I absolutely adored this one! I really enjoyed the characters in this one as they have great wit and banter as well as amazing chemistry. In typical Alice Clayton fashion, you are kept on your toes with the humor and the scorching moments!

5 star Review Buns (Hudson Valley #3) by Alice Clayton

What's not to love about this series? I really enjoyed Buns, it was as fun and quirky as the previous two books in the series.

This is the story of Archie Bryant, an uptight widower who is about to take over the running of Bryant Mountain House in Bailey Falls and the bossy, yet determined Clara Morgan who is assigned the job to bring the hotel back to it's glory and move it into the current century whilst retaining it's charm and history.

From the first moment these two meet there is a push and pull situation happening, both equally opinionated and determined as to the vision of the hotel and how it should move forward.

Having been brought up in the foster care system, Clara shies away from holidays and anything “family” orientated. Archie, on the other hand is all about the history of his family. These two should not connect and yet they do.; this is a case of opposites attracting and after spending a great deal of time flirting, Archie and Clara finally give in to their feelings.

The banter and camaraderie between Archie and Clara as well as their friends is amazing. It really is like coming home when I picked up this book. I love these characters and the mischief they get up too.

I always finish an Alice Clayton with a smile on my face. This was possibly my favourite of the trilogy as I absolutely loved Archie and Clara, separately and together. The vulnerability that both had as they slowly opened their hearts and minds to the possibility of love was heart warming.

I recieved an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review through the publisher and Netgalley

Book 3 in The Hudson Valley Series and oh what a pleasure it is to be back with characters that feel like family.
Clara Morgan grew up in the foster system and she has never felt like she belonged anywhere enough to call it home, she spends her spare time running marathons and triathlons and for work she travels around renovating hotels and her latest job is helping the new owner Archie Bryant of Moutain House do up the hotel. Is it Archie or the delicious hot cross buns that have her feeling like this could finally be a place to settle in .....
Archie Bryant wants his family's Mountain House Hotel up and running, he wants it to be successful but it's his father who hires Clara and Archie is really not convinced she is the one to put the hotel back to its former glory.
This book is Alice Clayton at her best, it's a emotional driven rom-com that will make you laugh and will have you smiling like a Cheshire Cat.
The banter between the characters is perfect, it's a sweet romanance and it was a book that I found hard to put down.

4 Hot Buns!

I have to say, Buns, is my favorite read in this series! I loved the banter between the characters. It is fun, sexy and romantic. And it gave me a Dirty Dancing vibe (minus the dancing!)

Archie Bryant is the owner of Bryant Mountain House in Bailey Falls. This hotel has been in his family for generations, but the stagnate marketing promotions has the hotel hanging by the limb. So in order to get this resort running back on a positive revenue generator, Archie's father hires the sassy Clara Morgan to help revamp the family business.

Clara Morgan is always on the move. She lives her life out of her suitcase, because of her job and when she ends up at the Bryant Mountain House her life will never be the same. That's because she ends up meeting and working for stuffy, old-fashioned and against- change, Archie. These two couldn't be more opposite.

Even thought Archie is adamant about change, he will do anything to keep his family's manor afloat and that means giving into Clara's ideas.

Buns is a great read that has humorous banter between the characters and plenty of sweet and hot moments. And great end to this series!

Buns!!!
Oh my goodness! What a ride this book had me on!
Clara's job is rejuvenating hotels that need some help and ventures into Hudson Valley to the Bryant mountain lodge!
When she gets there under an alias little did she know but Archie knew who she was!
With whimsical banter and some rather tense moments between the two whilst she's learning about the different parts of the hotel, you only have to laugh!
There are cameos from the previous two books and that's hilarious, with innuendoes galore! We also get another cameo that will certainly surprise you!
I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down

I gave it Five Stars because for me its close to perfect. Ever since I read "Wallbanger," I couldn't hardly wait for what Ms. Clayton will be writing next.

Buns is probably my favorite out of the 3 books in the Hudson Valley series. It is about love, family and the feeling of belonging, combined with laugh out loud moments of Archie and mainly Clara. Also, it is a stand alone with a happily ever after ending. And since I have finished reading this, I might as well as read the first two books in this series again.

I hope that this is not the last book in this series.

Another saucy and funny tale from Alice Clayton! Makes a great, and sexy, poolside read.

Clara works to rebrand businesses (hotels, inns, resorts, and the like), helps them to turn themselves around, to bring new life – and money – back into the business. She’s great at what she does. Her newest job is a big one, and if she knocks it out of the park, she might be on track to be partner at her firm very soon. She heads up to the resort a few days early, under a different name, to get a real feel for the place before she actually “arrives” and meets with the owner. She assumes that the man she first meets that night is the bellhop . . . until she finds out that he’s actually Archie, the son of the owner – and soon to be the owner when his dad steps down in the next year. And when he sees the papers that fall out of her bag, he knows that she’s not the average guest that he first thought, either: she’s the outsider his dad brought in to go through the resort. Game. On.



Like with most of her clients, Clara has to fight to show the Bryants that her plans will save their business, and the changes will be for the better, without destroying the long, beloved history of the place and its memories. But she’s determined and smart, and Archie and his father both see this and come to (slowly) accept the changes she wants to discuss. Oh, there’s still some push back at times, but it’s never because they don’t think her competent, it’s simply the knee-jerk reaction of seeing everything they’ve known torn apart to reveal the flaws, to show how some things need to change after more than 100 years in business, in order to make the place thrive for decades to come, not just struggle for a few more years.



I fully admit, the first, eh, maybe 10-15% of the book or so wasn’t my favorite. There’s nothing overtly wrong with it, it’s not terribly boring – but it also didn’t grab my attention fully, not like the rest of the book did. But once Archie and Clare started to butt heads . . . Oh, shit, it was ON!



That little gem of a first kiss comes after she chases him up a mountain -- no, literally. Well, okay, she was both chasing him to get him to talk to her and also they were competing to see who could reach the top first. I'm going to say that they both won with that "prize". :)



These two have chemistry and then some. The tension between them is vivid and sparkling, and the banter and battles – under the disguise of “we’re fighting about the resort changes, of course” – add so much delicious buildup to what comes later. (Heh, comes later….) These two had some of the best interactions I’ve read in a long, long time, and I can’t tell you how many scenes I highlighted while reading. There’s so many, and a large portion are all BEFORE they ever fall into bed. But don’t worry, that tension and banter and clashing continues after the orgasms start. It’s not that they hate each other, oh no, they’re just both very strong and independent and they spark off of each other in the very best, most delicious way.


I’m sorry, I’ve said delicious a lot, haven’t I? But it’s true!



Archie . . . oh, Archie. I know, I know, the name is a bit, well, not hero-like, let’s be honest. But damn, Archie might be one of my new favorite heroes, and definitely my favorite from Clayton (more on this in a bit). Archie is a very straight-laced, controlled man – and you know I love those kind of men because they are always the dirtiest fuckers. On top of that, Archie has auburn/red hair, wears glasses, AND has adorable freckles. Excuse me, sir, why must you be so goddamn sexy? He hits ALLLLL my weaknesses, basically, and I loved him. He’s also a widower, a bit older than Clara (I think? I wasn’t certain on his age compared to hers), and when he finally lets loose with her . . . Well, I needed a cold shower. Or an Archie of my own. Preferably the latter. *sigh*



Here’s what I love about Clayton’s writing, especially with Buns: her sex scenes aren’t terribly explicit (as in descriptions of the dirty-smutty-goodness), but with what she does give, she manages to convey a fuckton of steam and heat anyway and I love it. It’s NOT fade to black, but you don’t get pages of description, and (at least in this book) there’s no “cock” used during any of the scenes. You know by now how I love my romances – the dirtied the better – but I don’t mind the *slightly* lower filth level here because the scenes are built around their killer chemistry in such a way that it comes across just as hot as a 10 page erotica sex scene anyway.



Trust. Me.


Their first time, besides being both hot and tender, was also fun because there's a little mishap and he loses his glasses, leaving him completely blind. But don't worry, Archie still got the job done without his sight. 😏


Seriously though, I could give you pages and pages of quote examples of both their banter AND their sexy times.


Dear God. I need a moment after that round of innuendo banter.



Someone stop me.


No, really. Otherwise I’ll be here all day.



The sex was hot as hell, the banter stimulating and fun. But I also loved that they had intimate, soft moments, too, as they worked their way to a HEA. What I'm saying is I really loved their romance, and while, yes, Archie does move a bit fast from “I will never look at another woman again because I loved my wife” to “But dammit, I can’t resist Clara, and that’s okay, I’m not insulting my wife’s memory by moving on”, I still believed the change. It worked for me. I could see that it’s a quick move, but it didn’t come across as annoying quick while I was reading, if that makes sense?



Which brings up what I touched on earlier, about loving Archie the most out of this trilogy of heroes. Now, I also loved book 2 (my first Clayton, btw), and while Oscar was perfect for Natalie and swoon-worthy in his own right, I never felt like I really *saw* him, you know? His character was a bit vague to me, even by the end. Book 1 is my least favorite of this series, for other reasons, but Leo was also harder for me to see and connect with. But Archie here? Oh, I got a much clearer sense of his character, of who he is and why Clara fell for him – and why I should as well. And I did, oh, I definitely did.



The book is written entirely from Clara’s POV (well, except for a few pages of an epilogue from Archie), and that’s the same way books 1 and 2 were. I’ve not read Clayton’s other books, but I assume she sticks with 1st POV, heroine only, there too (correct me if I’m wrong, of course). While I love her overall fun writing style and have enjoyed what I’ve read so far, my one complaint is I really want dual POVs, I want to really get to know BOTH characters fully. And while, yes, Clayton pulled Archie off much better here despite it being entirely Clara’s POV, giving him more depth for me to see and connect with than the previous heroes, I still wanted more, still needed his POV, too. What I got here was great – clearly, look at the rating I’m giving the book overall – but having both of their voices would have made this an even stronger book for me. Will I still read more of hers knowing that 1st POV is likely what I’ll keep getting? Yes. But I still hold out hope for dual POV in future books.



So, besides the fantastic tension and sex (and Archie, oh Archie!), I also loved seeing this resort and the community involved in it. (Though I didn’t like that Archie’s father was a fairly big part at first and then just disappeared once Clara and Archie started working together; I get that he wasn’t going to be owner for much longer, but he’s still a part of the business, of the family, of Archie’s life, and that was disappointing for him to all but left the book entirely like that.) I loved seeing Clara doing her job, and she does it so well.



But I also enjoyed seeing the previous couples (Clara’s friends) show up, Natalie, especially. She’s so fun, and her naughty-girl with a take-no-shit-give-no-shits attitude was still just as vivid here as it was in her own book. I ended up highlighting a lot of quotes from her, too. I think their – Roxie, Natalie, and Clara – friendship could have be a bit stronger in the course of the book, and the entire series for that matter (because I do love a good, strong friendship) but I was still quite happy with what was shown, as these three were fun together, and clearly had each other’s backs – even if Clara has such a hard time reaching out for help.



And yes, Clara’s hangup with family/relationships/commitment – all stemming from her shitty childhood growing up in the foster care system, and not with good foster families either – does play into this book, creating a few ripples between her and Archie. He never pushes her, but she lashes out anyway, not wanting to accept help, not wanting to talk about her past. On one hand, I could relate a bit to where she was coming from with said reactions, but on the other hand, I definitely had moments where I just wanted to shake her and yell “TALK TO HIM LIKE THE GROWN WOMAN YOU ARE, FUCK THE GHOSTS OF YOUR PAST”.




To put it simply: Buns was such a fun, sexy and romantic read for me. I had a blast reading it – just look at my Twitter feedand all the quotes if you don’t believe me! – and while I technically gave Cream of the Crop and Buns the same rating, Clara and Archie stole my heart just a bit more, becoming my favorite of this trio. This one, like the other two books, can be read as a standalone (I read the series out of order, 2-1-3), and I really did like all the books. But for me, you just can’t beat a strong heroine butting heads with an uptight hero, and Clayton does that dynamic so well here. #sparksfordays



4 1/2 STARS!

The Couple -
Clara - Clara's backstory is heartbreaking and fits how she's chosen to live her life as adult with herself firmly in the drivers seat and refusing to let anyone in. She struggles with traditions and holidays because she doesn't quite understand how to be a part of either.

Archie - Archie firmly believes in family and tradition first. He's worked his entire life to keep the family hotel up and running and is not so crazy about having an outsider come in and tell him what to do. However, he's not so hardheaded that he refuses to listen to reason and is intelligent and motivated to make things work.

What I Liked:
Both characters have baggage from very real circumstances but neither dismisses the other's issues. I also liked that Clara had some trepidation about spending time with Archie in the home he shared with his late wife. She's not melodramatic about it but she's uncomfortable and that felt very real.

They're both good at their jobs and it was fun to watch them in action. Sometimes they even worked well together and that was even more fun.

While this is definitely a spicier romance than I usually read I did feel like there was an emotional connection between Archie and Clara.

The setting is amazing. I loved the hotel and I loved the town. The employees and friends really added a lot of joy to the reading.

What I Didn't Like:
Way heavy on the sexual innuendos or just comments without the innuendo - especially from Clara's friend Natalie. I get that she and Oscar are having a lot of sex but seriously talk about something else occasionally.

Overall:
I expected a fun and funny read but I was surprised by the amount of heart that ran through the stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and getting to know Hudson Falls and am looking forward to going back and reading Roxie and Natalie's stories. The title and the cover made me cringe a little but that's what Kindles are for!

Alice Clayton takes us for one last ride through her Hudson Valley town of Bailey Falls and I, for one, will miss it.

Alice Clayton has created a Town and family you need to be part of. I hate to see the end of Bailey Falls.

She based the Bryant Mountain House off of a real place in the Hudson Valley, New York known as the Mohonk Mountain House. Take a look and it will help you picture the hotel a little better.

Clara Morgan has come to Bryant Mountain House to help assess where the Bryant Mountain House needs to be revamped in order to draw more clientele. While she was hired by Jonathan Bryant, Bryant Sr. will be retiring soon. Clara needs to focus on convincing Archie Bryant, who would soon be taking the reigns of the old hotel. That being the problem. It was an old hotel and all Clara hears is how this is a tradition and how this is how we have always done it. And if she can’t get Archie to listen to her, he would be the only one left doing things the old Bryant way.

While the hotel itself was gorgeous, and you could see it was built with love, it was also built at the turn of the century, and the rooms still reflected that. They were dated. They were drafty and the heating system was old and failing.

Clara needs to figure out how to merge the past with the future and present it to Archie in a way where he will finally be on board and stop fighting her with every recommendation.

Archie is a bit of a pill. Ever since the death of his wife, all of his focus has been on the hotel. His anger at Clara for trying to upset decades of Bryant Mountain House traditions relights a fire in him. There is a spark between Clara and Archie which Clara tries to fight; first because Archie is her boss on this project and also, as a former foster kid, Clara knows not to get too attached to anything that includes a wonderful man like Archie.

Most of the staff have been there longer than Archie and they are glad to see changes both to the hotel they love and the man who leads them.

I didn’t feel that I laughed as much as I usually do with an Alice Clayton story, and I was saddened that it took so much to get Clara to accept what Archie offered. I loved watching Clara bring Archie back to life and they were a fabulous couple but Clara kept refusing to accept them and go public and it was as frustrating to me as it was to Archie.

The Mountain House gives us a great backdrop for a romance and as it sits right above Bailey Falls, we get to spend time with the friends we have made over the prior books.

It was sad to say goodbye, but a great way to say goodbye and included special guest appearances from certain Wallbangers and crazy redheads just for fun.

Storyline: 5
Angst: 2
Tissue: 0
Value: 5
Panty Scorching: 4
Over All Rating: 4.5 Stars
Kindle eArc provided by Netgalley

Clara Morgan has made a name for herself in the hotel rebranding industry and is up for promotion with her employer. Archie Bryant is the son and heir to the Bryant Mountain House. As soon as Clara arrives, these two butt heads yet their chemistry is sizzling just underneath. Will they be able to turn this historical hotel back into a thriving family getaway or will their attraction be too much of a distraction?

“Damn this guy! There was no way I’d be able to do my job with him fighting me at every turn, not to mention get any work done when the same fighting made not only my blood boil, but other parts of me also get warm in the storm.

Did he know when he was irritated he chewed his lower lip?

Did he know when he was angry his skin paled and his freckles jumped out?

Did he know when he was frustrated his voice lowered and got all kinds of gravelly?

Did he know it was all I could do to stop myself from launching over the breakfast table and wrestling him to the ground amid oatmeal flakes and plopping grapefruit?”

I don't know what it is about Bailey Falls but I love this series. There’s something about the small town charm that keeps reaching out to me. Clara is so independent that sometimes she drove me a little crazy but with her childhood it's understandable. She’s never had anyone to rely upon so it’s hard for her to let anyone in. Archie...oh, he can be both headstrong and sweet. The arguments these two have are like the best kind of foreplay. What a great romantic comedy.

This is such a great series and I promise you’ll enjoy reading every single book. Every single one can be read as a standalone, but it’s so much better to read in order and see how the couples’ relationships have evolved.

A deliciously sticky yet sweet romance that will leave you utterly satisfied.

Clara and Archie but heads almost instantly in this book. She's out to makeover his family's hotel and he is dead set against change. What ensues is some funny witty banter back and forth and some hilarious yet awkward moments. Both of them are stubborn and determined to get their way and as they work closely together they can't help the physical attraction that is there.

Their pasts made my heart go soft and I thought how if these two could just get it together they would be sooo great. I was definitely rooting for them and loved some of the secrets moments that we get to see. Will they figure it out? Or will they let their stubbornness get in the way.

Only one way to find out and that's to read this book. It will have you giggling, swooning and melting from all the sticky sweet and messy that is Clara and Archie's story.

A solid 4.5 stars for me and I definitely look forward to more from Alice Clayton.

I'm a fairly new fan of Alice Clayton, but judging by what I've read in the Hudson Valley series so far, I can see myself becoming a devoted follower for a long time to come. I'm going to be perfectly honest. In the beginning of this book, I had serious concerns that I could ever root for Archie Bryant. I certainly didn't anticipate that I would finish the book not only liking him, but loving him.

The man starts out so dull and ill-humored, a bit snobbish, and critical of the very air that Clara breathes. From the moment she arrives at his family's historical hotel to bring life back to the old-fashioned business, sparks were flying. But not the sexual chemistry variety. Oh, no. Archie is the fifth generation owner of Bryant Mountain House, and his entire life he's been steeped in the splendor of its staid history and traditions. He didn't need some newcomer waltzing in and fixing what isn't broken. He may be stubborn as a mule, but he's no match for Clara's whirlwind energy and resolve. This hotel rebrand is the key to her pending promotion, and nothing will stop her from getting the job done.

I wouldn't necessarily say that this was an enemies to lovers trope, but there was some considerable hostile confrontations arising between them. Both competitive and unwilling to back down, Clara certainly had her work cut out for her. I really enjoyed that confidence in her that allowed her to go toe to toe without batting an eye. But we soon see that her exterior is hiding quite a bit of pain under the surface.

Abandonment issues, and fear of letting people in are causing her to block any lasting relationships besides Natalie and Roxie. Growing up in Foster care, she's learned that the only one she can depend on is herself. But eventually, she realizes that Archie is hiding a world of hurt himself, and their animosity dies with their deeper knowledge of each other. And as much as she's tempted to pursue their growing attraction, there are a multitude of reasons why it would be reckless to do so.

A) Mixing business with pleasure: never wise.
B) She's leaving when the job is over.
C) Getting involved with him is a responsibility she isn't sure she's ready for.
And D) Most important of all....having and inevitably losing him would be enough to break her.

Secretly, underneath her independent streak a mile wide, lies the desire to be part of a real family. To have someone special who would always be there for her. But she doesn't dare show her dreams of happily ever after. Once Archie loosens up, he has a monumental battle ahead of him in helping her realize that what she is looking for is right in front of her. If she's only brave enough to take the leap of faith.

Though they had so many differences such as their childhoods and life experiences, they were both strong individuals who recognized their faults and learned to overcome them. And let me tell you, when they finally gave in to the passion being suppressed, the results were so unexpectedly powerful. It really surprised me how beautiful it was when they let their hearts reach out to each other.

I've really enjoyed each book in this series, but what I liked about Buns was the fact that both the hero/heroine were so unique and refreshing from the other main characters in the previous books. The beginning was a tad slow for me due to my disconnect with the hero, but the last half more than made up for it. And the ending finishes you off on such a sweet and romantic note, I left the story feeling truly delighted over how far they've grown together. I can't wait to see what this author has to offer us next.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between
-Saving the best for last. It’s no secret I’ve enjoyed this Hudson Valley series alot. Each book has entertained me and allowed me to escape on a mini-vacation and really highlighted some of the beauty to be found in my home state. Buns, the third book in the series and featuring Clara and Archie, is literally my favorite of the bunch.
-Works just fine as a standalone. You don’t need to read the earlier books in the series to thoroughly enjoy this trek through Bailey Falls, though there are some mild spoilers for those books.
-The Firsts are fantastic. This is essential to my ultimate enjoyment of a romance. That old saying is true - you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and the Firsts (meet, kiss, love scene) MUST be executed well to reach a minimum 4 stars for me. Here, each moment was well written and hooked me into rooting for Clara and Archie.
-The setting is my favorite of this series. The few mentions there are of Bryant Mountain House in the earlier books teased me, but I was a little concerned because you know, I’ve read some books where the love of, and sometimes obsession with, renovating and HGTV can overwhelm a story. While helping the Bryant Mountain House survive into this century is crucial, it is not the only thing that matters in the story, it just supports the romance beautifully. Also, the nostalgic touches (including Dirty Dancing!) made me happy-sigh.
-Primarily all about Clara, who I love. The story is told strictly from Clara’s POV and she is a heroine that has a great blend of heart and smarts. She’s been through alot in her life and her reasons for protecting her heart are handled well.
-As always, I wanted a bit more of the hero. I actually think Archie has the best representation of the male heroes in this series, and his own journey, while not shared directly with the reader, is clear enough through Clara’s eyes and he has some great moments. I would have loved to have delved even more into his personal conflict in getting involved with Clara, but overall I was still very happy when I closed my kindle.

The Bottom Line 4.5 stars
Saving the best for last, I adored Clara and Archie’s romance. I literally wanted to plan a vacation to Bryant Mountain House (or as close as I can get to it) immediately after reading this. If you love contemporary romances with a small town setting, I encourage you to check out this series -- if I had to pick only one of them though, no doubt it would be Clara and Archie.

The next book in the Hudson Valley series – woohoo.

"Cos you ain't got none unless you got buns hun"

That is what I sing to myself every time I see the cover of this book. He sure does wear those jeans well!

I have fallen in love with this series, and was very excited to get back to Bailey Falls.

Right from the get go I felt like I was in the big house from Dirty Dancing. All I needed was Johnny to come steal Baby from the corner to make the feeling complete!

Clara Morgan completes the Three Amigos that include Roxie and Nat from the first two books. She is kind of the calm to their storms, she completes them.

Archie Bryant - fanning myself. He is kind of old school and fits right in with the old style hotel. Be has that kind of suave, old school Hollywood vibe about him.

I love the push and pull between our lovelies - it is a kind of love/hate deal with a healthy dose of lusty feelings thrown in for good measure. I just want them to get together! I mean, there is a lake, surely they can do some lifting or something there for me?

I loved getting more of the lad and lasses from the first 2 books in there series, and I especially loved a cameo from an unidentified redhead and her beau!

I loved everything about Buns. It is sweet, sexy, cute and adorable and everything I want in my romance books. It makes me want to head up to the mountains and dance the pachanga!

**Will go live on blog and on Amazon etc on release day**

Alice Clayton returns to the delightful upstate New York town of Bailey Falls in this third installment of her Hudson Valley series. Her writing has always appealed to me, and once again I found myself wrapped up in a sweet love story.

Clara is a successful hotel rebranding expert who lives for her job and is constantly on the road. Her newest project is to revitalize Bryant Mountain House in Bailey Falls. It’s a historic family-owned resort that has catered to the wealthy for decades, but it is now dated and business is declining. Archie Bryant is the stuffy son of the owner who is resistant to change and instantly butts head with Clara.

I was completely charmed by these damaged but lovable characters. Clara and Archie are complete opposites, which makes them even more delightful together. Clara’s feisty exuberance helps melt Archie’s ice man exterior, while Archie’s attentive nature challenges Clara’s fierce independence. Still, Clara’s demons make her determined not to succumb to the appeal of the town or the people—particularly Archie.

As expected with all of Alice Clayton’s novels, Buns is packed full of heart, romance, and perfect comedic timing. Her strong willed, funny heroines and their faithful, patient suitors win me over time and time again. I found Buns to be a very enjoyable, lighthearted read. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll be pleased to see more of Roxie and Leo, Natalie and Oscar, as well as a surprise cameo from a certain beloved couple from one of Ms. Clayton’s other series.

I have read the two previous books in this series Nuts and Cream of the Crop, which I just loved! Buns, well it fell a little flat for me.
I remember in the other stories I cracked up and laughed so much. This story did have it's humorous moments, but I found that most of those occurred when Roxie and Natalie were around. Clara and Archie had chemistry, and I loved that the arguing let to love and some pretty implosive heavy making out. Again, it lacked in the sexiness for me.
The picture that Ms. Clayton painted was stunning. I could picture the Bryant Mountain Home perfectly. I really loved Clara being dedicated to her work and her love for helping these businesses that hired her. Archie was so funny when he let go. I loved his stuffy buttoned up structured type, playing off of Clara's bossy nature. That was for me, what worked best in this book.
Clara's past was present every waking moment and sometimes it felt a bit suffocating. BUT, understandable her life was not easy and it haunted her. Much like Archie's haunted him. I really enjoyed that he was willing to let go and take the next step only to be met with Clara running.... again.
I was hoping for more fun, and there is some, just not what I am use to from Ms. Clayton.

Buns is book three in the Hudson Valley series. I've really enjoyed the previous books in this series and knew I had to read this when I saw it. It's set in the same small town that the previous books are and include appearances from the previous books main characters. While I would suggest you read these in order they can be read as standalone novels if needed.

Our leading lady, Clara Morgan is a hotel branding extraordinaire. She jumps at the chance to head to Bailey Falls, NY to work with the owner of the Bryant Mountain House in efforts to turn his hotel around. Clara is happy with the location because her BFFs (the leading ladies in the previous books) are both in Bailey Falls, so while she's working she can see her girls. It isn't all fun and games though, the house needs a ton of work to refresh it into this decade and Clara is the perfect girl for the job. The only thing she didn't count on was the boss's son being a hottie and pushing all her buttons. Archie Bryant doesn't want her changing a thing. The attraction between the two is there from the start and I couldn't wait to see how they'd wind up together. Both characters had their own sort of emotional baggage and it gave me a real life kind of vibe while reading. It was a nice touch.

Buns is an excellent addition to a series I love. I hope there will be more books in the series since I really dig the small town feeling and how the characters intertwine. Clara's character in particular really intrigued me as I was reading. She's worked so hard to get where she is, but you can tell she's running from her past. She doesn't want to ever face it or rely on others. Archie was the perfect fit for her, he was patient and for the most part understanding when she didn't want to open up. If you're a fan of Contemporary Romance and haven't tried this series yet I highly recommend it. AClayton fits in an emotional read with electrifying chemistry all while balancing it out with humor.

4.5 sweet stars


Buns is my favorite book in this series!Sweet,funny,intense,romantic, and emotional!I absolutely loved the characters in this one, Archie and Clara were amazing together.

The author did a wonderful job with the storyline!These two
at the beginning couldn't stand each other,but there are also a sexual tension and soon they can't deny it.Overall,they are a perfect couple with their fair share of challenges.Their romance is sweet,romantic,intense and hot.

I highly recommend it to everyone!If you are a fan of the series you are going to adore this one and if you are not what are you waiting?? Start this now you'll not be disappointed!