CATEGORIES: Alice Clayton, Excerpt, Exclusive, Romantic Comedy, Standalone Story in Series
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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.


EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: Buns

Alice Clayton

AVAILABLE NOW

Book Series: 

Gosh, I can’t tell you HOW MUCH I loved this book!! The sexual tension between the two leads is off the charts, making this quite possibly the hottest instalment in the series. And just like always, Alice Clayton gives us two characters whose personal complexities are smoothly interwoven into a story that titillates, delights, and even makes us laugh out loud on occasion. Enjoy an exclusive sneak peek…

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Excerpt

I tugged at my leather jacket, trying to flap a little breeze in. “Then why exactly are we down here? Why exactly did you run away in the middle of a conversation?” He looked at me incredulously just as a loud knocking began ringing out from the furnace on my right. And the furnace on my left started to spew an enormous jet of steam, filling the already hazy air with an even bigger cloud.

“You were saying?” I asked, smirking more than a little bit.

He stepped closer, ducking underneath a pipe, tugging at his tie as came. “Oh, you’re an expert in heating systems now? When did hotel management school cover that?”

I could feel a trickle of sweat running down my chest and I gave up trying to flap breeze and just tore off my jacket. “I literally know nothing about heating and cooling, other than when I turn on my AC in the summertime I don’t want to hear a groaning unit. What I do know is your bottom line, and I know the amount annually spent on utilities is staggering.”

“I have a huge hotel,” he countered, taking off his own jacket and grabbing a giant wrench.

“That I’m sure is sealed up nice and tight for the winter,” I replied, ducking under a pipe and stepping right in front of him. “You want me to tell you about the draft in my room last night? My bed was freezing! First I thought it was from the balcony, then I thought it was coming under the door from the hallway outside. Turns out it was from both. It was like a freaking wind tunnel.”

“I am sorry, Ms. Morgan, that your bed was so cold last night.”

“Says the guy bragging about his huge hotel.”

We stared at each other, locked in a silent battle of wills. Archie’s glasses were beginning to fog over, yet there we stood, toe-to-toe. We breathed in at the same time, and I could see his pulse beat just below his jawline beneath the barest hint of five-o’clock shadow. We were both worked up, angry, annoyed. Then he licked his lips. Just the tip of his tongue flickered out, catching the tiniest bead of sweat. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re incredibly rude?”

“Everyone who’s ever hired me.”

“And you’re proud of this track record?”

“Every one of them is now a sterling reference. I can give you their contact info whenever you like.”

He shook his head, turned away, and set to work with the wrench, turning down the thingamabob, throwing his entire body into it. He grunted at one point, and because of the steam I could see the muscles in his back straining through his white shirt. I took a step closer, just the one, to watch as he struggled with the whatsamahoozit.

“Almost . . . got it . . . there!” he cried, turning around triumphantly in a final burst of steam and whistle to find me standing much closer than I had been only a moment before.

Surprised it was over so fast, and totally caught staring, I mustered up a “Bravo, Mr. Bryant,” and then internally slapped myself for sounding so Happy Birthday, Mr. President when I said it.

He smirked. I scowled.

Asshole.

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Hudson Valley - Recommended Reading Order

(standalone stories with interconnected characters)

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169 Comments Hide Comments

I am such a HUGE FANGIRL of Alice! Her books always give me that floaty happy feeling, because they’re sweet and fun. The excerpt had me LOLing, and extremely excited for this release! Thank you for the chance. ❤️

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Love this series. I can’t wait to read Buns, I even had the hubby looking in the book store last Thursday to see if it was out early.

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I’m so late to start this series, but I loved Alice Clayton’s writing and humour in the Redhead and the Cocktail series :D
Thanks for the chance to win and finally read the books :D

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One of my favorite series. So excited for this book. Alice’s books are ones I reread all the time. Love them!

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I have been grabbing these as they come out. Love the humor in this series (and all her books!!)

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I Love Alice’s books!! so I’m always excited to read her stories!!! Thanks for the chance!

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I fell in love with Alice Clayton’s writing after reading Wallbanger, and I’ve been a loyal reader ever since. Her books are clever, funny & sexy. What’s not to like!?!

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I only read the first book and I loved it! I need to quickly read the second one before the 3rd is out.
Thank you for this giveaway!!

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I can’t wait to read this, because Alice writes some of the most laugh out loud moments in her books! She knows how to mix the right amount of sweet, funny and sexy!

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Would love to read the series, Alice is so funny! I read the Redhead series and liked it, but that’s been a while. Thanks for the chance. :)

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I have only read one book by this author and I liked it. I would love to read this series. Thank you for the opportunity.

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Love Alice Clayton’s books – she’s a guaranteed winner for me! :) This series sounds great!

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I loved Nuts and am excited to read the rest of this series. On top of that Alice is a total sweetheart.

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I absolutely love Alice Clayton books! I have read them all! Can’t wait to read BUNS! Thank you so much for the opportunity! Holding her books in my hands would be a dream come true (I have all her books on my Kindle)!

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Awesome giveaway ? Alice Clayton is an awesome storyteller ?? Love her books ? Loved the first two books of the series ?? Can’t wait to read Buns ? Thank you for the chance ?

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pressed enter too quickly lol, I love this series, Alice Clayton writes the best characters when you are after a witty read. She makes me want to move to Bailey Falls

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I freaking love this series, and would do a happy dance if I won them signed. I can’t wait to read Buns!

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I love Alice’s stories, they are always amazing. This series is even more exciting because you have hot and sexy sustainable farmers in the books. ?

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Honestly, I have never read any of Alice Clayton’s books. I would love to win a copy to get my feet wet with this author that sounds AMAZING! :) Thank you for the chance!

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Heard lots of good stuff about this series but haven’t had the chance to try it. Thanks for the amazing giveaway!

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I love ALL things Alice Clayton! My favorite by far is the Wallbanger Series, of which I have finally completed my set. I’m just starting to get into her Redhead Series as well. I haven’t had a chance to read this latest series, but I will and with great gusto! Thanks for the chance & good luck to all <3

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I love Alice’s books :D Whenever I see the cover for this book, I start singing “my buns, my buns, my lovely lady buns, check it out…” :P

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Love Alice Clayton!!! Read the Redhead series and just read NUTS. Can’t wait to read the rest in this series!

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I’ve not read this series but I have read other books by Alice. She has great sexual energy between her main characters…so well written!

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I’m so freaking excited for Buns! I’m sad it’s last in the series… or maybe not? Let’s hope so ;)

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SQUEEE!!! I can’t wait to read this book! I’m beyond excited! Thank you for this opportunity.

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Great excerpt!!!! I haven’t started this series yet. It sounds amazing, thank you for the chance.

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I’ve loved Ms. Clayton’s work since I read Wallbanger and immediately moved on to the Redhead series and then later back to the additional cocktails stories. This Hudson Valley series has a unique take on romance and I always burst out laughing. Can’t wait to read the latest!

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I love, love, love Alice Clayton’s books! I have two of these books on my Kindle and am looking forward to book three!

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First book I read by this author was “Wallbanger”. Love her stories and I’m looking forward to reading this latest book!

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