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Leta Blake
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The River Leith Kindle Edition

by Leta Blake (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 608 ratings
Amnesia stole his memories, but it can’t erase their love.

Leith is terrified after waking up in a hospital bed to find his most recent memories are three years out of date.

Worse, he can’t even remember how he met the beautiful man who visits him most days. Everyone claims Zach is his best friend, but Leith’s feelings for Zach aren’t friendly.

They’re so much more than that.

Zach fills Leith with longing. Attraction. Affection. Lust. And those feelings are even scarier than losing his memory, because Leith’s always been straight. Hasn’t he?

For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. Leith’s amnesia has stolen everything: their relationship, their happiness, and the man he loves. Suddenly single and alone, Zach knows nothing will ever be okay again.

Desperate to feel better, Zach confesses his grief to the faceless Internet. But his honesty might come back to haunt them both.

The River Leith is a standalone MM romance with amnesia trope, hurt/comfort, bisexual discovery, “first time” gay scenes, a second chance at first love, and a satisfying happy ending.
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  1. Print length
    215 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    May 14, 2014
  5. File size
    3.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

  • 5 STARS. WOW. Just wow. I totally read this book in 1 sitting. It was just. Ugh. I loved it so hard. I couldn't have spent a finer Sunday morning with the birds and my coffee. Well worth the 3.99. WELL WORTH IT. ~ Slits Read Reviews
  • The River Leith is a FANTASTIC book. It will immediately grab you, and hold you, and you won't want the ride to end. ~ The Novel Approach Reviews
  • The River Leith is a delight: devastating, hopeful, sexy, romantic, and true. Leta Blake is fast becoming one of the most exciting new voices in the romance genre. ~ Hayley, I'm With Geek Reviews

From the Inside Flap

  • This story will pull at your heart strings, will make you sweat (because the sex is hotter than the balls of Hades--another area where Leta Blake never disappoints), and will have you put that Kindle down with a happy sigh at the end of it. You don't want to miss out on this one. Highly recommended. ~ Solange, Smut Book Club
  • I loved that this wasn't a story of miracle cure but a journey of two men realising what is important in building a future. This may not be textbook amnesia treatment, but that wasn't really important. What was important was the emotional connection I felt to the characters. I enjoyed the story from beginning to end. ~ Queer Town Abbey Reviews
  • I cannot even begin to express just how much I loved The River Leith. I tore through the book in a few hours because it captured me from the first page and did not let me go. This book completely deserves my ever elusive 5 star rating and its home on my "M/M favorites" shelf with it's gut wrenchingly emotional portrayal of Leith and Zach's story. ~ Erika, Goodreads
  • Raw, beautiful, lyrical, painful, sensual, hopeful. This author gets inside all of it and then lays it open, exposed, for us. The writing. The dialogue. The characters. The love. They're all here. I recommend this to everyone. ~ Prism Book Alliance Reviews
  • Satisfied and very pleased with this book. I look forward to more romances written by Ms. Blake's clever pen. ~ Ingela, Goodreads
  • Leta Blake has quickly become a favorite M/M author for me. I loved Training Season, and was looking forward to her next book. The River Leith delivered. ~ Julie, Goodreads
  • People, this book is SO DAMN GOOD!~ Gigi, Goodreads

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00KCR6LXQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Leta Blake Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 14, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 215 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1626227200
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 608 ratings

About the author

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Leta Blake

Leta Blake

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Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and fan favorites like Training Season, Will & Patrick Wake Up Married, and Slow Heat, Leta Blake has been captivating M/M Romance readers for nearly a decade. Whether writing contemporary romance or fantasy, she puts her psychology background to use creating complex characters and love stories that feel real. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her writing and her family life.

If you'd like to be among the first to know about new releases, you can sign up for Leta's newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bdn32H

Bonus material for the Heat of Love series, Will & Patrick Wake Up Married series, Training Season series, Smoky Mountain Dreams, Mr. Frosty Pants, The River Leith, and more is available on Leta Blake's Patreon account. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/letablake

Or you can find out more about her by following her online:

On the web: https://letablake.com

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letablake

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/LetaBlake

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
608 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be one of the best M/M stories they've read, filled with angst and emotion. The writing is well-executed, and the characters are well-developed, with one customer noting how the narrative and twists make it worth navigating. Customers praise the readability, particularly Leith and Zac's characters, and appreciate the thought-provoking content, with one review highlighting how it captures the human condition. The pacing is engaging, with one customer noting how it grabs readers from the start, and customers like the vlogging elements, with one mentioning the interesting vlog entries by Zach.

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Story qualityReadabilityWriting qualityCharacter developmentThought provokingPacingVlogging
26 customers mention "Story quality"26 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's story, describing it as one of the best M/M stories they've read, filled with angst and emotion, and appreciating its originality.

"...This is an emotional, angst-filled story and Leta Blake did a phenomenal job of conveying that on the page...." Read more

"...But, I assure you, it is not. This is a contemporary gay romance with no supernatural or paranormal elements...." Read more

"I love a good amnesia trope and had high expectations for this one but it didn’t work out in the end...." Read more

"...A wonderfully written beautiful story of love, support and devotion that will have your heart sing." Read more

21 customers mention "Readability"18 positive3 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, with multiple reviews praising Leith and Zac as amazing characters, and one customer particularly appreciating Leith's point of view.

"...Overall this was a good book...." Read more

"I love Leith and Zach. Love Leith especially. I think that he is gone through so much and evolved so much that it was wonderful to see...." Read more

"...Then the amnesia happend. Leith's POV was really good, I loved him and his struggle to try to remember. Zach's video diary was good too...." Read more

"...Leith's struggle to fnd out who he is is agonizing. It is an amazing book. It will tear at your heart." Read more

20 customers mention "Writing quality"16 positive4 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as well-drawn and beautiful, with one customer noting how effectively the author conveys emotions on the page.

"...emotional, angst-filled story and Leta Blake did a phenomenal job of conveying that on the page...." Read more

"...If you’re looking for a light and fluffy read, Zach and Leith’s journey IS NOT it!..." Read more

"...All the characters in this book were well-drawn and crafted, with complex, real, human emotions and reactions. Thank you, Ms. Blake." Read more

"...Poor leith and poor Zach. Even though it was Zach's boneheadedness that did this you can understand the desperation that led to the events...." Read more

18 customers mention "Character development"15 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting well-developed characters and human emotions, with one customer mentioning angsty moments and another describing it as heart-wrenching.

"...This is an emotional, angst-filled story and Leta Blake did a phenomenal job of conveying that on the page...." Read more

"...Yes, this is a romance, but it is so much more. Emotional, thought-provoking story with a likable cast...." Read more

"...Leith, for me, was immediately a sympathetic character. He couldn't remember anything...." Read more

"...in this book were well-drawn and crafted, with complex, real, human emotions and reactions. Thank you, Ms. Blake." Read more

11 customers mention "Thought provoking"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, with one customer noting how it delivers the right amount of angst and feels, while another appreciates how it captures the human condition.

"...All the characters in this book were well-drawn and crafted, with complex, real, human emotions and reactions. Thank you, Ms. Blake." Read more

"...Leta Blake has a wonderful way of capturing the human condition." Read more

"...the story and the characters are still with me, inhabiting my mind in a very pleasant way, the sure sign of a five-star read." Read more

"...go through to find themselves back to each other is heart-breaking, gentle and moving...." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one mentioning how it grabs readers from the start, while another notes how the love story is strong enough to remember.

"Love this book. It was one of the most powerful, moving, and emotional love stories I have ever read...." Read more

"...to find themselves back to each other is heart-breaking, gentle and moving...." Read more

"...about Leith and Zach getting to know each other again and reconnecting to their love...." Read more

"...There are some really moving, angsty moments in this book and I liked how the book ended. Highly recommended." Read more

4 customers mention "Vlogging"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the vlogging aspect of the book, with one customer particularly appreciating the vlog entries by Zach.

"...Zach's video diary was good too. But I hated Zach. I couldn't get over what he done and what he tried to do...." Read more

"...The Vlogging was an interesting aspect of the story and I loved that it was an integral part in Leith and Zach getting their HEA...." Read more

"...I learn something new and thoughtful with every story she writes! Thank you!" Read more

"...I love the vlog entries by Zach." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Smitten with Reading
    5.0 out of 5 stars A rating...
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    My Review:
    Okay, I'll admit it...I have a weak spot for amnesia story lines (as if Snowcroft Lost didn't tell you that) so when I heard Leta Blake came out with one, I knew I had to read it. And I did enjoy it.

    This amnesia story is a bit different in that the doctor's don't believe that Leith will ever get the three years worth of memories back. Normally, that would be enough...he lived and three years are nothing when compared to the options. But for Leith and Zach this is huge because it was within that three years that they met and Leith discovered he was bi, not straight. Everything about their lives is gone from his memory, including the possibility of even being attracted to men which is completely devastating for Zach.

    The other problem with all this is that Leith is a prize-fighter and the injury to his brain means that he gets violent when there is too much input at once that doesn't match with what he knows. As a result, the doctors recommend that they not tell Leith what Zach and he meant to each other before. That would be too much of a shock too early in his recovery.

    This is an emotional, angst-filled story and Leta Blake did a phenomenal job of conveying that on the page. While I hated what the vlog's meant for Zach (I really hated that he put all that out to complete strangers on the web rather than keep it private...it seemed way too ego-driven doing it that way), the emotion shown through those vlog was painful to read. My heart hurt for him. The sense of loss that he has even though Leith is still alive jumps off the page, as does his guilt for mourning for Leith even though he's still alive. I can't imagine being in that position. And poor Leith...he knows that he's missing something, but has no idea what even though he feels the pull to Zach.

    That is the one thing that I truly loved about the story. I loved that that need for Zach is still there. The pull Leith feels toward him is very real throughout the book, even when Leith doesn't understand what it stems from. For me, that made this book work completely for me. It gives a sense of soulmates that I love in my romance and worked for me 100%.

    I was NOT a fan of Leith's therapist. While I enjoyed some of his little zen-like questions, I thought that he was too vague most the time and really hated that he's the one to recommend that they not share the truth with Leith. I could understand why they did it, but thought that he should have better been able to read Leith and lead him to figuring out what Zach meant to him earlier. But this is just a book and that wouldn't have worked for the author's story so I get it. I still remained frustrated by it though.

    Overall this was a good book. There were a few things that i had issues with about it, but the overall story and characters were more than enough to make up for the things that bugged me. I definitely recommend this one if you like amnesia stories as much as me.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Tina J
    4.0 out of 5 stars 4.4 > Emotional and Thought-Provoking
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    POV > Third person

    While the cover is interesting, it looks more like a paranormal or supernatural story than contemporary.
    But, I assure you, it is not. This is a contemporary gay romance with no supernatural or paranormal elements.
    How does one survive the death of their lover, with their lover?
    How does one grieve the loss of himself?
    Is it crazy to be jealous of one's old self or would it be considered natural or normal?
    These are just many of the things Leith and Zach have to face, overcome and/or adapt to when Leith wakes from a major head injury. A lot can happen in three years. People come and go from our lives, important people. Having to relearn people, places, and things. The frustrations of not meeting peoples’ expectations.
    Yes, this is a romance, but it is so much more.
    Emotional, thought-provoking story with a likable cast.
    I’m glad to have finally read this, it’s been in my TBR almost since it was released!
    .
    Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.4 ~ Stars: 4
    ==========================
    ⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon and am voluntarily leaving unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". *****
    3 people found this helpful
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  • R.M.
    3.0 out of 5 stars rounding up my rating
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I love a good amnesia trope and had high expectations for this one but it didn’t work out in the end. It’s like the author wanted to add angst so she threw a lot of trauma at the story but nothing happens with it. The dad is a gambler, our MC is a felon, his mom offed herself, the brother slept with men for money, and he’s suddenly bi.

    All of that baggage was unnecessary and it all gets thrown in at the same time so you can’t even properly process anything. Our MC also has a giant anger problem and deals with any frustration by trying to hit something or someone, really isn’t an appealing thing for me.

    Our other MC sleeps either someone else while all this amnesia things is going on because he’s depressed and I’m sorry but if the love of my life just had a giant accident and is currently at the hospital with amnesia so he can’t remember me or our lives I don’t think at any point I would want to just sleep with a random person.

    If this would have been some time after, maybe a drunk mistake, maybe. But just because you are sad and you thought it would help and while your boyfriend is still at the hospital?

    When our MC finds out towards the end he doesn’t deal with well as expected but then returns right away and everything is forgiven and perfect and HEA. It was so rushed!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Victor
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real emotional love story
    Reviewed in Canada on May 19, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this story. I found that I felt so many different emotions through the story. I highly recommend this book.
    Report
  • Tracy Shayler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly Heartbreaking!!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Wow, I do love this authors amazing writing style and story lines!

    I had read the reviews and knew this book was about Leith, a boxer who after taking a illegal punch to the back of his head, ends up loosing the last 3 years of his memory.

    The story starts with him in hospital. His brother Andrew, partner Zach, and the doctors decide it's best not to fill in the missing years until Leith is well enough to leave the hospital. The fact Leith can not remember anything about his partner Zach, or even the fact he is gay was my biggest concern from the beginning!
    I know many people would feel in this situation honesty is the best policy but is there a right or wrong way to behave in this situation especially when dealing with the human brain!

    Zach's first visit to Leith had me in tears, I knew this book was going to be a emotional heart wrenching read from that exact moment.
    My heart went out to Zach, he was pretending to be just a friend of Leith's but he knew in his heart his partner was probably never going to remember the love or life they had shared together. He must have felt as if the love of his life had died and in turn so had he.

    Leith's side to the story was equally heartbreaking, imagine forgetting the last 3 years of your life, not remembering where you live, people who are supposed to be friends, and the fact your family is not as you remember it to be. On top of how scared he must have felt no one is giving him answers!

    This was a very enjoyable read, it may be heartbreaking at times but there is plenty of humour between the characters and some great sub characters that make this a excellent read. I was wishing throughout for Leith to get his memory back and everything to fall into place but also knew the brain is a complex organ that sometimes just can not heal itself. I can't give the story away so this is a must read!!
    I would really like a second book
    As I would love to know what the next year or Two brings for these wonderful characters!

    Highly recommended!!
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  • jen b
    5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time
    Reviewed in Australia on January 13, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Well written and had a happy ending. I enjoyed the character development of the main characters. I felt like the sibling relationship was put there for more connection between the two main, and didn’t actually add much as a brother (in my opinion) either way, I loved this story and the metaphors throughout. Thank you
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  • Phase58
    4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Lovely read and an unusual storyline which I enjoyed immensely. There's not much else to say without giving the game away but I'll try! I actually have a friend who suffered from a form of amnesia, had to re-learn lots of things but I knew him after his accident, he lives a normal happy life and has readjusted but I know he had many, many frustrations so I can identify with this storyline.
    I loved the characters and how unsure they were of each other and how they didn't want to hurt one another but were desperate to be together. It was very captivating. I would enjoy reading others by this author but find they are overpriced or too short and pricey for me. It has to be at least 300 pages for anything over four quid as I buy so many!!
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  • Klara
    4.0 out of 5 stars Truly, the river
    Reviewed in Australia on March 2, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was one of those books that you can’t put down, you are hurtling towards some unknown destination and you just need to be there for the ride. This is an emotional story, and I think there’s no clear right and wrong way to feel - both are suffering and trying to work through their problems and fears.

    To be honest I thought the vlogging would play a different role in the story that it does - given Leith’s initial views on privacy. As the story mainly focuses on Leith, it was interesting to see a different perspective and also interesting to look back on the vlogs at the end; although honestly I personally am not a fan of this kind of video format...

    I really liked how astute Leith was, even while dealing with coming to grips with the world around him. He is emotionally compromised but definitely seems to embody to an extent the description of the confident person he used to be. As Leith hardly finds out anything about Zach though, we hardly learn that much either and that’s a dimension I really miss.

    For some, the cheating mentioned is a deal breaker. It doesn’t necessarily colour my judgment regarding this book, but I personally don’t agree or get it... however grief can definitely push people to do things they later regret. Zach didn’t necessarily have to grieve (whether I agree is immaterial I guess?) but in this case it seems he does.

    Another heart-wrenching story with some interesting things at play. Some amnesia stories really push to have the main character’s memory return at the end, and I liked that this didn’t shy away from the fact that it just won’t... this is it, they have to move forward. Leith and Zach are due for a definite revisit in the future.
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