Bitty Book Nook

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 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 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...

Introduction 47 Hours: The Coup That Shook the Americas  is one of the first books of its kind that I've reviewed on Bitty Book Nook because the novel is based out of history! It focuses on Hugo Chávez and a coup that plots to overthrow him, with United States intelligence officer James Mitchel as the main character. This book is the second in a series that features James Mitchel, and both books are based around historical events and figures. It was a very interesting read that I truly enjoyed, and it inspires me to read more books in the same vein! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "As James Mitchel struggles to comes to terms with the Kursk tragedy that claimed 118 Russian lives, he and his family relocate to Venezuela where he takes up a new role as military attaché to the US Embassy in Caracas. The move was supposed to be a new start for Mitchel, his wife Nathalie and their teenage daughter, Catherine -- an escape from the horror of his last mission and the nigh...

Introduction This supernatural double-POV mystery novel, Seven Sisters , is written by author M.L. Bullock, and serves as the first in a series of six. I have to admit this--because Seven Sisters is very similar to my second novel, which I'm working on currently, it was extremely appealing to me as a concept whenever I read through the description. I'm glad I invested in it, because it turned out to be a pretty good read! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Carrie Jo has a secret--she dreams about the past. The wealthy and handsome Ashland Stuart has hired her to uncover the history and the secrets of Seven Sisters, an aging antebellum mansion in sultry downtown Mobile, Alabama. A series of dreams, an untimely death and the betrayal of someone she loves lead her back in time to uncover a truth about a missing young heiress and a web of secrets. Will Carrie Jo slip into the shadows of Seven Sisters, following in the ghostly footsteps of the lost young woman, o...

Introduction I am extremely excited to announce that An Inconvenient Romance by author Chalon Linton has earned the first five-star review in the short history of Bitty Book Nook! Dear readers, this book was, quite honestly, flawless, in my humble opinion. I could not name a single "con" about this book--and believe me, I was actively searching for at least one! But alas, Mrs. Linton has charmed me completely with this pleasantly soft Regency romance. My Rating:  ★★ ★★ ★ Synopsis: "The countryside of England provided an idyllic backdrop for Charles Brumley's and Leah Hasting's childhood. Neighbors and friends, the pair passed many happy days racing through the rolling hills of Derbyshire. Everything was perfect--until Charles ruined it all and abandoned Leah for university. Six years later, the former friends are thrust into each other's paths once more. Leah had been looking forward to the ball, an opportunity to further her acquaintance w...