First it was New York and LA, or so the rumors and reports go. Then they were finally photographed together in the South of France. And then again in Italy, just days later. And now Us Weekly has exclusive photos of Blake Lively and Leonardo DiCaprio holding hands in the moonlight during a trip to Monte Carlo – you can see the photos here and here. Ah, summer romance. Will Blake make it past the summer, though? That’s my question. Because whatever is happening between Blake and Leo right now… well, it’s the most publicized and photographed romance he’s had so far. He dated Bar Refaeli and Gisele Bunchen for YEARS and to this day it’s difficult to find any “candids” of those couplings. So… is Blake calling the paps? Sure. Could be. Totally. Does Leo care? I don’t think he does… right now. He’s in a biscuit haze, I think.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s heart will go on and on…for Blake Lively! After weeks of speculation and high-profile partying up and down the French Riviera, DiCaprio, 36, and Lively, 23, were photographed holding hands during a romantic, moonlit stroll after dinner in Monte Carlo May 27– and only Us Weekly has the exclusive photos.

“He looked very in love,” a witness says in the new issue, on stands Wednesday. Two days later, the Oscar-nominated actor — who has been wining and dining the Gossip Girl star for weeks over dinner, helicopter and yacht rides and glitzy A-list bashes — brought her as his guest at a Grand Prix-viewing bash aboard a yacht.

“Her face lit up when Leo was talking,” a fellow reveler says.

“He had introduced Blake as his girlfriend,” adds a source. “I would say they’re totally smitten!”

Although DiCaprio and model Bar Rafaeli called it quits just a few weeks ago, he and Lively first connected at an NYC business meeting back in November — and shared a kiss at a Hollywood bash in January.

“I’ve never seen him like this with a girl,” adds the insider of DiCaprio.

For much more on this suddenly hot-and-heavy romance — how DiCaprio has spared no expense for his new lady, Lively’s decade-long crush on the star, and more exclusive photos of their PDAs in Europe — pick up the new Us Weekly, on stands Wednesday!

[From Us Weekly]

Remember, Us Weekly was the tabloid to have that hilarious story about Leo only having eyes for Blake because she’s so gorgeous. I think it was… In Touch Weekly, maybe, that had the best story about Blake “playing hard to get” and that’s what won Leo.

That being said… yeah, look at the Monte Carlo photos at The Mail. Leo and Blake totally look loved up. This is like her relationship equivalent of getting the Chanel contract. Blake waited it out, held out for the big one that would change her life. She is so very ambitious. I really wish her acting talent was as good as her hustle.

UPDATE: By the way, have you seen these NSFW photos? They look quite a bit like Blake. Like, I’m pretty sure it’s her. But she and her rep issued a denial to Us Weekly: “The photos of Blake Lively which have just surfaced on various websites including Perez Hilton and Zap2it are 100 percent fake… Blake has never taken nude photos of herself. Blake will pursue legal action against the publication which initially published these photographs and any other outlets that republish them in any manner.”

Photos courtesy of WENN & Fame.