found his autism to be stereotypical TV-style symptoms. Then again, what do I know? There's often a little kernel of truth in stereotypes; that's generally how they came about in the first place. I always base my understanding of autistic characters on my own son, and as he's only one person, I should probably stop that. I did definitely relate to Beth and her inability to let other people help her take care of Jake.I hated the way Kellan reacted at first, but I can see where that might be frustrating (although it hadn't really been long enough for him to show that much frustration). And if I'm honest, most of his family sounded autistic too. At any rate, I was annoyed with Kellan's daughter and her reaction to Beth and Jake being at his house, especially since she's the one who encouraged it, but part of that was Kellan's fault for never dating again after his wife died and never talking to his daughter about what that might look like. And the thing with the chicken parmesan - I get it being a trigger, but use your brain smartypants! How on earth was she supposed to know what the last meal you had with your mother 15 years ago was?!
Anyways, good story but I'm also glad it wasn't any longer - it didn't have enough for more than a novella. It wrapped up neatly in the pages given.

Previous book in the series: Suspension: An Opposites Attract Romance
Next book in the series: Vibration: An Accidental Roommates Romance

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

mf - contemporary romance - moderate steam - white MCs - divorced MC - widowed MC - mature (50s) - neighbors to lovers - second chance - single parent. 4 stars. Great representation of a single mom with an autistic son. I enjoyed the FMC’s growth.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ (Audiobook)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great and easygoing read. Kellen was adorable and sweet. He really was the perfect hero and I just loved how patient, kind, protective and loving he was towards Jake, Beth's autistic son. Beth was okay, albeit a bit overprotective of Jake and skeptical of everyone else more often than not. They worked well as a couple and family. This was the first book I've read by the author, so I'll definitely go back and read more of the series.

[Lainey Davis]

Readers swoon for this silver fox romance.

Also available via audio:
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Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/...
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Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/audiobo...
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Inspection...

[Slick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed Inspection, a seasoned romance set it Lainey Davis’s Brady family world. In the first two books we’ve watched Kellen guide his nephews and daughter in the family business that he owns and runs with his brother Mick. Kellen lost his wife to cancer 15 years ago and has never really dated since, but when he realizes his new neighbor is none other than Beth his high school sweetheart, he beings to see that maybe there is time for romance. Beth is fresh out of a bad marriage that honestly ended years prior but she held on because of her autistic son Jake. Finally having enough of her husband’s infidelity and the stress of the marriage making her miserable she is renting a home near her parents who will be back-up for her and her son. It was fun watching Kellen and Beth reconnect and remember their time together as teens and figure out a relationship and sex with a new partner after 50. I liked that they didn’t shy away from problems and they communicated fairly well. Beth was a bit stubborn when it came to Jake and I understood that because she couldn’t count on her ex-spouse for back-up when they were married, it all fell to her. I adored that Kellen figured out how to engage with Jake and how well his family welcomed Beth and Jake into their fold with the exception of Kellen’s daughter, at least at first. Inspection was funny, romantic, and emotional and I enjoyed it very much.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance, mature romance in the Brady family series. I liked this one because the H & h were both older (50) and the heroine Beth and a teen son who was autistic. Kellen lost his wife to ovarian cancer when he was in his 30’s and has spent the has 15 years raising his daughter and nephews with his brother Mick, focussing on the family and the family business. Beth has spent her time in an unhappy marriage focussing on her son Jake. Beth & Kellen dated in HS. Beth has just moved on across the road after divorcing her cheating ex. Their relationship starts when Kellen helps out Jake and I loved that he was so accepting and welcoming with Jake. His relationship with him was genuine and not just about Beth – he really enjoys being needed. While Beth struggles with letting someone help after doing everything alone for so long they were able to work through their issues and any misunderstandings in a mature way which fit with who and where they were in life. Lisa (Beths BFF) gets and honourable mention. She was awesome.

[Wanda Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

high school sweethearts find each other again after 30 years

Recently divorced Elizabeth moves back to her home town with her autistic teenage son. She is surprised to find that her new neighbor is the boy she was in love with in high school. They went there separate ways to college married and had families. Kellen is a widower with a grown daughter and a large family who depend on him to be the voice of reason. As they get to know each other again Kellen bonds with her son. Elizabeth has been solely in charge of her son and the responsibility for him is her only concern. I love the Brady family and the way they are so accepting and caring with Elizabeth and her son Jake.

This is sensitive and funny and very romantic. I love a story about an older couple who have already been through many of life's major events and find they are ready to start a new adventure.

[Holly Doyal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I love these books because they talk about a bunch of engineers and I’m an engineer myself. However, I tend to get irritated when details in the book don’t match. For instance, Beth told Kellen that he is the only Letson to ever call her Beth, but her best friend Lisa had been calling her that throughout the entire book. Then Beth has to wear a boot for her foot stress fracture and she complains how she can’t drive for several weeks, but then she is driving solo shortly afterwards. And she got her first tattoo - a symbolic one to celebrate her strength on her hip / but later the tattoo is mentioned to be on her thigh.

Tends to ruin a book for me.

[Mrs Moa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A divorcee :: a widower :: a second chance romance

I absolutely adore Lainey’s Brady Family Series but Inspection is my absolute favourite.

I love Kellen and Elizabeth’s story. Finding love later in life after heartache and heartbreak while navigating “aging bodies” that don’t quite do what they used to.

The introduction of Elizabeth’s son Jake who is neurodiverse, is heartwarming and inspiring. Once again, Lainey introduces a disability rep in such a caring and well thought perspective.

I listened to Inspection as an audio book and the narrators Carly Robins and Tom Taylorson are superb.

[Loretta Malter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good Mid-life story, with real people situations.

I like silver fox characters. I am middle aged, and this storyline rang so true to the things we experience in our family and romantic lives. Nothing is clean cut, we always have others feelings and needs to take into account, usually at the risk of forgetting ourselves. As a mom of special needs children, I thought the author brilliantly captured the struggles Beth was going through. We all need a Kellen Brady in our lives.

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say yes to a silver fox!

Thankfully, Kellen is reconnecting with the totally age appropriate girl next door, as in Elizabeth, his high school sweetheart, only time and life has done a number on these two. Marriages to other people and kids with them. Elizabeth has a son with special needs. Kellen is a widower whose daughter is urging him to get back out there.

I liked that they both had baggage, had emotional clutter and complicated feels all over the place.
Recommend.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age means nothing when you feel like you've returned to your childhood. A boyfriend from the past lives across the street from the home you've moved into. Your autistic son seems taken with him. Never having help from his father, you are scared to depend on anyone. No one else can understand why, disappointment abound. Can you trust again? Can this be real?

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

What a warm, loving book. A newly single mom with an autistic son moves to a new neighborhood and finds out a widower who lives across the street is her high school boyfriend. Such a wonderful story and an eye opener about autism. Excellent characters. I absolutely loved the story.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mature Second Chance

Loved this over 50 second chance romance. The author builds both Beth andKellens personalities and past history beautifully. The story has a great message of family support, tolerance and acceptance. I am new to this author and I will definitely be reading more from Lainey Davis!!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

She's recently divorced with a high school aged son on the autism spectrum. Her ex thinks she has spoiled their son and he just needs to grow up and act correctly.

Kellen's her across-the-street neighbor and her former high school boyfriend. He's also an engineer in a close family of engineers. Kellen knows the things her son is studying in school and his work is interesting to the son.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay read

A lot going on in this book. A very involved family, reconnecting lovers, post menopause and sex and a teenager in the spectrum. At times it felt like overload and yet there was a story being told. Some real comic moments but also for a couple in their fifties felt they were terrible communicators. Liked the older couple story but didn’t love it.

[Casey Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

More fabulous family interaction within the Brady clan. Moving on can come with challenges and complications yet communication is key and this these folk have in spades. Second chances are rare in life, and yet are usually worth the risk.

[Heidi Erb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Another great book from this author. Good characters and storyline that grabs you from the start and keeps you interested until the end. Looking forward to more from this series and author.

[Kimberley Stafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

An engaging second-chance romance about a couple in their 50s. It is sweet with family and friends throughout. I really appreciated the discussion about menopause’s effect on physical intimacy.

[Jen Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this because the couple was a little later in their lives...late 40's to 50's and they still had moves despite their aches and pains.
2nd chance romance. They dated in highschool.
He is a widower with an adult daughter.
She is divorced with an autistic son in high-school.

[Claudia, Cmarie927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read!

I loved this one. Kellen is such a sweet man, and exactly what Elizabeth needs.

I recommend reading this series in order to get the most from this story.

[Mary Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really nice story about an older couple but not old

[Joanne Stokley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to the author for explaining about vaginal changes after menopause! Lube, baby, much lube needed. LOL. Low angst, mature main characters finding their way to a second chance romance.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed listening to Inspection!! Try it!

[Kim]

I’m at 31% and I’m bored. I took a break to read a different book thinking I’d come back to this after, but the thought still bores me, so I’m marking it read/DNF and moving on.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different but good

[Tally Vivarais · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes I loved the representation, but that's the only part of this book I liked.