I can watch The Devil Wears Prada over and over again - and have NO shame - so imagine my excitement last Friday as I scrolled my twitter timeline and The Huffington Post had tweeted an article about the sequel. Revenge Wears Prada (the book) is slated to be released next year. Can I put myself on the wait list now?!

Where is Annie now? I cannot wait to see how she has transformed into a woman - more confident and less unsure of who she is both personally and professionally - and yes, to see the effect Miranda had on this transformation.

And if this is being turned into a movie, both Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway have to reenact their characters - no substitutes will do.

Woooo...I am finally feeling better and I feel like today is my New Year's Eve since I did everything I normally would have done then today - and I must admit I feel like a new person. So what was on my to do list...

"The Beast" (the term my brother nicknamed my hair the past two days) has been washed and pressed (and I must say I LOVE my new Sedu blow dryer - thanks again Mom & Dad), mani and pedi complete (my new pedpro works wonders and I am loving how silky my feet feel - THANKS mom!) - my nail polish of choice OPI's My Private Jet -

I love it, don't you?!

Brenda Jackson did not disappoint me with her latest release Temptation - it kind of hit home and made me have a glimmer of hope (I know it is just fiction) - but since an author wrote about it I know I am not the only one who experiences these feelings of getting old and wondering if I will be single forever and then being content with that especially when you know you are a great woman with plenty to offer. A lot to swallow right?! Especially for a girl who LOVES love. *le sigh*

Pick up Temptation to see how Zeke and Sheila overcome their obstacles of learning to trust and letting someone in when they have already decided they will be single forever.

I finally made myself finish The Help last week - I have had it since this summer and didn't crack it open. I actually started reading it over 2 weeks ago - but this was something I could not speed through. I had to get used to the language and I also had to put it down at times because of the anger it ignited.

So many people rave about this book - and I question what is it they like so much - is it the fact the book made you more aware of how "the help" was treated in this era? Could they relate to the incidents? Did they appreciate the actions of non-conformist, Skeeter - who despite knowing her actions may result in her being ostracized from her circle, she still wrote the book in order to advance her career? Do you think Skeeter really wanted to help these women or did she use them as a platform to get recognition and possibly land a job in New York City?

Outside of the obvious racism - this book also tackled many prevalent issues in today's society - abuse, alcoholism, inability to sustain a full pregnancy, cancer, relationships, difficulty finding your dream job (this is something in which I personally relate), among other things.

If you have read the book, what were your thoughts? Loved it? Hated it? Offended by the praise it received?

I have previously stated I love almost everything Brenda Jackson writes - A Steele for Christmas was no different. I really enjoyed getting caught up with the Steele family for 3 hours last night.

At the end of my relationships (we will delve deeper into these SOON), once I am OVER everything, I often time realize I wasn't really heartbroken - my pride is what is damaged, which is what ignites my anger and frustrations - first with the man and then with MYSELF.

In A Steele for Christmas, Stacey was battling this very fact - when your pride is damaged, how do you move on to the next man giving him what he deserves from you as a woman without being completely guarded from past experiences??? I personally find the more I date (we have to talk about this too - and my lack thereof - or my just not knowing how to) - and the older I get - the easier it is to move on to the next man when he presents himself.

When I was younger, I felt like I would never get over the absolution of a relationship - how could I go on with just me? Why should I be lonely? Who was going to do all the things I wanted to do with me? Who would I date? When I hung out with my friends who were in relationships and they bought significant others would I feel like the third wheel?

I finally dug deep within myself and realized I did NOT need a man to accompany me to do these things - I did not need him as a crutch because I was good enough to do these things by myself. This was my time to date me and discover what it is I wanted out of life without having to worry about taking into account someone else's thoughts or how it would impact them. Yes, I could now be selfish and only love me. And I was completely content with that.

This was not my next book on my reading list  - however, I found out on Friday I could not renew it for some reason and it is due back to the library Monday - so last night I settled down for 2.5 hours and breezed through Kimberla Roby Lawson's Secret Obsession.



The twisted deceit which resulted from one of the 7 deadly sins, ENVY, completely blew my mind. I was disgusted with Paige who was out to get her sister Camille and claim her life as her own. Then there was the whole  issue of perception vs. reality. I loved it from beginning to end and would definitely recommend it.

I will leave you with this quote to ponder - "Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of our own uniqueness and self worth. Each of us has something to give that no one else has."

Hurriedly read Love Me or Leave Me the other night before I went out with Jeannette, so I could return it to the library. Wasn't too impressed - but it wasn't horrible - if I was bored and had nothing else to read, the book serves its purpose.

Victoria Christopher Murray did not fail to disappoint with her latest novel - The Deal, The Dance, and The Devil. I could not put it down and wanted to know what happened immediately.

I loved how the main characters, Adam and Evia (yes, this was a play off of Adam & Eve), were still close with their childhood friends. How many of us today can say we still covet those relationships and have remained a fixture in our friends' lives? Life happens and people grow a part - but Adam and Evia always kept their core group of friends the same and this is something I can admire.

Now the book raised 2 questions for me to propose to you and I am interested in seeing the responses:

1. If your family was subjected to a lay off and could no longer live the lifestyle they were accustomed to, what are the material possessions you would not mind sacrificing?

In the same breath, if you are a parent do your teach your children the importance of the value of money and do they have to work for what they receive (i.e. good grades, behavior, chores) or are they constantly rewarded for no good deeds? Do your children appreciate what it is they have or do they take it for granted?

2. If your boss propositioned you to "have" your husband or significant other for her birthday for 48 hours for 5 million dollars, would you oblige?

See how Adam and Evia handled these circumstances in The Deal, The Dance, and The Devil.

I do not know why I do it to myself - I could not fall asleep around 11pm last night, so I grab a book (I figured I had drowned myself in enough tv over the past few days) - and as always, guess who couldn't go to bed until they finished it around 3:30am *raises hand*


Body by Night was a really quick read - entertained me, but I didn't have to read it.

Nowadays so many people have issues with loving themselves - they focus so much time and energy on helping others, they begin to neglect the most important person - THEM. This to me is a form of avoidance - you should always take time out for yourself and just love you! If you are always so busy, then you continue to just sweep your issues under the rug and not deal with it.

And when things get tough, many people become emotional eaters - of course this inadvertently effects one's weight and health. I have never been an emotional eater - but as of late, when I become frustrated, all of a sudden I get a "sweet tooth" - these are the times I avoid the kitchen, and hit the treadmill or Valley Green for a run/walk. I cannot succumb to this illness I have seen many people fall victim to.


Body by Night didn't focus on a diet/ work out plan - it focused more on D'Andria converting to a healthy lifestyle which included better eating choices and exercising becoming a routine. This is something I am currently working on as well, so I could relate. It is hard, but I do feel better and have more energy as a result. It is always good to have a partner and close friends/family motivating your progress - my biggest issue are those "empty calories" (liquor, sweets, candy) - still a work in progress, but I am confident I will get it together.

Everybody knows I am a sucker for romance - I LOVE love and can read a romance novel in less than 6 hours depending on the length - this rainy day provided the perfect background to read a book so I picked up Zuri Day's What Love Tastes Like. The book reminded me of the Catherine Zeta Jones movie No Reservations due to the cooking aspect of it and it also gave me some ideas of new recipes to try.


I had never heard of Zuri Day until she offered a free book on the kindle last summer Lessons From a Younger Lover - I downloaded it while I was on the beach in Jamaica looking for a quick read while I tanned (the perfect backdrop) and I liked her writing style.    

While Irene wreaked havoc outdoors and I nursed my injuries from taking a huge spill at the bowling alley Friday night, I decided to curl up and finish Mary B. Morrison's latest book - The Eternal Engagement. I am always impressed with her writing, along with Brenda Jackson, Francis Ray, and Victoria Christopher Murray - I know I will lose myself in the plots of their characters and the stories will evoke an emotional response - The Eternal Engagement did NOT disappoint.



One issue raised in this book was the government's treatment of PSTD victims post war. I now want to investigate and find out how the service men and women are treated after they are no longer serving their country. I would hope they would have benefits available to them to ensure they get the proper therapy and medical care while they try to become a part of what was their normalcy before they enlisted.

I am more than certain a sequel will follow The Eternal Engagement. I cannot wait to find out what happened with Mona, Lincoln, and Katherine and their "love" triangle. Do you believe you can love more than one person at the same time? Personally, I think if I fall in love with someone while dating another person, I never really loved the first person to begin with. If I was in love, my eyes would not be open to possibilities of a relationship with someone else. But that is just my two cents.

P.S. I hope you all weathered the storm and didn't suffer too much damage to your property.

Kimberla Lawson Roby continues her Reverend Curtis Black series with her latest release Love, Honor, and Betray. 

This book is good as a stand alone novel, yet I like reading them in succession so I am keeping up with what has been happening with the characters - and of course she left an opening for another novel which has me wondering WHEN is this series going to end?! I have been reading it for years - BUT I do enjoy each book. I especially like how Roby uses bible passages within her text to further dissect issues/ feelings the characters encounter.

Love, Honor, and Betray explored many issues which are prevalent in relationships nowadays.

a) Why is it when women are trying to make a point or get their way, we tend to withhold certain privileges from our mate? This can include cooking, cleaning, sex, etc. Do we think this will get their attention, make them give in, or perhaps find someone else to pick up the slack?

b) Revenge - why do so many people make it a point to have the final word or strike against someone who has done them wrong? Are we wasting energy plotting our revenge instead of learning the lesson and moving on more aware so we do not get blind sided again?

c) FORGIVENESS - yes, I had to capitalize this because I definitely have issues with this - what does it mean to truly forgive? Sometimes we claim to forgive people for wrong doings, yet if something happens later on we are quick to throw this in their face - why is it so hard to forgive? Is carrying a grudge a facade we use to protect ourselves from further hurt or disappointment down the road since you knew they were capable of doing you wrong?

d) Cheating - why do people cheat? If you are not happy, then why don't you get out of the relationship instead of being disloyal? Do you honestly love your partner if you are cheating on them? If you love them, then you wouldn't do anything to hurt them, right???

There are many hurdles in any relationship, but if both parties are willing to work collectively, with a sound foundation based on trust, loyalty, respect, and open communication, I am confident love will conquer all.

As I am dwindling down to the last 4 chapters of this book, I could no longer wait to share this gem with you.

A few months ago, I stumbled across this title and immediately became intrigued - I could not wait to get my hands on this book and I was sure it would remain a part of my library for a lifetime (yes, I wanted the physical copy of the book and not the downloaded version on my kindle).



Note To Self did not disappoint - it actually reinforced my belief in writing in a journal and trying to find a lesson in everything it is I endure. "Don't just live it - write it down, make a note, and never forget."

I suggest all women read it - each story stands alone and illustrates how different women overcame different adversities in life - it is broken up in sections - heartbreak, hardship, and life's constant complexities.  And at the end of each story there is a "note to self" or the lesson learned. It is a reaffirmation that everyone is subject to trials no matter their social class and your fight to overcome the obstacles makes you stronger.

I cannot wait to start Buchanan's next book - Live and Let Love.

Kelly Cutrone gives us an inside look at the world of being an entrepreneur, a publicist, and working in the world of fashion - she also talks about the misconceptions attributed to being a woman WITH power. I loved her candid approach and how she delivered her story - how she overcame different trials in her life, never gave up, and was successful once she found her true niche in life.

Ms. Cutrone learned a lot hands on because there are things parents try to protect their children from and they also create a picture of what paths you should take in life - she went against everything she was told and followed her own heart and what she felt was best for her since it was in fact her life. She encountered bumps along the way, however, If You Have to Cry Go Outside - meaning no one really cares about your tears; your tears do not fix the problem at hand; cry if you must to release your emotions - however, once you have dispelled your tears, pull yourself together and deal with the situation - and if you need help, do not be scared to ask for it.

What are some things your mother never told you?

As for me - growing up, I watched my mom diligently. She was a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and a driven career woman. She worked long hours and had a demanding position in IT for a fortune 500 company. She handled all of her responsibilities in stride and I never saw my mom sweat - I just knew when I grew up, I too would be a mother, wife, career woman, and own a house - all by the tender age of 25 just like my mom. When things did not go as planned, I was disappointed to say the least. I wish my mother would have told me it wasn't as easy as it looked and it was ok if I did not follow in her footsteps. Nevertheless, as an adult, we have had these conversations and they have reassured me in times of need.