Maggie Silvestri has taken a consulting gig in a town in Texas. Her assignment: bring ice cream company King’s Creamery back from the brink of financial ruin. Her job often means she’s a villain, advising companies to lay off employees. She’s used to it – and used to not making friends with her temporary neighbors.

But it’s hard to ignore her tall, good-looking next-door neighbor, Ryan McCafferty. The firefighter has Maggie a little hot and bothered. And he’s not just handsome – he’s also a nice guy. He helps her out when the whole town turns against her and she starts getting threats.

Ryan is also very interested in Maggie, but he’s got a secret that keeps him from getting too close to people.
The two strike up a deal to fake date so Maggie will have a bit of protection from angry citizens, but the fake dating starts to feel real. Maggie and Ryan assure themselves their relationship is just temporary, but it might be too hard to say “good-bye.”

The chemistry between Maggie and Ryan was off the charts. They were hot, hot, hot. I also appreciated how strong Maggie was and how, when she realized what she wanted, she didn’t sabotage herself. Instead, she went after it. She did start off a little frosty, but that was understandable given her job. It was nice to watch her thaw. And Ryan was just a straight-up good guy (though he did tend to self-sabotage).

I haven’t read the other books in the series. This one does stand alone, though I was a little lost on all the family connections.

Swoony, heartwarming romance for lovers of grumpy/sunshine trope! She is the grump while he is the sunshine! I love their relationship with one another and I'll have to go back and read the previous books in the series for more about these characters! 10/10 would recommend!

I loved Pint of Contention!! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy. This is the third book in the series but could definitely be read as a stand alone.

Right at the beginning of the book, Ryan learns his father has ALS and there’s a 50% chance he inherited the gene. I share this because it comes up right at the start and is something Ryan struggles with throughout the book - not wanting to date anyone or fall in love because he’s worried about the future. This can be heavy and may not be right for everyone so I wanted to make you aware.

Maggie is a successful consultant who takes a short term lease on the house next door to Ryan. She’s also not interested in making any love connections - she’s only in town for a few months.

However the chemistry between them is apparent from the start. I loved it - give them an A+ for banter and it had me smiling at the book. This book is much steamier and open door than you would probably guess from the cover.

Pint of Contention is the third book is the fabulously yummy ice cream centred King Family series and it’s the best yet.

Pint of Contention follows Maggie, a contractor who’s hired in to help the Ben and Jerrys-esce ice cream company help fix their low profit lows. It’s up to her to help save King Creamery from future financial ruin.

When news is leaked that this will include a recommendation to close part of the company, something that was outlined only as a possibility, the small town that relies on the creamery for work turns against Maggie and starts to threaten her.

Enter Ryan, the hot firefighter neighbour Maggie has been spying on since she moved across the street (and just so happens to be the stepson of the owner of the creamery (aka daddy George king)).

He helps her escape a threatening encounter and together they come up with a plan to help Maggie safe. Aka fake date and convince the town that messing with Maggie further will mean coming face to fade with big, hulky Ryan.

I love these two. The chemistry is HOT right from the start and need I mention that this is older women with a slight age gap between the two? I really enjoyed reading about a different age group. I relate a lot to reading people in their twenties but it was enjoyable to read outside of this with Maggie and Ryan.

This is definitely my favourite book of the series so far. I really enjoyed it and loved the plot as well as the spicy spicy scenes.

Works well as a stand alone but it will help to understand it the other books to know the drama. I personally DNF the first book, but read and enjoyed the second and still was able to understand the long standing plot with the King Family.

QOTD: What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
My A: Cookies and Cream in any variation!
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One large and in charge, kilt wearing firefighter, plus a confident get shiz done boss woman, plus one nasty newspaper expose equals a faking dating turned way too hot quickly whirlwind. YUM. This book was so good. I loved every bit of it. I love the grumpy/sunshine trope, especially when the grump is the girl, because same, I love the fake dating, the secret but not really a secret pining, the KILT. This book tackles the tough subject of MS from a unique POV and I always appreciate being able to learn something while reading.
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This is book three in the King Family series, but it’s not necessary to read the others first!

Pint of Contention by Susannah Nix is a small-town contemporary romance featuring middle-aged characters.

Maggie, an executive consultant, is brought in to King’s Creamery to prevent financial ruin. She’s used to keeping people at a distance and depending on herself. She moves in to a rental next to Ryan, a charming firefighter and the most eligible bachelor in the small town.

The characters have instant attraction and enjoy pushing each others’ buttons. They quickly develop genuine feelings for each other, but both are resistant any committed relationship.

Both characters were mature with previous relationship experience. They communicated well and worked through their obstacles together, which I appreciated. The move from casual dating to serious relationship was relatively quick, but that felt realistic to me given the characters and where they were in their lives. I also enjoyed their grumpy-sunshine banter and dual POV.

This would have been a four star read, however I didn’t love how the book ended in terms of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) storyline. There was an opportunity to show a different kind of happily ever after, but the direction with the epilogue felt like it reduced ALS to a plot device.

This was a fun, small-town romance, just don’t expect ALS representation. I will be picking up the earlier books in the King Family series and look forward to the other siblings’ stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Haver Street Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a cute read!! I always love the grumpy/sunshine trope, so this was right up my alley!! Both characters were well constructed the witty banter was fantastically funny, and I love the small-town setting. Normally, I'm turned off by books where the MC is in her 40's, just because I have a hard time relating, however I found this rather enjoyable! Also!! Maggie gives me big "Rebecca" from Ted Lasso vibes!!

Thank you to Netgalley, Susannah Nix, and Author Collective 20 for the e-ARC!

I haven't read Susannah Nix's other novels in this series but after reading this one, they are definitely coming out of my TBR pile and being added to my nightstand for books up next. As a business owner myself, I love seeing books that deal with owning businesses, especially when its a woman. The chemistry between Ryan and Maggie is off the charts. I have been reading a ton of books with the fake dating trope lately, and have been loving them all, this book included. I will be recommending this book whenever someone at the bookstore asks me for my recommendation. Excellent!

This book was so much fun. I have loved the entire series, watching each of the siblings get their own happily ever after's. Ryan's story was so refreshing, with both Maggie and himself being slightly older (in their 40's) so there was none of the whole "we will be immature and just not communicate" drama that we find in a lot of romcoms. The possibility of Ryan having the ALS gene was heartbreaking and I loved the way Maggie was able to draw him out of the bubble he was in. I am so excited to read Nate's story next Susannah Nix!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Author Collective 20 for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

TRIGGER WARNING; this book contains parental abuse, cancer, loss of parents and sibling by accident or illness. It also extensively discussed ALS and the potentiality of developing a terminal illness.

Okay let’s go! I haven’t read the previous books in this series (though it is claimed as a series of standalones!) so I went in blind.
Immediately: appreciated the trigger warnings from the author!
And WOW, Nix was an unexpected gem of an author. it took me a few chapters to get into it but once it got going the chemistry was incredible. I really believed Maggie and Ryan’s connection. I devoured this book in one evening.
and let me tell you, this book is Horny. like insanely horny. it’s a tease of a book.
the extensive King family lore was a little intense to drop in mid series but overall it didn’t detract from the book.

i don’t know if i’ll go into the other books of the series - i don’t know if i care enough about anyone else in the family yet. but Nix will definitely be an author i come back to!

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Susannah Nix's newest release. It's not often that the scenes that make me laugh are also the sexiest, but Susannah nailed it. Maggie is a mid-40s management consultant, here to shake up the biggest business in Crowder, Texas, and Ryan is her hot as hell firefighter neighbor. There's a lot of...ahem...*eating*, a few toys and even a super sweet sickbed scene where Maggie takes care of Ryan.

Rebecca Welton (from Ted Lasso) and Jamie Fraser (from Outlander) vibes.

I also rated the first book in the series, My Cone and Only, five stars.

This is the third in the King Family series. The King family is headed by patriarch George King and his nine children by his various women. The family business is the second largest ice cream company in the US, and is having a financial crisis. George brings in consultant Maggie Silvestri to analyze his company and figure out how to save it. She moves in next door to Firefighter Ryan McCafferty, George’s stepson by his second wife. On the surface, Ryan is a total unicorn. He’s loved by all, he is kind and caring, and is a total hottie. But underneath, he is carrying a huge secret. Maggie is divorced, and doesn’t want to get involved with anyone, especially the charmer next door. Ryan and Maggie are a great couple and it was fun watching Ryan break down Maggie’s prickly facade. I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for brother Nate’s book. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

This is a dual POV, RomCom, small-town setting, grumpy/sunshine, fake-dating

Another great story with the main characters in their 40s. They have settled into their little bubbles and really don#t want to do anything to rock their worlds - well, fate has other plans for them!

Ryan feels that by living with a ticking time bomb inside him, he's destined to be alone. ALS killed his estranged father and he won't put someone he loves through that. Maggie is great at what she does. She's a dynamo, she can make or break companies but it also leaves her leading a pretty nomadic life. And after a marriage disaster, she's not going to be beholden to pleasing a man again.

Crowder doesn't take to Maggie once they realise that she is there to make changes to King's Creamery - meaning their friends and loved ones could be out of a job. When things get heated Ryan steps in to save his new neighbour. I'm struck that finally in a book with older MC's that there is no surprise pregnancy - it did make a nice change.

Almost all of the King Clan make a cameo appearance and I love the family dynamics. The topic of Ryan possibly having the genes for ALS is placed so well throughout the story and dealt with in a sympathetic and knowledgeable way. I heartily enjoyed the book and there were a good few LOL moments.

"Mint to be," is the next story and it looks like Nate is in the crosshairs!

Pint of Contention has so many wonderful things going for it.
Adult romance! Maggie is 45 and Ryan is 39. Yes!
Maggie is tall! It's not often you find tall heroines.
Maggie is a boss a** b*tch and takes no guff!
Ryan has the possibility of a fatal chronic illness looming over him. It was very interesting to see the author navigate this.
Maggie and Ryan's chemistry is off the charts steamy!

This is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the first two books in the series and I didn't miss anything.

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

I loved the previous books in this series and I enjoyed this one as much as those.

The characters are always well drawn and interesting, their banter is hilarious and makes me high five some of them or even giving them a hug.

Not everything is light and shiny as you might believe, but it balanced the soft spots with drama scenes perfectly.

The energy and chemistry between Maggie and Ryan is undeniable and their scenes together are steamy and beautiful.

There are a few scenes in the beginning that made me cringe especially the one before they were introduced and their relationship started, but I guess it’s much more realistic than I wanted to believe.

There are moments when Ryan is trying to hide his feelings and even though he knows she’s there for him, and she’s the one, he still felt a bit egoistic in his decision of her being better off without him. Thank heavens that he finally opened his eyes and seen reason in the end.

If you’re looking for some great romance stories , this series is definitely one to start with.


🆓📖Very grateful to the author for my review copy through NetGalley

I was sent an eARC of Pint of Contention by Susannah Nix which comes out on the 13th September. 📖 This book (3rd in the series) focuses on high flying consultant Maggie who’s renting the house next door to friendly firefighter Ryan.

I really wanted to enjoy this one but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I always try and be respectful of the work someone has put into their book though so while I’m going to explain why I personally didn’t enjoy this one very much I’m also going to point out positives too and hopefully reach a good balance.

I did like the small town setting and that Maggie was a strong and independent female lead. I also enjoyed the budding friendship between Maggie and Josie (one of the King siblings).

Unfortunately some scenes just made me a bit uncomfortable like Maggie ogling Ryan in secret before they met and then Ryan’s manipulative behaviour that was framed as him doing the right thing in both POVs but was actually a red flag and uncool in my opinion.

I was also disappointed with how the MMC Ryan and his potential health concerns were shown and I felt this was being used more as a plot device and reason for him to push Maggie away (no matter her opinion) rather than as a true representation of what someone in his position would be going through. The tough conversations were saved until near the end and it felt rushed to me.

If I’m being brutally honest I probably wouldn’t have bothered finishing this one if I’d not committed to reviewing because it just wasn’t for me. That said the split POV between Maggie and Ryan was done well, overall the pacing was good apart from a few issues I think deserved more page time, and the family and company drama was keeping things tense and moving along outside of the main romantic storyline.

What you’ll find:
• Small town romance ❤️
• Strong FMC with her own business 💼
• Fireman MMC 🧑‍🚒
• Family drama

Rating: 2/5🌟
Steam level: 3.5/5🔥

I love Maggie.
I love Ryan.
I love them together.

There's not as much steam here though as others in the series. There was just something missing in this book and I can't put a finger on it.

I have loved Susannah Nix's books so far, and Pint of Contention is no exception! I'm enjoying the world she's building around this family, and I'm hoping to find out more about why Cowboy Patriarch George is the way he is with the kids.

Pint of Contention was a great addition to this series! Ryan and Maggie were a great couple and an example of opposites-attract. Maggie arrives to town for work at the local company to find ways to cut costs to prevent bankruptcy. Ryan is a local firefighter who is related to the owners of the company Maggie has been sent to. Maggie and Ryan are also neighbors.


Both Maggie and Ryan are only looking for something easy and without strings, nothing long term for personal reasons. However, they quickly develop strong feelings for each other that mess up the no-strings plan they agreed on.

Because they both have trauma and fears preventing them from wanting or even trusting themselves to enter into another relationship, they have to figure out if what they feel for each other is worth fighting their fears for!

Check triggers**

Read this book if you like: MC's in their 40's, dual POV, steamy 🔥, small town, grumpy sunshine, terminal illness representation (ALS)

As the executive consultant King’s Creamery has brought in to save them from financial ruin Maggie is living up to her reputation as a ballbuster. She has to decide which employees get fired. When a newspaper exposé turns the whole town against Maggie, Ryan acts as her protector.

Ryan is her new neighbor. He is also an enormous, hunky red-haired fireman who’s annoyingly determined to make friends with her. It’s not enough that he saves kittens, 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 her kitchen window. He has a secret he's keeping from her.

I have been waiting for this since the first two came out. I was so excited and it definitely lived up to the hype in my head. 🤣 Obsessed! Maggie and Ryan are 45 and 39, which I love. This book is full of King family drama, hilarious parts, and steam. 🔥 They take care of each other. It's the sweetest. I highly recommend this book! You are missing out if you haven't read this series. It's a must read. This was my favorite one so far. I'm a Susannah Nix fan girl, for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Author Collective 20/Haver Street Press for the gifted e-book!