Temptation Rag: A Novel
by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard
Publication Date: December 3, 2018
Belle Epoque Publishing
eBook & Paperback; 308 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
From the author of The Beauty Doctor, Finalist for the 2018 Eric Hoffer Book Award, 2017 AZ Literary Awards, and a Medallion Honoree of the Book Readers Appreciation Group.
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 talented young 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. As Mike abandons serious music to ruthlessly defend his hard-won title, Ragtime King of the World, May struggles to find her voice as an artist and a woman. It is not until years after their youthful romance, when they cross paths again, that they must finally confront the truth about themselves and each other. But is it too late?
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. 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.
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Praise for Temptation Rag
“Fascinating real-life characters make Temptation Rag an emotional and page-turning story of passion, ambition, and desire.” – Megan Chance, bestselling author of Bone River and Inamorata
“Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard captures the style of the ragtime era. Music, art and culture spring from every page of this delightfully artistic work.” – Readers’ Favorite Book Review, 5 stars
“Terrific historical research and deft writing provide a striking portrait of racial and gender inequality in the ragtime era. An unforgettable and deeply human story.” – Frederic Tulsky, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
“Ms. Bernard weaves her knowledge of music with true historical characters and fictionalized ones into a syncopated symphony of human drama.” -Kathryn Wood, author of Sea Snow: the gentle haunting of a 19th century lighthouse
“A gripping page-turner that has romance, history and music. A smart retelling of history through multiple points of view.” – SA Examiner Book Review
About the Author
Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is an award-winning author of historical fiction. Her novel The Beauty Doctor is a suspenseful tale that takes place in the early days of cosmetic surgery—when the world of medicine was a bit like the Wild West and beauty doctors were the newest breed of outlaw. Temptation Rag: A Novel immerses readers in the bawdy atmosphere of vaudeville and early twentieth-century African American musical theater in a story about the price of freedom, the longing for immortality, and the human need to find forgiveness.
Elizabeth currently lives in Arizona with her husband and their much-loved and very spoiled black Lab.
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Coffee and Ink’s review
Another winning novel set during the early 20th century with multiple voices and a lively atmosphere. The men in the story are vying to be either the King of Ragtime or the inventor of ragtime—they play in dive bars and vaudeville stages, travel across the country, write the music that everyone wants to hear and fight to be heard. The women who love them, singers, poets, mothers, support them when they can and try to catch them when they fall.
The dark note of the novel is the stain of racial and gender inequality that many of the characters endure-the predatory men, the violence perpetrated on the men of color. But a well-written history encompasses all facets of a particular era, and these episodes are well represented.
There are many characters to this book, but the author manages to give each a sense of depth and humanity, interconnected by their love of ragtime. The descriptions of the music are fantastic and the twining of the different narratives masterful, their lifetimes covering the rise and fall ragtime (which gave way to jazz).
You know I love a good Afterword, and this novel has one of the best.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, February 18
Review at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, February 19
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Wednesday, February 20
Feature at The Book Junkie Reads
Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Friday, February 22
Excerpt at Maiden of the Pages
Saturday, February 23
Guest Post at The Chocolate Lady’s Book Reviews
Monday, February 25
Review at Peppermint Ph.D.
Tuesday, February 26
Excerpt at CelticLady’s Reviews
Wednesday, February 27
Interview at Passages to the Past
Friday, March 1
Review at View from the Birdhouse
Monday, March 4
Review at Macsbooks
Wednesday, March 6
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Friday, March 8
Excerpt at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, March 12
Review at Reader then Blogger
Friday, March 15
Review at Coffee and Ink
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away copies of Bernard’s other novel, The Beauty Doctor. One paperback and two eBooks are up for grabs. To enter, please use the Gleam form below.
Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 15th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.
Coffee And Ink 
Thank you so much for hosting Elizabeth’s blog tour!
Amy
HF Virtual Book Tours
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