The Marriage Pass

by Briana Cole

Can you really have the best of both worlds?

He’s rich, successful—and has been faithfully married to his longtime girlfriend for nearly one gruelingyear. Because for Dr. Dorian Graham, too many women is never too much—no matter how loyal his wife, Shantae, has been since their college days. So when she proposes they celebrate their first anniversary by each spending a no-questions-asked, no-consequences night with their greatest temptation, Dorian is shocked, but can’t resist. Especially since Shantae’s wild-card younger sister, Reagan, is gorgeous, uninhibited—and the one who got away . . .

It turns out one sizzling night with Reagan isn’t enough. Yet the more Dorian takes, the more she demands—and the more he suddenly has to lose. Soon, with his mind games being used against him and his every move checkmated, Dorian will be forced to go all-in on one last desperate play to win. But winning might just be another way to crash and burn . . .

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller, African American, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2021

About the author

Known as "The Literary Drama Queen," Briana Cole is a multi-talented entertainment mogul in both the book and film industries. Authoring six novels, including the critically-acclaimed Unconditional series, Briana has also published two novels under Carl Weber with her pseudonym Brielle Montgomery. Briana is the co-Screenwriter and Associate Producer for two urban films, and she has written, executive produced, and co-starred in her own feature film, Pseudo, which was recently acquired by Damon Dash. She has been recognized in a number of popular blogs and magazines, the most prominent being Sophisticate's Hair Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Popsugar, and Sheen. In addition to this, Briana is a motivational speaker, mother of three, and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Reviews

[Kameel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was too much crazy for my taste, she embezzles money from this dumb ass man more than once and at the end, she wants child support from him too....absolutely ridiculous! All of these people were crazy and the Dorian should have known better from the very beginning....just dumb!

[Annette Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I straddled the fence with this book up until the last chapter. Chiiiiile, that plot twist just about took me out because, I did NOT see that coming! And, I don’t know why I didn’t see it because, it should’ve been obvious what Reagan was up to. I knew her azz was crazy and deceitful. I just didn't realize how far her crazy went. Dorian deserved EVERYTHING that happened to him. His consequences were rightfully earned. At the end I almost felt sorry for him but, when I remembered how disrespectful and reckless he was, I reigned that in real quick. I kind of figured Shaunte was doin’ somethin’ dirty. I just didn’t realize she was that dirty. Honestly, I thought she was having an affair too. Honey, when the author hit us with that second plot twist, I almost fell out of my bed. The Marriage Pass was surprisingly a very good book. These characters were the worst. I didn't like a single one of them but, I loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat and literally had me yelling “shut up” several times while I was listening to it. The narrator did a phenomenal job. I’ll have to add Dean Watson to my list of fave narrators. The Marriage Pass is my first book by Briana Cole and it did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more from her.

[JenReadsRomance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was a romance and it wasn't. This does not have an HEA or HFN ending. This wouldn't be a problem except it's really being sold/marketed as a romance. And I think that's a real issue. It wasn't hot enough to be erotica and the "suspense" part wasn't layered enough to really work for me, either.

Even taking the mis-labeling into account, it was just like, the single character pov on a guy who was so unlikable became hard to take.

If you go in thinking it will be a big soapy, melodrama maybe you'll have a better experience? That's me trying to be kind, honestly.

[tre be · Rating 4 out of 5]

...A hall pass to have sex with someone else? 🤔 Hmm, **goes in closet, gets blonde wig***. Guess I’ll be Becky with the good hair tonight 💅🏾

Shaunte & Dorian have been together for years, married 1. He has a history of infidelity so their relationship hasn’t always been peaches and cream. On their first year anniversary, Shaunte surprises Dorian with the gift of a Hall Pass, one night to step outside their marriage, no questions asked. Dorian can’t stop thinking about it, and has the perfect woman in mind, Shante’s sister, Reagan.

The rollercoaster of emotions and series of events that Dorian experienced after the fact were wild, which was grade A entertainment. ((Dorian, didn’t you ever hear not to trust a big butt and smile?! )) I was glued to my seat waiting to see what craziness would happen next. And boy oh boy, did the craziness continue until theeee very end!

This book was full of drama, lust, deception and sheer stupidity and a juicy plot twist. It shows how women can easily outsmart men when they think with their little heads; all signs point to No, but he took the plunge because of lust & opportunity.

Look, I stayed up all night reading this book because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. It even accompanied me to the bathroom a few times. I had to move this book to the top of my stack and I’m glad I did because it was too damn tasty!!! Why are men, most, (not your man), so blinded by lust? Why would any woman give a pass for a night with someone else? Just be single... I’m all for some freak action, but just with us two! I’m too territorial for the BS.

The only thing I was left wanting to know was the deets from Shaunte’s rendezvous, cause sis was extra peppy the next morning! And I can’t even imagine the explosive things to come if there’s a part 2. It’s too murch! Please say there’s a part 2 @bcoleauthor 🙏🏾.

P.S. this cover is gorgeous 🙌🏾

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy shit. What a WILD RIDE. This book was MESSY HONEY. I kept saying .... Dorian, my man, you are a fuck boy. And the plot twist???? Whew.

[Simply_YoYo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorian are you STUPID or are you STUPID? Like the deal is obviously too good to be true. Man LUST made this man RUIN his ENTIRE LIFE. Reagan and Shantae I’m just smh. Ms Briana Cole I’m a fan of a good plot twist and now I need to check out your entire backlog ma’am😀

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed at the notion of a doctor smoking black and milds. You mean to tell me this guy can’t afford cigars? The book is interesting and has a great ending.

[Kris Book Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ - What in the unhinged madness did I just read? I’m flabbergasted by the audacity of it all. I think the lesson here is keep folk out of your marriage. 😭

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chile… It just couldn’t be me 😳😭

The Marriage Pass shows how giving into temptation changed one man’s life. This book was soooooo messy!!! Dorian’s audacity was just unreal. The ending was satisfying, even though I expected a much different reveal for Shantae. There were just a few plot holes that left me with questions.

[Diane Rembert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorian and Shantae have been together since college, despite his womanizing ways. On the one year anniversary, she decided to gift her husband a “Marriage Pass”, which is free for one night of pleasure, outside the marriage...no questions asked. Dorian decided to use it with her sister Reagan, an unsteady individual, which leads to a world of chaos.

In true @bcoleauthor fashion, there is drama on every page...some more shocking than others, and a trail of clues that will leave you speechless at the end.

I enjoyed this 💎💎💎💎💎 read, and cant wait to hear what everyone else is saying. GO GET THIS BOOK!

[Briana Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm excited for you all to read The Marriage Pass!! Enjoy and thank you so much for the support! ❤

[Carole Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an erotic thriller The Marriage Pass is fine. Not great, but ok. It’s sexy and suspenseful, with copious amounts of lying, cheating, and backbiting, and a double cross at the center. But It’s marketed as romance and romantic suspense. If you read it that way you might be as disappointed as I was. The other thing I find truly objectionable in this novel is that a main character makes a false accusation of assault against a Black man in order to use the criminal justice system against him for financial gain. I don’t think that’s cute. Anyway, I really hated how misrepresented this book was. There’s no love story here. Or true HEA. One character thinks she might get an HEA. But she has a very twisted sense of what that entails. Imagine if Gone Girl was billed as romantic suspense. There’s also some very questionable editing but maybe that will be worked out before the release.

Honestly this is more like 1 star for me, but I’m trying to be kind and I know this book will work for other people. But don’t use the banner of romance to get access to an audience and then do a bait and switch.

[Ashly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’all. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book this fast on a school night. I literally stayed up to finish it. Anytime I thought I had an idea of what was going on, I was wrong. All of the twists and turns will keep you on your toes while not knowing who to root for or curse out! I honestly went through all of the emotions and was in my feelings at times because of the way the scenes were set. This book was just what I needed to make me think, reflect, and be glad it wasn’t me!

[Jaleesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT A RIDE. This was so messy and I absolutely despise Dorian….he got exactly what he deserved. I was not expecting that plot twist, well done on not giving away any clues. I will say I don’t think Miss mamas thought everything all the way through though because baby girl…..what money?

I’m about to swan dive into the authors catalog. She has made a fan out of me!

[Shae · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, before I start this review, let me preface 2 things. 1. I thought this was a straight up romance, not an erotic thriller. 2. Cheating is a trope that I really don't like.

So with that said, I have to give Briana Cole credit for making this book engaging and interesting despite my 2 things that are usually a big nope for me. I did almost DNF them at one point because of them.

Dorian is an epic douche, and I was not a fan of his character. All of the characters were well written for sure.

This was my first Briana Cole book. Though it wasn't a win with the actual story, the writing intrigued me enough to seek out another of theirs to try.

[Dysha Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good I read it in 1 day. I’m not surprised, however - I’ve read other books by this author that were equally good. There were definitely some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming so I appreciate it not being your typical infidelity ridden story. Thanks NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

In true Briana Cole fashion, The Marriage Pass gives you drama, deceit, lust, and MORE drama before a big plot twist. I love this author’s ability to frustrate you with her characters but never to the point that you want to put the book down. Needless to say, this was another great book by her!

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

[Latoya (jamaicangirlreads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lol at all this tom foolery😂😂😂 whaaaaat was this?

I must admit, I did not see that ending coming! Had me a little shook there but why did I have to read 229/230 pages to get to that one actual juicy part?

I'm all for non conventional life choices but this story went a little too far left for me.

[Tonya Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dumbass man taking a HALL PASS to a whole other level!!! I was angry throughout most of this book!! There's also a movie on TUBI!!

[Sheronda H · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I could do is laugh at the end. Talk about wild. This book was a crazy mess. I have no words.

[Sha Sha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chile this book was a hot A$$ mess🙄🙄🙄. I knew Shantae was in on it. Dorian is stupid because how are you so sex crazed with Reagan that you keep going back to your wife’s SISTER even after knowing she crazy?!? Like you big dummy. Anyways Reagan is beyond crazy because ain’t no way. Won’t be any child support if he loses his medical license.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an opportunity to read this advanced reading copy, scheduled for release on 02/23/2021].

Dr. Dorian Graham has just completed his first year of marriage and man, what a hardship that was for the serial cheater. To celebrate, his long-suffering wife, Shantae, offers him a one-time offer to sleep with any other woman of his choosing and she won't consider it cheating. My husband and I just exchanged paper for our first anniversary, as is custom, but maybe Shantae wrote it on paper and then handed it to her husband. Who knows. "Is this a trap?" Dr. Graham wonders. YES IT IS A TRAP. Stupid. He still takes her up on the offer, though, because men are stupid. Lots of bad things happen to him and that's why you don't think with orgasms instead of your brain.

Perhaps the lesson at the end of the day is this: don't use your Hall Pass with someone too close to home. Use the internet. Find someone on Craigslist. Take your chances with a potential killer instead. Somehow that feels like it would end in a happier ending. I guess another lesson would be don't repeatedly cheat on your wife. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Oh, and I gave this book five stars and added it to my 'best books of 2021' list.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me some Briana Cole! She always come through, and The Marriage Pass is another great read. Ms. Cole writes in such a manner that it draws you into the story and keeps you engaged even when the subject matter is outside the norm. Her exploration of love, lust, and monogamy makes you consider the ‘what if’ and takes the answer above and beyond.
You’re married. Your significant other comes to you and offers you the opportunity of a free pass. In other words, you both have the chance to spend one night with another person. What happens next? Can you suspend the rules of marriage for one night and then just pop back in the next day as if nothing ever happened? Will it cause you to continue to want someone or something outside of your marriage? Will you wonder if the person that your spouse slept with offers more than you? What if the “just one night” person doesn’t want it to end at just one night? What if you don’t either? So many questions. So many different scenarios. Read this book. You won’t regret it. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book. Looking forward to the next one!

[ReadnliftwithShar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was so unexpected and such a great read. Not only was my mouth dropping every other page but I was completely wrong about the storyline. The author did a fantastic job with the details, character development, and the pace of the story. The marriage pass is a book that should be on everyone’s to be read list because it is an experience that will expose feelings that you didn’t know you had.

First, I am not a fan of the whole, “marriage pass” idea but to each its own. Shantae seemed to want to spice things up in her marriage but she was married to a serial cheater. Like, no, girl!

I give this book 5✨I truly enjoyed everything about it. It kept me on my heels and I am eager for more from this author!! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The release date is February 23, 2021!

Full review: https://link.medium.com/eBXBUM2f2db

[Denise Gilliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book was sooooo good from start to finish. Shante and her sister Reagan were in on this marriage pass from the beginning. Dorian was just a damn nasty horn dog and got caught up in a damn scandal now he left looking like a damn fool just because he was so anxious to bed down his wife sister and got screwed in the end. It’s better to not be a horn dog from the start. Definitely a 5+ star book.

[Gemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandalous

From the very beginning, this story was messy and full of drama. At times, it was a little over the top. All the twists and turns made it worth the read. I figured out the “plot twist” about halfway through the book. It was still interesting to see how she would execute it. I liked the way it ended. It made me want to see what hot mess will come next.

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, can we talk about this cover??? It is STUNNING. I do not normally read romance, but this was totally a judge the book by the cover situation here. And then I read it, and what do you know, I really enjoyed this one! This is a spin-off from Cole’s Unconditional Series, which I have not read, but I was just fine reading this as a standalone as an fyi.

Dr. Dorian Graham is a successful plastic surgeon, who has been married to his college girlfriend, Shantae, for a year. I should note that he has been faithfully married to her, because while they were dating, there were some issues where that was not the case. On their anniversary, she proposes that they both celebrate by spending a no-questions-asked, no-consequences night with a temptation. Was he expecting this? Nope. Can he resist? Nope. Especially since her younger sister Reagan is back in town and might be the one who got away… And as we know, one night is usually never enough, and our boy D gets himself into a hot mess that we aren’t sure he can get himself out of this time… or can he??

Like I said, I don’t normally read romances like these, but I got attached to these characters and Dorian, oh Dorian, he just kept getting into mess after mess and I was here for it and had to know what he was going to do. This is the first in the series and I am looking forward to the second book already!

Thank you to @BookSparks for the #gifted copy!

[LolliMolly ⫷fiction addiction⫸ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loooord this was a messy, mind-fuck rollercoaster.
This was a straight up soap opera, so if you're not into messy, over the top, ridiculous drama, then this whole spectacle is not for you, but I loved every minute of it. 😂
My only qualm is idk how this would/should be marketed. It was sexy, but I wouldn't call it a romance, nor erotica. Maybe a psychological thriller, but all the thrill came from the drama and not from action. Whatever it is, I'm into it lol.

[Lee Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooooooooowwwwwww!!!!!

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is juiccccyy, messssy and scandalous just how I like it!!! 🔥🔥🔥