Judith’s review of The Dominant (The Submissive Trilogy #2) by Tara Sue Me
Nathaniel West doesn’t lose control. As the playboy CEO of West Industries, he governs the boardroom during the day; as a strict dominant with exacting rules, he commands the bedroom at night. He never takes on inexperienced submissives, but when Abigail King’s application comes across his desk, he breaks his own restrictions and decides to test her limits.
Abby’s combination of innocence and willingness is intoxicating, and Nathaniel is soon determined to collar her as his own. As long as she follows his orders and surrenders herself fully to him, no one will get hurt.
But when Nathaniel begins falling for Abby on a deeper level, he realizes that the trust must go both ways—and he has secrets which could bring the foundations of their entire relationship crashing down.
Having read The Submissive, book one in this trilogy, it only stands to reason that I would want to follow through and read book two. Yes, make no mistake, this is overtly another BDSM novel but it is far more than just a journal of dominance and submission. Just as book one was a character study of Abigail King, so this is a character study of Nathaniel West, a man whose life is ruled by unbreakable rules, one who never deviates from his routines or makes exceptions to his way of doing things. Yet when he meet up with Ms King, change is in the offing.
This is about a man whose inner securities are held at bay with his hard limits. He has one way of ruling his business empire and he had another for ruling his private life. Yet within this man lies the realities of who he really is. Just like most of us he has his secrets, he deals with his own deep seeded insecurites, and has found that the D/s relationship gives him the means for holding those inner questions at bay. Yet his emotions are far less manageable. They seem to have a life of their own, and it is that inner battle between rules and logic verses emotion that lives at the crux of Nathaniel West’s life. And it is Abigail King who will be the catalyst for bringing all of his struggles to the fore.
This is a compelling look at two people who are seeking to meet their deepest needs and desires and who have truly found their “One” in each other. Yet their own inner doubts and questions that pose the greatest barrier to each of them finding their own personal Nirvana.
I found this book to be one that went beyond the usual BDSM book with lots of sexual interaction, to be sure, but all of it overlaid with the greater emotional struggle and the interplay of these two people whose regard for one another was causing so much difficulty. It is an emotional roller coaster and there were several occasions when I felt the hurt and disappointment that leaped off the pages of this book. There was joy and celebration, but when one’s own inner conflict is so continuous, the joy and celebration cave in quickly. There were several times when I wasn’t sure these two were going to make it to the HEA. But even though there is no cliff hanger ending, Nate and Abby’s story will continue in the coming third book of the trilogy. I, for one, can’t wait.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5
The Series:
You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.
This title is available from NAL. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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