Is Winter Here?

Wow,  it's cold here in the mid-west!  We have had two winter storm, snow, sleet and freezing rain.  And, the calendar tells me it's not winter, quite yet.  Our kids have only had school two days this past week.
  It must be that global warming thing?
Our neighbors Christmas lights and the fresh blanket of snow just seem to work.  Luckily our little neighbor- hood leans toward the multi-colored lights.  Very festive!!

The shopping is done, the wrapping.....well, almost done.   And, we didn't break the budget.   Over the past couple of years we have been trimming the budget.  Like many families,  we have decided that we were going overboard, and are now cutting back on the amount of money spent on gifts.  We are doing more family things, " making memories",  if you will.

With our weather so confining,  that enables me to spend more time pursuing my favorite hobby,  Reading.  There is much to be said for a warm blankie, and a good book.
So what is at the top of  your wish list this year?

The Museum of Thieves--book review

The Museum of Thieves;  by Lian Tanner
ISBN  987-0-385-73905-4
Ages; 9-12
Release date;  Sept.28,2010


 Goldie lives in the city of Jewel, where people are overprotective with their children. All children are guardchained to the Blessed Guardians. The Blessed Guardians are suppost to take care of them and protect them. Until Separation Day.
As Separation Day arrives, Golde finds it has been cancelled. She runs away. She eventually finds the Museum of Dunt, wth its own mysteries and secrets. Follow Goldie and her new friend Toadspit(just gotta love that name) as they uncover secrets and villianous plans. Plans that threaten everyone.
Magic, Friendshp, danger, mystery, and self discovery---this book has it all!

Haven--book review

Haven by Kristi Cook
ISBN 978-1-4424-0760-2
Ages; 14 & up
Release date; Feb. 22, 2011
　
Violet McKenna has visions, that come true. Visions of her fathers death was the most troubling, branding her as mentally unstable.
Hiding her talent has been difficult and isolating, until she is forced to find a new school. Winter Haven‘s students all have special talents. Violet’s visions are a accepted reality.
At Winter Haven Violet begins to fit in, even making new friends. And Violet discovers Aiden, her first boyfriend.
As their relationship deepens, Violet is drawn into dark and deadly secrets.
Winter Haven is much more that it appears to be.
　
　

WITHER--book review

Wither by; Lauren DeStafano
The Chemical Garden Trilogy
ISBN 978-1-4424-0905-7
Ages; 14 & up
Release date; 3-22-2011
　
Wither provides us with a picture of a distant future. Where every new generation is dying at a early age.
Rhine and two others are chosen by Housemaster Vaughn Ashby to be wives for his sheltered son Linden.
Rhine becomes a captive bride, along with her sister-wives. Fate has brought them together.
The first generation marries their offspring at a young age, to produce children, for their experiments. Trying to find a cure.
Rhine and her sister- wives are provided every luxury except one--Freedom.
Will Rhine be lulled into staying with her naive husband, and her sister-wives?

Cryer's Cross

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann
ISBN 978-1-4169-9481-7
Ages; 14 & up
Release date; Feb. 8, 2011
　
Cryer’s Cross a small, quiet and peaceful town.
Kendall Fletcher has grown up across the street from her best friend, Nico Cruz.
Tiffany Qunn has disappeared, Nico Cruz disappears a few months later. Searcher turn up empty handed. Suspicion falls on a new guy in town, Jacian Obregon.
Kendall finds herself dealing with her OCD, loss of her best friend, her strange new feeling about Jacian, and the mysterious disappearances.
Hang on as Kendall navigates the twists and turns of a small towns mysteries and buried secrets.