Christmas with Chris

The two stories in this Christmas season collection show two side of Chris Cross. “Scrambled Holiday,” in which an “every-which-way” extended family descends for a Christmas together and romps in each other’s beds while squaring off against each other in tit-for-tat infighting, reflects the author’s playful, anything goes, satirical side. “Last Present” moves to the more serious and romantic as a gigolo thief river cruise tour director is asked to deliver a special Christmas present for a dying man.