Hope Bolinger – Romantic Excerpt – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Hope Bolinger shares a romantic excerpt from her latest Contemporary Romance, Finding Harmony, book 2 in the Roseville Romances series with co-author Alyssa Roat. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an e-book copy of Picture Imperfect (book 1). Deadline: May 11th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Hope:

The main characters in Finding Harmony, Elijah and Liv, actually meet before the events of the book take place. Elijah works as a worship leader at a large church in the Roseville, Michigan area. And Liv supplements keyboard and harmony when her schedule allows.

But what I find most fascinating about them is when they begin collaborating on a song together.

Roseville holds an annual indie music competition. Winner gets $20,000. Something that both Liv and Elijah need. Elijah’s job is on the line, due to a disgruntled congregation member. And Liv’s father could use that money for medical bills.

So together, they either have to write a song that is a surefire winner—and pleases the crowd, but stands for everything they hate about the music industry.

Or they can write a song they love. And leave it up to the judges to decide if it’s worthy enough.

Below is a brief excerpt of them playing music together, and finding that harmony.

Excerpt from Finding Harmony by Alyssa Roat and Hope Bolinger:

Liv’s nose wrinkled when she giggled. “Don’t worry at all. I have some far more cringy titles I’ve come up with for songs. You should’ve seen my middle school days when I was obsessed with boybands.” She shuddered. “Oh the painful memories.”

They laughed. Elijah pressed his elbow against the keys to rest his chin on his hands. Low thunderous notes rumbled as he did so. Liv picked up the pen again and stared at the music.

And Elijah … well, he admired the view.

Light filled her eyes five clock ticks later. “Why don’t you call it ‘Finding Harmony’?”

Giveaway

She tapped her chipped fingernail on the second verse.

Are you listening?

Waiting?

Do our chords clash

Or will they finally meet?

Are you singing

Over me?

When I’m in limbo, you’re still holding me

When I’m in limbo, finding harmony.

“Think about it.” She pressed the silver tip of the pen to her lips. “Sometimes when the melody lines interact, they create dissonance or tension. The chords they formed when we were just playing resolved into consonance when we reached the ‘when I’m in limbo’ part. The whole song is about finding that final harmonious chord.”

Elijah remembered how when Liv hit the chord clusters of notes, he wanted her to resolve them with a sweet chord. When she had at last, relief washed over them.

“So the whole song is about finding harmony.”

Liv shrugged. “I suppose that’s what life is about too. Hearing God sing over you amidst the noise and clashing chords.”

Hope: I love this passage because it speaks so truly to how life works. It’s often so full of dissonance, but then moments of harmony resolve the chaos. Romantic relationships can work a lot like that too. Together, the couple has to find the harmony in moments of clashing chords.

About Hope: Hope Bolinger is a Managing & Acquisitions Editor at End Game Press. More than 1300 of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer’s Digest to Keys for Kids to HOOKED to Crosswalk.com. She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Eighteen of her books are under contract or out now with traditional publishers, and she hopes more of her stories will find a home soon.

About the book – Finding Harmony:

Can two people-pleasing musicians win the grand prize, or will they be forced to give up music for good?

Newly hired worship leader Elijah Peterson can’t seem to catch a break with his church’s congregation. With conflicting demands from congregants, he struggles to find a way to make everyone happy, especially Don, a man who’s rumored to have driven out the last worship leader.

Music teacher Olivia “Liv” Wilson says yes to everything-piano lessons, church volunteering, extra shifts-all while struggling to help pay her dad’s medical bills. As jobs fall through, she’s hit with even worse news-with bills piling up, they could lose her childhood home.

When their meddling roommates force Elijah and Liv into a cooking class together, the two come up with a plan. They’ll enter an indie songwriting competition with a cash prize that could be enough to save Liv’s house. And maybe if Elijah can win, his musical family and congregation will finally take him seriously.

But winning the competition might mean losing themselves in the process. Can they find a way to strike harmony between writing songs they love and songs the audience wants to hear?

Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Hope’s other titles?

Get your copy/copies now!

Finding Harmony by Alyssa Roat and Hope Bolinger              Hopes Books

Question for Readers: Do you play any musical instruments? If so, which ones? If not, what is your fantasy musical talent?

Come back June 3rd for Carole Brown!