The love that binds
Former Nashville star Sam Etchason is slowly building a new life in peaceful Lake Mildred. But an unexpected inheritance makes him joint owner of a farmhouse with Kelly Sweet, a country singer driven by her own longtime ambitions.
Kelly is only back in Michigan to settle her grandmotherâs estate. She hasnât expected such a powerful closeness between her and Sam. And now sheâs starting to reconnect with the sister she left behind. Everythingâs falling into place, until a stunning offer comes her way that threatens to destroy it all. The deal means instant stardom for Kelly, but would cost Sam what he holds most dearâ¦
âYou could have catapulted yourself to the top of the charts. So what happened?â
âI donât want to talk about it.â
âWhy not? Weâve talked about me.â Kelly watched him. While the light from the dashboard had made Sam handsome, the moonlight brought out something else. âYou couldnât handle being in the spotlight?â
âYou donât know anything.â
No, she didnât, which was her point. âSo explain it to me.â
He looked down at her, opened and closed his mouth as if trying to figure out the words. Then he leaned in and kissed her soundly.
The pressure of his lips on hers made her heart soar, a feeling she hadnât had in a very long time. She let her eyes close, and she savored the kiss. For now.
Dear Reader,
Life has a way of turning upside down at a momentâs notice. Last year for me was one of those years. I got divorced and fought breast cancer, two things that have a way of shedding perspective on what is important. For me, it was surrounding myself with family and friends as well as rediscovering my passion for books. I also discovered that I had reserves of strength and determination just waiting to be tapped.
In Two-Part Harmony Kelly Sweet experiences a life turned upside down when her grandmother dies. Losing her biggest fan and believer, she suddenly questions who she is and what she wants. As she struggles to find those answers, she discovers a passion for songwriting and reconnects with her sister. Sam Etchason is on the other end of that self-discovery journey. Heâs found what he loves to do after he lost everything, but the demons from his past come back to haunt him after Mrs. Sweetâs death. He finds a way of mixing his past with his present to find a strength that was waiting inside him all along.
I hope you enjoy reading this book and going on the journey with Kelly and Sam.
Syndi
SYNDI POWELL started writing stories when she was young and has made it a lifelong pursuit. Sheâs been reading Harlequin romance novels since she was in her teens and is thrilled to be on the Harlequin team. She loves to connect with readers on Twitter, @syndipowell, or on her Facebook author page, facebook.com/syndipowellauthor.
Dedicated to my sisters and best friends,
Susan Skrzypczak and Sherrie Hartman. I remember entire days playing with Barbies, acting out music videos and movies when we were younger. We even created an imaginary brother and made Dad stop the car to let him in. As the oldest sister, I used to think I was the boss, but you were quick to remind me Iâm not. Much like my characters remind me that while I think I may be in control, they are the ones who direct the story. I love you both.
CHAPTER ONE
âSHEâS GONE, KEL.â
Despite being in Nashville and more than five hundred miles from Michigan, Kelly Sweet could hear the sound of despair in her sister Meganâs voice. She reached behind her neck and pulled her long blond hair forward, fighting the panic that started to gather there. âWhat do you mean sheâs gone? Whoâs gone?â She paused, fear now starting to spread from her belly to her chest. âGrammy?â
âThis is her late morning at the bakery, but she didnât show up at all. I got worried, so I drove home and I found her still sleeping in her bedroom.â Her sisterâs voice broke on the other end of the line. âBut she wasnât sleeping. Sheâs gone.â
Kelly sunk to the edge of her bed, shoving a stack of pillows to the floor. Oh, Grammy. No, no, no. Kelly wiped at the tears streaming down her face. The woman who had raised her and her sister. Her biggest supporter and fan. Her rock, gone. It wasnât possible. Couldnât be. Sheâd lost her grandfather and dad, so now she had to lose her dadâs mother, too? How was that fair? She rubbed the center of her chest, hoping to ease the ache that had lodged there. âHow?â
âDoctor thinks it was an aneurysm.â Megs sobbed for a moment. âShe said it was probably quick and that she didnât suffer.â
âItâs how she wanted to go.â Grammy had always said sheâd wanted to go to bed one night and not wake up in the morning. Yet that thought brought little comfort now. She was gone, and Kelly hadnât had the chance to say goodbye. To tell Grammy one more time that she loved her, that she wouldnât be the woman she was today without her support and encouragement all these years. She put her free hand to her belly and rocked back and forth on the bed.