RELEASE DAY REVIEW: 'The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple' by K.A. Merikan
Title: The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple
Author: K.A. Merikan
Published: February 7, 2017
Publisher: Self-Published/Acerbi and Villani ltd
Genre: Dark Erotic Romance; Historical Romance; Historical Fiction
Length: 471 Pages
Tags: Crime; Forbidden Love; Self-Discovery; HEA; Kink: Light BDSM; CW: Abduction; CW: Explicit Violence
About The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple
“How does one start a relationship with another man when it is forbidden?”
“One needs to decide that the other man is worth dying for.”
Cornwall, 1785
Sir Evan Penhart. Baronet. Highwayman. Scoundrel.
Julian Reece. Writer. Wastrel. Penniless.
No one forces Julian Reece to marry. Not his father, not his brother. No one.
When he is thrust into a carriage heading for London to meet his future bride, his way out comes in the form of an imposing highwayman, riding a horse as black as night. Julian makes a deal with the criminal, but what he doesn’t expect is that despite the title of baronet, the robber turns out to be no gentleman.
Sir Evan Penhart is pushed into crime out of desperation, but the pact with a pretty, young merchant’s son turns out to have disastrous consequences. Not only is Evan left broke, but worse yet, Julian opens up a Pandora’s box of passions that are dark, needy, and too wild to tame. With no way to lock them back in, rash decisions and greedy desire lead to a tide that wrecks everything in its way.
But Julian might actually like all the sinful, carnal passion unleashed on him. How can he admit this though, even to himself, when a taste of the forbidden fruit could have him end up with a noose around his neck? And with highway robbery being a hanging offense and the local constable on their back, Julian could lose Evan before he can decide anything about the nature of his desires.
5 HEART READ
REVIEW:
The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple, by writing partnership K.A. Merikan, is a really good example of historic fiction done right.
It has all the key ingredients: The tragic hero, an innocent young gypsy-like man, a “good” plan gone wrong, self-discovery, and of course the romance.
Young Julian aspires to be a writer but he spends most of his time drinking and playing cards with friends. He often comes across as spoiled and fanciful. And he’s an utter disappointment to his father who he has just learned plans for him to marry and join their successful family textile business. In his despair Julian can only dream of one day traveling to Italy to pursue his love of writing.
I really love Julian as a character. The authors do a tremendous job showing how trapped he feels by family obligations. Historically most men at Julian’s age were already married and starting families yet he has evaded the slippery knot thus far and is determined to keep it that way. I felt such sympathy for the turmoil he was facing over the forced marriage that I could not stop reading, needing to find out how it would be resolved.
Evan Penhart. Lord, what a tortured soul. He has taken upon the responsibility of caring for his family’s ancestral home, Tredele. The home is slowly falling apart and Evan has done just about everything he can do to keep up with it. He’s down to a few loyal servants who have remained with him and to whom he is truly grateful for. In desperation he has retreated into his own world at Tredele and, due to his roughness, has earned the nickname “Ghost of Tredele” from the locals in the village.
I must say I completely adore Evan’s character. He has been hurt in the past and thus holds himself back from any kind of contact with others. As a result, his manners are nearly non-existent. But, once you learn more and more about him you can’t help but fall in love with him.
Evan and Julian are brought together by a crime and there ensues a delightfully wicked, well paced, dance between the two.
The fabulous duo of K.A. Merikan are brilliant when writing about the developing relationship. Julian’s apparent yet uncertain growing attraction that builds for Evan. And Evan’s frustration over his glaringly obvious desire for Julian. Plus the dialogue between them is fantastic, with sensual words that caught up me up in the emotion of Julian’s feelings as he slowly became aware of Evan’s masculinity.
Having never really felt passion with any of the women he’s ever been with Julian is introduced to a darker side of lust by Evan. Resulting in his growing attraction to the man being all at once overwhelming, yet exciting. Let’s just say I thoroughly enjoyed his, ahem, “education”.
I’m such a big fan of K.A. Merikan. Their talent runs far and wide encompassing all genres, themes and characters. I’ve read about their bikers, their gangsters, their BDSM stories; they’ve written it all. This historical of theirs does not disappoint, they truly shine!
The Black Sheep and the Rotten Apple is told in such a way that I had a hard time putting it down.
I could visualize Evan and Julian’s village and the countryside. The big hulking home that is slowly falling into disrepair. I could even picture myself riding along with these two lovers and sharing in their many adventures. How sweet is that!?
A copy of The Black Sheep and the Rotten Apple was provided to Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter, by Indigo Marketing and Design, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.
If you enjoy The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple you might also enjoy Bey Deckard’s Caged: Love and Treachery on the High Seas.
About the Author(s)
K. A. Merikan is the pen name for Kat and Agnes Merikan, a team of writers, who are taken for sisters with surprising regularity. Kat’s the mean sergeant and survival specialist of the duo, never hesitating to kick Agnes’s ass when she’s slacking off. Her memory works like an easy-access catalogue, which allows her to keep up with both book details and social media. Also works as the emergency GPS. Agnes is the Merikan nitpicker, usually found busy with formatting and research. Her attention tends to be scattered, and despite pushing thirty, she needs to apply makeup to buy alcohol. Self-proclaimed queen of the roads.
They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and books. When you pick up a Merikan book, there’s one thing you can be sure of - it will be full of surprises.
Inspiration never failed them so far, but they are ready to hunt down the exotic and unique. Kat and Agnes are pursuing their dream of becoming full fledged virtual nomads. Having gotten rid of their apartment and with most of their belongings put in storage, they are choosing their own path in life, ready to experience all the world has to offer while working on their books.
For more works from K.A. Merikan visit their website.
