Pint of Contention

King Family, Book 3

By: Susannah Nix

Narrated by: Chris Brinkley, Amanda Stribling

Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

They’ve both got good reasons to fight falling in love, but they can’t resist the overpowering attraction pulling them together…

Maggie: Wicked Witch. Ballbuster. The Terminator. Those are just a few of the nicknames I’ve earned in my professional life. As the executive consultant King’s Creamery has brought in to save them from financial ruin, I have to decide which employees get the ax. I can’t afford to make friends or get chummy with my new neighbors.

Try telling that to the enormous, hunky fireman next door, who’s annoyingly determined to make friends with me. It’s not enough that the guy saves kittens from trees, tosses tree trunks around while wearing a kilt, and has a body that makes Thor look puny. He also works out shirtless in full view of my kitchen window. I might be secretly obsessed.

When a newspaper exposé turns the whole town against me, my hot fireman neighbor steps up to act as my protector, and my secret obsession threatens to turn into a case of serious feelings. But I can’t allow that to happen when I’m only here temporarily. I’ve got to keep my walls up to protect the heart everyone thinks I don’t have.

Ryan: My new neighbor might act like she wants nothing to do with me, but I’ve seen her watching me from her window. I can tell she likes what she sees, and I love pushing her buttons—a little too much. I’ve got no restraint when it comes to this woman.

Now I’m screwed, because I can’t get her out of my head. The more time I spend with Maggie, the more I suspect she might be the soulmate I’ve been waiting for all my life.

Of course I’d find her now when I can’t risk letting her get too close. If she does, she might discover the secret I’ve been keeping from everyone.

Soulmate or not, I’ve got to let her go. Even if it kills me.

Pint of Contention is the third audiobook in the King Family series, set in the small town of Crowder, Texas, home of the King’s Creamery ice cream company. Each audiobook is a stand-alone, full-length contemporary romance that follows one of the six King siblings as they find and fight for love.

©2022 Susannah Nix (P)2022 Susannah Nix

Over 40 hot romance!

This is one of those hidden gems! A second chance at love relationship, and smokin hot to boot. Great read.

A 5 ⭐️ listen!!!!

Oh, honey, my heart hurts with the cruel almost-predestined health issue. Ryan is just a damn good man. He saves snapping turtles and just cares. He really wants to keep her safe.

Maggie. Bless her heart, she isn’t southern, add a difficult job….she had an uphill climb. You would think she would have tried to be more polite seeing as how her work made her enemy number one. She was cold and pretty rude. I wasn’t a fan but she grew on me. I’d have liked to see a little more growth for her in the writing.

Susannah knows how to write those delicious submissive males, they melt you spoil you, adore you, honestly want your happiness and soak up the appreciation they are given. They call you things like ‘Sweetness’…

Chris MF’in Brinkley…chapter 27, sir, I live for this narration greatness. Goodness! That had me speechless. 🔥❤️

Amanda did a fantastic narration. This series has entertained me so much, I’m hoping for Wyatt’s story soon!

Enjoyed this one

This stories about this family have been very enjoyable. The narrators do a great job.

Better than the second book

I definitely liked Ryan and Maggie better than Tanner and Lucy, and their obstacles seemed slightly more difficult to manage, even though I would have handled Ryan’s vastly differently. Amanda Stribling was better in this book than the last as well, and Chris Brinkley is always great.

Do Not recommend

Very thin storyline and cardboard characters that could use more dimension. The main female character is hard to believe.

❤️❤️❤️Wonderful!❤️❤️❤️

The King Family series is fabulous, and Pint of Contention is my favorite in the series so far! I recommend reading the series in order, as characters recur and the storyline builds somewhat. Fun, sweet, and steamy small town, next door neighbor, Texas romance infused with banter and wit. Some of Susannah Nix’s books are written in third person, but the King Family series is written in first person with dual POV. Dual narration by Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling is FANTASTIC! Vocal performers don’t get any better than Chris Brinkley’s southern sound. I highly recommend Pint of Contention and the King Family series…can’t wait for the next one!

Best in the Series So Far!

Maggie is a no-nonsense force to be reckoned with when the executives of King’s Creamery bring her in to evaluate the company’s financial situation. She only plans to stay in Crowder, TX long enough to get the job done. Maggie has no plan to get attached to anyone in the process but her temporary neighbor, Ryan, keeps finding ways to be around her. She soon finds out he may be harder to ignore than she previously thought.

Pint of Contention is the third book in the King Family series. While it could be read as a stand-alone I highly recommend reading the rest of this series for context and character development. Most of the characters from the previous books do show up in this one.

The MCs are both a little bit grumpy and perfectly happy doing their own thing. The chemistry is there even before they start their fake dating shenanigans. They seem to form a bond fairly early on and I think that friendship really helped to break down the walls between them. The author does a good job with showing the development of trust. I love that not only is Maggie a little older than Ryan but she is over 40. Maybe this maturity is what helped in her reaction to Ryan’s secrets?

I appreciate the sensitive way in which the author covers what could be considered more delicate topics. Ryan is written with care but is given realistic reactions and feelings about his medical situation.

I have enjoyed every book in this series so far. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the storyline next. The narrators Amanda Stribling and Chris Brinkley are two of my favorites. They’ve voiced all the books on the series so far and have done a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life.

Fun and Sexy story!!!

Pint of Contention is the third book in the King Family series of books by Susannah Nix. I’ve wanted Ryan’s book since he first appeared in My Cone and Only. Obviously, I always need all the family member’s stories once I’ve met them in the first book of a series, but since Ryan is the stepbrother to most of the King siblings, I wanted more of his story fast.

So there was so much I really loved about Pint of Contention, and one thing that really bothered me. I loved the chemistry between Maggie and Ryan so very much. While I’ve loved the chemistry of the couples in the first couple of books, Ryan and Maggie had smoking hot chemistry just by being in the vicinity of each other. Once they started spending time together to protect Maggie from the townspeople who think she is there to move the King’s Creamery plant to another town, it only got hotter. Sexy dirty talking Ryan was swoon worthy for sure. I love when a fake relationship turns real, and I absolutely loved Ryan and Maggie together.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Ryan keeping a secret about his health from Maggie or his brothers. I understood where he was coming from, but just thought it didn’t really fit with his personality as I’d come to see him. I felt like once Ryan no longer had the burden of the secret he was keeping, he was more like the Ryan I’d come to love and want to know more about from prior books. I adored Maggie from the very first page. She knows who she is and what she wants and makes no excuses for her choices. She had a pretty awesome life before arriving in Crowder, but I felt like she was absolutely living her best life by the end of this book.

Once again the narrators absolutely did a fantastic story with Pint of Contention. I honestly think this series of books is the first I’ve listened to with Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling. I once again loved their seamless transition and felt like they did an even better job with all the additional new characters in this book keeping all the character voices fresh and distinguishable. I believe at this point I’m caught up on this series, and can’t wait for book 4 in the series, especially following the last scene in this book.


Rating: 4 Stars (B+)
Review copy provided by publisher

Love this series!

Pint of Contention is book #3 in the King Family series. Maggie is a corporate consultant with a reputation of being tough and somewhat icy. Ryan is a step-child to the King dynasty and keeps himself as far removed as possible. Both Maggie and Ryan have issues and are somewhat broken, but find comfort in each other while Maggie is working in Crowder, TX. I love this story with the sibling banter, fabulous characters, steamy parts, and the HEA.

The narration was top-shelf as usual. Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling narrated all three books, but brought each novel and its characters to life. They are 5 star performers.

Great story with a successful FMC in her 40s!

This is, by far, my favorite of the King
Family series.

What’s it about?

Ryan is a stepson to the King family who owns the large ice cream company that employs half the town. But when a letter from his biological father shows up that indicates he may carry the gene for ALS, he pushes away from dating, not wanting to hurt someone if he ends up having the devastating disease.

Maggie is a consultant who’s in town for a short time to help King Ice Cream figure out their dwindling finance problems. That makes her the town’s enemy number one. Her frequent travels mean she never settles down. But when her temporary job lands her in a house next door to Ryan, both of their resolves to not date anyone crumble.

My take:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

🌟 MAGGIE
- A 6-foot talk leading lady. I am here for it! As a tall woman myself, it’s refreshing to see a woman lead who isn’t tiny and delicate.
- She’s in her 40s and killing it in her career. 👑
- She is super intelligent and independent.

RYAN
- He’s like Ferdinand the bull: big on the outside, soft on the inside.
- Stands up to bullies.
- Firefighter with an awesome friend group.
- Likes to dance.
- Scared to commit because he doesn’t want to hurt her.

And oh the CHEMISTRY and SPICE in this one are palpable. Whew! I loved every second of it.

I’ve listened to all of these books so far, and Chris Brinkley may be one of my favorite audiobook narrators. I enjoyed Amanda Sterling much more in this one as she wasn’t forcing a Southern accent most of the time.

I can’t wait for the next in this series!

finding love

Ryan and Maggie’s love story is full of fun banter, chemistry, deep emotions and a great friendship. Her job takes her all around the country without deep connections with people. Ryan had closed his heart to the love of his life because a big secret from his past. Is it a fake relationship between them bring them together or their future is to be alone forever? The audiobook with Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling are great with all the emotions the characters go through

4.5 Stars! Back in the ‘King Family’ World!

I loved this book so much! I just couldn’t help but love Ryan. He did everything in his power to offer Maggie protection and kindness even though she began the book so grumpy. Speaking of Maggie, even though she starts of the book grumpy and unwilling to make friends in the town, we soon find out why. We learn how hard it is for her running her consultant business; she essentially holds the decision on whether to cut jobs at the Creamery. Thus, she can't afford to attach herself to anyone, especially knowing her time in the town is limited.

When a newspaper exposé turns the whole town against Maggie even more, Ryan steps in and offers her a fake dating arrangement. But their chemistry and compatibility are anything but fake. I loved the banter and moments that these two had. However, with Maggie’s time in town and at King’s Creamery limited, and Ryan burdened by a potentially life-altering secret, both are resistant to fall in love and have a lot to work through before they can have their HEA. I also loved how Maggie offered great support to Ryan as he had to face his fears and refused to leave his side!

Narrated by Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling, as with the other books in the series, they were excellent as Ryan and Maggie respectively. They really brought the characters and the story to life, and I enjoyed my time listening to their narration and this book!

Maggie & Ryan!

I am loving being part of the King Family! I feel like an honorary sister as I enjoy learning all about the siblings. This installment features Ryan, the good looking, muscular, tall, emt that never is involved in a serious relationship. That doesn't stop him from noticing his new next door neighbor, Maggie. Maggie is in town to consult with the King's Creamery about their profitability and efficiency. Not the town's favorite newcomer, Maggie is taken under the wing of Ryan, pretending they are together. And our story begins. I absolutely love Maggie. She is ambitious, independent and passionate about all things she loves. She also tells it like it is, no glossing over facts and feelings. Ryan harbors a secret that keeps his heart in a cage. He is incredibly attractive, but at the same time frustrating. It's a fun listen as these two learn about life and love. Plus we get all that King family interaction. Those siblings just make me laugh with every interjection they bring! Looking forward to book 4!

Amanda Stribling and Chris Brinkley continue their fantastic narration of this family as they find their happily ever afters! Stribling always brings such energy to her heroines. She makes Maggie feisty and even a bit sarcastic which I adore! Brinkley has created Ryan with a sensual feel, incredible charisma that draws me to him.Love this team and can't wait for more!

Loved Maggie and Ryan's romance

I have loved this series from the start, and Pint of Contention is my favorite by far. Ball buster Maggie and firefighter Ryan are simply made for each other!

One of the things that I loved about Maggie and Ryan's relationship is that they were so determined not to fall in love and not to be each other's long-term plan, but it really couldn't be avoided. Maggie wasn't in town forever. Ryan doesn't want a relationship because he's worried that he'll leave a love broken hearted, but at the end of the day, they were really just inevitable. But first they became amazing friends, truly got to know each other, and they combined their lives and hearts before they even realized it.

The audio was simply wonderful. Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling really embodied their characters and gave performances that made you feel Maggie and Ryan's hearts. I really loved this listen.

Wonderful Story & Narration🎧 Riveting & Heartfelt

Susannah Nix continues to entertain me with another amazing “King Family” novel, each book features a different member of the King family and stands on its own with each one just as amazing as the other and I recommend them all and enjoying them in order gives you the benefit of knowing the other character’s back stories and seeing them again is like seeing an old friend. These King siblings are something special and this third book is Ryan’s story, a King by marriage. His Mom married George and the Kings became his family despite being a stepson/brother and continued to live there after his mom passed away. George passed on some information about his birth father and the news was devastating for Ryan and it was not just about his father, but himself, too. King’s Creamery has been suffering from some financial woes, so George brought in a consultant to save the company from what may be its demise. Maggie is good at what she does, but she is nobody’s friend when business is involved and no one is exempt from the ax if she deems it best to make cuts. She is planning to stay in town for six months and instead of staying in a hotel she found a place to rent and it comes with a handsome neighbor, but as small towns go she is not sure if he has any stake in King’s Creamery so she stays away, which was pretty funny but Ryan does not give up on her. She finds out that he is a firefighter and now that she has his name, she checked the company roster and he is not on it, so he is safe on that front, little does she know, LOL. Neither one is looking for a relationship, but a fling would be okay as long as they are upfront with one another. But Ryan is not wiling to go the extra step with Maggie and she wants to know why he is holding back. This wonderfully plotted story has plenty of drama, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Susannah Nix, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing narration, Amanda Stribling and Chris Brinkley’s outstanding performance continues as they bring these characters and their story to life. Their character voices have been consistent and the quality of the audio has been top-notch throughout the series. They have a complete understanding of the characters they are portraying play their roles with perfection, Stribling’s Maggie is the smart, take no names bad@ss with a whole lot of personality, while Brinkley’s Ryan is a charming charmer. Both are great performing the roles of the secondary characters too. They set the perfect tone for the story, capture all the character’s emotions and project them into their performance. These entertaining storytellers are versatile voice artists and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another fabulous listen

Best in the Series 💜🍦🚒🏋️💻🔥

This was my favourite of the King Family series. Maggie is a great character! She's strong, hard working, and comfortable with who she is and where she is in life. Sure she doesn't get close to many people, but it's hard to make connections when your job requires you to make difficult, sometimes life altering recommendations, but also forces you to pick up and move wherever the work is. Ryan is a really fun character. He's sweet and swoony and even gives us a little dirty talk If only he could allow himself to be open and vulnerable, Ryan could get everything he didn't know he wanted in life.

Maggie is a self confident and smart individual. It was really great to see her get an HEA. Someone who is a little more mature, knows what she wants and isn't worried about what other people think about it. She speaks her truth and tells it like it is. Ryan is emotionally scarred from the mess he had to deal with growing up, and now he's avoiding the truth of his potential future and any sort of commitment in a desperate attempt to protect others, and himself. Even though this story dealt with a lot of family drama, it felt much lighter than book 2 and let us focus on the relationship between Maggie and Ryan. I really enjoyed being with them in the time they shared. Their relationship developed in a way that allowed them to get to know each other in a very casual and fun way without too much pressure. They certainly fell hard and fast (even if one or both were in denial of it). I like that once everything was out in the open the resolution happened pretty cleanly. There were a few tears and words in anger, fear and hurt, but overall it felt like the HEA arrived pretty quickly.

Amanda and Chris win again with their wonderful performances. These 2 may be a new top narrator team for me. I love how smooth and charismatic Chris's characters come across. He's got good range and his pacing and tone are very pleasing to listen to for hours and hours. I've literally listened to him for 32+ hours in the last week and it was delightful! Amanda is fan-freakin-tastic in this book!!! I really liked her in the last 2, but this book just hit all the marks for me. I'm now officially in love with her #GuyVoice and her emotional range in this just killed me.

Maggie and Ryan!

Pint of Contention by Susannah Nix has been my absolute favorite of the King Family series so far.
Maggie, the girl everyone loves to hate, she here to take our jobs as the executive consultant to Mr. King. With the finances of the creamery in question, can Maggie save the company and the town?
Ryan never felt like a King, was never treated like a King but this burly man has made his own path. With questionable medical concerns coming into play can Ryan overcome is fear of leaving loved ones behind or is he determined to keep everyone at arm’s reach?
I really liked the dynamic between Maggie and Ryan – They were oh so spicy!
Chris Brinkley and Amanda Stribling were so much fun to listen to and the heat! Whew! Yes I loved this book so much!