Kindle Edition Amazon Stevie Turner Author Barnes & Noble Category:  Women Publisher: KDP ISBN-10:  1512383082 Type: Fiction Pages: 130 Copyright: May 24 2015 A look at family relationships, particularly that of the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law. The Daughter-in-law Syndrome delves into the complicated relationship that is causing much friction between Grandmother Edna Deane and her daughter-in-law Arla. In addition it focuses on the sometimes tumultuous partnership between Arla and her husband Ric. Arla Deane sometimes likens her marriage to undergoing daily psychological warfare. Husband Ric will never voice an opinion, and puts his mother Edna up high on a pedestal. Arla is sick of always feeling that she comes in at only second best to her mother-in-law, who much to Arla’s fury is never told anything by Ric or his sisters that she would not want to hear. This novel explores the husband/wife, mother/son, and mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships. After twenty eight years of marriage, Arla, the daughter-in-law, is at the end of her tether and persuades a reluctant Ric to accompany her for marriage guidance. As they look back over their lives with Counsellor Toni Beecher, Arla slowly comes to realise her own failings, and eventually discovers the long-hidden reason why Ric will never utter a cross word to his mother. Also, adding to Arla’s stress is the fact that her son Stuart will soon be marrying Ria, a girl whom Arla feels is just looking for a free ride. Arla is convinced that Ria will be no asset to Stuart at all; her new daughter-in-law just wants to be a mother and has no intention of ever working again once the babies start to arrive. After visiting Stuart and Ria for Sunday lunch, Arla is convinced that her son is making the biggest mistake of his life….. Excerpt “How long have the two of you been married?” Arla’s nose was irritated by a pungent aroma emanating from two smoking joss sticks perched in a plant pot at a rakish angle. She sniffed and looked up from the carpet with its many dog hairs towards the friendly smile worn by Antoinette Beecher, and waited for her husband Ric to say something; anything. However, Ric was remaining as silent as the proverbial tomb. “Twenty eight years, and we’d known each other a year before the wedding.” Arla nodded towards Ric to confirm her statement. “And has the marriage been generally happy up until now?” Toni Beecher wondered if pulling teeth would be easier than trying to make this couple open up. “We’ve had our ups and downs, as does anyone, but now I’ve finally decided that we can’t go on like we have been, and that something needs to change.” “Something?” Toni asked. “Well….er… someone more like.” Arla replied and looked at Ric, confident in the knowledge that the ‘someone’ was not going to be herself. *** Toni briefly wondered if the morose man sitting opposite her and trying to shut out the world, was in fact mute. “What would you both like to get out of these sessions?” Arla thought carefully before replying. “Perhaps you can get out of Ric why he’ll never voice an opinion on any subject, and why he’ll never tell his mother anything that she doesn’t want to hear.” “And you, Mr Deane? What are you looking for here?” Toni smiled as pleasantly as she could, and strived for eye contact. Concentrating her gaze on the tassels fringing the moth-eaten rug under the coffee table, and with a growing disappointment at her husband’s continuing silence, Arla then looked up and let her eyes stray about the room towards the counsellor’s overflowing bookshelves, trying to catch a glimpse of their obscure titles. When her eyes did focus on a book’s spine, she realised that the wording on it made absolutely no sense to her whatsoever.

A Commitment to Understand
"I saw the resemblance as soon as Ric brought you home that time. He'd found a girl just like his mother, as many men do of course."

This is one of my favorite quotes from author Stevie Turner's latest release: The Daughter-in-law Syndrome because it symbolizes so much of the age old emotions experienced between a wife, her mother-in-law and her husband. The emotional turmoil experienced by Arla, Ric's wife, the self perceived victim of a family who disapproves their son/brother's choice of a marriage partner is similar to that traditionally felt or experienced in many marriages and resultant family relationships.

Ms. Turner creatively delves into the inner conflicts behind the disparate emotions of her well developed characters who make some rewarding discoveries.

Turner explores this twenty -eight year old marriage with a refreshing sensitivity and caring of her characters as she invites readers to neutrally dissect and examine the inner feelings and emotions that manifest the behaviors that are so disturbing to not just one character, Arla, the wife but to all involved family members.

The novel is very well written and easy to read. It not only offers a good story line but also provides food for thought and opportunity for self examination; a reminder of the importance of quality relationships that require 'give and take' and a commitment to understanding.

I highly recommend this novel and commend Ms. Turner on this family saga!

The Best from Stevie Yet!
A wonderful journey across one woman's understanding between herself and her in-laws. The way she finds out the intricacies of her relationship with her mother-in-law is cleverly done, with clear insights into the past and observing her own behaviour with her family around her. Well-written, the best I've read yet from Stevie Turner.

Sometimes we Marry our Past
When you first meet that special someone you experience a wide range of emotions from ecstasy to unconditional love. But what happens when the high emotions wear off and reality kicks in? The Daughter-In-Law Syndrome by Stevie Turner is a surreal account of how in-law relationships can affect a marriage.

Arla’s behavior in dealing with life’s challenges started early in life - like all of us - when she was a child. This behaviour transitioned to her adult life. So it was during Ric’s childhood as well. They both experienced a level of dysfunction, but when it came to Ric’s mother he was in total denial. From the beginning, Edna Deane, Ric’s mom, developed a dislike for Arla. When Arla and Ric decided to get married, they both were in denial about the true element of their relationship. When Arla mentioned to Ric how she was being treated by his mother and his sisters, he in turn dismissed it as untrue. Do you know what can happen when denial enters into a relationship? Disaster. If you want to find out, pick up a copy today of The Daughter-In-Law Syndrome by Stevie Turner.

The Daughter-In-Law Syndrome by Stevie Turner is an excellent story because this is the way of the world in how some in-law dysfunction begins. For no apparent reason, in-laws can dislike each other and once this happens disaster follows. We as parents think that there is no one good enough for our child. It is extremely difficult for a marriage to have years of bliss if there is dissension involved.