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A review by sjhastoomanybooks
Buns, Volume 3 by Alice Clayton
5.0
The Hudson Valley series for me has been a bit of a mixed bag. I enjoyed [b:Nuts|25056208|Nuts (Hudson Valley, #1)|Alice Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445239638s/25056208.jpg|44737717], but didn't really feel [b:Cream of the Crop|25056216|Cream of the Crop (Hudson Valley, #2)|Alice Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1457375305s/25056216.jpg|44737722] as much. Buns is by far the best of the three and might even be my favorite Alice Clayton since [b:Wallbanger|15858248|Wallbanger (Cocktail, #1)|Alice Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1352205960s/15858248.jpg|21607771] (I KNOW, right?!).
What I Liked:
- A REAL HERO. I don't mind single POV romance, but at times it makes the character development a little thin on one side. In this case, I really got a sense of who Archie was and all his quirks. This is what was lacking for me in Natalie's story, but it wasn't even remotely an issue here.
- Trademark humor, but also feels. It isn't Alice Clayton without literal laugh out loud moments and absolutely great banter, but what disarmed me about this one is how much heart there is too. Clara's backstory is so impactful on who she is now and there were definitely moments I teared up over the the emotional struggle she went through.
- The setting. Like the food in [b:Nuts|25056208|Nuts (Hudson Valley, #1)|Alice Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445239638s/25056208.jpg|44737717] and overall world in [b:Roman Crazy|27276297|Roman Crazy|Alice Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450114434s/27276297.jpg|45794049], Alice knows how to immerse you into whatever world she's creating. This was no exception. The hotel setting and world she created in this book was so vibrant and clear, and I had no trouble picturing this world. As I often say: "I want to go to there."
What I Didn't Like:
- More running. This is totally arbitrary and I'm clearly grasping at straws to find something I didn't like, but as a runner, I loved that Clara was a runner and would just love even more running. Also, minor quibble, just that if she runs as many marathons and triathlons as she says, we never really see her biking/swimming and I would have loved to been with her on a long run. Again, doesn't effect the star rating, but just my preference.
Bottom Line:
My favorite Alice Clayton in a LOOOOONG time has charm, depth and heart. I stayed up way too late just to finish it, my telltale sign of a five-star read.
What I Liked:
- A REAL HERO. I don't mind single POV romance, but at times it makes the character development a little thin on one side. In this case, I really got a sense of who Archie was and all his quirks. This is what was lacking for me in Natalie's story, but it wasn't even remotely an issue here.
- Trademark humor, but also feels. It isn't Alice Clayton without literal laugh out loud moments and absolutely great banter, but what disarmed me about this one is how much heart there is too. Clara's backstory is so impactful on who she is now and there were definitely moments I teared up over the the emotional struggle she went through.
- The setting. Like the food in [b:Nuts|25056208|Nuts (Hudson Valley, #1)|Alice Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1445239638s/25056208.jpg|44737717] and overall world in [b:Roman Crazy|27276297|Roman Crazy|Alice Clayton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1450114434s/27276297.jpg|45794049], Alice knows how to immerse you into whatever world she's creating. This was no exception. The hotel setting and world she created in this book was so vibrant and clear, and I had no trouble picturing this world. As I often say: "I want to go to there."
What I Didn't Like:
- More running. This is totally arbitrary and I'm clearly grasping at straws to find something I didn't like, but as a runner, I loved that Clara was a runner and would just love even more running. Also, minor quibble, just that if she runs as many marathons and triathlons as she says, we never really see her biking/swimming
Spoiler
except at the endBottom Line:
My favorite Alice Clayton in a LOOOOONG time has charm, depth and heart. I stayed up way too late just to finish it, my telltale sign of a five-star read.