Bitty Book Nook

  Introduction In May of 2019 I reviewed a dystopian YA novel entitled New Wave by author Jennifer Ann Shore (and you can read the review here !), so when she approached me a second time to review one of her adult romance books, I was thrilled! She sent over a Kindle gift version of this standalone novel In the Now in exchange for an honest review, and to be completely honest with you, this was definitely a book I needed in my life right now, especially with everything being so hectic lately!  My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "There's a reason why I haven't been home for ten years. Scratch that. There are many reasons why I haven't been home--family drama, small-town gossip, and my career probably take up the top three spots. But when my career stalls and I get devastating family news, I'm back to the very place I ran away from a decade ago. The last thing I want to do is pick up right where I left off, and as I'm drawn to Noah, my terrifyingly gorgeous high ...

Introduction As always, let me first put the disclaimer that I received a free .mobi file of Tales of a Paperboy from author Andrew J. Mair in exchange for an honest review. Readers, I am so delighted that this book was the book that marked my return to reviewing. It was a beautifully heartwarming Christmas story that really replenished a "Christmas Spirit" in me that I haven't felt in quite a few years, and I'm so thrilled that I was able to read it so close to the holidays. My Rating:   ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Following the death of his mother, fourteen-year-old Daniel Morgan moves from Texas to Utah to live with his grandma and new step-grandfather while his dad pursues a job out of state. Encouraged by his father, Daniel reluctantly starts his first job as a paperboy. Lonely and lost in an unfamiliar environment and with the holiday approaching, Daniel finds comfort and hope in the sound of local church bells.  Through his grandparents and the retired families li...

I received the novel New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore as a free .mobi file in exchange for an honest review. I will first say that I went into this novel a bit warily, as it's a young adult novel with dystopian themes, and I'm not typically a fan of that sort of thing--but I'm pleased to say that New Wave was thoroughly entertaining, with an action-filled plot that carried me through the surf of the book. My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "When seventeen-year-old Mol is caught committing a crime, she kicks and screams her way into a dull existence of servitude in the Authority, the suffocating patriarchal regime that oversees The Network of Islands. Her penance makes her restless, and she soon finds an outlet to direct her attention -- the young Commander who is at the root of her unhappiness." (via Goodreads) Thoughts and Comments Pros The uniqueness of the names in the novel was a nice touch that added to the otherworldliness of the setting...

Introduction Letters to Helen is a historical fiction romantic drama written by author Kayt Roth, who was kind enough to send me a free .mobi file of the novel in exchange for an honest review. I love, love, love historical fiction, and I was SO excited when I accepted to review Letters to Helen  because I knew from the synopsis that it would be good--and, thankfully, I was right! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Engaged to a handsome doctor and content with her future, Mattie's life seems to have fallen neatly into place. The only thing that's missing is her best friend Helen, who is away at college. Despite her plans, fate has other ideas, and Mattie's happy ending is suddenly ripped away by a letter from her fiancé's mistress. Reeling with hurt and unexpectedly single, Mattie must start anew, with Helen there to pick up the pieces. But an incident with Helen's fiancé drives a wedge in between them, forcing Mattie to make one of the hardest de...

Introduction When author Katie Christine submitted Impeccable Petunia Part II: The Two Tails to me in exchange for an honest review, I wondered what it might be like to read a book entirely from a chicken's perspective. When I was younger, I read the Warriors series by Erin Hunter, which all take place from the eyes of cats, and I imagined that it might be similar to those books--and, in fact, it was, to my delighted surprise! I absolutely adored this book and all of its charming, witty, humorous triumph. Although it is the second book in the Impeccable Petunia series, I had no problems at all reading it as a standalone. My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "As The Two Tails opens, the flock confronts a spiral of death and disappearance. Ensnared by a rapacious raccoon and desperate for a way out, Petunia, the backyard chicken, must throw herself at the mercy of the dark, open road with little more than gumption, a pair of useless wings, and a dubious companion as h...

Introduction When author John-Clement Gallo emailed me and asked me to review The Shadowverse , he mentioned that he'd found me by reading my review of Control Freakz by Michael Evans  and offered a free .mobi file in exchange for an honest review. I was excited to dive into this alternate reality superhero fiction, as it's one of the first books of its kind that I've been able to review, but there were several issues that I feel need to be addressed in order for my review to be accurate. My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Regarded as 'captivating' and 'one-of-a-kind', The Shadowverse is a Science Fiction Superhero thriller with hints of the Young Adult genre. It is a story of destiny--that no matter who you are, where you are, or what your past is like, you can always achieve greatness. Johnny Sparks longs for a greater purpose. After an encounter with a mysterious stranger, he and his friends are imbued with incredible powers--at last gi...

Introduction What a wild ride this was! An Unfortunate Dimension by author Dominic Shunker was given to me as a .mobi file in exchange for an honest review, and as I haven't reviewed a race-against-the-clock novel in quite some time, I was pleased with the exciting plot and creative worldbuilding!  My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "An Unfortunate Dimension is a psychological thriller with a twist you'll never see coming. Salvador is thrown into battle and intense laser fire. He doesn't know how he got here or why, and that's just one of his problems. He's been experiencing a sort of dimensional schizophrenia, jumping into bizarre scenes past, present, and future. Is the universe messing with him, interfering with his only goal, to bring his wife Jemma out of their coma? He grows sure Jemma is trying to communicate a solution from her dimension, trying to tell him how to save her, to bring her back round. She tells him to look for signs, fin...

Introduction It's been quite a while since I've had the pleasure of reading a historical fiction novel, and when author Verne R. Albright brought me Playing Chess with God in exchange for an honest review, I knew that it would be a good idea to accept. And I was right! Focused on the California Gold Rush of 1848 and 1849, Playing Chess with God follows a humble young man through thick and thin in his own personal adventure of seeking fortune and finding himself--and I loved every page! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Henning Dietzel, at the urging of a Chilean prostitute named Encinas, investigates rumors of gold in California prior to the 1849 rush. Intrigued he heads to the Gold Country to stake his claim. When others flee a brutal winter, Henning perseveres, and by the time the Forty-Niners arrive, he's already a wealthy young man. His saga is a sweeping tale of fortune and misfortune, discovery and tragedy, love and loss. From the backwaters and bo...

Introduction I've always loved a good suspenseful mystery novel, and Darkness on the Horizon by debut author Christopher Renna absolutely qualified as making the list! Although the "mystery" is solved about half of the way into the novel, it by no means takes away the thrilling suspense that Darkness on the Horizon has to offer. This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review, and I can honestly say that it is a beautifully set, well-executed tale of dark secrets, small towns, and horrific murder--and I couldn't get enough of it! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "All Morgan Fischer wants is to graduate high school and escape small-town Colby, Pennsylvania. Since the death of his mother, childhood friends have become his tormentors, and his father has become an absent and neglectful alcoholic. When a lack of food forces Morgan to earn money, he develops a friendship with the new residents in town, Ava and Jonathan. They give Morgan the lov...

Introduction A thrilling read with a unique plot in a classic setting, Big Red by author Damien Larkin is sure to please any sci-fi fan out there. Published by Dancing Lemur Press LLC and sent to me directly in exchange for an honest review, the novel intertwines modern-day technology with imaginative futuristic innovations that make Mars seem like more than just a dusty red planet. My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Suffering the side effects of Compression travel, soldier Darren Loughlin wakes up screaming from a gunshot wound that isn't there. Despite a fractured memory, he is forced to recount his year-long tour of duty on Mars to uncover the mysterious fate of Earth's off-world colonies and the whereabouts of his shattered battalion. With time running out, Darren recalls his tour of duty with the Mars Occupation Force in New Berlin colony, their brutal MARSCORP masters, and the vicious war against the hostile alien natives. But as he exposes the ...

Introduction This is completely unlike any book I've reviewed before on Bitty Book Nook! Ashes by author Sharon Gloger Friedman is abundant in culture, hardship, and beauty--an inspiring tale of perseverance for a Jewish family in the early 20th century. The author was kind enough to give me a .mobi file of the novel for free in exchange for an honest review, so, without further ado, let's get to that rating! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis:   "Easter Sunday, 1903 ushered in three days of government-sanctioned brutality on the Jews of Kishinev, Russia. In the aftermath of slaughter, rape, and destruction, Meyer and Sadie Raisky escape to New York City with their thirteen-year-old daughter, Miriam. Their home and business gone, reeling from devastating personal tragedy, the Raiskys cling to the promise of a better life in America. But upon arriving in New York City, Miriam and her parents quickly learn that promises are easily broken in the tenements of the L...

Introduction I would like to start off by thanking author Daniel Abrahams for his tremendous patience in waiting for this review! I was honored to be approached by him and given this collection of short stories in exchange for an honest review. I don't usually receive many short story collections, so it was a pleasure to get to read books, bits & bobs over the holidays and get the opportunity to provide some feedback! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Ranging from dark thriller 'linear' shorts, one paragraph thought provoking pieces to an apocalyptic novella of unseen proportions, Daniel Abrahams has drawn together a collection of his fiction writings stretching back to 2011, for his first collection of short stories and second fiction release: Books, Bits & Bobs. Books, Bits & Bobs swings from dreamlike states of romance and comedy, to tragedy, betrayal, and beauty; traversing the everyday to the everlasting. Featuring characters who are r...

Introduction Newly mind-migrated hero Ryan is back in the sequel to Between Two Minds: Awakening and ready to unravel the mysterious history of the origins of mind migration. I received a free .mobi file of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I can attest that  Between Two Minds: Revelation by author D.C. Wright-Hammer is a pulse-quickening sci-fi ride that is every bit as thrilling as the first book in the series! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Book One took readers' breath away. Book Two will blow your mind! Ryan attempts to move on with life in his new body, but some things are easier said than done. When he stumbles upon a cryptic letter from the past, he becomes obsessed with learning the truth about Charlie's life and the mind migration procedure. But the more truth he unravels, the deeper the lies go. Truth is a double-edged sword. Nothing is ever what it seems. The true origins of mind migration are only known to the cursed...

Introduction Author D.C. Wright-Hammer's exciting sci-fi novel will be sure to keep you on your toes! As the first in the series, Between Two Minds: Awakening illustrates a twisting storyline between two off-beat characters that have much more in common than they might think. Mr. Wright-Hammer offered me a free .mobi file of this novel in exchange for an honest review. My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "How much would you pay for the body of your dreams? For Ryan, it might cost him everything. As a paraplegic, Ryan's always dreamed of walking. He saved a small fortune to undergo a common procedure in his time to transfer his mind into a physically fit host body. Afterwards, his obsession with walking is immediately overshadowed by a strange and frightening side effect unraveling the reality he once knew. Plot twists that will keep you guessing until the very last chapter. This psychological thriller takes the reader on an adventure far beyond the po...

Introduction In Numina by author Assaph Mehr is a thrilling, magical mystery set in a time and place very similar to Ancient Rome. It is the second book in the "Stories of Togas, Daggers, and Magic" series, but a reader does not have to read the books chronologically in order for the novel to make sense. Mr. Mehr approached me with a .epub file of In Numina for free in exchange for an honest review. My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "This is the second story of Togas, daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Hardboiled detectives, and Urban Fantasy. A rich landlord finds tenants are abandoning his apartment buildings, spouting tales of horrific events and whispering that the old gods - the numina - came alive and cursed the buildings. Enter Felix, a professional fox. Dressed in a toga and armed with a dagger, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a traditional magician - but something in between. Whenever there is a foul business of ba...

Introduction Mid-October is, arguably, the most stressful time of year for a college student, and I am certainly not the exception of that idea. That being said, in the midst of all of my midterm exams, I was absolutely delighted to have such an amazing book to read during study breaks. Mr. Jackson Ellis sent me Lords of St. Thomas as an .epub file in exchange for an honest review, and I was pleased to find out what a touching and heartbreaking tale Mr. Ellis' debut novel posed for me. My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "In the Mojave Desert, at the southern end of the isolated Moapa Valley, sat the town of St. Thomas, Nevada. A small community that thrived despite scorching temperatures and scarce water, St. Thomas was home to hardy railroad workers, farmers, shopkeepers, teachers, and a lone auto mechanic named Henry Lord. Born and raised in St. Thomas, Lord lived in a small home beside his garage with his son, Thomas, his daughter-in-law, Ellen, and his gra...