This contemporary romantic suspense story features Maisie Carter, an aspiring artist who instead gets roped in to help run the fledgling Three Chicks Brewery. The SASSY BLONDE has an art degree but it has no better use than designing labels and social media adverts right now. Colorado's craft brewery festivals look to be her turn to shine.

The other sisters, Clara and Amelia, are devoted to the craft of brewing, like their grandfather who raised them when they were orphaned. Maisie is half-hearted and doesn’t keep her mind on her work several times throughout the story. At the outset, she injures her arm by being careless with a metal keg. Hayes Taylor, who ceased being a police officer in River Rock after his wife Laurel was killed by a vicious criminal, is concerned about Maisie when they are both briefly in the hospital. Hayes is just getting a checkup in case of a concussion from being thrown by a horse. Maisie has beer festivals to attend in order to publicise the new beer, Foxy Diva. The pair know each other well as Maisie used to be Laurel’s best friend. Maybe they could work the stalls together.

The story includes strong language, and the couple jumps into bed on their first night away from home. I really don’t think it’s giving anything away to say this, but the question to be resolved is whether they can make a working and loving relationship, or if it’s just sexual attraction. Hayes still blames himself for his loss and perhaps undervalues his skills. Maisie, as already noted, keeps selfishly being careless which has the effect of sabotaging her efforts. She needs to learn a lesson. It’s good to meet a heroine who isn’t perfect and is almost an antiheroine.

SASSY BLONDE by Stacey Kennedy is the first in the romance series introducing the Three Chicks Brewery, which includes some characters already met in her previous series set in River Rock. Anyone who wants to know more about the sisters and the success or otherwise of the brewery will be keen to keep reading.