BeChicMag.com

What does a young Iraqi woman and an American war correspondent have in common?

By Carolina Baker

In Saved by Her Enemy you’ll discover that Rafraf Barrak and Don Teague have a lot more in common than just the experience of war.

Ever since Rafraf Barrak was a child, she had been told that America was Iraq’s number one enemy. In her world, Saddam Hussein ruled one of the greatest and most powerful countries on earth. In the days before the American invasion, Rafraf was convinced that Saddam Hussein could defeat George W. Bush’s army in days.

However, right after America goes in, Rafraf takes a job as a translator for NBC. She’s paired with Don Teague, an NBC war correspondent, and both survive a bomb attack that creates a bond between them neither imagined. The situation in Iraq continues to worsen and insurgents attempt to kidnap Rafraf. Teague and his colleagues come to her aid to help save her life. She receives a gracious offer to relocate to Texas to live with Don Teague’s family. Nothing can prepare her for the life of a college student in the States.

In America, Rafraf finds herself questioning her values, her world and her faith. Don Teague and his family are also awakened by Rafraf and aren’t prepared for the emotional journey they’ve embarked upon by bringing Rafraf into their Texan lives.

This story is inspiring for everyone. BeChic readers will find something to make them laugh and cry through the pages. Saved By Her Enemy is in book stores now!

BOOK REVIEW
By Carolina Baker

I recently finished Mary Tomer’s book Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy. The book is a compilation of pictures, interviews and opinions showing the evolution of Michelle Obama’s fashion style. I read about designers like Jason Wu, Kai Milla, Michael Kors and the effect Michelle Obama has had in fashion and on American women. I had no idea that the J. Crew outfit she wore to the Tonight Show sold out hours after she appeared or that each item worn generated a 200-person wait list by the end of the week.

Mary Tomer touched a cord by showing how the First Lady makes fashion work for her as a working mother, a wife and an educated woman. My opinion for her as a fashion icon evolved as I delved deeper into the book and was shown how she dresses to please herself as opposed to a way that is meant to be of service to her status.

I found myself gazing for quite some time at the pictures Tomer included, appreciating how Michelle Obama stands out in crowds of coats, turtlenecks and buttoned-up suits portraying youth, optimism and modernity. Maybe Michael Kors said it best, “Looking good doesn’t exclude educated women. It’s okay to be interested in fashion and taken seriously.”

Our editor Mercedes Sanchez spoke with the author on-camera about the Mrs. O blog and Tomer’s book deal. To see the interview click here

Mrs. O: Face of Fashion Democracy is in bookstores now and on Amazon.com $25.99