The Book Barista Reviews: Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

Title:  Cream of the Crop

Series:  Hudson Valley, #2

Author:  Alice Clayton

Release Date:  July 12, 2o16

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton brings her trademark blend of funny and sexy to this second contemporary romance in the brand-new Hudson Valley series!

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?

This is book two in Alice Clayton’s Hudson Valley series.  When we were briefly introduced to Natalie and Oscar in the first book I knew I wanted to know more about the quiet creamery owner.

As expected when reading Alice Clayton books there were plenty of laugh out loud moments.  An exchange between Natalie and Oscar that included  the quote: “great comma big ass” was my absolute favourite. [Note of advice:  don’t read Alice Clayton books at work.  It’s hard to explain why you’re laughing your ass off.]

Natalie was one of my favourite book characters.  She’s a successful advertising exec and a big girl that owns her curves.  She makes men bow down to her.  Except for when she sees Oscar.  Oscar is the only man that makes her a little tongue-tied.

As for Oscar…*swoon*…he’s a beautiful, quiet man.  I think that he sees things in a simple manner.  He doesn’t get sucked into drama.  Aaaaaand he makes cheese! That’s a win in my book.  He’s a fantastic book boyfriend.

Cream of the Crop gets four delicious cappuccinos made with delicious  milk from Bailey Falls Creamery and served with some delicious brie.  I am definitely looking forward to the third book in this series.

 

AMAZON | KOBO | B&N

 

Note:  I received this ARC from the Publisher/NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Book Barista: Review and Giveaway of Nuts by Alice Clayton

Title:  Nuts

Series:  Hudson Valley, #1

Author:  Alice Clayton

Release Date:  October 20, 2015

From New York Times bestselling author Alice Clayton, the first in a brand-new romance series telling the humorously sexy tale of Roxie, a private chef who gets a taste of love—but is it to stay, or to go?

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?

Once again, I’ve loved an Alice Clayton book!  As usual, I’ve giggled my ass off and totally fallen in love with her characters.

Roxie goes back to her home town to take over her mom’s diner since her mom will be on a reality show.  She agrees to do this under duress but she soon discovers that her home town isn’t so bad.  She becomes friends with the her old high school hottie, Chad, and she even learns to deal with all the town gossip.

Of course, making it all much more exciting is Leo, the local farmer.  Let me rephrase: the local SEXY and OH SO HOT farmer.  As she and Leo become closer she makes sure that he understands that it’s just a summer fling.  Or is it?  The longer she stays there the more she questions what’s back in California for her.  Their relationship is fun and easy until…there’s a big surprise.

As I said above, I really did enjoy this book and laughed and giggled through a lot of it.  I don’t think I’ll every be able to look at bee again without laughing.  Nuts got five steaming lattes from me, served with Roxie’s black walnut cake (made with Leo’s nuts of course) 😉

One lucky person will be able to win a paperback copy of Nuts.  All you have to do is enter the  Rafflecopter giveaway

AMAZON | B&N | KOBO | BAM | AUDIBLE