Blog Tour | Review: SASSY BLONDE by Stacey Kennedy (plus Rafflecopter Contest for $50 Giftcard!)

I was lucky enough to read SASSY BLONDE as an ARC, part of the blog tour for it’s release. It was my first book by Stacey Kennedy, and I LOVED it!! Let’s talk about why…

(And check out the end of the post for a giveaway!!)

Author: Stacey Kennedy
Series: Three Chicks Brewery, #1
Release Date: June 16, 2020
Pages: 223
Review Copy: ARC from NetGalley

About SASSY BLONDE:

One truck, one off-limits cowboy, one road trip she’ll never forget…

Maisie Carter has always been a free spirit. An artist by nature, she has no idea what she’s doing as co-owner of Three Chicks Brewery. But she’s determined to prove to her older sisters that she can be an asset to their grandfather’s beer legacy. The best way to do that? Make the rounds at Colorado’s craft brewery festivals and turn Foxy Diva, their top beer, into an award winner. Unfortunately, after more than one “beer mishap,” it becomes clear that she’s going to need some help.

Hayes Taylor knows he has a chip on his shoulder, but he has no interest in working through his traumatic past. He just wants to work on his horse farm, alone. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman, especially his dead wife’s best friend, the sweet-as-pie Maisie Carter. But she’s always brought out his protective instincts, and he can hardly say ‘no’ when she asks for his help…

As the two embark on the festival tour, beer filled days turn into lust filled nights, and neither Maisie nor Hayes can deny their growing attraction. But Hayes knows love leads to heartbreak…. Can Maisie show him that their love is worth the risk?

Initial Thoughts:
I’ve heard really great things about this author for a long time, and the write-up looked really fun. It’s a spin-off, in the same world as a previous series, but I was told it could be read as a “book one”.

What I Loved:
The three sisters at the core of the story are a lot of fun. Very different, and filling their own role in the business (the series namesake, Three Chicks Brewery). I liked that we got to see them interact as much as we did, even though there was a definite focus on Maisie and Hayes’ budding “friends-to-lovers” relationship. It was pretty obvious from the start, where the story was going to go, but Stacey manages to throw in some curves that kept things interesting and fun. I loved that the angst level was kept low, even though there was definitely some baggage to be dealt with. I loved that once things started to happen between the two of them, there wasn’t any “hemming & hawing” about it. They owned it, and moved forward. I loved some of the other side characters… Beckett at the horse training facility was a particular favorite. I’m really hoping he’ll end up with a book in the future. In the end, I love that Maisie found her own way. One that was a little outside the norm, but still relevant to the business, and true to herself.

What I Didn’t Love:
I didn’t love the experience that caused the tension between Maisie and Hayes… even though that is also the experience that brings them together. But it’s a situation of needing a catalyst, and it had to be something big. Fine… I get it… but I’m still sad. And now I’m over it, again.

I also REALLY thought I knew who “the guy” at the state fair was!! (Trying not to be spoilery.) It totally wasn’t him… but I think it would have been a really great clap-back to the first night of the festival tour. Oh, well. Worked out ok, in the end. 🙂

Final Thoughts:
I really, really enjoyed SASSY BLONDE. It was just as good as I’d been told to expect from the author, and I’m very much looking forward to reading some of her catalog while I wait for FEISTY RED to come out in November!!!

You should check it out, too!!! ❤
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ALSO!!! Check in again next Friday for a Friday Chat feature with author Stacey Kennedy about SASSY BLONDE, her passion for horses, and maybe even a giveaway!!

Author Bio:

Stacey Kennedy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.

Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.

Stacey absolutely loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at stacey@staceykennedy.com.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorstaceykennedy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staceykennedybooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Stacey_Kennedy
Website: http://www.staceykennedy.com/