Buns

Written by Alice Clayton and Jason Carpenter

Narrated by Elizabeth Louise

The third in the hilarious yet sizzling hot Hudson Valley series from New York Time and USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton.

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781442395152

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. And she finally got her Bernese Mountain Dog.

Reviews for Buns

[Betsy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think the main characters fell a little flat for me. There just wasn’t enough story. We should have seen the mc’s interact a bit more. The time jumps weren’t really noticeable, so it seemed like they fell in love very quickly. Actually, the whole thing seemed like a rebound for Archie. I just don’t see this couple having staying power.

[Joannah · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This narrator does great voices but her missing g's at the end of words grates my ears. Story was okay, heroine is a drama mama.

[Charlotte · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely adore these two.

Clara is so different from her two best friends and I can relate to her on so many more levels. She is determined to do everything on her own because before she's had to and she doesn't want to let anyone in because that must be a sign of weakness, right? She never expected to start this new project and fall in love with the uptight, geeky, very muscular soon to be owner, Archie Byrant. Widowed and not evening thinking about starting any other relationships with anyone, especially the head-strong, always out for an argument, rebranding specialist.

Their love story is hilarious and comical, everything Alice Clayton is so good at. Clara's story actually breaks my heart more than the others did and I never thought it would. Highly recommend the whole series.

[Anna Corino · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Only read this if you're able to stand everyone saying "literally" every other sentence.

[addictofromance · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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!

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[arthistorychick · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Buns by Alice ClaytonBook #3: Hudson Valley SeriesSource: NetgalleyMy Rating: 4/5 starsMy Review: Alice Clayton is back haunting the Hudson Valley and this time she brought Clara and Archie and whole pile of shenanigans. Clara Morgan is many things including accomplished, self-reliant, confident, intelligent, competent, loyal, and terrified of loving anyone and putting down roots. In an effort to avoid those last two, Clara has assiduously avoided romantic entanglements and devoted her life to travelling all over the country helping hotels and resorts rebrand themselves and become more successful. Clara excels at her job and loves her life. Or so she thought. The moment Clara steps foot on the property of Bryant Mountain House resort she knows she has her work cut out for her and relishes the challenge. The elder Archie Bryant invited Clara to rebrand the resort, but it’s his son, also Archie whom Clara is to work most closely with. If she thought the resort rebranding was going to be a challenge, well, she hasn’t met the younger Archie Bryant yet. At every turn and with every pronouncement, the resort owner with the smashing butt defies challenges, and contradicts Clara. For as much anger and frustration as Archie causes Clara, he also interests her and forces her to confront the fact she isn’t as happy with her life as she thought. Sweet, sexy, nerdy Archie Bryant loves his home and has no desire to see its history and traditions trampled on by the likes of Clara Morgan. With her bold, brash, confidence she outlines plan after plan for rebranding Archie’s beloved resort. Clara is suggesting changes, renovations, alterations, and upheaval that makes Archie’s head spin. Inconceivably, Archie seems to be the only one among the staff who is opposed to such calamity. In an effort to save his home, Archie defies Clara at every turn, he contradicts her, and stubbornly refuses to accept her ideas. He also has to deal with the fact that he is tremendously attracted to the little firebrand and that’s not helping the situation . . . at all. As days turn into weeks, Archie slowly begins to accept the inevitable, his resort is going to undergo changes. However, the more he gets to know Clara, the more he understands she doesn’t want to destroy his home, his resort, and the traditions of the site, but preserve them and bring them into the 21st century. Clara wants Bryant Mountain House to be restored to its former glory and that is something Archie can get behind. Being behind Clara isn’t half bad either and it isn’t long before Archie realizes the extent of his feelings for Clara. Unfortunately, as his feelings grow, Clara becomes more resistant. Clara is very aware of Archie and his feelings and that scares the ever-loving crap out of her! So much so, that when her professional life takes a most unexpected turn, Clara uses it as an excuse to escape the uncomfortable feelings caused by Archie and his feelings. Clara has too much personal baggage to ever settle down and being with Archie for the long-term would simply be disastrous. Besides, her career has always come first and satisfied her, so why upset the apple cart now? Says Clara to herself as she sits miserably in her lonely apartment far, far away from the man and place she accidentally fell in love with . . . . . Fixing the situation isn’t going to be easy, but Clara is determined and most fall in the face of Clara Morgan’s logic, reasoning, and loud arguments ?The Bottom Line: I like the first two-thirds of this book and simply adored the final one-third!! The first two-thirds of this read have some great moments, some excellent fights, some great conversations with old friends (Bombshell is on a roll in this one!) and a few naughty bits, but it is in the final one-third of the book that everything shines. It isn’t until Clara screws everything up with her ridiculous notions about love, commitment, and putting down roots that the read really takes off. Fixing her mess isn’t easy and Archie is so very heartbroken that it takes a monumental move to set things right. The. Move. Is. Monumental. The highlights of this read include Archie and the characters from the first two Hudson Valley books. These richly written and developed characters populate a world that is believable, funny, emotional, and engaging. I don’t know that this is the end of the Hudson Valley series, but if it is, Buns is a fitting ending to what has been another excellent series from Alice Clayton!

[b.j.o. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5 "'Hotel Boy' Meets His 'Bossy' Match" Stars!Originally posted at The Reading Alley and The Romance Reviews.A new top-favorite! I absolutely loved the chemistry and witty dialogue between the hero and heroine in Alice Clayton's third Hudson Valley book, Buns! This is a book where the pages practically turned themselves. From the humor (I love Ms. Clayton's ability to use innuendos and plays on words to spice things up) to the romance and even the resolution of two angst-filled side-stories related to the background of the hero and heroine, everything in this novel worked for me. So much so, that while I enjoyed Cream of the Crop and Nuts, I think Buns is my new series favorite! And best of all, lovers of Ms. Clayton's writing will be thrilled to know that all of the characters from the prior books in this series come back to play a part in Buns (and we are even treated to a cameo appearance by Jack Hamilton and Grace Sheridan--the hero and heroine from Ms. Clayton's first series, Red Head!).Clara Morgan is moving up in the world. After dedicating her life to her career, her boss has promised her that if she successfully concludes her branding campaign with her new account, the Bryant Mountain Hotel, the golden carrot--partnership--is all hers. Not that Clara needed more motivation as her job is her life, and the fact that she grew up in multiple foster homes and still has no family per se, is only part of the reason that she spends more time on the road re-branding hotels each year than she does in her apartment in Boston. The facts are that she really loves what she does and on her time off, what little she has, she spends it doing other organized activities like running marathons and triathlons and occasionally when their paths cross meeting up with her friends, Roxie and Natalie (the heroine's from books 1 and 2).Little does Clara know, however, that this time she has her job really cut out for her. The Bryant Mountain Hotel has been in business for over 100 years and not too many of its traditions have changed since then--needless to say it has a number of things that are a little dated. However, the son of the man who hired her, and the man who will be assuming the CEO role next year, Archie Bryant is intent on keeping things the same.Needless to say the tension between their two diametrically opposed goals causes instant friction and their snarky encounters in the beginning will leave you panting. Is there any way to merge their goals? Moreover, when all that pent up frustration leads to some explosive and chemically charged encounters, will they be able to resist their mutual attraction? But there is more to Archie's past than at first meets the eye and Clara refuses to share her background too. Can a relationship ever flourish without full disclosure?What a pleasant treasure! I also loved the hope-filled message that even those who love has failed once can also find their HEA. I can't wait to read more of Ms. Clayton's future works!Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.