Seth and Kaden have been friends since birth and are closer than brothers. Seth has always felt like he was the screw-up, while Kaden is the successful attorney, strong and steady. Seth is overcome with grief when Kaden tells him that he is dying and that he has one last request. Kaden wants him to take over as his wife's Dom after he is gone. Seth is shocked, not only by the request, but by the lifestyle he never knew his friends lived.

Seth can't tell Kaden no. After all, Kaden has never asked him for anything but has always been there for him. He quickly finds himself in an uncomfortable position, expected to learn to be a Dom and to also be with Leah, the woman he has always loved. Seth must deal with his own grief and be there for Kaden and Leah, while learning to be her Dom and Master.

I have only ever read a few other authors who could make the BDSM lifestyle what it should be, and Tymber Dalton has taken the top of that list. She obviously took the time to do her research on the lifestyle as well as developing extremely in-depth characters that were as real as I can ever imagine a book character could be. While she spent a lot of time setting the plot and characters up, she did it in such a way that drew me in, and I didn't mind that lengthy set up. It is obvious to me that Ms. Dalton poured her heart and soul into this story and her characters, giving me a most enjoyable reading experience.

The connection between Seth and Kaden was so real, their feelings almost tangible, that I immediately felt for and loved these two men. Seth also brought a quirky humor that had me smiling throughout the book. Although Leah has been a victim of far more than anyone should ever have to endure, she is a strong woman, stronger than even Kaden knows, I believe. When the inevitable happens and Kaden dies, the scene was so detailed that I cried my eyes out, feeling both Seth's and Leah's loss and a deep loss of my own. The very last chapter of the book threw me for just a minute when the POV was switched. However, after recovering and continuing to read, I realized just why Ms. Dalton wrote the last chapter as she did. It made sense and painted Seth and Leah in a new light, giving me peace with these characters and their certain future together. I highly recommend The Reluctant Dom to anyone and everyone, even those that do not normally enjoy the BDSM, as there is much to enjoy and even more to learn from this book.

Reviewed by: Melissa C