Love hurts…if you’re lucky. Kaden knows he’s dying, but before he goes, he has one problem he needs to solve – he must ask his oldest friend Seth to take over as his beloved wife’s Dom and Master after his death. Seth has always seen himself as the perpetual screw-up and Kaden as the strong and steady one, so his friend’s request rocks his world. Now Seth finds himself immersed in a role he’s … he’s far from comfortable with: inflicting pain to provide emotional comfort for the woman he’s secretly loved for years. Can he deal with his crushing grief and learn the skills he must master in time to become THE RELUCTANT DOM? Warning: m/f/m menage, anal sex/play/toys, BDSM, bondage, D/s relationship, and the lesser-known normality of the world of BDSM.
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This book was really hard for me to read it took me awhile to complete I laughed I cried. Kade loved Leah so much and I think that Seth was very brave to honor his friend request this one of the best BDSM books I have read. Kade and Leah are married almost 20 years. Kade finds out he is dying of cancer and asks his lifelong best friend Seth to move in and gradually step in as not only an addition to their family but an eventual replacement for him when he’s gone. Seth reluctantly agrees because he can never say no to Kade. However, he didn’t know about the d/s lifestyle Kade and Leah were living. Leah had a abusive upbringing (she is a cutter) and in order to keep from hurting herself so she could feel her emotions, Kade had to take care of that part for her in a safe environment so she could cope and feel safe and secure. Seth has a difficult time not only coping with Kade’s illness but his growing feelings for Leah and also becoming the Master and partner he knows he needs to be to take care of Leah. This was an intense emotional story. This story seemed to me that it was someone’s life story they had very good supportive friends as well and everyone was willing to help Seth when he needed it. This was the first emotional BDSM story that I have read and I have read Ms. Dalton’s work. This was a great book and a re read for me.
I loved it. It is one I read over and over.
I don’t know where to begin for this review. I read the book several years ago and instantly it became my favorite book of all time. Kade is dying and he knows he needs to find someone to take his place in his wife’s life when he is gone. Enter Seth! They have been friends for years and Kade feels that Seth is the right person to be with Leah when he’s gone. Leah has emotional problems and Kade has helped her deal with those for their married life together. While Seth has always been in love with Leah, he doesn’t know anything about BDSM and when he finds out that he needs to learn to be a Dominant, he honestly doesn’t know how things will turn out. Kade understands and is very patient with him. This story took me on a journey I wasn’t really expecting from “just a book”. There were times I laughed and times when I had to put the book down because I was crying to hard to read it. It’s about love, sacrifice, and true friendship. If you can get through this book without crying, well, you’re better than I am. Forget the tissues, just get a towel to mop up the tears you will shed with this story.
This is the first book I read by Tymber Dalton but it won’t be the last. “The Reluctant Dom” took me by surprise with an in depth character development and a delicately woven story about life, death and moving on. The cover is misleading here as there is so much more to this story than the sexual aspect. While the sex scenes were hot and the setting served well as an introduction to the lifestyle, this story shines by telling the tragic, emotional journey of the characters. I would recommend this book, but beware: this is not an easy, quick, happy read.
This is book 2 of The Suncoast Society series. It will shred you emotionally. Make sure you have plenty of tissues and a safe place where you can break down while reading. KADEN
The Power of Love and Friendship
Seth and Kaden have been best friends for 40 years, born a few weeks apart, their mothers were good friends. They grew up together. While Seth headed for the Army after graduation. Kade went to law school. Nothing got in the way of their friendship.
Kade has been dx with pancreatic cancer, prognosis is poor, even with treatment, so he decides to go with palliative care and enjoy the time he has left wit the people he loves. He needs Seth’s help. His wife Leah, has a destructive side to her, steaming from an abusive childhood. He needs someone strong to care for her when he is gone. Seth is is first choice.
Seth is fresh off his third divorce. He just managed to escape financial ruin, after the collapse of the housing industry, selling his construction company. His wife got just about everything else. he is living with his brother and his wife and going to nursing school, trying to get back on his feet. The rug has just been pulled out from under him. His best friend, a man closer to him then his own brother, is dying.
Leah is both strong and fragile. She needs structure and discipline to survive. She met Kaden when he was in college and she was working as a waitress. They had an instant connection. When he caught her cutting on herself, he freaked and she ended things. Kade knew Leah was the one and he fought to get her back. Kade explored ways to help Leah, traditional therapy was out. Another self harming episode had Kade turning Leah over his knee and spanking her. Kade was beside him self for laying hands on Leah in anger, but Leah felt something different. The spanking offered her a means to channel her need to self harm, helped her focus her emotions and let them out. Kade began to explore other means and found a local BDSM community. Over the years he had Leah have developed an 24/7 Dom/slave relationship. Kade needs Seth to step in and become Leah’s new slave. he wants more that that. He wants Seth to marry Leah when he is gone.
Seth is gobsmacked by what Kade wants from him. He adores Leah, she has become his best friend as well. Laying hands on her is something he can’t wrap his head around. Leah wants this too and he is willing to try.
Kade is a powerful guiding force, and a forward thinker. He knows the effect his death will have on the two people he loves the most. He wants to protect Seth as much as he does Leah. He knows they will need each other. Leah loves Seth as much as she does Kaden. Seth struggles with what Kaden and Leah want from him. He loves them both, but becoming Leah’s Master, becoming another husband to her, and Kaden encouraging it he isn’t sure he can be that man. The more time he spends with Kade and Leah the more he begins to understand.
Fast paced, emotional and steamy, MF, MFM, BDSM story, of friendship and unconditional love. Kaden, Leah and Seth will break your heart. While there is no happy ending, Seth and Leah, through all Kaden did and continues to do for them, are able to move forward together.
I love this series. The Suncoast Society is a big world and characters from previous books are mentioned or make appearances through out. So you always feel you are meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
I was purging my physical book collection and when I came across this one I stopped and started reading, it had been a while. While I have the kindle edition too, this is a keeper. I have read it a few times, I don’t know how I never reviewed it.