Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates

 Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates, 345 pages

On a trip to an isolated mountain resort, a group of strangers are swept together by an unexpected snow storm. 

Mild spoiler: one of the things I liked about this work by this particular author is the fact the murderer, the catalyst of the panic and mayhem, is human. Most of Coates' antagonists are creatures of the supernatural. While ghosts and ghouls can be frightening, the thought of what humans can do to each other casts a new light on the narrative.

 

Horimiya, v. 09 by Hero

Horimiya, v. 09 by Hero - 178 pages

It's winter and the characters are all being affected by the cold and holidays.

The latest volume of Horimiya was a little more broken up into short stories about the various characters.  It was also a little more humorous than some of the previous volumes.  I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times.  A great entry in the series.

Winter of the Ice Wizard by Mary Pope Osborne

Winter of the Ice Wizard by Mary Pope Osborne (audiobook)-110 pages in print

Teddy and Kathleen visit Jack and Annie in present day to deliver a message from Merlin. Jack and Annie's mission is to recover Merlin's staff from the Ice Wizard of Winter on the Winter Solstice, which actually turns out to be a message sent by the Ice Wizard to lure Jack and Annie to his palace to find his eye. They recover the Ice Wizard's eye from the Frost Giant who had been given the eye by the Fates. Teddy and Kathleen bring the Wizard's sister back to him and she forgives him, so Merlin and Morgan, who had been turned into white wolves by the Wizard, are humans again and the day is saved once again. I really enjoyed listening to these 4 Magic Tree House books on audiobook. I enjoyed reading them as a kid and they still bring some enjoyment, though not as much as back then.

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo, 266 pages

I have read many James Patterson books, but this was on the much lighter side of his novels.  The Christmas Wedding is about a middle age woman, Gaby Summerhill, who after losing her husband, finds herself planning her December Wedding.  Gaby has the date set, the place picked out, and the guest list planned.  The only thing missing from this wedding is the groom.  Who will Gaby chose? Will she chose her former brother in law, the Rabi, or her longtime friend?  The groom will remain a secret until her wedding day, where she will reunite her four children for the big reveal.  Can Gaby bring her family back together for this happy occasion?

Esther's Gift: A Mitford Christmas Story by Jan Karon

Esther's Gift: A Mitford Christmas Story, 37 pages

This is the follow up book to The Mitford Snowmen.  This is a great Christmas read.  Esther Bolick is making her orange marmalade cakes to give to friends in the town of Mitford. But when her husband, Gene, calculates the cost of each cake, Esther has to cut back her cake giving list.  But in the spirit of Christmas, Esther decides what is really more important.

The Mitford Snowmen: A Christmas Story by Jan Karon

The Mitford Snowmen: A Christmas Story by Jan Karon, 23 pages

This was a very cute short story.  When the town of Mitford experiences a snow storm, the townspeople hold a snowmen building contest on Main Street.  The mayor has to decide which of the snowmen, which look like the townspeople, will win the prize of doughnuts and cocoa.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter by Marissa Meyer - 824 pages

Yes! The finale to the Lunar Chronicles! Marissa Meyer did not disappoint in wrapping up the series. Most of this story happens on Luna, including the outer sectors where rebellion and revolution are stirring.

While some say Winter is too weak and soft to be a main character--I remember that she chose to be that way, and that itself is stronger than any of them.

I was thrilled.

Freeze Frame: A Photographic History of the Winter Olympics by Sue Macy and Peggy Fleming

Freeze Frame: A Photographic History of the Winter Olympics by Sue Macy and Peggy Fleming, 96 pages

Freeze Frame is a fantastic journey through the history of the Winter Olympics.  And, it could not be a more appropriate time to read a book about the Winter Olympics.  Published by National Geographic, this was a fascinating read.  Having been a fan of the Olympic games most of my life, this book brought back some great memories as well as sad ones. For instance, before my time, I had not known that the entire United States skating team was killed in a plane crash in 1961 prior to the 1962 Winter Olympics.  It was a devastating blow to figure skating in the United States.  Then in more recent times, there was the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan fiasco.  Some more happier memories were Eric Heiden's win of five gold medals in 1980 and Dan Jansen winning in 1994.  This book contains history of all Winter Olympic games from the first one in 1924 in Chamonix, France to the last one in Vancouver, Canada.  National Geographic and the author did a wonderful job on this book!!

MSCHMITT--Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer 30

 MSCHMITT--Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer 30

Winter is warm because of cocoa, fires, mittens and snowpants. A child reminisces about all the reasons they like Winter, a nice surprise comes at the end when the child says when I like to cool off I think of summer…The last page concludes with a child jumping into a pool.

MSCHMITT--- Sizing up Winter by Lizann Flatt 28

 MSCHMITT--- Sizing up Winter by Lizann Flatt 28

Do animals and nature know about numbers and do they need them? The rhyming story has the perfect amount text and brightly colored pictures that children will love to look at and count the animals as they find them hidden on the page.

MSCHMITT--- Hello, Snow! By Hope Vestergaard 31

 MSCHMITT--- Hello, Snow! By Hope Vestergaard 31

A little girl is bursting to get out in the snow as she awakens one cold morning. She takes readers through the fun ride of her getting ready to head outdoors. Out in the snow she builds a snowman and  goes for an adventure sleigh riding…The story closes with goodbye, snow as she heads in to warm with hot cocoa.

Snow Friends by M. Christina Butler and Tina Macnaughton

Snow Friends by M. Christina Butler and Tina Macnaughton, 24 pages

Snow Friends is a cute story about a little bear who is lonely and sets out to build himself a snowman to be his friend. But, what happens is other animals see him building the snowman and want to help him.  This is a great story to teach kids about friendship and working together.  The bear's new friends even help him build a second snowman so the first one won't get lonely.  The book has beautiful illustrations and the snowman is even glittery!

MSCHMITT--- Pip and Squeak by Ian Schoenherr 30

MSCHMITT--- Pip and Squeak by Ian Schoenherr 30

Pip and Squeak are late and they have forgotten their gift for their friend Gus, but the two mice quickly improvise and set out in the snow to find something different to take. Squeak is convinced nothing will be better than cheese but Pip quickly finds something that Gus is more than happy to have as a gift.

MSCHMITT--- Snow by Uri Shulevitz 28

MSCHMITT--- Snow by Uri Shulevitz 28

The simple story of snow flakes falling, at first one, then two, then three, finally the little boy in this story is ecstatic to see the entire town covered in snow!

MSCHMITT-- Snowball Fight Jimmy Fallon 29

MSCHMITT-- Snowball Fight Jimmy Fallon 29

A little boy is ready for the winter snow as he races out the door to prepare for a blizzard battle. Snowballs flying and snow forts are built as the children are on attack! This simple story with bright colored illustrations was a building block nominee and rightfully so.

MSCHMITT--- Dinos in the Snow by Karma Wilson 24

MSCHMITT--- Dinos in the Snow by Karma Wilson 24

Dinos ski, skate, and sled, but at the end of a cold day dinos need to warm up by the fire with a cup of cocoa.

MSCHMITT--- Snowbots by Aaron Reynolds 32

MSCHMITT--- Snowbots by Aaron Reynolds 32

The Snowbots live in Clacckentown and are preparing for a record blizzard to hit. Their day begins with cereal and gasoline, sledding on the peak of the scrapyard, snow carvings with chainsaws, and at last a hot oil bath to help squeaking gears.

MSCHMITT--- Winter is for Snow by Robert Neubecker 29

MSCHMITT--- Winter is for Snow by Robert Neubecker 29

A little brother spends his time trying to convince his sister that snow is wonderful with all the great things that can be done in winter. She continually responds with a no, but by the end of the story she has softened to the idea of sledding and skating, instead of no, she is ready for wonderful snow.

MSCHMITT--- Ten on the Slid, Kim Norman, 26

MSCHMITT--- Ten on the Sled, Kim Norman, 26

Here is a snow filled counting tale as all the animals try and ride on a sled and eventually fall off one by one

MSCHMITT--- Hibernation Station, Michelle Meadows, 40

MSCHMITT--- Hibernation Station, Michelle Meadows, 40

Find out how the animals get ready for winter on this special train ride through the woods.