Smorgasbord Bookshelf 2022- Share an Extract from your latest book – #Paranormal #Historical #BoerWar A Ghost and his Gold by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

In this series you are invited to share an extract of 500 words from your most recent book published within the last 12 months. Details at the end of the post.

The aim of the series

1. To showcase your latest book and sell some more copies.
2. Gain more reviews for the book.
3. Promote a selection of your other books that are available.

The next extract is from the historical novel set in South Africa during the Boer War, A Ghost and His Gold by Roberta Eaton Cheadle – Another book that I can recommend.

About the book

After Tom and Michelle Cleveland move into their recently built, modern townhouse, their housewarming party is disrupted when a drunken game with an Ouija board goes wrong and summonses a sinister poltergeist, Estelle, who died in 1904. Estelle makes her presence known in a series of terrifying events, culminating in her attacking Tom in his sleep with a knife. But, Estelle isn’t alone. Who are the shadows lurking in the background – one in an old-fashioned slouch hat and the other, a soldier, carrying a rifle?

After discovering their house has been built on the site of one of the original farms in Irene, Michelle becomes convinced that the answer to her horrifying visions lie in the past. She must unravel the stories of the three phantoms’ lives, and the circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths during the Second Anglo Boer War, in order to understand how they are tied together and why they are trapped in the world of ghosts between life and death.

As the reasons behind Estelle’s malevolent behaviour towards Tom unfold, Michelle’s marriage comes under severe pressure and both their lives are threatened.

An extract from A Ghost and his Gold

The bright green digits on the alarm clock next to the bed flash 4 a.m. The curtains billow with an unexpectedly cold early morning breeze, drawing her eyes in that direction. Gooseflesh breaks out on her bare arms and legs as the coolness wraps itself around her like a blanket. A dark shadow stains the light curtains. It’s indistinct in the dim light but has a distinctly human shape.

It’s a burglar! The man I saw in the garden, he’s returned and broken in.

Adrenaline floods her body and each nerve seems to vibrate. Her fingertips tingle unpleasantly.

What should I do? If I scream, he might shoot me.

She stands, staring fixedly at the shadow, waiting for it to move. The temperature in the room plunges and she shivers uncontrollably.

The shadow takes a step towards her and her heart gallops, pounding against her ribs.

It is a man. From beneath a battered cloth hat, bright eyes peer at her from a face partially obscured by a thick, greying beard. He wears a white shirt and a bandage soaked in dark, sticky blood is wrapped around his chest.

Behind the shadow, the curtains continue to dance and sway.

Her stomach is a tight knot of horror. The tingling in her fingers spreads and her skin begins to smart unpleasantly.

The phantom tips his hat at her.

Crash!

The en suite bathroom door slams shut.

Michelle jumps and whips her head in the direction of the noise. She makes out a second shape dimly outlined against the door’s stark white paint. The figure’s khaki uniform, knee-high boots and helmet are clearly visible, as well as the rifle he holds in place over his left shoulder. The front of his tunic is stained an inky black.

It’s a soldier. A dead one. Holy crap!

Her scalp prickles as the hair on her head tries to stand up and fails due to its length and weight.

A movement from the bed briefly attracts her attention. Tom moves restlessly, but, strangely, the slamming of the door has not woken him. She opens her mouth to call out, but no sound issues from her strained throat.
Her eyes dart back to the first shadow. The man in the hat has closed the gap between them; his back is rigid and his posture aggressive. Unlike the soldier, he appears to be unarmed. He stands in front of the dressing table, and she can see her own reflection right through him. It’s distorted, like looking through the bottom of a coke bottle. He has no reflection.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep and steadying breath.

I’m dreaming. The weird events of last night disturbed me and have manifested as a nightmare. What’s happening is not real. There is no such thing as ghosts.

Opening her eyes, she glances quickly towards the bed. Tom sleeps on, his breathing soft and restful.

There’s no help coming from him.

One of the recent reviews for the book

JanS 4.0 out of 5 stars A history lesson PLUS a compelling story!  Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2022

I learned so much about the Second Anglo Boer War and South African history from this book. The horrors that are inflicted on innocents during any war really come to light in this book. Concentration camps that were filthy and filled with all kinds of disease, farms burned, livestock slaughtered and lives lost were the result of the British invasion during this time.

The story focuses on the lives of several, but mainly two men both on different sides of the fight, Robert and Pieter, who are both killed in the war but both unable to move on into the peacefulness of death for varying reasons. I love the way the author wove the present time in with the past. When Tom and Michelle move to a new house, they don’t know it was built on the site of Pieter’s old home in 1900. Now a hundred years later, the ghosts that haunt the house are strong and determined, especially Pieter’s daughter, Estelle.

As the backstory emerges of Esetelle’s horrible childhood and the abuse she suffered, I couldn’t help but feel empathy for her, even though she tried to murder Tom. Secrets are revealed and lives threatened as the saga unfolds. At times, I wondered if Tom would survive and then if Michelle could forgive him for the lies and deceit he brought into their marriage.

This is a history lesson like none other as well as a compelling story. I love that the Ouija Board and Tarot cards found their way into this story. The tale comes to a satisfying conclusion. My hat is off to this author for the amount of research she put into creating this dual timeline book.  

Head over to buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A small selection of other books by Robbie and Michael Cheadle and as Roberta Eaton Cheadle.

Read the reviews and Buy the books :Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Follow Robbie : Goodreads – blog: Robbie’s Inspiration- Twitter: @bakeandwrite

About Robbie Cheadle

Robbie Cheadle is a South African children’s author and poet with 9 children’s books and 1 poetry book.

The 7 Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.

Robbie has also published 2 books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.

Robbie has 2 adult novels in the paranormal historical and supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. She also has short stories in the horror and paranormal genre and poems included in several anthologies.

Robbie writes a monthly series for https://writingtoberead.com called Growing Bookworms. This series discusses different topics relating to the benefits of reading to children.

Robbie has a blog, https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/ where she shares book reviews, recipes, author interviews, and poetry.

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. thanks Sally.

What will be in the post and how to get in touch

• • • I will top and tail in the usual way with your other books and links, bio, photo and social media.
    • I will also select a review from Amazon or Goodreads that I feel has the best selling pitch for the book.
    • If your book is very recent and as yet has not received a review then I will share one from a previous book.
      
    • This series is open to all authors both those on the Bookshelf or new to the blog
    • I suggest an extract of approximately 500 words or a poem that you feel best reflects the theme of your collection.
    • If you have an illustration or images you can attach to the email for me to include. No need to send the cover as I will have that or will access from Amazon.
    • If you have not featured on the blog before then I will need Amazon link, Goodreads, blog or website plus your social media links (main three you use)
    • Please send your extract and any accompanying images to sally.cronin@moyhill.com