Review: Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

Series: Hudson Valley Bok #2
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 320
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Gift for Christmas
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Manhattan’s It Girl, Natalie Grayson, has it all: she’s a hot exec at a leading advertising firm, known industry-wide for her challenging and edgy campaigns. She’s got a large circle of friends, a family that loves her dearly, and her dance card is always full with handsome eligible bachelors. What else could a modern gal-about-town wish for? The answer, of course, is...cheese.

Natalie’s favorite part of each week is spending Saturday morning at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, where she indulges her love of all things triple cream. Her favorite booth also indulges her love of all things handsome. Oscar Mendoza, owner of the Bailey Falls Creamery and purveyor of the finest artisanal cheeses the Hudson Valley has to offer, is tall, dark, mysterious, and a bit oblivious. Or so she thinks. But that doesn’t stop Natalie from fantasizing about the size of his, ahem, milk can.

Romance is churning, passion is burning, and something incredible is rising to the top. Could it be...love?

Review

I read this very quickly-like most Alice Clayton books. It was also funny and pretty light and fluffy.

Natalie was a typical Clayton heroine. She is outgoing, confident, and sexual. So, I don't have a lot in common with her, but can still appreciate her. She's also a bigger girl at size 18. That definitely isn't something you see often especially in a sexually-bold woman.

The romance is a very physical one. Maybe too physical. I like sexual chemistry as much as the next person, but I need emotional connections, too. I actually started to skim the sex scenes because they felt so unnecessary. But it was really nice when Natalie and Oscar would have an actual conversation.

As usual with first-person romance I would've liked a look into Oscar's perspective on things.

This series reminds me  a lot of Sarina Bowen's True North series. It's definitely more fluffy, but similar. I actually was getting the two settings confused. While I enjoyed them both, I like the Sarina Bowen books more.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Nuts by Alice Clayton

Series: Hudson Valley Series Book #1

Format: Papberback

Pages: 308

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Funny

Publisher: Gallery Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

After losing almost all of her clients in one fell swoop following an accident involving whipped cream, private chef to Hollywood’s elite Roxie Callahan gets a call from her flighty mother, saying she’s needed home in upstate New York to run the family diner. Once she's back in the Hudson Valley, local organic farmer Leo delivers Roxie a lovely bunch of walnuts, and soon sparks—and clothing—begin to fly. Leo believes that everything worth doing is worth doing slowly…and how! But will Roxie stay upstate, or will the lure of West Coast redemption tempt her back to Tinseltown?

 

Review

This was exactly what I needed. My last read was very emotional and I needed something more lighthearted and funny. And Ms. Clayton didn’t let me down. Wallbanger is still my favorite, but this was a great story with some funny characters. It definitely reads like a romantic comedy and is a little unrealistic, but it works for me.

Roxie was a fantastic main character. I thought she was funny and easy to like. She had some commitment issues, but they weren’t too heavy like some stories. And I liked how much confidence in herself.

Then, there’s Leo. Such an adorable and sexy farmer. I was attracted to him and wanted more scenes with him.

It was nice to read about two characters that are attracted to each other and just act on it. There are so many stories with slow burn and angst that a lightish summer fling is a breath of fresh air.

Like a lot of Ms. Clayton’s books food is a huge part of the story. I really like characters who are passionate about something and Leo and Roxie definitely care about food. They are a little different, but it’s enjoyable to see them go off on tangents. And it made me want to start going to my local farmer markets.

There was just enough sequel bait to interest me, but I’m not dying for the next book. If you’re liked any other Alice Clayton books you should definitely check this one out. And if you like romantic comedies and don’t mid some sexy times you should give it a shot.

Thanks for reading!

Holly