When Seth finds out his best friend Kaden is dying of cancer he’s devastated. And when Kaden tells him he wants Seth to be Master to Leah, Kaden’s wife, when he’s gone, Seth is not sure what to think.

Kaden, a lawyer, has always been the strong, take-charge person who gets things done. Seth, who has been married and divorced three times, has never thought about BDSM and has trouble dealing with the idea. Kaden wants him to move into the house so he can learn from Kade during the time he has left.

What happens next is an intriguing and emotional tale about friendship, love and BDSM.

Would you be able to take over being Dom and husband to your best friend’s wife when he’s gone? That’s the question this book poses, and it does a excellent job of exploring this intriguing question.

Seth is horrified at the idea of his friend’s death, and about his request. He’s never thought about participating in BDSM and never knew his friends were into the lifestyle, either. Watching him come to terms with BDSM, and learn the ropes of his friends’ life was fascinating.

The emotion in this story is high, and at times I found myself pulled into their situation, wondering how I would react if my best friend asked such a thing of me. It pulled at my heartstrings and made me feel close to all three characters. The ending, although told in first person from a secondary character when the rest of the story was in third person, was more than satisfactory and made smile.

The Reluctant Dom is a well-researched portrayal of a 24/7 submissive lifestyle and I enjoyed reading it very much. The love the characters have for each other is a beautiful thing to see. I recommend it to readers who enjoy BDSM tales that pull no punches.

This book has characters in common with Ms. Dalton’s book Domme by Default.