Today, I have a spy thriller to share in our book blitz spotlight! Learn about If Two of Them are Dead and author Gina Bennett! 

Spy Thriller / Historical Fiction

Date Published: October 9, 2025

Publisher: Manhattan Book Group

When Ruth, a modern-day CIA counterintelligence officer, uncovers signs of a mole no one believes exists—a potential fourth Soviet spy left over from the Cold War—her investigation is abruptly derailed by an impossible event. Thrown back through time to the American Revolutionary War, Ruth finds herself face-to-face with Agent 355, the legendary—and still unidentified—female spy of George Washington’s Culper Ring.

Separated by 250 years yet bound by shared instincts, courage, and tradecraft, the two women quickly recognize each other as fellow intelligence officers. Together, they uncover a covert plot that, if left unchecked, will alter the course of history itself—resulting in a chilling alternate reality: the British States of America.

When Ruth returns to the present, the world she knew is gone. The United States no longer exists. Instead, she is working for MI7, piecing together clues that link her failed mole hunt to the catastrophic change she triggered in 1780. To restore history—and democracy—Ruth must find a way to repair the past without destroying the future.

If Two of Them Are Dead reimagines Agent 355 as the founding mother of American intelligence, bringing her out of historical anonymity and into a gripping narrative that celebrates the often-unrecognized role of women in espionage. The novel explores how effective spycraft transcends time—relying on deception close to truth, strategic disinformation, vigilance, and counter-surveillance—while highlighting the unique advantages women have historically brought to intelligence work precisely because they were underestimated.

Blending spy thriller, historical fiction, and science fiction, this novel is both a pulse-pounding adventure and a reflection on the enduring threats to democracy. Ruth’s unresolved mole investigation seamlessly sets the stage for future books in the series—without leaving readers stranded on a cliffhanger.

Perfect for fans of espionage thrillers, time-travel fiction, Revolutionary War history, and readers eager to uncover America’s best-kept secrets as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial. 

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Gina M. Bennett is a retired senior intelligence professional who served 34 distinguished years at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she built a legacy as one of the most influential counterterrorism analysts in U.S. history. She is widely recognized for producing the first official U.S. government warnings identifying Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda as a serious and growing threat, years before the attacks of September 11, 2001. 

Bennett’s analysis and leadership played a critical role in shaping early U.S. counterterrorism strategy and later supported the global manhunt for bin Laden following 9/11. Throughout her career, she was known for intellectual rigor, moral clarity, and an unwavering commitment to public service. 

Her work and expertise have been featured in major documentaries and media outlets, including Netflix, Showtime, HBO, PBS, 60 Minutes, Newsweek, The Atlantic, and The New York Times, as well as leading podcasts such as Intelligence Matters, True Spies, The Burn Bag, Spy Chat, and In the Room. 

Drawing on decades of real-world intelligence experience, Bennett now brings her deep understanding of espionage, history, and human sacrifice into fiction—crafting stories that illuminate the often-hidden individuals whose courage helped shape nations. Her writing bridges historical intelligence, national security, and the untold contributions of women whose legacies deserve recognition.

https://linktr.ee/nationalsecuritymom

 

Today, I have a historical fiction novel in our featured spotlight! Learn about Adélaïde: Painter of the Revolution and author Janell Strube. 

Painter of the Revolution

Date Published: January 13, 2026

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

The daughter of Parisian shopkeepers, Adélaïde dreams not of marriage or titles but of earning a place among the masters of French art. With Queen Marie Antoinette on the throne and a spirit of change in the air, anything seems possible. But as revolution brews and powerful forces conspire to deny her success, Adélaïde faces an impossible choice: protect her life—or fight for a legacy that will outlast her. 

Inspired by the true story of one of the first women admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, Adélaïde: Painter of the Revolution is a sweeping, evocative portrait of ambition, courage, and resilience in the face of history’s fiercest storm.

 

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About the Author

 Janell Strube makes a mean barbecue sauce. She’s also a world traveler, a baker, and a bicyclist. But when she writes, her identity as an adoptee often steers her attention to topics of alienation, erased history, and displacement.

In 2024, a personal essay of hers was published in the anthology Adoption and Suicidality. Her work has also appeared in Shaking the Tree and A Year in Ink. Her short memoir, “Taking my Blonde Daughter to a Black Lives Matter Rally,” was selected for the 2020 San Diego Memoir Showcase, an annual live storytelling event.

While much of her writing is personal, she enjoys the freedom that comes with crafting fiction. Her desire to learn about forgotten female artists who shaped the French revolutionary period motivated her to write Adélaïde: Painter of the Revolution.

When not crunching numbers as a tax executive for a hotel chain, she can be found hanging out with Shiloh the Wheaten and plotting her second book.

Connect with the Author

Author Website

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This morning,  I have a historical fiction novel to share! Learn about The Well-Tempered Violinist, Book 1 in The Gift series from author Barbara T. Carlton! Check out a quick excerpt from the book, learn about the author & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.  

Book 1 of The Gift 

Historical Fiction

Date to be Published: November 5, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

But the violin Marthe’s father left her is a constant reminder of the profound bond between them, and it gives her the strength to begin healing. When the Köln Conservatory offers her an unexpected scholarship, she seizes her chance to reach for excellence. 

Under the rigorous tutelage of Professorin Wolff, and subjected to predatory harassment by a fellow student determined to destroy both her self-worth and her chances of success, Marthe quickly learns she will need more than motivation and talent to rise to the top. 

Filled with heart, wit, and music, The Well-Tempered Violinist is an enduring coming-of-age tale about an artist striving for greatness against enormous odds.

  Meet the Author

The Well-Tempered Violinist, Book 1 of The Gift series, is her first novel.

Connect with the Author

Facebook: Barbara Thornburgh Carlton, Writer

Instagram: @btcarlton_writer 

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Enter the Giveaway

Music can elevate the soul—or expose its deepest cracks. In The Well-Tempered Violinist by Barbara T. Carlton, art, ambition, and emotion intertwine in a story that resonates long after the final note. Learn about this historical fiction novel and author--and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

Book 1 of The Gift

Historical Fiction

Date to be Published: November 5, 2025

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

But the violin Marthe’s father left her is a constant reminder of the profound bond between them, and it gives her the strength to begin healing. When the Köln Conservatory offers her an unexpected scholarship, she seizes her chance to reach for excellence.

Under the rigorous tutelage of Professorin Wolff, and subjected to predatory harassment by a fellow student determined to destroy both her self-worth and her chances of success, Marthe quickly learns she will need more than motivation and talent to rise to the top.

Filled with heart, wit, and music, The Well-Tempered Violinist is an enduring coming-of-age tale about an artist striving for greatness against enormous odds.

The Well-Tempered Violinist, Book 1 of The Gift series, is her first novel.

Connect with the Author

Facebook: Barbara Thornburgh Carlton, Writer

Instagram: @btcarlton_writer 

Buy the Book

Amazon

B&N

Enter the Giveaway 

Stones River Brings a Unique Storyline to Your Reading List. This novel seamlessly blends historical fiction, paranormal romance, and fantasy in a way that, surprisingly, makes it feel both believable and thought-provoking. While Jessie is a little immature, and the instant-romance factor is introduced quickly into the story, the overall narrative is much deeper and historically rooted in its setting, offering readers much more than a ghostly love story. 

The Characters Connect Very Well. Initially, I found myself rolling my eyes at Jessie's character and the jump into the "falling in love with a ghost" dynamic of the story. However, as the storyline developed and the author began connecting her characters, telling Lem's story, and creating the emotional pull of the romantic elements, it was easy to become deeply invested in their relationship and in the story's resolution.

Would I Recommend Stones River by M.F. Jones? This book is written in a way that lets historical romance fans enjoy the novel, while also giving a lot for paranormal romance lovers to enjoy as well. The historical fiction side was very well-crafted and seamlessly blended with the modern-day paranormal ghost story. While I didn't initially love Jessie's character, the relationship and storyline that grew (both because of her personality and despite it) made the novel one that was very worth the spot on my reading list. 

Before beginning to write full-time in 2008, M. F. (Mimi) Jones was an editor at Viking Press, where she discovered Judith Guest's bestseller ORDINARY PEOPLE in the slush pile and became its editor. She went on to senior editorial positions at Redbook, Family Circle, and Reader’s Digest magazines. In addition to writing, she’s a devotee of reading, knitting (while listening to audiobooks), choral singing, and hiking with her rescue dog, Ruby. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, composer Douglas Hedwig. 

Connect with the author:   Website  ~ goodreads

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