Once again she hit the trifecta! Alice Clayton cracks me up! she makes me fall in love! and she makes my heart ache just enough, the way i like it. this was the perfect way to end these three, and it is my favorite of them too. I feel like authors can't eve beat the 'best' series but she keeps out doing her self and omg the sexual tension ?mmmmmhmmmm HOT! and you know what? It even has a little bit of a feminist kick. oh yeah!

Would you believe I haven't read anything by Alice since Wallbanger? I'm not a rom-com kinda girl. In fact, I tried to read Nuts when it came out and gave up. It just not my thing. But I'm in a better place now so I thought I'd give Buns a chance. And let me tell you, I am so glad I did.

This book had the funny moments, but I enjoyed them. They didn't make me roll my eyes, like many rom-coms tend to do to me. And the best part was the all the emotions this triggered in me. I was NOT expecting that. They were a pleasant surprise.

So if you're looking for a nice romance filled with real life and real emotions, then this book is exactly what you're looking for. Trust me.

4.25
We're back in the Hudson Valley of NY and we have Clare Morgan's story.

This last book in the series was a lot funnier, not that I didn't enjoy the other two, but this one had lots of laughs that I have come to enjoy by this author.

Although ambivalent at first at having Clare re-do his hotel, Archie Bryant was all in and his attraction towards Clare. Having been a widower for 3 years, this fiery spit fire he aptly named Bossy, he was all in. Clare has a lot of hang ups with regards to love or being loved. Her past is sad for sure, but she needed to let it happen. Not everyone is going to leave you.

It was nice to see Roxie and Natalie as well as Leo and Oscar make an appearance or two. What I loved even more was seeing a brief visit from my favorite redhead Grace Sheridan and her hottie Jack Hamilton.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

*An ARC was provided via NetGalley for an honest review.

It took me longer than what's normal for me to get into this book.

Until about half way through the book, I found myself bored which I hate to say.

The story did pick up and I found myself laughing during the friendship that is the three girls and the bossiness that came from Clara with Archie.

This book was ok. I probably won't read it again.

Alice Clayton's books are so much fun, and this one is no exception. Clara is a hotel consultant, rebranding failing luxury hotels all over the country. She's also a former foster child, and has difficulty forming attachments as she's never had a real family. It's hard for her to let people in. When she goes to rebrand Archie's luxury hotel, they dance around each other for awhile, before finally submitting to the idea that they are deeply in love. It's funny, fun, and so nice to see characters from earlier books in the series enjoying their happy endings. Good characters, good background--how does Clayton know so much about how hotels operate? Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Rachel & Sharon Thérèse

We both adored the previous books in this series and couldn't wait to get our hands on Ms Clayton’s latest offering. Her works are a sure one-click for us as she always delivers a solid storyline, her character development is par excellent and laugh out loud moments are guaranteed. Let's talk about the cover first ‘cause if you know us gals at KFF a little bit, you'll have a good idea how much we appreciate those ones which stand out! BUNS definitely falls into this category. Not only did we love the one-worded title; we'll never forget it, but also the intended meaning. The definition fits those blue jeans just as well as it fits the story, and those gorgeous sun tanned arms look even more delectable than the scrumptious Easter treats!

“Sorry about the buns thing, I—”
“Buns thing, Ms. Morgan? What buns thing is that exactly?”

Out of the three full-length novels, this is definitely the one! Alice has given us a gift in the name of Archie Bryant and sorry gals, he's ours for keeps! Okay, he might be as grumpy as a bear with a sore head, he might even be a tad sharp and tight-lipped, albeit his positive traits will eventually outweigh his negative ones. So why then does he need someone to help save the family business when as far as he's concerned, it's not in dire straits? Ahh, you see, it wasn't actually him that sent out the SOS, but somebody with years of experience. In what we could only imagine to be one of the most beautiful areas in the state of New York is Bryant Mountain Hotel. Everything about it we loved. The protective staff, the charming village of Bailey Falls nearby and its folk are lovely. And traditions going back generations gave the story that true authentic feel, but who stole our hearts was Clara Morgan.

“To be fair, the Kardashians would bring a tremendous amount of coverage to the resort, one tweet from Kim alone could—”
“Ms. Morgan, I think I speak for everyone when I say not on your life.”

The name of a well-known British restaurateur who used to revamp hotels came to mind seeing as Clara’s in the same profession. Needless to say, we wasted no time ruminating since this is the only thing they have in common. It made for really interesting reading learning how she goes about tackling the job and how she would convince the most sceptical yet gorgeous owner to be that she knows what she's doing. That she's the best. There's certainly no love lost between Archie and Clara. Them snapping and crackling at each other felt like real-life banter; their constant toing and froing comprehensible. Concerned for the success of the hotel for different reasons, they'll have to meet halfway if their working relationship has any chance of moving forward. We can't begin to tell you how these two captivated us when the heat was turned up and cleverly thought out innuendos started to fly right, left and centre thawing the ice.

“Talk to me? You want to talk to me, you ask me. You request a meeting, you send me an email, hell, you pass me a note while I’m sitting next to you at a meeting for Pete’s sake, you don’t chase me up a mountain!”

Unlike other female characters in the Hudson Valley Series’ books, Ms Clayton has developed a really strong, independent and confident female protagonist to compliment a staid, set in his ways male protagonist. Although all the characters have a uniqueness about them, for us Clara was truly special. By no means is she your typical heroine. From her backstory, we learnt why she's so driven and why she has no inclination to settle down. Forthcoming about her past, she is not; however, in moments of weakness, we discovered more than she'd have liked to reveal.

“Eventually, Clara, you’re going to have to tell me what you’re thinking.”

Even though this isn't Archie’s story to tell, he humored us to such a degree we smiled until it hurt, swooned and fell hard for him. We thought it would take a strong woman to make him see what he'd been missing. Ah, but who really needs a push in the right direction in this enchanting love story is for you to find out! Maybe both of them, eh? We're not going to say a dicky bird regarding his past, but what we will say is what a marvellous person he is. The author's descriptive writing is as such that it's not in the least bit difficult imagining him dressed in his made to measure suit greeting his guests and controlling everything going on around him.

“The people who work here, they’re my family. They know the story, they know everything, so they never mention it. Why would they? So you see, it’s a very safe place for me. And then someone comes in, someone I never wanted here in the first place.”

How could we not mention Clara’s besties! Unless you've read Nuts and Cream of the Crop, you won't have had the pleasure of meeting Roxie and Natalie respectively. We couldn't have been happier to see the gals and their men together, how they were getting on in their lives and what they'd planned for the future.

“I’m not blushing. I’m not crushing. I’m trying to eat dinner with my two lunatic friends who came up here to visit me in my new place of work, mind you, and instead all we’re talking about is Archie Bryant’s buns!”

Ahem! Did we say steaminess abounds in this read? Ms Clayton gave us a taste of Archie and Clara’s palpable chemistry a third into the book and left us gasping for more. From then on in, the hottest passion builds up at a stealthy pace. Also, disquieting scenes sensitively conveyed in just the right places literally made us catch our breath.

“I want you, I ****ing want you more than I ever thought possible, but I’m . . . well . . . a little out of my depth here.”

What an absolutely brilliant finale! Although each book can be read as a standalone, some names, places and details are interconnected. Therefore we suggest reading them in sequence to get the whole Hudson Valley experience. To cut a long story short, (excuse the pun!), this is romance at its very best. Ms Clayton, BRAVO!

Reviewed by Rachel & Sharon Thérèse

We both adored the previous books in this series and couldn't wait to get our hands on Ms Clayton’s latest offering. Her works are a sure one-click for us as she always delivers a solid storyline, her character development is par excellent and laugh out loud moments are guaranteed. Let's talk about the cover first ‘cause if you know us gals at KFF a little bit, you'll have a good idea how much we appreciate those ones which stand out! BUNS definitely falls into this category. Not only did we love the one-worded title; we'll never forget it, but also the intended meaning. The definition fits those blue jeans just as well as it fits the story, and those gorgeous sun tanned arms look even more delectable than the scrumptious Easter treats!

“Sorry about the buns thing, I—”
“Buns thing, Ms. Morgan? What buns thing is that exactly?”

Out of the three full-length novels, this is definitely the one! Alice has given us a gift in the name of Archie Bryant and sorry gals, he's ours for keeps! Okay, he might be as grumpy as a bear with a sore head, he might even be a tad sharp and tight-lipped, albeit his positive traits will eventually outweigh his negative ones. So why then does he need someone to help save the family business when as far as he's concerned, it's not in dire straits? Ahh, you see, it wasn't actually him that sent out the SOS, but somebody with years of experience. In what we could only imagine to be one of the most beautiful areas in the state of New York is Bryant Mountain Hotel. Everything about it we loved. The protective staff, the charming village of Bailey Falls nearby and its folk are lovely. And traditions going back generations gave the story that true authentic feel, but who stole our hearts was Clara Morgan.

“To be fair, the Kardashians would bring a tremendous amount of coverage to the resort, one tweet from Kim alone could—”
“Ms. Morgan, I think I speak for everyone when I say not on your life.”

The name of a well-known British restaurateur who used to revamp hotels came to mind seeing as Clara’s in the same profession. Needless to say, we wasted no time ruminating since this is the only thing they have in common. It made for really interesting reading learning how she goes about tackling the job and how she would convince the most sceptical yet gorgeous owner to be that she knows what she's doing. That she's the best. There's certainly no love lost between Archie and Clara. Them snapping and crackling at each other felt like real-life banter; their constant toing and froing comprehensible. Concerned for the success of the hotel for different reasons, they'll have to meet halfway if their working relationship has any chance of moving forward. We can't begin to tell you how these two captivated us when the heat was turned up and cleverly thought out innuendos started to fly right, left and centre thawing the ice.

“Talk to me? You want to talk to me, you ask me. You request a meeting, you send me an email, hell, you pass me a note while I’m sitting next to you at a meeting for Pete’s sake, you don’t chase me up a mountain!”

Unlike other female characters in the Hudson Valley Series’ books, Ms Clayton has developed a really strong, independent and confident female protagonist to compliment a staid, set in his ways male protagonist. Although all the characters have a uniqueness about them, for us Clara was truly special. By no means is she your typical heroine. From her backstory, we learnt why she's so driven and why she has no inclination to settle down. Forthcoming about her past, she is not; however, in moments of weakness, we discovered more than she'd have liked to reveal.

“Eventually, Clara, you’re going to have to tell me what you’re thinking.”

Even though this isn't Archie’s story to tell, he humored us to such a degree we smiled until it hurt, swooned and fell hard for him. We thought it would take a strong woman to make him see what he'd been missing. Ah, but who really needs a push in the right direction in this enchanting love story is for you to find out! Maybe both of them, eh? We're not going to say a dicky bird regarding his past, but what we will say is what a marvellous person he is. The author's descriptive writing is as such that it's not in the least bit difficult imagining him dressed in his made to measure suit greeting his guests and controlling everything going on around him.

“The people who work here, they’re my family. They know the story, they know everything, so they never mention it. Why would they? So you see, it’s a very safe place for me. And then someone comes in, someone I never wanted here in the first place.”

How could we not mention Clara’s besties! Unless you've read Nuts and Cream of the Crop, you won't have had the pleasure of meeting Roxie and Natalie respectively. We couldn't have been happier to see the gals and their men together, how they were getting on in their lives and what they'd planned for the future.

“I’m not blushing. I’m not crushing. I’m trying to eat dinner with my two lunatic friends who came up here to visit me in my new place of work, mind you, and instead all we’re talking about is Archie Bryant’s buns!”

Ahem! Did we say steaminess abounds in this read? Ms Clayton gave us a taste of Archie and Clara’s palpable chemistry a third into the book and left us gasping for more. From then on in, the hottest passion builds up at a stealthy pace. Also, disquieting scenes sensitively conveyed in just the right places literally made us catch our breath.

“I want you, I ****ing want you more than I ever thought possible, but I’m . . . well . . . a little out of my depth here.”

What an absolutely brilliant finale! Although each book can be read as a standalone, some names, places and details are interconnected. Therefore we suggest reading them in sequence to get the whole Hudson Valley experience. To cut a long story short, (excuse the pun!), this is romance at its very best. Ms Clayton, BRAVO!

So, I can see where this story may have been inspired by some hotel renovations shows. However, Clara, the woman in charge is a total bad ass and really good at her job. She has grand visions of bring back the hotel's former glory with a more modern twist. When Archie meets her, it is clear that he does not want Clara meddling in his hotel business. He likes to believe that change will be bad and that doing things as they have always done is, is perfectly fine. Part of their tension is sexual tension, but part of it is that they are hard workers.

I love how the author describes the area surrounding the hotel. I've never been anywhere like that, so the imagery was great in Clayton's story. It definitely sounded like a place I would like to go visit. I also love that Clara was into keeping the old charm of this historic mountain resort. I feel that way in real life. Once Clara and Archie started to get to know each other, it was just a matter of time before they hooked up. Both their back stories are interesting and are playing out as Clara and Archie get to know each other. I like that both of them were totally professional when they needed to be, but we got a glimpse behind the scenes. The sex scenes are really well written. Archie is so romantic *swoon*. Their chemistry is scorching and it just adds to an overall great book. This is a great choice for a fun read....preferably relaxing somewhere on the beach. Or maybe at a luxurious hotel.
There is way more to this story than the title would imply. This is my first book that I have read by Alice Clayton, so maybe it's just the way her titles go. I would say this book is perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis or Erin Nicholas.

Buns is the third book in the Hudson Valley series. Each book can be read as standalone but they are all connected by best friends and the city of Bailey Falls. I read the previous two books and I loved them but I can say that Buns is my favorite! Clara's two best friends have fallen in love while in the Valley but there is no way she will be. Nope. She will not fall victim to that four letter word. Ever. She loves her independence and job too much to settle in one place. But she never tasted buns like this before...

Archie Bryant didn't want her here. It was his father's idea to bring in an outsider to bring this place back to its glory days. The days of royals, businessmen, and family traditions. The Bryant Mountain House is a beautiful hotel that has been in the Bryant family for one hundred and fifty years. It's full of antiques, fireplaces, and amazing views. It's old-fashioned, rich with traditions, and it's Archie's world. And now, a bossy, little spit-fire from Boston was in his world trying to take over. He wouldn't let her. His family name, employees that are more like family, and his soon to be hotel was way too important to him. He hated that she was there but what he hated more was when she was right. And he downright hated it when he wanted to kiss her bossy mouth. Yep. There is a fine line between hate and lust and he was going to be crossing it. A lot.

Clara loves what she does even with a jackass fucking with her on every move. She had to get through to Archie. The damn good-looking son of the boss that killed her with his damn sexy freckles and pocket square. He didn't see that she wasn't there to help. She want there to ruin his traditions or throw out his antiques. She was there to bring life into the hotel. New clientele. To save him money. To bring modern twist to this gorgeous hotel. What she didn't expect was this hotel boy turning her life upside down in the process.

I loved, loved, loved this book! I just get hooked into a great hate/lust maybe even turned love rom-com. And Alice Clayton is the queen of them. I love Archie and his damn freckles and smart-ass and at times filthy mouth. It's those men with pocket squares that you have to watch at for. Yum! And Clara...she is something fierce with her sassiness and bossiness. Together, it's explosive in every way! They each have their own baggage to bring into this thing. They didn't want to bring it with them because there is an expiration date. What will happen when that date hits?

Overall...I loved every minute of it!! It's hilarious, sexy, beautiful, and surrounded by amazing views. I am not sure if this is the end of the series. I hope not, but if it is, it ended on a high note. It was so much fun seeing the Hudson Valley gang again.

Quotes:

“Where are the guys in overalls shoveling in the coal?”
“Aren’t you being a little bit dramatic?” he asked as he consulted a hand-drawn map on the wall.

“Is it common practice to stick a guest two miles away from the next one?”
“You seemed like a girl who’d enjoy some . . . privacy.”
“Do I also seem like a girl who keeps bread crumbs in her pocket? Because I practically have to drop them to find my way back each night.”

Next Winter Olympics you’ll see me representing the good old US of A. The event? Speed skating.

Buns was just amazing!! I loved Clara and Archie and all the banter back and forth between them. We are also hit with some pretty emotional stuff and in the end it is so amazing to see these two come together and work through everything that was holding them back. This was such a great book, I didn't want it to end.

More good times from Alice Clayton! I love her books, but admit the previous book in this series didn’t quite do it for me, so I was a tad worried about Buns. Thankfully, there was no need to worry, because I had a great time with it!

We knew this was coming. First Roxie fell for Leo’s nuts, then Natalie swooned for Oscar’s cream. Now Clara is all over Archie’s buns.

It’s a lot of fun with these two, especially when they butt heads. Archie can be pretty uptight when it comes to his family resort, and has a hard time with Clara coming in and making drastic changes. Just give her a damn TV, Archie! 😀 I love the antagonistic dynamic they have, even when they are getting along and like each other. And the sexual tension is on point!

The banter and humor is entertaining and what I’ve come to love about Clayton’s books. They play off each other really well. And of course, it’s especially amusing when the whole gang is together. I really like seeing more of the friends interacting and all their craziness. I’m looking at you, Natalie!

I love the setting so much! The Bryant Mountain House gives of Dirty Dancing vibes. Don’t tell Archie I said that! It’s true, though, I would so stay there. Luckily, Alice added a note to the beginning of the book talking about the real place that inspired this fictional one. I need to go!

So, yeah, Buns is definitely an amusing book that will leave you with a smile. The books technically don’t have to be read in order, but it’s always better if you do.

Having read both "Nuts" and "Cream of the Crop" by Alice Clayton, which are the first two books in this series, I can say I am a fan. Going back to Bailey Falls where it all started, meeting the third member of the trio of girls and meeting another handsome stranger? I'll take it! In "Bun" we meet Clara Morgan who is in the hotel business. Not the actual business of running a hotel, but in changing them of the better. She arrives at her newest overhaul and gets some serious push back from the owner's son. Did I mention that this is a handsome, stubborn man?

Archie Bryant wants his family business to stay like it has for more than 100 years. Elegant, historic...but to Clara - that means boring. She doesn't want to make the Bryant Mountain House into something it isn't...she just wants to make it better.

Archie and Clara both have secrets in their past. Secrets have a way of getting out. They['re not bad secrets or even life altering secrets - just the heart breaking kind. Can these two stop being so stubborn and see one another for who they are? Will they find a way to one another? This, the latest in the Hudson Valley series, is a fun read!

I really liked this contemporary romance between Clara Morgan and Archie Bryant. Their story was a great addition to the Hudson Valley Series. They are great characters and the storyline caught and held my interest. I love the Hudson Valley setting. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I really liked the characters and the story line, but was totally turned off by the language. An F bomb now and then is okay, but there were way too many in this book for me.

Alice Clayton always knows how to bring the funny and the feels, which I really appreciate when it's the end of the school year. I adored Clara and Archie and I thought they were just perfect for each other, even with all their histories. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first two books in this series or the Wallbanger series, but a lot of that probably has to do with the stress of work and the fact that it took me a week to read it because of adulting (I normally read Clayton's books in a day or two).

What stuck out to me the most in Buns is the relationship between Clara, Roxie and Natalie. I love that Clayton adds those strong friendships into her romances. It makes everything that much better when the heroine has good friendships. I also enjoyed being up in Bailey Falls. Clayton's small town had me wanting to live there an meet all these interesting people.

4 stars!



Clara Morgan makes her living rebranding hotels on the verge of closing. It’s a job she’s wonderful at and it’s given her the stability she never had growing up. Clara is tasked by her boss at a classic hotel in Bailey Falls, The Bryant Mountain House. Upon arrival Clara finds the owner is thrilled to have her there, but his son Archie is not. Clara finds she must prove herself to Archie, that she has the best interest in his hotel at heart, no matter how much he resists her.

The longer Clara stays in Bailey Falls, the more she grows to love the place. And the more time she and Archie spend together, it’s hard to deny an attraction between the two of them. But both of them have a past that can interfere with their future, not to mention in a way Archie is Clara’s boss. It’s up to them to decide whether or not they will let their issues get in the way.



Alice Clayton never fails to make me smile. I’ve read every single one of her books, and I love the anticipation of a new release by her. Will it be funny? Or angst? Or sweet? This book was all three! From the moment I began reading until the very last page I was enamored with the story and these characters. I feel like Clara is unlike any character we have seen by this author, and I loved that Clayton tackled a more sensitive subject with this characters past and did it in a way that’s accurate but tactful.

I thought Archie was great as well, I wish we had delved a bit more into his past, maybe developed him a bit more. But what I loved most about him was he was the perfect counterpart to Clara, knowing when to push and when to let things go. His heart and soul was in that hotel and he wanted to save it, so while he may have fought change, ultimately he wanted what was best for his family legacy and those he employed.

This is a great hate to love story about two people who weren’t looking for each other, but found each other. Oh and if you are wondering about the title, it refers to hot cross buns sold by the hotel. And Archie may have had some buns too…….

ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely perfect! 5 stars!

Oh, I love, love, love this book! Smart, funny and gorgeously romantic with wonderful characters, great dynamics and childish (but still very adult) innuendos and humour, it is everything that I love about Alice Clayton. It’s my favourite of the Hudson Valley books and finishes off the series beautifully!

Clara is the third in a trio of girlfriends whose stories make up this series. After a difficult childhood, her career is now her life and she is the best at what she does – rebranding and rejuvenating struggling hotels. Her job keeps her moving around, which is exactly the way she likes it as she desperately avoids putting down her own roots and keeping clear of any kind of personal attachment (apart from her beloved girls of course).

Her latest job brings her to Bailey Falls – the town where her two friends Roxie and Natalie have unexpectedly found the loves of their lives. She is working at the historic and prestigious Bryant Mountain House which badly needs to be dragged into modern times, but while most people are welcoming of her presence, the son of the hotel’s current owner and the man destined to run it one day, Archie Bryant, wants nothing to do with the woman coming in to trample all over his family’s legacy.

The scene is set for an epic battle of wills, and OMG I loved every moment of it!


“I forgot a detail I read in your file. Won’t happen again.”
“My file?”
“You don’t think I’d let my father hire someone to turn our entire world upside down and not do my due diligence to make sure she’s qualified, do you?”
My eyes boggled. “A file. You’ve got a file on me. Wow.”
“Wow?”
“Wow as in, dude, that’s weird.”
No his eyes boggled. “Dude? Did you just call me dude?”
“Dude, I also called you weird. How did you miss that part?”


The banter flies thick and fast as Clara and Archie clash over absolutely everything! He doesn’t want her there, and he makes no secret of the fact, arguing constantly with her and making her job so much harder than it needs to be. But underneath it all is a simmering chemistry, and when Clara learns that her nemesis used to be different before the tragic death of his wife years earlier, she starts to see him as human and things begin to change.

The shift from enemies to sort-of-friends-who-madly-lust-after-each-other is really well done, with lots of sweet moments, funny moments, and sizzling sexual chemistry. You can feel the want that builds between the two of them, and the pacing is fantastic as they feel it all but don’t rush into anything, and the emotion between them is beautifully explored.


“I wasn’t sure I’d even want to do this, after she was gone.”
“Listen, Archie, we don’t have to--”
“Until you, Clara,” he interrupted, his eyes flashing open and searing into mine. “I want you I fucking want you more than I ever thought possible.”


And as the flirting, teasing and innuendo reaches boiling point, it’s hotter than all hell as they decide to just go with what they’re feeling, for however long they are able to have it.


“I’ll have to go away one day. And I don’t know what will happen then, which makes me so fucking selfish for saying this, but I’m going to say it anyway. I want you. For as long as I can have you.”


I just love these characters. They both have pain in their past, and Clara has walls around her, but they are open about what’s happening between them and I love that they throw themselves right in there. And in typical Alice Clayton style, there are lots of laugh-out-loud moments, the dialogue is spot-on, and the romance is easy, natural and believable.

But Clara’s walls are tall, and she is only in town for a limited time. Will she be brave enough to accept what she is feeling and follow her heart, accepting that the gorgeous widower and his mountain – and all that comes with that - are the best thing that ever happened to her? Or will her debilitating fears keep her running?

This book is such a great read. It’s fun, romantic and beautifully emotional. I could understand and empathise with both Clara and Archie and their struggles to let the other in, and I was completely swept up in their developing love story. There’s a bit of angst but it’s well handled and resolved well, and the book finishes in a great place.


You’re here and I’m here and we’re here and this is so much more than enough because it’s everything.


There’s lots of time spent with the characters from previous books of the series, and I loved catching up with all of them. There’s progression for both of the previous couples, and seeing the full group all together is a real treat. And Clayton fans will love the cameos from both of her other series.

I also really enjoyed the HGTV-esque storyline of the hotel, which was entertaining and interesting, and was woven into the story perfectly without overpowering the romance (and the Dirty Dancing/Kellerman’s references were awesome!).

I loved everything about it, and couldn’t put it down. I laughed and I swooned, and I fell in complete love with Archie. The romance is sweet, funny and passionate, and I finished this book with a huge grin on my face and hugging my kindle.

Absolutely fantastic! 5 stars!

When I saw Buns show up on NetGalley I immediately requested and started after I finished my current read. If you've been here and read my rave reviews for it's predecessors, you know that I was ready to go back to the Hudson Valley with some homegrown hotties. And I was not disappointed.
Buns follows the final friend in this amazing trio of friends. Clara has a bit of a darker past that she's constantly working on leaving behind. Emphasis on leaving behind. Today, she is an uber-successful hotel rebrand consultant. Archie is the son of the golden family of Bailey Falls who owns a beautiful but failing hotel. The sparks that fly between them are incredible. Total hate to love which I love to love. Their chemistry and sexual tension is fantastic and I was just waiting for them to both finally combust and find each other.

But Archie hasn't had the picture perfect past either. Fighting some demons of his own this was also something the two had to work through together. What I love about these books is that Clayton gives us drama and a hint of angst but it's realistic. It's not contrived or gratuitous but organic. I'm never sitting here rolling my eyes waiting for the ostentatious drama to end. I love this about her books and this series.

My other favorite part of this series is the setting. Clayton paints Bailey Falls and the Hudson Valley so perfectly that I want to book a vacation there myself! I love the imagery of the mountains and lake and small town feel. It's an incredible quality to be able to bring a place to life like this and I cannot say enough good things about this series and its setting.

My only complaint is that while I felt the conflict was organic, it did feel a bit long in the middle. Maybe just because I'm impatient for the HEA but it felt a bit repetitive in the middle and I was waiting to move on. Regardless of that, I still really enjoyed the book and would highly recommend this series to anybody who loves romance, snarky banter, and small town settings!
Reserved Seating
If you love small towns, snarky banter, and auburn men...this book is for you.

This author's writing is funny quirky and amazing. I forget sometimes she is a girl because I feel she is telling usbwhat men are thinking

I personally am fascinated by the process of remodeling or in this case a big project like rejuvenate a classic and traditional hotel. All the details that go into such a project are mind boggling. That’s one of the reasons I love remodeling shows, or read about main characters that flip houses for a living.

On top of that I was literally able to see the Bryant Mountain House in front of my eyes. A mix of the Dirty Dancing hotel and the East Coast landscape. A huge sprawling building, dozens of chimneys and balconies, a labyrinth of hallways, towers, wings, corners to explore. Glorious foliage trees that turn into a golden ocean as far as the eye can see. Winding roads, majestic mountains, small towns sprinkled here and there – the very opposite of California.

I was looking forward to returning to Hudson Valley. I’ve enjoyed the last two books and have been looking forward to immersing myself into a group of people that were just so much fun to read about.

In Buns (Hudson Valley #3) by Alice Clayton the old crew was back together plus cameos from characters from the Cocktail series. A BIG Alice Clayton get together.

Archie and Clara started out explosive. Clara was there to implement changes and Archie was stoutly against it. Of course those two would bang heads, no doubt about that. But it was fun to watch them go head to head, and later kiss and makeup.

Even so it was fun to watch, something was missing.

The something special!!

It hurts to say out loud, but I lost interest. Buns didn’t captivate me. Archie and Clara had wonderful chemistry and they were really sweet together. I just got bored after awhile.

Sometimes it’s really not an issue with the writing, plot, characters, or dialogue.

It’s just me!

I’m blaming myself.

I think I would have liked to go even deeper into the project of getting a hotel back to success. More details about how to work certain budgets, compromises, designs. How to overcome certain hurdles, find solutions, and witness progress.

But that’s just me.

I believe wholeheartedly that other readers will love this book!!!

It just wasn’t the right one for me.


The review will be published on May 20th on all platforms. I'll be updating the links at that time.