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Wrong Way Home
Criminal Delights
--- 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 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.”
*
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
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
Erotic content: 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 will contain 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.
This story contains scenes of explicit violence, offensive language, morally ambiguous characters.
This book is part of the Criminal Delights series. For other books in the collection, please see: Criminal Delights Listopia
--- 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 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.”
*
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
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
Erotic content: 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 will contain 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.
This story contains scenes of explicit violence, offensive language, morally ambiguous characters.
This book is part of the Criminal Delights series. For other books in the collection, please see: Criminal Delights Listopia
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2019
711 people are currently reading
2513 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Merikan
130 books3,005 followers(Goodreads profile run by Kat)
K. A. Merikan is a duo of queer writers who don’t believe in following the well-trodden path. In their books you can dip your toe into dangerous romance with mafiosi, outlaw bikers and bad boys, all from the safety of your sofa. They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and in fiction. Their stories don’t shy away from exploring the darker side of M/M romance, and feature a variety of anti-heroes, rebels, misfits, and underdogs who go against the grain.
Be prepared for shocking twists, dark humor, raw emotions, and sizzling hot scenes.
K.A. Merikan also writes steamy M/M romcoms as Devon Doe.
e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com
More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamerikan
K. A. Merikan is a duo of queer writers who don’t believe in following the well-trodden path. In their books you can dip your toe into dangerous romance with mafiosi, outlaw bikers and bad boys, all from the safety of your sofa. They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and in fiction. Their stories don’t shy away from exploring the darker side of M/M romance, and feature a variety of anti-heroes, rebels, misfits, and underdogs who go against the grain.
Be prepared for shocking twists, dark humor, raw emotions, and sizzling hot scenes.
K.A. Merikan also writes steamy M/M romcoms as Devon Doe.
e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com
More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamerikan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 515 reviews
May 20, 2022
My interest in this flew away pretty damn early on.
This is honestly a reason why I’m hardly interested in reading Stockholm syndrome books. I’m definitely open to reading them, I’m just not a fan of characters giving in pretty easily. And it felt like that happened here.
Part of it is my fault, I guess. I didn’t know this would be a negotiation kind of book where Colin offers sex to Taron, which he does to earn his trust so he can then escape. I think if I had known this, I would have either not read this at all or gone into it with a different mindset. I originally thought Colin would have tried getting close to Taron emotionally, as a person, by being interested in knowing more. You know, by being a captive who slowly starts talking to him. Which, yes, he does, but there was sex involved.
I would have thought Colin would be stronger—mentally and emotionally. Sure, he obviously couldn’t really beat Taron (even though he did try, which I gotta say I was impressed with what he managed to do), but his emotions got to him, and therefore he got a little weak. His inner monologue would be about how Taron looked like and what would he feel like and blah blah blah. He felt like every other SS character I’ve read about, which isn’t a lot, for reasons like these. So to me, this wasn’t a slow burn.
The first sex scene was outside on the muddy, wet, ground. Unprotected too. Which, I get it, Taron is pretty damn primal, so it wasn’t that what bothered me (although, ew, unprotected sex on a puddle). It was just the first sex scene before Colin offered sex, and I was over it. It was 25% in. I was like, Colin, buddy, you’ve been here a couple of days and you’re already whimpering and gasping over this bearded, huge man who has a collar wrapped around your neck. I would have expected Colin to try and fight Taron one way or another during this scene. After all, he was kidnapped, is living in a cage, and is being washed/sprayed with a hose at this moment. I was hoping something would happen to show resistance. But no, the moment those meaty hands touched his body, he was a goner. And I get it, it was pretty much a dub-con scene. This is tagged as dark, so the dark elements (like violence/murder, kidnapping, dub-con) make sense, although not as dark as some might expect. Still, my issue wasn’t all that, it was how Colin started lusting and became aroused by it all early on. Even with dub-con, the development, tension, and denial would have been explored better if Colin went from someone who truly didn’t want anything with Taron, to not understanding how or why his body wants it even if his mind and heart say no, to the complete attraction he would then develop.
*Sigh* Okay so my issue is sex, clearly.
Their relationship timeline also felt so inconsistent. I didn’t understand how the two, but especially Colin, formed a romantic attraction toward each other. Taron said “I love you” and I was like “WHY?” Like, genuinely, I don’t know where they came from. One moment Colin said he hated him, then he was lusting over him, then he thought he was nice, then he was mad again and apparently hated him, then he was starting to like him again, then he hated him again, and it just went on and on. A repetitive cycle of hate to like. Felt more inconsistent than a push and pull and I’m only saying that because push and pull dynamics can be consistent.
The suspense was pretty boring.
Anyways, not for me. I was bored early on and couldn’t care what happened after the first sex scene. The second one was my breaking point.
I already forgot what happened, to be honest, so if anyone asks what the characters were like, what the plot was, or what happened, let’s blame it on the fact that it’s finals season for me.
This is honestly a reason why I’m hardly interested in reading Stockholm syndrome books. I’m definitely open to reading them, I’m just not a fan of characters giving in pretty easily. And it felt like that happened here.
Part of it is my fault, I guess. I didn’t know this would be a negotiation kind of book where Colin offers sex to Taron, which he does to earn his trust so he can then escape. I think if I had known this, I would have either not read this at all or gone into it with a different mindset. I originally thought Colin would have tried getting close to Taron emotionally, as a person, by being interested in knowing more. You know, by being a captive who slowly starts talking to him. Which, yes, he does, but there was sex involved.
I would have thought Colin would be stronger—mentally and emotionally. Sure, he obviously couldn’t really beat Taron (even though he did try, which I gotta say I was impressed with what he managed to do), but his emotions got to him, and therefore he got a little weak. His inner monologue would be about how Taron looked like and what would he feel like and blah blah blah. He felt like every other SS character I’ve read about, which isn’t a lot, for reasons like these. So to me, this wasn’t a slow burn.
The first sex scene was outside on the muddy, wet, ground. Unprotected too. Which, I get it, Taron is pretty damn primal, so it wasn’t that what bothered me (although, ew, unprotected sex on a puddle). It was just the first sex scene before Colin offered sex, and I was over it. It was 25% in. I was like, Colin, buddy, you’ve been here a couple of days and you’re already whimpering and gasping over this bearded, huge man who has a collar wrapped around your neck. I would have expected Colin to try and fight Taron one way or another during this scene. After all, he was kidnapped, is living in a cage, and is being washed/sprayed with a hose at this moment. I was hoping something would happen to show resistance. But no, the moment those meaty hands touched his body, he was a goner. And I get it, it was pretty much a dub-con scene. This is tagged as dark, so the dark elements (like violence/murder, kidnapping, dub-con) make sense, although not as dark as some might expect. Still, my issue wasn’t all that, it was how Colin started lusting and became aroused by it all early on. Even with dub-con, the development, tension, and denial would have been explored better if Colin went from someone who truly didn’t want anything with Taron, to not understanding how or why his body wants it even if his mind and heart say no, to the complete attraction he would then develop.
*Sigh* Okay so my issue is sex, clearly.
Their relationship timeline also felt so inconsistent. I didn’t understand how the two, but especially Colin, formed a romantic attraction toward each other. Taron said “I love you” and I was like “WHY?” Like, genuinely, I don’t know where they came from. One moment Colin said he hated him, then he was lusting over him, then he thought he was nice, then he was mad again and apparently hated him, then he was starting to like him again, then he hated him again, and it just went on and on. A repetitive cycle of hate to like. Felt more inconsistent than a push and pull and I’m only saying that because push and pull dynamics can be consistent.
The suspense was pretty boring.
Anyways, not for me. I was bored early on and couldn’t care what happened after the first sex scene. The second one was my breaking point.
I already forgot what happened, to be honest, so if anyone asks what the characters were like, what the plot was, or what happened, let’s blame it on the fact that it’s finals season for me.
March 19, 2019
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 abduct 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 centres 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...
Recommend Read.
Review copy.
September 24, 2025
I love books with a risky premise, and this is definitely that.
Colin is relatably neurotic and Taron has lots of layers. Empathy for both guys in different ways.
The first time they have sex is wild. Liberating and primal. I’m glad that they don’t wait forever. It’s unrealistic, and they’re both quite taken with one another.
Their banter is actually really cute.
The authors write brilliantly about damaged men who find each other when they didn’t even realize they needed to. They shred the formulas of (gay) romance, and they do so with welcome aplomb.
After Colin has the leg issue and Taron tells him all about Wyoming, and something else rather crucial…damn! Then setting him free…I won’t spoil anything, but this story has some moments.
The ending is beautiful. Clearly, someone was right all along.
“With you, living isn’t just about the future collapse anymore. It’s worth living now.”
Colin is relatably neurotic and Taron has lots of layers. Empathy for both guys in different ways.
The first time they have sex is wild. Liberating and primal. I’m glad that they don’t wait forever. It’s unrealistic, and they’re both quite taken with one another.
Their banter is actually really cute.
The authors write brilliantly about damaged men who find each other when they didn’t even realize they needed to. They shred the formulas of (gay) romance, and they do so with welcome aplomb.
After Colin has the leg issue and Taron tells him all about Wyoming, and something else rather crucial…damn! Then setting him free…I won’t spoil anything, but this story has some moments.
The ending is beautiful. Clearly, someone was right all along.
“With you, living isn’t just about the future collapse anymore. It’s worth living now.”
August 8, 2023
He’d found a most precious gem in the deepest mud, and he would never let go of it.
After a rough start, the last half won me over. That ending!!! Now that’s a story I want to continue.
Captivity
Murder
Stockholm syndrome
Copious sex scenes
Homestead/prepper
Disability
Dark-ish
Loads of cats
What stopped me from giving this a five star is the lack of character depth with Colin. The entire beginning of the story centers around his character, and I couldn’t connect with him at all until the end.
Taron stole my heart.
The last half of the book really came together, and I appreciated the character arcs and unique storytelling.
Maybe that fucking audiobook had been right. Maybe change was always good, even if difficult.
After a rough start, the last half won me over. That ending!!! Now that’s a story I want to continue.
Captivity
Murder
Stockholm syndrome
Copious sex scenes
Homestead/prepper
Disability
Dark-ish
Loads of cats
What stopped me from giving this a five star is the lack of character depth with Colin. The entire beginning of the story centers around his character, and I couldn’t connect with him at all until the end.
Taron stole my heart.
The last half of the book really came together, and I appreciated the character arcs and unique storytelling.
Maybe that fucking audiobook had been right. Maybe change was always good, even if difficult.
April 17, 2019
Audio - 3.5 stars
Story - 2.75 stars
I liked the story, but didn't feel the connection between the MCs until the end.
Story - 2.75 stars
I liked the story, but didn't feel the connection between the MCs until the end.
May 30, 2019
3.75 Stars
Colin was studying pre-med and would off to medical school soon. He didn’t have friends and wasn’t going to make any. He had never felt that he fit in with others. He always was a good boy, he was predictable and always followed the path laid out for him. He got good grades, he was studying to become a doctor, whatever his parents wanted. But when he’d foolishly decided to “shake things up a bit” and take a wrong turn home... well, you could guess what would happen to those who got lost…
Told in dual POV, 3rd person, it’s in the "Criminal Delights" world and it can be read as a standalone. It was enjoyable but the ending was a bit rushed. It’s an angsty emotional read but it’s not really dark (I expected something really dark because it had the potential). I liked both characters and their banters and I love that cover as well. All in all, I liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
Colin was studying pre-med and would off to medical school soon. He didn’t have friends and wasn’t going to make any. He had never felt that he fit in with others. He always was a good boy, he was predictable and always followed the path laid out for him. He got good grades, he was studying to become a doctor, whatever his parents wanted. But when he’d foolishly decided to “shake things up a bit” and take a wrong turn home... well, you could guess what would happen to those who got lost…
Told in dual POV, 3rd person, it’s in the "Criminal Delights" world and it can be read as a standalone. It was enjoyable but the ending was a bit rushed. It’s an angsty emotional read but it’s not really dark (I expected something really dark because it had the potential). I liked both characters and their banters and I love that cover as well. All in all, I liked it and hope you enjoy it as well!
Read
March 26, 2019
Coming out 15th April 2019
From the reviews I guess I've got to claim the tag of err... sweet dark romance??? XD
PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/KAMerikan...
This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and will contain 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.
![Profile Image for Imme [trying to crawl out of hiatus] van Gorp.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1700013408i%2F101358081._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 8, 2025
|| 4.0 stars ||
➛First read: March 2022 | ★5.0 stars
➛Second read: January 2023 | ★4.0 stars
DAMN, I loved this!
This was such a great portrayal of Stockholm Syndrome, and I loved the plot, characters and relationship!
The progression in this was so good, it didn't go too fast or too slow; it was just right.
The plot had a really nice pace and had quite a bit of suspense; I was extremely invested in it!
The relationship luckily also wasn't any type of insta-love, even though it wasn't really a slow-burn either. It was somewhere in the middle.
I also liked that although Colin was a captive, he was not weak or anything. He didn't just give in and fell in love. No. He hated Taron and the only reason he wanted to get close to him was so he could earn his trust and escape: until, of course.. He did start to catch feelings.
And even then, when Taron pissed him off: he stood his ground, and would, for example, just ignore him completely. He truly had his own will and I really appreciated that. He luckily displayed no doormat behaviour!
I also liked that Taron wasn't this evil or sadistic guy: his hobbies did not include murder and kidnapping; it was all just a matter of circumstance. It made it easier for me to understand how Colin and him could grow a real relationship out of true love. They were both capable of it, although neither had anticipated it.
Then again, Taron did get on my nerves from time to time. He could be terribly obtuse, and some of his behaviour towards Colin was very uncalled for. He could definitely be a bit more apologetic.
I honestly thought this was an amazing read: it had dark themes and a thrilling plot, yet I also truly cared about the relationship. There was so much chemistry here; and I was swooning quite a lot.
However, my one big complaint was that there was way too much smut. This book could have used a bit more depth, and a lot less sex.
'CRIMINAL DELIGHTS' COLLECTION:
Taken:
1. Wrong Way Home - 4.0 stars
5. Sweating Lies (Lies #1) - 4.5 stars
15. To Have and to Hold - 3.0 stars
16. Splitting Lies (Lies #2) - 3.5 stars
Assassins:
12. By Way of Pain - 1.0 star
14. Cold Light - 2.0 stars
Other K.A. Merikan books:
‘Sex & Mayhem’ series - var. ratings
Mr. Jaguar - 3.0 stars
Not Like Other Boys - 4.5 stars
‘Guns n’ Boys’ series - var. ratings
The Cattery - 3.5 stars
Break My Shell - 3.5 stars
The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple - 3.5 stars
‘Kings of Hell MC’ series - var. ratings
‘Wrong Side of the Tracks’ series - var. ratings
➛First read: March 2022 | ★5.0 stars
➛Second read: January 2023 | ★4.0 stars
DAMN, I loved this!
This was such a great portrayal of Stockholm Syndrome, and I loved the plot, characters and relationship!
The progression in this was so good, it didn't go too fast or too slow; it was just right.
The plot had a really nice pace and had quite a bit of suspense; I was extremely invested in it!
The relationship luckily also wasn't any type of insta-love, even though it wasn't really a slow-burn either. It was somewhere in the middle.
I also liked that although Colin was a captive, he was not weak or anything. He didn't just give in and fell in love. No. He hated Taron and the only reason he wanted to get close to him was so he could earn his trust and escape: until, of course.. He did start to catch feelings.
And even then, when Taron pissed him off: he stood his ground, and would, for example, just ignore him completely. He truly had his own will and I really appreciated that. He luckily displayed no doormat behaviour!
I also liked that Taron wasn't this evil or sadistic guy: his hobbies did not include murder and kidnapping; it was all just a matter of circumstance. It made it easier for me to understand how Colin and him could grow a real relationship out of true love. They were both capable of it, although neither had anticipated it.
Then again, Taron did get on my nerves from time to time. He could be terribly obtuse, and some of his behaviour towards Colin was very uncalled for. He could definitely be a bit more apologetic.
I honestly thought this was an amazing read: it had dark themes and a thrilling plot, yet I also truly cared about the relationship. There was so much chemistry here; and I was swooning quite a lot.
However, my one big complaint was that there was way too much smut. This book could have used a bit more depth, and a lot less sex.
'CRIMINAL DELIGHTS' COLLECTION:
Taken:
1. Wrong Way Home - 4.0 stars
5. Sweating Lies (Lies #1) - 4.5 stars
15. To Have and to Hold - 3.0 stars
16. Splitting Lies (Lies #2) - 3.5 stars
Assassins:
12. By Way of Pain - 1.0 star
14. Cold Light - 2.0 stars
Other K.A. Merikan books:
‘Sex & Mayhem’ series - var. ratings
Mr. Jaguar - 3.0 stars
Not Like Other Boys - 4.5 stars
‘Guns n’ Boys’ series - var. ratings
The Cattery - 3.5 stars
Break My Shell - 3.5 stars
The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple - 3.5 stars
‘Kings of Hell MC’ series - var. ratings
‘Wrong Side of the Tracks’ series - var. ratings
April 25, 2019
3 Stars!
These ladies really know how to do a dark romance. So color me shocked when I came away from this story thinking this wasn't as dark as I was hoping it would be. I guess I was a bit disappointed by that. How messed does that make me sound? LOL I just feel that reading a lot of these ladies stories, that they could've went a lot darker with this.
I think my biggest issue with the story was Colin. He just never grew on me. He made it really hard for me to feel any connection between him and Taron. I just felt like it was more sexual than anything. I didn't feel the love coming from Colin. Taron on the other hand I felt he truly cared for Colin and loved him. I liked him. Figures I would like the more messed up character. LOL
In all it was an interesting story just not one that totally blew my mind. But I love these ladies and will continue to read anything they put out.
Happy reading dolls. xx
ARC was given to me by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
These ladies really know how to do a dark romance. So color me shocked when I came away from this story thinking this wasn't as dark as I was hoping it would be. I guess I was a bit disappointed by that. How messed does that make me sound? LOL I just feel that reading a lot of these ladies stories, that they could've went a lot darker with this.
I think my biggest issue with the story was Colin. He just never grew on me. He made it really hard for me to feel any connection between him and Taron. I just felt like it was more sexual than anything. I didn't feel the love coming from Colin. Taron on the other hand I felt he truly cared for Colin and loved him. I liked him. Figures I would like the more messed up character. LOL
In all it was an interesting story just not one that totally blew my mind. But I love these ladies and will continue to read anything they put out.
Happy reading dolls. xx
ARC was given to me by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2019
Don’t know why I waited this long to read this book because this is a classic K.A. Merikan. ❤️ It’s true that this book isn’t as dark as I thought it would be but it makes up for it by delicious kidnapping, some dub-con scenes and my personal favorite trope, “Stockholm Sydrome”. 😉👏 Plus, the sex was smoking hot. 🔥 I think Taron was quite endearing despite his brutish ways. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I gotta read more of these “Criminal Delight” books. So far, they have been a win for me. 😌
4 It was right way home stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 It was right way home stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 22, 2023
This was really enjoyable. I loved Taron and Colin together.
January 19, 2021
These authors never fail. So good!! Ugh the story in a sense feels wrong but loved it anyway.
March 28, 2019
*4.25 stars*
A couple weeks back I was waiting with my kid to cross the road. A car with two people in it stopped and the driver smiled and politely nodded me to go ahead. I said thanks and moved on. The guy started the car again and proceeded to STEAL THE BAG OF AN OLD WOMAN who was standing by the side of the road. You guys, my polite thief was just.like.Taron! Taron zippes Colin’s jacket all the way up when it’s cold…after putting a shock collar around his neck. He also buckles the seatbelt around him and then dumps a body in the car. Totally reminded me of Grim in His Favorite Color Is Blood: Coffin Nails MC and his weird pinky promise to Misha in the beginning!
First things first, do not even attempt to read this if you ‘re offended by immoral (I’m using it loosely here) characters. Or you know, you don’t want your protagonist to be an axe killer. Or if the lines between right and wrong don’t exist. Please read the tags!
Taron is….um…complex. He had a traumatic experience and now he lives alone in a remote cabin in the most self sufficient way. He is also mute and his best friends are his cats! He has so many cats that he takes care of. But you know, life is harsh and sometimes you need to put an axe through someone’s scull.
The one time Colin decided to take a different route home he ended up witnessing a murder. Just his luck. He hates his captor, the strange mountain of a man who keeps him in a cage but seems to care in a strange way, but at the same time he starts having…feelings.
I found that Colin starting to feel more like a willing captive was perfectly depicted on page. Stockholm Syndrome or not (again, I didn’t even try to analyze it), everything just clicked. Colin who always felt that he was fulfilling other people’s expectations, who never felt loved by his parents, who always heard people whispering behind his back, now starts feeling at home in Taron’s cabin.
This is also a very sexy book! I LOVED the unwanted “I love you” scene, the way back home (the right one this time), and all the angst in the end. The epilogue was so, so sweet and you know….maybe Taron wasn’t so cray cray after all….hmmmm.
I like dark reads and after reading The Merikans for years now this was a walk in the park for me so I can’t say that I recommend it for everyone. But I loved it and found it BRILLIANT.
*Review cross posted on Gay Book Reviews.*
A couple weeks back I was waiting with my kid to cross the road. A car with two people in it stopped and the driver smiled and politely nodded me to go ahead. I said thanks and moved on. The guy started the car again and proceeded to STEAL THE BAG OF AN OLD WOMAN who was standing by the side of the road. You guys, my polite thief was just.like.Taron! Taron zippes Colin’s jacket all the way up when it’s cold…after putting a shock collar around his neck. He also buckles the seatbelt around him and then dumps a body in the car. Totally reminded me of Grim in His Favorite Color Is Blood: Coffin Nails MC and his weird pinky promise to Misha in the beginning!
First things first, do not even attempt to read this if you ‘re offended by immoral (I’m using it loosely here) characters. Or you know, you don’t want your protagonist to be an axe killer. Or if the lines between right and wrong don’t exist. Please read the tags!
Taron is….um…complex. He had a traumatic experience and now he lives alone in a remote cabin in the most self sufficient way. He is also mute and his best friends are his cats! He has so many cats that he takes care of. But you know, life is harsh and sometimes you need to put an axe through someone’s scull.
The one time Colin decided to take a different route home he ended up witnessing a murder. Just his luck. He hates his captor, the strange mountain of a man who keeps him in a cage but seems to care in a strange way, but at the same time he starts having…feelings.
I found that Colin starting to feel more like a willing captive was perfectly depicted on page. Stockholm Syndrome or not (again, I didn’t even try to analyze it), everything just clicked. Colin who always felt that he was fulfilling other people’s expectations, who never felt loved by his parents, who always heard people whispering behind his back, now starts feeling at home in Taron’s cabin.
This is also a very sexy book! I LOVED the unwanted “I love you” scene, the way back home (the right one this time), and all the angst in the end. The epilogue was so, so sweet and you know….maybe Taron wasn’t so cray cray after all….hmmmm.
I like dark reads and after reading The Merikans for years now this was a walk in the park for me so I can’t say that I recommend it for everyone. But I loved it and found it BRILLIANT.
*Review cross posted on Gay Book Reviews.*
April 15, 2019
Thoughtful and introspective, Wrong Way Home looks at how one man processes the changes in his life as every freedom is stripped away. A standalone story in the Criminal Delights series, K.A. Merikan’s Wrong Way Home is a dark tale of violence and lust. It’s also a romance that walks a fine line between Stockholm syndrome and true love, as only this author duo can do it.
I can always count on K.A. Merikan to find the silver lining in a bad situation, and what happens to the characters in this novel as their relationship evolves is both disturbing and marvelous. An unlikely couple, Colin and Taron turn out to be just what the other needs.
Stressed out, frustrated, and lonely, after toeing the line his whole life Colin wants to shake things up a little. He figures, why not take a different way home? Well that decision not only changes his life forever; it throws a monster monkey wrench into Taron’s plans as well.
Wishing to live in peace and solitude, Taron created a compound to prepare for the next catastrophic disaster. When a feud with the neighbors escalates into manslaughter, Colin is an unlucky witness. Since Taron doesn’t want to kill him, they’re going to have to find a way to live together.
Told mostly from Colin’s point of view, it’s interesting to see how he processes his captivity. He wavers between the relief of being pulled out of the rat race, and guilt over embracing what’s happening to him. We do get a few glimpses into Taron’s psyche. A simple man who has been through some intense trauma, having a partner and sharing his safe haven was never in his plans.
I enjoy the way the authors develop the romance between these two men. At the start, whether it’s Stockholm syndrome or a true attraction doesn’t matter to Colin because Taron is hot and they’re both horny as hell. They’ve got fantastic chemistry and we get some magnificent scenes between them.
The tension builds throughout Wrong Way Home, and the uncertainty of what will happen next is wonderful. As both men come to grips with the changes in their relationship, they have to reconcile their feelings with what they thought they wanted out of life. One thing I’ve learned with K.A. Merikan, there’s no point in trying to guess the outcome, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I can always count on K.A. Merikan to find the silver lining in a bad situation, and what happens to the characters in this novel as their relationship evolves is both disturbing and marvelous. An unlikely couple, Colin and Taron turn out to be just what the other needs.
Stressed out, frustrated, and lonely, after toeing the line his whole life Colin wants to shake things up a little. He figures, why not take a different way home? Well that decision not only changes his life forever; it throws a monster monkey wrench into Taron’s plans as well.
Wishing to live in peace and solitude, Taron created a compound to prepare for the next catastrophic disaster. When a feud with the neighbors escalates into manslaughter, Colin is an unlucky witness. Since Taron doesn’t want to kill him, they’re going to have to find a way to live together.
Told mostly from Colin’s point of view, it’s interesting to see how he processes his captivity. He wavers between the relief of being pulled out of the rat race, and guilt over embracing what’s happening to him. We do get a few glimpses into Taron’s psyche. A simple man who has been through some intense trauma, having a partner and sharing his safe haven was never in his plans.
I enjoy the way the authors develop the romance between these two men. At the start, whether it’s Stockholm syndrome or a true attraction doesn’t matter to Colin because Taron is hot and they’re both horny as hell. They’ve got fantastic chemistry and we get some magnificent scenes between them.
The tension builds throughout Wrong Way Home, and the uncertainty of what will happen next is wonderful. As both men come to grips with the changes in their relationship, they have to reconcile their feelings with what they thought they wanted out of life. One thing I’ve learned with K.A. Merikan, there’s no point in trying to guess the outcome, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
October 17, 2025
⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️
Colin — “Oh no, an axe murderer kidnapped me and locked me in a cage!… He kinda hot tho.”
I’m still getting over the flu, but it’s not gonna stop my spooky season, and what better read than a murderer in the woods, captive/captor, lots and lots of cute cats, sexy but crazy romance?
Ok, I will admit that rereading this, it did not live up to that original five star rating. It was fun, it’s KA Merikan, but it lacked something to make it a really awesome read.
Some more backstory to our MCs, some more tension before the fucking. My man Colin was thirsting after Mr. AxeMurderer on day one, all he had to do was whip his shirt off.
Even if it wasn’t a five I still had fun, and as I wrote in my slightly delirious notes ‘KA Merikan is like pizza. There is no bad pizza.’
Sure, Brooke. That makes sense.
CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Violence/murder
- Mild gore
- Mentions of animal death (off page)
- Injury (graphic)
- Age gap?
- Dub-con/power imbalance
- Stockholm syndrome
- Brief suicidal ideation
- Mute MC
- Size difference
- Top/bottom
- Never been kissed
- Restraints
- Biting
- Cum play
There was no such thing as harmlessly switching things up. He’d taken the wrong way home.
Colin — “Oh no, an axe murderer kidnapped me and locked me in a cage!… He kinda hot tho.”
He had his prey where he wanted, and he would take his time before he bit in.
I’m still getting over the flu, but it’s not gonna stop my spooky season, and what better read than a murderer in the woods, captive/captor, lots and lots of cute cats, sexy but crazy romance?
Was it wrong? Yes. Yes it was. Was it so, so good? Definitely.
Ok, I will admit that rereading this, it did not live up to that original five star rating. It was fun, it’s KA Merikan, but it lacked something to make it a really awesome read.
Some more backstory to our MCs, some more tension before the fucking. My man Colin was thirsting after Mr. AxeMurderer on day one, all he had to do was whip his shirt off.
He might have as well put Colin’s heart into a meat grinder, because for once all Colin wanted was for the world to end around them and leave them with no ties to anything outside the bunker. If Yellowstone really did blow up, he’d have the perfect excuse to never leave Taron’s side.
Even if it wasn’t a five I still had fun, and as I wrote in my slightly delirious notes ‘KA Merikan is like pizza. There is no bad pizza.’
Sure, Brooke. That makes sense.
< With you, living isn’t just about the future collapse anymore. It’s worth living now. >
CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Violence/murder
- Mild gore
- Mentions of animal death (off page)
- Injury (graphic)
- Age gap?
- Dub-con/power imbalance
- Stockholm syndrome
- Brief suicidal ideation
- Mute MC
- Size difference
- Top/bottom
- Never been kissed
- Restraints
- Biting
- Cum play
May 1, 2019
4.5 Stars
Wrong Way Home is just the right flavor of twisted I have come to know and love from these authors. It's dark and wrong -- so so very wrong -- and I pretty much loved every moment.
Colin and Taron are such different characters. Colin, for instance, has pretty much gone with the flow, doing what he's told because he's terrified of the uncertainty of what happens if he doesn't. Taron forges his own path, full stop.
Colin longs to take that less traveled path, but he has no idea how to go about it, or what to do once he gets there...wherever "there" is. No one really knows him; not his parents, not his teachers, not his classmates. In fact, he doesn't even really know himself.
Taron knows exactly who he is, what he wants from life, and how to do pretty much everything. He doesn't want visitors, he just wants to be left alone with his cats and chickens and rabbits, while he lives off the land and off the grid.
Their two world collide in a spectacular fashion when Colin witnesses Taron committing a murder. So much for that short cut.
I know, you may be thinking -- just how is that kind of a story sexy? Well, you just have to go with it. There are few authors that can write non-con/dub-con and have me enjoy it, and the Merikans are two such authors. There are things we don't know about Taron and why he murdered that guy. Taron has layers and, honestly, is not a bad guy. There are plenty of shades of grey at play here. He IS a sympathetic character and a study in contradictions. Plus, sometimes Colin is a real asshole, too, so, layers, the both of them.
As Colin and Taron get to know one another they manage to form a bond and they come to, first, an understanding, and then more. Colin doesn't just learn more about Taron, though, he also learns about himself and what he wants from life. He finds the sort of peace you can only get without the distractions of being surrounded by oblivious people and media.
The sex starts out hot and doesn't just get hotter, but also tender. I loved how Colin was confident enough to say what he thought and skilled enough to draw Taron out of his shell. He told himself he was going to bide his time and eventually escape, but somehow it never seemed to be the right time.
Taking the Wrong Way Home turns out to be the right way, after all.
----------------------------------
ARC of Wrong Way Home was generously provided by the authors, in exchange for an honest review.
Wrong Way Home is just the right flavor of twisted I have come to know and love from these authors. It's dark and wrong -- so so very wrong -- and I pretty much loved every moment.
Colin and Taron are such different characters. Colin, for instance, has pretty much gone with the flow, doing what he's told because he's terrified of the uncertainty of what happens if he doesn't. Taron forges his own path, full stop.
Colin longs to take that less traveled path, but he has no idea how to go about it, or what to do once he gets there...wherever "there" is. No one really knows him; not his parents, not his teachers, not his classmates. In fact, he doesn't even really know himself.
Taron knows exactly who he is, what he wants from life, and how to do pretty much everything. He doesn't want visitors, he just wants to be left alone with his cats and chickens and rabbits, while he lives off the land and off the grid.
Their two world collide in a spectacular fashion when Colin witnesses Taron committing a murder. So much for that short cut.
I know, you may be thinking -- just how is that kind of a story sexy? Well, you just have to go with it. There are few authors that can write non-con/dub-con and have me enjoy it, and the Merikans are two such authors. There are things we don't know about Taron and why he murdered that guy. Taron has layers and, honestly, is not a bad guy. There are plenty of shades of grey at play here. He IS a sympathetic character and a study in contradictions. Plus, sometimes Colin is a real asshole, too, so, layers, the both of them.
As Colin and Taron get to know one another they manage to form a bond and they come to, first, an understanding, and then more. Colin doesn't just learn more about Taron, though, he also learns about himself and what he wants from life. He finds the sort of peace you can only get without the distractions of being surrounded by oblivious people and media.
The sex starts out hot and doesn't just get hotter, but also tender. I loved how Colin was confident enough to say what he thought and skilled enough to draw Taron out of his shell. He told himself he was going to bide his time and eventually escape, but somehow it never seemed to be the right time.
Taking the Wrong Way Home turns out to be the right way, after all.
----------------------------------
ARC of Wrong Way Home was generously provided by the authors, in exchange for an honest review.
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November 4, 2023
"You’re not a liability. I love you. With you, living isn’t just about the future collapse anymore. It’s worth living now."
We have Colin, a medical student, going about his routine and mundane life. He keeps to himself and goes through the motions as he tries to follow the plans his parents laid for him. He has no real friends or relationships, just a string of hookups. One day, he decides to shake it up a bit, and instead of going home to his parents, who barely tolerate him, he decides to take a bit of a risk and take a different route. However, he ends up being not only a witness to a murder but gets captured by the very man he saw doing the killing. His life is turned upside down as a captive.
Taron is a survivalist and a Doom’s Day prepper. He has spent many years living in isolation on his land. For him, attachments are a liability and a burden. He’s mute and communicates through sign language. He’s not about to have his whole life ruined by this trespasser. However, as they spend more time together, he can’t deny his attraction and their chemistry. He starts to realize just how lonely he’s been and that having Colin by his side is worth the risk.
I honestly adored Taron. He’s rough, socially awkward, but straightforward. He doesn’t trust people, but my heart melted as he opened up to Colin. He’s stubborn, and I wanted to shake him a bit, but once again, knowing his past trauma made me sympathize with him. I could also understand Colin’s frustrations towards him. It takes some time for them to meet one another halfway.
I love the bond they form as Taron starts to trust Colin. Colin has opportunities to run away, but he realizes that he does not want to return to the life he has lived before.
While I absolutely enjoyed Wrong Way Home, I wanted to strangle Taron and Colin at different points in the story. I wanted to chuck my book at the wall several times, especially during the last 20%. I hated the way Colin hurt Taron, broke my heart! I wish he had a bit more empathy, but having a broken leg and being denied a hospital would make anyone lash out but I am glad that he returned to him. I shouldn't be happy but I think I was also Stockholm syndromed a tiny bit while reading to have that much sympathy for Taron.
Overall I really enjoyed Wrong Way Home, it's been on my TBR for a while and I'm glad I finally read it. All the cats were definitely a bonus, and I would love to read about Taron's gay doomsday prepper friends.
We have Colin, a medical student, going about his routine and mundane life. He keeps to himself and goes through the motions as he tries to follow the plans his parents laid for him. He has no real friends or relationships, just a string of hookups. One day, he decides to shake it up a bit, and instead of going home to his parents, who barely tolerate him, he decides to take a bit of a risk and take a different route. However, he ends up being not only a witness to a murder but gets captured by the very man he saw doing the killing. His life is turned upside down as a captive.
Taron is a survivalist and a Doom’s Day prepper. He has spent many years living in isolation on his land. For him, attachments are a liability and a burden. He’s mute and communicates through sign language. He’s not about to have his whole life ruined by this trespasser. However, as they spend more time together, he can’t deny his attraction and their chemistry. He starts to realize just how lonely he’s been and that having Colin by his side is worth the risk.
I honestly adored Taron. He’s rough, socially awkward, but straightforward. He doesn’t trust people, but my heart melted as he opened up to Colin. He’s stubborn, and I wanted to shake him a bit, but once again, knowing his past trauma made me sympathize with him. I could also understand Colin’s frustrations towards him. It takes some time for them to meet one another halfway.
I love the bond they form as Taron starts to trust Colin. Colin has opportunities to run away, but he realizes that he does not want to return to the life he has lived before.
A sense of peace settled over him the moment Taron held him close, and he rubbed their cheeks together, wishing to mark Taron with his own scent, even though there wasn’t anyone trying to take his man away.
While I absolutely enjoyed Wrong Way Home, I wanted to strangle Taron and Colin at different points in the story. I wanted to chuck my book at the wall several times, especially during the last 20%. I hated the way Colin hurt Taron, broke my heart! I wish he had a bit more empathy, but having a broken leg and being denied a hospital would make anyone lash out but I am glad that he returned to him. I shouldn't be happy but I think I was also Stockholm syndromed a tiny bit while reading to have that much sympathy for Taron.
Even though he’d considered Taron’s prepping crazy at first, out here, in the forest, he’d grown to feel safe knowing there was a massive bunker under their feet where they could hide if the world around them crumbled.
Overall I really enjoyed Wrong Way Home, it's been on my TBR for a while and I'm glad I finally read it. All the cats were definitely a bonus, and I would love to read about Taron's gay doomsday prepper friends.
April 15, 2019
"Wrong Way Home" is a dark story with morally ambiguous characters and surprisingly romantic elements.
Colin is a student pressured by his parents to become a doctor, he always follows the rules and does his best to keep everyone around him happy even if that means that he's not.
In a brave moment Colin decides to take a detour on his way to his parents' house but soon this slight change from his routine turns into a nightmare. He meets Taron, a man wielding an ax and not speaking a word to him.
Those first scenes where they meet were very intense. Slowly, it is revealed what happened that fateful night but Colin remains a captive with no way out. Well, he had his chances to try to run but he always changed his mind for one reason or another. He didn't like that he stayed when he could try to escape so he always reasoned with himself that he would do it at a better time. I think he had the Stockholm Syndrome, or at least he was close to it.
Over the months that Taron kept Colin with him they grew close and even though they remained captor and captive the power wasn't always Taron's, which was interesting to see. Slowly Colin was able to get behind the walls Taron had build around himself and make him care about his well-being and his opinion. Taron liked to think that he was fine by himself with only his cats as company but in the end he craved Colin's company.
Taron is one of those characters that evoke mixed feelings from me. He had his own moral code and his own definition of right and wrong. He lived outside of the society and so he didn't follow its rules. At first Colin didn't understand his way of thinking but as the time passed he started changing his mind and thinking more like him.
I loved this book and almost read it in one sitting but I'm glad it was only a work of fiction and not a real story. The characters are easier to like since they aren't real if that makes any sense.
This book is certainly not for everyone. It's not sweet and romantic. It's dark and hard and even appalling at times. It's also deeply emotional and Taron will break your heart close to the end.
There are one or two loose ends left but I liked the story so much that I don't really care about them.
All in all, another great work by K.A. Merikan!
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. *
Colin is a student pressured by his parents to become a doctor, he always follows the rules and does his best to keep everyone around him happy even if that means that he's not.
In a brave moment Colin decides to take a detour on his way to his parents' house but soon this slight change from his routine turns into a nightmare. He meets Taron, a man wielding an ax and not speaking a word to him.
Those first scenes where they meet were very intense. Slowly, it is revealed what happened that fateful night but Colin remains a captive with no way out. Well, he had his chances to try to run but he always changed his mind for one reason or another. He didn't like that he stayed when he could try to escape so he always reasoned with himself that he would do it at a better time. I think he had the Stockholm Syndrome, or at least he was close to it.
Over the months that Taron kept Colin with him they grew close and even though they remained captor and captive the power wasn't always Taron's, which was interesting to see. Slowly Colin was able to get behind the walls Taron had build around himself and make him care about his well-being and his opinion. Taron liked to think that he was fine by himself with only his cats as company but in the end he craved Colin's company.
Taron is one of those characters that evoke mixed feelings from me. He had his own moral code and his own definition of right and wrong. He lived outside of the society and so he didn't follow its rules. At first Colin didn't understand his way of thinking but as the time passed he started changing his mind and thinking more like him.
I loved this book and almost read it in one sitting but I'm glad it was only a work of fiction and not a real story. The characters are easier to like since they aren't real if that makes any sense.
This book is certainly not for everyone. It's not sweet and romantic. It's dark and hard and even appalling at times. It's also deeply emotional and Taron will break your heart close to the end.
There are one or two loose ends left but I liked the story so much that I don't really care about them.
All in all, another great work by K.A. Merikan!
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. *
April 21, 2019
i have to get up at 5am so i obviously stayed up reading this until 3am
i don't know if it's because i've read the most fucked-up shit ever (I Hear They Burn for Murder, anyone?) but i didn't actually find this that dark, but it still is pretty fucked up and certainly morally grey. but to be fair, taron only killed that man because so, y'know.
if you want to dip your toe into the waters of dark fiction but don't want anything mega-hardcore like serial axe murderers who feast on the souls of children, this would be a good one to start with. there's no non-con, or even dub-con, so if that bothers you then fear not.
conversely, if you are looking for psychological mindfuckery and senseless violence, perhaps this is not the book for you. (i point you again to they burn for murder, which i linked above.) however, if you like enemies-to-lovers, a healthy dash of general taboo-ness, grey morality and an abundance of fluffy cats, i'd recommend it.
also, that hint of Something at the end? LOVE THAT.
i am so excited to absolutely devour the rest of the Criminal Delights series, and i'm delighted (pun intended) that there's a new one coming out like twice/thrice a week for the next couple of months!! it's like an advent calendar for fucked-up people!!
i don't know if it's because i've read the most fucked-up shit ever (I Hear They Burn for Murder, anyone?) but i didn't actually find this that dark, but it still is pretty fucked up and certainly morally grey. but to be fair, taron only killed that man because so, y'know.
if you want to dip your toe into the waters of dark fiction but don't want anything mega-hardcore like serial axe murderers who feast on the souls of children, this would be a good one to start with. there's no non-con, or even dub-con, so if that bothers you then fear not.
conversely, if you are looking for psychological mindfuckery and senseless violence, perhaps this is not the book for you. (i point you again to they burn for murder, which i linked above.) however, if you like enemies-to-lovers, a healthy dash of general taboo-ness, grey morality and an abundance of fluffy cats, i'd recommend it.
also, that hint of Something at the end? LOVE THAT.
i am so excited to absolutely devour the rest of the Criminal Delights series, and i'm delighted (pun intended) that there's a new one coming out like twice/thrice a week for the next couple of months!! it's like an advent calendar for fucked-up people!!
November 10, 2023
Since reading this book in April ice read 3 other books in the series and its my favorite in that also still a five star. Really enjoyed the relationship that slowly grew between them and the ups and downs and was happy with the ending. Might start collection more books in the series next year. I think each book is a stand alone each written by different authors.
The review below is the old one from April.
‐----
Been in a low mental health state and not sure if I'm going back to review the books om reading as much, sooner or later. But will make a short review on this.
I liked this one as even tough the kidnapping and dark tones was definitely that of a dark twist romance. I ended up rooting for the couple. Which is part of why I love darker romance sometimes. It had interesting subjects part of the romance. The hero is making himself and his home ready for the world to end, his deep foundess in cats. That the "hero" ( more like romantic villan) uses sign language.
I liked that there was build up to the relationship itself and that their bond grew over time but yes this is probably very heavy in Stockholm syndrome.
The review below is the old one from April.
‐----
Been in a low mental health state and not sure if I'm going back to review the books om reading as much, sooner or later. But will make a short review on this.
I liked this one as even tough the kidnapping and dark tones was definitely that of a dark twist romance. I ended up rooting for the couple. Which is part of why I love darker romance sometimes. It had interesting subjects part of the romance. The hero is making himself and his home ready for the world to end, his deep foundess in cats. That the "hero" ( more like romantic villan) uses sign language.
I liked that there was build up to the relationship itself and that their bond grew over time but yes this is probably very heavy in Stockholm syndrome.
April 17, 2019
For those of you that don't know me, I am the BIGGEST WIMP when it comes to reading angsty and/or dark themed books. So for me to work up the courage to read a book by authors that are KNOWN for bringing the scary, I expect scary! I went into this expecting "leather face" levels of nightmare inducing darkness, but I got fluffy kitties. I can't believe that
I'm
disappointed by the lack of scary.
March 18, 2019
I wrote a really long and detailed review about how amazing this book is but Goodreads decided to crash and lose it.
So I'll just say this book is occasionally dark and as totally twisted as you'd expect from Kat and Agnes Merikan's wonderfully alternative imaginations.
Loved it. Read it!
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.
So I'll just say this book is occasionally dark and as totally twisted as you'd expect from Kat and Agnes Merikan's wonderfully alternative imaginations.
Loved it. Read it!
#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.
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July 9, 2022
MM Dark Romance
Kidnapped
1 I might die of boredom stars ⭐️
DNF @ 81%. People seem to like this book but I’m bored AF and should have DNF’d this at 45% instead of hoping this would improve. This has a million warnings on the blurb for dark content and going in I was excited for something dark but besides the initial meeting & kidnapping, this book is kind of dull. There’s lots of sex and it was hot at times but I’m over this book because of the main characters. Colin is TSTL like he’s had the opportunity to escape 5+ times now and each time hasn’t gone through with it. I understood why he didn’t keep trying during the storm but FFS he had been there less than a week when the cops came and he learned his captor was mute and/or deaf from the cops discussing it and instead of screaming for help he sits there figuring out what to do because he doesn’t want Taron to get hurt. They had no kind of relationship at this point, didn’t talk or acknowledge the other. WTF. At least make this somewhat believable. The only thing I like about Taron is that he’s so good to his cats but this guy is supposed to be scary? He has 13 cats he babies FFS. I can’t say I’d be trembling either.
I’m at the part with the Colin getting his foot stuck in a trap and honestly after their ridiculous fight of Colin saying “I need to go to the hospital, how dare you not take me” (like he isn’t a captive in this guy’s house) while Taron’s like “You don’t want to stay with me?” I just cannot keep reading this. I hope Colin’s foot becomes infected and he gets eaten alive by Taron’s 13 cats because honestly that plot would be more entertaining than this one.
Kidnapped
1 I might die of boredom stars ⭐️
DNF @ 81%. People seem to like this book but I’m bored AF and should have DNF’d this at 45% instead of hoping this would improve. This has a million warnings on the blurb for dark content and going in I was excited for something dark but besides the initial meeting & kidnapping, this book is kind of dull. There’s lots of sex and it was hot at times but I’m over this book because of the main characters. Colin is TSTL like he’s had the opportunity to escape 5+ times now and each time hasn’t gone through with it. I understood why he didn’t keep trying during the storm but FFS he had been there less than a week when the cops came and he learned his captor was mute and/or deaf from the cops discussing it and instead of screaming for help he sits there figuring out what to do because he doesn’t want Taron to get hurt. They had no kind of relationship at this point, didn’t talk or acknowledge the other. WTF. At least make this somewhat believable. The only thing I like about Taron is that he’s so good to his cats but this guy is supposed to be scary? He has 13 cats he babies FFS. I can’t say I’d be trembling either.
I’m at the part with the Colin getting his foot stuck in a trap and honestly after their ridiculous fight of Colin saying “I need to go to the hospital, how dare you not take me” (like he isn’t a captive in this guy’s house) while Taron’s like “You don’t want to stay with me?” I just cannot keep reading this. I hope Colin’s foot becomes infected and he gets eaten alive by Taron’s 13 cats because honestly that plot would be more entertaining than this one.
April 16, 2019
A dark story about being taken captive... little did Colin know his life would change. Once you take away life’s distractions a sense of peace can be found. Really enjoyed this 😊
January 8, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
🎧🎧🎧
BR with my girl Cass.
As the title entails this horror story begins by taking the wrong way home. I mean honestly, Colin knew better than to take that sketchy looking deserted road. But once he began there was no way to go back, literally unless he wanted to go in reverse.
It didn’t take long for his mixed feelings about his endeavor to turn into pure terror as he comes face to face with a man literally running for his life. Soon enough we meet the reason for said terror with an axe wielding madman. Who doesn’t waste time before he’s splitting that guy’s noggin like a casaba melon.
So, that’s Taron. It’s no surprise when he kidnaps Colin and puts him in a cage where his only companions are a menagerie of cats. I love cats so take it from me, it’s too many freaking cats.
First off let me say that I hate Stockholm syndrome romance, last few years I DNF a good half dozen before I threw in the towel and decided they just weren’t for me. But I had never read an mm version, so I figured why not give it the old college try.
My thought process was good because I actually found this to be rather entertaining. Do I think that Colin changed his tune way to fast? Absolutely. But honestly I don’t think I could blame him because Taron was really likable. Plus it helped that he didn’t plan on kidnapping Colin, he just sorta fell in his lap. He basically made lemonade out of lemons.
If I take myself out of the world of fiction I’m certain I could never sleep with a cold blooded murderer, let alone fall in love with one. So, it helped when you found out Taron’s reason for putting an axe in that guy’s head. A bit extreme sure, but I can’t say that I wholeheartedly blame him.
As for Colin, he was alright. I understood his reason for being wishy washy with his kidnapper, even while he was falling for him. There was just something I can’t quite pinpoint that rubbed me the wrong way. The world may never know.
The steam was pretty good if not a little monotonous. It lacked creativity but I thought they had good chemistry.
As for the audio … at first I didn’t think I’d like Wyatt Baker. He kinda sounded like a poor man’s Teddy Hamilton and I needed more to differentiate between the two narratives. But when he actually spoke for Taron who had ruined vocal cords, it scared the living crap out of me so bravo for that. I also quite liked what they did so you knew when the characters were using sign language, very clever.
Overall a fun, entertaining story that I wasn’t expecting.
🌶️🌶️
🎧🎧🎧
BR with my girl Cass.
As the title entails this horror story begins by taking the wrong way home. I mean honestly, Colin knew better than to take that sketchy looking deserted road. But once he began there was no way to go back, literally unless he wanted to go in reverse.
It didn’t take long for his mixed feelings about his endeavor to turn into pure terror as he comes face to face with a man literally running for his life. Soon enough we meet the reason for said terror with an axe wielding madman. Who doesn’t waste time before he’s splitting that guy’s noggin like a casaba melon.
So, that’s Taron. It’s no surprise when he kidnaps Colin and puts him in a cage where his only companions are a menagerie of cats. I love cats so take it from me, it’s too many freaking cats.
First off let me say that I hate Stockholm syndrome romance, last few years I DNF a good half dozen before I threw in the towel and decided they just weren’t for me. But I had never read an mm version, so I figured why not give it the old college try.
My thought process was good because I actually found this to be rather entertaining. Do I think that Colin changed his tune way to fast? Absolutely. But honestly I don’t think I could blame him because Taron was really likable. Plus it helped that he didn’t plan on kidnapping Colin, he just sorta fell in his lap. He basically made lemonade out of lemons.
If I take myself out of the world of fiction I’m certain I could never sleep with a cold blooded murderer, let alone fall in love with one. So, it helped when you found out Taron’s reason for putting an axe in that guy’s head. A bit extreme sure, but I can’t say that I wholeheartedly blame him.
As for Colin, he was alright. I understood his reason for being wishy washy with his kidnapper, even while he was falling for him. There was just something I can’t quite pinpoint that rubbed me the wrong way. The world may never know.
The steam was pretty good if not a little monotonous. It lacked creativity but I thought they had good chemistry.
As for the audio … at first I didn’t think I’d like Wyatt Baker. He kinda sounded like a poor man’s Teddy Hamilton and I needed more to differentiate between the two narratives. But when he actually spoke for Taron who had ruined vocal cords, it scared the living crap out of me so bravo for that. I also quite liked what they did so you knew when the characters were using sign language, very clever.
Overall a fun, entertaining story that I wasn’t expecting.
April 11, 2023
I actually really liked this one
I cried like near the end.
I love the theme about escapism and the metaphor about pet i just thought it really beautiful and cleverly put.
I have this one cute scene in particular that made me smile I just don't know why
"𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘥.
“𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶,” 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥."
It got pretty intense at the end ngl and I also, I just wanna say that the arguments really well thought out like you understand them from their perspective why they do what they did.
Also their banter is just everything
This feel so cozy and the concept of being hidden away with your lover in a bunker just two of you together is so lovely.
I cried like near the end.
I love the theme about escapism and the metaphor about pet i just thought it really beautiful and cleverly put.
I have this one cute scene in particular that made me smile I just don't know why
"𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘥.
“𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶,” 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥."
It got pretty intense at the end ngl and I also, I just wanna say that the arguments really well thought out like you understand them from their perspective why they do what they did.
Also their banter is just everything
This feel so cozy and the concept of being hidden away with your lover in a bunker just two of you together is so lovely.
April 19, 2021
This is a weird ass book. Pretty much all of this author's books are weird. And yet, interesting enuf to make you read it. So this is the plot:
Colin takes a wrong turn for once in his staid life and goes down a private property path on his way to his parents' house in the dark of night.
Queue the psycho killer music.
He stupidly stops his car when a man crashes out of the bushes bleeding, and even gets OUT of his car to check it out. Then another bear like monstrosity comes crashing behind the man and chops into the back of his head with an axe, thereby killing him.
Then the monster with the axe takes Colin to his lair and keeps him in a cage. Not for any sort of sexual depravity or to cut off his body parts but bc he's afraid Colin will run and tell the cops and then who would take care of the crazy guy's 13 cats??
Anyway, long story short, Colin falls in love with his abductor, cuz the guy is built, he's hot and he's got a big meaty cock. It's what the stuff of true love is made of.
So the reason this weirdo (Taron) is living all alone in a bunker in the middle of the woods is bc his family was killed by a flooding and he saw the worst of humanity when he was 18. He killed a guy then too. Still, he was 18. Shouldn't he have just knocked the guy out cold instead of kill him? But I guess the point is when you're struggling for your life, you become animals and killing is no longer murder, just a way of survival.
Anyway, Taron falls in love with Colin too. Even tho he doesn't want to. In the end, he lets Colin go after Colin hurts him badly with very hateful words (which Taron DESERVED!! Even tho my heart twisted at that). Colin, seeing how after months of his abduction that his parents felt perfectly fine to get a DOG in his absence, that he wasn't really all that missed, decides he wants to stay with Taron.
And they lived HEA.
WEIRD. And yet... strangely romantic. But instead of candy hearts at the end, maybe the heart is bloody and skewered.
Colin takes a wrong turn for once in his staid life and goes down a private property path on his way to his parents' house in the dark of night.
Queue the psycho killer music.
He stupidly stops his car when a man crashes out of the bushes bleeding, and even gets OUT of his car to check it out. Then another bear like monstrosity comes crashing behind the man and chops into the back of his head with an axe, thereby killing him.
Then the monster with the axe takes Colin to his lair and keeps him in a cage. Not for any sort of sexual depravity or to cut off his body parts but bc he's afraid Colin will run and tell the cops and then who would take care of the crazy guy's 13 cats??
Anyway, long story short, Colin falls in love with his abductor, cuz the guy is built, he's hot and he's got a big meaty cock. It's what the stuff of true love is made of.
So the reason this weirdo (Taron) is living all alone in a bunker in the middle of the woods is bc his family was killed by a flooding and he saw the worst of humanity when he was 18. He killed a guy then too. Still, he was 18. Shouldn't he have just knocked the guy out cold instead of kill him? But I guess the point is when you're struggling for your life, you become animals and killing is no longer murder, just a way of survival.
Anyway, Taron falls in love with Colin too. Even tho he doesn't want to. In the end, he lets Colin go after Colin hurts him badly with very hateful words (which Taron DESERVED!! Even tho my heart twisted at that). Colin, seeing how after months of his abduction that his parents felt perfectly fine to get a DOG in his absence, that he wasn't really all that missed, decides he wants to stay with Taron.
And they lived HEA.
WEIRD. And yet... strangely romantic. But instead of candy hearts at the end, maybe the heart is bloody and skewered.
May 2, 2019
Overall book rating: 3.8
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4.5 – It’s eye catching
I started this one right after Love of the Egoist. If you read that, you’ll understand why it was not a good idea to go into Wrong way Home right after that. I will try my best not to do something like that again.
It almost made me “not-appreciate” this book?
Simply because Taron is not DARK. Sure he does stuff differently, but he is not the type of dark character that makes your hair raise and your skin prickle. Once you get to know him, you don’t fear him 24 hours a day.
Nothing wrong with that don’t get me wrong, but if you go into this expecting a DARK read, then it’s not going to work out the way you wished.
If you instead put aside all those thoughts and just read the book for what it is, it’s pretty entertaining.
I started the book and then put it aside for days on end. Not because it wasn’t good but it wasn't what I “had in mind” at all. So leaving it and then coming back to it did me good.
It made me appreciate the story.
Dare I say that the last few chapters felt more ‘real’ to me than any of the rest of this story?
Usually a book tends to wind down sometimes. But I enjoyed the last chapters immensely. It gave me something to end this on a high.
I’ll mark this as “dark” but it’s really not what “messed-up” readers like me would classify as dark. The feel of it is not dark at all, although there are ‘unacceptable” things happening in the story.
In the end, I really liked both of the MC’s and I understood what made them tick.
Really enjoyable read.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4.5 – It’s eye catching
I started this one right after Love of the Egoist. If you read that, you’ll understand why it was not a good idea to go into Wrong way Home right after that. I will try my best not to do something like that again.
It almost made me “not-appreciate” this book?
Simply because Taron is not DARK. Sure he does stuff differently, but he is not the type of dark character that makes your hair raise and your skin prickle. Once you get to know him, you don’t fear him 24 hours a day.
Nothing wrong with that don’t get me wrong, but if you go into this expecting a DARK read, then it’s not going to work out the way you wished.
If you instead put aside all those thoughts and just read the book for what it is, it’s pretty entertaining.
I started the book and then put it aside for days on end. Not because it wasn’t good but it wasn't what I “had in mind” at all. So leaving it and then coming back to it did me good.
It made me appreciate the story.
Dare I say that the last few chapters felt more ‘real’ to me than any of the rest of this story?
Usually a book tends to wind down sometimes. But I enjoyed the last chapters immensely. It gave me something to end this on a high.
I’ll mark this as “dark” but it’s really not what “messed-up” readers like me would classify as dark. The feel of it is not dark at all, although there are ‘unacceptable” things happening in the story.
In the end, I really liked both of the MC’s and I understood what made them tick.
Really enjoyable read.
April 10, 2019
Si confermano le Regine indiscusse ❤️ Geniali, pazzesche, meravigliose Merikan🤩
5 stelle sono troppo poche🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
5 stelle sono troppo poche🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
March 22, 2019
I was holding my breathe before I dived in because the authors said this is 'wayyy dark'. I was prepared for all kinds of mind fuckery, but I guess KA Merikan already desensitized to me to what they consider 'wayy dark'. Dark level between 1 to 10, I give this a 6.
Colin, a med student lead a mundane but highly demanding life. One day he decided to spice up his life by taking a wrong way home, which lead to some big consequences.
Here comes, Taron, who is mute, a literally ax murderer who was caught red handed by Colin. Suffice to say, Taron can't let Colin leave him now. Cue Stockholm Syndrome because we knew they are going to fuck and Colin is going to enjoy it.
Yes, Taron is a captor and a murderer, but I don't feel the intensity of this being a dark romance because Taron isn't actually a bad guy. There isn't any torture scene or any moment whatsoever that I want bad things to happen to Taron. There was one moment that I wanted him to do the right thing, but I also understand how he came to such a decision. His character may appeal to reader who can't stomach villainous hero.
The circumstances that brought Colin and Taron together might be unusual, but they seems to find a common ground and their mutual love for off grid living. I'm actually jealous of Taron's homestead and I was contemplating off grid living with my dogs. Colin didn't just fell into insta-lust with his captor. His emotion is running havoc and he was thinking of ways to flee all the time, which is only normal and I was more interested to see how Taron slowly changed his mind.
Wrong Way Home is a refreshing take on the captor/captive theme, a bratty, opinionated captive with his mute captor who love cats.
Colin, a med student lead a mundane but highly demanding life. One day he decided to spice up his life by taking a wrong way home, which lead to some big consequences.
Here comes, Taron, who is mute, a literally ax murderer who was caught red handed by Colin. Suffice to say, Taron can't let Colin leave him now. Cue Stockholm Syndrome because we knew they are going to fuck and Colin is going to enjoy it.
Yes, Taron is a captor and a murderer, but I don't feel the intensity of this being a dark romance because Taron isn't actually a bad guy. There isn't any torture scene or any moment whatsoever that I want bad things to happen to Taron. There was one moment that I wanted him to do the right thing, but I also understand how he came to such a decision. His character may appeal to reader who can't stomach villainous hero.
The circumstances that brought Colin and Taron together might be unusual, but they seems to find a common ground and their mutual love for off grid living. I'm actually jealous of Taron's homestead and I was contemplating off grid living with my dogs. Colin didn't just fell into insta-lust with his captor. His emotion is running havoc and he was thinking of ways to flee all the time, which is only normal and I was more interested to see how Taron slowly changed his mind.
Wrong Way Home is a refreshing take on the captor/captive theme, a bratty, opinionated captive with his mute captor who love cats.
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