Thanks so much for having me stop by today to share my new release, Haunted Melody (Secrets of Roseville Book 2)! Set in a haunted plantation in southern Tennessee, this story was such a fun one to write and I hope you’ll enjoy reading.
Music has played a large part in my life, more so in
school than after. I played a viola beginning in the third grade and through to
community college and community orchestras as an adult. I also sang in the
church and high school choirs, and marched in the band in the flag squad. To
this day, I love to sing and still own a guitar, which I really need to start
playing again. I miss making music! Hopefully after my hubby and I move next
month, I’ll be able to find the time to play again.
When I started writing Haunted Melody, I was happy to discover that my heroine Paulette
and I share one thing in common: we both react to situations by thinking of
songs. Music is an important part of Paulette’s life, one she’s shunted to one
side until necessity brings it back to the fore. Only after Zak arrives in
Roseville does she find her voice again.
As a result, when she gets into her car to start
driving, she hums “On the Road Again.” Sounds very familiar! With that in mind,
I thought I’d share the playlist (linked to Spotify) from Paulette’s story, Haunted Melody, in the order in which
they appear:
I love the blend of ballad and musicals in this
list. Some of my favorite singers and groups are included, especially John
Denver and the Eagles. But who doesn’t like Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in
Singin’ in the Rain?
In reviewing this list, it occurred to me that the
song titles actually mirror the emotional journey that Paulette finds herself
making. Very interesting! I didn’t select them to do that on purpose, but it
works.
Do you have a go-to song that pops into your mind in
certain situations? Or if you did, what would it be?
Thanks again for inviting me! Please feel free to
connect with me at any of the social media sites below. I love to hear from my
readers! I hope you enjoy Haunted Melody!
Blurb of Haunted Melody:
Paulette
O’Connell needs to build her home decorating business in order to give her
unborn child a stable home. While exploring the mysterious attic of the
antebellum plantation where she lives, she accidentally summons her
grandfather’s ghost. But he won’t leave until she figures out why she needed
him in the first place, putting her plans in serious jeopardy.
Zak
Markel has been searching for the last ingredient to create the Elixir of Life
he hopes will save his brother’s eyesight. But he discovers the woman of his
dreams in the smart and beautiful Paulette, distracting him from his focus at
the worst possible time, even though she staunchly refuses to allow him past
her defenses.
Can he
convince Paulette to open her mind to possibilities and follow her heart to
true happiness before it’s too late?
Buy Links:
Amazon:
http://bit.ly/HauntedMelody
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/HauntedMelody-AU
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/HauntedMelody-CA
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/HauntedMelody-UK
Excerpt
from Haunted Melody:
Chapter 1
The
enormous orange jack-o-lantern faced the long driveway, challenging visitors to
Twin Oaks with its glowing toothy grin. Paulette O’Connell propped her fists on
her hips and assessed the rest of the decorations gathered on the wide front
porch of her younger sister Meredith’s antebellum plantation home. Gratitude
and disquiet filled her chest along with the crisp fall air. Standing at the
bottom of the three brick steps, she scanned the clusters of corn stalks
propped against the two center columns, the gourds and pumpkins scattered
about, and the wisps of fake spiderweb stretched between two of the large white
columns. A forbidding black spider waited among the gossamer strands. A white
sheet ghost danced in the brisk breeze, rattling the dried corn stalk leaves.
With a chuckle, she clapped her hands together. “Perfect. Mer will love it.”
Their next B&B guests might include several young
children who would love the spooky yet fun décor as much as she did. If only
trick-or-treaters in town came out to the country. But of course, the trek to
Twin Oaks wouldn’t yield enough return on investment for the children’s parents
to make such a journey. The memory of Halloween parties from her childhood made
her smile. Costumes. Games. Telling tales and singing songs about monsters and
spooky things. They needed a reason to venture so far from town. Perhaps she
could lure them to the plantation with some form of entertainment. Hmmm.
Halloween remained her favorite holiday, at least for
the fun props. Ever since discovering she possessed the ability to see ghosts a
few months before, the approaching holiday had taken on new meaning. She had
grown up with “dreams” about a lady in a blue gown. Who knew she was actually a
ghost, her Great-great-great-aunt Grace. Later, she learned from Meredith that
Grace’s brother, Great-great-great-grandfather Joe, also hung around the family
cemetery, apparently waiting for his sister’s return. Meredith had figured out
the identities of the ghosts, but the sisters realized they possessed the
ability to see ghosts at the same time.
Thankfully, the ghosts weren’t scary so much as sad and
a little spooky. After burying Grace’s remains beside Joe’s, the house held no
more spirits, as they finally rested in peace. Knowing the plantation no longer
hosted spooks made enjoying the tricks and treats of the season more fun.
Although she rather missed Grace’s friendly presence in a gorgeous blue dress
replete with sparkling sequins, a dress which had inspired Paulette’s own
childhood designs.
Rubbing a hand over her protruding belly, she lingered
in the fading afternoon light. She surveyed the expanse of pale grass reaching
toward the distant road winding past. The glittering water of the fenced lake
where ducks paddled about. Low clouds covered the sky, obscuring the sun.
Several trees sported jagged trunks, remnants of the tornado they’d survived
six months ago. Hunkered in the storm shelter within the stone foundation of
Twin Oaks, she’d feared the destruction of the plantation once and for all.
Thankfully, they’d suffered only minor damage, except for the old gazebo.
Rebuilding it had been Meredith’s first priority. Its new design proved very
popular with the guests, who frequently enjoyed its shady quiet on a hot summer
afternoon, or the soft lighting in the evening.
The baby shifted, a tiny foot or perhaps a fist bopping
her hand where it rested. “Soon, little one. Another six weeks, give or take,
and we’ll meet properly.”
Tires crunched on gravel and she recognized her
sister’s glaring yellow Camaro approaching. The sports car shouted its owner’s
status. Successful. Independent. Confident. All the attributes Paulette wished
she could ascribe to herself.
About
Betty:
Betty Bolté writes both historical and contemporary
stories featuring strong, loving women and brave, compassionate men. No matter
whether the stories are set in the past or the present, she loves to include a
touch of the paranormal. In addition to her romantic fiction, she’s the author
of several nonfiction books and earned a Master’s in English in 2008. She is a
member of Romance Writers of America, the Historical Novel Society, the Women’s
Fiction Writers Association, and the Authors Guild. Get to know her at www.bettybolte.com.
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