The Songbook of Benny Lament

I love historical romances. This isn't the type I usually lean towards to so I figured at the very least I would like it. Instead I loved it. Such a beautifully written love story...but beautiful doesn't ever mean easy. It's a love story about an interracial couple in the 60's in NYC. So yes there is racism involved. And it wouldn't have been as believable and gripping if there hadn't been any. If you're going to write about a certain time period then you need to give the bad right along with the good. This may be fiction but it isn't fantasy. So be real with it and I feel like Amy Harmon did her research and wrote it well.

Benny Lament is Italian, from The Bronx, and he's the nephew of a mob boss and a songwriter. Okay I can't lie...upon seeing he was from The Bronx I was already liking him. I'm not Italian, the niece of a mob boss or born in the 60's...but I am from The Bronx so off the bat I was like “What's good, Benny.” LOL. The man was born to write songs and wrote his first one at the age of 8. He goes on to have a great career...but wants nothing to do with familial responsibilities of any kind after what he witnessed as a child. The story is told from his POV.

Esther Mine is Black, grew up with a large family and is the lead singer of the group Minefield. And all Benny had to do was hear her sing one time and before she was even done he knew he just HAD to write a song for her. Esther is nobody's fool and gives as good as she gets. The songwriting part came easy for them. Everything else was quite the opposite.

Come ready to feel all the feelings.