Some historical novels explore events we know from textbooks. Others bring us into the emotional reality of living through them. Goodbye Demons falls into the latter, weaving a deeply personal story into one of the most tense political crises of the late twentieth century.

This novel looks beyond headlines and history to examine the human side of global conflict—the uncertainty, resilience, and emotional strain experienced by those caught in extraordinary circumstances. Through the experiences of one couple, the story explores how love, distance, and trauma shape lives long after the world stops watching.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction rooted in real events, character-driven drama, and stories about resilience in the face of crisis may find this one especially compelling.

Historical Fiction

Date Published: 04-24-2026

Publisher: Salty Books Publishing

She is assigned to Tunis where she falls in love with U.S. diplomat James Whitcomb. At the conclusion of their tours of duty, they marry. Within weeks of the wedding, he is taken captive in the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979-81. 

James, held hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, endures the same demons that afflicted the real life hostages during the actual crisis 45 years ago. 

Angie, biting her nails at home, endures her own demons. How can she support him? Should she join efforts to force the president into negotiating a release? Or even a rescue? 

When the ordeal finally ends fourteen months later, the couple faces a new set of demons. Rebuilding their life together as they each recuperate from their own PTSDs.

This was the chance of a lifetime, and Angie swore she wouldn’t blow it. She did elaborate stretching exercises and weight training. She followed a dietician’s meal plan and skated five days a week under the guidance of her coach. Angie concocted a brilliant plan to capture the Gold at Nationals and guarantee her a slot on the Olympic team.

Her coach objected. “No woman has ever done a triple axel, and you’re not ready.”

“I did it in practice. You saw me.”

“You fell. A perfect double axel that you’re capable of doing trumps a triple axel that you screw up.”

Angie was determined to do the triple without falling. She doubled down on her training regime. Bruising falls came each day. It wasn’t until a week before the competitions that she completed a triple. She grinned triumphantly at her surprised coach. Then on the next try she took a nasty fall that left her limping when she rose from the ice. Her coach sped over to her. After making sure Angie had broken no bones, she again warned her to stop trying the triple axel.

“You’re not ready. It’s a riverboat gamble.”

“I have to take the gamble when I’ve got the chance.”

“You’ll have a chance next year. You’ll be stronger and more experienced. That’ll be the time to do it.”

“In the meantime, some other girl might do it first, and nobody will ever hear about me. Even if I do one the next day. Can you tell me who was the second woman to fly across the Atlantic?”

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There’s something especially compelling about a Western where the real tension isn’t just the gunfight — it’s whether a man can truly outgrow the life he once lived. Call in the Dogs feels rooted in that question.

This story leans into belonging as much as confrontation. A trading post, a growing sense of home, new friendships — and the looming shadow of an enemy who refuses to stay in the past. If you’re drawn to Westerns that mix grit with emotional stakes and community ties, this one looks like it delivers that balance. 

Western/Cowboy,  Cherokee, Outlaw

Date Published: 02-26-2026

Publisher: Write the West Press an imprint of Paperback Press, LLC Springfield, Missouri

 

 

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about the book

Levi Kuratowski, better known as “Little Kansas,” only thinks his days of carrying a gun are over. With a trading license approved by the Cherokee Nation he is determined to build a trading post on the banks of Spring Creek. Soon however he must set his hammer aside and take up his colt revolver. Upon receiving word that the outlaw Bill Kirby has escaped custody he prepares to face his old adversary.

Levi’s friend, Cherokee rancher Turon Turtle vows to offer aid and his rifle. Turon’s strong willed sister, Ruth, has a different vow in mind for Levi. Levi soon finds the determined Ruth as challenging as the inevitable showdown that has yet to come.

For the first time since leaving Europe three years earlier his has a sense of home. He finds customers in the neighboring Cherokee and travelers. More importantly he finds friends. Unknown to Levi is the whereabouts of the outlaw Kirby. Can Levi rely on his new friends and community? Will Levi be able to hold on to what he has built and face the man who thinks nothing except for the destruction of Levi and all he holds dear?

about the author

 

Born and raised on the Ozark Plateau. Charlie Amos grew up in the footsteps of outlaws, cowboys, and woodsmen. He currently lives in Oklahoma with his wife, children, and dog Banjo. When he is not tending cattle and kids he is reading and writing about the American West. Years of working in agriculture, forestry, trucking, and teaching school has laid the foundation of telling our American story through relatable characters. Writing westerns for westerners, and everyone else.

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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.

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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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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 

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