Applied Pressure: A Grouchy Meets Snarky Romance

· Brady Family Book 1 · Lainey Davis
65 reviews
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195
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About this ebook

He scowls for sport. She destroys executives for a living.

Putting them together might cause a catastrophe.

Zack Brady prefers soil reports to people and silence to small talk. When a sinkhole starts swallowing the backyard of corporate strategist Nicole Kennedy, fixing the damage should be easy. Soil makes sense, but people don’t.

Proof of concept: Nicole can't stand him.

Nicole already has enough problems. Her house is sliding downhill, her boss bullied her into a charity race, and now her training partner is the same infuriating grouch overseeing the disaster in her backyard.

Zack thinks feelings are inefficient. Nicole uses sarcasm like a weapon. But somewhere between engineering inspections, sweaty training runs, and glaring at each other across her collapsing property line, the tension turns impossible to ignore.

Because fighting attraction is hard.

Resisting the spark while the ground literally shifts beneath them? Even bedrock has a breaking point.

Applied Pressure is a steamy romantic comedy featuring explosive chemistry, sharp banter, and the broody Brady family falling hard when they least expect it.

**Previously published as Foundation: A Grouchy Geek Romance

He scowls for sport. She destroys executives for a living. Putting them together might cause a catastrophe. Zack Brady prefers soil reports to people and silence to small talk. When a sinkhole starts swallowing the backyard of corporate strategist Nicole Kennedy, fixing the damage should be easy....

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Ratings and reviews

65 reviews
Barbara Watts
July 22, 2026
The start of a new series called the Brady Family a well written story that held my interest until the end. Zack/Isaac Brady and Nicole Kennedy meet when a sinkhole starts happening in her yard.Both of them have to overcome things from their past in order to move forward. I want to read the next book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Dee Mac
July 27, 2026
This is such a fun and easy read. I fell hard for grumpy Zack and I loved how Nicole stood up to him. Their banter and chemistry were sparky and undeniable. The enemies to lovers trope was made for these two. A perfect introduction to the Brady’s, this makes me want to read more of this family. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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Dana McKee
May 31, 2022
Lainey Davis, you are winning at life. I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! The characters and plot development was fantastic. All the other characters added to it, making it such a fun and unique story. They're written so well and are completely engaging. It was easy to visualize every detail. Isaac and Nicole are yin and yang. The story of their transition into lovers flowed smoothly and effortlessly. Who knew engineering could be so sexy! They meshed so well together and their chemistry was super hot! Thank you so much Ms Davis for letting me ALC this fun and flirty romance! This was my first [audio]book by you, but it definitely won't be the last! Tom Taylorson and Carly Robins were cast perfectly for their roles. Their timing, pitch, tone, and pace were exemplary. Their transitions between characters and interactions with each other was flawless. This story is full of quick-witted banter, which they delivered perfectly. They really brought this story to life. Nola504Nerds
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About the author

Lainey Davis lives in Pittsburgh in the USA with her 3 feral sons, 2 rescued rabbits, and 1 husband. Her books feature brooding heroes, feisty heroines, steamy love scenes and happily ever afters.

Lainey Davis lives in Pittsburgh in the USA with her 3 feral sons, 2 rescued rabbits, and 1 husband. Her books feature brooding heroes, feisty heroines, steamy love scenes and happily ever afters.

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