Christmas

The main theme running throughout "Visions of Sugar Plums" is Christmas. Stephanie Plum is confused by Christmas. Although Stephanie is grown up, she can't seem to get a handle on the important holiday. The apartment is not decorated, there is no tree, and not a single present has been purchased and wrapped. Some part of Stephanie wants to hang on to her childhood in which her mother, Helen Plum, always bakes the right cookies, sets a great table, and although there is usually some fiasco, things always turn out okay. Stephanie does not feel capable of taking on such a big chore. Therefore, every year, Stephanie methodically screws it up. This year, however, Stephanie has Diesel to help.

Diesel professes to hate Christmas and thinks that having kids is overrated. Diesel loves Christmas cookies, however. Aside from the religious connotations, Diesel believes that Christmas should be whatever makes...