Jacqueline's Reads: Buns (Hudson Valley #3) by 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.

4 Hot Hot Hot Buns Stars
Buns is a standalone and is part of the Hudson Valley series. Man, I really wish the cover had Archie’s face because nothing is sexier than a man in glasses, especially tortoise shell ones. Heart Eyes and all.

Buns is a bit different from the other books because this one is set up in a hotel. I really liked the new change of scenery. Clara goes to different jobs across the states to give businesses a face lift. She puts companies back in the positive again. Her newest job is a hotel, a hotel Archie will inherit one day and is currently running.

I adore Archie, everything about him. I love his name, I love his glasses and I love his stiff personality. I found him very readable and he brought something different to the book. Clara was a tough cookie. She is very strong and VERY independent. At times I wanted to shake her because she is all about doing things on her own and proving herself.

I really enjoyed the storyline in Buns. I found it cute that Clara was hired to help Archie’s hotel. I loved that they interacted daily and had these cute little “fights” over the littlest things. It brought some nice tension between the two.

If you are a fan of the series, you will not be disappointed because the characters from the previous books do make an appearance.