Overall, I enjoyed this story. However, I was not a big fan of the main characters in this book.

Going into this one blind, I didn't realize who the character inspiration for Justin was. If I had, I may have passed over this one. It's hard to get over his douche-bro (word borrowed from another reviewer, thank you!) personality. Both characters seemed a bit immature and their connection didn't seem authentic. There conversations, at time, seemed disjointed and a bit hard to follow.

That being said, I loved the supporting characters. The friends and family members were fantastic and made excellent contributions to this book. While I didn't connect with Justin or Kayla much, the supporting characters were strong enough, I will definitely read more by this author.

Kayla needs a fresh start and to escape her old life. Justin needs to repair his reputation to keep his current life intact. Both have been through the personal and professional wringer and now they have been brought together by an old phone number and a meddling grandmother.

Kayla is so darn feisty and self sufficient. She wants to be her own person. She needs to create her own successes, even after being run out of the NYC fashion industry. Unfortunately for her, she has lots of baggage . . . some of which that follows her across the country.

Justin is totally and completely misunderstood and misrepresented in the media. He’s manipulated by his own PR manager and cut off from his band mates and childhood friends. He may be all alpha, cocky, and arrogant, but he’s also genuine and real with those he cares about

Together this couple should be a disaster. Neither can do any favors for the other professionally. They both have too many secrets and trust issues. Yet when they are together, it all seems so darn right in their little bubble. But with someone always watching everything they do, can they make it work and find their own slice of happiness in a world that feels like they own them?

I flew through this book because I could not get enough of this couple. Enthralling. Emotional. Intense. I loved every damn second of this book! 5 stars!

Lead Me Back is a perfect book to escape into when you've had enough of the real world and need a few hours of other people's drama.

I liked Kayla from the start. She was wacky and fun but not silly and nonsensical. She was a fighter and someone who'd make a really solid friend to have on your side. I like Justin ok. He definitely seemed to be in a different world than Kayla (and all the other "little people") but he was never completely intolerable or mean. He had just grown accustomed to a world that bowed to him while simultaneously trying to tear him apart so it made sense that he had his quirks.

Kayla and Justin had chemistry from the start and Justin did manage to prove that he was worth of an HEA with Kayla so ultimately this was a fantastic contemporary romance that I will read again.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys funny contemporary romance.

I happily accepted an ARC of this book.

Kayla's finally going to be in the same state as her sister Talia. And as scary as this next adventure seems to be the she knows she's ready to make her dreams of becoming a fashion designer true.

Let me say that the beginning of this book with Justin's grandmother, Louise, had me cracking up. She is something else and I knew she would be one that I would not be able to forget. Justin left his mark on Kayla on their first encounter and as hard as she tried to forget about him she couldn't. Both had secrets and issues yet they attracted each other like magnets. The banter between them was refreshing and the chemistry, well that was BOOM. Get cozy and ready to read about love story that was denied until they until they no longer could deny it.

2.5 / 5 Stars

I almost DNF'd this book at about 20% but sheer bloody-mindedness kept me reading... It was an ARC and I don't like to bail on those but it look will-power, I tell ya!

I just didn't like the characters. I didn't like Justin Beckett and I didn't like Kayla Montgomery but I did like the supporting characters... There just wasn't a lot of page time with them.
The book was 100% the Kayla and Justin show and that is fine - great even - if you like the main characters but I've already said that I didn't so it caused problems.

Kayla is a prickly bitch and it takes a long time to get to the bottom of what her issue is. Her issue - the reason she ran across the country - is a serious one and it explained a lot but, the thing is, the reveal doesn't actually explain why she has such a shit attitude towards men in general. It's just her... And I'd say Daddy issues (even though I liked her dad).

2.5 / 5 Stars

I almost DNF'd this book at about 20% but sheer bloody-mindedness kept me reading... It was an ARC and I don't like to bail on those but it look will-power, I tell ya!

I just didn't like the characters. I didn't like Justin Beckett and I didn't like Kayla Montgomery but I did like the supporting characters... There just wasn't a lot of page time with them.
The book was 100% the Kayla and Justin show and that is fine - great even - if you like the main characters but I've already said that I didn't so it caused problems.

Kayla is a prickly bitch and it takes a long time to get to the bottom of what her issue is. Her issue - the reason she ran across the country - is a serious one and it explained a lot but, the thing is, the reveal doesn't actually explain why she has such a shit attitude towards men in general. It's just her... And I'd say Daddy issues (even though I liked her dad).

Justin. Well. He's just the authors wanna be Justin Bieber thrown into a boy band. He is surrounded by drama and is a bit of a tool. I hated the descriptions of how he dressed, I hated his behaviours and attitude and couldn't understand why anyone would find him attractive. That said, his relationship with his grandma made me laugh (the grandma is a great character) and he could occasionally do sweet things so... I dunno.

The back and forth between Justin and Kayla almost gave me whiplash and they'd contradict their behaviour and thoughts from one paragraph to the next. As this is my first CD Reiss book, I don't know if that's supposed to be a character thing (aka they don't know what the hell they're thinking) or if it's a quirk of the writer but it drove me bonkers.

Now, I know I'm giving the book a bit of a roasting and I'm sorry for it because the ending was actually quite satisfying. If the entire book had lived up to the final quarter, it would have been a really good read - but it didn't. I have a feeling that this book will really work for some people but it just was not for me.

The Hollywood Series continues with this another feel-good love story set in the Movie Industry.
It's hopeful, it's romantic and makes you believe in the power of love to heal and fuse broken hearts. CD known for her greyish serious themes, shifts gears and still manages to entice her with her enigmatic wordplay
"that was like a nuclear bomb of unicorns and rainbows in my heart."
Her plot is as always taut and precise, her narration slick and her characters sassy with a touch of nobility
Kayla Montgomery has uprooted her life in New York and shifted to LA, Justin Beckett is trying to fly solo. Both are trying to cut binding strings from the past and start anew. Easier said than done bro!!!
"you can convince yourself there’s a relationship that isn’t there, but you can’t convince the other person."
THIS here sums up their relationships, past and present. So many hurdles, so many pulled strings later they find a bit of peace till their world is swept up in a twirling hurricane....
It's a sweet gift for her legit fans and a great lighter way to step in Reiss- and
4stars for Stay Kinky Grandma!!

My soul is so much lighter after having read this sweet story. Justin is the famous entitled rockstar hero in the book whose path crosses with Kayla Kayla just moved to la to escape her baggage from New York. Their story is such a sweet story that brought out all the feels in my heart from the banter which had me smiling, the characters and their self discovery and their growth. I did not want to put this book down once I started and now I am left here with a huge grin on my face Easter reading it all come together.

Cannot recommend this read enough..... will definitely blasting all of my friends to stray reading it.

C.D. Reiss is typically an author I love and her dark side of her writing is what I love most. But when it comes to her contemporary romance side, I'm not so much keen on it. I thought that by giving Lead Me Back a chance, I would love this book but I just couldn't connect with the characters. I wasn't totally sold on the storyline and I felt like it dragged a bit for me. Once I get bored with a story, especially at the beginning stages, I feel like I will not fall in love with the book and I will be eventually disappointed in the end.

Lead Me Back kind of lacked the sparkle for me and I'm disappointed in myself that I couldn't get into the book. Doesn't mean I will stop reading her books because I'm not. I just didn't connect with this story.

Loved it. Another great addition to CD’s collection. The story was entertaining and flowed well. I enjoyed the characters a lot too. Would recommend!

Lighthearted feel good romance that brought about a few laughs.
I was quickly immerse by this Hollywood romance. The chemistry and banter was well developed, snarky and hilarious. He’s a douche canoe, and she’s a native New Yorker!
The main characters couldn’t be more different from the other.
Yet they gave as good as they got!
This made for a an enjoyable read!

When I started reading this book, I immediately liked the heroine. She was running from New York and running to California. She went to live in her deceased grandfather’s old theatre which has been unused for years. It’s a relic of a building which has no use because it has no parking, but it’s rent free, full of junk and dust. Her sister Talia and her father live in Los Angeles and she’s starting a new life. She’s also reacquainting with her father from whom she was estranged for many years. It’s a period of new starts and new hope.

As part of her new beginnings, Kayla also got a new phone and a new number. Then there was a misunderstanding with her new number and she ended up in a house in Beverly Hills taking roses to an old lady. And to her huge surprise there was Justin Beckett, teen star, headliner of the Sunset Boys, more like a fallen star. After a scandal in the Roosevelt Hotel, his band had imploded, his reputation tanked and he life was in shambles. He was also starting on new beginnings, got a new phone number and Kayla was the happy recipient of his old phone number and many of his calls.

They get into an uneasy truce where he depends on Kayla to be linked to his old life and old friends. He’s working solo now but he still feels the ties to his old friends from whom he’s now estranged and Kayla is the link. He gets her a job at his current movie project so he can be near and help her out.

This story was a hoot. As soon as I read Justin, I knew he was based on Justin Bieber. His hair, his demeanor, his slouchy stride, entitled attitude, and a pimple on his forehead! This was too much and got me hooked on the story real fast!

I loved Kayla, she didn’t take any crap from Justin’s a-holish attitude and sassed him right back. For a guy who is in a slump, missing his old friends and his old life, starting on something new, hemmed in from all sides by his managing agency, record agency, and his bodyguard, Kayla is a breath of fresh air. This was a relation that started from slinging insults and warmed into friendship then into passion. It was a hoot and I loved every minute.

Kayla has other issues related to her past history in New York and her relation with her father. I loved her father and his friends. One of my favorite scenes is when she appears at her father’s house after a crying jag, he has a men party and she gets drunk with all these men around. They are so kind and supportive and his father did a grand parenting job.

About Justin, the first impression is that he’s shallow and selfish. But as you read on, you realize that many of the assumptions made about him are wrong and there are hidden depths inside, and a decent man.

This was a fun romp! I had a great time reading this hugely entertaining story!

Lead Me Back is the first book I have read by C.D. Reiss and it will not be the last. In all honesty, it started off a bit weird. I mean what are the odds that when you get a new number the prior owner will be a huge celebrity and that the new owner is actually going to follow through with a request from a wrong number but hey it worked and was a cute way to start the story. Overall, I did enjoy this story and it certainly had some interesting and quirky moments. I'll certainly be seeing what else this author has to offer.

Lead Me Back by CD Reiss follows one of my favorite tropes, celebrity romances. Justin Beckett is in need of help. Finding fame young, he is a musician turned actor trying to turn his image around after some bad decisions. When he meets Kayla, things just fit and she finds himself being his assistant. But Kayla has her own past she is trying to forget. Can they find a way to mesh two very different lives when things get tough?

I loved their witty banter and slow burn romance. Lead Me Back by CD Reiss was a sweet and charming story and one I recommend.

Happy reading!

A funny sweet fairytale romance, with witty banter, amazing chemistry, great characters and a beautiful story!

Lead Me Back is a lighthearted contemporary romance standalone set in the same world as CD Reiss’ The Bodyguard. This is a binge worthy story about an ex-boybander needing a bit of an image cleanup and the fashion designer he falls for.

I always like the celebrity guy/normal Plain Jane trope, and Justin and Kayla’s story did not disappoint. I was hooked from the start, with their adorable meet-cute when she gets his old phone number. There are a few twists in their tale having to do with the past she’s trying to leave behind her as she makes a fresh start.

There are a few instances where we see just how different their worlds are, but Justin is a swoony hero who makes his girl realize that they are just meant to be. Justin starts off all cocky arrogance, but there is such a sweet side to him when it comes to his grandmother and Kayla. (I love books with a feisty granny, and this one was off the chart!)

I absolutely adored Justin and Kayla. This story keeps a nice pace, and the characters are so likable and relatable, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. They have a sexy, playful banter and I was hooked on these two from the get-go.

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

It was very easy to guess where some of the inspiration for the "hero" comes from. Not gonna lie, I'm the opposite of fan for the dudebro douche that inspires a good chunk of the main character but some how CD Reiss worked some magic. I may never be a fan but this Justin has my attention.

Justin, of the Sunset Boys fame, is about as douchebag as douchebag gets. I say that lovingly. CD Reiss has given us a perfectly unlovable dudebro that I wouldn't willingly spend time with and made him #goals for all dudebro douchcanoes out there. Lol! All it took was a runaway, a Grandma, and Ned the Bed. Actually. Those just put it in motion, it's the tempered New York girl with a chip on her shoulder and a dream in her heart that wakes our boy up.

Kayla starts off running but she learns to stand her ground, figure out who's important, and fight for herself. Lead Me Back to what's important...




Oh and being in LA, it was entertaining to see the heroine starstruck by some familair CD Reiss characters.

4.5 STARS

Ah CD Reiss writes amazingly strong heroines and Kayla is exactly my kind of girl. A straight shooter, real, relatable. I loved that Justin's celebrity status didn't make a difference to her, that she didn't let his fame take over her life. She was independent, fierce and tough without being hardened. And if anyone could be perfect for a superstar it was Kayla. She was so low maintenance, there was no huge drama with her.
“I need to live the one life I have.” Pushing against my hands, I stood up. “I can’t let you take over. I won’t.”

And Justin was a surprise. He had such a generous, kind heart that cared so much for his friends and family when you looked past all the glitz and glitter. The way he was with his hilarious, meddling grandmother was just heartwarming. Despite his celebrity he was so grounded and focused on what was important. Kayla and Justin felt realistic in a way I didn't expect in a Hollywood romance.
Doing something to make her happy, though . . . that was like a nuclear bomb of unicorns and rainbows in my heart.

I wanted to have a little more explorations of Kayla and her dad's reunion. I adored how they found their way back to each other. There is one story thread I would have liked to see being tied up neatly but these things are a personal preference. Who knows, maybe we get that story in another book. Crossing my fingers here!

CD Reiss's words are magic - she lets us take a look behind the curtain of fame in her Hollywood romance books, lets us see that being a celebrity isn't really all that fun it looks to be on the outside.
I totally enjoyed LEAD ME BACK. If you need to get out of your head? Grab this. If you're feeling blue? Grab this. If you want to laugh a little? Grab this. You get my drift. This was a delightfully cute, quick read and I really can't recommend Lead Me Back enough for everyone who needs a pick-me-up.
He would always be just a little bigger, shine just a little brighter. That was for the world, but for me? He’d always be the man my eyes sought out and my heart expanded for.

This was a fantastic Hollywood read!!

Kayla has been beat down by the very industry she loves in New York so she decides to move cross country and start again. Her first day in LA doesn't get off to great start and things just keep getting more and more interesting. Justin is Hollywood rock star royalty turned actor but how the mighty fall when they mess up royally. Now there's some woman at his grandmothers house and he needs to figure out her angle and get rid of her. Soon these two realize neither is who or what they thought they were and beneath the surface they both find something more. Something neither realized they were even looking for. But both have ghosts in their past that sometimes haunt you when you least expect it.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

I really enjoyed this romantic, Hollywood boy band story. It was an easy-going read that held my attention from start to finish. The characters were wonderfully written and very relatable; the writing was perfect and the story flowed beautifully.

This is an interesting story which, to be honest, was fairly uneventful in the angst stakes, but what made this book so good for me was the way C.D. Reiss wrote her characters, Their personalities, the chemistry, and the fun I had with their constant spats between Justin and Kayla made it a very entertaining read.

Justin is an arrogant entitled pop star who is at the top of his game, and basically has the world at his feet. His bad boy image has at last caught up with him and his so-called "perfect" life isn't all it seems. He has some big problems he needs to sort out in his life, and although every instinct in me said I shouldn't have liked Justin, I just couldn't help myself. There is so much more to this bad boy pop star than we first see.

Kayla was the most entertaining young lady, she is spunky, spontaneous and funny and speaks her mind, I loved the way she treated Justin as though he was just another person she met along the way. Of course, she is nervous when she first starts to work for him and even a little starstruck, but she doesn't let it show and she takes no crap from him, secretly this is why Justin finds himself drawn to her because Kayla grounds him.

Both of these characters work so well together even though they come from entirely different backgrounds and had numerous obstacles thrown in their path, and with their own sets of personal baggage from the past that they are still carrying around, everything in this story just clicked for me. Secondary characters were very strong, especially Justin's Grandma who was an absolute hoot to read.

This book was well worth the read and one that I thoroughly recommend.

I enjoyed Lead Me Back for a few reasons but I loved it because C.D. Reiss wrote a Hollywood story with a grandmother as a secondary character that actually played an important roll, which she named Louise and gave her the nickname Weeze . That’s probably not going to mean a whole lot to some of you, but it doesn’t matter because there’s plenty of other reason to #oneclick this book!

This is one of those stories that reads like magic. At its core, it’s just a story of two people fumbling thru getting to know each other and trying to make a go of it with a ton of obstacles in their way. But that’s just the core. The reality is that one is a celebrity and the other is one that is averse to said limelight, hence the obstacles. They both come with baggage they’d like to shed and history they’d like to move forward and away from and if they could just look past the trees and see the forest, they’d see the sensational future they have ahead of each other, together as a unit!

I thoroughly enjoyed the echo the story had to real life events and circumstances while also maintaining the illusion of romance fiction. This wasn’t a modern take of any tale, it was a fictional story embedded in modern day society’s circumstances and I for one enjoyed that realism. It added credibility to every action and reaction in the story and it allowed me to believe in the story wholeheartedly! Plus, the story was fun!!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading this author’s work for many years and every time I read one of her books, I am reminded of what a powerhouse writer I believe her to be. It doesn’t matter what project she undertakes, whether it be a dark romance or a feel-good contemporary romance, they always have her signature edge to them that always keeps me on my toes while I read. They are always sexy, emotional, anticipatory, and passionate! I know I’m reading fiction but I feel enriched after I read them, every single time!