Scan barcode
smbmar's review against another edition
5.0
I'm in love with Clayton's sassy but loveable characters! Natalie and Oscar's story is funny and charming. I loved Natalie falling apart whenever she meets Oscar at the farmer's market. This series is perfect and I can't wait to see what's next!
essie13's review against another edition
4.0
Dos libros que he leído de Alice Clayton, dos libros que me han gustado mucho. Natalie es una protagonista maravillosa, con sus pequeños clichés y demás, pero con un mensaje de autoestima, superación y aceptación maravilloso. Oscar no se ha quedado atrás. ¿Habla como un capullo? Sí, pero su historia también tiene cosas que decir sobre las relaciones, las aspiraciones en la vida y abrirte a los demás. El drama, algo en lo que me fijo mucho en las novelas románticas, está muy bien llevado. Hay la cantidad justa y no son cuatro tonterías, sobre todo al final. Me ha encantado lo que se plantea al final. Roxie y Leo salen, cosa que me maravilla porque me encantó su historia, y también otros personajes que conocemos en Nuts. Como siempre, hay humor, me he reído con Nat y el resto de personajes y me ha tenido enganchada, muy enganchada.
En su día ya recomendé Nuts, ahora es momento de recomendar también Cream of the Crop. Y visto lo visto, el tercer libro me va a encantar también.
En su día ya recomendé Nuts, ahora es momento de recomendar también Cream of the Crop. Y visto lo visto, el tercer libro me va a encantar también.
bookjunkie57's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cream of the Crop
Hudson Valley, Book 2
I Picked Up This Book Because: Finish the series..
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: H County Public Library
Dates Read: 4/1/23 - 4/3/23
Stars: 4
Narrator(s): Olivia Song and Deacon Lee
The Characters:
Natalie Grayson:
Oscar Mendoza:
Roxie Callahan, Leo Maxwell
The Story:
This was a great way to finish up the series. Yeah I know it’s book two but I read them as I could get them. Natalie and Oscar had so much chemistry. Leo’s little girl (I can’t remember her name) brought so much comic relief. I just had a really good time in Hudson Valley and I’m a little sad it’s over.
Hudson Valley, Book 2
I Picked Up This Book Because: Finish the series..
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: H County Public Library
Dates Read: 4/1/23 - 4/3/23
Stars: 4
Narrator(s): Olivia Song and Deacon Lee
The Characters:
Natalie Grayson:
Oscar Mendoza:
Roxie Callahan, Leo Maxwell
The Story:
This was a great way to finish up the series. Yeah I know it’s book two but I read them as I could get them. Natalie and Oscar had so much chemistry. Leo’s little girl (I can’t remember her name) brought so much comic relief. I just had a really good time in Hudson Valley and I’m a little sad it’s over.
feb_books's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
3.0
I found Some parts of the books were weird and instantly killed the mood. Like, the whole situation with Ocar's ex-wife. And it’s a shame that we don’t get Oscar's POV. He’s a quiet man, you know. I wanted to know what was actually inside his head.
But overall, it was pretty entertaining to read/listen to. The reason was that I liked the heroine. Natalie’s self-confidence and body positivity was admirable; she was not afraid to express her opinion and embrace her femininity, sexuality, and preferred fashion style.
Oh, and Oscar? He’s Hot. Super hot.
But overall, it was pretty entertaining to read/listen to. The reason was that I liked the heroine. Natalie’s self-confidence and body positivity was admirable; she was not afraid to express her opinion and embrace her femininity, sexuality, and preferred fashion style.
Oh, and Oscar? He’s Hot. Super hot.
whatcha_listening_to's review against another edition
5.0
5 Cream of the Crop Stars
I loved this BOOOOK!!! Ok so after reading a book I didn’t really like the story in, I needed something light and fun and this so hit the spot. But then again Alice Clayton can do that with any book she has wrote. I have been a fan since Wallbanger.
This is the second book of this series and I loved it! Natalie is spicy and naughty and so confident I love that about her. Being a larger women it’s nice to see that not all large women have body issues sure we can be insecure but we can be confident too!!
Yes there are men out that who like a booty! Haha and boy does Oscar like Natalie’s Booty!
I love that she was a gooey mess around him, showed she was human and a good looking man can bring even the most confident ones down.
I don’t want to give anything away but the first real meeting, when she actually talked to him… the best.
My favorite quote of this book was really dialogue in her head.
‘His thumb stroked me.’ – Natalie’s inner monologue
I really like how upbeat and fun, witty this book is. Makes me want to reread more Alice’s books.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion and I am allowed to have it.*
I loved this BOOOOK!!! Ok so after reading a book I didn’t really like the story in, I needed something light and fun and this so hit the spot. But then again Alice Clayton can do that with any book she has wrote. I have been a fan since Wallbanger.
This is the second book of this series and I loved it! Natalie is spicy and naughty and so confident I love that about her. Being a larger women it’s nice to see that not all large women have body issues sure we can be insecure but we can be confident too!!
Yes there are men out that who like a booty! Haha and boy does Oscar like Natalie’s Booty!
I love that she was a gooey mess around him, showed she was human and a good looking man can bring even the most confident ones down.
I don’t want to give anything away but the first real meeting, when she actually talked to him… the best.
My favorite quote of this book was really dialogue in her head.
‘His thumb stroked me.’ – Natalie’s inner monologue
I really like how upbeat and fun, witty this book is. Makes me want to reread more Alice’s books.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion and I am allowed to have it.*
readbooks_eatapples's review against another edition
2.0
It started out pretty good, and I enjoyed a heroine who celebrates a larger body (even if it's still try-hard as Samantha in Sex and the City). But the story is just so unnatural and weirdly paced. I actually hated it by the end, so much that I just closed it at 96% before the resolution. I honestly didn't care. I didn't like the hero anymore. The heroine was boring. The conflict was lazy and predictable. It's still two stars because a good part of the book was fun and enjoyable.
bookaddict1975's review against another edition
4.0
***Audiobook Review***
This was a fun audiobook. Alice Clayton always writes great Rom Com and always lifts my mood. Natalie was hilarious, and I'll be honest I loved that she was plus size and worked it perfectly! She was sassy and sexy which was exactly what a man of few words and lots of grunts needs. Oscar was upfront and in her face about what he wanted even if he said practically nothing most of the time. I loved that about these two, they fit perfectly. Love the small town too! Can't wait to get more of these characters and the other town characters in the next book.
Olivia Song narrated all but the epilogue and she was perfectly cast for Natalie. Deacon Lee was fine for the epilogue but he was really slow, I had to speed up that chapter.
This was a fun audiobook. Alice Clayton always writes great Rom Com and always lifts my mood. Natalie was hilarious, and I'll be honest I loved that she was plus size and worked it perfectly! She was sassy and sexy which was exactly what a man of few words and lots of grunts needs. Oscar was upfront and in her face about what he wanted even if he said practically nothing most of the time. I loved that about these two, they fit perfectly. Love the small town too! Can't wait to get more of these characters and the other town characters in the next book.
Olivia Song narrated all but the epilogue and she was perfectly cast for Natalie. Deacon Lee was fine for the epilogue but he was really slow, I had to speed up that chapter.
aboutthatstory's review
5.0
Wonderful story, sweet and sexy and seriously entertaining! I absolutely love how Alice Clayton lays out a story. There is this great build as all the details are laid out, an almost perfect development that draws you in, not letting you know all the secrets at once. It makes for a really incredible read.
I loved Natalie and Oscar so much, they were great characters. They had so many entertaining moments throughout. I enjoyed it all immensely. I adore Natalie! Her confidence and attitude and how strong she could be. Playful and fun and hella sexy. Oscar was fantastic too. A man of few words but what he said always seemed perfect. I had to laugh at Oscar sometimes because there were certain occasions where he seemed like a clueless man, which was almost endearing in a way. He was just a sweet genuine guy who was hot and made cheese. Give me a slice of that! Natalie however, I have a total girl crush on. I loved her and her journey. She had a wonderful awakening. I really enjoyed watching her grow.
Love the chemistry between Natalie and Oscar. From two very different walks of life coming together, it made for some highly entertaining moments. The looks and stares they’d give one another, there was so much sexual tension and chemistry, it was awesome. I had so much anticipation while reading, I loved it! Loved the heat between them both as well. I enjoyed the ins and outs of Natalie and Oscar getting to know one another, excellent character development as we learn their histories. I loved watching them grow together and fall hard for one another. It was just this great love story about how Natalie and Oscar worked it out since they did come from two different worlds. There was a lot of emotion also and it could be really touching.
Loved the additional characters and the fun they brought to the table. More Leo and Roxie! Yes! And Polly! So cute. And Chad and Logan. It was all so great!
A really fantastic and fun story that left me feeling so happy!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
I loved Natalie and Oscar so much, they were great characters. They had so many entertaining moments throughout. I enjoyed it all immensely. I adore Natalie! Her confidence and attitude and how strong she could be. Playful and fun and hella sexy. Oscar was fantastic too. A man of few words but what he said always seemed perfect. I had to laugh at Oscar sometimes because there were certain occasions where he seemed like a clueless man, which was almost endearing in a way. He was just a sweet genuine guy who was hot and made cheese. Give me a slice of that! Natalie however, I have a total girl crush on. I loved her and her journey. She had a wonderful awakening. I really enjoyed watching her grow.
Love the chemistry between Natalie and Oscar. From two very different walks of life coming together, it made for some highly entertaining moments. The looks and stares they’d give one another, there was so much sexual tension and chemistry, it was awesome. I had so much anticipation while reading, I loved it! Loved the heat between them both as well. I enjoyed the ins and outs of Natalie and Oscar getting to know one another, excellent character development as we learn their histories. I loved watching them grow together and fall hard for one another. It was just this great love story about how Natalie and Oscar worked it out since they did come from two different worlds. There was a lot of emotion also and it could be really touching.
Loved the additional characters and the fun they brought to the table. More Leo and Roxie! Yes! And Polly! So cute. And Chad and Logan. It was all so great!
A really fantastic and fun story that left me feeling so happy!
Complimentary copy received for honest review.
sjhastoomanybooks's review against another edition
3.0
Ugh I have so many mixed feelings about this book. I'm such a fan of Alice Clayton and have given almost all of her books at least 4 stars, but this was a solid 3.5 for me. I really liked the first one in this series so had high hopes for this one, but it didn't stand up to others from her. That said, it's still Alice Clayton, so I still enjoyed it - but I just hold her to a ridiculous standard maybe :).
What I Liked:
- Trademark humor. When reading Alice Clayton, you expect to laugh out loud and the hijinks and antics and this is no exception. Between Natalie's conversations with Roxie, plus how much she gets wrong about football, there is a lot of lightness here.
- Natalie and her backstory. Despite the lightness, the author isn't afraid to go a little darker here when it comes to Natalie's past. I teared up when reading about her previous relationship and how it impacted her long term. It really broke my heart. It ultimately got her into a better, more confident place, which I appreciate.
- The FOOD. Like Nuts, the food and setting here is at the center and paints a wonderful world where the characters lived.
What I Didn't Like:
- Oscar. Beyond his physicality, I really didn't see what the fuss was about. There wasn't much to his personality, and so I didn't really get why someone as vivacious and awesome as Natalie was dropping everything to high-tail it up to see him every weekend. And in a book like this, if you don't like the hero, that will take the star count down a few notches.
- The conflict/ending. I won't give too much away, but basically, there's a moment where Oscar acts like a huge douche canoe, which infuriated me since up to that point everything had been on his turf. For those who want to know:
Overall:
I liked more than I disliked, but because the things I had issues with were bigger contributors to the book, that's why it gets the 3.5 from me. It's still Alice Clayton, though. She's just so awesome that I expect the sun, moon and stars from her, so am disappointed when I only get two out of the three.
What I Liked:
- Trademark humor. When reading Alice Clayton, you expect to laugh out loud and the hijinks and antics and this is no exception. Between Natalie's conversations with Roxie, plus how much she gets wrong about football, there is a lot of lightness here.
- Natalie and her backstory. Despite the lightness, the author isn't afraid to go a little darker here when it comes to Natalie's past. I teared up when reading about her previous relationship and how it impacted her long term. It really broke my heart. It ultimately got her into a better, more confident place, which I appreciate.
- The FOOD. Like Nuts, the food and setting here is at the center and paints a wonderful world where the characters lived.
What I Didn't Like:
- Oscar. Beyond his physicality, I really didn't see what the fuss was about. There wasn't much to his personality, and so I didn't really get why someone as vivacious and awesome as Natalie was dropping everything to high-tail it up to see him every weekend. And in a book like this, if you don't like the hero, that will take the star count down a few notches.
- The conflict/ending. I won't give too much away, but basically, there's a moment where Oscar acts like a huge douche canoe, which infuriated me since up to that point everything had been on his turf. For those who want to know:
Spoiler
I had a major issue with how Oscar acted at her mom's gallery. After Natalie made a real effort, spending time and energy in his world, learning to make cheese, moving things around to make events, the fact that Oscar couldn't at least try to show up for Natalie at the event pissed me off. If this was something that the characters addressed later, I would have felt better about it, but in the "apology" it was never discussed with that lens.Overall:
I liked more than I disliked, but because the things I had issues with were bigger contributors to the book, that's why it gets the 3.5 from me. It's still Alice Clayton, though. She's just so awesome that I expect the sun, moon and stars from her, so am disappointed when I only get two out of the three.
cmdc325's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this story. I like that Natalie was a strong and confident woman. And oh my, Oscar... I feel that we all need an Oscar in our lives. I do think that some parts at the end were annoying, but I think they were necessary. I am looking forward to seeing them come up in the new book.