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mycatismybookmark's review against another edition
3.0
Alice Clayton's books are always good for a fun, easy, light-hearted, romantic comedy read.
readfrenzy's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
If I’m in the mood for a lighthearted romance featuring wacky heroines and laugh out loud humor, I can always count on Alice Clayton. I have yet to read a book of hers that didn’t leave me smiling, and she really delivers the goods with Cream of the Crop.
Natalie is a saucy, fun-loving, and successful New York City advertising exec. She also happens to be a full-figured fashionista who radiates confidence and has men eating out of the palm of her hand. Basically, she’s sexy and she knows it.
Oscar is a hunky dairy farmer and artisanal cheese maker. Although Natalie is usually charismatic and daring, she gets absolutely tongue-tied and fan girlish whenever she sees him at her local farmers market. When Natalie’s work takes her to Oscar’s small hometown in Hudson Valley, New York, it’s her chance to charm the pants off him (literally) once and for all.
Cream of the Crop is signature Alice Clayton all the way. She’s a master at mixing sugar and spice, and this story has more than a touch of steam. Oscar and Natalie really heat up the sheets. And doors. And trucks. And hay. And… well, you get the picture. Written strictly from Natalie’s point of view, the story includes her zany internal monologues and hilariously awkward/sexy encounters between the couple.
I took off a half star because this is one of those instances where I liked the heroine more than the male main character. Oscar is definitely one sexy mo fo, but he can be a bit of an inconsiderate jerk to Natalie when push comes to shove. I adored Natalie. Her wackiness makes her all the more charming and perfect best friend material. Somehow she manages to be strong but vulnerable, put together but cheeky.
Cream of the Crop is sure to please if you’re looking for a feel-good, witty, and sexy romance. This is the second book in the Hudson Valley series, but can be fully enjoyed as a standalone.
Recommended for fans of:
Food Network
Romantic comedy
Sugar and spice
Brie
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
If I’m in the mood for a lighthearted romance featuring wacky heroines and laugh out loud humor, I can always count on Alice Clayton. I have yet to read a book of hers that didn’t leave me smiling, and she really delivers the goods with Cream of the Crop.
Natalie is a saucy, fun-loving, and successful New York City advertising exec. She also happens to be a full-figured fashionista who radiates confidence and has men eating out of the palm of her hand. Basically, she’s sexy and she knows it.
Oscar is a hunky dairy farmer and artisanal cheese maker. Although Natalie is usually charismatic and daring, she gets absolutely tongue-tied and fan girlish whenever she sees him at her local farmers market. When Natalie’s work takes her to Oscar’s small hometown in Hudson Valley, New York, it’s her chance to charm the pants off him (literally) once and for all.
Cream of the Crop is signature Alice Clayton all the way. She’s a master at mixing sugar and spice, and this story has more than a touch of steam. Oscar and Natalie really heat up the sheets. And doors. And trucks. And hay. And… well, you get the picture. Written strictly from Natalie’s point of view, the story includes her zany internal monologues and hilariously awkward/sexy encounters between the couple.
I took off a half star because this is one of those instances where I liked the heroine more than the male main character. Oscar is definitely one sexy mo fo, but he can be a bit of an inconsiderate jerk to Natalie when push comes to shove. I adored Natalie. Her wackiness makes her all the more charming and perfect best friend material. Somehow she manages to be strong but vulnerable, put together but cheeky.
Cream of the Crop is sure to please if you’re looking for a feel-good, witty, and sexy romance. This is the second book in the Hudson Valley series, but can be fully enjoyed as a standalone.
Recommended for fans of:
Food Network
Romantic comedy
Sugar and spice
Brie
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
breabooks0410's review against another edition
5.0
A must read
Dudes, Alice Clayton can write a funny, romantic, smart story. Natalie is an amazing heroine, one of my favorites to date. And Oscar, such a sexy caveman. A must read.
Dudes, Alice Clayton can write a funny, romantic, smart story. Natalie is an amazing heroine, one of my favorites to date. And Oscar, such a sexy caveman. A must read.
wallflowerreader_l's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the first book of the series, absolutely adored Leo and Roxie, especially Leo...
But this book ! Those characters ! They were incredible...
Nathalie was so real, so fantastic, you could easily identify to her and I loved how especially strong she was. I loved that Alice Clayton chose to create this character with this particular story that was really sad but really true and she dealt with this issue amazingly well in this book. It was nice to read about Natalie and how she overcame everything. Oscar's story wasn't something unheard of either, but same. I loved this complex character who was really so simple and all man and yes, I have a HUGE crush on Oscar.
Anyways, this book is a must read for any romantic comedy lover !
But this book ! Those characters ! They were incredible...
Nathalie was so real, so fantastic, you could easily identify to her and I loved how especially strong she was. I loved that Alice Clayton chose to create this character with this particular story that was really sad but really true and she dealt with this issue amazingly well in this book. It was nice to read about Natalie and how she overcame everything. Oscar's story wasn't something unheard of either, but same. I loved this complex character who was really so simple and all man and yes, I have a HUGE crush on Oscar.
Anyways, this book is a must read for any romantic comedy lover !
sonja_ahrb's review against another edition
5.0
I have been a big fan of Alice Clayton ever since I read Wallbanger and you can bet that anything she writes, I will want to read, and Cream of the Crop was no different. I knew going in that was in for a great read and I was not wrong! This book was absolutely fabulous and I simply loved it.
Oscar - boy, that man is HOT! He has the whole brooding, silent thing down pat and if that wasn't enough, he's all growly, possessive caveman-like too. Of course, I loved that - a lot - but I also loved that when he talked, he meant what he said and he doesn't just say something to say it. Oscar is a dirty, sweet gentleman and it was impossible not to love him!
Natalie - oh, that woman. She. Is. Just. Awesome! She's confident, funny, and almost always says what's on her mind, even if it's not the most appropriate thing in the world to say - but that's what makes her so great! I loved her honesty, her bluntness, and that she knows what she wants and goes after it. Natalie is inspiring and amazing and I wholeheartedly LOVED her!
I can't tell you what a good time I had reading Cream of the Crop! It made me hoot, holler, and made me having laughing fits. It was highly entertaining, playful, light and so much fun. Even with all that though, there were moments when it gets you right in the heart and makes you want to cry. You'll be in for a terrific ride with this book, but you'll get all the ache-y feels - both the good and the not-so-good ones. Cream of the Crop was wonderful, beautiful, amusing and just... nice (you'll get that when you read it, wink wink).
Cream of the Crop is a standalone told from Natalie's POV and it ends with happily-ever-after that will have you grinning and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
~ Sonja, 5 Stars
Oscar - boy, that man is HOT! He has the whole brooding, silent thing down pat and if that wasn't enough, he's all growly, possessive caveman-like too. Of course, I loved that - a lot - but I also loved that when he talked, he meant what he said and he doesn't just say something to say it. Oscar is a dirty, sweet gentleman and it was impossible not to love him!
Natalie - oh, that woman. She. Is. Just. Awesome! She's confident, funny, and almost always says what's on her mind, even if it's not the most appropriate thing in the world to say - but that's what makes her so great! I loved her honesty, her bluntness, and that she knows what she wants and goes after it. Natalie is inspiring and amazing and I wholeheartedly LOVED her!
I can't tell you what a good time I had reading Cream of the Crop! It made me hoot, holler, and made me having laughing fits. It was highly entertaining, playful, light and so much fun. Even with all that though, there were moments when it gets you right in the heart and makes you want to cry. You'll be in for a terrific ride with this book, but you'll get all the ache-y feels - both the good and the not-so-good ones. Cream of the Crop was wonderful, beautiful, amusing and just... nice (you'll get that when you read it, wink wink).
Cream of the Crop is a standalone told from Natalie's POV and it ends with happily-ever-after that will have you grinning and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
~ Sonja, 5 Stars
nellesnightstand1's review against another edition
5.0
So in love with this series! This heroine rocks! She's a confident, successful, sexy, size 18 heroine that knows she can get any man she wants. Until she meets Oscar. Then she falters. I could read this one over again many times. Although hilariously funny, it has some serious situations in it. Natalie has a bad relationship in her past and Oscar...hmm that would be a spoiler...
The farmer... Oscar... oh he screws up... but damn if he isn't HOT!! Their meetup is definitely a "meet cute" and when they actually meet up on Leo's farm...LMAO!!! Natalie is hilarious!!!
I'll leave you with this...
"I overheard a beautiful man once say that fat chicks give great blow jobs, because they needed to make sure a guy kept coming around . That same man gave me incredible head three times a day for a solid week, and I never once sucked his dick. He was lucky . He was grateful . I was grinning."
If that doesn't make you want to cheer, I don't care to know you.
The farmer... Oscar... oh he screws up... but damn if he isn't HOT!! Their meetup is definitely a "meet cute" and when they actually meet up on Leo's farm...LMAO!!! Natalie is hilarious!!!
I'll leave you with this...
"I overheard a beautiful man once say that fat chicks give great blow jobs, because they needed to make sure a guy kept coming around . That same man gave me incredible head three times a day for a solid week, and I never once sucked his dick. He was lucky . He was grateful . I was grinning."
If that doesn't make you want to cheer, I don't care to know you.
brandypainter's review against another edition
2.0
I have found that I really can not take romance novels written in the first person. For me too much of a romance's character development is in how the two main characters interact with and see each other. When it is all from one perspective, it loses a lot of heart for me and often makes me find the characters ridiculous. That was the case here.
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton
The Hudson Valley Series #2. Romantic Comedy. Can stand alone but I recommend you read Nuts first for the best experience.
4.5 Stars
I have loved Alice Clayton's book since she released the Redhead Series a few years ago. She knows how to mix a smart, fun, totally relatable heroine with a sexy guy for just the right mix of humor, heat and heart. Alice is also outspoken about being a curvy woman, so when she made Cream of the Crop have a size 18 heroine, I thought that was awesome.
Side note: I was on a little Brittany Gibbons panel with Alice as well as Jasinda Wilder discussing curvy women in the bedroom a few years ago. Check it out here <--YouTube.
We were first introduced to Natalie and Oscar in Nuts. While Cream of the Crop does stand alone, I would advise reading Nuts first to get a feel for the town and it's inhabitants first. Because Bailey Falls is almost like another character in the book, it's so integral to the series. As a huge fan of It's A Wonderful Life, I always think of this town like Bedford Falls, and I was thrilled when Alice finally brought that up.
I freaking LOVED Natalie. It is such a pleasure reading about a woman who isn't a virgin!!! Natalie reminded me of a size 18 version of Samantha from Sex in the City. She was so full of sex appeal and confidence, she knew just how to work it so she can have any guy tied around her finger.
Size-eighteen women were supposed to be timid. Size-eighteen women were supposed to be shy. Size eighteen women were supposed to be grateful for any male attention, and to feel especially honored if a good-looking main paid attention to them.
Fuck all that noise. I took the best looking guy home with me whenever and however I pleased.
I spoke with an old friend (a guy) about women and weight recently. He told me that it didn't matter what size a woman was, it was how confident they are in their skin. He told me confidence was the sexiest thing in a woman. That was a great point Alice made in Cream of the Crop.
Natalie was a total New Yorker. She loved everything about it. She rocked her curves. She wore sky-high designer shoes. She owned her sexuality. She was a top advertising account executive, and she loved cheese. She strutted around her city like she owned it and made no apologies. Any other dreams she may have were kept locked up in a secret cupboard.
Every Saturday, she strutted around the farmer's market. But when she got the the Bailey Falls Creamery booth to pick up some cheese, Oscar, the gorgeous tattooed dairy farmer threw her off her game like nobody ever did. She couldn't look at him, let alone talk to him. So week after week, she pined away, while all they exchanged was this:
"Brie?"
"Oh, yes."
Natalie's best friend, Roxie, lived up in Bailey Falls with her own hot farmer, on the farm right next to Oscar's. So when Natalie gets an opportunity to do an ad campaign for Bailey Falls, she jumps on it. And she finally hops on a train to spend the weekend in the country, petticoat and all.
Seeing this city girl in the country is funny as hell. But even funnier is what happens when she comes face to face with Oscar the first time. I was snort-laughing and woke up Mr. Ana! But what happened a few minutes later with Oscar and Natalie in the barn made me want to wake up Mr. Ana for other reasons ;-)
Oscar is a man of very few words. He is the opposite of everything Natalie. As sexy as he was, I had a bit of a hard time with the amount of effort he put into the relationship. Even his compliments weren't all that glowing!
"I love watching your great big ass."
"Hold up," I said, placing one hand on his chest and slowing his roll. "Are you saying great big ass? Or great comma big ass?
He looked at me quizzically. "Great comma big ass?"
This was going to be harder than I thought. "Okay, I'm confused. So you're not saying I have a great big...ass, you're saying that I have a great...big ass. Meaning--"
"Your ass is big. And it's great." He dipped down to bring his face to within inches of mine. "How is that confusing?"
It took some time to get to know Oscar, but I loved when he opened up to Natalie, and calling her 'Pinup' was awesome. I never fully fell head over heels with him, but I loved Natalie enough to make up for it.
Oscar reminded me of Mr. Ana a little. Really not a big talker, really manly, and obsessed with big butt :) No complaints.
Likes:
- •I loved Natalie! A plus-sized confident woman in a regular story marketed to everyone was awesome.
- •I loved that she was sexually experienced, a rare find in books.
- •I fell even more in love with the town in upstate NY, and loved the It's a Wonderful Life mention.
- •Visiting with Roxie, Leo and Polly from Nuts, as well as Chad and Logan.
- •Natalie's family reminded me of mine.
- •Despite her outward confidence and strength, there was a very vulnerable center we got to see.
- •Oscar is a big, sexy, manly farmer of few words, but he is big enough to manhandle Natalie!
Dislikes:
- •Oscar was just a bit too laid back. I like the alpha male who takes his woman no matter what, and he didn't grab her. In fact, she forgave him for some behavior that was really uncalled for.
- •Missy. I thought she would be the big conflict in the story, but I almost felt like she wasn't used enough.
- •I never fully felt the full connection between them. I mean there was lots of sex, but there wasn't quite enough of the falling in love.
The Down & Dirty:
Natalie was totally another favorite character created by Alice Clayton. I just love her real, flawed heroines. Natalie was a plus-sized dynamo who totally owned her curves and her sexuality. She was the total New Yorker who never left the island, so seeing her in her designer shoes on a farm is hysterical. I read the entire book with a full-on smile on my face, and I totally rooted for her to get scooped up by the big, brooding, sexy dairy farmer. As sexy as Oscar was, I wish he were a little more aggressive in pursuing Natalie, but that is hardly a complaint. Cream of the Crop will be a book that stays in my mind. It was truly unique and completely lovable, and filled with all of my favorite things, humor, heat and heart. Worth every penny.
Rating: 4.5 stars, 4 Heat
Purchase Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton
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charlottenw1's review against another edition
4.0
Alice Clayton has done it again with another funny, care free romance.
It was nice to see a curvy, plus sized heroine and Natalie wasn't shy or conscious about hiding her figure from others. She was one with her body and owned it. Full of confidence and life, she brought them elements to Hudson Valley and Oscar didn't even stand a chance.
Natalie and Oscar's meet cute was adorable and the fact that Oscar knew she became shy everytime she came to his stall gave me the feels in all the right places. Oscar is obviously a very fine specimen of a farmer and Hudson Valley just keeps popping them out, left, right and centre. Oscar has baggage in the form of his ex wife who is too close for comfort but they have an amicable relationship which isn't seen often in books or real life and it was very refreshing.
I loved being thrown back into this quaint town and I'll be getting straight back into book 3 shortly.
It was nice to see a curvy, plus sized heroine and Natalie wasn't shy or conscious about hiding her figure from others. She was one with her body and owned it. Full of confidence and life, she brought them elements to Hudson Valley and Oscar didn't even stand a chance.
Natalie and Oscar's meet cute was adorable and the fact that Oscar knew she became shy everytime she came to his stall gave me the feels in all the right places. Oscar is obviously a very fine specimen of a farmer and Hudson Valley just keeps popping them out, left, right and centre. Oscar has baggage in the form of his ex wife who is too close for comfort but they have an amicable relationship which isn't seen often in books or real life and it was very refreshing.
I loved being thrown back into this quaint town and I'll be getting straight back into book 3 shortly.