You Had Me at Merlot by Melissa Brayden

on

The details…

  • Title ‏ : ‎ You Had Me at Merlot
  • Author ‏ : ‎ Melissa Brayden 
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bold Strokes Books 
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 13, 2024
  • Available formats ‏ : ‎ ebook, paperback, audiobook 
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1291 KB
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • Audiobook listening length : 10 hours and 37 minutes (Narrator: Lula Larkin)
  • Genre ‏ : ‎ contemporary romance 
  • Trope ‏ : ‎ second chances
  • Themes ‏ : ‎ love, family relationships, long-time friendships, ex lovers, small businesses, community, grief, finding love, women loving women, taking risks, self-growth, trust, rebuilding relationships

The blurb from the publisher…

What do you get when you combine a sweet cinnamon twist and robust Italian wine? Bestselling author Melissa Brayden’s You Had Me at Merlot, the perfect blend of sugar and spice.

Bordeauxnuts is New York City magic, and it all belongs to Jamie Tolliver. A charming coffee and doughnut spot by day, Bordeauxnuts transforms with a sprinkle of powdered sugar into a cozy sophisticated wine bar each evening. Jamie’s enjoying a blueberry latte with her quirky band of regulars when a stunning and enigmatic stranger saunters in, flips her laptop open, and Jamie’s world upside down. Each time Jamie speaks to Leighton Morrow, her crush multiplies. She’s drawn to Leighton’s captivating presence, her kindness, and the faint lip print she leaves on her cup that winds a tingle up Jamie’s spine.

But sexy spine tingles can be deceiving.

Leighton Morrow didn’t set out to ruin anyone’s life, but she has a job to do. As a development coordinator for Carrington’s Department Store, Leighton’s part of the team that plans to take over the city block for the new location, including demolishing her new favorite café, Bordeauxnuts. A shame, but that’s life. She’ll miss the apple fritters and the cute owner. But work is a No Feelings Zone and she definitely cannot give in to the ones she has percolating for Jamie. Leighton and Jamie have all the ingredients to turn their attraction into love, but it’s a recipe for disaster.

My thoughts…

Melissa Brayden has written 25 full-length novels since she started writing in 2011. Her first book, Waiting in the Wings, is still one of my all-time favorites. In recent years, she’s been producing two to three books each year; that’s quite a pace for an author! I’ve been on ARC teams and proofread for authors for several years now and I understand the time it takes to develop quality storytelling. It’s a tedious process. Yet amazingly, Brayden shoulders through the writing regimen like a champ and churns out one best seller after another. (As I write this, You Had Me at Merlot sits at number one in new releases—impressive!)

So, how does she do it? Obviously, she’s very disciplined and structured in her work ethic. However, that doesn’t fully explain the orange best seller banners on Amazon. The answer to that resides in talent, pure and simple. She’s a natural storyteller; it’s probably baked into her genes. On top of that, she understands what readers want in a romance—to experience the thrill and joy of falling in love. So, she gives them heroines that are relatable; women that are smart, capable, and attractive. Then, she lets readers feel the thrill of capturing another woman’s heart, a journey that is filled with desire and consequence. Hearts get bruised and broken along the way, but readers can always count on Brayden to mend them before they turn the last page.

In You Had Me at Merlot, she has quite a bit of mending to do as hearts really get squeezed. Readers feel their pain as the two take a slow and bumpy ride back to a second-chance. The road is long and readers may want to tug their hair out at times, but the journey is worth it. Each step is emotionally charged, complex and heartfelt, making You Had Me at Merlot a compelling read.

Jamie and Leighton are vintage Brayden characters in that they tick all the boxes. They have: 1) distinct and unique personalities 2) interesting, solid relationships with other characters (be prepared to be delighted by several of Brayden’s backlist characters making their way into the script), 3) compelling, dynamic backstories, 4) realistic goals and motivations, and 5) transformative change. More than all of that though, they are extremely likable. They worm their way into readers’ hearts quickly and make a nice home there. These are women that people are drawn to in real life, flaws and all.

Another thing that makes You Had Me at Merlot a standout is the supporting characters. Brayden has always excelled at creating interesting, unique supporting casts, but this one might be the most memorable. Not only does she use them to develop Jamie and Leighton character arcs, they help provide subplots, solidify themes, and even offer comic relief. These characters serve as love interests, friends and family members who create the side dishes for the main course, the romance. In general, they just make the story more interesting; they aren’t just background chatter. They are fully realized individuals with their own personalities, dovetailing seamlessly into the plot and not overshadowing it. The story is richer because of them, making it a more dynamic read in the end.

Final remarks…

You Had Me at Merlot is filled with fun, flirty banter and cute moments. Beware: this is a journey, though. It takes a minute for the girl to get the girl. However, that’s what I appreciated about it; it gave Jamie and Leighton time to fully develop, paving the road for a more believable romance in the end. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys honest, vulnerably told, second-chance romances. It’s absolutely worth the read.

Strengths…

  • Engaging storyline 
  • Enjoyable, well-crafted narrative 
  • Lovely, well-developed characters
  • Fantastic secondary characters
  • Cleverly planted “Easter Eggs”
  • Heartfelt and emotionally sincere dialogue 

This book is available from…

A bit about the author…

Melissa Brayden is a multi-award-winning romance author, embracing the full-time writer’s life in San Antonio, Texas, and enjoying every minute of it. 

Melissa is married and working really hard at remembering to do the dishes. For personal enjoyment, she spends time with her Jack Russell terriers and checks out the NYC theater scene as often as possible. She considers herself a reluctant patron of spin class, but would much rather be sipping merlot and staring off into space. Bring her coffee, wine, or doughnuts and you’ll have a friend for life. 

Interested in knowing more? Click on the links below.

Comments

Post a Comment