Title: The Smartest Girl in the Room
Series: The New Pioneers, Book One
Author: Deborah
Nam-Krane
Published: March
29th, 2013
Word Count: 85,000
Genre: Romance, Chick Lit
Content Warning: Brief
references to adult situations and minor adult language
Recommended Age: 14+
Synopsis: Nineteen
year old Emily wants her college diploma fast, and she's going to get it. But
when the perfect night with perfect Mitch leads her to a broken heart, Emily is
blind to her vulnerability. When the person she cares about the most is hurt as
a result, Emily's ambition gives way to more than a little ruthlessness. She's
going to use her smarts to take care of herself and protect the people she
loves, and everyone else had better stay out of her way. But shouldn't the
smartest girl everyone knows realize that the ones she'd cross the line for
would do the same for her?
THE REVIEW
This book was ultimately about choices, and how one's choice has a ripple effect on other people.
When Emily meets Mitch Graham, she sees stars, and can't wait to see him again. Mitch is totally taken with Emily, but he has reservations. She's only nineteen, and he's going away to Ireland in a matter of weeks, so doesn't believe they have a future. This is when his choices change his and Emily's life. Temptation takes him away from Emily, causing him to have some serious regrets. He's still set to go to Ireland to study, so those regrets get pushed to the back of his mind.
Emily, hurt by Mitch's rejection decides to put her trust in someone else. Soon, she realizes just how bad of a decision that is. Drew seems like a great guy, and his attention is at first what Emily wants. When his true colors come out, Emily manages to escape with the help of someone who turns out to be a true friend.
When something horrible happens to her best friend Zainab, this gives her the strength to leave David behind for good. Taking matters into her own hands, causes her to be reunited with Mitch. At first, she's angry. Rightfully so. This is when Mitch begins to right the wrong he did to her and she doesn't not make it easy for him.
I really enjoyed this book! I love when a book keeps me up late at night! I loved Emily, although there were times she took herself a bit too seriously. I wish I was as smart as she was though...
Mitch, for all his faults, loves her very much and sets out to prove to her that he really wants her in his life. I loved the friendship between her, Zainab, and Richard, who she meets through Drew. He was the one good thing that came out of the relationship!
Because of him, she fins a true kindred spirit when she needs one!
~~~~~~
BOOK #2
Title: The Family You Choose
Series: The New Pioneers, Book Two
Author: Deborah Nam-Krane
Published: September 10th, 2013
Genre: Romance, Chick Lit
Synopsis: Miranda Harel has been in love with her guardian
Alex Sheldon since she was five years old, and Michael Abbot has despised them
both for just as long. When Miranda finds out why she wants both men out of her
life for good and questions everything she believed about where and who she
came from. Finding out the truth will break her heart. Without family or true
love, will her friends be enough? The Family You Choose is Book Two in The New
Pioneers Series
THE AUTHOR:
AUTHOR BIO:
Deborah
Nam-Krane was born in New York, raised in Cambridge and went to school in
Boston. You’re forgiven for assuming she’s prejudiced toward anything city or
urban. She’s been writing in one way or another since she was eight years old
(and telling stories well before that). She first met some of the characters in
this story when she was thirteen years old, but it took two decades- and a
couple of other characters- to get the story just right. In 2012 she wrote the
History section of her sister Suzanne Nam’s Moon Thailand (Moon Handbooks). A
blogger since 2006, she can be found in a number of places. Please check http://writtenbydeb.blogspot.com for more information and to join her mailing
list.
THE EXCERPT:
Emily closed her book and stood up, yawning as she did so. It
was time to leave the library and meet her best friend Zainab at Princess
Cappuccino.
The café’s owners were indebted to Zainab Oginabe-Kensit. Not
too many guys were tempted to go into something called “Princess” anything at
first. But within one month of Zainab’s discovery of the little café it was
filled with men. While not all of them were friends of hers, many of them were
friends-of-friends-of-friends. Every small business grows by word of mouth, but
Zainab’s was the first mouth.
So Zainab was often there, surrounded by friends and
acquaintances. She frequently reminded Emily that meeting new people was an
important part of the college experience. "So is studying," Emily
would always reply.
Emily believed in studying like it was a religion. The first
year of college she was content to divide her time between classes, the library
and her room at her mother’s house. All places that were conducive to making
sure her work was done on time and done well. That strategy had earned her a
very good grade point average despite her ambitious workload.
Now Emily was out of class and out of her room, and that was
because of Zainab. She had a way of making Emily feel like she didn’t have to
assume the worst about people (well, not everyone). It was nice to look at the
world with a smile. But Emily thought she should repay the favor by making sure
Zainab spent less time in cafés- and bars.
She tried not to criticize Zainab every time she disapproved.
She couldn’t be sure her initial reaction wasn’t concern but jealousy. Zainab
could go out, party and still do well enough in her classes. Her parents were still
going to pay for school and her apartment in Brookline no matter what. And if
she failed? Zainab would still be taken care of. She, however, had to get
through not four but five classes per quarter. Her mother had made it clear she
wanted to leave her job at the university. So Emily didn’t even have time for a
job. Even with her savings she could barely afford to have tea with Zainab a
few times per week. Emily was grateful that coffee, which she despised, was
always more expensive than her tea. She sighed. Who was she to tell Zainab not
to do what she couldn’t? She wrinkled her nose. Actually, Emily hated the taste
of alcohol anyway so it was good that she couldn’t afford to go out often.
Emily had just thrown her scarf around her neck when someone tapped
her shoulder. “Oh!” When she turned around there was Drew Strand. He was a
cute, tall, blonde from Comparative Literature.
“Heading out?” He asked holding his books in one arm and his
half-empty bag on the other shoulder. It seemed almost as if he’d rushed to
pick up his stuff.
“Uh, yeah. Just going to grab some decaf tea.”
“Over to…?”
She hugged her bag closer. “Princess Cappuccino, of course,”
she replied, trying to be friendly while hoping the gods of any persuasion were
watching out for her.
“Anything good there?” He asked. It seemed that tonight the
gods were on a break.
“You’ve never been?” Emily asked. Zainab would protect her.
“What’s your poison of choice?”
“Considering my first class is at eight tomorrow, I should take
the decaf too.”
“Brutal. To what do you owe the pleasure?”
“Poetry. And that’s not even as much fun as it sounds.”
“Are you an English major?”
“Actually, a Physics major with a minor in English. How’s that
for obscure?”
“Better than obtuse,” Emily smirked.
“Hey, I may not be a Math major, but I do know what you’re
implying.”
“Did I mention that I was a Math major?”
“First day of class; ‘Now class, tell everyone why you came and
where you’re from.’ Must be why you thought I was an English major.”
No, Emily thought, it’s the way you keep going on about the
most obscure and obtuse points of the text with Professor Hazlett, like you’re
trying to get a gold star from the department head, that makes me think you’re
an English major. “Must be,” she said. “Oh, here we are.”
Emily waved to Zainab. Zainab, beautiful with dark golden skin
and wide, expressive eyes, waved back. She was in the center of everything, as
usual. “Hey, gorgeous!” Zainab called as soon as Emily opened the glass door.
“Shove over, everyone!”
The crowd rearranged themselves so Emily and Drew could find a
cramped seat. They put their bags down while Emily quickly made introductions.
“What are you having?” Drew asked once they were at the
counter.
As broke as she always was, she still did not want him buying
her anything. Unfortunately she couldn’t find a graceful exit. “Just some
chamomile tea, thanks,” she mumbled.
While Drew was ordering she turned around, caught Zainab’s eye
and mouthed “Help!” Zainab started laughing, and Emily turned around quickly so
she wouldn’t be noticed.
A few moments later, Zainab smiled when they came to sit down.
“So, how do you know Em?” Zainab asked Drew the second they sat down.
“We both ended up in the same Comp. Lit. class this semester,
and she’s definitely the highlight. I’m afraid whether Ann Boleyn was an evil
schemer or a martyred mother doesn’t hold my interest that much,” said Drew.
Emily bit her lip. Comp. Lit. was her favorite class so far,
and she found the historical implications of Ann Boleyn’s execution engrossing.
Before she could say anything, Drew asked, “And how do you two know each
other?”
Emily and Zainab looked at each other. “Student Government
Council!” they burst out, then laughed.
“Am I missing a good joke?”
Zainab giggled. “Yes, but don’t worry, SGC will take you anyway
if you want to serve.”
“Shut up, Senator Oginabe-Kensit! And when are you
quitting?"
“I told you, as soon as the Budget Review is complete.”
Emily grimaced. “The BRC: the stepping stone of one Mister
Joseph P. Welles.” Joe Welles was the Vice President of Student Affairs and
oversaw the Budget Review Committee. It was something of a tradition the VP of
Student Affairs was the leading candidate for President the next year. Emily didn’t
really care that Joe didn’t seem qualified to lead a class discussion, much
less a student government body; she was more irritated that Zainab was so
smitten with him.
Zainab cocked her head. “Yes, and what did Giles Reichart like
the SGC for?”
Emily blushed. “Touché, mon ami, but I left.” She noticed Drew
sitting up straight. “Everything okay?”
“Uh, yeah. But did you say Budget Review Committee?” Drew
asked.
Zainab sighed. “What did we do now?”
Drew seemed to relax. “If I said I was the Vice President of
the Solar Car Club would that clear it up?”
Zainab put up her hands. “Don’t look at us. We voted last year
to increase your funding, but the administration didn’t feel like you guys were
ready for primetime. I think our advisor also said it was a wash. Someone on
the team was connected enough to secure the funding themselves, but I don’t
know.”
Drew shifted in his chair a little bit. “They don’t know what
they're talking about but what a surprise at this school. Last year we really
improved...”
Emily did her best to stretch out small talk with Drew.
Innocently, she looked at the clock and noticed that it was ten, about an hour
before she was going to turn into a pumpkin. Drew saw the look on her face and
turned around. “Damn! Eight o’clock class. I’d better go. Maybe I can stop in
at the lab now and develop a strategy to woo the administration.”
“Now?” Emily asked as Drew stood up. “Isn’t it hard to test a
solar car at night?”
“These guys are true believers. I’m sure they’d love to show
off their work. Really, anytime you guys want to see it, let me know.”
“Sure, I’d love to.” Emily was genuinely interested- in the
car.
“Cool. And thanks for letting me tag along.”
“Thanks for joining us. Next Monday in Professor Hazlett’s
room?”
“I wait with baited breath," Drew replied.
Emily blinked. “Yeah, well, Henry and Ann have a way of doing
that.”
As soon as Drew was out of sight, Emily pointed at Zainab. “You
didn’t help.”
Zainab couldn’t stop laughing. “I wanted to, but it was too
funny.”
Emily narrowed her eyes. “As funny as SGC? Z, how are you going
to do that and school? From here? And what about finals?”
Zainab rolled her eyes. “Still a while before finals.”
“Uh huh. And Joe isn’t exerting more pressure than he should
be, is he?”
“I don’t know. Ask his girlfriend.”
“Right, because he’s so faithful.” Joe was such smiley smarm,
and she couldn't understand Zainab's crush.
“Jesus!” Zainab snapped. “For the last time, I am not sleeping
with Joe Welles!”
“That’s good to hear, he’s a clown!” Emily turned around and
found herself staring into the most gorgeous pair of green eyes she had ever
seen. Zooming out, she noticed dark, thick, eyebrows, then the olive skin, high
cheekbones and wavy light brown hair. Not to mention the perfect teeth on full
display in a wide-open smile. “And why would someone as lovely as you be
worried about Zainab being with such a dork?” said the gorgeous stranger in a
nice deep voice.
Emily found her own voice after a moment. “Got to watch out for
my girl in that SGC cesspool.”
“Should I be insulted before we’ve even been introduced?” said
the stranger.
“Emily, Mitch- Mitch, Emily,” said Zainab. Emily stuck out her
hand and it was enveloped in Mitch’s warm, strong grip.
“Pleased to meet you,” Emily said and looked at Zainab, then
looked back at Mitch. “And how do you know VP Welles?”
Mitch winked. “Apparently the same way you do if you’re using
that overblown title.”
Emily shrugged. “’Popularity Contest Winner’ just doesn’t have
the same ring to it.”
The perfect teeth again. “But I like that. Why don’t we shorten
that to PCW so we’re all on the same page?” suggested Mitch.
“Agreed. So tell me, who are you in the SGC?”
“Mitchell Graham, member-at-large, doing time on the BRC.”
“Since when?”
“About two months ago.”
“I must have just missed you.”
“My loss,” said Mitch.
Zainab cleared her throat. “Mitch, babe, why don’t you get
yourself a drink while Emily thinks of a comeback?”
“Did you plan this?” Emily whispered as soon as Mitch was out
of earshot.
“I might have mentioned that he should meet me here tonight,
right about now, when I know you’re usually done at the library,” Zainab
whispered back.
Emily looked down at the ground and laughed. “Aren’t you
thoughtful?”
Mitch returned and sat down next to Emily. “So, what made you
decide to leave the SGC?”
“I thought Star Trek was a better use of my time,” Emily
smirked.
“Star Trek?!?" His eyes popped. "Oh my God, no one
told me this was one or the other!”
“You’re a Trekkie?” Emily gasped.
Zainab shook her head. “Em, the twenty-first century word is
‘Trekker.’”
“Zainab, you too?” Mitch said excitedly. “How come you never
mentioned this?”
“It doesn’t usually come up in civilized conversation. Besides,
I’m not into The Original Series. Kirk is such a womanizing caricature.”
“Ugh!” Emily and Mitch both laughed at the same time. “Okay,
first of all,” Mitch leaned forward, “can’t argue with the womanizing, but he’s
got some standout episodes. I mean, ‘City on the Edge of Forever’ chokes me up
every time-“
“Well, yeah!" Emily nodded. "It’s one of the few
where he isn’t all ‘My ship!’”
“Exactly!” Mitch almost shouted. “And, I don’t know about you,
but I was always much more into Spock than I was Kirk.”
Emily sighed and put her hand on her chest. “Oh my God, Leonard
Nimoy. Spock was the most perfect character ever. Handsome, brilliant,
tortured… what girl wouldn’t want to rescue him from himself?”
Mitch grinned. "I had no idea dysfunction was so
attractive."
Emily blushed. “Anyway… are you a Next Generation and DS-Nine
fan?”
“DS-Nine rocks- Sisko is awesome, and Worf and Kyra and Dax-
but The Next Generation is just ‘eh’. I’ve got all of them pretty much
memorized because I’ve seen them so many times, but unless the ship is in
danger or Picard is saving the Federation or meeting Spock’s dad, I can’t make
myself care.”
“Yeah, DS-Nine's much better," Emily nodded. "I think
I love Garak.”
“Argh!” Zainab put her hands on her ears. “Guys, I’m going to
turn into a Tribble or whatever if you don’t stop!”
Emily lifted her arms. “I win the Geek-Off!” She threw her head
back in triumph, but as she did she saw the clock. “Oh no!” She stood up and
started gathering her stuff. “I’ve got to run to the train or I’m going to be
stranded. Sorry to meet and leave, but-“
Mitch looked up. “Where do you live?”
“Newton.”
“That’s on my way,” Mitch said, standing up. “I’m in Natick. I
could give you a ride.”
“I’d love that! And, um, Brookline’s on the way too,” she added
quickly.
Mitch looked confused. “Brookline?”
“Yeah, that’s where Zainab lives." Emily turned to Zainab.
“I mean, I’d feel like a jerk getting a ride from Zainab’s friend if she had to
take the T.”
Zainab made a face. “Em, I’m fine.”
“I know you don’t have as far to go as I do, but if you don’t
catch the T soon, you might have to walk down Huntington, and it’s getting
cold.”
“Walk down Huntington? Not on my watch.” Mitch put his hand on
Zainab’s shoulder. “I would never forgive myself if anything happened.“
“Nothing is going to happen, I’ve done it a bunch of times.”
But Zainab started getting up anyway.
“There’s a first time for everything,” Mitch said earnestly.
“Did I mention I was mugged twice? One time some guy shoved me over and took my
wallet, the next time another took my backpack and slammed me into a building
so hard I had to be taken to the hospital. Joke was on him though. All he got
were my Sociology notes.”
Zainab's eyes widened. “You never mentioned that. Where?”
“First time was right at the bottom of South Huntington and
Huntington. The second time was near, of all places, the Christian Science
Center.”
“In that tiny little tunnel?” Emily asked.
“Yeah, how did you know?”
“I used to live around here, and I walked by the Reflecting
Pool and through that tunnel all the time. I never had a problem, but I used to
see all sorts of stuff in there.”
Zainab blinked. “Stuff?”
“You know, sometimes you’d find paraphernalia, sometimes you’d
see partners.”
Zainab pulled back. “Gross!”
Emily sighed. “If that’s how you feel, avoid the magazine
stacks at the Boston Public Library. Me, I never let a little depravity get in
the way of enjoying a good public place.”
“Are you serious?” Mitch shook his head. “I grew up in New
York, but I never saw any of that.”
“New York?” The three had packed up their stuff. Zainab
lingered behind to say goodbye to the others while Mitch and Emily slowly
walked toward the door. “Which part?”
“Queens, of course,” Mitch answered matter-of-factly. “If
you’re from New York, you’re either from Queens or Brooklyn. The other boroughs
are just there for the tourists.”
“Right? I was born in Manhattan, but I lived in Queens for a
few years before we came to Boston. And my mom has family in Brooklyn.”
“No kidding? My dad is from Brooklyn.” Mitch smiled. “So,” he
said after a few seconds, “what brought you to Boston?”
“Long story.” Zainab joined them at the door. Emily put her arm
around her neck. “Zainab’s is much more interesting.”
“Let’s hear it!”
Zainab launched into the winding story of her life: the idyllic
first years in Africa, her father’s tragic death, her mother’s whirlwind
remarriage in London and her crazy combined family’s adventures through South
America and California.
By the time Zainab was finished, the three were warming up
Mitch’s car: Mitch in the driver’s seat, Zainab in the back, and Emily in the
passenger seat. Emily sat back and sighed. It was so nice to be in a car and
not the bus or train. Better not get used to it.
Mitch was impressed. “Wow. So where’s the family now?”
“They’re in upstate New York, where all respectable people end
up eventually.”
Emily gagged. “There is nothing respectable about the suburbs.
Most of the people who live there are so bored they’ll do anything, whether
it’s open marriages, swapping or hard core dealing. I’d feel safer being in a
crack house in the roughest part of Boston than the most elite suburb.”
Mitch laughed. “I can promise you that there is no dealing or
swapping going on at my house, and I’m not sure my parents could get an open
marriage going. I had a great time in Natick. Maybe I lived in a parallel
universe?”
“Oh God, stop!” Zainab threw her head back. “I feel a Trek
recap coming on.”
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