This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 21, “Any Questions?”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.12, episode 2.13, episode 2.14, episode 2.15, episode 2.16, episode 2.17, episode 2.18, episode 2.19, and episode 20.)

*****SPOILERS*****

Hey #Gladiators, how are you all doing? Me? I’m feeling used, and no, not in the ‘good morning after Fitz, tired but refreshed, we’ve taken a nice shower together’ kinda used. I’m feeling all sorts of “out too late in the VIP, morning-after raccoon eyes, run in my fishnets, going home in an unmarked Town Car with a call you maybe and some suspect sport memorabilia” kind of used. 

Last night’s episode opened with Cyrus thrown to the wolves—aka the press—where he had to dodge questions about Mellie’s allegations and call them “a private matter” with a straight face. Like that’s gonnna fly, Cy.

[Honestly, Cy, you know better than that...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 20, “A Woman Scorned.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.12, episode 2.13, episode 2.14, episode 2.15, episode 2.16, episode 2.17, episode 2.18, and episode 2.19.)

Hey Gladiators how doing’? Are you hung over? Did anyone get lucky? Cause I’m thinking last night’s episode was just about the equivalent of a long play Barry White song with some R. Kelly at his best while everyone was stuck on a 36 hour on a cruise to nowhere with a open bar feeling no pains.

The show opens with Liv swimming in a fantastic white suit with back piping which as we know means she trying swim her problems away, but when she comes to a stop there they are in the form of Captain Jake. And there they are again and again and again as Jake has now gone from cute stalker boyfriend to cute stalker bodyguard assigned by the President. Annoying much.

[All she's asking for is a little space, ok?]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 19, “Seven Fifty-Two.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.12, episode 2.13, episode 2.14, episode 2.15, episode 2.16, episode 2.17, and episode 2.18.)

Hey, Gladiators, we’re finally back! When last we left off with Scandal, Liv was in a tight spot. Torn between two stalkers—oops, I was supposed to say lovers, wasn’t I? Well, no matter, 'cause either way Liv was feeling every bit the fool. But that’s what makes things happy and bright here in ShondaLand, and what a time we had in that land last night.

I have feelings. So many feelings. Things were revealed that blew our minds and broke our hearts. Let’s talk about it, shall we? Starting with Seven Fifty-two, first off, if it comes out as a lottery number and I don’t win, well it’s my own fault. The show opened with Liv and it’s 5 years before and she’s all fresh and dewy and meets Hobo Huck for the first time sitting on a train platform mumbling something incoherent. Is it 7:52? Is it a train schedule? Liv puts put money in his cup, she touches his hand and they talk briefly. They are sealed.

[Such a soft touch, Liv...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 18, “Molly, You in Danger, Girl.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.12, episode 2.13, episode 2.14, episode 2.15, episode 2.16, and episode 2.17.)

Hey there, Gladiators, when we last met we were left with a dead “mole” who we knew wasn’t really the mole and a Creepy Cute Jake sitting on a Washington bench with a new guy (ya know, that man from Terminator and Speed) talking about how Smarty McSmart they were for fooling everyone and setting up Osborne the way they did.

This week we’re back, with yet another fast-paced episode, one filled with so many twists and turns and fall out, yell at your screen, send your fingers flying to tweet moments. Instead of going my usual route, I’m going to share all the moments that had me yelling tweeting, gagging or going H2theN.O., they didn’t. Feel free to chime in over in the comments section with your favorite scream-worthy moments. Now let’s dive into this crazy stew together, shall we? #WhoIsTheMole

My first scream-worthy H2theN.O. moment came not 15 seconds in when HuckaberryQuinn popped on into Liv’s apartment chatting up their new Liv apartment bug and camera-sweeping itinerary. And when was this policy implemented and, uh duh, if there is a bug don’t you think shouting out your plan is a bad idea Huckabops? Yeesh.

[What is going on here?...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 17, “Snake in the Garden.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.11, episode 2.12, episode 2.13, episode 2.14, episode 2.15, and episode 2.16.)

When last we left our D.C. dynamos, Olivia had invited Creepy Captain Jake into her apartment to come on over and pose for his own cameras, which he happily did and in the creepiest way possible. Leaving us in shivers. We also had CIA director Osborne getting a pic on his phone of Quinn, which left us feeling for than a mite scared for a little Huckleberry in training.

This week the show opened up with Cyrus having a meeting in a darkened garage with our favorite contract killer, Charlie, where he hands him Jake’s photo. Charlie asks if his husband is cheating on him. In perfect Cy-ness he says, in a way, yes. Then we see Fitz meeting with Jake once again. Jake is looking all comfy and chummy and sipping on a scotch, Fitz’s drink of choice, as Fitz praises him, telling him he doesn’t have many people he can trust but if Jake plays his cards right, he can be maybe be his official wingman. To that Jake tips back his drink. As if Cy would let that stand. Oh, Jake, you may be cute, but don’t mess with a man that would take out a hit on his own husband and keep said hit man on retainer just because.

[That does sound mighty dangerous...]

Was that hiatus cruel or what? But Scandal's back with new episodes!

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 16, “Top of the Hour.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.10, episode 2.11, episode 2.12, episode 2.13, episode 2.14, and episode 2.15.)

Okay, Scandal fans, after a lovely 3—or was it 4?—week break that started to feel like a court-appointed prison sentence, Scandal was finally back with new episodes. The show started pretty much where it left off: all fast talking, and honestly it took me a minute to get my Gladiator sea legs straight and get back in the groove, but after about four minutes of speedy verbiage, I steadied myself and was a-OK.

The show opened on a sweet little scene in anywhere suburbia, probably somewhere just outside of DC with a nice little family getting ready for a dinner of takeout pizza. It’s mom, dad, little brother and we’ll call her mid-sized tween sister. The doorbell rings, letting us know it’s pizza time and sis goes to get it. Only she opens the door to an onslaught of paparazzi and screams. Looks like it’s on now.

[Wouldn't have it any other way...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 15, “Boom Goes the Dynamite.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.08, episode 2.09, episode 2.10, episode 2.11, episode 2.12, episode 2.13, and episode 2.14.)

Hey, Gladiators! So we open with a little pickup from last week, ending where we left off with shot of Captain Jake watching live from his TV of many angles. And if that’s not creepy enough, the new epi starts with everyone’s favorite DA on the comedown, David, leaving his not-so-favorite job at the high school for some reason in the dead of night, all alone, with no one around. Suddenly, he drops his papers and a figure runs by. David gets scared and goes on the run himself, convinced that someone is out to get him. Paranoid much? Not that he doesn’t have good reason by now.

Cut to Olivia meeting Captain Jake at a fancy restaurant for a meeting, but Jake in convinced this meeting is a date. Then he grabs champagne glasses and takes Olivia to a more romantic locale, the Jefferson Memorial (thanks, Twitter peeps!). But once there, all Olivia wants to talk about is Albatross and what dead Wendy was up to when she died. Jake is all, “Wow, you really suck at dating,” and BT,  can’t you see this is not Cold Duck in these champagne glasses? Drink up, sister. Jake pauses in the midst of all this for about thirty seconds to talk very fast and tell Liv the “Legend of Albatross.” He’s all, 'State department, classified documents, sold to Tehran, dead guy who said that Albatross did it.' Thirty seconds over and date back on.

And then Liv’s phone beeps and just like that, the date/meeting is off. Oh well….

[C'est la vie...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 14, “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.08, episode 2.09, episode 2.10, episode 2.11, episode 2.12, and episode 2.13.)

So lovelies, when we last left our intrepid Gladiators, it seemed all was lost. Fitz had just found out about the conspiracy that landed him in the White House—and offed Verna, David had been screwed out of the case of his life and Olivia had finally given the heave ho to boring Eddie and was sitting all alone on a church pew, the mistress being cast aside by a pouty Fitz. But wait! All was not lost! Mellie was sitting pretty back on Team Fitz once again.

Well, not much difference does a week and OMG 10 fiction months later make! As this week’s episode opens, we pick up 10 months later and Olivia is trying to work out her lonely girl sorrows by doing laps in the pool. Meanwhile, Fitz is trying to work out his lonely Fitz frustrations by taking up the new sport of 7am shower Scotch drinking.

[It's 5 o'clock somewhere, I guess?...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 13, “Nobody Likes Babies.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.08, episode 2.09, episode 2.10, episode 2.11, and episode 2.12.)

You’d think with all the action that went on in the “Truth or Consequences” episode last week Shonda Rhimes would ease us into this week’s #Gamechanger episode of Scandal, but with the episode title of “Nobody Likes Babies,” we all really should have known better.

Scandal opened just where we left off last week—Hollis is on the elevator with gun for hire Charlie when in walks Huck. Guns are drawn and Huck gives Hollis a deal: Hollis can promise to shut it and never say a word about the election rigging and Huck will watch his back and save him from Charlie. Old Hollis may be a blowhard but he’s no dummy.

[Stay cool, Sodapop...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 12, “Truth or Consequences.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.08, episode 2.09, episode 2.10, and episode 2.11.)

“Oh my, didn’t those two weeks just breeze by?” said no Scandal fan ever! Well, last night we were taken off the hook—or maybe it was put right back on it. The Truth or Consequences episode opened with a flashback to two years ago in the great state of Ohio and the intro of brand new touch screen voting and those darned memory cards. We finally got to see Lindsey/Quinn’s boyfriend called Jessie (side bar: cute to see this real life married couple on the screen together) as he swooped in, bold as all get out, and switched the boxes.

We then see a happy smiling Lindsey, not yet Quinn, calling him to say she’s passed the bar. Funny, somehow I forgot Quinn was a smarty lawyer type. Well, she sure showed us in this episode.

We now cut to Hollis and David, who is trying to give Hollis a deal. Hollis give David a no-go in the form of a kindly castration threat. Oh Hollis, you are a smooth talker.

[Sure sounds like it...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 11, “A Criminal, a Whore, an Idiot and a Liar.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.08, episode 2.09, and episode 2.10.)

So this week on #Scandal, we were taken on a lovely trip through the jungle of Shondaland, along the circle of life, as we are first reminded of the best “Hi” ever between Fitz and Olivia.

And then, just like that, #HolyFitz we’re knocked back down to earth: this week’s show opens and Olivia walks into her apartment and there is Senator Edison McBoring already there, having made himself quite at home. Liv says “Oh hi” so much less enthusiastically than if Fitz was on the receiving end. Wait, didn’t we kick him to the curb last week? Also, when we kick a man with a key to the curb don’t we change the locks? I sighed as the Twitter world groaned.

But it gets worse because Old Eddie is up to no good. He wants to know what’s going on, and who was Liv’s old boyfriend? Was it Fitzgerald Grant?

[Do you really want to go there?...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2, episode 10, “One for the Dog.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's recaps of episode 2.08 and episode 2.09.)

So after the winter break that no-one wanted, finally yesterday was the day and if you listened really hard almost hear the chants of #FreeHuck coming through over your tweet stream.

**********SPOILERS**********

There was me with my sign, leading the march outside the White House when the show opened with Not-Quite-the-President Sally and Smarmy Don’t-You-Have-A-Home Hollis confabbing in the Not-Quite-Oval-Office now turned Evil Lair talking about enhancing interrogation techniques. 

Then bam! OMG cut from this not so pretty little scene to poor Huck in an undisclosed locale not so far away being water boarded. The social media world all gasped together: #FreeHuck

[Poor Huck...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2 episode 9, “Blown Away.”

(Need a refresher? Check out Kwana's episode 2.08 recap.)

OMG, so did you watch the winter finale of #Scandal last night? What do you mean it came on too late and you have it on DVR? Really? #WhatTheHuck? Okay, fine. You go on and watch that and get back to us when you’re done because as I said last week, as all episodes of Scandal do, this is gonna go fast.

The show opens with pinched face VP/Now Fake Pres Sally Langston on a monitor giving her not so heartfelt update on President Fitz’s condition. Thoughts, prayers, yada, yada. Insert first Sally-induced eye roll here.

Cut to The Gladiator’s office with sweet images of our Gladiators, Quinn and ugh Abby and Yum Harrison all nestled on different couches and chairs having slept in the office with various flatscreen TVs blaring with the annoying voice of Sally still going on, saying she will capture whoever is responsible, follow every lead, she will not rest,  yada, yada. A manhunt is on. Insert second Sally-induced eye roll here.

[Sensing a pattern here...]

This post contains SPOILERS for all aired episodes of Scandal, including last night's Season 2 episode 8, “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.”

OMG, so did you see #Scandal last night? Yeah, I know it’s called Scandal, but really I can’t type it without the hashtag. It’s sort of a habit after being on twitter last night—#Scandal #AskScandal #WhoShotFitz.

So much to get into 140 characters! Well, as soon at the show came on, a brief but gentle hush came over Twitter because when it’s Scandal, you have to gird your loins and gather your wits because things are about to go fast.

There was breaking news: Fake reporter dude was doing his best I’m-not-Brian Williams and reporting that there was a shooting, but the president was not shot—oh wait, no, the president was shot. Uh-oh. Dang it! 

Then it was the president AND the press secretary.

[What is going ON?...]

Think Like A Man, based on comedian Steve Harvey’s book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man relationship guide for women, is out in theaters now, and doing surprisingly well, taking the number one spot at the box office for two weeks in a row (mind you, The Avengers will be sweeping everyone else aside with a superhero hand tomorrow, so Think Like A Man will topple from #1).

But why is it doing so well? Is it because it’s a movie both husband and wife can agree to see? Because it’s based on a popular, humorous self-help book? The popcorn? Michael Ealy?

[Let’s discuss!...]

Sarah Wendell
Everything I Know About Love I Learned from Romance Novels
Sourcebooks, Oct. 1, 2011, $14.99

Take a dashing hero with a heart of gold and a mullet of awesome. Add a heroine with a bustle and the will to kick major butt. Then include enough contrivances to keep them fighting while getting them alone and possibly without key pieces of clothing, and what do you have? A romance novel. What else? Enough lessons about life, love, and everything in between to help you with your own happily-ever-after.

Lessons like...

Romance means believing you are worthy of a happy ending

Learning to tell the prince from the frog

Real-life romance is still alive and kicking

No matter how bad it is, at least you haven’t been kidnapped by a Scottish duke (probably)

Straight from the heart of influential romance blogger Sarah Wendell, this inventive gift book provides the best wisdom about love that the romance genre has to offer. Laced with signature witty commentary and peppered with thoughts from bestselling romance authors (Nora Roberts, Jennifer Crusie, Debbie Macomber, Eloisa James, Robyn Carr, and lots more) and avid readers, these pages will reveal what every romance reader already knows: while romances are certainly steamy, they have more to offer than just a sexy hero. In fact, they might have more to say about love than we give them credit for. Sarah Wendell is cofounder of one of the top romance blogs, SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com.

[What have you learned from romance novels?...]

For the most part the people I follow on Twitter are those who I could see myself sitting down and having a fun chat over coffee, or better yet, over cocktails. And though the coffee or cocktail chat is likely to never happen in this case, one of those folks that I follow and have this obscure fantasy about is author Jackie Collins.

The great thing is Ms. Collins lives up to my ’Twitter as cocktail fantasy’ by being a total friend in my head and tweeting about all my favorite pop culture subjects: Dancing With The Stars, The Real Housewives and yes, the king of all things non-reality, Andy Cohen. Oh yeah, I’m in.

And now here she is a woman and an author after my own heart now out with a new book—her 28th!: Goddess of Vengeance.

[Finally: the return of Lucky...]

First came Sookie’s suitors, those Vicious Vamps, those Dynamos of Darkness, Bill and Eric. The votes are still being tallied, but round 2 is about to commence. This time around we are proud to present the Shapeshifter Showdown. 

In one corner we have “Sweetheart” Sam Merlotte and in the other corner, his opponent, Alcide “The Wild Werewolf” Heveaux. Remember the two winners of the weekend showdown will face each other in a King of True Blood final bout. So let your voice be heard!

[Bring on the Shifters...]

Have you noticed all the kids in romances lately? It seems like (and please excuse me for sounding terribly crass) children are the new accessory du jour to pull at the heartstrings.

It’s either a kid in need of some nurturing or a scruffy pooch on the cover of a book to make that sale. And honestly it’s not just the kids in publishing thing that had me first opening my eyes to this phenomenon; though goodness knows Harlequin, with its billionaire-baby-mama drama, has been doing it with huge success for quite a while, what really opened my eyes was watching this season of The Bachelor.

Yeah, I said it, The Bachelor; you spend your Monday night your way I’ll spend mine, my way thank you (hmm, defensive much?)

Well, this season on The Bachelor there was one Bachelorette with “a secret” (nod to Harlequin there) that the Bachelor didn’t know about. Come to find out a few episodes in that she had had a fiancé and he died in a plane crash and of course she was devastated and the only thing that got her through was finding out after he died that she was pregnant with his child (double gasp and sob).

[That’s soap opera-worthy!...]