Thursday, May 1, 2014

Best of the Bunch - April 2014

Best of the Bunch is a book blog hop hosted over at Always Lost in Stories on the last day of each month, where we can look back over the books we have read over this past month and give a Best of the Bunch award to our favorite book of that month.

April 2014

Running a bit late with my Best of the Bunch this month, but that's okay.  Sometimes you just have to forget your timelines and not stress.  :-)

This month I reviewed the following:

  • Ringer by C.J. Duggan | Review | Rating: 4/5
  • RIP Volume 1: Choices After Death by Daniel Sherrier | Review | Rating 4/5
  • The Unwanted by Jeffery Ricker | Review | Rating 4.5/5
  • Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel | Review | Rating 3.5/5
  • Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout | Review | Rating 4.5/5
  • The Here and Now by Ann Brashares | Review | Rating 4/5
  • Chasing Forever Down by Nikki Godwin | Review | Rating 4/5
  • Written in Ruberah: Age of Jeweled Intelligence by P. Christina Greenaway | Review | Rating 3/5
  • Mine to Tarnish by Janeal Falor | Review | Rating 4/5
  • The Mind's Eye by K.C. Finn | Review 5/5
  • Mystery Falls by Marilyn Phillips  | Review | Rating 3/5
  • Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman | Review | Rating: 5/5
  • Ellie Stanton by Aurora Zahni | Review | Rating 1.5/5
  • Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover | Review | Rating 4.5/5
  • Dark Light of Day by Jill Archer | Review | Rating 4/5
  • Fiery Edge of Steel by Jill Archer | Review | Rating 4/5
  • Orenda by Ruth Silver | Review | Rating 3/5
    And my April 2014 Best of the Bunch winner is . . .

    Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman


    I read two books set during WWII this month, and they were both amazing!  I ended up going with Prisoner of Night and Fog as my winner this month just because I thought it really captured that era so well and because Adolf Hitler as a character was so incredibly intriguing.  Maybe Someday was very close to the top as well, though (even though I only gave it a 4.5 ranking, I think it has stuck with me at least as much if not more than some of my 5 star books).

    Summary: In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

    Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.

    And Gretchen follows his every command.

    Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

    As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

    From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.
        buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

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