It's been awhile since I've read anything by Alice Clayton, but I remember Wallbanger quite fondly, and with the overtly funny and sexy cover I just couldn't resist giving this one a shot. 
 I haven't read the first book in this series (Nuts) but trust me when I say that if you missed the first one, like me, you won't feel lost reading this story. 
 Cream of the Crop is Natalie Grayson's story, as she is our spunky narrator. I immediately took to Natalie's brazen confidence with herself. We learn that this was hard won, but once achieved, she ran with it. It's great reading about characters like Natalie. 
 Of course, I can't forget, the very delectable Oscar Mendoza owner of Bailey Falls Creamery nad purveyor of Natalie's favorite cheese. Natalie has been eyeing Oscar up at the weekly farmers' market, but the chemistry is off the charts for these two at a chance encounter during a visit by Natalie to Bailey Falls. 
 Reading this, I realized how common I think it's become for authors to feature both the hero / heroine's points of view in stories - or at least it's common in the stories I've been reading lately. I was a tad bit disappointed that we didn't get any scenes told from Oscar's viewpoint (except, I'll amend, the Epilogue, which I loved). He was, as Natalie liked to point out, a man of few words, so when he does talk you want to listen (or read his dialogue as the case may be). I supposed having his own thoughts on paper would probably break a little of the mystery, or something. 
 Don't get me wrong, I loved Natalie. She's spunky and says, usually, the first thing that pops into her brain which made for quite a few wide-eyed re-read passages because I would be caught just as off guard by some of the things that came out of her mouth as other characters were. It was refreshing though to have this kind of character and Alice Clayton wrote her very well. 
 I loved reading a book that was big on the funny, while still having heart. The setting was wonderful and vivid. I could see the leaves changing on the trees, and feel the crisp air cooling down in fall. I wish this book would have come out a little closer to the changing of the seasons because it really put me in the mood of that time of year, and here we are in the summer with plenty of hot days left before us (at least in the Midwest). 
 I can clearly see where we're going to go with the next book and I'm excited to read it. I'm also looking forward to going back and filling in the spaces with the first book.