Lead Me Back in C.D.'s Canaries

Jul 03, 2020 AJ's Book ReMarks rated it really liked it

New York City and Hollywood cross paths, one grew up and worked in the fashion industry while the other was in a boy band, turned actor. What happens when their paths cross by receiving a call to the right/wrong number?

Christine Reiss has a way with words, her voice is clear, concise, and competent writer that has been in the business of creating scripts and stories and her knowledge of Hollywood brings about authenticity in her novels.

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Jul 02, 2020 Abby rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020

What. A. Book. This read kept me spellbound and I didn’t want to put it down. Full review to come
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So normally when I read, I highlight a lot of various quotes or things that I like that happen in a book. But when I read this one, I was so involved with it, I hardly highlighted anything! Kayla arrives in Los Angeles and she gets an unexpected phone call. But since she doesn't have anything else to do, she decides to help out the older lady that calls her. Little did she know how life changing t ...more

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Jun 28, 2020 kgagnon rated it it was amazing

4.5 Stars for this Captivating Hollywood Romance!

I was completely captivated by this sexy Hollywood romance from the very first scene. There is just something about having a glimpse into the private lives of very public stars that is enticing and enlightening. This story is hilarious, and sexy but also poignant, emotional, and passionate. Justin Beckett is a famous boy band bad boy who is trying to turn his career around. Kayla Montgomery has just moved back to LA looking for a fresh start desig 4.5 Stars for this Captivating Hollywood Romance!

I was completely captivated by this sexy Hollywood romance from the very first scene. There is just something about having a glimpse into the private lives of very public stars that is enticing and enlightening. This story is hilarious, and sexy but also poignant, emotional, and passionate. Justin Beckett is a famous boy band bad boy who is trying to turn his career around. Kayla Montgomery has just moved back to LA looking for a fresh start designing her own fashion line. She has a painful past she is trying to forget when she gets a random call on her new cell. That starts the crazy meet cute with Justin and his Grandmother. Justin talks Kayla into helping him and she isn't sure what it all means. She just wants to stay under the radar and create her own brand that she has always dreamed about. But Justin isn't easy to ignore, his easy charm always gets him what he wants, and Kayla is in his sites. He was totally fascinated by her and is confused by her indifference to him. She tries to keep him at a distance but soon learns there is more to Justin than what the tabloids say. The quiet way he takes care of those he loves is too hard to resist. They have a fiery attraction they can't ignore, but they also understand each other in a way no one else does. Justin is the kind of character that is hard to like at first but you can't help wanting to. He was funny and sometimes a bit of a douche bag, but he has this endearing quality, and caring nature that reels you in. Kayla is thoughtful and caring but has a strength and resolve that I love to read about. They are both such vivid characters, I thought their vulnerability and flaws were authentic and their growth throughout felt honest. I loved their witty banter and their sizzling chemistry. The secondary characters were all genuine and added fun, tension and intrigue. I especially loved Justin's quirky Grandmother. This is a beautiful and poignant story of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances. It was so well written, with very human characters that you want to cheer for. Their journey isn't easy, it's messy and complicated as they maneuver life in the public eye but it is so worth the fun and bumpy ride, and I loved every minute of it. ...more

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Jul 08, 2020 Liz rated it really liked it

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 ...more

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Jul 07, 2020 Amy Dickinson rated it it was amazing

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I’m shameless…at least in writing. As the vaguely anonymous reviewer here, I can fan-girl over C.D. Reiss, and you can assume I’m shameless even when my cheeks are pink from my adoration for her brand of romance. Now, to be clear, I know her brand runs the gamut of tropes, and she can be as dirty as you want in a romance or she can be a bit more buttoned-up. If I had to characterize her newest book, Lead Me Back, it’s a bit more buttoned-up (not by much, though) than Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I’m shameless…at least in writing. As the vaguely anonymous reviewer here, I can fan-girl over C.D. Reiss, and you can assume I’m shameless even when my cheeks are pink from my adoration for her brand of romance. Now, to be clear, I know her brand runs the gamut of tropes, and she can be as dirty as you want in a romance or she can be a bit more buttoned-up. If I had to characterize her newest book, Lead Me Back, it’s a bit more buttoned-up (not by much, though) than I’m used to from her. However, that seems so inconsequential when you consider the genius of her brain. Now, I’m SURE I’m going to overdo this review. I’m sure I’m reading WAY too much into Lead Me Back. For gosh sakes, I earned my master’s in English and Literature. I spent YEARS learning to read and read EVERYTHING into that reading, picking it apart and contextualizing it with literary theory…blah blah blah. BUT if I am going to take this review too far and if I’m going to read into Reiss’s newest book, so be it. I’m putting myself out there and who cares. Right?

At the most basic level, I loved Lead Me Back. This book is more of her Hollywood series, so there are characters from earlier books who show their faces which is fantastic, wonderful, everything you love about Reiss. Additionally, her heroine, Kayla, is a ballsy broad for lack of a better term. She takes no prisoners and she gives back to Reiss’s hero (which he loves) what he deserves for his entitled self. Kayla is the person you want in your corner when you must slay your dragons. She’s honest and insightful when she isn’t self-flagellating over past choices. And Reiss’s hero, Justin…ahhh…hold on to that name as it clues you in to her inspiration for him, is layered. At first glance, you don’t see it. In fact, there were times when Justin made me a little crazy by his actions. When your life is driven by others for so long, you tend to lose yourself, and Justin has fallen prey to this. I think this is typical of Hollywood, and Reiss does a fantastic job of showing that struggle, but it also makes him frustrating at times. However, as we know, romance needs moments of conflict to keep the readers engaged or they will lose interest and close the book. All of these qualities make this book worthy of a read. No question.

But…but…but… here is where I can’t help but want to believe what I suggest to be Reiss’s writing genius. And yes, once again, I may be reading into this, but please bear with me. In the story, Justin has been cast as Mr. Darcy in another iteration of Pride and Prejudice (honestly, what a miscast but he does well apparently). If you’ve ever read one of my favorite books of all times, then you know, or might know, that Pride and Prejudice illustrates the consequences of misperceptions. And for this book, C.D. Reiss, takes that idea and creates an allusion to P&P within Lead Me Back. She doesn’t recreate P&P; she carefully crafts its truths into her story in a way that feels like it could be a different version of it. Again, I might be reading this idea into her story, but there were moments that felt like a parallel to Austen’s story. And if I’m right, then, in my mind, Reiss is a genius. Yes, I know writers do this all the time, and yes, I think they are geniuses too especially if they write it as nuanced as Reiss has. But for Lead Me Back, it works, and it works well.

Along with that level of genius, Reiss interweaves the story with pertinent social issues: the #metoo movement is in this story, mental health issues are here, the dangerous specifications of the fashion industry and the relationships that support it find purchase in Lead Me Back, etc. If you think Reiss left the heavy lifting for another book, she didn’t. If you think this is simply about a former boy bander turned actor romancing a future fashion guru, you’re wrong. The qualities of Reiss’s storytelling that make it important reside in Lead Me Back hidden behind the facade of Hollywood, and it makes this book nerd silly. My fangirl flag is flying once again after reading one of her books.

If I haven’t sold you on the characters or story or $exiness of C.D. Reiss’s Lead Me Back, then I have not articulated myself well enough, and you should one-click it anyway. You can trust Reiss to tell stories that will titillate, challenge, and steam your glasses. Lead Me Back is more of that with the added depth of story that makes Reiss’s romances feel necessary. ...more

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Jul 10, 2020 Diana F rated it it was amazing

Perfect Summer Read
Lead Me Back is a perfect summer read! It is heart melting, a little steamy, all kinds of quirky cuteness with a perfect HEA. I throughly enjoyed every page!

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