Heya...
Guys, I've been meaning to read this series for ages, and I've decided to try Scribd recently - thanks to Ari, who outlined the benefits for me - and luck would have it, this series is in there... as AUDIO! And people, I'm a huge fan of audio, but more than that, I've been so tired, that the only thing I've been wanting to do lately is curl up and listen to my funny books.
The first book I read by Alice Clayton was Wallbanger, which I loved, so I knew that I was in for a ride. I liked this series so much that I listened to the books in a row, and in a little over a week.
By the way, you've noticed that I've been talking non stop about audiobooks, right? Moving on... I'm keeping this short and on point.
NUTS
by Alice Clayton
Series: Hudson Valley #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Simon Schuster Audio
Publication Date: October 20th 2015
Source: Scribd
Narrator: Shayna Thibodeaux and Sebastian York
Rating: ★★★★★
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?
I loved this. LOVED LOVED LOVED. I had forgotten how crazy good Alice Clayton was, and how crazy funny she is.
I do love a small town romance, and put cooking and cakes to the mix, and I'm in. I really enjoyed the characters. This is a casual to more romance, with a twist, and I loved it. Roxie was crazy and amazing, and I really liked how she wanted to be her own person, break away from all the things that constricted her, but she was strong enough to realize what she truly needed and wanted. Leo was perfect! That's it, I loved him and his nuts.
Great development on the romance and the overall relationships on the book. The Chad Bowman and his partner steal the show whenever they're in.
Loved the narration as well. YAY FOR AUDIO!
CREAM OF THE CROP
by Alice Clayton
Series: Hudson Valley #2
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Simon Schuster Audio
Publication Date: July 1st 2016
Source: Scribd
Narrator: Olivia Song and Deacon Lee
Rating: ★★★★★
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?
FAVORITE! Why? Because: NATALIE!
Natalie is a size 18. Do you know how rare that is?! Also, she's strong and beautiful and has all men eating out the palm of her hand. She's beyond amazing, and I love her. I also loved Oscar, he's the silent type, but he's AWESOME!
I really liked this one, the banter between the 2 characters was bonkers and great. The relationship development was really well done too, as well as the character development.
This book goes outside the norms in various ways, and I thought it was great. Not only is Natalie a big girl, but the book also portraits a good relationship between exes, and that is like a unicorn... RARE!
Again, amazing narration :D.
BUNS
by Alice Clayton
Series: Hudson Valley #3
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Simon Schuster Audio
Publication Date: May 23rd 2017
Source: Scribd
Narrator: Elizabeth Louise and Jason Carpenter
Rating: ★★★★★
Clara Morgan is living the dream, if you can call rebranding hotels that are desperate for a new life and running any kind of marathon a dream. Which she does. But the career she loves and the endurance races that keep her adrenaline pumping have kept her too busy to put down any roots. Growing up in foster care, she’s never been able to establish traditions of her own, which may be why she’s fascinated by the rituals that generations-old family resorts are known for. She’s especially interested in the Bryant Mountain House, and not just for their secret recipe for the yummy, gooey, can’t-get-enough-of Hot Cross Buns….
Archie Bryant, the man with the Buns, is fifth generation and one-day-owner of the charming yet run-down Bryant Mountain House in Bailey Falls, New York. He’s determined to save his family’s legacy from the wrecking ball the old-fashioned way — by gritting his teeth and doing what needs to be done. There’s no way Archie will be influenced by the new hotel branding expert his father brought in to turn one hundred and fifty years of tradition on its head just to attract a faster, younger, slicker crowd. But when some of Clara’s ideas start bringing in new, paying customers, Archie can’t deny that she may have just given him a shot at keeping his resort open.
It’s sticky, it’s messy, it’s sweet, it’s Buns.
I was afraid I wouldn't like this one as much as the other, because this book had big shoes to fill. I shouldn't have worried. This one made me cry, so, there's that!
Clara was a character that grew on me. I really liked that she had such a different past from the other girls, she had such a hard life, and I really liked how she dealt with everything and how much she grew throughout the book. Archie took me a bit by surprise, because he was a bit of an ass at the beginning, but then he wasn't, and I really liked them together too.
I'm not sure if this was the end of the series, but I'll be okay if it was, because I was able to see all the girls with their boys, happy and content.
One theme throughout all the series is how the women are so independent, and they don't let go of that and their professional success, just because they find love in a small town, and make that their homes. They're perfect and kick ass, and this is especially true for Natalie and Clara.
So, here is my take on this series. Have you read or listened to the Hudson Valley series?
What are your thoughts on this group of friends?
And by the way, are you a fan of audiobooks? Are you willing to give these a try?
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