Today I am so pleased to welcome Leta Blake to Joyfully Jay. Leta has come to talk to us about her latest release, The River Leith. I reviewed this book last week and totally adored it. She has also brought along a copy of the book to give away! Please join me in giving Leta big welcome!
Let’s talk about squicks, baby! First, let me assure you that my latest book, The River Leith, probably doesn’t have anything in it that will squick you out. I say “probably” because, well, I have a friend who is majorly squicked by anything to do with amnesia. Apparently she watched a Fraggle Rock episode as a child that featured amnesia and was so emotionally scarred by it that she just can’t handle amnesia of any kind, in any way, in tv, books, or movies. So, yes, she can’t read The River Leith, obviously, since it’s about a boxer with amnesia and his forgotten vlogger boyfriend.
Anyway, thinking about that reminded me of squicks and how individual they are. For example, I just came across a discussion on Facebook about m-preg and how the, oh, twenty people participating in the conversation are oh-so-grossed-out by it. But when I was at Rainbow Con, there was a panel discussion where a publisher admitted they were looking for m-pregs because they apparently sell like hotcakes on Sunday morning after a football game when everyone needs to drown the taste of victory and/or defeat in maple syrup and carbs. So…you know, despite the extreme hatred of that trope in some quarters, there are a great number of folks who apparently love m-preg. Who knew?
Uh, there is no m-preg in The River Leith. Just to be clear.
I sat on the Taboos in Romance and Erotica panel at Rainbow Con and was surprised, yet again, at how I am not at all squicked out or even ruffled by a lot of things that really gets other people up in arms: fully-shifted shifters having sex, m-preg, tentacles, slave fiction, even rape or dubious-consent stories. However, I am absolutely and utterly unable to deal with emotional affairs in a book. Like, seriously, I want to shake off the sickness that descends on me when I read about affairs. In fact, I had to DNF a book just a few weeks ago because of a surprise!affair storyline. I just can’t stomach it. It’s not something I can really forgive either character for. Remember when The English Patient was considered the epitome of romance? Uh, NO BECAUSE SHE WAS MARRIED OMG. *shudders*
Uh, not to disparage anyone else’s love of The English Patient or affair stories. Please, feel free to love them forever. I mean, that’s kind of what I wanted to talk about today—how everyone’s different and everyone has different things that gross them out. It’s kind of amazing and fascinating, isn’t it? How we are so individual and unique even in these ways? Do you have any strange squicks? Or are there things that other people seem to get completely up-in-arms about but you really can’t be bothered to be disturbed, or maybe you even (not-so) secretly think that thing is hawt?
In The River Leith there are no tentacles, no slavery, no dub-con, no kink of any kind what-so-ever. Unless you consider an amnesiac who has to learn all the things anew to be a kink, and I’m fine with that if you do. Because it’s kinda, whew, sexy, I gotta admit. Ahem. But, seriously, why am I talking to you about squicks today? I guess because I keep thinking about them. I’ve seen so many examples since the panel at Rainbow Con of how we’re all so different. For example, my friend with her amnesia squick! I mean, who would imagine that would be an issue?
Having said all of that, now allow me to present a probably not-at-all squicky-unless-you-share-my-friend’s-horror-of-amnesia excerpt from The River Leith in which poor Zach, forgotten by the love of his life, has just met Leith again for the second first time:
“Zach,” Leith said, turning and looking him in the eye. “You asked if there was anything else you could bring me.”
“Yes.” Zach leaned forward. “Anything.”
“Can you bring some photos?”
“Of your father?”
“Yes, and some from my life these last three years or so? I got a card from a girl. Naomi? An ex-girlfriend, Arthur said. I don’t even know what she looks like. Maybe if I saw her picture…”
Zach pressed his lips together and nodded slowly, his eyes flickering. “Sure. I’ll bring them tomorrow.”
Zach’s eyes made Leith think again of the kinglet’s wings as they’d shimmered in the sunlight. “Thanks.” The air in the room felt heavy. He grabbed the item on top of the basket, keeping his tone light. “This is the cheese I want to marry, huh?”
Standing up, Zach clapped his hands lightly in an almost effeminate manner, and the sound broke the moment. The question seemed to bring about a change in Zach, who said, “Yes, it’s your true love. Or so you declared to me a few months ago.”
Zach’s eyes smiled, filled with amused affection. Leith liked it. He wondered what he could say to make Zach smile like that again. It looked much better on him than the tense sadness he’d come in wearing. Then, just as suddenly, the smile was gone.
“I guess I should leave now.”
Leith’s surprise must have shown on his face. “But you just got here.” And I was just starting to feel comfortable with you.
“I wish I could stay, but I…really can’t.”
“You don’t want to share this cheese?”
“Polyamory was never your style,” Zach countered, and then smiled warmly again.
His teeth were very white, and his lips a reddish pink. Leith thought Zach came across as a little prissy, a little uptight, but something about it made him feel like laughing inside. He must have found him amusing before. Obviously, or else they wouldn’t be best friends.
“The thing is, I have a business to run,” Zach went on. “Unfortunately I need to go.”
“What kind of business?”
“A bar.”
“Oh, my brother owns a bar. On Fifth Avenue in Park Slope. Or so he tells me. Supposedly I used to work—” Leith let the sentence hang. “Right, so you know that, don’t you?”
Zach spun around, moving the chair back into its original position. But Leith had seen his face twist like he was fighting tears.
He faced Leith again. “Believe it or not it’s the same bar. Arthur’s my business partner. I’ll tell you all about it another day, okay? The doctors say it’s time to start introducing you to some of your history, now that you’ve dealt with—” Zach stopped short.
“My father’s death?”
“It takes some time.”
“Time!” Leith said, and threw his hands up.
“Yes.” Zach stiffly lifted his right hand in a flat-palmed wave. “Well, see you.”
“When? Tomorrow?”
Zach nodded, smiling softly. “Sure, if you want.”
“You’ll bring pictures?”
“Sure.” Zach stood there a long moment, and then turned.
Leith noticed there were multiple decorative zippers on the back pockets of Zach’s jeans, drawing attention to his ass. When Zach looked back at the door, Leith jerked his head up.
“All right then. Goodbye.” Zach’s voice was tight, and he seemed as tense as he’d been when he came in.
Leith remembered what Arthur had said, and he called out just as Zach’s hand touched the door knob. “Zach?
When Zach turned, his eyes were a hot green, and his lips trembled a little. “Yes?”
“Hey, uh, before you leave…?” Leith held out his arm to indicate the offer of a hug.
Zach hesitated, lower lip in his teeth, but then crossed over to Leith solemnly. When Zach bent down to hug him, Leith felt him relax in his arms. Leith closed his eyes, surprised when his left hand cupped the back of Zach’s neck in an unplanned motion, his fingers tracing the soft hair there. He took a deep breath. A sweet, spicy scent filled his lungs, and suddenly he was warm all over. His heart jolted. He’d smelled that before. Somewhere. He took another deep breath.
“Don’t forget—I’m not going anywhere,” Zach whispered fiercely.
“I thought you were going to work,” Leith whispered, turning his face toward Zach’s ear, having an odd urge to taste the cologne he smelled.
Zach pulled away, his eyes laughing. “You always think you’re so funny, don’t you?”
For a moment Leith thought something else was about to happen, something that made him lick his lips and hold his breath. But then it passed, and he felt like he’d missed something important.
Zach grabbed a piece of the bread. “You don’t mind sharing?”
Leith was tempted to grab it back, thinking that somehow that would be the right thing to do, but he simply shrugged.
“See you tomorrow, Leith.”
“See you.” Leith said, watching the door shut behind Zach. He smelled his fingers. The sweet-spicy scent of Zach’s cologne clung to them, and deep inside his brain something stirred. It made him jumpy; like there was an itch in there he simply couldn’t scratch.
Blurb
Memory is everything.
After an injury in the ring, amateur boxer Leith Wenz wakes to discover his most recent memories are three years out of date. Unmoored and struggling to face his new reality, Leith must cope anew with painful revelations about his family. His brother is there to support him, but it’s the unfamiliar face of Zach, a man introduced as his best friend, that provides the calm he craves. Until Zach’s presence begins to stir up feelings Leith can’t explain.
For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. He carefully hides the truth from Leith to protect them both from additional pain. His bottled-up turmoil finds release through vlogging, where he confesses his fears and grief to the faceless Internet. But after Leith begins to open up to him, Zach’s choices may come back to haunt him.
Ultimately, Leith must ask his heart the questions memory can no longer answer.
Bio
While Leta Blake would love to tell you that writing transports her to worlds of magic and wonder and then safely returns her to a home of sparkling cleanliness and carefully folded laundry, the reality is a bit different. Instead, piles of laundry and forgotten appointments haunt her life, but the joy of writing and the thrill of finishing a book make the everyday chaos all worth it.
Leta’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively, but her passion has always been in writing, and she most enjoys crafting romance stories that she would like to read. At her home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.
You can find out more about her by following her website (http://letablake.wordpress.com/), facebook (https://www.facebook.com/letablake), or twitter (https://twitter.com/LetaBlake).
Giveaway
Leta has brought a copy of The River Leith to give away to one lucky reader. She will give readers choice of ebook (US or international) or paperback (US only). Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Monday, June 16th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Between the review last week and the excerpt included above, I am going to have to add this to my wishlist. I am glad to say that amnesia stories are not on my personal squick list!
Amy Kathryn, thanks for the interest! I’m glad to hear amnesia isn’t on your personal squick list! 😀 Good luck on the drawing!!
I do not have many squicks, but I personally do not enjoy watersports. Honestly, I feel dirty reading about it. In a complete different level, I would immediately stop reading a book which overlooks or indulges in sexual abuse in children. An absolute no-no.
By bthe way, amnesia is not in my squick list either, and I have read so many good critics on The River Leith that I am looking forward to reading it.
Isn’t it fascinating the things that get under people’s skin? As for watersports, I wrote it once for a friend of mine who really likes reading about it. Since it wasn’t my thing, I did a ton of research on it before I wrote it–why people like it, how it makes them feel, etc etc. I think it came out okay in the end, but I understand it not being someone’s bag…like I said, it’s not really mine! 🙂
Good luck on the drawing! Thank you so much for your interest!
Amnesia doesn’t squick me, though hypnotism sort of does–too many sitcoms where the post-hypnotic suggestion turns the guy into a chicken forever! And eye injuries, forever–eek!
Eye injuries! Wow! That’s one that I never even considered. Did the last season of Buffy do you in? 🙂 Hypnotism–I can see that one. It’s got the non-con potential to it. *nods* Thanks so much for your interest and good luck in the drawing! 😀
Great post. Amnesia doesn’t bother me. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks, Jen! 😀 Good luck on the drawing!
The books sounds really good I find Amnesia a very interesting subject for a book. Please count me in for the Giveaway………..thank you
ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
Thanks, Shirley! It was really fun doing all the research for the amnesia. 🙂 Good luck on the drawing!
I haven’t come across anything which squicks me yet. Amnesia most definitely doesn’t. This book sounds intersting, so please count me in for the giveaway.
BTW, I read Training Season a couple months ago. It’s a great book!
Aw, yay, Andrea! So happy you enjoyed Training Season! 😀 Thanks for the interest in The River Leith! Hope you have good luck in the drawing!
This looks great.
Thanks for the interest! Good luck in the drawing!
Great post & giveaway!
Thanks, Rodney! Good luck in the drawing! 😀
I’ve heard a lot from the goodreads friends. I’d like to try this one too.
Thanks for the interest! 😀 I’m happy to know Goodreads folks are discussing! Yay!!! Good luck on the drawing!
I’d love to win this ebook!
Thanks for the interest, Thomas! Good luck on the drawing! 😀
I’ll read pretty much anything. Child abuse disturbs me but I still read it. The quality of the writing is the most important thing for me with all the books I read.
I hear you on being a diverse reader. I need a book to really resonate with me emotionally and that’s the most important thing to me. Thanks so much for your interest in The River Leith! Good luck on the drawing! 😀
Squicks are few and far between for me and I actually like to at least try reading something that I think might squick me out because pushing boundaries can be important.
Me too, Allison! I’m a bit of a contrarian, even when it comes to myself, and if someone says they don’t like something, it just makes me want to try to write it in a way they’ll like it! LOL!
Good luck on the drawing! Thanks for your interest in The River Leith!
I would love to read this book, thank you for a chance to win an ebook copy in this giveaway.
Thanks for your interest in The River Leith, Su! 😀 Good luck in the drawing!
I want to win!
LOL! Oh, Ale! Maybe this time, babe! 😀 Hoping for good luck for you!
What? No tentacle sex in The River Leith? And this was going to be my first sea monster sex book. *winks*
Really, I’ve heard great things about this book. Thanks for the fun post and giveaway.
Debra, LOL! Nope, not this time! Maybe I’ll get around to tentacle porn when it goes out of fashion. 😉 Hehehe. Thanks for the interest in The River Leith! Good luck in the drawing!!
I admit that I don’t have many squicks… at all. There are certain BDSM practices that are a no for me, but nor many. The one thing that I can’t stand is parent/child incest. Sibling is fine. I even read a uncle/nephew story that was pretty great, but there’s a line there that just can’t be crossed for me. *shudders*
It’s fascinating how everyone has different (and sometimes unusual–though not necessarily in your case!) hard limits, isn’t it? Thanks for the interest in The River Leith! Good luck on the drawing! 😀
I like amnesia stories so not a squick for me. Thanks for the contest!
I hope you enjoy this amnesia story! Thanks for your interest in The River Leith! Good luck to you! 😀
While I have plenty of things I don’t particularly like to read about (most ménage and BDSM, for example), my squicks are few and far between. I rarely DNF a book, but when I do, it’s almost always because it bored me. I can only recall one that I stopped because it disgusted me, and that was a really degrading PWP where the MC felt that he should be treated like sh*t because he was gay. I remember really wishing that that one had a more accurate blurb. (I thought I was getting a romance!) At any rate, I’m really looking forward to The River Leith.
Interesting comment, Joe! I agree that I mostly only DNF if something bores me…or if I start to hate the characters…or if I start rooting for characters to die. Heh. Thanks so much for your interest in The River Leith! I hope you have good luck in the drawing! 😀
I don’t really have any squicks. I used to think I had more, but then I signed up for some reading challenges that push your boundaries, and so far nothing’s been a hard stop. And I’ve reading some thangs *eyebrow waggle*!
Probably my biggest thing that’s not really a squick but kind of is, is second hand embarrassment. If a character in a book/tv show/movie is about to do something horribly humiliating…I can’t do it. I skim/change channels back and forth/pause (which doesn’t really help because IT’S STILL THERE JUST WAITING!) until it’s over.
When it comes down to it, it’s about quality and who the character is, if it’s written well, and makes sense in the story and for the character, then I can just about handle anything.
Can’t wait to read The River Leith! *crosses fingers I win*
So interesting! I was just trying to think of a time when I’ve had serious second hand embarrassment from reading a book. It seems to happen a lot more often when watching tv or a movie. Huh. Interesting! 😀
Anyway, thank you for your interest in The River Leith! 😀 Good luck on the drawing!
Amnesia stories are some of my favorite stories to read. I think my only squicks would be things involving certain body fluids and incest. I’m undecided on the brothercest/twincest version though. The River Leith is on my TBR list. It sounds really good.
Thanks for your interest in The River Leith! 😀 It’s so interesting to read what everyone’s hard boundaries are when it comes to reading. Everyone is so different! 😀
Thanks for the post and giveaway. I have The River Leith on my TBR list. I don’t have any unusual squicks. I am usually the one in my family to do the gross things – like fish rodents out of the pool. 🙂
Yay for being brave enough to be gross! LOL! 😀 Thanks for the interest in The River Leith! Good luck on the drawing! 😀
Personally, I absolutely love mpreg, and I look for all the books with it that I can find.
Ooooh, do you have any good mpreg recs? I’m always a contrarian so when lots of people hate something, it makes me want to give it a go. Though maybe I should just write my own. *ponders* 😀
Thanks for your interest in The River Leith! Good luck on the drawing!
I’m not bothered by amnesia and I absolutely love mpreg stories. I wish there were a lot more stories with mpreg out there. Thank you for the giveaway!
Oh, hit me with some m-preg recs? I am such a contrarian that when I see a lot of people hate something, it makes me want to explore it. LOL!
Thanks for your interest in The River Leith! Good luck on the drawing!
Hey Leta, here are all the books we have reviewed with mpreg: https://joyfullyjay.com/tag/male-pregnancy
It includes a series by Lexi Ander Crissy really liked. It was published by Silver so not sure the fate of it now, but you can check it out.
TBR pile. I have a problem as well with affairs/cheating. And I tend to draw the line at dub and non-con also. And pedophiles. But that leaves a whole lot of room for other things…(off to look for some you listed 🙂
Interesting. I sometimes think I might have a different idea of what cheating is than some other folks because my hang up in books is mainly about emotional affairs, but I think a lot of folks have other hard lines, you know?
Thanks for the interest in The River Leith! I hope you have good luck in the drawing!
This is awesome! I just added this book to my wish list about 2 days ago!
Thank you so much for the interest! Good luck in the drawing!
Please count me in. Thanks.
Thanks for the interest, Karl! Good luck in the drawing for The River Leith! 😀
I would have never even considered amnesia a squick until you termed it as such. Mine is incest. I had to DNF a book recently when the son and father were going at it (even though it was a fantasy). Jus too Jerry Springer for me.
Please count me in. Thanks.
Thanks for the interest in The River Leith! Good luck on the drawing! 😀 And LOL re: Jerry Springer!
Sounds fantastic, can’t wait to read!
Thanks, Sabrina! I hope you enjoy it! Good luck on the drawing!
I not only want this story, I need it!
Aw, love your enthusiasm! <3 Good luck on the drawing!
i am going to buy the ebook right now, so that i hope to win the paperback! vicki. dale.earnhardt03@yahoo.com
Aw, yay! Good luck, Vicki! 😀