Open Door Marriage

by Naleighna Kai

Reunited...

A chance encounter lands NBA star Dallas Avery back in the arms of the woman of his dreams. A woman he hasn't seen in years. A woman he soon discovers just so happens to be his fiancée's aunt!

But Dallas' fiancee, Tori, isn't ready to give up all that she's worked for, so she makes him a shocking offer - go through with the wedding and she'll still allow him to be with the one woman he now can't seem to do without. Dallas will get a family, something her much older aunt, Alicia can't give him. Tori will get the lifestyle she clamors. And Alicia will get the love she's longed for all her life. Everyone will get a little of what they want ... and maybe a whole lot of what they don't.

Be careful what you ask for...

The details of the trio's love life play out in the tabloids and on talk shows, making Dallas the center of an NBA scandal. And eventually, the doors slam shut on this open marriage and Dallas is forced to make a choice to end the chaos. But moving on is easier than it looks and by the time all is said and done, secrets will be revealed, passions will be extinguished, and everyone's lives will be forever changed.

Genres: Ebooks

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2014

About the author

Naleighna Kai is the USA TODAY bestselling author of Every Woman Needs a Wife, Open Door Marriage, Kings of Devon, Slaves of Heaven, and Kings of the Castle. She is a contributor to a New York Times bestselling, Mercedes Benz and the E. Lynn Harris Author of Distinction. She started writing in December of 1999, independently publishing her first two novels before acquiring a book deal with an imprint of Simon & Schuster and then a book deal with an independent publishing house founded by two national bestselling authors.

Naleighna is the CEO of Macro Marketing & Promotions Group, the founder of the author support group M-LAS, as well as the marketing consultant to several national bestselling and aspiring writers. She is also the brainchild behind the annual Cavalcade of Authors event which takes place in her hometown of Chicago. Naleighna pens contemporary fiction, erotica, and speculative fiction and is currently working on her next novels. Visit her on the web at www.naleighnakai.com, Face Book and Twitter under Naleighna Kai.

Reviews

[Cassandra Baker-Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story of Tori, Dallas and Alicia. I'm Team Alicia for sure. Isn't it amazing how one may grow up looking a these types of relationships but never quite understanding the inner workings or dynamics. Tori, Tori, Tori what were you thinking? I really liked her character at first, but as the story went on I wanted to shake he like a dish rag. However you'll have to read the book to find out why.loved it and highly recommend it to others.

[K. Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaw dropping stuff going on in these pages!

I started reading this book for a discussion but wasn’t able to complete it before the discussion because my reading mojo wouldn’t cooperate. Well hearing the juicy gossip about this book during the discussion made me decide to go home and push through and honey..... this book was everything they said it was and more!

I started reading with an instant dislike for Alicia based on what I heard about her during the discussion. I walked in waving my team Tori banner and side eying Dallas because I had set him up to be the epitome of what’s wrong with men today! It didn’t take long for my jaw to hit the floor repeatedly like YOOOOOOOOOO did this just happen? The more I read the more I found myself shouting at the people on the pages to get their lives in order HA! Then things started to take a turn for me. I started to see pass my own emotions and feelings about these characters and see real love on the pages before me. I was reminded of why you are not supposed to draw conclusions about people before you get to know them because I had these characters pegged all wrong and by the end, what had me heated with anger from the beginning had me gushing and awwwing at the pages.

I will say that I was not a fan of the ending at all. It didn’t feel like a realistic end to everything that had unfolded beforehand. Like that kind of ugly and hurt doesn’t just go away. Aside from me not agreeing with the ending I have to say it was a great read from start to finish!

My name is K Sherrie,
And I recommend this read!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Vondetta Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will he or won't she?

Thanksgiving became a holiday Anna,Tori and Dallas will never forget.
This story is filled with Drama from nearly page 1. My loyalty was with Tori, then with Anna and Dallas an d later back to Dallas and Anna.
In the end , seven lives were changed forever. Dreams came true and truth was the winner.
Great read from a great author.

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was supposed to be a nice normal family Thanksgiving dinner, until the words "You slept with my aunt?" were thrown across the table. The scene that followed those lines in the book had me laughing so hard, I caught the hiccups. This book Open Door Marriage will have you rolling your eyes, arguing with a couple of the characters, (I want to smack Bernice into the middle of next week), and wondering if the whole entire family needs to check into the nearest insane asylum.

The lengths that Tori goes through to get what she wants, makes you want to reach into the book and try to shake some sense into her; when is enough, enough??? Dallas will make you have a love / hate relationship with him; one minute you're going, "Awwww, that's sweet", then the next minute, "What in the world is wrong with him?" The characters are very relate-able; we all either know someone like them, are like them, or are related to someone like them. I especially loved the ending; I was cheering so loud, people thought I'd lost my mind. (I was reading in public, lol).

If you're looking for a good read with relate-able characters, drama, more drama, twists & turns, then I would highly recommend that you read Open Door Marriage.

[Desiree Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dallas met Alicia at an auction, years ago. The date went further than the one night and Dallas fell in love. Alicia loved Dallas but felt she was too old for him so she ran away from him. Years later Dallas meets another woman named Tori, who. Helps him in a time when his mother is very ill. They date, decide to marry and Dallas comes to meet Tori's family for the first time at Thanksgiving. There Dallas wanders into the wrong room after a shower and bumps right into the woman he fell in love with all those years ago. Alicia. Unbeknownst to Dallas, Alicia, the woman he met and fell in love with years ago, is the aunt of the woman he's supposed to marry. Tori suggests they all be in the relationship together, she doesn't want to give Dallas up. They try it, it doesn't work and once again, Alicia leaves. Dallas knows he can't lose her again, it is with her his heart belongs. He makes a choice and follows his heart. Tori will have to come to grips that Dallas is the man, but not the man for her. Read: June 2015

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Open Door Marriage
Author: Naleighna Kai
Publisher: Macro Publishing Group; 3 edition
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Open Door Marriage" by Naleighna Kai

My Speculation:

I was very interested in reading this novel, and by the end, I was happy I pick it up. I will say that these three people had some stuff choices to make. You will have to look at the whole picture as to what was going on in each of these main characters' Alicia, Dallas & Toni lives. I found each one had quite a story out there, and when it all comes together, it did make sense to me why things went on as they had. I will also say that the secondary characters where not to be left out because, indeed, they brought their baggage to front and center that put the icing on the cake as to say. It was definite who Dallas loved...whom Alicia loved and what Tori loved. As I read through this exciting story, I was left rooting for one particular person, and it came out just like I felt it should have been all along by the end of the story. Dallas was to be a good person who didn't want to let this one person down, and you will see how that turned out for him. Yes, there was lots of drama in these dysfunctional families, so how will this three-way love triangle unfold? Be ready for there to be twists and turns all over the place that will have you shaking your head and saying ... well, this is where I will stop and say you will have to pick up this novel and see how this author will bring it all out to the reader. I will end by saying the title "Open Door Marriage" caught my eye, and I did enjoy the read, and in the end, the right ones finally got there HEA.

[Nile Princess · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 because the writing is engaging. I know it is because I tried to DNF this book at 16%, then at 48 and finally at 51%. I enjoy the author's style, but these characters are utterly unlikeable, especially Tori. The storyline doesn't make sense and everything seems to be for shock value, yet utterly predictable. There was absolutely no reason for Dallas to really stay with Tori. He kept saying he loved her as a friend, but it seems like he barely even liked her. There is way you would treat someone you care about with such little regard. At first, I didn't care because Tori is a horrible person, and it's quite clear that the only reason she wanted to marry Dallas is because she wanted stability and to be taken care of, and because she had already invested so much time in the relationship; she didn't have an ounce of dignity or self-respect. But, as time went on, I started to dislike Dallas because it was all too heinous. The Tori angle made no sense. He could have had children with a surrogate and, even if Alicia didn't want to get married, so what?? He would have been happier shacking up with her than married to Tori's bitter self.

To be clear, the fact that Tori was willing to share Dallas with Alicia wasn't a problem for me. It's that she clearly hated doing it, was bitter about it, was nasty to Alicia, and brought up the same arguments over and over and over when the whole thing was her idea! Like deal with it or leave! That man doesn't want you anyway!

So yea, I'm good on this. Tori was unlikeable and she made the others characters unlikeable having to deal with her.

[Kimyatta Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book right here...a refreshingly unique story line. We do see stories where there's another woman, but this spin right here?! Oh my goodness! The characters in this book are so easy to connect with. Right from the beginning, we're right in the middle of Tori's family's Thanksgiving Dinner...opening lines "You slept with my aunt?" . And just like that, she pulls you in!

Now...try as you might, there are some twists and turns throughout that make you screw your face into all types of contorted looks because you'll wonder "what brand of crazy Kool-Aid" these folks have been drinking! From Tori who came up with this crazy idea, to Dallas and Alicia who go along with it! Then, there's Berniece, Tori's crazy mama....lawdy..she needs some help. It's no wonder Tori has issues...her mama is slam crazy! (it's kinda sad really...)

Dallas' family has another set of drama that is just waiting to explode. I didn't see THAT coming.

At some point, you have to wonder if and when the folks will come to their senses (or at least what we think they should do). Can Dallas let go and choose the woman he truly loves but can't give him what he wants, a family, or will he go with the younger woman who is more socially acceptable to be on his arm because they're the same age? Better yet, can't he just have both and say the hamfat with it? Tell society to shut the front door and live his personal life as his personal life? Well...you certainly want to read this book and see how it goes.

I will admit though..'bout halfway through the book..I wanted to punch Dallas in the throat...then I wanted to punch Alicia...I wanted to punch Tori from the jump though..lol...Great read, the only reason I put it down after I started reading last night is because my body betrayed me and passed out.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tori is getting married to the man of her dreams....until the worst possible secret is released. Alicia, the aunt of Tori, has been reunited with her old love. Dallas, Tori's fiance, thought he was going to get married until his true love walks back into his life. Tori decides to allow an open marriage with her aunt as the other woman. While she thinks this is a good idea because she will end up with Dallas in the end, many truths and pain will take place that will have her questioning whether she made the right decision.

This was a good book with very limited errors. I kept my attention from beginning to end and just gave me another reason for not wanting to participate in an open marriage. I do feel like I was missing background information on Alicia and on Tori's parents. I just felt like there should've been more about that. All in all I would recommend this book and looking forward to more books from this author.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow just don’t know how I feel about this storyline. I do know it surprised me the way it ended.
It was an unique storyline. It was written very tastefully. Each character stood out and each one you will hate/love, disagree or agree with.
This book reminded me of a soap opera.
It was a nice plot with a high profile basketball that didn’t involve drugs or gangs, but involved something else that I so much didn’t agree with. I mean ..really..
What I can say is that when a book brings emotions out of you, yelling at the character, even calling them names..that’s a good writer.

Thank you to the author for a wonderful story. Never said so many “what the HXXX” while reading a book. (smile)

I don’t know what I want to read after this..

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant to read this book. I kept hearing great thing about the book. I was looking at this book through murky colored glasses, as a result of my own failed marriage. But I have to say that this was an excellent novel and I could feel for all the characters involved. I could never willingly get into an open relationship. I loved how the story was written. It is a book that I would highly recommended and it is one that I would re-read many times over. I am interested in reading other novels written by this Author.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too unrealistic for me but the way Tori acted towards the "other woman" was believable in the scenario to an extent. I enjoyed the story and admired Dallas for knowing what he wanted and his treatment of women, especially those he loved. This was more like a love story than I expected but since it wasn't overly mushy I was able to enjoy.

[DEMCAEA LARKIN]

Hmmm!!

This book was just ok for me. Some parts were good but it just didn't have that wow factor for me. Some parts were just to unbelievable I only finished because I had already started it!

[Me'Tova Hollingsworth - Bethley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was not what I was expecting. I had trouble staying focus. I found myself just reading to get to the end.

[Vanetra Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooooooooo weeeeeeeee real good.

[Naomi Mcfarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this, and I was never quite sure where the author was heading. It's an unusual love triangle that sucked me in. An aunt and a niece 'in love' with the same guy. Complications galore. Then there is the mean Bernice. A piece of work. A lot of people all going after what they want and what they think they want. But not everyone is going to get what they want...

As the story unfolds and decisions are made, supporting storylines reveal more and provide a chance to really understand what's really going on. The author had me gasping and afraid of what might happen. This story could work as a tragedy as well as a happily-ever-after. I was a bit annoyed with Dallas for not being more decisive and for willingly going along with the open relationship idea that Tori came up with. Tori started to sound a lot like her mother, Bernice, and Alicia, her aunt, kept running away.

The ending satisfied me, and it helped me think about how important choices can be, life-changing, and how important love is, regardless of issues such as age, your past, and what others think about your relationship.

[Adriane Griggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the craziest stories I've read to date. MC is involved with an NBA star and during Thanksgiving discovers he's been in a relationship with her aunt. This girls family is a study in dysfunction. Her fiancé really tried to do the right thing but he's sometimes naive to when he being played. His family also has a few skeletons lurking. This is not a story about a threesome, it's about how feeling obligated to do/ be with someone who was there in your darkest time. How putting the needs of someone else before your own can backfire.
The humor, heartache and peace of the story was engaging and interesting.

[Erica (The Literary Apothecary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I am struggling to find the best words to capture how this book made me feel and describe the thoughts circling in my soul.

Ms. Kai has penned a novel that I wish I would have read years ago.

With lyrical prose and phenomenal character arcs, this is story that transcends the catchy title. It's not often that I read a book in one sitting. But, her words and her style took a hold of my heart as she told this passionate tale.

[CatCatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book, much different from my usual reads. In the beginning I was rooting for Tori until I realized how delusional she really was. I was surprised she was the one who set the terms of the arrangement and even more surprised that Alicia went along with it, although she wasn't in total agreement she still played a role in all that happened. Dallas could have killed the whole situation by being honest with Tori and moving on as he said repeatedly.

[Marcena Hooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title alone was intriguing. I enjoyed the author's humor and detailed descriptions. Naleighna took me on a creative and imaginary ride, where I almost believed an open marriage could work! This was the first book I read by her, but it won't be my last. I recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, edge of your seat drama, that will make you laugh and feel many emotions.

[S.E. Felida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest, I’m a little on the fence when it comes to Dallas and Alicia. On one hand, I really wanted to hate them for what they did to Tori. On the other, I couldn’t help but root for them and their beautiful love. I just wished Tori could have gotten a HEA, too. I did like how she redeemed herself at the end though, instead of following in her mother’s footsteps.

[Geri Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Say What Now?!? 🤭

My, my, my! What an interesting story!! Just, Wow! I wanted to read this book first before I started on the Pleasure Series! I was pulled in from the beginning and couldn’t put it down until the last page had been read! This was a different read for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! All I can say is, Kudos, Naleighna!! 💜💜

[JoJo Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating read from page one, the author wove a tell that was true to urban fiction yet missing the typical ratchetness....surprising given the title. Love the lessons throughout and the full development of the characters and their individual histories. Well written and fully deserving of the rating, I'll be seeking out other reads by the author.

[LaRita Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had at page one

My first book by this author and i must say she now has a new fan. This book grabbed me from page 1 first sentence and I couldn't put it down until last page last sen. Excellent book!

[Angela Lackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!!!!

This was a page turner! This was a very engaging story. I loved how it was put together. You never expected what was coming next from the very beginning with the plot. I recommend this book to others, you will not be disappointed.

[Sylvia Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa

I enjoyed this book , it was not what I expected. True love, yes. I like how the author gave background of the characters without it being long and drawn out. I am glad that the Women were able to put aside their differences and move on.

[Darryl Benally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book!

This was a nice wrap up to the Pleasure Series, which I greatly enjoyed. Hopefully we'll get to hear more about Dallas and Alicia in future books. Overall, the book is a classic and I loved it!

[Tiffany Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dallas and Alicia ❤️

I loved this story. It was very well written. The characters were something else, especially Bernice. But I loved Dallas and Alicia and was very glad that they finally got to be together in the end.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think life couldn't get crazier, you find yourself sharing your man with your niece. Each page is a guarantee of drama and antics!!

[Paris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing ride.

Great read. Am now an official fan of this author. Loved Dallas. Hated Berenice and Tori was a dumb witch.