First, I have to admit, that I am not as excited about the cover, as I was when I saw the one Nuts had. Sure, those visible buns are quite nice to look at. But I am missing that little dreamlike flair, the two first covers were showing, and the kind of mischievous feeling I always get when I look at those two *grin*. The last book of the Hudson Valley trilogy. A well-written novel, but not as great as the other two have been. Wanna know why? The tone is different, the personal problems Clara has are not always displayed in an entertaining way and some other things I can´t put a hand on it.
Buns
by Alice ClaytonHudson Valley #3
Publisher Gallery Books on May 23, 2017
Genre Love-Women-Erotica
Pages 320
Format Paperback
Source Purchased
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Clara Morgan is living the dream if you call rebranding hotels desperate for a new life and running any kind of marathon a dream. Which she does. But the career she loves and the races that keep her adrenaline pumping have kept her too busy to put down any roots. Growing up in foster care, she´s never established 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 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 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 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.
Story
Clara has the chance to become a partner at the company she works for many years. Rebranding hotels is her job and that what she is good at. But the son of the new client isn´t as happy as his father about the changes she wants them to do. Soon she is called bossy by him and the growing fascination between both is becoming a real problem for Clara. Because feelings aren´t part of the deal.
Style
This novel is a bit darker in its tone and style. Archie isn´t as casual and easy in his thoughts and behavior as the other two men have been in this trilogy. And all the changes Clara demands, don´t make the situation easier. Archie is a bit stiff. In his way to dress, in his thoughts and with all the century-old traditions the hotel is famous for and wants for sure to keep.
Characters
But when Clara comes to do her job, the old needs to be renewed. Traditions, good and nice, but not everything is carved in stone and not everything has to look like right out of the forties. As much as I loved Nuts and Cream of the Crop, this third one wasn´t as hilarious and great as I thought it would be. But for some nice reading hours, good stuff anyway. I don´t remember Natalie being that obscene with her words. In this novel, she´s a pain in the ass and has a mouth that isn´t nice.
And I don´t remember Roxie being that obsessed with getting other women into the same happy mood as she obviously is in. During the first scenes, it was amusing, to see her trying to get Clara in an emotional outburst, but after a while, I got tired.
Conclusion
Yes, this novel is a nice read, but not more. I missed the hilarious humor the author showed in the other two books. The way how she described things, the sometimes very hilarious dialogues, and the sometimes very laughable scenes. This time, the tone was more settled, and Natalie became a kind of evil person. Her filthy mouth was a bit too much this time. But I had some nice reading hours with it, so it gets the stars below due to that.
Happy reading
Alice Clayton
Alice Clayton worked in the cosmetics industry for over a decade before picking up a pen (read laptop). She enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up, and finally convinced her long-time boyfriend to marry her. Now, about that Bernese Mountain dog …
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