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 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...