Books to Enjoy in Winter

Ask a reader what her favorite book is, and you might see her gaze drift away to a place only she knows. So the books on this list must answer “yes” to the following questions: Do the main characters act in unexpectedly kind ways? Is there an element of fall or winter weather in at least one key scene? Can I read this book as a stand-alone novel, even if it’s part of a longer series? When I finish the story, do I feel like I’ve just been visited by dear friends?