ONYX Reads - Books to curl up with

DOWN TIME

BOOKS TO CURL UP WITH

I GOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

By Connie Schofield-Morrison It's the most wonderful time of the year, and a mother and daughter are enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season. The little girl hears sleigh bells ringing and carolers singing. She smells chestnuts roasting—CRUNCH! CRUNCH! CRUNCH!—and sees the flashing lights of the department store windows--BLING! BLING! BLING! She spreads the spirit of giving wherever she goes. And when she reaches Santa, she tells him her Christmas wish--for peace and love everywhere, all the days of the year.

CHRISTMAS IN LAGOS

By Sharon Abimbola Salu It is ten days to Christmas, and also the last day of school. Ranti, a six year old girl who lives in the West African city of Lagos, Nigeria, sits in class and listens to her classmates describe all the exciting, far-away places they will visit during the Christmas holidays. Many of them will travel abroad for Christmas with their families. Ranti feels left out, and believes that her Christmas will be the most boring Christmas ever because she will be spending it in the city where she lives: Lagos. Because there is no snow in Lagos, she won't go ice skating or build a frosty snowman. However, with the encouragement of her class teacher, Miss Ani, Ranti starts a Christmas journal where she details all the amazing things that take place in the city of Lagos during Christmas.

CHRISTMAS IN FULL BLOOM

By Denise N. Wheatley This Christmas, can they slow down long enough to smell the roses and fall in love? When savvy, up-and-coming floral designer Lauren Beal returns home to Maple Valley, Michigan, for her sister's holiday wedding, she's determined to be the perfect maid of honor. She didn't expect the best man to be the college crush she'd reluctantly left behind to pursue her Chicago-based dreams. Family practice doctor Mel Jennings always knew he'd remain rooted in Maple Valley to work for his father's clinic. He happily juggles his demanding practice with philanthropic endeavors that connect him to his tight-knit community. Sparks fly when he reunites with Lauren, the one who ran away. As they enjoy Maple Valley's Christmas festivities, Mel remembers how close they once were. But can they ever have a future? Lauren finds herself falling for Mel and suspects the feelings are mutual. Yet they're both pulled in different directions by work and family. Will the pair find a moment alone during the hectic holiday season to figure things out, or will they miss their chance at love once again?

THE GILDED ONES (AUDIOBOOK)

By Namina Forna Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.