How to Recognize a Momma’s Boy by Miss Know It All

What would you call a grown man who steals his mother’s clothes and then gives them to his girlfriend? Does this sound creepy, or is this a warning sign that the worst is yet to come if this couple is contemplating a relationship or marriage?

I know many mothers receive a bad rap when it comes to meddling into their son’s affairs. However, some moms will always feel that no woman will ever be good enough for their precious lad.

Be forewarned, the signs are always there that will tell you where you will stand when it comes to your mate’s mother. Please understand that I am generalizing here when I say, “If a man is attached to his mother’s apron strings, that relationship may run into trouble. Even if you plan to move to another city, state, or country, there will be no escape from a mother whose only role in life is to make your life a living hell, because you had the audacity to marry her son.

So, before you take that big important step, look for the six codes that will say, “My mom will always come first, or you will never make my son happy.”

If a grown man still lives with his mother, and she has no physical, mental, or financial problems and is not in dire need of assistance, it is time to say farewell.
 
If he always has to seek his mother’s advice when it comes to the handling of your relationship, it is time to hit the road.
 
If his mother is constantly finding fault with you, with no probable cause, then your relationship with her son is doomed.
 
If his mom insists on accompanying you and her son on trips or events, she will eternally be a thorn in your side.
 
If she blames you for everything that goes wrong in the relationship, run, do not walk.
 
Finally, yet importantly, if he is an only child, need I say more?

Meet Normandie Alleman, Author of Venetian Love Knots

A former psychologist, Normandie has always been fascinated by human behavior. She was surprised when that interest turned her into a writer of erotic romance.

If there were another 5 hours in the day, Normandie would spend more time needle-pointing and playing with photography. Instead, she’s a Pinterest addict and sports junkie who’s crazy for Twitter and the color pink.

BLURB:

In Venice, Allison Fox will find love in the arms of two men. Her past collides with her future in a battle for her heart. Which one will win?

Travelling to Venice to be the maid of honour in her best friend’s wedding sounds like a great vacation, and a romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day. But when Allison Fox discovers who the best man is, she is torn between duty and self-preservation.

It has taken Allison four years to put her tumultuous relationship with the rodeo cowboy behind her after a violent incident ripped them apart. Now Allison must find a way to face her past and find closure with her old flame. But will she be able to put the past behind her?

Cole is the Texas cowboy who has never got over his love for Allison. But when he declares his love for her after all this time, is she strong enough to walk away from the intense passion they share?

For years Nico, a handsome Italian, was committed to nothing but his work. Nico never expected he would meet an American beauty who would awaken in him a desire to love again. Once he finds her, Nico vows to never let Allison go.

It will be a Valentine’s Day to remember, but who will win Allison’s heart?

~*~

Excerpt

Allison held her plastic cup in a death grip as she absently rattled the ice cubes in it. She stared out of the bubble-shaped window on her flight to Rome. The vodka had done little to calm her nerves. Neither People, Cosmo, nor Vogue had been any help distracting her. Allison’s mind was determined to go back to the one man who had caused her more pain and heartache than she had ever known. The man whom she would soon see for the first time in four years.

She bit her lip and shut her eyes tightly. Allison remembered the day her best friend Marcia had told her that she was getting married in Venice the week of Valentine’s Day. Marcia had asked her to be her maid of honour and Allison had immediately jumped at the chance. She loved to travel, and she wanted to be there for Marcia.

       

A couple of weeks later, Allison had just walked into her apartment when she’d got a call from Marcia. “Allie, honey, it’s me, Marsh. Are you sitting down? I need you to sit down.”

Allison had set her groceries down on the floor and sat.

“Honey, Alfonso has gotten Cole to agree to be his best man,” she’d said.

Marcia’s announcement had been met with complete silence.

“Allison? You still there?” Marcia had asked.

Cole. For years Allison had prayed for indifference towards Cole. She had hated him for years. What she felt for Cole was either unmitigated passion or hate. She didn’t know any in between. And what she had wound up craving was indifference. The last time she’d seen him, four years ago, what she had prayed for, what she had begged God for, was to feel indifference towards him. He had almost ruined her life.

~*~

AUTHOR Links:

Website

Twitter

Pinterest

Buy Links

Total-e-Bound

Amazon

Barnes& Noble

AllRomance

Book Video  

Normandie will award a "Venetian Love Knots” gift pack which includes a Tote Bag and T-Shirt (winner's size) with the cover graphic and a $30 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (international giveaway.) 

Writing Outside My Race by Ashlynne Laynne

My life is an eclectic mesh of bi-racial, same sex and mixed gender relationships. This rich tapestry of cultures, ideas and people grounds me, letting me know what's truly important in life. These unique relationships were a catalyst in my creating an interracial couple for my Progeny Series.

As a gifted youngster, I experienced racism on its most elemental and basic level. This taught me to love everyone and gave me intolerance for prejudice. My late mother challenged me to be more than my surroundings, encouraging me to remember my past but never let it dictate who I wanted to be. When I was a teenager, being different got me picked on and made me unpopular. This gave me a thick skin and the attitude that it was better to be myself than to be someone else just to fit in.

Writing outside of my race has its challenges. Those who support black authors don't necessarily take me seriously, because my characters aren't black. I'm accustomed to being different and am too much of a rebel to conform. Being different gives me an unusual insight and a deep respect for those who are different from myself. I have a close circle of friends who support and encourage me, listen to my whining about my writing and love me to my core. I think of my friendships in terms of quality, not quantity. Those in my life, I trust and are there for a reason.

So to the subject of this article...Why do I write outside of my race when it makes things more difficult for me?

1. I do it to be different. Sure, I could fill twenty books with all the drama I've experienced, but there are already other black authors doing that (and doing a great job at it too, I might add).

My heart just isn't there.

2. I do it to be rebellious. I love the look on someone's face when they realize that the person behind the story isn't who they expected.

Most importantly...

3. I do it because writing interracial romance is where my heart is. I've always read that an author should write what they love. For me, writing edgy, erotic, paranormal tales appeals to the misfit in me. I feel it's important to push the envelope, shake things up and stretch myself beyond what is familiar. When I finish a novel, I need to feel like I've grown both as a writer and as a human being.

About the Author:

AshlynneLaynne is the author of The Progeny Series. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, reading and spending time with her family. She juggles the hats of wife, mother, full time employee and part-time writer, hoping to write exclusively one day soon. Find and follow her online on Twitter. Check out her Manic Readers page, Blog and Website, or leave her a note in her Reader Email.  Ashlynne lives in North Carolina with her husband and teenage son.

Letting Go of Expectations

“Expectation is the root of all heartache” – William Shakespeare

When it comes to relationships, expectations can ruin everything. You see, what happens is that we all have different expectations. I expect roses for my birthday, you expect a cake. I want a kiss when you get home, you want to relax. Our expectations make us resentful when they are not met and unsatisfied even when they are. The thing that works is to have no expectations.

Now, that does not mean you ‘lower your standards’. What it means is that you learn to communicate your wants and desires with another person and listen to theirs. When you share what you are expecting it is no longer an expectation it is now a request. Communication is the only way we can know what another person is thinking or needing. We are not mind readers, after all. By communicating your needs you can learn more about your partner and what they can and cannot do. Maybe he or she can’t be affectionate every morning, but they can kiss you before they leave for work. Through communicating they understand that affection is important for you and you understand that it is hard for them. You are both making an effort to be what the other one needs, and through that you are both satisfied.

When you let go of the idea of having expectations it opens you up to really communicating and being cognizant of your needs and desires. Once you know what you need and want and can put it into words it no longer becomes something that can run your life; rather you have control over it. It is freeing to let go of expectations and work with reality and ultimately much more satisfying.

~*~

Author Bio:

Amanda Carlson, a blogger as well as a former newborn care nurse contributed this post. To stay connected to her previous career and share the knowledge she gained, she began writing for www.newborncare.com. You can reach her at amanda.newborncare@gmail.com.