TEMPTATION RAG
by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard
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This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.GENRE: Historical Fiction
The world of ragtime is the backdrop for a remarkable story about the price of freedom, the longing for immortality, and the human need to find forgiveness. Seventeen-year-old May Convery, unhappy with her privileged life in turn-of-the-century New York City, dreams of becoming a poet. When she meets the poor but talented Mike Bernard, an aspiring concert pianist, she immediately falls in love. But after their secret liaison is discovered, neither is prepared for the far-reaching consequences that will haunt them for decades. From vaudeville's greatest stars to the geniuses of early African American musical theater, an unforgettable cast of real-life characters populates this richly fictionalized historical saga.
Read an Excerpt
Giving himself no further opportunity for remorse, he forced his fingers to the keys and broke into the hit song “After the Ball,” easily navigating the simple melody, augmenting it with rich chords and lush arpeggios. Following several rounds of verse and chorus, he seamlessly transitioned to a second popular tune, calling upon every musical device of the masters to transform the rather pedestrian refrain into something closer to grand opera.
He picked up the pace. The music became a locomotive barreling down a straight track, the left hand pounding a steady bass, the right weaving intricate variations on a theme. In a moment of daring, he lifted his backside off the bench, half standing as his fingers scurried up and down the keys, faster than rats in a dark alley. He heard a cry of delight from someone in the crowd, and his excitement spiked. On and on he went, switching songs like he was switching hats, for each one inventing a new sound effect, a new gimmick. While he might dress up a melody any way he wanted, in the end it had to sound familiar enough to touch that special place in the listener’s heart where music works its most powerful magic. And that was precisely what he set about doing. He captured his audience like he was reeling in a giant fish. Slowly, painfully, with every ounce of strength he had. Afraid to stop. Afraid to let go of this brash new persona that it seemed must have always been lurking beneath the surface, beneath the façade of everything he thought he was or wanted to be.
About the Author:
https://www.amazon.com/Temptation-Rag-Elizabeth-Hutchison-Bernard-ebook/dp/B07HYJMTXX/ref=sr_1_1.
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ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed the tour. Sounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteI've thoroughly enjoyed following the tour for Temptation Rag and can't wait to read it. Thanks for sharing all of the great posts along the way :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for featuring my novel TEMPTATION RAG! (The Kindle versions of TEMPTATION RAG and my historical thriller THE BEAUTY DOCTOR are on sale today for only 99 cents on Amazon!) I have been so happy with the response from readers who have enjoyed TEMPTATION RAG. Often they comment that, while they knew nothing about the Ragtime Era before reading my book, they found it fascinating getting to know some of the real-life stars who inhabited vaudeville and musical theater at the turn of the 2oth century. You may have read in the book description that the story is based, in part, on the life of my husband’s grandfather, Mike Bernard. But here’s a “secret”: The beautiful lady on the cover is actually my husband’s grandmother! Her photo (which I had colorized) is from the 1920s. Hope you’ll take advantage of the 99-cent sale, and GOOD LUCK with the gift card giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading this. I also saw that she has another published book on Amazon. I liked all I read here so I know I'll give this a read.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read your book.
ReplyDeleteTemptation Rag sounds like a must read. I've enjoyed the blog tour.
ReplyDeleteSounds good.
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