21 February 2014

Book Tour: 'Sémya Slotin Mystery Series' By Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba

The Book Tour stop we're hosting today is a mega packed one as it contains info about three books (the first three books of the 'Sémya Slotin Mystery' to be precise) as well as two book excerpts.

Years ago, Toyah used to sing: "It's a mystery, it's a mystery..." 

Well, today, we can all sing "It's a mystery, it's a mystery... series!" 
(Ah, come on now! It was not that bad!)

Enjoy!


Loup Dargent



About 'Sémya Slotin Mystery'
  • Series name: Sémya Slotin Mystery
  • Genre: mystery/suspense/ thriller romance
  • First Publication: October 2013 
  • Number of books:at least: 8

Bird Of Prey – Book one



  • Length: 52000 words/ 200 pages 
  • Release date: October 7th 2013 
  • 18+ adult content

Blurb
Who killed the infamous Johanna Cartier? Sémya Slotin is thrown back in the business of solving mysteries when she found her body. With the help of her best friend Polliannah Koch, DCI Ally Gibbons and the mysterious but extremely sexy Josh Heinz, she vows to see this through. 
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 earth-shattering 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!

Excerpt


Polliannah knew that Sémya would go all Nancy Drew on her tonight. After playing nice with a few guests from the fashion house, she discreetly slipped to the hallway and gestured her to come with her. “I just need to see what’s going on over there?” she whispered as she was removing her shoes.
“Is this not a felony?” she asked Sémya. And she wasn’t going to remove her shoes! Sémya frowned back. How could it be a felony, they are not breaking and entering. They are already inside the house. Every step she was taking was making a sound. “Sorry,” she whispered when Sémya hushed her for the fourth time.
“This house is a maze,” she said opening the third room. It was yet another bedroom, another empty bedroom. She looked around, and apart from the furniture, the place was empty.
“What are you searching for?” She whispered.
“Something…anything. I’ll know when I see it,” Sémya muttered back.  “Hide here,” she said when they heard footsteps. She left the door slightly opened so they could see. Johanna was at the edge of the corridor with the gorgeous man they saw at the beginning of the party.
“She’s cheating on Julian?”
“Hush Polli, I want to hear what they’re saying,” she told her.
“Because you have dog hearing?” Polliannah said. The man smoothly passed his hand around Johanna’s waist but she removed it. “Okay maybe he’s just a grabby guest?”
“No, he’s completely invading her personal space. She’s just being careful,” Sémya said.
“Peter! Not here, not now.” Johanna said before moving away.
Peter stayed behind and looked their way. They both held our breath until he walked away. “And now I found it,” she smiled. They quickly sneaked back to the party.
“So are you going to tell Julian?” Polliannah asked her.
“Tell him what? That she was talking to some bloke?” She said as she put her shoes back on. “This is Eileen Clarke,” Sémya told Polliannah when the bubbly blond woman joined them. “You’re late but you look lovely tonight.”
“Nice to finally put a face to the name, Polliannah I presume.” Eileen blushed and turned her attention the younger woman who was next to her. “And this is Emma Blum, Johanna’s assistant. She organized this entire shindig for Miss Cartier. I just got here but everything looks great!”
Emma looked a little shaken. “Are you alright Emma?” Sémya said. 

She looked away for a bit but smiled. “I’m fine. Who’s up for a tour?

Polliannah looked at Sémya, they just had their own private tour. Eileen looked very excited about the idea. They all nodded back. “Shall we?” Emma said.






The Plot Thickens (a novella) – Book Two


  • Length: 23000 words/ 93 pages
  • Release date: December 27th, 2013
  • The first sequel of Bird Of Prey!
  • Bird Of Prey (Semya Slotin Mystery)
  • 18+ adult content

Blurb
What happened while Semya Slotin and Josh Heinz were busy solving Johanna Cartier's murder in Bird Of Prey? 
Polliannah's story... When Polliannah Koch Guryev meets John Allen, she thinks that she's finally found her Prince Charming a tall, blond and handsome banker. What could go wrong? 
John Allen has a job to do and getting closer to the beautiful Miss Koch Guryev is supposed to be a means to an end. But then they fall in love. He's a hit man on a mission, she's the sister of his targets. What possible future could they have? Now he and his Russian Princess have to leave London for their safety.But it may already be too late for them...

Excerpt
John adjusted his earpiece when he saw Sémya and Polliannah getting out of the car. He has been spying on them for over a month now. He realised early on that it was easier to do in Chelsea, close to their store, than around their flat in North London. There someone may notice him or worst recognize him. He lowered his head and looked away as they passed him. Polliannah stopped a couple of steps up when her phone rang and Sémya crossed her arms sipping her coffee.
They both looked like they had a long night. Polliannah adjusted her mini dress and sighed heavily before answering. “Wie bist du Mamma?” she said rolling her tired eyes at Sémya. Her almost daily calls from her mother Petra Koch… {How are you Mom?}
She gave Sémya the keys to the store. “Weak Sauce!” Sémya teased and ran across the street to open their store.
“You know I want to speak in English with you, Nannah,” John heard Polliannah’s mother say through his earpiece, the magic of modern technology as long as he was close enough. The small café not far from their store was perfect for this. “Yes, I am fine. Are you? You sound tired.”
“Sémya and I finished that nice bottle of vodka Connor sent me last year for my thirtieth birthday,” she laughed back. She yawned and stretched her body, revealing her long sexy legs. “It was good stuff.” Connor Ivan Guryev is Ivan Guryev’s second son after Dmitri, his eldest. “What can I do for you Mama? We’re about to open the store and we have to do our inventory–”
“Your father and my offer still stands, Nannah. We know you need the money and your family needs you,” Petra said.
“Money with strings attached. Thank you, mama but no thanks,” Polliannah told her mother for the twentieth time.
“Alright Liebling. You take care,” Petra said. {Darling}
“I always do mama. Please do the same,” she told her and disconnected the call.  Each time her mother called, John was convinced that she would finally give in and let them help her. Each time she had proved him wrong. She had been gaining his respect a little more each day.
Polliannah hurried into her store so John adjusted his earpiece so he could hear Sémya as well. It was Sémya’s turn to deal with a call from her family. By the sound of it she was talking to her younger brother Aaron Slotin. He could her see nervously pacing around the shop floor through his small goggles. “Putain! Aaron, what time is it in Toronto anyway?” she asked him.
“Sémya Louise, please do this for me. Mother just wants to talk. She said she needs your help and you’re the only one who could do it,” he said. {What the fuck!}
Sémya covered the mouthpiece and turned to Polliannah. “Did you say yes?” Sémya asked her. Polliannah shook her pretty head and left her for the backroom. “Alright, p’tit frère, I’ll hear her out but I’m not promising anything. I’ll pick up the next time she calls,” she said and sighed. {Little brother}
“Actually… eh… she wants you to go Paris and–” Aaron babbled.
“No!” Sémya yelled and almost threw her phone across the room. John couldn’t help but laugh. These women had been entertaining him for the past five weeks. Even if he had a job to do, he had come to like them and their antics. “She can’t summon me like I’m still a teenager...I’m not paying for the trip,” she finally told him after she calmed down.
“She booked you a Standard Premier Train ticket to Paris for tomorrow morning,” he told her. Sémya was visibly fuming. “Non-flexible…leaving at 7:31a.m.”
John almost dropped his binoculars he was laughing so hard. He looked at the café’s manager. He had paid him a large sum of money for his silence. But Dovos’ men to do not leave witnesses… he would have to take care of him eventually.
Sémya finally hung up with her brother. “Weak Sauce? Are you alive in there?” she shouted toward the backroom.
Polliannah emerged looking a little green. “Fucking Russian Vodka…”
“Weak Sauce, did you puke again?” she teased back.
“Call me Weak Sauce one more time and it will be the last thing you’ll ever say to me,” Polliannah threatened and sneered as she sat behind the cash register.
“Why? Are they finally shipping your foreign arse back to Mother Russia? I tipped off immigration months ago!” she laughed back.
“Ah! The joke is on you, I’m here as a German citizen not a Russian one,” she said.
“So I’m going to Paris tomorrow… do you need anything brought back?” Sémya asked with a total lack of enthusiasm. Polliannah instantly lighted up. “Something we can afford?” Sémya added purposely.
“Sanka original… I’m sure Annika can spare a little dress,” she said.
“Well you can ask her because I won’t,” Sémya told her and walked to the backroom.
“Forget that I ever mentioned it!” Polliannah said back.



Polliannah Got Married! – Book Three


  • Length: 65000 words/ 250 pages
  • Release date: April 28th 2014

Blurb
The truth this time, and nothing but the truth… 
Polliannah Koch Guryev is in trouble and her boyfriend is dead. It's not the first time amateur sleuth Sémya Slotin finds herself on the first plane to rescue her best friend, but nothing's prepared her for what she finds in Toronto. Polliannah is a widow and her late husband John Allen was a hit man for the powerful Dovos family. What did they want from her? Why is this happening? One thing they do know: their carefree life back in London is officially over. 
Sémya’s long-time boyfriend Josh Heinz knows more than he lets on, but as usual he’s not telling her anything. In fact, everyone knows more but nobody’s talking. But that never stops Sémya Slotin, Detective Extraordinaire, from finding out the truth beneath the lies… 
But at what cost? Old conspiracies and secrets resurface that put them all in peril. Sémya’s worst fears about her relationship with Josh and his past are confirmed, and the rift between them may never heal. 
Sémya and Polliannah’s world is falling apart. Will they be able to come out of this stronger? 
Oh, and did I mention that Polliannah got married?

About The Author


Meet Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba The Author, The Blogger, The Cheeky Reviewer
“My life journey is like my playlist, amazingly unique but full of contradictions with surprising joys with every song...”

In the past two years, while living in Canada, England and France I wrote four novels: This Could Have Been Our Song! A coulda woulda shoulda ballad... (Book one) currently available on amazon, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes and Nobles and Smashwords. The sequel This Would Have Been Our Song! Catchy tune and dancers’ tales has been in January 2014. Bird Of Prey, my first mystery romance novel has been released in October 7th, 2013 and its first sequel The Plot Thickens (a novella) in December. The second one Polliannah Got Married! will be released in April 2014 or earlier. I’m currently residing in Paris, France.