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    Lost December
    Lost December
    Lost December
    Audiobook5 hours

    Lost December

    Written by Richard Paul Evans

    Narrated by John Dossett

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From one of America’s most beloved storytellers comes his most spiritual book since The Christmas Box and The Walk series with this modern-day, Christmas-themed retelling of the story of the prodigal son.

    It has been said that sometimes the greatest hope in our lives is just a second chance to do what we should have done right in the first place. This is the story of my second chance.

    When Luke Crisp graduates from business school, his father, CEO and cofounder of Fortune 500 Crisp’s Copy Centers, is ready to share some good news: he wants to turn the family business over to his son. But Luke has other plans. Taking control of his trust fund, Luke leaves home to pursue a life of reckless indulgence.

    But when his funds run out, so do his friends. Humbled, alone, and too ashamed to ask his father for help, Luke secretly takes a lowly job at one of his father’s copy centers. There he falls in love with a struggling single mother and begins to understand the greatest source of personal joy.

    Lost December is New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans’s modern-day holiday version of the biblical story of the prodigal son, an “inspiring” (Ventura County Star), “beautiful” (Desert News) tale of redemption, hope, and the true meaning of love.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateNov 1, 2011
    ISBN9781442344150
    Lost December
    Author

    Richard Paul Evans

    Richard Paul Evans is the #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than forty novels. There are currently more than thirty-five million copies of his books in print worldwide, translated into more than twenty-four languages. Richard is the recipient of numerous awards, including two first place Storytelling World Awards, the Romantic Times Best Women’s Novel of the Year Award, and five Religion Communicators Council’s Wilbur Awards. Seven of Richard’s books have been produced as television movies. His first feature film, The Noel Diary, starring Justin Hartley (This Is Us) and acclaimed film director, Charles Shyer (Private Benjamin, Father of the Bride), premiered in 2022. In 2011 Richard began writing Michael Vey, a #1 New York Times bestselling young adult series which has won more than a dozen awards. Richard is the founder of The Christmas Box International, an organization devoted to maintaining emergency children’s shelters and providing services and resources for abused, neglected, or homeless children and young adults. To date, more than 125,000 youths have been helped by the charity. For his humanitarian work, Richard has received the Washington Times Humanitarian of the Century Award and the Volunteers of America National Empathy Award. Richard lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, and their five children and two grandchildren. You can learn more about Richard on his website RichardPaulEvans.com.

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    Reviews for Lost December

    4/5

    101 ratings11 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I have to be honest, I didn't like this audiobook at first. It was painfully hard to listen to. But the main character warns the listener that you will hate him at some point in the story. Richard Paul Evans makes you feel every turn and bump in the road. You can anticipate where the author is heading, but you cannot anticipate the wonderful journey, full of twists and turns. You may actually learn some deep truths in this well crafted story of redemption, forgiveness and healing.
    • 5/5
      A powerful, action packed prodigal son story full of wisdom and truth
    • 4/5
      Luke breaks his father's heart by not taking over the family business. Instead he takes his trust fund and goes traveling with his friends. He does not listen to himself or others about these friends. In the end he loses everything including his self-respect.I like the way this is written. Short stories of what is happening with Luke after a chapter beginning of his diary. From the beginning you know how the story will go but I was interested in how he would rebound. I am glad there were people who taught him and stood by him on his way back up. I also liked the lessons he learned and how he applied those lessons. This is a story that will stay with me long after I close these covers. So much is here to reflect on.
    • 5/5
      Lost December by Evans_ Richard Paul Diary entries tell the story of Luke and how he finished college, night of graduation party one of his best friends dieHis father wants to bring him into the firm but Luke has other plans.Luke decides he and his girl need ot travel Europe because his friend would never get the chance. His other friends come along also and Luke pays for them all as Shawn is trying to work out his money problems.Travel is great and the bills amounted to so much more than I can even imagine. Things fall apart and then he learns of his fathers health and retiring and he's been disowned.After getting beat up a man rescues him and gets him a place to stay and work... He takes a job at his father's copy center and meets a regular person with a child and he befriends them..Misunderstandings and things go the wrong way for everybody but maybe Luke can fix it?I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
    • 4/5
      An uplifting Christmas story typical of Evans. A very quick read and a story that flows nicely. If you're looking for a nice Christmas read, I recommend this book.
    • 5/5
      A young man, with everything in the world he could ever wish for—wealth, comfort, and most of all, a loving father—leaves his home, taking his inheritance with him. Carelessly, he spends it all, and finds himself left penniless, homeless, and starving, living in the tunnels of Las Vegas. Can you go home???

      His dad wants him to take over the business which he has worked in during high school, but first Luke to see more of the world and to receive the sort of education Carl never had a chance at. Luke applies to pursue an MBA at the Wharton School in Philadelphia. There, he finds romance with a beautiful woman and, for the first time, friends. But the more time he spends with his new companions—especially the cocky and worldly Sean—the more he finds himself and his values changing. Slowly but surely, he grows further away from his father, until they barely communicate at all.

      After blowing thru his trust fund in Europe and loss of his girlfriend, he finds himself homeless. One night, he is attacked and beaten by two men, left with nothing but a broken rib and his underwear. And that is when his fortunes begin to change. A good Samaritan—a Latino man who runs a care center for the elderly—stops to help him, buys him a meal, and offers him a job.

      Gradually, the formerly prosperous young man rebuilds his life and relearns the principles that were once so important to him. He still cannot bring himself to contact his father, but to prove himself worthy of the Crisp name, Luke takes a second job, at one of the family company’s stores, aiming to see how high he can rise on his own merits. He cannot foresee that he will also fall in love—and find the redemption he has ached for so long.

      The book was amazing! I loved it as very much demonstrates the need to be grateful for what you have. The best book I have read by Evans - (keep a box of tissues handy)!

    • 2/5
      This was fine...It isn't going to win any awards, but it also didn't infuriate me like Miles to Go. So, all in all, it was okay.
    • 3/5
      The majority of our book group thought that this book was to predictable & sugary sweet. Too contrived. The minority thought of it as a good, quick read during the hoiday season with the underlying message of unconditional love that each parent hope their child realizes exists.
    • 3/5
      This story is a retelling and modernization of the prodigal son. In it, author Richard Paul Evans illustrates just how little it is and how quickly one million dollars can evaporate. Well, at least that’s what happened to the protagonist of the story. I suspect this scenario is the exception rather than the rule. But it was interesting to see how one man went from riches to rags and then back again. If you like a feel-good tale not really grounded I reality, except that is was originally based on a Biblical story, then you’ll enjoy this novel. An easy read, it’s not a bad way to while away an afternoon when the weather keeps you indoors and you’re feeling lazy.
    • 4/5
      Richard Paul Evans' books tend to be pretty predictable but that is fine with me. Sometimes I need to read a book that is an easy and uplifting read. Lost December didn't disappoint me. Just by reading the blurb on the book flap you willl know most of the plot but the process is enjoyable and Evans includes some nice sentiments along the way.Luke Crisp is the only child of a very wealthy man and is due to take over the family business when he decides to "live his life". He takes his trust fund money and does just that, blowing through his money quite quickly and discovering that his friends weren't really friends. Broke, homeless, and alone, he is too ashamed to face his father. He finds a lowly job after hitting rock bottom and discovers what is really important in life.
    • 5/5
      Love this story. somewhat predictable but lovely to read this time of year.