I love everything Melissa has written, she has a way with words that really pull you into the story.

Thus said I did find this book a little slow to start, but stay with it I promise you it's so worth it.

Leighton and Jamie meet, they hit it off immediately and there is that mutual attraction, but some thing just never go to plan....can you forgive a lie???
As expected this book has it all, kissing, kissing and more kissing, plus hot hot. MB is the Queen of kisses

Added bonus of catching up with previous characters.

Would I recommend: YES yes,

Good read I liked catching up with other characters from previous books, it's always fun to see how life has been treating them. The character
Leighton was pretty interesting and I liked everything about her, although at times she could be a bit immature and needed some sense shaken into her. The main characters were the highlight of this story and I liked everything about them. The romance between the two was a long and arduous one. This was a slow burn romance for the ages, and that's what made this story really good. And when the main characters finally got together it was very romantic. I would definitely recommend this book too my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

I really enjoyed reading this! I love the concept of a coffee shop slash wine bar. The characters were interesting and the romance was fun. I think this would make a fantastic movie!

This novel is set in the backdrop of NYC with the owner of coffee shop/wine bar. The setting was so well described that I felt immersed in the story from the very first page. I initially picked up this book because of the LGBTQ representation, which is something I love to see in books I choose to read, especially when it's well done. I think the author captured the nuances of a queer relationship in a warm and genuine way. I felt that some of the point of view switches felt disjointed throughout the novel, and I found the prose surrounding the characters to be very forward lacking a certain depth. The character dynamics were quite charming, and it was overall a fun read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
☕🍷🍩🏳️‍🌈❤️‍🔥

You Had Me at Merlot is a cute sapphic romcom about second chances, and if you like Melissa's style of writing and like easter eggs from her previous books, then this one is for you.

Jamie and Leighton hit it off when Leighton walks into Jamie's coffee/wine bar Bordeauxnuts, undercover to scout potential spaces for a department store. Things go south and they don't talk for three years until they bump into each other in a club bathroom. Things go from enemies-to-friends-to-lovers with interesting happenings and characters throughout.

Melissa is one of my go-to authors since I read The Forever Factor, and I am glad I read this one. Highly recommend reading any of her books, and I absolutely recommend this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldstroke Books for a copy of the ebook. This review is left voluntarily.

This book is about 2 women who fall in love with each other. jamie is working in a small coffe/ bar shop and ley is working in a office who want to make a new shop in the loction of jamies shop.
this two fall in love and then jamies will notice about what lay is doing....
You should read this book. its very sweet and cute and at the same time it will shatter your heart. i really enjoy this book and in the last 4 or 5 chapters i could really feel the caracters feeling.
For me who eng is not my first language it was pretty easy to read.
I dont wanna spoil but it has a happy cute ending.
Thanks to netgallay and the author for this beautifull book.

Ms. Brayden’s books can be a little hit or miss for me and unfortunately this one was a miss. This story started off well and I enjoyed the humor, but very quickly Jamie’s character seemed to spiral into more of a caricature and that’s where this book lost me. She was no longer relatable and by the time I got to their first kiss I had to stop reading because I just didn’t feel any chemistry or connection with the characters.

I loved this book and now kicking myself for taking so long to read it. I loved the chemistry between Leighton and Jamie. Their relationship was truly something special and the banter between them was so good. Really wish there was a coffee / wine bar like Jamie’s where i live!

You Had Me at Merlot by Melissa Brayden will have coffee & doughnut enthusiasts, as well as wine connoisseurs, heading out to the nearest coffee or wine shop. I’ve actually come to expect this from Ms. Brayden, since the author often pairs her romances with some of the good things in life, like food and drink.

Jamie Tolliver has a really great life. She is the owner of Bordeauxnuts, a very successful coffee and doughnut shop during the day, and an equally successful, cozy wine bar at night. She also has wonderful friends and customers who brighten her days at work. Then Leighton Morrow walks into her coffee shop and turns her world upside down.

Leighton visits Bordeauxnuts for a specific reason. She is the development coordinator for Carrington Department Stores, and they are planning to buy out the entire block that Bordeauxnuts sits on to build their newest department store. Leighton is quite attracted to the owner of her new favorite doughnut shop, but a job is a job, and she can’t allow feelings to affect her work for Carrington.

Ms. Brayden has created another story with strong characters, and a complex plot filled with intense feelings. New York City is the perfect setting for this tale. The chemistry between Jamie and Leighton is off the charts from the beginning, though their romance goes from fast to slow and eventually ends up as a second chance love story. That’s quite the feat for a couple in one novel. We get to see these two women grow as they work their way through the challenges they face. Fans of Ms. Brayden’s work will also find Easter eggs in this book in the form of cameo appearances of characters from her former novels.

If you enjoy your romantic novels filled with intense attraction, a fair measure of angst, and characters as strong as the coffee Bordeauxnuts serves, then this is the book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Jamie is the owner of a cute cafe/bar. She is a joyful person with loyal regulars and a thriving small business. Leighton is the mysterious business woman who shows up one day with incredible chemistry. Unfortunately, she happens to be scoping out the location for a department store. Can their potential romance survive their crossed purposes.

Melissa Brayden returns with another romance with palpable tension and strong characters. As you might expect, there is also a touch of spice along with all the sweet notes.

I enjoyed the character building, and the mature approaches of the two women. They both have to grow to get where they need to be, and with help, they might just get there.

I definitely recommend this one, especially if you like references to coffee and wine throughout. Unfortunately, you may find yourself with a strong craving for fresh cinnamon donuts - you have been warned.

Loved this book! I definitely thought at the beginning that the relationship was moving pretty quickly, but how wrong I was! Boy if this wasn't a slow burn romance, I don't know what is. And a second chance romance...basically all the things wrapped in one book.

The chemistry, the dialogue, the side characters and tension...all chefs kiss. Big bonus for ALL of the returning characters from other books as well, especially Jessica. But to be able to throw in Courtney and Margaret from "Strawberry Summer", I was shocked. Didn't see that one coming. Well done.

I always grab books written by Brayden. I don't even bother reading the synopsis, I just know it's going to be good.
But 20% into this one I was skeptical. Another story about a sweet struggling store owner gets threatened by a big store takeover. And of course the take over person is...surprise...the new love interest. Here we go again.
But this all happens within the first 30% of the story....what more could happen? Well that's where the Brayden magic begins. She turns this story into something special.
It's realistic, warm and full of interesting and colorful characters. The dialog is natural, clever, humorous and sometimes devilish.
There some "oh no" moments that make you wonder "how can this be happening?".
Interesting turn of events. Just keep turning those pages.
Another great story. I can always count on Ms. Brayden.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review

The main characters are Jamie and Leighton.
Jamie owns a successful coffee and donut shop. By day it is coffee and donuts, but at night, it transform to a cozy wine bar.
One day, Leighton goes into her shop and is drawn toward Jamie and the donuts. She stops by several times and the two women spend quite a bit of time together. Jamie does not know that Leighton was checking the shop out because the company she works for is planning on taking over the block (where the shop is located) for its new location. Which means Jamie's shop will be no more.
The two women have feelings for one another even though what might happen to Jamie's shop will crush everything.
I would recommend.

Melissa Brayden never takes the easy way out! I adored the complexity of Jamie and Leighton's relationship in You Had Me at Merlot. In addition to the magnificent chemistry between the women, the humor and clever banter I expect from Brayden is at 100%.

What a marvelous journey these two incredible women make over the course of the story. Not just in their dealings with each other, but in their personal lives as well. Friends, family, careers... it's just marvelous. Plus there are tons of wonderful cameos which fans of Melissa Brayden will enjoy.

From the sparking hot instant attraction, as secrets are revealed and they become enemies, and finally as they work past everything and they gradually become friends. Through it all these two ladies discover so much about themselves! What an incrediblly really lovely story.

(P.S. Don't worry Jamie, I also go to Coney Island solely for the Nathan's fries.)

Jamie owns a cafe/wine bar. Her customers love her and the business. When in walks a gorgeous woman, Leighton, that Jamie calls Bambi's mother because of her large beautiful brown eyes and gorgeous long lashes. Unbeknown to Jamie, Leighton works as the development coordinator for Carrington's Department store. And they're looking at Jamie's blockto put their new store. But Leighton doesn't tell Jamie before or after their relationship develops. This is a beautiful love story. It had me swooning and falling back in love with sapphic roamnce.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Everybody loves Jamie, her wine bar and her delicious donuts, called Bordeauxnuts. Leighton Morrow who works for a big corporation, is tasked with checking out the Jamies place because they want to put new Carrington’s Department Store in it’s place. Jamie is drawn to her. They become friends and then lovers. Jamies find out about Leighton mission and drops her like a hot potato.
3 years later they re connect as frenemies. Jamie does not trust her. This book was so much fun to read. Ms. Brayden bought in characters from her other books. Easter Eggs everywhere. It was so much fun.

You Had Me at Merlot is a sapphic romance featuring Jamie Tolliver and Leighton Morrow. Jamie is the owner of Bordeauxnuts, a coffee and donut shop by day and bar by night. Leighton Morrow is a development coordinator for a company seeking to buy the building Bordeauxnuts is in to demolish it and turn into a department store.

This gives classic Hallmark romance vibes! We have our scrappy entrepreneurial main character and the classic, somewhat cold, corporate love interest. It’s a tale old as time, although not necessarily a combination that I love, personally. I could not get over how Leighton treated Jamie. Even though the author attempted to smooth over this situation with a time jump, I personally did not see Leighton’s growth and was a bit disappointed they got together.

I did absolutely love Bordeauxnuts. I would do anything to be able to go and have a blueberry latte with Jamie. I thought Jamie and Leighton were good characters on their own.

This is a good standard rom com and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a sapphic romance, especially around Valentine’s Day.

Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.
I wasn’t able to finish this book. I spent weeks trying to get through it but I just wasn’t in the right mood for it I think. I haven’t really been enjoying romance reads lately which I think was part of it. But the characters also drove me a little crazy and annoyed me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Maybe I’ll pick this book up again when I’m in the mood for romance.

You Had Me At Merlot was somehow my first book by this author, but it is obvious that they are well written and know how to write romance. I love this trope, unsure what to call it, but it reminded me of late bloomer by mazey eddings. the pacing was great, and the characters were so well written. super sweet read