Buns was such a fun installment and what a great finale to this trilogy. I was a bit nervous about this one as the second book was a bit slow for me. So that is why I did this one in audiobook but I have to say this book was FANTASTIC in audio. I just loved being able to listen to this one. It was so delightful and the narration was just right on this one here. There was something so unique about this story that just drew me in and is my favorite of the trilogy. Just with the combination of opposites attract, the sassy sexual tension, witty bantering and the charming small New York town that just drew me in right away.

Buns is a story that features two stubborn creatures that are behind it. The heroine is a workaholic. She works on saving hotels. She comes to Hudson Valley to save Bryan Mountain House. The head and owner of the hotel, is stubborn and fighting her every step of the way but Clara is determined to save the hotel and make sure that Archie sees reason. But these two clash in the worst of ways and their love affair ends up fierce and passionate....

There was something PURE FUN about this book. I just couldn't get enough of these two and the way in which they go back and forth with each other. You just feel the drawn tight tension that builds so wonderfully between them. From one moment they are arguing and then the next moment they are kissing each other like they need each other to breathe. Its super intense but also hilarious. I just loved the way that these two end up arguing and working together.

Overall I found Buns to be a delightful installment that had me falling so quickly in love with these characters and their intense romance! ( )

FGMAMTC Blog Review
I've liked all of the Hudson Valley books, but this one is probably my favorite. It's not as RomCom as the previous ones. Buns is a little more serious. Clara hasn't had the easiest life. She grew up in foster care and learned that she couldn't depend on others. She can't be tied down to any commitments because she doesn't want to be let down by anyone. Her life is pretty much her job. She's actually a sweetheart, but most don't get a chance to know her. Archie is an interesting character. He's kinda nerdy and sporty. Because of his past, he's pretty much all business also. His work ethic makes him come off as rude, but he quickly becomes one of the kindest guys ever. Clara and Archie meet when she is hired to remodel his resort. It's bumpy sometimes, but their relationship is inevitable.
If you're looking for a more realistic romance that still has that happy ever after glow, definitely read this story.


***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

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Well that was disappointing. I loved the first two books and then the third book in the Hudson Valley Series (Buns) came out and I was so excited. I would finally get to read Clara's story. Unfortunately she never feels like a very developed character and neither does Archie. I think that Clayton was taking big parts of her "Wallbanger" series and jamming them in here. All of a sudden I am supposed to believe that the widower who has never been with another woman besides his dead wife is just having sex all over his hotel and even in broom closets? This book actually made me miss "Wallbanger" and I think I will go back and re-read that series in the next couple of weeks.

"Buns" is Clara's story. Readers were introduced to her in Roxanne's story (Nuts) and got to see her again in Natalie's story (Cream of the Crop). I liked what I knew about her. Seemed to come from a broken home and was really into marathons and triathlons. She goes around and saves old hotels and other businesses by helping them rebrand. So the Clara I was promised and the Clara I got were two different characters.

When Clara is given an opportunity to go to Bailey's Falls where her two best friends have decamped to she's happy. She is asked to go and help rebrand the Bryant Mountain House hotel (say that five times fast). She has a terrible meet-cute with her love interest Archie Bryant (she thinks he's the bellhop) and within seconds they are both acting like jerks towards each other.

Archie is resentful that Clara is there to change things. Clara is annoyed that he talks to her like she's not good at her job. Frankly, I was on Clara's side for most of the book. Archie just acted like an ass for a good 50 percent of this book. And then suddenly starts grabbing Clara and making out with her.



There really was no chemistry between these two. And Clayton using the fact that the hotel makes these supposedly to die for hot cross buns for why the title is called "Buns".



And there's a thing about Archie maybe having a good butt. I don't know. I maybe blacked out at that part because it was so clunky.

The majority of this book really is Clara getting over her hang-ups about being with someone that can (gasp) leave her. And her friends just being perverse assholes about the whole thing. I have never disliked two characters who I previously adored before like this. Roxanne and Natalie were just written poorly. Natalie acted like an oversexed teenage boy with no impulse control. I think I was over her when she had Oscar (her boyfriend) carry her ass up a trail because she wore boots that she knew would be difficult to walk in. I think Clayton was going for isn't this cute and I went, I would have dropped her ass and told her I was not a freaking donkey.

Roxanne is no better and just goes around telling Clara she's in love with Archie and should just be with him.

I realized after I finished this book that these three who supposedly are each other's best friends' did a terrible job of actually listening to their friend. They know her history and didn't even try to talk to her about it. I was really disappointed we never just got any scenes of them hanging out without discussing the men in their lives. Crap, I go out with my girlfriends and we talk about work, movies, books, their kids (I don't have any) and what the hell the dog did last night. If all we did was sit around and discuss "boys" at this point I would be finding some new friends.

Archie was a dead end for me too. I have not read one romance book I can think of that the dead spouse plot has not end up leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Archie is a widower and still is getting over the sudden death of his wife a couple of years earlier. What I did like was that no one was running around sainting Archie's wife. But I also found it weird that besides a comment here or there, they didn't discuss his wife a lot. The majority of the book was them sniping and then just having sex and Clara pulling away anytime she was with a group of people acting like a family.

Other characters don't feel very developed here. I was happy to see appearances by Oscar and Leo, but they felt very muted.

The writing felt off to me in a way that was surprising. I think the biggest issue was that the plots in Nuts and Cream of the Crop worked. The flow wasn't good at all in this one. We had a lot of description of the hotel and how Clara wanted to re-work it and arguments she had with Archie. And then a couple of sex scenes and description about all the sex they were having. I just found the whole thing blah.

The book ends with an epilogue like the other books told from the make hero's point of view and eh. I was just glad to be done with this one. ( )

This book was sweet, but it was nothing really special. I like both Mcs, and maybe the final moment and the initial kiss will stay with me. It was mildly amusing, and certainly better than the second [b:Cream of the Crop|25056216|Cream of the Crop (Hudson Valley, #2)|Alice Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457375305s/25056216.jpg|44737722] for me but something about Clayton's characters is just off for me.

Archie started out aloof, but ended up perfect. This was a case of the commitment-phobe vs the devoted guy. It worked, and it was entertaining, but it doesn't offer anything different or special. And good lord, if I never have to see Grace Sheridan or Jack Hamilton again, I'd be perfectly fine for that. I read their series. I'm done with them.(I don't always think this, but they're annoying. There.)
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I'm a huge Alice Clayton fan; let me just get that out there. The Redhead series is just awesome as well as the Cocktail series. However, I wasn't taken with the first book of the Hudson Valley series and was just so-so with the second book, so this one has stayed on my e-reader for a while. I'm on a mission to clean up that somewhat overloaded e-reader, so I picked up Buns.
I loved it. Clara and Archie are just adorable. Their initial sparring is hilarious and their chemistry is undeniable. They are perfect for each other. The story is also great. Archie is a widower who's been uninterested in replacing his wife. Clara is a workaholic consultant hired to turn the trajectory of Archie's family hotel around. I think the Bryant Mountain House is based on Mohonk Mountain House. I used to hike and cross-country ski there, and I enjoyed reading Ms. Clayton's re-creation of the area.
I really think this book redeemed the series for me - not that I disliked the other books, but I just didn't get the 'Alice Clayton' vibe from them. Buns is sweet and sexy though. Clara is feisty and I've always been a sucker for cute nerdy guys like Archie. I really enjoyed the book. ( )