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2017 Besties

What a year 2017 has been! It was an amazing year in my book life and my real life! I’m so grateful to all of the authors who filled my days (and lets be honest mostly my nights) with incredible stories and fabulous characters! And, I’m thankful to my book friends who share new authors, rave about great stories and talk with me about fictional people as though they were real. What an incredible community to be a part of, thank you for your love of books and authors and for following BFF Book Blog! Without further ado, I present my 2017 Besties…..

#1 Dating-ish by Penny Reid

Unique, thought-provoking, fun!

#2 Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

This should be required reading for all humans.

#3 Cake: A Love Story Series by J. Bengtsson

This is a fantastic series from a terrific new author!

#4 Royally Matched by Emma Chase

This story has everything I look for in a romance, it’s perfection!

#5 The Year of Amy Daws

In 2017, I read and/or listened to almost every book that Amy Daws has written and she rocketed to the top of my must-read author list! Her Harris Brothers series is Sports Romance Gold and her London Lovers series was a primer for my trip to London in March. I love following her on Facebook, she’s fun and funny and her books always deliver the heart and the humor that I love. Devouring her stories was a highlight to my 2017!

#6 Devil’s Cut by J.R. Ward

This book was the whipped cream and cherry on top of the Bourbon Kings Sundae and it was the perfect way to finish my beloved series. I’m holding out hopes for the TV Series!

#7 The Difference Between Us by Rachel Higginson

I haven’t had a chance to write my reviews for this series yet, but I adored this book. It was sweet and funny, angsty and smart. The heroine experiences sexual harassment in the workplace and the timing of the story and current events was impeccable!

#8 Defiant Queen by Meghan March

The Mount Trilogy is absolutely stunning. It’s full of twists and turns and all kinds of awesomeness. Book #2, Defiant Queen was my favorite in the trilogy. It’s full of great settings, terrific characters and tons of action. This whole series is a must-read!

#9 Wild For You by Daisy Prescott

Daisy Prescott always delivers solid stories and engaging characters, but Wild For You is exceptional! It’s emotional and heart-warming! I think it’s one of 2017’s hidden gems!

#10 Egomaniac by Vi Keeland

This is one of my most recommended books in 2017! It’s fun and funny and a tiny bit tear-jerking!

That’s the Top 10, but it doesn’t feel quite complete, so I present the…..

2017 Besties Honorable Mention List

Buns by Alice Clayton

Champagne and Forever by Andrea Johnston

Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne

Hooking Up by Helena Hunting

King of Code by CD Reiss

The Contract by Melanie Moorland

Glitterland by Alexis Hall

The Player and The Catch by K Bromberg

Secondborn by Amy A. Bartol

Barreled Over by Jenna Sutton

Show Me the Way by A.L. Jackson

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There have been lots of changes for the BFF Book Blog and I’m sure there will be more to come next year. Thank you for following the BFF Book Blog. Book Friends really are the Best Friends! I look forward to highlighting more amazing books in the coming year and here’s a sneak peak at what’s coming next year!

What I’m most looking forward to in 2018

The Matchmaker’s Playbook movie on PassionFlix (Rachel VanDyken cracks me up!)

More awesomeness from Meghan March

A new kind of story from Daisy Prescott

Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin on the big screen

Review – Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci

We’re so thrilled to bring you BFF K’s Review of Roman Crazy by Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci! You’re gonna LOVE this book!

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy—away from home and licking her wounds…and perhaps a gelato or two. But when Daisy, an American expat now living in Rome, throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop. She falls, quite literally, at the feet of a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello is a man from her past—the man, the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and the life she once had and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious.

And so is Marcello…

Avery slips easily into the good life that is summertime in Rome. She spends her days exploring a city that would make art historians swoon, and her nights swooning over a whirlwind what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could it really be her life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twinset cardigans and crustless sandwiches?

Buy Roman Crazy Today

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BFF K’s Review of Roman Crazy

This is a dream team! Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci have paired up to deliver an absolutely wonderful, heart-warming, sweet and steamy story of second-chance love. And you need to read it!

The first chapter is so fantastic; this story bursts out of the gates and introduces you to Avery, the fantastic heroine. Her soon-to-be ex-husband and his mother are something else! When her world turns upside down, Avery escapes to Rome and the comfort of her best friend, Daisy. It takes just hours for Avery to get knocked on her a$% (literally) by the one man she thought she would never see again. Enter Marcello, one of my favorite Book Boyfriends of 2016! He’s everything you hope for: a strong, sweet, seductive, hunky hero. And, you’ll find yourself falling just as quickly as Avery.

Roman Crazy is a wild ride of ups and downs as Marcello and Avery rediscover one another, put their past in its place and determine if and how they can move forward together. The book is chock-full of wonderful supporting characters. The sites, sounds and tastes of Rome are so beautifully described that the city becomes another character in this already superb cast. Roman Crazy is full of romance, friendships and self-discovery. Second-chance love is one of my most favorite Romance tropes and Roman Crazy is one of the best!

An advance copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway

This amazing giveaway is courtesy of Gallery books. Gallery is graciously giving away three print books to one lucky winner. (US only. Sorry!) It’s ROMAN CRAZY, NOTHING MORE from Anna Todd and BEAUTIFUL from Christina Lauren!

To enter, comment below and tell us your dream destination for a romantic adventure.

You have from now through September 27 to post a comment on this blog post. The winner will be chosen at random and have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be selected.

About the Authors

Alice Clayton worked in the cosmetics industry for over a decade before picking up a pen (read: laptop). She enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up, and finally convinced her long-time boyfriend to marry her. And she finally got her Bernese Mountain Dog.

AliceClayton.com | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Nina Bocci is a novelist, publicist, eternal optimist, unabashed lipgloss enthusiast, constant apologist, and a hopeless romanticist. She has too many college degrees that she’s not using and a Lego addiction that she blames on her son.

NinaBocci.com | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GALLERY BOOKS is an imprint dedicated to publishing a variety of must-read books on a wide array of topics. Launched in February 2010, Gallery is designed to showcase established voices and to introduce emerging new ones—in both fiction and nonfiction genres. Some of Gallery Books’ bestselling titles include Still Alice by Lisa Genova, Gunn’s Golden Rules by Tim Gunn, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren, Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill, and The Tucci Cookbook by Stanley Tucci.

Simon & Schuster, a part of the CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

Review – Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

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?

BFF K’s Review of Cream of the Crop

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I want a hot farmer and so will you as you read through the Hudson Valley Series! Alice Clayton delivers an absolutely delicious treat with her story of Oscar the Dairy-Man and Natalie the ad-(wo)man.

Oscar is a man of few words, but it’s easy to see that there is a depth of character beneath his gruff and gorgeous exterior. Natalie is one of the best heroines that I have read in quite awhile. Natalie is a ‘bigger girl.’ But, her size doesn’t come-off as token or pandering. She is a beautiful, successful and confident woman; and she owns both her curves and her cleverness in a way that leaves no apologies. It is such a refreshing approach and completely endearing.

On paper, Oscar and Natalie may not seem to be a perfect fit. But, they find a way to be perfect for each other. There are times when you will want to shake them both because they can’t seem to get out of their own way. But those frustrations make way for reasonable plot lines, sultry resolutions and plenty of LOL moments. Cream of the Crop is a well-crafted story that is whipped and sweetened to perfection! I’m already looking forward to my next visit to the Hudson Valley!

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This book was reviewed in both Kindle and Audio formats and both are excellent!

Read BFF K’s “That’s What She Said” Exclusive Interview with Alice Clayton

Amazon Kindle Preview of Cream of the Crop

And, don’t forget about Nuts, Book #1 in the Hudson Valley series!

About the Author

New York Times Best Selling author ALICE CLAYTON worked in the cosmetics industry for over a decade before picking up a pen (read: laptop).

She enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up, and has finally convinced her long-time boyfriend to marry her.

Now, about that Bernese Mountain dog.

People Magazine says of Alice: “Clayton is a master at balancing heart, humor and plenty of action between the sheets.” 11/24/14 issue

That’s What She Said – EXCLUSIVE Interview with Alice Clayton

The BFF’s are so excited for today’s release of Cream of the Crop, book 2 in the Hudson Valley Series by Alice Clayton. AND, today we bring you an EXCLUSIVE Interview with Clayton in the newest edition of “That’s What She Said!” BFF K’s review coming very soon!

But first, here’s a little info on Cream of the Crop

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!

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

And, don’t forget about Nuts, Book #1 in the Hudson Valley series!

That’s What She Said

I was thrilled with the opportunity to interview Alice Clayton….I mean really! Alice Freaking Clayton answered my questions about one of her books…Pinch me now! I have enjoyed so many of her incredible stories including the Wallbanger series and Nuts, Book 1 in the new Hudson Valley Series. I hope you enjoy the interview below.

BFF K: I want to talk mostly about NUTS! I listened to Roxie and Leo’s story on audio and loved absolutely every second of it! Let’s dish (see what I did there?) about NUTS and the Hudson Valley Series.

Farmers are the new It Boy in the Hudson Valley series and I have to agree completely! What inspired the Hudson Valley series and these smoking hot FARMERS?

Alice Clayton: I LOVE a farmer. Oh my goodness do I love a farmer. I got the ideas for this series out of the blue one day when Mr. Alice and I were visiting our local farmers market. There was a new farmer one day, and sweet Christ was he hot. Hudson Valley series was born!

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BFF K: You write about farming in great detail. (My hubby is an agronomist; I completely followed your terminology!) Are you familiar with agriculture or did you have to do extensive research on farming and farming practices?

Alice Clayton: I definitely did my research, particularly into the world of CSA’s and how easy it now is to support your local producers. I’ve been trying to eat locally as often as I can for several years now, and I’m so happy to see how many people now are enjoying and eating local.

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BFF K: California Roxie has to reconcile herself with Bailey Falls Roxie. I LOVE the way that Chad Bowman helped her to discover a new side of herself that was ok in Bailey Falls. I also LOVED Chad’s husband Logan. I really don’t know that I have a question about this….It was just one of my favorite parts of the book! What else can you tell me about Roxie’s transformation and the roll Chad and Logan play in that experience?

Alice Clayton: I loved the idea of going back home to your small town, and finding out that the biggest crush you had back in school is still as handsome and gorgeous and sweet and kind as ever, but that the quarterback has a husband! I see Chad and Logan as kind of the town criers, the greek chorus in these stories, just inserting themselves into the narrative enough to push these girls along. You’ll be so glad to know they are all over CREAM OF THE CROP as well.

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BFF K: I know that Nuts and Cream of the Crop are both standalones, but will we be seeing Leo and Roxie in this next book?

Alice Clayton: YES! The gang is all back together again.

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BFF K: The Achtung Baby album played a big role in Roxie’s childhood and her relationship with Leo. Do you personally love that album? What other albums do you love? Will music play a role in Oscar’s story too?

Alice Clayton: U2 is hands down my favorite band in the world. I love them more than words can say. And that was the first time I ever saw them live, the ZooTV tour. That album is incredibly important to me, especially Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World.

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BFF K: Oscar is our next It-Boy Farmer. Can you give us a sneak peak into who comes after Oscar?

Alice Clayton: It’s all Archie Bryant…

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Rapid Fire

Eric Ripert or Anthony Bourdain? Both at the same time

Farmer or Chef? Farmer

Amazing Race or Survivor? Amazing Race

Dukes of Hazzard or Little House on the Prairie? Little House

Cake or Pie? Pie

Bono or R.E.M.? U2

Small Town Diner or Exclusive Restaurant? Diner

Manhattan or Los Angeles? Manhattan

Sugar Snaps or Melt-In-Your-Mouth Brie? Brie

Ice Cream or Whipped Cream? Whipped Cream

BFF K: Thank you so much to Alice Clayton for taking the time to answer my questions about the Hudson Valley series and playing our silly rapid fire game! We adore your fabulous books and can’t wait for everyone to get a peek at the newest hot farmer in the Hudson Valley!

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