Welcome friend! I am thrilled to be on tour for Janie Chang’s The Porcelain Moon. This novel came out in February 2023 and I was intrigued by the Chinese perspective in France during the First World War. I am glad to have made time for it as it had so much to offer! Rich in story, characters and history, check out what it is about: The Porcelain Moon Janie Chang | Goodreads France, 1918. In the final days of the First World War, a young Chinese woman, Pauline Deng, runs away from her uncle’s home in Paris to evade a marriage being arranged for her in Shanghai. To prevent the union, she needs ..read more

Welcome friend! It has been some time since I have dived into war fiction and The London Bookshop Affair is a great book to get back into it. I loved spending time in the tense atmosphere of 1960s London and getting lost in a page turning story with espionage and a search for truth. Here is what this book is about: The London Bookshop Affair Louise Fein | Goodreads Two courageous women. One astonishing secret. A world on the brink of war. London, 1962: The world is teetering on the brink of nuclear war but life must go on. Celia Duchesne longs for a career, but with no means or qualification ..read more

Welcome friend! A Sign of Her Own is the poignant tale of a deaf young woman, Ellen Lark, finding a place in the world. Take a look at what the book is about and then we will dive into some of the aspects of the story: A Sign of Her Own Sarah Marsh | Goodreads A mesmerizing tale of historical fiction that explores the legacy of the telephone centered on a young deaf woman, the prized student of Alexander Graham Bell. Ellen Lark is faced with a dilemma. After losing her sense of hearing as a child, she’s learned from the best deaf school teachers, including Alexander Graham Bell. She is initi ..read more

Happy Friday, friend! Welcome to an interview with author T. Newyear about her book, Starfall. This book is a mix of historical fiction and climate fiction and I am excited to dive into it myself. Let’s welcome T. and learn about the book. Get to know the author: T. Newyear Hi T! Welcome to Armed with A Book. Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself! Tristra Newyear. image from her website Hi, I’m T. Newyear, and I work in music and tech when not writing fiction. I live in a tiny town in the rural Midwest surrounded by a very high-energy family and a menagerie of various animals. I am a his ..read more

Happy Friday, friend! Welcome to an interview with author Marie McCurdy about her book, The Wolf Queen. When I received her review request, I reflected on how this is the first historical fiction that I have seen about the era and with a woman lead. Let’s welcome Marie and learn about the book. Get to know the author: Marie McCurdy Hi Marie! Welcome to Armed with A Book. Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself! Marie McCurdy I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember, but my first professional writing experience came when I served as a combat correspondent in the Marine Corps ..read more

Welcome friend! I first heard about A History of Burning in April 2023 when its review copy started circulation in the Grand Central Publishing newsletter. Unfortunately, I did not get a copy but fortunately, my library got the book and I was the first one to read it! I have read about India but I haven’t read a lot about Indians in other parts of the world. A History of Burning is a multi-generational story, spanning almost a hundred years and touching on histories of East Africa, India, the UK and Canada. I didn’t know much when I started reading it. Now, at the end, I have learned so much t ..read more

Dear friend, the Duchess of Hillmort has invited you to the Annual Spring Ball! The itinerary of the dances is attached and if you don’t want to miss the lord or lady whose attention you desire, better go talk to them and get your dance card signed. During the dinner, you might hear some interesting conversations… You might have to Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord By Celeste Connally | Goodreads Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, a dazzling first entry in a terrific new Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin ..read more

Welcome, friend! Today I am chatting with author Klara Łuczka-Hanzalová about her debut novel, Dust of Wrathful Years. This is the first book in a historical fiction trilogy. Let’s welcome Klara and learn more about the book. Get to know the author: Klara Łuczka-Hanzalová Hi Klara! Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself! Hi Kriti, thank you very much for having me, it’s an honor to be hosted on your blog!  Klara Łuczka-Hanzalová I currently live in Glasgow with my husband, but I’ve moved quite a bit from country to country before settling here. Originally from a Polish family, I grew ..read more

From Simon & Schuster’s Summer catalog, The African Samurai was an anticipated release for me! Historical fiction offers me a great opportunity to learn about history and time-past. While my recent read of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women had focused on a female protagonist in 1800s China, The African Samurai gave me the chance to explore Asian history more and read from the perspective of a warrior and slave in 1579 Japan. Here’s what this book is about: The African Samurai By Craig Shreve | Goodreads Set in late 16th-century Africa, India, Portugal, and Japan, The African Samurai is a pow ..read more

Welcome friend! Some years back, I introduced you to the work of Viola Ardone and Clarissa Botsford through The Children’s Train. Set in post world war south Italy, the Communists were getting kids away to the North, where there was food and safety. The Unbreakable Heart of Oliva Denaro is another post-world war story, focusing on a young girl and her stance to oppose the man who raped her and question the tenets of society that allow him to be forgiven for his crimes by offering marriage. Here is the synopsis: The Unbreakable Heart of Oliva Denaro By Viola Ardone, Clarissa Botsford (Tr ..read more