The Black Sheep and the Rotten Apple
Gay Historical Romance
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The Black Sheep and the Rotten Apple
Buy Now for £16.41
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Narrated by:
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James Reily
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By:
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K. A. Merikan
Summary
“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.
Themes: highwayman, abduction, ransom, forbidden love, self-discovery, danger, crime, Cornwal, Britain, England, Georgian
WARNING: Steamy content. Contains violence, distressing scenes, abuse, offensive language, and morally ambiguous protagonists.
©2017 Acerbi & Villani Ltd. (P)2020 Acerbi & Villani Ltd.Good job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing must listen/read
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Listener received this title free
That is the mark of a good storyteller.
I took a writing class last year and the teacher said ‘imagine the worst thing that can happen to your protagonist’. He paused. ‘Then make it happen.’ He paused again. ‘What’s the next worst thing that can happen? Go ahead, make that happen as well.’ I’m too soft on my characters, I know that. K.A. Merikan are brutal on theirs.
The book comes with warnings, but after having read Wrong Way Home, this book felt tame in comparison. Yes, there’s dubcon. Yes, there are morally ambiguous characters. But I always understood their motives. I empathized with the characters. I grieved with them. I felt their pain.
Julian Reece is a wastrel. He sometimes writes, often carouses, and loves his drink. His father wants to marry him off because he’s obviously incapable of holding down an honorable profession. The Black Sheep. Sir Evan Penhart is the opposite. Left destitute by a reckless brother, he tries to hold together the family estate, all the while knowing it’s a fruitless gesture. He’s forced to turn to a life of crime to save the servants he considers family. The Rotten Apple.
The two men are an unlikely pair – especially since Julian is definitely straight. But there’s something about Evan that calls to him. Perhaps their coupling was inevitable. It was definitely interesting. Also, as a historical, there is always the threat of discovery and of the gallows. Another layer of danger.
In case you couldn’t tell, I really enjoyed the book. Could the first half have been shorter? Probably. Was the last half worth the price of admission? Oh hell yes. James Reily is a new narrator to me and I have to say I liked him. I settled quickly into his appropriately British accent and the rest was magic. So, I would definitely say check this one out.
A wild ride
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Listener received this title free
Julian Reece is a spoiled young man used to living in luxury. He’s supported by his father and has never had to work a day in his life. Julian’s future plans are made up of daydreams of all the potential traveling and adventures he’ll one day go on; however, Julian’s father has a different plan of action for his son’s life. Sir Evan Penhart is an aristocrat who’s nearly penniless. Desperation forces him to don a bandit’s mask and raid a carriage traveling on a deserted road. This moment of desperation brings Julian and Evan together and starts the beginning of their tumultuous and intense relationship. There’s no denying the attraction that burns between the two men, although Julian tries to fight it at first. When both men finally give in to their feelings, there is nothing either one of them would not do for each other. No obstacle they won’t destroy in order to be together.
K.A. Merikan is a fabulous writing duo who have mastered the art of suspense and excitement. The plot of this book was so full of twists and turns, and I never knew what to expect next. In fact, I was on the edge of my seat for the last third of the book. I felt like I could hardly breathe waiting to find out what happened next and if Julian and Evan could overcome all the hurdles and surprises thrown their way. The first half of the book can seem a little slow, but it was still enjoyable. The writers did a fabulous job of researching the time era and they put in all these little details that really helped to transport you into that era. Evan and Julian were interesting characters who grew throughout the book. I loved how intense their relationship became, and the devotion they showed each other. The sex scenes were hot, kinky, and erotic. I enjoyed all the elements of this book.
James Reily narrated the audiobook and he was the perfect pick for a narrator. James has a beautiful voice with an impressive range: he can do a posh British accent to the more roughened voice of a street thug. He kept all the character voices distinct and it was easy to follow along and determine who was who based on the voices alone. I really enjoyed the energy he put into the performance of the audiobook. There were a lot of suspenseful scenes, action scenes, sex scenes, etc. that required different levels of energy and power to make them really dynamic; James Reily masterfully met all those requirements. There were no glitches or mistakes in the audiobook production.
Aristocrats and Highwaymen
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The MC's Evan and Julian aren't necessarily the best depictions of humanity, they're both flawed and could even be considered anti-heros.
I really enjoyed the slow-burn and build-up of their relationship.
The initial animosity between them which lead to such great angst and tension.
There was plenty of fast paced action and suspense along with plot twists.
This was a grand, passionate and adventurous tale.
James Riley did an amazing job of richly and vividly depicting the Cornish countryside and bringing these characters to life.
Historical regency drama teeming with emotion
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It was a little slow for me at times but came together in the end.
The Narrator James Reily did a fantastic job bringing these characters and story to life.
🎧 LesCourt Reviewer 🎧
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