The Circle of Friends Series by Mary Jo Putney

Raine Marlowe has finally convinced her soon-to-be ex-husband to star in her directorial debut-but he fears that his character's dark secrets may be dangerously close to his own... "Mary Jo Putney never fails to deliver a winning story with heartwarming characters. She is a pleasure to read...always." ( Literary Times ) "Putney's writing is clear as crystal and smooth as silk." ( Booklist )

Rob Smith is the kind of guy--and lawyer--Val Covington knows she should avoid: mysterious, handsome, haunted. But when he tries to help her save a man from being executed, she discovers long hidden secrets-along with an irresistible passion.

Features the contemporary novella "A Holiday Fling," and the classic historicals "The Christmas Cuckoo" "Sunshine for Christmas" "The Christmas Tart" "The Black Beast of Belleterre"

British actress Jenny Lyme is having a pretty decent career. Though she may not have become an international movie star, she’s well loved in England for a role on British TV and continues to work regularly. Now her hometown community center is in danger of being sold. The only hope for its salvation is if Jenny can film the Christmas Revels production she’s directing and sell it for television broadcasting. For that she needs a really good cameraman—and she just happens to know one…... moreBritish actress Jenny Lyme is having a pretty decent career. Though she may not have become an international movie star, she’s well loved in England for a role on British TV and continues to work regularly. Now her hometown community center is in danger of being sold. The only hope for its salvation is if Jenny can film the Christmas Revels production she’s directing and sell it for television broadcasting. For that she needs a really good cameraman—and she just happens to know one…. Greg Marino has worked hard for his success as a Hollywood cinematographer, and he has an Oscar sitting by his coffee maker to prove it. But he still has fond memories of the fling he had with Jenny Lyme ten years earlier when they worked together on a disastrous movie. When she calls and asks if he’d film her community Christmas show, he decides it would be a fun break in his dmanding life. And it would be really, really nice to see Jenny again. The show is a delight, and Jenny and Greg find the old attraction is still there. But is it possible to build a life together when both have demanding careers thousands of miles apart? Special Bonus Short Story! “Seduced by Sloth” was written for an internet experiment that failed, but the theme of finding a balance in life and work echoes that of “A Christmas Fling.” (The following reviews are for the original collection, Christmas Revels. Three of the other four novellas have been e-released as Christmas Mischief.) less

Romantic Novella, 88 pages Previously titled: A Christmas Fling British actress Jenny Lyme isn't a movie star, but she's well loved in England for her television work. Now her hometown community center is in danger of being sold. The only hope for its salvation is if Jenny can film and sell the Christmas Revels production she's directing. A really good cameraman is needed-and she knows just the one.... Greg Marino is a top Hollywood cinematographer with an Oscar in his kitchen to prove it... moreRomantic Novella, 88 pages Previously titled: A Christmas Fling British actress Jenny Lyme isn't a movie star, but she's well loved in England for her television work. Now her hometown community center is in danger of being sold. The only hope for its salvation is if Jenny can film and sell the Christmas Revels production she's directing. A really good cameraman is needed-and she knows just the one.... Greg Marino is a top Hollywood cinematographer with an Oscar in his kitchen to prove it. He also has fond memories of the fling he once had with Jenny Lyme when they worked together on a disastrous movie. So when Jenny calls and asks Greg to film her Christmas show, he decides it'd be a fun break... and really, really nice to see Jenny again. But how can they build a life together when both have demanding careers thousands of miles apart? STARTING OVER SERIES, in order Stirring the Embers Phoenix Falling An Imperfect Process A Holiday Fling (novella) less