It's possible that Santa just won't come if there isn't a new Evans (A Christmas Box) holiday tale in his bag. This year, it's the story of real-estate mogul James Kier, who gets the chance to read his obituary-before he dies. What he discovers unnerves him as the death notice portrays a ruthless, friendless man. James decides to make amends to the many people he's hurt over the years. Sure to be a best seller, so buy accordingly. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/09.] (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Evans' latest heartwarming tale opens with a man reading his own obituary. Utah businessman James Keir is shocked to open the newspaper one day and find himself greeted with the erroneous news of his death. The mistake allows Keir, whose success is the result of his ruthless business tactics, to see what others really think of him. Strangers cheer his passing, friends turn on him, his girlfriend goes shopping with his credit card . . . and his only defender is Sara, the cancer-stricken wife he's divorcing. The incident spurs him on to make amends for his wrongs. He asks his assistant to make a list of the people he's most wronged in business and resolves to pay them each a visit. The efforts don't go well at first a former business rival punches Keir, and another committed suicide after Keir wrecked his dreams. Keir eventually realizes that there are people even closer to him that he's wronged much more deeply. Fans of Evans' work will find here what they've come to expect from his books: a touching story of redemption that offers hope for the future if not a pat happy ending.--Huntley, Kristine Copyright 2009 Booklist