Lead Me Here (A Drunk Love Contemporary Comedy #3) by Aria Bliss

Lead Me Here (A Drunk Love Contemporary Comedy #3) Reviews

• 
  Suze Prescot

  Book 3 in the Drunk Love series does not disappoint. Dexter and Chelsea meet on a trip to the Grand Canyon and enjoy a passionate few days together, but they do not exchange names (giving each other sweet nicknames) or contact details. as they part, Dexter slips his phone number in her pocket but never hears from her. Four plus years later, she finds he's her new landlord, and her feelings for him are as strong as ever and from his greeting, so are his. What could go wrong?
  This can be easily read as a stand alone and the characters are wonderful. Dexter is a grumpy man, withdrawn and not easy to read emotionally. Chelsea is upbeat and positive and loves that she is the one able to penetrate his hard exterior. A wonderful, romantic and sexy tale. First rate.
• 
  Tanya

  This story is a complicated contemporary romance with a grumpy/sunshine second chance storyline with a bit of drama thrown in. I found the characters and the entire whirlwind storyline endearing. I truly enjoyed the nicknames and their meaning incorporated into the story. Add in the chaos, family, and sweetness in this read, as well as the date scenes and broken relationships, and this was a fantastic read.
  
  This book is in a series, but it seems like you can read it as a stand-alone story. Dexter is on a trip to the Grand Canyon to relax and convince himself he has made the right decision. He is quiet, withdrawn, and definitely in his head. He meets Chelsea, a professional photographer who is opposite him and is there to relax and find herself again. After a fun and steamy adventure, they part ways with no information about each other.
  
  
  We time jump four and half years in the future. Dexter is back home in NYC at his family-owned bar, working on managing his stress levels and his family's meddling, when he gets quite the surprise.
  
  Chelsea has moved to make her life easier. Still, with a surprise revelation, we know things are about to get a lot more complicated. She also seems to be involved now with a significant other. Still, I can't tell whether it is a current relationship. He is her ex-husband. She has some whoppers for secrets to spill.
  
  Oh, things get heated when the truth comes out, and neither was ready. Dereck certainly is the grumpy growly man who hates confrontation. I do like how she approaches revealing the honest story. Now, what will happen?.
  
  The chemistry in this book is smoking hot. Of course, they get steamy, and it is not well described. The story has its ups and downs like any typical romance and complicated relationship. I even cried thru part of it. However, the book ends amazing and swoon-worthy.
  I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
• 
  Kims.reading.nook

  This was my absolute FAVOURITE book in this series ❤❤
  
  After learning about Dexter Rockwell in the first two books (a man of few words with a seemingly permanent scowl) I couldn't wait to see him meet his match. We've just witnessed him accept that his best friend Evan and sister Emily have been in love for years, and that little crack in his grumpy demeanour gave all the depth we needed to want him as the next MMC. Imagine my surprise when we learn that he met his match Chelsea 4 years ago! After spending less than a week together hiking the grand canyon, they parted ways with no identifying information or way to contact each other. Dexter broke the rules and slipped her his full name and number, but when she didn't call he tried to let her go. Now that's she's reappeared as the Rockwell's newest tenant, all of his feelings come flooding back. But she's been keeping a secret, and it's big enough to blow his life apart...
  
  Ahhh it's so hard to summarise all my feelings for this book without giving away any spoilers! Let's just say, they're a match made in heaven and I was rooting for them to find a way to make it work. HEA guarenteed with the Author's books but the journey to get there was written so well! Highly recommend 🔥
• 
  Peggy

  This is the 3rd book in the drunk Series by this author. This story revolves around Chelsea and Dexter. He is the epitome of a miserable, grumpy so and so. Somehow Chelsea understands him and doesn’t mind his grumpiness. He’s shocked to find out he has a daughter but their interactions will have you absolutely loving this guy regardless.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Andrea Barth-Leidinger

  I just knew that Dexter is adorable! How could he not be with such a family and friends around! I loved this story just as much as the previous ones and am wondering if Thomas eventually likes the Nanny?
  And Luke Nicole? That would be so cute! But back to Dexter and Chelsea. The most adorable love story! Like Romeo and Juliet but with a much nicer end. Lol, wouldn’t be written by Aria if the HEA wouldn’t blow me away!
  Enjoy your read!
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Emily Pennington

  Dexter and Chelsea's Story . . .
  
  This is a second chance romance for Dexter and Chelsea. Four years ago, each was on a guided hiking excursion through the Grand Canyon. Dexter Rockwell is the brooding type and needed to get away to relieve some stress as his siblings prepared to open their new business which he was part of. They wanted him to be the staff manager of the bar in charge of staff hires and fires, scheduling, and customer satisfaction. He was too introverted to be comfortable with that task.
  
  Chelsea had a very different personality from Dexter and was light-hearted and fun. They were the only two singles on the trip. She teases him that in the 3 days so far, she has only heard him say 3 words and wondered if one word per day was all he was allowed. This time, she got a smile out of him and looped her arm through his as she continued to draw him into conversation. She has him relaxing and opening up to her. Since they would only be together for a few days, they agree to hook up but without sharing personal data beyond first names. To their surprise, their connection meant more to them than they anticipated. But by the time Chelsea found out she was pregnant, she had no way to find the baby-daddy. He had left her a note with his contact info, but it was indecipherable and her roommate washed her clothes with the note in the pocket. There was nothing further to be done.
  
  When Emily met a woman at an event planning conference the previous year, they kept in contact. She tells Dexter they are meeting this new tenant to sign the leasing agreement for office space and one of the apartments, and she tells Dexter he has to meet her since managing the rental property is supposed to be his job. But when the woman approaches and Dexter turns to meet her, he is speechless as she recognizes him, says his name, and rushes into his arms for a hug! And suddenly she makes the connection – Emily told her she was in business with her brothers! And she has the same dark hair and green eyes as Dexter! And the next hurdle will be: how does she tell him about his 3-year-old daughter, Ruby? Is this a second chance for them? Or will she hold back her news from him?
• 
  NanaX8

  LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this heartwarming, steamy 2nd chance romance filled every emotion you can think of and then some… throw in an adorable little girl and you find that love does exist!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
  
  I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
• 
  Jill Green

  I was looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint. Dexter and Chelsea haven’t seen each other for 4 years when they are reunited and the attraction is still there. They are such a sweet couple, we get to see a softer side of Dexter and see he is just a big teddy bear, especially where his daughter Ruby is concerned. I lovely well written read.
  I received a copy from Booksirens and leave my review voluntarily.
• 
  FANCHON

  Grumpy-sunshine, secret baby, second chance, close family romance
  
  This is book 3 in this family series, but can be read as a standalone. This story has a grumpy - sunshine couple, secret baby, second chance, and a large involved family. It’s also super angsty with a boatload of unnecessary dramatics, and siblings that are mettlesome to the point of being very insensitive.
  
  Dexter and Chelsea met on a Grand Canyon hiking tour and had four hot days together, but had started their brief encounter saying they were not going to share last names or identifying information. When the tour was over Dexter gives her a paper with his contact information on it hoping she would reach out anyway. Due to a laundry mishap she has no idea how to reach him, and never gets to tell him she is pregnant.
  
  Fast forward 4 years- she relocates NYC and he discovers she has his daughter. After being unable to locate Dexter, she briefly married her childhood friend who is also a professional football player. The marriage lasted for six months, but he is still very much a part of Ruby’s life and she calls him Daddy.
  
  Now for the unnecessary angst and dramatics. Dexter is introduced to Ruby as a friend and the idea of explaining who he really is is dragged out through the book. Chelsea cries " she's too little to handle all these big emotions!" The only one with "big emotions" was Chelsea, and she was projecting them on Ruby. The child is 3. They did not have to drag out the introduction. At three years old, they could've simply said "Ruby. This is your real dad" and she would've been fine with it. I have literally been in that exact situation, myself, and it's 100% not as traumatic on them as it was written up. At 3, they take what you tell them and accept it. Especially since they had somehow told his child from birth, that Tommy was not her biological father. Since she was already aware there was a real dad out there, it was a necessary to play this up as a traumatic thing. In the scene where she overhears her parents say Dexter is her real father, she starts sobbing. “She looks like her entire world has just been ripped out from under her.” 🙄 if that were true it was a learned response due to the fact that Chelsea is unbelievably emotionally immature and dramatic. If anything, since Ruby was already was aware that she had a “real dad “they should’ve saved the unnecessary drama and introduced him as such in the first place instead of changing the story later. But whatevs. In the end, Ruby was glad Dexter was her real dad and happy to have two daddies.
  
  While Dexter and Chelsea were an instalove couple from the moment they met, there were a lot of growing pains after their reunion. They had to learn how to navigate their unusual relationship, with a man who stepped in as a father figure for years, as well as declaring their own relationship. They got their HEA, but it was a bumpy ride.
  
  
  
• 
  Arenia

  Well, this book was domestic AF. It's a bit of second-chance, surprise pregnancy, opposites attract, fling-to-relationship kind of deal. It's definitely not my usual taste as I don't typically like surprise pregnancies, but this was a pretty well-done romance and I enjoyed it. It's also a bonus for me as there were a not only fair amount of explicit scenes in here, but the author did a great job with developing the underlying tension. So even in the non-sexy moments, you still get those suspenseful, steamy vibes.
  
  Dexter, Chelsea, and Thomas were good characters with both depth and character growth. I loved the prologue where we got a glimpse of how Dexter and Chelsea first started to fall for each other years ago. Ruby was also fine; she was cute and surprisingly, wasn't a source of drama in the book which I appreciated. If anything, I'm incredibly annoyed by literally all of Dexter's family (I hate meddling), but that's just my own preference; I know it's a common trope.
  
  I will note that there are moments of miscommunication between the couple (for those of you who hate this trope), but I think it's in a reasonable manner so I wasn't too bothered by it. It wasn't over the top and things were resolved relatively quickly.
  
  On a not-so-positive note, this book definitely needed a proofreader as there were a fair amount of errors and typos that were definitely distracting/confusing at times.
  
  The other thing that bothered me was that it was a pretty serious book and I didn't really get rom-com vibes at all. I get that rom-coms usually are slice-of-life stories which yes, this does fit that piece, but I also think they're usually more lighthearted in tone. This does have some sweet moments between Dexter and Ruby but because Chelsea is always like, crying in the background, it always still has this really bittersweet, sad undertone. Now there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it just felt a bit misleading because I was expecting it to be more light-hearted than it was.
  
  Overall, this book is perfect for those who like the whole missed connection, domestic family vibe, as both MCs are very family-oriented and the entire plot revolves around them coming together as a family and navigating parenthood.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Viper Spaulding

  Skittles and Daystar
  
  Such a heartwarming story! Chelsea and Dexter had an instant connection when they met on that years-ago trip to the Grand Canyon, but neither was in a position for a long-distance relationship so nothing but first names was exchanged. Fast forward to the present, and Chelsea now is renting one of the apartments and offices above the family bar, making Dexter her landlord.
  
  We saw in the last book that Dexter has trouble expressing himself verbally. This is a man of few words, mostly growls, who has to learn to become more articulate or risk losing everything he ever wanted. Chelsea is no longer the carefree nature photographer; now she's a mom who'll sacrifice everything to put her daughter first. To say that their reunion is complicated is a huge understatement.
  
  I loved how their instant connection was obvious to everyone the moment she walked into the bar, even after four years. These two are true soulmates, and I just adored how their romance picked right up where they left off.
  
  I felt that Ruby brought out the best in Dexter. He was more than ready to handle all the challenges and to revel in the glorious love he felt for her. I was impressed with how he dealt with Tommy, even though it was a fine balancing act for Chelsea to keep from upsetting Ruby's sense of security.
  
  I loved that we got to see more of Luke, especially his interactions with Evan's sister and nieces. He's a true ladies' man, for gals of all ages. I can't wait to read his upcoming romance!
  
  I really appreciated how there wasn't any unnecessary drama, just adults addressing the real problems with maturity and honest conversation. What a refreshing change from most other contemporary romances! Chelsea and Dexter have a beautiful HEA that brings them full circle, and it was perfect for them.
  
  This is another definite winner in this family-driven romance series. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
• 
  C.Y.

  I love this book and I absolutely loved Dexter. I wish I was part of this family. I know it’s fictional, but one can only dream. Ha ha.
  
  This type of story has been done before many times, but it’s still always fun to read about a surprise child or an unplanned pregnancy. What I love best about these stories is when the dad finds out that he has a child and turns into the one of the best dads ever. There’s something always sexy about a man with his child. The love that Dexter and Ruby had for each other was just so sweet even before she knew that he was her true daddy.
  
  I like Chelsea‘s character too. I liked her spunkiness when she first met Dexter and how she was the only one who could get him to smile. The relationship between them was very palpable and steamy. The only part of this book that I didn’t enjoy was the overuse of the F bombs. I don’t know why authors feel that they have to use them too much in the story. To me it only makes the characters seem less intelligent because they cannot think of a better word to say when they are angry. Sometimes they use it when they’re not angry.
  
  I’m looking forward to Luke’s story, but I really hope Trent gets one too even though he’s not part of the family.
  
  I was given an advanced copy of this book for free, and I’m leaving my review voluntarily.
• 
  Lindsy

  Definitely a grumpy/sunshine romance. Dexter and Chelsea met 4 and half years earlier on a trip to the Grand Canyon. They went looking for themselves but ended up finding each other.
  Dexter is a grump. He’s a pretty cool grump but still scowls all the time and doesn’t seem to smile much.
  Chelsea is the complete opposite as in the sunshine part of this book. I thought the nicknames they had for each other were perfect!
  Dexter intrigued her from the moment she saw him and the rest was history between these two. They ended up spending four days together on the trip but didn’t want to exchange last names or numbers; which is why they didn’t speak for 4 1/2 years until Chelsea walked into the bar owned by Dexter and his siblings.
  A lot has changed in Chelsea’s life since that trip but she is still a photographer looking for work. She ends up moving into an apartment that the siblings are now leasing out. Plus things are about to change for Dexter in a big way.
  I really enjoyed this story and how much Chelsea meant to Dexter. He barely ever smiled until Chelsea walked back into his life. Now he has to figure out a way to get Chelsea back and keep her in his life. Chelsea was hesitate about a relationship but eventually they realized they didn’t want to be without the other person.
• 
  Rebmay

  I loved this book! The big, tough and grumpy hero who is known for growling at everyone, gets hopelessly wrapped around the tiny finger of his adorable almost four year old daughter, the daughter he never knew he had until now. It just melted my heart! Dexter may be quiet, reserved and and oh so growly, but when the woman he has been unable to forget since their very passionate interlude over four years ago walks back into his life, he is stunned and determined to claim her for forever. To learn he has a daughter both infuriates and amazes him. Chelsea is equally stunned to see Dexter again, and though anxious about how he will take the news about having a daughter, she is also thrilled to have finally found her soul mate again. Of course they have a few emotional hurdles to overcome, his well meaning but rather troublesome and meddling siblings to endure, and their own doubts and insecurities to conquer before they finally get the happily ever after they were meant to have four years ago. Their story is emotional, entertaining and absolutely wonderful, as well as unputdownable.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Sharon Moritz-rosenthal

  This is book 3 in the series and it was awesome. Its a second chance at love romance with the grumpiest brother and the woman he has been missing for over four years and she has some big surprises for him.
  
  In the last book I kinda hated Dex but in this book we see where he was coming from and I totally fell hard for him.
  
  This is a seconc chance for DEx when he finds the woman he fell for four years before on a vacation to the Grand Canyon where he got to know Chelsea for four days. He gave her his number and she never called so he figured she was not interested.
  
  In this story we find out why she never called and what she has been up to for the last four years. She has some big surprises coming Dex's way and I am not spoiling them.
  
  This was a really fun read and I really loved watching Dex find his happily ever after. Now I cannot wait for Luke's story.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Sara

  I’m seriously loving this series and have a hard time deciding which of the 3 books is my favorite! Dexter has been a grumpy and growly mystery man for the first two books in the series, a fierce protector of his sister and a loyal sibling to his brothers. After reading the preview of this book I’ve been super eager to read Dexter’s story and Aria delivered a truly awesome story.
  
  Chelsea is stunned to walk into the bar where she is meeting the owners of the building where she is renting a photography studio and an apartment in
  NYC. She never thought she’d ever find Dexter, but here he is and their chemistry is still sizzling hot.
  
  This book has so many emotions and such a richly nuanced story. The characters in this series are all amazing and memorable. I’m looking forward to Luke’s story, and see the possibility of more stories for Trent, Tommy and Nicole.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Jennifer

  Best in the series so far!
  A short but unforgettable love affair has profound consequences for grumpy but loveable Dexter and the sunshiny bright Chelsea. This is the lovely, emotional story of how they end up back in each other’s lives four and a half years later, Chelsea with a secret daughter, Ruby, who calls another man daddy!
  You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but you’ll root for these two to get through their heartbreak and build a life together.
  Written in a dual point of view, you’ll know exactly what is going through their heads as they navigate the tricky situation they find themselves in.
  This is a delightful read that had me flicking through the pages eager to discover how it all turns out.
  I’m loving this Drunk Love Romantic Comedy series and while you can read this as a standalone, do yourself a favour and read the rest of the books as the Rockwell siblings all find their forever loves.
  
• 
  Romancewitham

  I absolutely loved the book and the characters. Their story was so beautiful and unique. I loved their second chance and how they both made sacrifices in order for their relationship to work. Dexter and Chelsea have so much chemistry and I love how this never went away. Now Chelsea is a wonderful character and a beautiful mother, she loves her daughter dearly and does only things that are for her benefit. Dexter is a man we all wish to have. He is there for Chelsea and their daughter even if he learned about her recently. He loves her so much and their developing relationship is so pure. He does everything to have them both as his future and I simply lived for that. A wonderful book that everyone needs to read
  
  Tropes:
  
  • Second chance romance
  
  • Single parent
  
  • Secret baby
  
  • Grumpy x Sunshine
  
  My rating: 4/5 ⭐
  
  Spice level: 2,5/5 🔥
  
  [I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily]
• 
  Berta Greenleaf Richardson

  This is the third book in the A Drunk Love series by Aria Bliss. Dexter and Chelsea have a history and lose touch for a few years. When they reunite there is a small secret that is being kept from one of them. This is an inst-love, second-chance love story with a slight twist. The characters are well rounded and instantly likeable. The problems they encounter are relatable. This story will make you smile and also feel like you might actually know these people. Maybe if the love story between the two main characters did not feel so rushed and the author had made them spend more time together in the first place it would not have felt so unbelievable. To have them spend 4 days together, have a secret, and then fall instantly in love when reunited 4 years later just seemed totally far-fetched
  
  This book was sent to me as an Arc and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
• 
  BP34

  This is part of the A Drunk Love Romantic Comedy series but can be read as a standalone. You'll find that you'll want to read the previous two books after reading this one. A great book that captures your attention right at the beginning and you'll find it hard to put down once you start. Chelsea and Dexter meet on a retreat and are polar opposites. But their chemistry was explosive and she was left with a beautiful surprise after their four day hook up. Four years later they are reunited when she moves to NYC and he is her landlord. What happens when he finds out about his daughter Ruby? Are they able to have a second chance at love? Am emotional story with some twists and drama. A good read that I read as a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Raecharmed

  Emily and Dexter meet when they are both on a guided hike. They were the only two singles, so they bonded together. Its not long before they were hooking up. When the hike ended Emily had a paper with his info on it but it got messed up and she had no way to reach out. Especially when she learned that their time together gave her a permanent reminder. Years later when she is going to rent office property she had no clue that it would lead er right back to Dexter. Can they get a second chance to be together? What will he do when he learns they have a child together?
  
  This is a great story that will draw you in from beginning to end. This is a well written and very entertaining story. This is a book any book lover would enjoy.
  
  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.