The 80/20 Solution: Hallie and Al

by C.K. Ralston

What, exactly, is the 80/20 Solution, as it applies to personal relationships? Very simply, it’s the proposition that few people can ever hope to be 100% of all things to a partner at all 80% is about the maximum number most people can hope to achieve when talking about meeting his or her soul-mate’s total needs in life. But what about that other 20% of your emotional, recreational, intellectual desires which make up the areas in your life where you and your partner find yourselves at odds? Some adventurous couples--recognizing this challenge--have elected to openly spend that time apart, fulfilling those needs with other experiences, pursuing interests that don’t intrigue their partner a bit; or with other people who do share their passions! Hallie and Al Bergstrom are just such a couple. They read about this new approach to relationships, and elect to give it a try. They’ve been married ten years and are committed to starting a family soon, now that they’re finally nearing their professional goals. He is a college math professor at a small Midwestern university that is about to achieve tenured status. She is a top executive at a regional manufacturer, about to be promoted to VP. Both are very attractive, very out-going people. They agree to take a spring break vacation in one of their favorite cities, Las Vegas, so he can try a new gaming system while she shops, sees the sights, and does what she wants to do. Only this year, they’ve decided to try something radically different as separate hotels, separate rental cars; separate…experiences! They will fly into and out of Las Vegas together, but agree not to see or communicate with each other while they’re there, except for chance meetings or in an emergency. As to meeting other people on their vacation and spending time with them, sexually…they’ve agreed to play that completely by ear! This, then, is the story of that fateful vacation. Will their time apart end up making them a stronger couple, or will it be the start of the dissolution of their marriage?

Genres: Erotica

179 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2017

Reviews

[Will G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hallie and Al spend a week in Vegas, apart, and fingers out what it’s like be single again. How will that affect their marriage? For the better? Or the worse? Whatever the case, it won’t be a vacation either of them is likely to forget!

[Hank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new take on the 80/20 rule. And oh man the 20 part here is hot as hell. Committed married couple decide to spend the week apart while on the same vacation in Vegas.

They both have experiences that are way beyond the norm for them. At first a little angsty but then they finally relax and let it all out.

Not a bad story at all however it’s 90% about their sexual shenanigans.(not saying that’s bad) There is very little setup or examination of their ten year marriage. Not really any character development at all. I didn’t particularly like that they decided not to share the details with each other.

[Bob Himes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens in Vegas...

Wow! C.K. Ralston hit it all the way out of the ball park with this story! I'll be reading more installments of the 80/20 Solution. This open-minded couple definitely gambled and won when they took their vacations to the Sin City...but stayed in different resorts. They both took advantage of being "single" for a week...and brought home lots of new ideas for the bedroom. The sex scenes are second to none throughout the story. After a week of "Don't ask, don't tell" sex with strangers, they returned home to a revitalized marriage. A truly fantastic read!