— ONE WRONG TURN. ONE RIGHT MAN. —Colin. Rule-follower. Future doctor. Witness to murder. Captive.Taron. Survivalist. Mute. Murderer. Captor.Like every other weekend, Colin is on his way home from university, but he’s taunted by the notion that he never takes risks in life and always follows the beaten path. On impulse, he decides to take a different route. Just this one time. What he doesn’t … different route. Just this one time. What he doesn’t realize is that it’s the last time he has a choice.
He ends up taking a detour into the darkest pit of horror, abducted by a silent, imposing man with a blood-stained axe. But what seems like his worst nightmare might just prove to be a path to the kind of freedom Colin never knew existed.
Taron has lived alone for years. His land, his rules. He’d given up on company long ago. After all, attachment is a liability. He deals with his problems on his own, but the night he needs to dispose of an enemy, he ends up with a witness to his crime.
The last thing Taron needs is a nuisance of a captive. Colin doesn’t deserve death for setting foot on Taron’s land, but keeping him isn’t optimal either. It’s only when he finds out the city boy is gay that an altogether different option arises. One that isn’t right, yet tempts him every time Colin’s pretty eyes glare at him from the cage.
*
“When Taron looped the heavy metal collar around the slender neck and closed the padlock, his body throbbed with the excitement of knowing he owned this boy.
Was it wrong? Yes, yes it was.
Was it so, so good? Definitely.”
Themes: prepping, alternative lifestyles, disability, crime, loneliness, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fish out of water, opposites attract, abduction, Stockholm syndrome, family issues
Genre: Dark, thriller M/M romance
Heat level: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes
Length: ~ 70,000 words (Standalone)
This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.
Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.
more
“You can paint it with real gold, and it’s still gonna be a cage.”
As the first book to the CRIMINAL DELIGHTS Series or as a standalone, this was subtle and very clever. By the end I was rooting for Taran and his gentle soul. You’re kept guessing at each confrontation and taste of freedom, just like Colin is and that in itself shows how well written it is.
This book starts out sort of like most kidnapped ones do. Colin is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is usually a pretty much go by the rules type guy but he is also a very unhappy guy.
Taron is the kidnapper/killer. As the story gets told I found out I sort of felt for Taron. He has not had life easy and he has reasons for the way he is. Their time together ends up making me wonder who is the prisoner.
I enjoyed this story. I just felt there were a few unanswered questions. How did Colin address his change in life to his parents? Didn’t anyone check out the disappearance of two McGraw brothers? Also I follow these author’s and this is mild not dark for their usual stories. I feel its a good story just not up to the usual standards of these two authors.
Terrific Story & Listen A Dark & TwistedRomance!
Wrong Way Home: Taken
Criminal Delights, Book 1
By: K.A. Merikan
Narrated by: Wyatt Baker
This dark and twisted romance captivated my attention from start to end. It is my first K.A. Merikan book and it definitely will not be my last, I enjoyed their writing style and the interesting and original story they created. I liked the two lead characters, yes even the captor, I found him to be the most interesting of the two. Colin the captive, is on his way home from University, he is having thoughts of how his life is in a rut, he has nothing but his studies to become a doctor, no friends to speak of and not the most caring parents. He decides to do something out of the norm and takes a different route home. That route took him off the beaten path and right into a murder scene. Taron, the captor, is in a predicament, he is not sure what to with this person who witnessed what he just did so he just he throws him in a cage in his cellar. Taron is a loner and a survivalist, it was great to learn more about him, his choice of living and what he was all about. A simple, yet complex man, there is a turn in the relationship of the two men, is it just Stockholm syndrome or is it real. I loved how everything plays out in this book, the story is cleverly plotted and there is never a dull moment. There is plenty of drama, angst, twists and turns, thrilling and suspenseful moments as well as heartfelt and emotional ones and some hot loving. K.A Merikan thank you for this terrific story. Shout out to the way you presented the use of sign language in your text, great job well done!!
I listened to the Audible edition, Wyatt Baker is a fantastic narrator and voice artist. He was perfectly casted to bring these characters to life. He gives each their own voice and personalty as well as heart and attitude. He does a great job portraying the characters, grasping their persona completely, emotions and all. He is talented and entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for the great listen
Thank you #BlueRose #BlueRoseReview
This is a pretty twisted tale of murder, attraction, anger and trust. It’s about a man falling for his captor and about difficult choices. It’s also – despite the wrongness of the plot-line – so very, very captivating.
When reading so called dark romances, I’m usually vacillating between some kind of strange fascination and slight nausea, with quick stops at all kinds of emotions in between. But Wrong Way Home definitely kept me securely at the fascinated end of the spectrum. It even turned quite sweet and romantic now and again, so obviously it’s a vanilla dark romance, which suits me just fine.
This was a sizzling hot read. It’s all very twisted. But despite the fact that Colin is held prisoner by Taron, every physical encounter is entirely consensual. Which without a doubt contributes a lot in relieving the heavy.
Well sure, the read starts with Taron chopping a mans face off with an axe. It’s gross. But it’s not only Colin who is persuaded to look past that, the Merikans manages to make the reader look past that too. That’s pretty talented.
I was entirely sucked into this story. The changes in perception of circumstances and the general view of the world that Colin goes through is utterly fascinating. It’s also quite thought provoking. And even though the story is pretty extreme, I can absolutely see the allure of the simpler, less stressful, life that Colin and Taron chooses in the end.
I won’t lie, the sexy-times in Wrong Way Home contributed quite a lot in making this an awesome story. Simply put, it’s top notch smut. And I love me some great smut. But in the context of this story, the shagging is so much more than just hot dick-action. The dynamics between captive and captor, Colin’s contradictory feelings, it all adds to the complexity and depth of the story. In other words, it’s truly a great read.
https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se/
This story, despite being written by K.A. Merikan and being the first book in the Criminal Delights series, was not as dark as I thought it would be. It was still dark and twisted, but in delightful way. Colin was a brat who made a wrong turn and became Taron’s captive. Taron, a doomsday prepper and mute, had a tough exterior with a marshmallow center. I liked watching the development from kidnapper and captive, to kinky lovers, and I did enjoy the sex scenes.
Overall: 3.75 Stars. This is not my favorite book by K.A. Merikan, but the writing was wonderful and the sex scenes were hot. The plot and character development could have been a little more darker, but over all it was an enjoyable read.
Loved this first book in Criminal Delights series! Dark, deliciously sexy, fantastic characters, and just everything I’ve come to love about K.A. Merikan books.
Wrong Way Home: Taken by K.A. Merikan is the first book in The Criminal Delights series. It has dark and twisted themes, with lots of heat and even romance. I found the characters of Taron and Colin interesting and they definitely kept my attention with their interactions and inner dialogue. I cant wait to see what the other books in series will hold for me.
.
Wrong Way Home is dark, twisted, and some angst. There are no words to describe this book but to say its good. I’m not going to go into details because I fear I would give out to many details before anyone reads it. Colin and Taron are great together and I absolutely love them. I love all K. A. Merikan books and this one didn’t disappoint.
One impulse decision is about to change two lives forever…
Colin is a medical student. Tired of the expectations people around him have about his life he’s about to embark on a journey that will take him to a dark place. Returning home for the weekend he suddenly decides to take a different route home. What he never expected was to witness something horrifying and be taken captive by a silent, broody, imposing man.
Taron has lived a solitary life for years. Just him and his cats, he’s self-sufficient, his home is his haven and he’s worked hard to keep it that way. When a pretty boy gets caught up in his life and sees something that can’t ever be unseen he has no choice other than abducting him.
Colin’s emotions run riot after his capture. There’s anger, resentment, acceptance of sorts and the ever-present sexual attraction. For his part Taron can’t believe Colin has disrupted his life, he never wanted to develop feelings like this for anyone.
I loved both these characters. Colin was just a bit sassy, just a bit bratty, and just a bit adorable. And Taron…I ended up falling in love with him big time. He melted my heart on more than one occasion. I really wasn’t sure what to expect with his character initially.
Could a story that really centers around only two characters one of which is mute really hold my attention? And the answer is most definitely yes. Through the use of sign language, worked so well into the book, I almost forget Taron wasn’t actually talking. The sex is scorching hot but these two are also just a bit cute together…and hello…a first kiss (literally) that had me swooning…Not as dark as I was expecting but that’s perfectly ok here. This was a refreshing change on the Captive theme…
I recommend this book!
DBO~Review by Judith
I would rate this 4 stars.
This series has very dark themes. Each book is by a different author and can be read as standalones. Please pay attention to the trigger warnings and tags.
The first two chapters are Colin’s POV as he takes a new route home to visit his parents and ends up seeing a murder. The horror elements are well done. I understand the negotiating–believing maybe if Colin tried to offer favors it might save his life or improve his quality of life in the situation. I think for me, the attraction was too quick on Colin’s part after what he witnessed. Chapter three shows Tarin’s POV. He’s not a psychopath, but he is a survivalist and definitely follows his own rules and moral code. After the initial awkwardness in transitioning them from captor/hostage to actual lovers, he book gets very intriguing when absorbing the reader in what might be Stockholm Syndrome. The sex here is raw, wild, and brutal the first few times and then gets intense with intimacy as the book progresses. As the rest of the book alternates between them, both characters get their layers peeled away.
I liked the blurb and got drawn into the possibilities presented, but the book ends up having a very different feel than what I thought it would be. The original murder is explained and Tarin ends up being quite thoughtful, if stubborn and damaged by past trauma. Colin starts out as not terribly happy and filled with anxiety about decisions and disappointing his family. He and Tarin are strangely well suited and while he may not realise it, his true personality comes out once he feels “safe” enough to fight with Tarin. The noncon/dubcon part of the scenario would have always hung over them unless it was addressed; so while it is addressed, I think I might have liked Colin and Tarin to have more time apart and Colin to have come back on his own, on equal footing. I’ll not spoil it, but there was an opportunity to bring some of the horror elements from the beginning, back into the story and the authors chose a different path. It is also awkward in parts and the plot is a bit thin. Overall, this is a surprisingly sweet romance about two men who might have never met but for fate. They both learn what having a relationship actually means (working together towards a common goal, compromise, listening to each other, respect) and that they are stronger and happier together than apart.
don’t ever mess with a man’s pets
This was so much more than just a shortcut
Collin lived a pretty pathetic and mundane existence
Always the people pleaser following the rules
Studying for a degree he really didn’t want
Until a voice convinced him to try the road less traveled
Taron lived his life off the grid and for good reason
He didn’t need complications and when one arose he took care of it swiftly
Until one complication led him to another – this one not so easily dismissed
This was nothing like I originally thought it would be
I actually liked Taron and Collin just needed a strong hand and some guidance to figure out what He wanted
Colin and Taron are 2 men that are opposite but in ways they are met to be together.
This book Is a dark thriller with a rawness to the story plot that keeps you glued in. I voluntarily review this book for my honest opinion.
This book is an emotional wringer. My heart is still hammering after the overload of feelings I’ve lived through: sadness,terror,hope,despair, affection, hate.
The characters are so greatly written that you get immediately engaged with their stories. They’re basically two opposites brought together by circumstances: one with an overworking heart and the other who seems emotionally stunted, Colin who talks too much and Taron who can’t actually speak. They clash and they attract, they hate and they care. And they doubt: would they feel the same way for the other had they met in another way?
This book is gritty, disturbing, ugly and yet ,it’s also a beautiful romance. They found love only because one faithful night Colin took the Wrong Way Home which directed him right where he belongs.
Colin is a very normal medical student, with overly demanding parents and classmates who urge him to get out more, instead of staying all day.
But his life is completely turned upside down when, going home, he decides it’s time to take his own life in hand and start making choices on his own, but the bad luck has it that his first choice is to not follow the usual way to go home, and this will lead him into Taron, a mighty man with a rough and wild appearance, at the exact moment he is killing a man with his ax.
Taron not knowing what to do, since he did not expect witnesses in such a remote area in the depths of the forest, decides that the only feasible solution is to lock up Colin in his basement, then things will go as they will.
I loved Colin’s spirit right from the start, as he found himself in a dangerous and frightening situation, but not afraid to say what he thinks, even if at the beginning at least, his complaints are not even considered by Taron, who due to a medical problem has difficulty communicating verbally, only whispering and using sign language.
Taron even if cold at the beginning, never treats Colin badly or in a violent way, on the contrary, he tries in every way to make his “obligatory stay” as pleasant as possible, bringing him books and cooking for him, not to mention the company that the many cats of Taron procure him.
But this is obviously not enough, and discovering that like him, even his jailer is gay, he decides to earn his trust through seduction.
What had to be just sex, however, turns into something more with time, and the forced company leads to knowing the different sides of people, and the anger you felt at the beginning turns into something very similar to love.
Both characters fascinated me, and despite all that Taron did wrong, in the end I couldn’t hate him, hoping until the end that somehow things would settle for the two protagonists, to find the happiness that in the end both agonized, perhaps without knowing it.