Book reviews

A Return to Christmas
Chris Heimerdinger Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Chris Heimerdinger Books
New book search
Chris Heimerdinger Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of A Return to Christmas
"Jordan and Charlotte Holiday have two children, 13-year old daughter Amber and 11-year old Artemus or Artie as he is called. Every year on December 20th they commemorate the birthday of their dead son Andrew, placing gardenias on the grave. Andrew was Artie's twin brother who died eight years prior on Christmas Day. Sadly Artie's birthday is often overlooked because of the tragic events of that date. Living in Salt Lake City, their lives are forever changed when Artie encounters Lawrence “Chess” Folsom, a runaway orphan who has been working in partnership with his uncle Boone, a criminal conman. Chess steals Artie's shoes, pants, and jacket from a store dressing room before fleeing the shopping mall. Artie chases down the thief and the two boys struggle in the parking garage. The intoxicated driver of a pickup truck does not see the boys until too late and strikes both knocking one over a two-story railing and the other to the ground. Each is unconscious and has sustained facial bruises and cuts.

The most curious fact is the remarkable resemblance the two bear to each other, so much so, Chess is mistaken for Artie and taken to the hospital with the Holiday family at his side. Outside the garage amongst the shrubbery Artie is picked up and carried away by Boone. When Artie awakens he is 400 miles away in Las Vegas. Shaken and distraught he quickly informs Boone of the mistake. The conman recognizes the error and means to solve the problem one way or another. He attempts to tie the boy's limbs with twine from the trunk of the car. Artie runs for his life and manages to find a police station on the Vegas strip. Chess is brought to the Holiday home and treated like the family son he is believed to be. He is given birthday gifts and doted on due to his countenance altering injuries. He goes along with the strange scenario being played out realizing he has been mistaken for the boy whose clothing he stole. Artie being held by the Vegas police is suspected as the accomplice of Boone, a wanted felon. As they attempt to restrain him he manages to flee the minimum-security juvenile facility and climb into the back of the covered bed of a truck with Utah plates.

Boone takes immediate action driving to Salt Lake City to the address Artie had given him. He wants Chess back and thinks he can somehow locate him. Boone does find his nephew but Chess wants nothing to do with the violent criminal from his past. Artie manages to barely survive frostbite and exhaustion arriving in Salt Lake City just before Christmas. The two boys come face to face with the dangerous Boone in the Holiday house he is burglarizing. By a strange quirk of fate the Holiday family will be whole again on Christmas through a one in a billion twist of fate. "

David Fletcher, Resident Scholar

Most similar books to A Return to Christmas
Unwilling Accomplice by Barbara Seranella
Stranger in the House by Patricia MacDonald
Miss Julia Takes Over by Ann B. Ross
The Teaching Emotion by Meg Holle
Light on Snow by Anita Shreve


Click here for more information about this book


Chris Heimerdinger Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
David Fletcher  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Literature books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story

Crime & Police story

Ethnic/regional/gender life

Exploring into the wild

Family, caring for ill

Family, loving relations

Family, struggle with

Internal struggle/realization?

Job/Profession/Status story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Political/social activism

Poverty, surviving

Pregnancy/Child rearing

Religion theme?

Romance/Romance Problems

Sports Story?

War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Jeff Shaara 9:10:50 PM
George W. Bush 9:06:45 PM
Sister Souljah 8:34:52 PM
Wendelin Van Draanen 8:16:28 PM
Angie Sage 7:26:30 PM
James Clavell 5:30:19 PM
Patricia McCormick 4:17:19 PM
Edward Albee 4:14:20 PM
V.C. Andrews 4:14:12 PM
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer 2:10:25 PM
Teri Woods 2:03:46 PM
Christina Crawford 9:31:53 AM
Martina Cole 6:40:33 AM
Michael Gerber 2:28:30 AM
Sue Grafton 10:19:22 PM
Jean M. Auel 9:54:07 PM
Gabrielle Zevin 9:13:10 PM
Andrew Clements 5:16:25 PM
Danielle Steel 2:00:27 PM
Lisi Harrison 10:34:02 AM

More message boards