Review — Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

Cream of the Crop Series: The Hudson Valley #2
Also in this series: Nuts, Buns
on July 12, 2016
Pages: 384


Goodreads

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton brings her trademark blend of funny and sexy to this second contemporary romance in the brand-new Hudson Valley series!

Manhattan’s It Girl, Natalie Grayson, has it all: she’s a hot exec at a leading advertising firm, known industry-wide for her challenging and edgy campaigns. She’s got a large circle of friends, a family that loves her dearly, and her dance card is always full with handsome eligible bachelors. What else could a modern gal-about-town wish for? The answer, of course, is...cheese.

Natalie’s favorite part of each week is spending Saturday morning at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, where she indulges her love of all things triple cream. Her favorite booth also indulges her love of all things handsome. Oscar Mendoza, owner of the Bailey Falls Creamery and purveyor of the finest artisanal cheeses the Hudson Valley has to offer, is tall, dark, mysterious, and a bit oblivious. Or so she thinks. But that doesn’t stop Natalie from fantasizing about the size of his, ahem, milk can.

Romance is churning, passion is burning, and something incredible is rising to the top. Could it be...love?

I was provided a review copy; this did not influence my opinion of the book.

❝The Hudson Valley. Where the food is pretty, and so are the farmers.❞

 

I have a perma-smile, sore stomach muscles, and a warm heart.

My favorite female character in a long time, Natalie is a kick ass heroine. Funny as hell, she takes no prisoners and is wonderfully strong. She knows who she is, what she wants and despite her insecurities and past, she is going to get it! Natalie is my book soul-mate! My bff! I adored her!

❝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 man paid attention to them.
Fuck all that noise. I took the best-looking guy home with me whenever and however I pleased.❞

Clayton tackled our perception of body image with Cream of the Crop. Enforcing the knowledge that size doesn’t matter.

My only criticism, I wanted Oscars POV. Gah, I wanted to “hear” him, know him, what he was thinking and feeling. I needed Oscar! I think the lack of connection to him was due to his character being naturally closed off and not talkative. So having his POV would have helped.

❝…this guy was like…hmm. Cross a bad boy with a supermodel, add a dash of linebacker with a big scoop of Polynesian love, and you might, just might, have an appreciation for the wet dream across the market from me.❞

We first met them both in ‘Nuts’. Oscar is the owner of the Bailey Falls Creamery who brings his handcrafted cheeses to the farmers market in New York where Natalie lives. Every weekend, Natalie finds herself at that market, at his stall and unable to form complex sentences.

❝Brie?❞

❝Oh, yes.❞

When the small town of Bailey Falls comes calling the big city marketing firm where Natalie works, asking for help bringing in tourists, Natalie jumps at the opportunity. Not only would she see her best friend Roxie, but she hoped to get to see one, sexy dairy farmer.

These two were complete opposites, “he was commanding, forceful, short on words but long on brooding, and the furthest thing from a natural-born salesman.” Natalie was loud, boisterous, talkative, and absolutely hilarious. She was a flame and people were drawn to her. Not only did these opposites attract, but when Natalie and Oscar were together, their chemistry was off-the-charts-hot!

I loved ‘Cream of the Crop’! It was a sweet, funny, and tender love story.

Related Posts