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Reluctant Cuckold
Dave is a young, successful, upwardly mobile New Yorker with a great job, a dream apartment, and a wife every man desires. Then comes "the rumor"…. At a party Dave and his wife are both attending, Ashley locks herself in the bathroom with a male co-worker and her best girlfriend, who goads the other two into having sex. Only later, when the co-worker brags about the incident, does Ashley admit the truth of the rumor to Dave, along with the devastating detail that the co-worker is "just bigger, OK?" So begins Dave’s initiation into the "cuckold" lifestyle, practiced by a large community of men and women who have embraced their dominant or submissive natures in pursuit of sexual satisfaction. Everything Dave holds sacred is at stake. Will adopting the cuckold lifestyle help him preserve his marriage and his sanity, or will it destroy him? Is the scene legit, or just a colossal mindf**k?
- GenresErotica
344 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2011
33 people are currently reading
561 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 9, 2021
This and the second part Cuckold Storm Horizon are two books that make my all-time top five in the Cuckold genre and are absolute must-reads.
Sadly the author did not finish the series and you are left to wonder how it would have developed.
Maybe in the way, the Stieg Larsson, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo franchise was taken on by a new author, someone may in the future take the baton and give us their version.
Sadly the author did not finish the series and you are left to wonder how it would have developed.
Maybe in the way, the Stieg Larsson, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo franchise was taken on by a new author, someone may in the future take the baton and give us their version.
November 23, 2014
strongly recommend "RELUCTANT CUCKOLD" and, its second part, "CUCK STORM HORIZON" by David McManus to anyone interested in cuckoldry erotica.
In my opinion, "Reluctant Cuckold" and "Cuck Storm Horizon" are two of the best written books of cuckoldry erotica, on a single story, "Cuck Storm Horizon" being the second part of the story.
To avoid any misconception about the books, let me first state the obvious: this is a story on cuckoldry, about a cuckold husband. Furthermore, cuckoldry, is the nuclear part of the story, not an event of wife's infidelity included in a story of a different kind. In this story, cuckoldry impregnates every single page of the story. Also, as in the probably most common setting of cuckoldry erotica, the word cuckold is used to describe a man who knows of and somehow ultimately (more or less reluctantly) tolerates his wife's infidelity while, as in this story, feels very humiliated and demeaned because of his wife's clear preference for having sex with her lover over having sex with him.
Many of the stories with a cuckold tag you can find in the internet are very cliché. The plot is very often something like, husband learns his wife is cheating on him with his boss and, soon afterwards, his boss visits the couple at their home, very soon the wife is posing for his husband's boss in a very tempting lingerie set in a state of superlative wantonness, so, in the very next paragraph, wife and boss move to the master bedroom and, as they contribute several new volumes to the Kama Sutra, the cuckold husband listens to their exploits. In some cases, the author includes a single additional paragraph where the boss informs the husband that he is going to have to travel a lot while he is going to keep company to his wife, end of the story. "RELUCTANT CUCKOLD" and "CUCK STORM HORIZON" are very different. Using the previous cliché, the story would develop very differently. Husband learns his wife is cheating on him with his boss, this shocks him, he asks himself why is this happening, what are his wife's motivations; what kind of sex they are having, why his wife likes and wants this; he asks himself everything about the events and the motives for every event. Also, he has a life and knowing that his wife cheats on him impregnates everything, changes the way he perceives every single moment of his life. This story doesn't focus on the Kama Sutra, concentrates on what goes through the mind of the cuckolded husband, in the impact her straying has on their life. Nevertheless, there are plenty of extraordinary descriptions of the intense humiliation element that her infidelity acts involve.
A very large part of the reviews of this story are very positive, and I fully agree. The few critical reviews, are asking for a more cliché story, with lots of sex, that eliminates the parts that deal with the impact that the wife's infidelity had on the cuckold hubby's life and on how it changed everything that goes through his mind forever.
In "Reluctant Cuckold", Dave, the cuckold husband, learns about a single cheating episode of his wife during a party both had attended. Although he only knows a few facts about what went on during this episode, very few of them from his own wife and a few more from a close friend of him, knowing about them triggers a burst of recurrent thinking about what happened and about what might have happened during that party that is described masterfully by the author. The author gives the reader a wonderful picture, written with painstaking detail and great erotic charge, of what goes through the mind of the cuckolded husband, about his fears and his suspicions, about what arouses his jealousy, about what he finds more demeaning for him and about what deepens most his sense of humiliation. Probably, no other book describes what goes through the mind of a cuckolded husband in such detail. Certainly, there is some amount of recurrence because, as one might expect to occur after a husband finds out about his wife cheating, as soon as Dave finds out about the first, very shocking, and exceptionally humiliating cheating event of his wife, this episode comes again and again to his mind. And it is because of his obsession with that episode that he unwittingly facilitates a second cheating incident and its associated consequences...
The titillating excerpt "Dave is a young, successful, upwardly mobile New Yorker with a great job, a dream apartment, and a wife every man desires. Then comes “the rumor”…. At a party Dave and his wife are both attending, Ashley locks herself in the bathroom with a male co-worker and her best girlfriend, who goads the other two into having sex. Only later, when the co-worker brags about the incident, does Ashley admit the truth of the rumor to Dave, along with the devastating detail that the co-worker is “just bigger, OK?” So begins Dave’s initiation into the “cuckold” lifestyle..." is just a little tease of the strong erotic charge of this book.
I really enjoyed reading "Reluctant Cuckold". My only "criticism", shared by others, was: we wanted more... we wanted a second book, at least. The story still had a lot of room for further development and we wanted more of it. And "Cuck Storm Horizon" was finally published
The second part, "CUCK STORM HORIZON", has confirmed my initial guess, if a second part was ever published, the story would become even better. The second book deals with most of the events that motivated our request for a second book. Of course, there are descriptions of new events, further steps in Dave's path into cuckoldry, but the main addition, one that gives the reader a even more deep insight into the feelings of the cuckolded husband and the cuckoldress and one of the most erotically charged parts is what Dave and Ashley start sharing in their conversations. Those episodes are certainly wonderful, so "cuckoldryly" charged that they call for several re-readings. But there are still more titillating things... Dave's fears regarding some unusual advice or request from the cuckolder.... and the even more unusual birthday gift that Ashley wants them both to give to Mike, the cuckolder. And much more...
But there is still room for further development. This is what makes both books so interesting. I really hope for a third part or, maybe, even more parts. I would want the author to keep the same style of the first two books rather than to rush to a quick end. There is much more I want to know about Dave and, mostly, about Ashley and Mike, before the story reaches a final climax, despite of how curious I am about what the author might have chosen for the end of the story.
You can find free selections of both books (posted by the copyright owners) in at least two sites of the web (kindle format and some other e-pub formats) but you will have to register to get them or read them on line. There are also some pdf formatted selections available in the web. The full books, if you like what the selection offers, is available at several paysites.
http://www.mediafire.com/?1wh7m1m03qu...
http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/14129922...
You can find the pdf selection of "Cuck Storm Horizon" at
http://www58.zippyshare.com/v/1083396...
http://www.mediafire.com/?sl64153xp3c...
In my opinion, "Reluctant Cuckold" and "Cuck Storm Horizon" are two of the best written books of cuckoldry erotica, on a single story, "Cuck Storm Horizon" being the second part of the story.
To avoid any misconception about the books, let me first state the obvious: this is a story on cuckoldry, about a cuckold husband. Furthermore, cuckoldry, is the nuclear part of the story, not an event of wife's infidelity included in a story of a different kind. In this story, cuckoldry impregnates every single page of the story. Also, as in the probably most common setting of cuckoldry erotica, the word cuckold is used to describe a man who knows of and somehow ultimately (more or less reluctantly) tolerates his wife's infidelity while, as in this story, feels very humiliated and demeaned because of his wife's clear preference for having sex with her lover over having sex with him.
Many of the stories with a cuckold tag you can find in the internet are very cliché. The plot is very often something like, husband learns his wife is cheating on him with his boss and, soon afterwards, his boss visits the couple at their home, very soon the wife is posing for his husband's boss in a very tempting lingerie set in a state of superlative wantonness, so, in the very next paragraph, wife and boss move to the master bedroom and, as they contribute several new volumes to the Kama Sutra, the cuckold husband listens to their exploits. In some cases, the author includes a single additional paragraph where the boss informs the husband that he is going to have to travel a lot while he is going to keep company to his wife, end of the story. "RELUCTANT CUCKOLD" and "CUCK STORM HORIZON" are very different. Using the previous cliché, the story would develop very differently. Husband learns his wife is cheating on him with his boss, this shocks him, he asks himself why is this happening, what are his wife's motivations; what kind of sex they are having, why his wife likes and wants this; he asks himself everything about the events and the motives for every event. Also, he has a life and knowing that his wife cheats on him impregnates everything, changes the way he perceives every single moment of his life. This story doesn't focus on the Kama Sutra, concentrates on what goes through the mind of the cuckolded husband, in the impact her straying has on their life. Nevertheless, there are plenty of extraordinary descriptions of the intense humiliation element that her infidelity acts involve.
A very large part of the reviews of this story are very positive, and I fully agree. The few critical reviews, are asking for a more cliché story, with lots of sex, that eliminates the parts that deal with the impact that the wife's infidelity had on the cuckold hubby's life and on how it changed everything that goes through his mind forever.
In "Reluctant Cuckold", Dave, the cuckold husband, learns about a single cheating episode of his wife during a party both had attended. Although he only knows a few facts about what went on during this episode, very few of them from his own wife and a few more from a close friend of him, knowing about them triggers a burst of recurrent thinking about what happened and about what might have happened during that party that is described masterfully by the author. The author gives the reader a wonderful picture, written with painstaking detail and great erotic charge, of what goes through the mind of the cuckolded husband, about his fears and his suspicions, about what arouses his jealousy, about what he finds more demeaning for him and about what deepens most his sense of humiliation. Probably, no other book describes what goes through the mind of a cuckolded husband in such detail. Certainly, there is some amount of recurrence because, as one might expect to occur after a husband finds out about his wife cheating, as soon as Dave finds out about the first, very shocking, and exceptionally humiliating cheating event of his wife, this episode comes again and again to his mind. And it is because of his obsession with that episode that he unwittingly facilitates a second cheating incident and its associated consequences...
The titillating excerpt "Dave is a young, successful, upwardly mobile New Yorker with a great job, a dream apartment, and a wife every man desires. Then comes “the rumor”…. At a party Dave and his wife are both attending, Ashley locks herself in the bathroom with a male co-worker and her best girlfriend, who goads the other two into having sex. Only later, when the co-worker brags about the incident, does Ashley admit the truth of the rumor to Dave, along with the devastating detail that the co-worker is “just bigger, OK?” So begins Dave’s initiation into the “cuckold” lifestyle..." is just a little tease of the strong erotic charge of this book.
I really enjoyed reading "Reluctant Cuckold". My only "criticism", shared by others, was: we wanted more... we wanted a second book, at least. The story still had a lot of room for further development and we wanted more of it. And "Cuck Storm Horizon" was finally published
The second part, "CUCK STORM HORIZON", has confirmed my initial guess, if a second part was ever published, the story would become even better. The second book deals with most of the events that motivated our request for a second book. Of course, there are descriptions of new events, further steps in Dave's path into cuckoldry, but the main addition, one that gives the reader a even more deep insight into the feelings of the cuckolded husband and the cuckoldress and one of the most erotically charged parts is what Dave and Ashley start sharing in their conversations. Those episodes are certainly wonderful, so "cuckoldryly" charged that they call for several re-readings. But there are still more titillating things... Dave's fears regarding some unusual advice or request from the cuckolder.... and the even more unusual birthday gift that Ashley wants them both to give to Mike, the cuckolder. And much more...
But there is still room for further development. This is what makes both books so interesting. I really hope for a third part or, maybe, even more parts. I would want the author to keep the same style of the first two books rather than to rush to a quick end. There is much more I want to know about Dave and, mostly, about Ashley and Mike, before the story reaches a final climax, despite of how curious I am about what the author might have chosen for the end of the story.
You can find free selections of both books (posted by the copyright owners) in at least two sites of the web (kindle format and some other e-pub formats) but you will have to register to get them or read them on line. There are also some pdf formatted selections available in the web. The full books, if you like what the selection offers, is available at several paysites.
http://www.mediafire.com/?1wh7m1m03qu...
http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/14129922...
You can find the pdf selection of "Cuck Storm Horizon" at
http://www58.zippyshare.com/v/1083396...
http://www.mediafire.com/?sl64153xp3c...
January 3, 2020
This is a re-read of one of my favorite cuckold books (along with the sequel) ever. I know this isn't for everyone, but it truly captures the feelings of angst a cuckold both suffers and craves. The cuckold in question Dave, is both horrified and uncontrollably excited as his wife Ashley draws him deeper and deeper into becoming a cuckold. If you enjoy the cuckold genre, this book is a must. From my perspective, the single biggest flaw to this story is that the sequel leaves the story still open, no third book has ever been written to wrap it all up and the author seems to have disappeared. If I was a writer, i think this is a book I might try to tackle. It deserves a real ending. It's well characterized, well written and also hot. This book has my highest recommendation.
May 9, 2017
Dave Martens has it all, the good job, nice apartment and a gorgeous wife in the name of Ashley, clever, fit, athletic and big breasted she is everyman’s dream woman. But his life is about to change forever, at a party and unbeknown to Dave she has sex in a bathroom with a co-worker encouraged and egged on by her best friend Tamara. A couple days later Ashley tells Dave there is a rumour about her having sex at the party, it soon becomes apparent that it is more than just a rumour.
Dave has trouble dealing with the fact that his wife had strayed and shocked and troubled to find he is tremendously aroused every time he thinks about. He turns to the internet for answers as he struggles to comprehend Ashley’s motivations and his reaction to her infidelity. In a chat room he meets Mike, who seems to understand what he is going through and even some insight as to what Ashley may be feeling to, Dave feels Mike is firmly in his camp and is pleased to have found someone who he can share his thoughts with without judgement.
Even during a weekend away with friends leads to further suspicions and imagings for the troubled Dave. Back in New York he meets up with Mike and they agree that he should meet with Ashley, that is when things turn really difficult for Dave as Mike moves in on his wife. Dave feels distraught that he allowed himself to be played by Mike and all but served his compliant wife on a plate for the confident Mike.
This is a very well written book, a real page turner, as I also have cuckold tendencies I found myself feeling the cuckold angst that Dave felt especially when his wife goes to the bedroom with Mike, relegating poor Dave to the couch. There is a huge lack of communication between Ashley and Dave which I found a little frustrating, but I guess it all added to the story. Although there is not very much actual sex in it, David McManus has created a wonderful and believable story, full of conflicting emotions and anxiety, I thoroughly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the second part.
Dave has trouble dealing with the fact that his wife had strayed and shocked and troubled to find he is tremendously aroused every time he thinks about. He turns to the internet for answers as he struggles to comprehend Ashley’s motivations and his reaction to her infidelity. In a chat room he meets Mike, who seems to understand what he is going through and even some insight as to what Ashley may be feeling to, Dave feels Mike is firmly in his camp and is pleased to have found someone who he can share his thoughts with without judgement.
Even during a weekend away with friends leads to further suspicions and imagings for the troubled Dave. Back in New York he meets up with Mike and they agree that he should meet with Ashley, that is when things turn really difficult for Dave as Mike moves in on his wife. Dave feels distraught that he allowed himself to be played by Mike and all but served his compliant wife on a plate for the confident Mike.
This is a very well written book, a real page turner, as I also have cuckold tendencies I found myself feeling the cuckold angst that Dave felt especially when his wife goes to the bedroom with Mike, relegating poor Dave to the couch. There is a huge lack of communication between Ashley and Dave which I found a little frustrating, but I guess it all added to the story. Although there is not very much actual sex in it, David McManus has created a wonderful and believable story, full of conflicting emotions and anxiety, I thoroughly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the second part.
November 19, 2019
This along with the second book cuck storm horizon,is one of the best written cuckolding books out there!.the main couple David and Ashley martins are a great looking very intelligent happily married couple.and have everything going for them, great careers there own uptown apartment.but,things start going downhill for David when Ashley tells him about a rumour going round at her work.about an incident involving Ashley her good friend and work colleague.tamara and a younger stud of a guy in a bathroom.at a works party which her and David were both at!...I will try to not put too many spoilers in the review.just to say,within a few chapters you realise that Ashley is anything but the sweet loving wife he thought he married.and although he can see whats slowly happening,his blind love for her.is putting him in a state of denial. by the time the "third person" enters the story.Ashley has totally mindfucked David.and he his just a mess now.although she continues to mess with his head.then when the third person gets involved they are both now mercilessly mindfucking him!.
the book leaves a lot of unanswered questions.which the follow up mainly addresses.but theres a few that aren't like.did the third person and Ashley have any contact before Dave started talking to him?.and it would be great to hear the story from Ashleys side.or the bulls side
you feel really sorry for David by the end of this book.although equally finding it hard to believe he is this confident,proud man/husband. and absolutely detest Ashley at the same time as a cold scheming woman.with no respect for her husband at all.although she is constantly telling him she loves him..i have written a review of the second book....it is really missing a third book as other reviewers have also said..but this book is one of the very best full length novels on cuckolding out there!
the book leaves a lot of unanswered questions.which the follow up mainly addresses.but theres a few that aren't like.did the third person and Ashley have any contact before Dave started talking to him?.and it would be great to hear the story from Ashleys side.or the bulls side
you feel really sorry for David by the end of this book.although equally finding it hard to believe he is this confident,proud man/husband. and absolutely detest Ashley at the same time as a cold scheming woman.with no respect for her husband at all.although she is constantly telling him she loves him..i have written a review of the second book....it is really missing a third book as other reviewers have also said..but this book is one of the very best full length novels on cuckolding out there!
October 13, 2021
Pretty good read. Novel length, but most of the times pages flew by. My main complaint, and it's minor, was that half the book dealt with the initial rumor of a cuckolding event. Dave keeps replaying what he thinks has happened in his head over and over, twisting it and expounding on it a lot. Most of it was engaging, but after awhile I was ready for him to move on and resolve it in some way.
The swimming party with Jay was a good break, and Dave's imagination of what could happen there was a good read. But when Mike showed up in the picture, the book just flew.
Recommend if you are looking for of an insight to the mind of a cuckold because that what's this book is mostly. Don't expect scene after scene action. This leans heavily more toward Dave mentally cuckolding himself.
The swimming party with Jay was a good break, and Dave's imagination of what could happen there was a good read. But when Mike showed up in the picture, the book just flew.
Recommend if you are looking for of an insight to the mind of a cuckold because that what's this book is mostly. Don't expect scene after scene action. This leans heavily more toward Dave mentally cuckolding himself.
October 3, 2021
I read this book quite some time ago before I started writing reviews. I read Robert’s recent review because he’s pretty insightful, and then went on to read the other reviews of this book.
I’m concluding this is a really good book because the reviews and ratings are all over the map. More telling is each review focused on a different aspect of the book I could identify with.
I’ve looked at book 2 a number of times, but didn’t want to read another 300 pages of self rumination. Plus I was waiting for book 3 to deliver a conclusion. So I think I’ll keep book 2 on my “May Want to Read” list. 🤯😉
I’d also note that, for me, if you want to delve into the mind of a cuckold, I strongly recommend The One Less Travelled series by JC Wittol. It’s 9 books that you can buy individually or you can buy the first 5 books and the next 3 books together. The final Book 9 that picks up an extended storyline after Book 8, is on its own. While there is angst in this series, there’s a lot of communication between the cuck and his wife, and the cuck and the Bull, and the cuck grows stronger through the process rather than being pummeled at every turn.
I’m concluding this is a really good book because the reviews and ratings are all over the map. More telling is each review focused on a different aspect of the book I could identify with.
I’ve looked at book 2 a number of times, but didn’t want to read another 300 pages of self rumination. Plus I was waiting for book 3 to deliver a conclusion. So I think I’ll keep book 2 on my “May Want to Read” list. 🤯😉
I’d also note that, for me, if you want to delve into the mind of a cuckold, I strongly recommend The One Less Travelled series by JC Wittol. It’s 9 books that you can buy individually or you can buy the first 5 books and the next 3 books together. The final Book 9 that picks up an extended storyline after Book 8, is on its own. While there is angst in this series, there’s a lot of communication between the cuck and his wife, and the cuck and the Bull, and the cuck grows stronger through the process rather than being pummeled at every turn.
April 18, 2013
I was under the impression that when we review a book we are actually reviewing the content and the story along with the characters, not really just the writing or the writer. Granted the writing is superb and the writer brilliant, such as Mr. David McManus (of which I wholeheartedly agree)
I downloaded a free sample based on the raving review(WHICH I WILL NEVER RELY ON AGAIN) and the 5 star it has received. The free sample sounded interesting and intriguing so I went back and read all the reviews and all the more I got convinced to buy it. At first I thought, Wow! this has got to be the most humiliating and hardest thing one has to go through and I wondered how the lead character would handle such devastating discovery of his wife's adultery. I understand some of the first reactions Dave exhibited but also thought once he gets over the initial shock, he'll confront his wife Ashley. He's been made an object of derision and scorn and yet he didn't take control and handle it like a man that he is, after all, he is described as a young, smart, successful and upwardly mobile New Yorker with a great job and a dream apartment in a hip and trendy town. Instead, pathetic Dave went through almost the entire half of the book repeating the same questions in his mind over and over again to a point where I started thinking... is this going to get any better? To my horror it got worse! instead of taking the bull on its horn and get a handle on all this sordid affair, he indulged in self pity and spent hours and hours going on line chat rooms of fellow cuckolds, listened to their sad story and misfortune and played all that back in his mind with some embellishment, so he can find an outlet of his own sick desire, gratify and fulfill his own sexual fetish by masturbating and ejaculating each and every time. His never ending conversation with himself of self imagined scenarios with whomever, (and this went on forever) was a motivation for him so he can I suppose, do the exact same thing again over and over.(clearly, his motivation is somewhat misplaced) He took the time to buy some state of the art listening gadgets so that he can listen in on his wife having sex in his own home and in his own bed, watched his adulterous wife make out in front of him in his own living room because that's how he finds sexual gratification ( how sick is that?) ...jeez, this is the most degrading and cruel description of a man's character no matter how worthless and pathetic he may be! but I supposed they exists! It doesn't make sense either that his wife Ashley, whom has never been described anything but just a normal regular wife with a good job and content with what she and her husband Dave have. She was never referred to as an abusive and controlling wife, neither one of them were described as dominant or submissive natures to subscribe to her cuckolding her husband and him tolerating his adulterous wife. I was so frustrated with him that I seriously thought of calling Dr Phil to shake and sucker punch him and make a real man of himself...UGH! This is a total waste of time, money and effort!
Just to be clear, I stated my view on this book's story line... the whole premise of degradation and most demeaning, pitiless and degenerate description of one's self worth is a little hard to take. My sense of right and wrong was totally offended by the content and story of this book!
Now, the writing is superb! Mr.McManus's ability to come across and impart to the readers mind the lead character's turmoil is quite impressive. In fact, so impressed with his talent that I looked up other books he's written in the hope that he had another one but with an impressive clean story this time, just didn't find any. Was this the one and only book he's written?...if it is so, is it any wonder?
May 5, 2021
This book is the record of severe sociopathic abuse, emotional trauma, and devaluation which blindsided the protagonist. The writing is well above average. Usually books like this are sexy and fun. This is neither. SPOILERS
The story is basically radical nihilistic devaluation and dehumanization of the unsuspecting husband at the hands of the wife - who is a somatic narcissist - and an alcoholic - and a serial liar who projects all her problems on to her husband. Dark AF. I mean, she just drives a Sherman tank through the middle of her marriage and then gets out and stars dropping nuclear bombs on it.
The husband, David, is what is called in psychology, a "Carrier Empath". In this case, carrier meaning the star of the show who 'carries' the team. That's not how David is portrayed in the book, he's supposed to seem weak and passive. But he also supports the entire pathology of everybody involved and he personally carries the story to the end while he is metaphorically taking fire and huge hits from all sides the entire time. I see David as our hero. Very likable and sincere. By far the strongest character. While the wife and several other characters here are off the boonies pathological. I mean the abuse here is severe. Bordering on psychological torture. Radical boundary violations with soul crushing emotional and psychological abuse, but leaving no visible scars. If you get off on that, this is your book. But, I swear, scenarios like this do not make me feel sexy. They make me feel upset and violent.
Particularly well written and of interest here are the parts about David's intrusive and repetitive thoughts. This is the product of radical emotional abuse. Rumination. Negative obsessions. Revisiting trauma over and over. Self blame. Getting massively and consistently gaslit. Then gaslighting yourself and making excuses for the abusers. Here we see a casebook example in print. Solutions might be David reframing the situation, taking his personal interests into account, expressing his own thoughts, which this book is a great example of, and practicing mindful appreciation of everyday life. But digging out of this kind of hell hole will obviously be traumatic and take a long time.
The kind of abuse here done by the wife is called "Stepford Devaluation". Meaning the goal of the narcissist wife is to turn her husband in to an uncomplaining automaton with no feelings, humanity, emotions or needs, while she just basically does whatever TF she wants. If that is sexy for you, this is your book.
I am looking forward to the third book where Ashley hooks up with every gross skanky dude in New York and on the beach in New Jersey while David is forced to sit there and watch.
Then I look forward to the 4th book where David locks that garden tool out of the apartment, took all the money in the divorce, forced her to move in with Tamara after "dominant dude" dumps her. Then our protagonist moves to the beach in Costa Rica and runs a successful hedge fund with a staff of ten model-gorgeous 23 year old Latinas from Colombia, Venezuela and Chile who are all crazy about him and fight over who is gonna sleep with him tonight. While Ashley dries out with the DTs in Richmond, VA while trying to 'do' the male orderlies or some such gross hypergamous monkey branch insanity.
And jeezus McManus, if you need help, please DM or email me. Thanks for putting this out there. I know it must have been soul destroying. And I hope you're doing OK now.
The story is basically radical nihilistic devaluation and dehumanization of the unsuspecting husband at the hands of the wife - who is a somatic narcissist - and an alcoholic - and a serial liar who projects all her problems on to her husband. Dark AF. I mean, she just drives a Sherman tank through the middle of her marriage and then gets out and stars dropping nuclear bombs on it.
The husband, David, is what is called in psychology, a "Carrier Empath". In this case, carrier meaning the star of the show who 'carries' the team. That's not how David is portrayed in the book, he's supposed to seem weak and passive. But he also supports the entire pathology of everybody involved and he personally carries the story to the end while he is metaphorically taking fire and huge hits from all sides the entire time. I see David as our hero. Very likable and sincere. By far the strongest character. While the wife and several other characters here are off the boonies pathological. I mean the abuse here is severe. Bordering on psychological torture. Radical boundary violations with soul crushing emotional and psychological abuse, but leaving no visible scars. If you get off on that, this is your book. But, I swear, scenarios like this do not make me feel sexy. They make me feel upset and violent.
Particularly well written and of interest here are the parts about David's intrusive and repetitive thoughts. This is the product of radical emotional abuse. Rumination. Negative obsessions. Revisiting trauma over and over. Self blame. Getting massively and consistently gaslit. Then gaslighting yourself and making excuses for the abusers. Here we see a casebook example in print. Solutions might be David reframing the situation, taking his personal interests into account, expressing his own thoughts, which this book is a great example of, and practicing mindful appreciation of everyday life. But digging out of this kind of hell hole will obviously be traumatic and take a long time.
The kind of abuse here done by the wife is called "Stepford Devaluation". Meaning the goal of the narcissist wife is to turn her husband in to an uncomplaining automaton with no feelings, humanity, emotions or needs, while she just basically does whatever TF she wants. If that is sexy for you, this is your book.
I am looking forward to the third book where Ashley hooks up with every gross skanky dude in New York and on the beach in New Jersey while David is forced to sit there and watch.
Then I look forward to the 4th book where David locks that garden tool out of the apartment, took all the money in the divorce, forced her to move in with Tamara after "dominant dude" dumps her. Then our protagonist moves to the beach in Costa Rica and runs a successful hedge fund with a staff of ten model-gorgeous 23 year old Latinas from Colombia, Venezuela and Chile who are all crazy about him and fight over who is gonna sleep with him tonight. While Ashley dries out with the DTs in Richmond, VA while trying to 'do' the male orderlies or some such gross hypergamous monkey branch insanity.
And jeezus McManus, if you need help, please DM or email me. Thanks for putting this out there. I know it must have been soul destroying. And I hope you're doing OK now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2024
it was too wordy and repetitive, too much Jim Murta. I've read some of it before but skipped a lot because it was so light on sex.
It ended fairly strong at least but for a more enjoyable and arousing read I suggest reading selected works from authors like Matthew Lee.
It ended fairly strong at least but for a more enjoyable and arousing read I suggest reading selected works from authors like Matthew Lee.
June 1, 2015
I enjoyed this book but would have to agree with other negative reviews, as I also had certain reservations about it. Dave is a young, good looking, successful and happily married to a beautiful wife, so ostensibly he has a great life. Then because of a rumour about his wife's fidelity he practically falls apart, becoming excessively introspective, self-pitying and pathetic until he falls prey to an online predator Bull.
It is very well written but the author tends to over indulge himself trying to portray the mindset. Dave ties himself up in knots with interminable imaginary conversations and degrading scenarios before proceeding to push himself and his wife in exactly the direction that he claims he doesn't want to go, cuckoldry.
I kept wondering how he ever managed to get to such an apparently senior position at work with all his insecurities and hangups. The internet chat conversations were overly long and mostly irrelevant apart from exposing his disintegrating mental state. Annoyingly we never get his wife's opinion as he's too scared to properly ask her. Then this supposedly intelligent man can't see through the approach of his new pseudo friend from the cuckold chat-room. He was either incredibly stupid or as I suspect, subconsciously desired his own descent and destruction.
Still overall an engaging story and I look forward to the next book in this series, where hopefully we might finally discover his wife's opinion.
It is very well written but the author tends to over indulge himself trying to portray the mindset. Dave ties himself up in knots with interminable imaginary conversations and degrading scenarios before proceeding to push himself and his wife in exactly the direction that he claims he doesn't want to go, cuckoldry.
I kept wondering how he ever managed to get to such an apparently senior position at work with all his insecurities and hangups. The internet chat conversations were overly long and mostly irrelevant apart from exposing his disintegrating mental state. Annoyingly we never get his wife's opinion as he's too scared to properly ask her. Then this supposedly intelligent man can't see through the approach of his new pseudo friend from the cuckold chat-room. He was either incredibly stupid or as I suspect, subconsciously desired his own descent and destruction.
Still overall an engaging story and I look forward to the next book in this series, where hopefully we might finally discover his wife's opinion.
May 9, 2020
While it a well-written, the contents and format left a lot to be desired. I like the fact that the book was written entirely from the cuckold's point of view. While I understand the cuckold's tendency towards self-deprivation and compulsive need for uncertainty, I find most authors mistakenly think repeating the same scenario over and over again drives that home. So don't let the length of the book deter you, because you be scanning over a lot of repeated material.
We are led to believe Dave is a high flying successful businessman, which is hard to reconcile with his personal life mannerism and self-doubt. I would have thought a scene where he is successfully and confidently managing a business event would have helped. As it was, I could not buy into that idea. Minorly, I could not reconcile Ashley's behavior. But again, being written from the Cuck's POV, it would read like the wife had a split personality. I also don't see Ashley being attracted to a Mike (You know, Bro?)
I know there is a second book to this story. It is' going to take several other books before I can even think about jumping into that. But to the author's favor, I read cuckold stories. I will put up with it.
We are led to believe Dave is a high flying successful businessman, which is hard to reconcile with his personal life mannerism and self-doubt. I would have thought a scene where he is successfully and confidently managing a business event would have helped. As it was, I could not buy into that idea. Minorly, I could not reconcile Ashley's behavior. But again, being written from the Cuck's POV, it would read like the wife had a split personality. I also don't see Ashley being attracted to a Mike (You know, Bro?)
I know there is a second book to this story. It is' going to take several other books before I can even think about jumping into that. But to the author's favor, I read cuckold stories. I will put up with it.
February 22, 2018
Reread in hopes of book 3 coming soon. Long build up pays off with accelerated ending.
December 11, 2022
I consider this the holy grail of cuckold novels. Which is ironic because the sex is non-existent and the few "actual" sex scenes at the end uses laughable word choices for its dirty talk. So why do I hold it in such high regard? The main character David is written perfectly and is the pinnacle of the humiliated cuckold archetype. His thoughts and feelings about the actions of his wife, Ashley, are both realistic and non-stop. Since cuckolding is more of a psychological fetish, an empathetic reader can be carried along to experience what being unwillingly cuckolded would feel like. I think a lot of cuckold erotica focuses on the visual and because it's meant to be stimulating, rushes to the sex far too quickly. The strength of this book is that the entire book is 300+ pages of buildup. Even at the end, the reader does not get the sex scenes you get in other erotica. In a way, the books cuckolds the reader just like Ashley cuckolds Dave. The reader is denied and has to make do with their imagination.
This book will not be for everyone. It is not a hotwife novel. It's true cuckolding, not cuckolding as a fetish. And that shit is painful.
This book will not be for everyone. It is not a hotwife novel. It's true cuckolding, not cuckolding as a fetish. And that shit is painful.
August 26, 2023
There are few novels that immerse the reader so completely into the psyche of a character the way "Reluctant Cuckold" does. The story’s ability to craft a narrative so authentic, candid, and charged with raw emotion is quite extraordinary.
From the outset, Dave's journey through jealousy, humiliation, fear, arousal, and a spectrum of other emotions feels so palpably real. The story is a potent brew of forbidden desires, insecurities, and the complexities of love and fidelity. What stood out to me, much like in my own work, was the intricate and meticulous exploration of the protagonist’s internal world.
One of the strongest motifs in the narrative is Dave's obsessive-compulsive need to revisit, rethink, and relive certain moments. This repetitive internal cycle serves to both torment and titillate him, drawing him ever deeper into his own morass of emotions. Each round of introspection pushes him closer to the precipice of climax, making the reading experience intensely visceral. It's a dance of pleasure and pain that's exquisitely executed.
The character's struggles and internal conflicts are laid bare, fostering an intimate connection between the reader and the narrative. It's an unflinching look into the deepest, darkest corners of human desires and fears. The authenticity with which these feelings are portrayed is a testament to the story's craftsmanship.
In "Reluctant Cuckold," the beauty isn’t just in the unfolding events, but in the swirling maelstrom of thoughts that accompany them. This story stands as a compelling testament to the power of the human mind, the intricacies of relationships, and the delicate balance of love, lust, and loyalty.
A gripping read, it’s the kind of book that lingers, pushing boundaries and challenging perceptions. Highly recommended for those who appreciate a deep psychological dive into the world of erotica.
From the outset, Dave's journey through jealousy, humiliation, fear, arousal, and a spectrum of other emotions feels so palpably real. The story is a potent brew of forbidden desires, insecurities, and the complexities of love and fidelity. What stood out to me, much like in my own work, was the intricate and meticulous exploration of the protagonist’s internal world.
One of the strongest motifs in the narrative is Dave's obsessive-compulsive need to revisit, rethink, and relive certain moments. This repetitive internal cycle serves to both torment and titillate him, drawing him ever deeper into his own morass of emotions. Each round of introspection pushes him closer to the precipice of climax, making the reading experience intensely visceral. It's a dance of pleasure and pain that's exquisitely executed.
The character's struggles and internal conflicts are laid bare, fostering an intimate connection between the reader and the narrative. It's an unflinching look into the deepest, darkest corners of human desires and fears. The authenticity with which these feelings are portrayed is a testament to the story's craftsmanship.
In "Reluctant Cuckold," the beauty isn’t just in the unfolding events, but in the swirling maelstrom of thoughts that accompany them. This story stands as a compelling testament to the power of the human mind, the intricacies of relationships, and the delicate balance of love, lust, and loyalty.
A gripping read, it’s the kind of book that lingers, pushing boundaries and challenging perceptions. Highly recommended for those who appreciate a deep psychological dive into the world of erotica.
July 30, 2024
Parts Are Great
That’s my problem with this story. Only parts are great and the rest bored me.
It was obvious from the title what was going to happen and it did. However it took three quarters of the book to show how screwed up is the husband. For me that was way too much writing.
I challenge anyone to say that it took them that long to realize what was going to happen.
That means that there’s less than one quarter of the book to deal with the beginning of his cuckolding process and in the end we don’t see it fully finished.
The whole process of seeing how they would make this work. There needs to be a second book until I’ll feel satisfied about the story. Right now it seems to be just a ruined orgasm. And too much time was spent on the making out of the process and much more is needed on the “make do” part.
That’s my problem with this story. Only parts are great and the rest bored me.
It was obvious from the title what was going to happen and it did. However it took three quarters of the book to show how screwed up is the husband. For me that was way too much writing.
I challenge anyone to say that it took them that long to realize what was going to happen.
That means that there’s less than one quarter of the book to deal with the beginning of his cuckolding process and in the end we don’t see it fully finished.
The whole process of seeing how they would make this work. There needs to be a second book until I’ll feel satisfied about the story. Right now it seems to be just a ruined orgasm. And too much time was spent on the making out of the process and much more is needed on the “make do” part.
January 25, 2026
The first 20% of this book is very repetitive with the hubby playing out the bathroom scene in his mind over and over and over again. But then gradually this cracking cuckold tale really takes off and forced me to spend most of my weekend reading to the end. Ordering the sequel straight away, can't wait to see how this unfolds!
November 12, 2019
That one was pretty boring, could not finish it..
December 24, 2021
Catchy from start to end
The story revolves good around the content and characters rightly placed at right times. Waiting to read second part as soon as it's available on Kindle
The story revolves good around the content and characters rightly placed at right times. Waiting to read second part as soon as it's available on Kindle
September 27, 2023
Too long. Some good tension built, but husband and wife communication was severely lacking.
One character “Mike” was clearly modeled after “PC Principal” on South Park.
Low ROI.
One character “Mike” was clearly modeled after “PC Principal” on South Park.
Low ROI.
November 10, 2024
Patience Is Required
If you read this book, it builds up very, very slowly and if you’re interested in how the story turns out you’ll have to read the sequel.
If you read this book, it builds up very, very slowly and if you’re interested in how the story turns out you’ll have to read the sequel.
March 17, 2025
The best book I've read regarding cuckolding. There are a few slow parts. But the psychological manipulation is second to none. Must read!
June 28, 2025
It is so much more fun to read stories like this when the Cuckold are reluctant and dont want to instantly do it. It makes it seem so much more real and that is why this book is really good.
Read
January 2, 2015Its a good book and i think a beginner should read this .This books explain how a normal guy entered into this lifestyle.If u are thinking about this lifestyle then go for it....worst part nothing is written from bulls point of view
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