Author: Amy Harmon
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
Book Description
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.
Book Review
The Song Book of Benny Lament by Amy Harmon is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. The Song Book of Benny Lament is a story of love, race, and music. The story alternates between a radio interview of Benny Lament on The Barry Gray Show and the past explaining the full story behind the songs and stories. I love music and am always trying to imagine the stories behind songs, so this book was a dream come true. The book takes place during the 1960s and race is a huge part of the story. Benny is white while Esther and the rest of their band is black. Their songs were controversial and brought up events from the past that people wanted to stay hidden. They kept fighting for what they believe in and are making a stand with their music. Some of the race problems in the book still exist today. This story was told so beautifully and was very impactful. The characters are all great. Esther and Benny are opposites that bring out the best of each other. I enjoyed their interactions and how they changed over time. They have to decide if they want to be together or listen to all their fears. Benny is a songwriter and pianist while Esther is a singer. Benny starts singing and Esther starts writing songs. The rest of the band members have different personalities. Family is an important part of the book. My review doesn’t do this book justice but I highly recommend The Song Book of Benny Lament.
Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Amazon Publishing for The Song Book of Benny Lament.
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.
Just Reading Jess 
This siunds really good. Loved your review!
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This sounds like something I’d enjoy, thanks for sharing such a great review 🙂
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