THE SONGBOOK OF BENNY LAMENT by AMY HARMON
Blurb:
From the bestselling author of What the Wind Knows and From Sand and Ash comes a powerful love story about a musical duo who put everything on the line to be together.
New York, 1960: For Benny Lament, music is his entire life. With his father’s deep ties to the mob, the Bronx piano man has learned that love and family can get you in trouble. So he keeps to himself, writing songs for other musicians, avoiding the spotlight…until the night his father brings him to see Esther Mine sing.
Esther is a petite powerhouse with a gorgeous voice. And when Benny writes a hit song and performs it with her, their collaboration thrusts the duo onto the national stage…and stirs up old issues and new scrutiny that the mob—and Benny—would rather avoid.
It would be easier to walk away. But the music and the woman are too hard for the piano man to resist. Benny’s songs and Esther’s vocals are an explosive combination, a sound that fans can’t get enough of. But though America might love the music they make together, some people aren’t ready for Benny Lament and Esther Mine on—or off—the stage.
Purchase links:
➜ Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ma2P0F
➜ Paperback: https://amzn.to/2Ztxw7z
➜ Audio: https://amzn.to/33juhAz
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Editorial reviews:
“Utter perfection. The diversity. The inclusivity. The representation of an interracial couple in the 60s, but more importantly the struggle of a Black woman trying to make it in a world that doesn’t want any good for her. I have no words except that this is a must read.” —Shanora Williams, New York Times bestselling author
“With a vibrant backdoor view to the New York music scene in the 60s, Harmon constructs authentic, enduring characters that will capture your heart and break it too. Elegantly written, with sensitivity to the racial hurdles of the era, this book is a work of historical fiction that will absolutely not be forgotten.” —EmmyB, host of the Lovely Books podcast
“A truly incredible read. Amy Harmon has a way of writing characters that invoke deep emotion, and Benny and Esther are no exception. A raw, real, and inspiring love story.” —DC Renee, author of Scrubbed
“Wildly beautiful. Amy Harmon blew me away again…Everyone should read this book.” —LJ Evans, IAN award-winning author
“The story is enlightening, heart-breaking, and ultimately inspiring as these two beautiful characters find the soul of what it truly means to be human and love. Powerful writing, enthralling reading!” —TJ Mackay, founder and publisher of InD’tale Magazine
“Amy’s stories are always deeply addictive and transporting, but beyond that, her compassion and insight into the human experience raises her work to another level completely. She is in a class of her own.” —Mia Sheridan, New York Times bestselling author
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About the author:
Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books are now being published in seventeen different languages, truly a dream come true for a little country girl from Levan, Utah.
Amy Harmon has written sixteen novels - the Washington Post bestseller What the Wind Knows, the USA Today bestsellers:
The Bird and The Sword,
The Smallest Part,
Making Faces and Running Barefoot,
as well as the #1 Amazon bestselling historical
From Sand and Ash,
Where the Lost Wander,
The First Girl Child,
The Queen and The Cure,
The Law of Moses,
The Song of David, Infinity + One,
Slow Dance in Purgatory,
Prom Night in Purgatory,
and the New York Times bestseller, A Different Blue.
Her latest novel, The Songbook of Benny Lament, a historical romance, is now available.
Find Amy online:
Website: www.authoramyharmon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramyharmon
Facebook fan group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/amyharmon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aharmon_author
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amy.harmon2/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Harmon/e/B007V3HXUY
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5829056.Amy_Harmon
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-harmon
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/P5AJP
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authoramyharmon/
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A panoramic spectacular story set against the backdrop of motown music, mafia & segregation.
There is no single passage in this profoundly researched book that one could actually fault. Even though I haven't lived in that Era in this country, yet every scene had me awestruck in its weighty philosophy. Every chapter, every situation dug deep in my soul and pulled all The chords of my feelings.
“Chords are like families. The notes go together, and there’s a million combinations.”
It definitely will become a classic Love story. It is beautifully written and meticulously researched. The information, the insights, the humanity it portrays of history's most important events are impeccable. And then Amy Contemporizes the key underlying social proclivities and the ugly truth is there for all to see. I could've been reading about 1940s, 1970s or 2020!! The comparison brought goosebumps and chills down my spine.
“It’s a story in Lee Otis’s book. The girl, Pandora, is told not to open the box. All manner of trouble and trials are in the box. But she’s curious. She can’t resist. So she tries to just take a peek. But once the box is opened, it’s too late. She can’t put the trouble back in the box.”
So many wonderful characters, factual and fictitious alike, are introduced to provide colour and authenticity. Majorly, Benny Lament and Esther Mine's controversial (at that time)love story are at the forefront but at no moment are they left alone.
Their band of Brothers- Minefield is always with them and it's a stroke of genius storytelling that all these characters experience the same scene from multiple vantage points, lending it different Perspectives.
"They were always on edge in a new place. It was almost as if they expected mistreatment. Like they braced themselves for it. Even if most of the time it didn’t come. Even if the majority of people were fine, courteous, kind even. It had clearly happened enough, for long enough, that they never relaxed."
Benny is steadfast, moralistic, unwavering songwriter who gets enamored by Little Bitty Lady, great big voice Esther . Their Verbal Wrestling kept the music, their connection, their chemistry alive. It was a refreshing novelty for them to be seen together, singing together.
Esther particularly stands out with her erect spine, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin, that refuses to bend under pressure, refusing to let go of her mic in the segregated music world, she's literally singing for her life. Power walking into the scene on her high heels, it's her supremely talented and confidant gait that grabs the attention but her powerfull voice sustains and maintains that in the readers and listeners alike.
“He's cajoling, she’s cutting, she’s hot, you’re cold. Or maybe you’re hot, and she’s cold.” He shrugged. “Physically you look great together, but it’s more than that. It’s the sizzle and the slap.”
When did their language break off from music and translated into love, is hard to pinpoint at the exact location. But the very talent Esther possessed and Benny bolstered - Singing. Which started As a revolution soon becomes a noose around their neck, painting a target on their backs. Somebody wants to stop them, permanently!!
"Politics is an ugly business. I’d cross a gangster before I’d cross a politician. Any day."
The ensuing plot-knots of deadly secrets untangle and unravel, leaving you agape and agog.
The ruthless political scene is unrelenting & uncompromising, its tentacles reaching far and deep in all walks of life, art and literature.
Countered only by the flawless narration with sufficient gravitas to be compelling, it's easily the most readable book of the year . . . it is a measure of the accomplishment, that knowing the end of the story as all of us do, we are still so immersed that the mounting action is as powerful as it must have been to the participants.
“If you want people to change, you have to show them what it looks like.”
We are directly aware of the tension, suspense, and irony of the experience. You will be moved by the descriptions and want to read The Songbook of Benny Lament to witness what history allowed to survive.
As always Ms Harmon makes me feel enriched, blessed and fortunate enough to live in the same Era where she pens these topical, historic books and I feel privileged enough to read them. All her books are momentous and thought provoking, but this timely tale will make us all think hard at where our priorities lie and the road to achieve a tolerant society.
5 Major Chords And Acapella Stars
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