Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I’ll begin by saying that Alice Clayton is one of my top two go-to authors when it comes to romantic comedies, and with Buns, she has shown once again why my faith in her comedic talents is well-placed. Not only did she bring her A-game when it came to ripping out my heart with Clara’s and Archie’s pasts, making me fall in love with each of them and them as a couple, and giving my abdominal muscles a workout, but she also included cameos from her other series that will make my fellow Claytonites squee in excitement.

The third book in the Hudson Valley series gives us Clara’s story – the last of the three BFFs who met in cooking school and one of the two who discovered that she had no future as a chef. Fortunately for Clara, she did discover that she had a flair for breathing life back into failing hotels and resorts and, surprise, surprise, there just happens to be a family-owned resort perilously close to wheezing its last breath located in Bailey Falls. As far as Roxie and Natalie are concerned, it’s kismet and only a matter of time before Clara is joining her besties in calling Bailey Falls her new home. But Clara knows better. She doesn’t put down roots and she doesn’t make connections because the fewer people in her life to depend on, the fewer people there are who can walk away from her – especially as she prefers to do the walking away, something her job requires. And yet, Archie Bryant proves to be a challenge, both in getting him to be open-minded about the changes she’s proposing for his family’s resort and in resisting the pull she feels when they’re together. While Archie has his own baggage, when he finally stops fighting their chemistry, Clara has no hope but to hang on for the ride and hope for the best. Of course, life’s not fair – especially with Clayton at the helm – and an unexpected twist gives Clara the chance to do what she does best – RUN! This time around, though, Clara’s running doesn’t give her the clean break she needs, so she has to decide what kind of future she wants and figure out what she has to do to get her happily ever after with the one man who has finally made her believe in them.

I absolutely loved Buns. Bailey Falls is a wonderful town inhabited by an endearing collection of residents who keep popping up in each of the books of the series. This gives the books that tight-knit community feel that makes you happy to revisit Hudson Valley, all while getting to know Clara and Archie better. Like the previous couples, Clara and Archie ooze chemistry and are well-versed in the double entendre, which had me laughing out loud more times than I can remember. Their banter and my need to know more about their pasts had me glued to my Kindle, not wanting to put it down until I knew why Clara was the way she was and whether or not Archie could make it past her defenses. Without spoiling it, I love, Love, LOVED the scene in which Clara makes her play to win Archie back. It was fabulous, it was exciting, and it was exactly the kind of thing I would expect from Clara. It certainly had me grinning from ear to ear. I am assuming that with Clara being the last of the three friends, that Buns marks the end of the Hudson Valley series; however, I would happily read another installment in the series just so I could spend more time with this great cast of characters. Until then, I’ll keep my eyes out for whatever Clayton writes next.

With a name like Buns, I wasn't expecting this to be an emotional read. It was more comedy than emotional, but I really felt for both main characters.

Clara grew up in foster care. To see how hard it was for her to be around a group of people when it was a family atmosphere, you could see she really struggled.

Then you've got Archie who lost his wife and childhood sweet heart, well you can say this pulled on my heartstrings more than once. Really it just made me root for them even more. I just wanted to see them both be happy.

I've always enjoyed a book set around a small town atmosphere because you usually get a lot of great side characters and this was no exception.

The MC's from the first two books were in this book quite frequently, but since I haven't read those books and never felt lost, it's safe to say you can read each of these books as standalone story.

This is a safe read. No sexual/physical abuse, no other women/men drama and you get a nice HEA with an epilogue. ARC provided by NetGalley.

Buns is the 3rd installment of the Hudson Valley series, and even though it can be read as a standalone, I believe it’s better when you’ve read the previous two. That way, you understand the frienship between all of the main characters within the series because they do make a lot of appearances in this one. Speaking of which, I loved seeing their trio’s friendship play out; it was endearing and at times I was a little jealous. I could definitely use friends like Clara has. This book was well-rounded…you will laugh, scream, cry, and wish you were apart of this world. I never wanted this story to end. It was the perfect getaway book and I (sadly) devoured it within hours!

Both characters were enjoyable to get to know. Clara is a very independent person and this stems from her time in foster care as a child. She tries her hardest to never need or depend on another person; she keeps her life simple and focuses all of her energy on work, which is rebranding hotels, and running. I envied Clara to a point…I loved her ability to fully focus on tasks she needed to complete, but I could tell early on she used this focus to never open up to anyone, including herself. Archie is the son of the owner of the hotel that Clara is currently assigned to. At first he doesn’t take to Clara being there to rebrand his hotel all that well. This is from his inability to accept change at first. He likes things the way they are. From an outside perspective, even though Archie is aloof, he’s a very proper and likable person to all but Clara. He’s also a bit nerdy but in a totally gorgeous way! With Clara though, he fights her tooth and nail on everything having to do with changing his hotel, and it is during these fights that their chimistry is off the charts!

“You’re incredibly rude, a know-it-all wrecking-ball girl who is more than a little bossy.”
I laughed in spite of myself. “What lovely things to say, coming from a pretentious, snobby, incredibly rude himself hotel boy who’d rather rattle around spooky hallways and spend time with antiques than listen to reason.”

This is definitely a “love-to-hate or hate-to-love” story that keeps you entertained for hours. There’s never a dull moment between these characters and when the chemistry finally comes to a boiling point…it is amazing! Even with all the baggage that each bring to this relationship, they fit and complement each other well. Clara has to work to open up and learn to rely on someone while Archie has to come to terms with the fact that he’s allowed to find love again and it be okay. Both of these characters are real and that’s what makes them so lovable. Clara and Archie give as good as they get.

“My girl was wild. And loud. And obnoxious. And irritating. And bossy as all get out. And I wouldn’t have her any other way.”

The overall storyline was perfect in every way. It flowed nicely and it was descriptive to the point that I could see everything clearly in my head. Alice Clayton’s writing is amazing…this is one of her best series!

What can I say about Alice Clayton's new book Buns, except, I LOVED it. I have so enjoyed these stories that I have read both previous books. I am a sucker for a good small town contemporary story or series where character development is crucial to the storyline. I enjoy visiting with characters from previous books and seeing more of their relationships. The premise is three best friends who by various circumstances end up in the same small town in upstate New York. Clara is the main friend in this book and she comes to Hudson Valley to help renovate and rejuvenate an old palatial hotel which has been around for over 100 years. But, like many hotels of its era, it is needing an update. The hotel has been in one family the entire time, and the young "heir" of the family is very resistant to any change. This, then gives way, to several really good scenes where she argues for what is needed and he is fighting her constantly. He calls her Bossy and she is but for the good of the hotel. This was a fun rom con romp with lots of heart in it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have for each of the others. I always enjoy Alice Clayton's books and this one was no different. Thanks as always to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

Clara Morgan has a fabulous job bringing failing hotel operations back to life. Her boss has hinted a partnership is in the works once she gets her latest client, the Bryant Mountain House in Bailey Falls in upstate New York back on track. Clara likes the sound of that and also wants to check out Bailey Falls -- it's the little town where her friends Roxie and Natalie found love (See book 1 &2 in the series).

Archie Bryant has been running his family's business with an eye for keeping up the traditions of the past. When he meets Clara, he's dug in his heels and isn't ready to embrace the changes that Clara proposes, but he is very interested in Clara. They have a bit of an enemies-to-lovers thing going on that is truly sweet and exactly what they both need (the lovers part, that is).

Clara tries to resist Archie's charm, but she's really a goner from the first moment he kisses her. She knows it's not a good idea to get involved with someone who is essentially her boss on the project, but the attraction between them is very strong. Archie is a bit stuffy at first, but I loved how he gradually opens up to her. Even though they can't deny the physical attraction for each other, Clara still has some old baggage that is keeping her from letting herself love Archie like she really wants to.

What I truly loved about this story is Clara. She's focused on her career and the satisfaction she gets from doing a good job and building her reputation. Her past has shaped her into a successful career woman and has also kept her from putting her heart in a vulnerable position. She must decide what she wants, what she needs, and how she can have both her career and the man she's falling for. These are questions many young career women face, and I liked that this story didn't automatically have her dumping her career in order to get her man.

Although I found the story slightly predictable, it really worked for me because I loved these two main characters. Clara is a sharp business woman, and I loved that she was successful and her life wasn't about finding a man. Archie was sweet and patient with her (okay, maybe not so much at first) and I loved how he cared about the Bryant Mountain House, its traditions and employees. What made it all even sweeter was how Roxie and Leo and Natalie and Oscar had a part to play in this story too. Everything just came together nicely for me and I found myself wanting to know how Clara was going to resolve her dilemma.

Buns is a sweet love story about two people having a chance for happiness,even though their past may prevent them from being open to it. It's about grasping that opportunity for love and not letting it go. It's about making the choice for happiness without giving up other aspects of life that make you happy, like a career. I loved that about this story.

I love this series. The women are strong and career-minded, and their men love them for it. It doesn't get any better than that in contemporary romance!

An ARC was provided for review.

Alice Clayton is the queen of romantic comedies. The best part about them though? They aren’t just slap stick funny reads, they have heart and emotion as well. I’ve enjoyed every book from her Hudson Valley series, and Buns was no exception! It was sweet, funny, sexy, and had just the right amount of feels! 

Meet Clara and Archie…

Clara has a job where she travels to a new hotel or resort every few months to turn it around. Some of these hotels just need some little tweaks, some need bigger tweaks, but they just need some TLC and expert advice from Clara herself. Archie Bryant is the owner of The Bryant Mountain House and if you ask him, his fifth generation resort doesn’t need anything different. The resort’s books tell a different story. To say that there was a rub between these two in the beginning would be an understatement.

These two were hilarious together. I loved the back and forth and bickering. And you could tell there was attraction and sexual chemistry right under the surface, just waiting to explode. I loved the light moments, but I truly loved getting in deeper with Clara and Archie. Both of these characters had a lot of depth and pasts that were difficult in different ways.

As much as I loved getting to know Clara and Archie, I also loved getting to see Roxie, Leo, Natalie, and Oscar again. Plus all the other fun characters in Bailey Falls! I sincerely hope this isn’t the last book in the Hudson Valley! The town and characters are so charming- I would love to read more!

If you’re looking for an engaging and entertaining read, pick up Buns!

What an absolutely FUN, FUN book! Clara has an intriguing job that has her traveling more than she is home and she is comfortable with that and has no plans to change. Her newest endeavor is one she has excited about, she is going to get her hands on Bryant Mountain House to help bring them into the present. Standing in her way is Archie Bryant who is heir and new owner and fighting Clara at every turn. Sparks fly but the chemistry is unmistakable. Even though Clara tries to keep things professional, Archie has set his sites on Clara and it was so fun to watch this story unfold. Great characters and even better story line!

Even though this is part of a series it can be read as a standalone.

**Received this as an ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

Alice Clayton's Hudson Valley series has to be one my favorite series ever. When I got a chance to read Buns early I was so excited!!! . I had the biggest smile on my face when the book appeared on my kindle lol . I dived into this book as soon as I could and it was wonderful!!

In this book we follow Clara and she is excellent at re branding hotels and her next project the Bryant Mountain House, this is where she meets Archie Bryant and at first he opposed her at every turn and its safe to say that they didn't get along that well at first .However the chemistry between there two could not be denied and opened the door to something more. I love the romance in this book it was sexy , enchanting , fun and heartwarming .Archie and Clara where just perfect for each other , I loved that these two people with all these walls around hearts due to the past experiences , let each other in.I was so invested with this couple and I was so happy with how there story concluded .I loved that we got to see all our favorites from the other books in this series It was fantastic getting to see what they where up to . I could gush about how fantastic this book was forever, Alice Clayton delivers another fantastic story that made me , laugh , swoon , fan my self, worry and grin the biggest grin ever reading the epilogue . I have heard that this is last book in this series and I am really sad about this because I did not want it to end . If you are looking for a sexy , funny , addicting stories you should definitely get a copy as soon as you can . Buns has to be one of the best romantic comedies I have read this year.

*** 4.5 ***

It seems like the more I like a book, the harder it is to talk about it. I don't get it.
I loved 'Buns,' loved. Not surprising since Alice Clayton wrote it and she's been one of my auto-buy authors from the very start.
There are certain elements that make up one of her books, those of you who follow her writing know what I'm talking about.

“Can you feel lonely when you're surrounded by people?”

Clara Morgan has been on her own ever since she can remember, It's easier this way and keeps things from getting complicated. It's also a bit lonely, which she doesn't seem to notice much until she arrives at the once magnificent 'Bryant Mountain House.'
I really liked Clara! She is strong, independent, and as Archie says, a bit insane. She also has a huge heart. She arrives ready to get to work so she can move on to the next job, but things don't turn out as she expected.

Archie Bryant, "tall and strong, freckled and bespectacled." I adore him! He's not exactly what you would expect from a soon to be hotel owner, but he also... is? I couldn't wait to meet him and he did not disappoint! I'll admit, he's a bit of a stiff, but you don't even mind that because once he lets go and is just Archie, that's when things get good.

One of my favorite things about this book, besides the amazing characters, is the relationship between Clara and Archie! Obviously these two are going to clash, Clara is there to shake things up a bit, and Archie doesn't need this interloper getting in his way, but they both want the same thing, they want the hotel to prosper and be what it once was.
While this is all happening, their relationship take a bit of a... turn. Slow burn.
I loved this, I loved the ridiculous interactions that had me laughing like a lunatic, I also loved the sweet, tender moments that made me smile nonstop.
Things aren't always easy, especially with characters who find it hard to let go of the past.

I am so happy with this book, I can honestly say it's my favorite in the series and I didn't want it to end and will happily read more stories from Bailey Falls.

*ARC provided by the publisher & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (THANK YOU!)*

RomCom queen Alice Clayton does it again! Buns is a sweet, sexy, funny love story. It is the perfect weekend read. The characters are endearing. Buns is funny, romantic and hot. Set in the idyllic Catskills region, it makes me think of Patrick Swayze and Dirty Dancing. I've always wanted to go to one of these resorts. Alice Clayton's descriptive writing takes me there without the annoying packing or traffic.

The banter between our main characters is witty, sexy, and sarcastic. The attraction is palpable. The push/ pull adds tension and a bit of drama. I love our hero, Archie Bryant. He is quietly seductive and sensual. He is gorgeous, hot, smart, proper and real. You want to just mess up his suit and ruffle his hair. And when you get to see his improper side? Damn, he is raw and dirty. Clara Morgan is a great heroine. She is pretty, smart, driven, but vulnerable. Keeping people at arm's length is something she excels at...until Archie Bryant. I love the way author Alice Clayton develops their relationship. Archie is something else. I love how he is with Clara. He isn't afraid to push her boundaries. But he isn't a jerk about it. Clara's inner dialogue had me laughing out loud. At times, she frustrated me with her insecurities, but, when you understand why, you feel for her.

Buns is another fun, humorous, feel good romance. There are some twists and turns that tug on the heartstrings. The sexy times are steamy. The antics the main characters and the supporting characters get into are hysterical. It is a fantastic addition to the hilarious Hudson Valley series. Definitely recommend.

Alice Clayton adds another delightful read to her collection. Wildly witty and fun, full of heat and heart.

The extremely independent, career oriented Clara Morgan has worked hard to earn her success as a hotel consultant specializing in revitalizing old hotels. That’s not to say she comes in tearing down the old to bring in the new. On the contrary, being a foster kid without roots and customs of her own, she’s loves knowing about a hotel’s history and traditions in order to bring them into this century. She just needs to prove this to the very traditional and difficult future owner of Bryant Mountain House.

Archie Bryant cannot fathom how a rebranding expert will preserve his family’s one hundred and fifty year old traditions and he’s prepared to fight her on everything, until those fights explode into delicious fireworks and Clara’s ideas start showing results. Now that she’s convinced him there is a way to bring the old back to life, can he introduce her to his traditions and convince her to set roots with him?

Clayton delivers a funny, smexy story with heart that demands to be read. Not only does she provide rich imagery of the beautiful Hudson Valley with its imposing mountains, beautiful hiking paths, a majestic lake and a grandiose resort built for royalty, she also brings back the funny and adorable characters from previous books and adds two very opposites but perfect for each other to the lineup.

I loved both Clara and Archie. They both have sad pasts that have shaped their lives. She’s self-confident and bossy, it goes with the territory she works in. When we meet Archie, he seems arrogant and unbending, but as they butt heads, challenge one another and give literal chase, we get to see his funny, caring and very sexy side.

But after so much time of drowning in their work to avoid pain and loneliness it’s difficult for them to face their growing feelings for each other, especially Clara who knows she’s there for a limited time. Everyone can see they’re perfect for each other but can Archie move on from his past? Can Clara give up her nomadic lifestyle?

I loved the pace, the storyline and the characters. I can’t wait to see what Clayton writes next.

Buns is book #3 in the Hudson Valley series by Alice Clayton. It is a standalone contemporary romance. Told from the heroine’s point of view except for the epilogue which is told from Archie’s POV. It has a happy ending.

My 4.5 star review is up on Goodreads and will be posted on blog and social media on release and links will be updated below at that time.


4.5 stars
Clara Morgan is a work-a-holic trying to make partner in the boutique branding agency she works for. She goes into struggling hotels, and infuses them with new ideas in order to improve or save them. And when work does not keep her on the go, then the fact she runs, swims, and competes in marathons and triathlons literally does. But this is safe for Clara because she does not have to think about her past or feel lonely. She does not make many attachments, because then she has the potential to be hurt or left behind as she was as a child. She has a few good friends that are the closest to family she has, but even then she sometimes keeps herself more isolated.

Archie Bryant is next in line to take over the Bryant Mountain Inn when his dad retires. And Clara's new assignment is to save the historic, affluent hotel steeped in traditions. He comes off as stuffy, arrogant, and argumentative. He seems resistant to change. And Clara is judgmental, assertive, opinionated, and bossy. She has limited understanding of these traditions and lifestyles of the rich and famous since she grew up in foster care. They react swiftly and strongly, and not in a good way. They fuss and fight about everything professional and personal. They fight themselves over their simmering attraction. They challenge and push. They advance and retreat. There is literal chasing at times. The banter is feisty, witty, and so much fun.

They both have had painful pasts that left them somewhat closed off and isolated. They have both thrown themselves into work to avoid their issues. She has a crazy couple of friends to keep her grounded and drag her back. He has longtime staff that looks out for him as family.

Their violent chemistry cannot be denied for too long, but exploring physical attraction can still be safe as long as they can keep themselves in check. They know they are on borrowed time with an unclear future. But like everything else these two do, things seem to move impulsively and intensely.

Everyone can see what is really going on between them but Clara herself...simply because she does not want to see it. Feigning ignorance and avoidance is easier than accepting the truth. Staying in her own head and not sharing how she really feels keeps her safer. Because otherwise it becomes real, complicated, and messy. Then she has to put her heart on the line and risk being hurt...and risk hurting someone else.

So what happens when time runs out? Can Clara go back to her independent wayward life alone after being part of life with Archie and her friends in Bailey Falls? Could small town and resort life with one man satisfy the girl who is used to wanderlust and adrenaline rushes? And if so, is Archie even ready to move on from his past?

It is told in Clara's point of view except the epilogue. It brings back the whole crazy cast of characters from this series--Roxy and Leo, Natalie and Oscar, Chad and Logan, Mom Trudy, and adds a group of hotel staff. Their unfiltered mouths and diverse personalities had me cracking up. I really loved watching the unbuttoning of Archie from stiff and stand-offish to caring, open, and funny. And Clara was a mix of wounded bird and warrior. I loved their challenging dynamics and how they pushed each other outside of their comfort zones. This was a feisty, sexy, humorous, and emotionally charged enemies-to-lovers story with two broken people needing an anchor but not sure they are ready to grasp on.

I have kind of fallen in love with the quaint town of Bailey Falls and was enthralled by the descriptions of this old, luxurious hotel. Makes me want to go visit and hang out with this quirky crew...if even to get a hot cross bun or zombie cakes.

Alice Clayton's heroines are my spirit animals. Each is dynamic, dazzling, and unforgettable in her own way, and each is a large part of why the entire Hudson Valley series needs to be on everyone's TBR list. Buns, the third book in the author’s wildly hilarious romantic comedy series, is just as entertaining, just as heartwarming, and just as sexy as its predecessors. Sweet, romantic, and emotionally gripping, Buns is a story that made me swoon and set my heart aflutter. It definitely made me want to get my hands on some hot cross buns (if you know what I mean…). *insert winking face here*

Part rivals-to-lovers, part office romance (albeit an unconventional office), Buns follows the story of Clara Morgan, a hotel branding expert looking to revive a struggling hotel in Bailey Falls, New York. When the pint-sized but fierce force of nature meets Archie Bryant, the uptight, uncompromising hotel owner, sparks fly, tempers flare, and a begrudging working relationship is formed as the two are forced to work together in close quarters. Two words: sexual tension. Clara and Archie have a bit of an antagonistic rapport, complete with constant bickering and an undercurrent of mutual attraction. Their biting words say "I'm one step away from throttling you" while their heated glances say "I want to rip your clothes off”. The resulting slow-burning romance is both humorous and sensual, igniting an unbridled, lust-fueled passion between Clara and Archie that ignites even brighter with their every interaction.

Our narrator, Clara, has a larger-than-life, inviting personality but she’s also fragile and mysterious – a combination that’s undeniably compelling. She’s a complex character and I loved getting to delve further into her backstory as the narrative progresses. She's not one to open up easily, which makes the process all the more rewarding. Similarly, Archie seems to be Clara’s polar opposite, yet every chapter reveals something new and intriguing about the man behind the tortoise-shell glasses and tailored suits. With a riveting storylines and protagonists that make you want to learn more about them, Buns is lighthearted, funny, and steamy, but it’s also full of heart.

If you’re looking for a book that’ll make you laugh and make you cry (from laughing so hard), Buns is a sure bet. From chapter one to the last sentence of the epilogue, I loved every single word of Clara and Archie’s story and my only complaint was that it ended before I was ready to say goodbye.

*complimentary copy provided by publisher for an honest review

We're finally back in Upstate New York.
After Roxie and Natalie, it's now Clara's time to tell us her story!
She's been hired by a soon-to-be-retired Hotel owner to bring his family's luxury resort into the 21st century. They desperately need more guests and lots of updates in all areas of the hotel.



But soon-to-be-hotel-boss Archie is not really agreeing with his dad. He doesn't need some city girl to come and change everything he loves about this place.



Archie and Clara have this insta-hate / insta-mega-attraction thing going.
But both also have gone through a lot in their pasts that makes them shy away from something serious.
So it'll probably be a fun few months for Clara - to get her job done while lusting after Archie - who hates what she's doing with his hotel!
And it'll be even funnnnner for the reader to witness all that adorableness! ☺

WHAT WiLL HAPPEN TO CLARA & ARCHIE??
WiLL THERE BE A HAPPiLY EVER AFTER?
READ THE BOOK TO FiND OUT☺

_________________________________________________________________




I ADORED THIS BOOK!!!

Finally back in the beautiful Hudson Valley!
And this was such a great story!!!!
An enemies to lovers kind of thing. With so many adorable moments and fun moments and sexy moments and crazy, ridiculous moments and moving moments. I loved every second of this book.
You start reading and you immediately think you've traveled 30 years back in time to that Hotel from Dirty Dancing!





The whole atmosphere of the book was so ... real somehow. I felt like I was right there, checked-in, in that amazingly beautiful hotel. Beautiful - but also very ... old. Clara's help is desperately needed. And Archie will see that soon enough! Poor guy. He's not into modern things. He wants to keep everything the way his grandfather wanted it, he's big on traditions. He's a bit 'Olden-Times-ish' himself. A Cary Grant kind of gentleman. I think I could totally see Hugh Grant as Archie in the Buns-Movie!!! No idea why! He's way too old to be Archie, but the British stuffiness would be perfect!
But of course Archie is not always so .... Archie-ish.
We have some very sexy sexy scenes!!!

Beautiful book with so much in it. So much interesting hotel stuff. How to make more money with an old hotel. I loved that. And all those old traditions at the hotel. I loved the whole mood and atmosphere. I want to check in there immediately!!!

And we also have an amazing cast - all our Hudson Valley darlings show up for special events at the hotel - and we might even see an old friend from San Francisco again ☺ Because that hotel needs lots of walls un-banged! ☺ And another 2 beloved west-coasters might check into the hotel (one of them might be a red-head!) ☺
PERFECT BOOK!!

BUNS was such an adorably funny & interesting & sexy romance!
You'll sooo fall in love with Clara & her Cary Grant-ish Hotel-Boy! Also, I will be permanently leaving Germany soon! Upstate NY, here I come!!! I'm accepting donations for my Bryant-Hotel-Penthouse via paypal! I will also need to buy a Television for that penthouse! ☺

Cute, fun, sassy and full of heart and steam. That is definitely how I would describe this book. It has a great premise, an engaging storyline and characters that you can't help but root for. You will definitely fall in love with this story. That is the case with any of Alice Clayton's books and this one was definitely no different. I can't wait to read more from this author.

This may be my favorite in the series... okay, maybe a close with Nuts. I liked it a lot more than the second, Cream of the Crop. Although, they were all wonderful, so it is just really a tight race for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. We learned in earlier books that Clara, a girl who knows how to reinvent and revitalize struggling hotels, has issues with family. Natalie, in the previous book, had always invited her to family functions, and this book gives us insight into why she always turned her down.

Clara is a fun girl who has talent taking hotels that are not making the money they wish, and bringing them back to their former glory. When she arrives in Bailey Falls to work on Bryant Mountain House, the staff seem happy to see her and are interesting in the changes, the owner is very happy and intrigued, but his son, Archie, seems very displeased at having her there at all. He wants things to stay the way they always have, and keeps pushing against her ideas.

Archie has struggles of his own. We find he has loved and lost, and has not been happy in a very long time. However, it seems that Clara has brought something back to life in this once loving, exciting man.

We also get to catch up with some of our other favorite characters Roxie, Natalie, Theo, and Oscar. They also help to bring Archie out of his shell some. I felt like I was at a family reunion with some of my best friends.

I loved this book, and I loved that we really got to know the characters before anything racy started happening. This was a funny, sexy story, but had heart with the background of Clara and Archie. I hope this is not the end. I hope there is another one in the works, and I will be the first in line to read it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this wonderful book for an honest review. I give it five gold stars and will not only read it again, but am waiting on the audio book too! Yea!

I absolutely loved this book!!! Clara and Archie are both closed off due to their pasts and they clash as soon as they meet. Archie is set in his ways, while Clara is strong and determined to make changes. They butt heads constantly and I loved it.

I love the way their fights eventually give way to flirting and eventually more. I absolutely loved that Clara was so tough!! And Archie, he was so sweet once he let his walls down. He was sweet and caring and understanding and always attuned to Clara's moods and thoughts without her having to say anything.

I love Clara's friends and how often they pop up in this book, cause I love them!! While this can certainly be read as a standalone you will definitely want to read the rest of the Hudson Valley series once you finish if you haven't yet!!

4.5 Stars ~ Top Pick

Clara Morgan is sent up to Bailey’s Falls, New York to help rebrand the Byrant Mountain House. This is just another promising gig to her that might lead to a potential partnership at her firm. However, what should be a quick and easy score is turning into a bit of a challenge as the owner’s son challenge her every decision.

Archie Bryant loves his family house just as it is. He doesn’t want his father to rid the hotel of its natural charm. He is prepared to go toe-to-toe with Clara if it means saving the business. Clara slowly charms him and he is not sure he can withstand the battle with petite hot head any further.

I loved Clara’s character and how she dealt with the romance. Clara didn’t grow up with a strong family unit. She has some heavy baggage with her. Her work and her friends really are the only things she has going for herself. She is strong and independent. She built some pretty high walls around her to keep her safe and I admire that about her. I loved how Archie came right in and chipped away at all her defenses. He knows when and how to push her forward.

Archie is a character who takes time to grow on you. I initially thought he was stuffy and proper. However, I realized that he loves his family’s hotel and is willing to do anything to ensure that it remains the same. Archie is holding onto some serious pain and the readers get a chance to see into why he is a bit guarded. Actually, once he recognizes his attraction to Clara, he handles his past a lot better than I thought he would.

He laughed then, and it was magic. And it was into this magic that I did walk over to him, reach up toward him, not with my lips but with my hand, and gently brushed back the shock of auburn hair that had fallen down over his forehead. He closed his eyes, then instantly leaned into my touch, almost like a cat. Jesus, when was the last time some had touched this guy?
I would have to say that I loved this book the best out of all of the series. While I do appreciate the authors ability to make me laugh or should I say holler (I did that a few times with the previous books), it was her ability to dig into the romantic elements in Buns that got to me. Archie and Clara’s story is a typical enemies-to-lovers romance. The romance takes a slow and more meaningful turn in the book. These are two characters who felt authentically perfect together.

All of the characters from the previous books were back. I loved seeing what happened with Roxy and Leo. It was great catching up with Natalie and Oscar and even Chad and Logan. Small town romances have a quaint and cozy spot in my heart.

Overall, romance readers will love this delightful, funny and romantic story.

~ Samantha

5 "Awesome. Incredible. Mind-blowing. Frustrating. Pretentious. Obnoxious. Freckles." Stars

BUNS was pure delight from cover to cover with characters who provided immediate connection between them and reader and a hate to something-else connection between themselves. The storyline was just engaging and I bought into it completely.

Alice Clayton brought a new friend, Clara 'Ms Morgan' into the scene and she was totally different to Roxie and Natalie (who we see with their respective partners repeatedly). She was small, atheletic, competitive, competent, bossy and untouchable. I loved her so quickly but what I loved even more was the discontent between her and the hotel owner who's business she had come to revamp, Archie 'Mr Bryant'. Archie drew me in and had me swooning simultaneously.

"Archie had taken off his jacket, loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves. Which just made my eyes flicker back and forth almost nonstop to his forearms. I was a sucker for forearms. Forget the forearm. No, you forget the forearm."

These two were like two pincushions around one another but oh man, the chemistry. It was slowly burning and I was slowly burning too. There were two tangible backstories for Archie and Clara which just made the read so much richer.

"He laughed then, and it was magic. And it was into this magic that I did walk over to him, reach up toward him, not with my lips but with my hand, and gently brush back the shock of auburn hair that's had fallen down over his forehead. He closed his eyes, then instantly leaned into my touch, almost like a cat. When was the last time someone had touched this guy?"

I can say three books in, that this is my favourite series by Alice Clayton and that Oscar sure has a rival in Archie. The writing and wit was superb and I just lived the reading experience as you do with the best kind of books. A definite favourite of 2017.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley, in return for a honest review.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

4.5 stars

Clara Morgan is known for her work with struggling hotels, finding solutions to turn around landmark businesses. Though she appreciates the traditions of the locations she works in, she doesn’t keep personal traditions and isn’t tied to many people or things. She is attracted to the history and beauty of Bryant Mountain House, but finds the owner’s son hard-headed and against every change she suggests.

Archie Bryant lives and breathes his family’s historic hotel. His father has hired a branding expert to turn things around, but he is tied to the traditions and doesn’t think they need outside help to keep their hotel running.

Neither character is what one would consider open, or even particularly warm towards the other. They each have pasts that have kept them closed off. In Clara’s case, her detachment keeps her on the outside, even among her longtime friends. Archie’s hesitancy only applies to Clara, though. For the guests at Bryant Mountain House he has nothing but smiles and stories to share.

Because of the way they keep themselves reserved, Archie and Clara were at times difficult to love. Knowing Roxie and Natalie loved Clara made it a little easier to let her get away with being cold, but it took a little while to get used to it from both main characters until their backstories became fleshed out a little deeper.

But as they discovered more about each other, and found walls tumbling and secrets revealed, these two characters who kept themselves so isolated began feeling warmth and trust in another for the first time in a long time. I loved watching these two people carrying so much of their pasts as they let go of the pain and tried something new. These two may have started out as enemies, but quickly find they have more in common than it first appeared.

Returning to Bailey Falls with Clara to see Roxie & Leo, Natalie & Oscar, and all our favorite characters made for a fun, sexy read and made up for the cold moments between the characters. As Clara and Archie open up, we see more of the established characters interacting with our couple here. I loved watching as they embraced Archie as if he had always been part of the group, despite having spent most of his adulthood up on his mountain. In addition to the Bailey Falls group from earlier books, readers also meet an entirely new cast built around the hotel. Archie’s staff is as much his family as his father is, and their interactions in the book say the same.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.