Monday, October 28, 2013

A nice start to the week (The China Doll is coming along)

When I started writing The New Pioneers, I knew that I had solid stories for The Smartest Girl in the Room and The Family You Choose. However, I was very nervous about The China Doll. I've been working on that one almost as long as TFYC (in other words, decades), and that's the one title I always knew I'd use. And while Miranda, Emily and Zainab are integral to Jessie's story, this is...different.

I was, therefore, very happy last week when my beta-reader gave the story line a thumbs up (with some suggested tweaks)- and ecstatic to get an email from my editor this morning telling me she really liked it. Woo hoo!

All in all, not a bad way to start a Monday morning.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Green Illusions : The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism (Our Sustainable Future) by Ozzie Zehner

Two decades ago, I took a class called Environment and Society. Required reading for that class was State of The World 1990. What that book clearly laid out was that technology was not the answer to our problems with energy; to solve the problem, we'd have to rethink our systems, not just create new technology. There was a place for renewables, but ultimately the answer was using energy more intelligently.

Unfortunately, that's not what we we've been told. Many of us have been dreaming of a day when a combination of solar, wind and hydro power can replace coal and oil for all of our energy needs. That is, if we haven't been convinced that hydrogen, nuclear power or (non-existent) carbon capture are the keys to solving our energy problems.

The first part of Zehner's book slams down those arguments. While he points out many of the drawbacks inherent in renewable technologies (I'm not likely to look at photovoltaic panels again and not think about the waste associated with them), the most damning pieces are his exploration of how hydrogen and "clean" coal came to dominate the energy discussion in the last decade, reaching its most intense pitch during the 2008 election cycle.

The technology, however, is not the real problem and it never was. While our energy delivery systems need to be made more efficient- over half of what is generated is lost before it reaches consumers- the real roots of the problem are population and consumption. Zehner is sensitive to the fact that many population-control measures have been ham-handed at best and draconian at worst (read Mara Hvistendahl's Unnatural Selection for more on that); what he argues for (as many others have for decades) is a comprehensive program that improves women's rights and education. Once empowered, women tend to choose to have fewer children. That's easier- and less tragic- than forcing couples to reproduce at certain levels.



 Perhaps because I'm a mother of younger children and teenagers I found the exploration of marketing to children to be particularly disturbing, but I suspect others will too. Anyone who wants to argue that consumption should be the engine of our economy should read about the way children are stalked so that advertisers can figure out the best ways to market to them, or the way poorer city children are exploited so their tastes and habits can be sanitized and marketed to more affluent youth as a safe form of rebellion. And why is that relevant to a discussion about adult buying habits? Because children become adults- and advertisers want to make sure that they are socialized as early as possible to become consumers.

While the picture many paint is bleak (and rightfully so), Green Illusions points to places where energy is being used more efficiently. Zehner notes many of the efficiencies available in the Netherlands- and big cities like New York City. While this may fly in the face of the DIY model of self-sufficiency that asks us to envision ourselves on rural homesteads, city-dwellers are among the most energy-efficient in the world. The reason that isn't touted more? Because there is nothing sexy (or salable) about small apartments, public transportation or shared furnaces. However, those are the things that consistently work.

Highly recommended for anyone concerned about energy use.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

This Could Have Been Our Song! (Coulda Woulda Shoulda Song Series - #1) by Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba



  This Could Have Been Our Song! A coulda

 woulda shoulda ballad… 

  Coulda Woulda Shoulda Song Series  - #1

©      Author – Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba
©      Genre – Contemporary Romance
©      Publication Date – January 18th 2013
©      Publisher – Ever After Edition
©      Cover Artist – Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba



Book one:
Love can be such a “coulda, woulda, shoulda” song sometimes…
Lucia Mpobo-Riddell could have been a dancer like the rest of women of her family but instead she chose music. Marcus Grant could have been a doctor like the rest of his family but instead he chose music. She also could have not fallen for Marcus on her birthday but she did. And Marcus, he could have told Lucia the truth about his real reason for being in Toronto that night, but he didn’t. Now they have to deal with big reveals and consequences: Marcus almost stealing her job and being force to work on an album together. Marcus, because he couldn’t swallow his pride, leaves Toronto and goes home to London. Lucia, because she just couldn’t give up on her first amazing opportunity to produce a whole album. And to complicate the situation further, the band they’re working for is not the easiest one. Mary Gillis, Marcus’ on and off flame, still has a hold on him. Greg McMullen, Lucia’s close friend and former dance partner is back in town and has been in love with her for years. Then there’s Marcus and Lucia, in the middle of their own a professional and personal tug-of- war with each over and the rest of the world. But maybe things could still work out… All things considered, this could have been one heck of a love song!



Buy links:

Excerpt



LUCIA
I’m almost halfway down my Frappuccino when I see Greg coming out of the theatre. He’s late and he isn’t wearing his workout outfit but a loose pair of jeans and a dark, thin hoodie. By the time he reaches me across the street, he’s made at least ten heads turned, men and women alike.
“Hi, handsome specimen.” I hand him his drink.
“Hi, yourself,” Greg answers and sit down next time. “Sorry I took a shower after rehearsal.” He eagerly starts to drink his Frappuccino. “Delicious…just like you, beolkku.” He’s kissing my neck.
“You shouldn’t have. I’m just walking you home.” I get off the bench and stretch. Today is a perfect day for a walk downtown. “I almost forgot what happens each time I’m outside with you.”
 “What does happen?” Greg asks, putting his arm around my hips and lightly pushing me.
“Umm…let’s see,” I say, staring back, and another woman is smiling at him. “The entire city, straight and gay combined, are ogling you.”
“Oh…that,” he laughs. “I could say the same about you, Lulu.”
“So how are rehearsals going?” I ask. I’m taking his hand while walking west on King Street. His condo is just off Tecumseth Street.
“Well, it does help that we’re in our fourth month. But our stage here is smaller so I had to make a few adjustments,” he says, finishing his drink. Greg was already famous worldwide for his choreographies and own performances. But with a show of this magnitude, he raised his own stake.
“I’m so proud of you, Greg,” I tell him.
“I’m proud of you too. Getting out there on your own wasn’t an easy decision but you made it and I’m sure only good thing will come out of it,” he says before we cross the street. The happy hour crowd is not out just yet but the King West restaurants are getting ready.
“It’s not a hundred dancers and three-hour shows but we’re getting there…or not,” I joke.
“You got my sister’s vote. She and Michael really hit it off last week. I think they’re going on their fifth date tonight.” he says. He turns and looks at me. “Should this bother me?”
“You liked him, remember; you sent me there,” I tease. I have no idea what brothers should feel. I only have my sisters and we tend to encourage the naked policy.
“Yes, but not her!”
“He’s a good guy, Greg. I’m sure he likes her at least as much as she so obviously likes him,” I giggle. Kathie in love is always adorable. I wish her the best. “Axelle’s pregnant; she told us yesterday. So next summer I’m going to be an aunt for the third time,” I tell him with a big smile. We’re turning south on Tecumseth Street and the walk is almost over. I’ll take the streetcar back to the subway station.
“Congratulation! That’s great news! Which reminds me…” He takes an envelope out of his hoodie pocket. “I have your tickets for the premiere.”
“We could have paid for them, you know,” I tell him and check the tickets; six to be exact. Annie will be able to come with us as well. “Those are great seats. Thank you, Greg.” I kiss him on the cheek.
“You will pay; I expect you there at least once a week,” he says, touching his cheek.
“Your show is here until late January!” I’m completely shocked. I’ll be there, front row.
“You’ll be there…” he says. We’re getting to his building.
“Singing and dancing my ass off!” I say in his lobby. I haven’t been here this year yet. Have I been so out of it this year? “It was a great walk. I’ve missed doing that with you,” I tell him and I sincerely do.
“I just plain missed you, my yeppeun17 Lulu.” He’s caressing my cheek and making me blush.
Making me blush? “Please! You’re the handsome, perfect specimen,” I tell him. [17. Beautiful]
“That sounds like I’m irresistible,” he says softly and it’s making me feel warm inside.
Making me feel warm inside? “Duh…since the academy, no woman has ever been able to resist you,” I say.
“There has been at least one woman immune all this time,” he murmurs before kissing me. I know this type of kiss; I gave one for the first time on Noor’s wedding day. But this is the first time that anyone’s given one to me.
“Greg…” I manage to mumble when he finally releases my lips. I didn’t ask you to stop!
“Not that immune after all, Lulu,” he says against my mouth.
 No one could be immune after a kiss like that given by a man who looks like Greg. When he starts kissing me again, I kiss him back. I’m not leading him on; I really want to explore this. I’m not leading him on…


The Book Official Soundtrack





Coulda Woulda Shoulda Song Series - Fictional Cast






Jessica Szohr asLucia Mpobo-Riddell and  Garrett Hedlund as Marcus Grant





Daniel Henney as
Greg McMullen



The Sisters Antonia Thomas and Jennifer Beals 


Beesly&Matt Marsh Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper


For the rest of the cast click on the Pinterest logo...

My review (originally posted in May, 2013)

This novel made me wish I could live in Toronto, dance, produce music, play guitar and bake mouth-watering pastries in under an hour while surrounded by the coolest multi-ethnic cast I have ever read about. In other words, Lucia Mpobo-Riddell is my newest hero.

When we meet Lucia- Luce/Lucita/Lulu- she’s just embarked on what’s going to be a stormy relationship with London-based producer Marcus Grant. Taken together, they’re an interesting study in human potential: Lucia lost both of her parents when she was very young, but she’s taken her grief and channeled it into all of her creative outlets. Marcus, born with an equal amount of talent but blessed with loving parents, has achieved respect in his chosen profession but is still thisclose to being great. The reader quickly understands that it’s Marcus who can’t get out of his own way, but like Lucia- and his family and friends- we’re rooting for him to do the right thing.

Like Lucia’s sisters, I alternated between wanting to punch Marcus, wanting him to make Lucia happy, and wanting him to walk away because he just wasn’t good enough and he’d had his chance. Just when those feelings peaked, in walked the equally compelling (and more accomplished) Greg McMullen. He’s “all that”, and he treats Lucia like gold. But even though I’m squarely on Team Greg, I can understand why Lucia still isn’t entirely done with Marcus. (But here’s hoping she comes to her senses in the sequel!)

As much as I enjoyed Lucia, Marcus and Greg, I also appreciated the large supporting cast, particularly the close knit family members that are like best friends and the best friends who are so close that they're like family. But not everyone is milk and honey: the sins of Lucia's mother and grandmother loom large over the lives of their family members, and it's heartbreaking how much Lucia and especially her sister Noor still pine for their parents' love. While the tone of the novel is mostly adventurous and fun, these reminders ground the piece.

Plenty of humor here, but the funniest line is “I’m taller, my eyes are green and I too speak fluent Korean.” So take that!

Highly recommended.  

Monday, October 21, 2013

Prophecy of the Solstice's End (Oracle of Delphi #3) by Diantha Jones (@dianthajones)

Disclaimer: I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another disclaimer: this is a long book. My copy came in at 408 pages, and I might have waited a few extra days to get into it because of that.

No worries: I more than made up for it when I found myself unable to put it down and staying up way past my bedtime to read just a little bit more. I read this on my laptop- on the train. When I say I couldn't put it down, I meant it.

Why? Because things come to a head when Chloe and her team answer Zeus' summons to attend the Olympic Games- the games her true love Strafford aka Solar aka The Sun Prince just happens to be competing in. Did you have some huge questions after the first two installments? Jones delivers on a lot of the answers, particularly those concerning Hermes' son Swindle, the all-seeing Thetans, that devilishly charming son of Zeus Torrent and- oh yeah- Chloe's father. (You'll want to say "apples don't fall far from trees"- but then you're going to start wondering which tree we're concerned with.)


Wouldn't it be nice if Chloe and her demigod friends could work out their family dramas in relative peace? Sadly, no. They still have the little matter of constellations falling out of the sky- and wait until you see the ones that fall out in this book- and Apollo and Zeus circling each other to see which one is going to throw down the gauntlet first. We learned in the last book that Apollo has help; don't worry- so does Zeus. No surprise that there are several attempted murders. What's more surprising is that not all of them are successful...yet another mystery for us to solve.

In the last book we saw Chloe come to accept her role as the Oracle; in this book we get to see her exercise her power, and it's awesome. It's about damn time someone reminded these obnoxious gods that they're not in charge, and she is just Oracle to do it. But maybe- just maybe- not all of the gods are as terrible as they seem.

Highly recommended for YA and mythology fans. Now if only Jones would hurry up and get Book Four out, we'd be all set!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

More love for The New Pioneers!

Today is the second-to-last day of The Smartest Girl in the Room blog tour those guys at Juniper Grove so nicely organized for me, and I couldn't be happier. And by "happy" I mean vegan vanilla ice cream-hot fudge-raspberry sauce sundae happy.

Since we last spoke, I've been reviewed by BookwormBridgette's World and Nikki Mahood. Please go read and you'll see why I'm pleased as punch.

Some of the other stuff happiness is made of

On top of that, Kay's Novel Nook read and reviewed The Family You Choose. You know why I'm doing cartwheels over this one? If you've read it, you know that I took some risks with it (and as we've seen this week, literary risks can be dangerous). This story means a lot to me- it's older than two of my sisters, and it's been with me for more than half my life- so I am doubly appreciative that someone "got" it. (Here's hoping others will too!)

Below is the Rafflecopter Juniper Grove is running for me again, and again I am NOT running this so I can do anything other than tell you about the next releases. Writers who have time to stalk people...among other things, they're not people I want to hang out with, and certainly not people I want to emulate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Bird of Prey by Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba is LIVE!


Bird Of Prey
Series: Sémya Slotin Mystery - Book One
Mystery Romance
By Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba
Release date: October 7th (paperback)
Release date: October 15th (ebook)


Buy Links



This was supposed to be an easy case…
Sémya Slotin had spent the last three years living in London with her best friend Polliannah Koch staying away from solving cases. After Hawaii, she was taking a break from puzzles, cases and mysteries that could potentially get her killed. Instead, she had been doing her second and third favorite things, drinking and selling expensive vintage wines and having earthshattering sex with the mysterious, sexy, beautiful but ever so secretive Josh Heinz. Life in London was good….until her funds ran out. Too much wine drinking, not enough wine selling!
When fashion designer and adoptive mother, Annika Slotin, summoned her back to Paris to hire her for what Sémya considered being the easiest case of her amateur sleuth career, all she could think of and see was money signs and a well-deserved Cuban holiday once it was solved.
What Sémya didn’t see was her stumbling on the fresh corpse of supermodel Johanna Cartier. She didn’t think that male model turned fashion designer Julian Marais-Caldwin, who also happened to be Sémya’s ex, would be suspected of brutally murdering her. Johanna was his girlfriend, his muse and he loved her. Sémya didn’t see the dead bodies piling up or the conspiracy theories.
Sémya was a little rusty. But then again, it was supposed to be an easy case and she was going to solve it. One vintage wine at a time… Sémya Slotin was officially back in business!



Prologue

Saint-Bruno-Des-Anges September 1998 (South of France)

Jojo crawled on the floor as fast as her weak body would allow. She had been sick all day. She couldn’t keep anything she was eating down and she didn’t understand why. Too late… she started to convulse in front of the bathroom door and the entire content of her stomach came out. “Catherine!” she said after she was done. “I’ve made a mess again.”
“Poor child,” Catherine said and helped her back to her bed. Jojo smiled. She was lucky to have Catherine with her. She was her best friend, an older sister and her family. “Drink some tea. Your stomach will feel better soon.”
“Thank you, Catherine. You’re a godsend.” She slowly drank the tea under Catherine’s watchful stare. It tasted bitter but if Catherine said that it was good for her, she had no reason to think otherwise. She then closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Catherine knew that she needed to act fast. The appointment was in less than an hour. Jojo would not be waking up anytime soon, if ever again. She had been hallucinating for days.  Catherine was convinced that Jojo didn’t even know how long she had been in bed. But her suffering would be over soon. The tea she had given her should be finishing the job.
 She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was as black as Jojo’s now and the same length. They always had similar sparkling green eyes and the same smile. Even people in the village thought they were twin sisters. Catherine quickly put her hair up the silly way Jojo always preferred before leaving their small cottage.
“Hello Jojo,” her next-door neighbour said.
“Hello!” Catherine replied. They had been living here for more than a year. Mrs. Beauvais should have been able to recognize her. Her smile grew wider. That was a good sign.
“How’s Catherine today?”
“Still in bed I’m afraid.” Catherine got into their car. “I have a meeting in Nice. I’ll speak to you later.” She drove away happy to have fooled at least one person so far.

“You’re still alive!” Catherine exclaimed when she saw Jojo shaking on her bed.
Jojo frowned back. “I’m seeing double, Catherine. You look just like me. And what happened to your brown hair?” she asked. She tried to reach out for the other her but lifting her arm was too hard. “What is happening to me?” she cried but no tears came out. She was so thirsty. She was in so much pain and so tired. “Maybe we should call for help?” she let out, her throat hurt and was burning.
“You’re hallucinating again, Jojo. It hasn’t even been more than a day. You will be fine tomorrow. I’ll get you some tea,” Catherine told her.
 But something in Catherine’s voice scared Jojo. She was lying to her. She wasn’t getting better, she was getting worse. How long had she been trapped in their home? She was supposed to go to Nice and pick up her contract. Catherine came back and even through her haze, Jojo could see that she had a big bruise of her face. “What happened?” she managed to mutter while avoiding the tea.
“I wasn’t convincing enough. Next time I’ll be more prepared,” Catherine gritted back. She held Jojo by her hair and forced her to drink the tea. “It’s for your own good.” Her eyes were cold. No trace of the nice gentle Catherine she had been living with for the past year. That woman was a stranger. Maybe she had always been one… what did she really know about Catherine Dubois?
“Why are you doing this to me, Catherine?” Jojo asked as she shook so violently that she ended up on the floor. She was alone…would this nightmare ever end? How long had she been on the floor like this? Flames started to grow around her… was it her imagination? She started to choke as heat was entering her lungs and she felt her life leaving her body… I’m only sixteen… I’m only sixteen and my life hasn’t even begun yet… It can’t be over yet…






AUTHOR BIO
Meet Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba
The Author, The Blogger, The Cheeky Reviewer
Have you held an Olympic Torch before its departure to Athens?


My life journey is like my playlist, amazingly unique but full of contradictions with surprising joys with every song...”
I was born in Quebec City, Canada from Gabonese parents but grew up in Paris and Libreville the Gabonese capital until the age of 18. Are you yawning yet? I am...
I moved back to Canada in 1999 after high school in Libreville to study Cinematography and Digital movie production in Laval University in Quebec then The International Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto. After graduating in 2003, I decided to sell my soul to the corporate world and worked in the Benefit Outsourcing Industry for seven in Toronto before reconnecting with her first passion writing.
"A teacher told me in high school that people didn't read anymore so I decided that I would make movies instead...so that didn't stick…"
I finally went back to school to study creative writing at Georges Brown College in 2010 and 2011. I started to write The Coulda Woulda Shoulda Song Series as an assignment and finished Book One in late 2011 before moving to London.
And the rest as they say is history... Almost two years later, I'm in London and wrote three novels: This Could Have Been Our Song! A coulda woulda shoulda ballad... (Book one) currently available on amazon and soon in iTunes, Kobo, Barnes and Nobles and Smashwords. The sequel This Would Have Been Our Song! Catchy tune and dancers tales will be release in January 2014. Bird Of Prey, my first mystery novel will be release in October 7th, 2013 on paperback before its wide release in November 25th, 2013. It will be followed by The Plot Thickens (a novella) in January 2014 and Polliannah Got Married! in April 2014 or earlier.


Authors Links:

Curves and The Rancher by Jenn Roseton - Book Blitz

Cuvesandtherangerbanner
✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿✿´¯`*•.✿ Curves and the Rancher Final BOOK INFO TITLE ~ Curves and the Rancher SERIES ~ Coldwater Springs - Book #3 AUTHOR ~ Jenn Roseton GENRE ~ Sexy Contemporary Romance RELEASE DATE ~ October 16th, 2013 PUBLISHER ~ Jenn Roseton

BOOK DESCRIPTION When Cassie’s car breaks down in Coldwater Springs, Wyoming, she’s in a bind. On the run, she doesn’t know who she can trust. Until she meets Luke Jackson. The hunky rancher captures her heart and helps her face her fears. But can he convince her that he’s fallen in love with her, and her curves? This is a sexy contemporary romance novelette of approximately 12,700 words. ♥ Buy Book One Curves and the Cowboy Kindle Copy Here At AMAZON US LINK ♥ Buy Book Two Curves and the Sherif Kindle Copy Here At AMAZON ♥ Buy Book Three Curves and the Rancher Kindle Copy Here At AMAZON ♥ Add To Your GOODREADS LIST ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Excerpt2 “So now you've been here awhile, what do you think of Coldwater?” he enquired. Quivers of excitement danced down her spine. Luke made her feel as if she were the only person in the world. “I like it here,” she murmured. His lips curved in a slow smile. “Good.” Bang! Bang! The hail had slowed down for a few minutes, but now it returned in full force. Luke reached out and tucked a strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “You’d better stay here tonight. There’s no knowing how long this storm will go on for.” Relief coursed through her. Although she’d been trying not to show it, she’d been worried about driving home in the storm. “Okay,” she agreed, leaning into him as his fingers caressed her hair. His eyes snared hers and his mouth slowly descended. She held her breath, waiting for the moment when their lips would touch. He slanted his mouth over hers, his tongue coaxing her lips to open. Cassie parted her lips in surrender, her pulse beating erratically. Luke gathered her to him as if he was never going to let her go... ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Meet The Author2 AUTHOR PHOTO (Another Book Cover) Jenn Roseton believes that romance and happy endings go together. When she’s not writing, she indulges in delicious gourmet chocolate. Although she’s spent time in Wyoming, unfortunately she didn't meet a sexy cowboy of her own. STALKER LINKS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE | WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS | SHELFARI

Friday, October 11, 2013

Bird of Prey by Danielle-Claude Ngotang Mba- paperback release and review



Bird Of Prey
Series: Sémya Slotin Mystery  - Book One
Mystery Romance
By Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba

Release date: October 7th (paperback only)

Paperback Cover

Buy Links
Only $4.99/4.29 until November 25th 






Blurb:

This was supposed to be an easy case…

Sémya Slotin had spent the last three years living in London with her best friend Polliannah Koch staying away from solving cases. After Hawaii, she was taking a break from puzzles, cases and mysteries that could potentially get her killed. Instead, she had been doing her second and third favorite things, drinking and selling expensive vintage wines and having earthshattering sex with the mysterious, sexy, beautiful but ever so secretive Josh Heinz. Life in London was good….until her funds ran out. Too much wine drinking, not enough wine selling!
When fashion designer and adoptive mother, Annika Slotin, summoned her back to Paris to hire her for what Sémya considered being the easiest case of her amateur sleuth career, all she could think of and see was money signs and a well-deserved Cuban holiday once it was solved.
What Sémya didn’t see was her stumbling on the fresh corpse of supermodel Johanna Cartier. She didn’t think that male model turned fashion designer Julian Marais-Caldwin, who also happened to be Sémya’s ex, would be suspected of brutally murdering her. Johanna was his girlfriend, his muse and he loved her. Sémya didn’t see the dead bodies piling up or the conspiracy theories.
Sémya was a little rusty. But then again, it was supposed to be an easy case and she was going to solve it. One vintage wine at a time… Sémya Slotin was officially back in business!



My Review

I received an advanced review copy but this in no way affected my review.

I wasn't sure I was going to like something set in the fashion industry, but as it turned out I couldn't put this down. We get to see a little bit of how a haute couture house is run, but really, we get to see a lot more about how a brilliant detective thinks.

Semya Slotin may have a rough exterior- she seems to revel in dressing like an upscale tomboy, in spite of her mother's and adoptive mother's connection to the fashion world- but you will instantly recognize the powerful, glamorous and brilliant woman she is. You'll also wish she was your best friend: she's loyal, honest and compassionate. And while the circumstances of her childhood could have left her an emotional mess, she's instead someone who commands control in any situation she's in. Beware if you get a jab in; she only wants you to think you did. Really, she's analyzing whether you use a right hook or a left uppercut, and why. 

She thinks she's being asked to solve a cream puff case that Nancy Drew could solve in ten minutes, but within the first few chapters she finds herself in the middle of two mysteries, and one of them is murder. All of that on top of the mysteries she's been embroiled in for years: who is her father, and what kind of game does her hot, mysterious boyfriend Josh think he's playing with her? And what the hell does her best friend Polli think she's going to get into while she's not looking?

You might be able to figure out "whodunnit" pretty quickly, but *why* is the question. When you realize the answer, you'll be able to see the little clues that were dribbled throughout the story. Well done.

Can't wait to read the rest in this series!


Ebook Release: November 25th, 2013
Pre-order Links:
only $2.99 until November 25th
©    iTunes
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©    B&N
©    Smashwords


Ebook Cover



Chapter 14

Camera left…camera right…camera left…camera right… Sémya had been staring at her board for the past three hours. Maybe she should take a break and go work at the store today.  Or maybe she should give up all together and book their Cuban holiday. London was so cold right now they should just go soak up some sun.
She shifted her attention to her phone. She was still waiting on Gary Finch’s aliases from Sergey. She had been reading Emma’s emails over and over again. Nothing about another flat popped out. What she found instead was the number of the moving company she was going to use for her move but–
“Wait a minute!” She finished her glass of 2005 Wolf Blass Black Label Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon. “Where is that file?”
Emma had a file called expenses on her laptop. Maybe, just maybe, some of these expenses were taxi fares to this mysterious place. Johanna couldn’t always be two steps ahead of them. The woman had been dead for more than two weeks! She should also check Oyster card records for tube stations or buses. Expenses…she would need to speak to Eileen and Julian. But first let’s see what she could find on her own.
Emma’s passwords were always the same or just a variation. The name Peter was always coming up. Then again Sémya had access to her email account she could always reset it if she couldn’t find it. 
“p-e-t-e-r-t-f-l-1,” she mumbled and typed. The access had been granted. Yeah! Emma lived in the small flat near Hammersmith station. She printed out her journey history of the last three months. Hammersmith to Oxford Circus kept showing up which made sense. It was her regular journey to work. East Putney Station was also showing every three weeks and not on the weekend which could mean that it was an errand she was running for Johanna. Sémya highlighted it. The last trip was…the day she died. “What’s in Putney Emma?”
She checked if there were any other suspicious travels. A bus route came up a few times. She was either going to Chiswick or to Chalk Farm.
“So…which one is it?” Josh whispered in her ear and made her shriek. “Sorry, I thought you heard me,” he said sliding on the sofa next to her, only wearing a towel. He picked up the bottle of wine off the floor. “Already?”
“It’s two o’clock in the afternoon…in Paris,” she told him.  She had one glass with her sandwich. “Is that the kind of shit I have to expect now that you’re my boyfriend?”
“Nagging you about your drinking? That’s not new,” he shrugged. He smoothed his damped hair back. He smelled like aftershave and peppermint. Josh seductively nibbled her shoulder, “Good afternoon,” he groaned and took her in his arms.
“We promised Polli, no more hanky panky on her sofa.” She gently pushed him away. “Go put some pants on!”
He reluctantly got up and entered her bedroom, “Where is she anyway?” He came back out with a tank top and flannel pants on.
“With the mysterious John, she didn’t come home last night so I’m guessing he is back,” Sémya told him. As soon as this case was resolved she would have a serious conversation with Polliannah about John Smith. She might even create a small board…
“So what do we have here?” Josh said with a coffee in his hand. He looked at her board and whistled. “And I thought your board in Honolulu was crazy!”
“Oh…did you now?” she giggled. “There are two murders on that board.” She got up and added the information from Emma journey’s history.
“Do I have a board?” he asked her.
“No!” she answered without turning around. I make a board for everyone…so yes Josh Heinz you do have a board…
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said tilting his head toward the board.  “Which is it?”
“I’m not sure.” She pointed at the map. “Emma lived in Hammersmith, it’s a four lines station but still the only time she took the bus was for the same trip.”
“I haven’t taken the bus in London in years but the way I see it  I would only use it if it would take me as much time or less time than the tube,” he said and yawned.
“Good point… for commoners like me, we use the bus for twenty minutes or less trip.” She circled the twenty minutes travel zone around Emma’s flat. “Okay…” she mumbled walking back. “So…I’m thinking that she was going east.”
“Do you have her bank statements?” he asked.
“Yes, and before you say anything…it may not be very legal–”
“There’s a charge on the seventeenth for Bramwell Eatery, isn’t that in Notting Hill?” he asked her.
“Yes...let me check the journey history.” She jumped up, “Yes, she used that route on that day!”  She sat back next to him and grabbed her laptop. “I need to check the expense file…I copied her hard drive,” she explained.
“Yeah…that’s not illegal at all,” he joked.
“She wasn’t dead then…at least we didn’t know she was!” She opened the March spreadsheet. “Can you check the March statement for the same expense?”
He wrestled through all her papers. “Got it! And I even had the Oyster journey.”
“The twenty-second?” she asked, looking at the expense for Dinners.
“Yeah, it could just be Emma’s favourite restaurant,” he said.
“No baby, it’s not.” She got up and went back to her board. “Charges are too high for it to be hers, it’s for Johanna.” She put her hand on the Emma side of the board, “Emma was a hard core vegetarian. She would have never gone to this place for herself.” She pointed at the map, “The bus records indicate less than thirty minutes between both trips…they don’t deliver,” she said with a wicked smile on.
“She called her assistant to pick up and deliver her food order.” He looked disgusted.
“Bigger picture, baby…her second flat is in Notting Hill and walking distance from Bramwell Eatery,” she shrieked. Where is a chilled glass of wine to celebrate when you need one? “I need to do the same thing with East Putney?” she said and joyfully straddled Josh.
“Did you just call me baby?” he asked, caressing her flat stomach. He kissed her neck and brought her face closer. “Now I deserve a reward…”
“I tell you what, if you help me crack that case, I’ll take you to Cuba with Polli,” she mumbled. He was weakening her defences and she needed to stay focused. “Better yet, you’ll take us. You seem to have strange deep pockets,” she giggled.
He got up still holding her by her thighs. “Deal!”
“Heinz, put me down. I have calls to make,” she moaned. They were heading to her bedroom. “I’m very busy…big case.”
“I have a big case for you right here,” he grunted and laid her on the bed.
“Seriously? I have to tell Ally about Notting Hill. She could contact the restaurant and maybe trace the number used to place the order…It could be Gary Finch’s,” she said trying to justify herself.
Josh was just nodding back; he was very busy removing her knickers. “Do what you’ve got to do and I’ll do the same,” he whispered so close against her ear it made her whole body shiver as she moaned. “Baby…”
“You devil man, you,” Sémya moaned back. 







AUTHOR BIO
Meet Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba
The Author, The Blogger, The Cheeky Reviewer

 
Have you ever been to The Champs Elysee in Paris? (overrated!!!)
My life journey is like my playlist, amazingly unique but full of contradictions with surprising joys with every song...”
I was born in Quebec City, Canada from Gabonese parents but grew up in Paris and Libreville the Gabonese capital until the age of 18. Are you yawning yet? I am...
I moved back to Canada in 1999 after high school in Libreville to study Cinematography and Digital movie production in Laval University in Quebec then The International Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto. After graduating in 2003, I decided to sell my soul to the corporate world and worked in the Benefit Outsourcing Industry for seven in Toronto before reconnecting with her first passion writing.
"A teacher told me in high school that people didn't read anymore so I decided that I would make movies instead...so that didn't stick…"
I finally went back to school to study creative writing at Georges Brown College in 2010 and 2011. I started to write The Coulda Woulda Shoulda Song Series as an assignment and finished Book One in late 2011 before moving to London.

And the rest as they say is history... Almost two years later, I'm in London and wrote three novels: This Could Have Been Our Song! A coulda woulda shoulda ballad... (Book one) currently available on amazon and soon in iTunes, Kobo, Barnes and Nobles and Smashwords. The sequel This Would Have Been Our Song! Catchy tune and dancers tales will be release in January 2014. Bird Of Prey, my first mystery novel will be release in October 7th, 2013 on paperback before its wide release in November 25th, 2013. It will be followed by The Plot Thickens (a novella) in January 2014 and Polliannah Got Married! in April 2014 or earlier. 

Authors Links:


Bird Of Prey Paperback release Giveaway!
5 Ebooks of Bird Of Prey (Sémya Slotin Mystery 1)
5 Ebooks Of This Could Have Been Our Song! a coulda woulda shoulda ballad…

3 Ebooks of The Plot Thinkens (Sémya Slotin Mystery 1.5)