Linda Nightingale's Her General in Gray Blog Tour with a Spotlight, Excerpt, Guest Post and Giveaway

 

I am so excited to have Linda Nightingale here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Spotlight, Excerpt, Guest Post and Giveaway.

Thanks Linda and Goddess Fish Promotions for allowing me to join the Her General in Gray Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Linda!

Guest Post

In the early summer of 1863, for various reasons including victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, Lee urged President Davis to again take the war to northern soil. The first time was the Battle of Antietam the previous fall. Lee marched his Army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania.

On July 1, 1863, the Confederates clashed with the Union’s Army of the Potomac under the command of George C. Meade, and thus began a 3-day bloodbath in Gettysburg. When the smoke of the cannons cleared, the Union had triumphed although nearly 5,000 horses and 50,000 men lay dead or dying.

It is conjectured that because many of the Confederate soldiers never received a proper burial, and with the utter massacre and violence of the battle, historic Gettysburg is the home of many unquiet spirits. One ghost is said to be General Robert E. Lee.

There is a Ghost Tour of Gettysburg and a long list of haunted sites. More information can be found at: http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/history/articles/ghosts-of-gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War, the Union victory ending Lee's second and most ambitious invasion of the North. Gettysburg was the inspiration for President Abraham Lincoln's immortal "Gettysburg Address".

From the haunting early morning fog to a golden setting sun, no visit to Gettysburg would be complete without seeing Gettysburg National Military Park.

Having perished at the Battle of Antietam (Battle of Sharpsburg), the hero in Her General in Gray wouldn’t have seen and fought in the horror that was Gettysburg, although Antietam was a bloody battle in its own right. The battles of the Civil War is an interesting topic for research, and I enjoyed learning, through my imagination, the way it was in the eyes of the Blue and the Gray, more particularly the southerners since the hero is a Confederate general (or ghost thereof).

John Sibley Allen’s spirit is ready for a second civil conflict when a woman from Massachusetts purchases, renovates and moves into his family home, Allen Hall, in the Spanish-moss-strewn South Carolina Low Country.

Her General in Gray
by Linda Nightingale
GENRE: Paranormal Romance

BLURB

Autumn Hartley purchases Allen Hall at a steal, but the northern lass gets far more than a beautiful plantation in the South Carolina Low Country. The house comes complete with its own ghost, a handsome and charming Civil War General—for the Confederacy. The stage is set for another civil conflict.

John Sibley Allen died in battle from a wound in the back, the bullet fired by the turncoat, Beauregard Dudley. The traitor’s reincarnation is Autumn the Interloper’s first dinner guest. Sib bedevils her date and annoys her with fleeting, phantom touches, certain he can frighten her away as he did previous purchasers. As time marches on, her resident ghost becomes more appealing while her suitor, Beau, pales in comparison. Autumn finds her ability to love didn’t perish in the divorce that sent her south seeking a fresh start.

After over a century in the hereafter, Sib discovers he is falling for none other than the feisty Yankee girl, but what future could a modern woman and an old-fashioned ghost possibly hope for?

EXCERPT

In an age of smart phones and tablets, she stood for a moment contemplating the past. The temptation was almost too much for her, but she’d started to fold the dress back into its resting place when a hand landed on her shoulder.

Sib’s voice was soft and tender. “The dress belonged to my mother. She wore it at a ball before the war. It appears to be in passable condition. Why don’t you try it on? I’ve imagined you so attired.”

“I’m a Northerner, remember? I’m surprised you offer your mother’s gown to me.” She turned, the green frock draped over her arm. “Where have you been anyway?”

“Here. All the time. I was simply playing along with your game of asking for my disappearance.”

She stiffened. “Don’t play games with me. My mother used to do that. It was disturbing and hurtful to a child.”

“You reveal more of yourself every moment, and I’m enjoying getting to know you. Very well, I’ll share something about me. My father — what do you call it today? — cheated on my mother. More than once.. I’d hear her crying at night. Thus, I would have been true to my wife.” Eyes sad, he nodded at the dress. “I’d like to see you in that, Autumn. We are becoming friends. She would have approved. I’ll assist with the buttons.”

“Turn your back. I’ll have to get undressed.” She motioned at him. “I’ve no desire for a ghost to see me in my bra and panties.”

He chuckled, his big grin enticing. “Such modesty. Actually, I was anticipating that view. Anyway, I’ve seen you in your underwear before.”

“You Peeping Tom!” She accused, shaking a fist at him. “Will I have no privacy? Do you follow me to the bathroom, too?”

“No, Ma’am.” He shook his head, his hair moving in soft waves. “I was simply in my bedroom when you changed into your nightgown.”

“It’s not your bedroom. This is my house, and don’t you forget it.” She glared at him.

He snapped a smart military salute. “Yes, commander.”

“Turn around.” She slid her sweatshirt over her head and slithered out of her sweatpants. “You are such an annoyance.”

“Thank you. I couldn’t be more offended.”

A strange feeling of awe washed over her as she slid the beautiful gown over her head. “Okay. I’m ready for help with the buttons.”

The touch of his fingers filled her with an emotion she’d thought dead. A thrill actually rippled over her. Perhaps, because he was no threat. The General couldn’t break her heart as Chad had done. That dreadful affair seemed as far in the past as the dress of rustling satin. He was the VP at the agency, and their brief association and parting had twisted her feelings into knots.

“You’re tense.” Sib stroked her back. “I sense it isn’t the dress.”

“I’ll tell you later.” She spun, swirling the skirt. “What do you think?”

“I think you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.” A very sweet emotion seeped through her.

“Not in the least.” He offered her an old-fashioned bow.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Born in South Carolina, Linda has lived in England, Canada, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and Houston. She’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer, having bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for many years.

Linda has won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award and the SARA Merritt. She is the mother of two wonderful sons, a retired legal assistant, member of the Houston Miata Club, and enjoys events with that car club. Among her favorite things are her snazzy black convertible and her parlor grand piano. She loves to dress up and host formal dinner parties.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LNightingale

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaNightingaleAuthor

Web Site: http://www.lindanightingale.com – Visit and look around. There’s a free continuing vampire story.

Blog: https://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/ - Lots of interesting guests & prizes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4839311.Linda_Nightingale

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lbnightingale1/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Nightingale/e/B005OSOJ0U

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Linda Nightingale will be awarding Black Diamond Earrings and an eBook of Her General in Gray (International Giveaway) to one winner via rafflecopter, and a second winner will receive a digital choice of one of the author's backlist during the tour.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2212/

Please follow the rest of the tour here, thanks:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2017/02/nbtm-her-general-in-gray-by-linda.html