Take a second trip down the Hudson River Line and return to Bailey Falls, this time to see what the local dairy farmer and his cows have to offer a girl who is New York City through and through in Alice Clayton’s “Cream of the Crop.”
If you found yourself falling for Bailey Falls and the kind-hearted folk that populate it in Nuts, you will love the town and its inhabitants all the more in Cream of the Crop. In addition to getting to know Natalie and Oscar, you’ll see more of Leo, Roxie, Polly, Chad, Logan, and all the rest. There’s a lot to love in Cream of the Crop, and I think you’ll be hard pressed to put this one down for even a second.
About ‘Cream of the Crop’
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?
‘Cream of the Crop’ review
There are few things in life more enjoyable than a new Alice Clayton novel. After finishing Nuts last fall, I immediately found myself searching for the release date of the next book in this series. Leo and Roxie were the perfect duo to kick off the Hudson Valley series, and it only made me that much more excited to get to the books following it. Enter Oscar Mendoza. Oscar the grouchy dairy farmer oozed potential from his first moments on the page in Nuts, and after learning just how completely he could fluster the unshakeable Natalie Grayson, I just knew this pair was meant to be.
While I’m not sure Natalie and Oscar manage to unseat Leo and Roxie’s place in my heart, they are a completely lovable pair. The lengths Natalie Grayson goes to avoid having to confront Oscar in the beginning of this novel are downright hilarious. We’ll avoid spoiling as best we can, but we’ll just say two words: stampeding cows. Are you hooked yet? Give Oscar and Natalie a few chapters, and they’ll have you eating out of the palms of their hands. Natalie’s charisma and Oscar’s endearing perma-brood are downright irresistible.
I have not met an Alice Clayton book yet that hasn’t had me giggling incoherently. The only ones I haven’t enjoyed are the ones I haven’t read yet. Her books are populated with some of the most approachable and identifiable characters around, but with backgrounds and experiences that keep them from falling into tropes or stereotypes you’ve read a million times before.
I found Natalie particularly captivating because of her attitude about her size. As a size 18 woman, Natalie has learned that her size is not a hurdle she needs to clear in order to be attractive to the opposite sex. She knows that being confident about her curves and her great… big ass will have a far bigger effect on her experiences with men than trying to fit into the meek, small role carved out for Manhattan women that she most definitely doesn’t adhere to. It’s rare to read books about completely confident, bigger women. It’s not the norm for size to be a non-factor, but it absolutely is in Cream of the Crop. Natalie’s size is not a factor in her job, in her friendships, in her sex life, or in her connection to Oscar. She’s an attractive woman who isn’t afraid to flaunt what she’s got. There are so many things we can learn from Natalie Grayson.
I think every woman should read an Alice book. Her heroines are always smart, determined women that have specific weaknesses they must overcome in order to live their lives to the fullest. They all have insecurities or shortcomings that have held them back, but they always find a way to overcome them. Natalie brought something new to the table with her outlook on her size, but she joins a long line of ladies that I find myself loving more and more every time I pull an Alice Clayton book off the shelf.
Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton is available now. Add it on Goodreads or get your copy from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or find one at your local indie bookstore via Indiebound.
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