Blog Tour - You Had Me At Merlot by Lisa Dickenson

Ellie and Laurie are the last ones standing: they're single, they're not having babies any time soon and their weekends aren't filled with joyful meetings about mortgages. For Elle, this is fine - she likes her independent life, she loves her job, and she has no desire to walk down the aisle anytime soon. but Laurie wants love and she wants it now.

So when Laurie begs Elle to come with her on a singles holiday to a beautiful vineyard in Tuscany, Elle is reluctant, You Had Me at Merlot Holidays promises crisp sunshine, fun and a chance to stir up some sizzling romance. Elle has no intention of swapping her perfect lovely life for someone else's idea of her Mr Perfect, but ten days under the Italian sun with her best friend and lashings of wine? How bad could that be?

You Had Me at Merlot is the kind of love story that will have you crying with laughter one moment and nodding your head in agreement the next. Full of sultry summer nights, hilarious moments and plenty of wine, it will warm even the most cynical of hearts and have you believing in the magic of romance (and the power of a decent glass of Merlot).

This e-book is being released over four weeks (14, 21, 28 July and 4 August), however I was lucky enough to receive all four installments in one go for being part of the blog tour celebrating its publication. 

Ellie and Laurie are the main characters and I immediately liked both of them. Ellie is happy with her life but Laurie wants to find love and books them both on a singles holiday to a vineyard in Tuscany - this sounds like the perfect spot for a holiday and I am sure if You Had Me at Merlot was a real business it would be a popular choice. I loved the descriptions of the settings and surrounding area, I have never been to Italy, let alone Tuscany, but I was able to imagine the area and fall in love with the area. 

You Had Me at Merlot is a holiday for singles looking for love and there are of course a wide range of characters who book themselves a  week there - the giggly young girls who are looking for holiday romances, the more mature professional and successful business man who has made his fortune and is now looking for someone to share it with, the good looking young man who everyone falls for. Add to this mix Ellie's boss, who she doesn't get on with and the owners hunky son and the holiday is guaranteed to go with a bang, with lots of flirting and drunken kisses and holiday romance. The character list has something for everyone - and guarantees that this holiday will go with a bang.

I really enjoyed this book and I must admit I was glad I had all four installments to read straight away as I would of been left counting down the days until the next installment was delivered!  Dickenson's writing style ensures that this book will appeal to everyone and it would make a great film - Richard Curtis should sign up the film rights, it will make a great rom-comm chick lit film for next summer!

It would be great to have as a holiday read while away in the sunshine. It is well written and has many moments of humour. It is one of those books that everyone will have their own favourite character and ideas of who should partner up.

Thank you to Little Brown for inviting me to be part of this blog tour. I am now off to find Lisa's debut novel 'Twelve Dates of Christmas' to read in the summer heat.