Christmas Revels

I am so pleased when an author develops the characters to where you, the reader, becomes invested in the characters. You care what happens to them.

The great thing about anthologies entirely by an author I enjoy is that I know I will like all of the novellas, which is the case with this one. Mary Jo Putney's collection of Christmas stories shines. The stories were written between 1990 and 2002, but they all hold up well. I laughed, smiled, and ended the book wanting to read more.

I rarely buy anthologies, precisely because so many of them are hit and miss; for every decent novella by a favourite author, there are two or sometimes three sub-standard stories by writers whose books I would never buy. Occasionally even those stories by favourite authors suffer from anthology-itis: they are too short for good character and plot development.Here is an excellent idea, however: a collection of Christmas novellas by one of the best authors of the Regency/historical period, Mary Jo Putney. All but one of the novellas are reprints of stories previously published in earlier multiple-author anthologies, but since I hadn't read any of them that wasn't an issue for me. The single new story is a contemporary novella, a sequel to The Spiral Path, Putney's most recent contemporary novel.A Holiday Fling, the contemporary story, is the first in the collection. Jenny Lyme and Greg Marino were minor characters in The Spiral Path, and we didn't see them interact with each other. In this novella, we discover that they had been lovers more than ten years earlier when working on a movie, but their lives had gone in separate directions. Now Jenny needs Greg's help to save her village's community centre, and so he flies to England to spend Christmas with her. The attraction between them is as strong as ever, and they are unable to stay out of each other's arms. This time, though, is it just another holiday fling, or can they make a future together?The Christmas Cuckoo is a tale of mistaken identity and belonging. Major Jack Howard has returned from the wars because he has unexpectedly inherited an earldom. Unwilling to comply with his great-aunt the countess's dictates as to how an earl should dress and behave, especially since he knows very well that she resents the fact that he has inherited the title, he jumps on the first stagecoach out of London. En route to its destination, he gets drunk and is mistakenly left behind at a stop... where he is found by a young woman expecting her brother's friend Captain Jack Howard. Meg had high hopes that Captain Jack would fall in love with her sister Phoebe, but finds herself falling in love with Major Jack instead. The mistaken identity ensues since Jack is too drunk to realise that Meg has the wrong Jack Howard, and soon he is in the welcoming warmth of a loving family for the first time in his life. Is it too much to ask to enjoy one happy Christmas? In Sunshine for Christmas I found a surprise, and very welcome, sequel to The Rake. Ally's former fiancé, and the man who broke her heart and sent her running away from her family, was left lonely and devastated at the end of the book, for he really had loved Ally and he had to live not only with the knowledge that he had lost her through his own fault, but also the guilt of knowing that it was his careless words which had sent her fleeing from her home and into hiding. Miserable and unable to bear the joy of Christmas all around him, Lord Randolph travels to

As the other reviewers mentioned,four of the historical novella's in this book were previously released, and the contemporary novella, "Holiday Fling" was new. If you haven't read the historicals and bought the book, it's a good buy. Three of the historicals feature a heroine who is in some way not a classic, titled young beauty, and the titled hero manages to see past it and falls in love anyway. They were easy and enjoyable classic holiday romances. I liked the fourth historical, "The Black Beast of Belleterre" the best (Ms. Putney's spin on Beauty and the Beast), as it was the most touching story of the collection. "Holiday Fling", the contemporary novella, featured minor characters from the "The Spiral Path", and it was fun, fast paced and I learned some things about tithe barns and filming a show! The two leads, Jenny and Greg, have convinced themselves they aren't meant to be a lasting couple, and it's a good read to see them discover how right they are for one another. It was also interesting to learn about the customs of the modern English Christmas, as compared to the U.S.Overall, this anthology is a fast read and delivers a happy escape from holiday stress.

I for one am happy to see this anthology published because I missed four of the stories in it and couldn't find them in used books stores Everything I've read by Ms Putney is wonderful.

In five charming stories, Ms. Putney gives her readers an early Christmas present. The first story is the sole contemporary of the lot, and is a spin off from her previous contemporary release, the SPIRAL PATH. In this one, HOLIDAY FLING, you have the appeal of the old Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney "let's put on a show" theme, though with considerably more steam than the old pictures.The next four stories are historical. CHRISTMAS CUCKOO mixes romance with a case of mistaken identity with results that are in no ways an error. SUNSHINE FOR CHRISTMAS finds two English folk trapped together in Italy, and love the only way to save a reputation. CHRISTMAS TART gives a young woman who is out of luck a ray of hope when she is saved from a life on the streets by the kindness of a young nobleman. Finally, the best story comes last in BLACK BEAST OF BELLETERRE. A young woman finds herself saved from an unacceptable union to pay off her father's gambling debts by the lord who is said to be a monster incarnate. Yet, she does not find him to be the beast he claims to be at all. ***** All of these touching stories will be a true treat to Ms. Putney's legion of loyal fans everywhere, and perhaps win her new ones, for there is enough variety in the stories to have something for everyone. ***** Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

"A Holiday Fling". British actress Jenny Lyme tries to save the "Tithe Barn Community Center" by producing a Christmas show for TV. She asks her former lover cinematographer Greg Marino to help. Both fondly remember about the other and want a second chance together."The Christmas Cuckoo". Major Jack Howard heads to his aunt for Christmas, but instead ends up slightly drunk at public coach's inn. Meg Lambert goes to the inn to meet her brother's buddy, Captain Jack Howard, only to find him inebriated. The next morning Jack realizes the mistake, but soberly finds he desires Meg."Sunshine for Christmas". Randolph Lennox goes to Italy to escape the loneliness of Britain. However, Naples remains as cold as his heart until he meets Elizabeth Walker whose fluent Italian helps him with a problem. As they tour together, they fall in love, but what happens after Italy?"The Christmas Tart". Her employer accuses seamstress Nicole Chambord of robbery and fires her. Sir Philip Selbourne settles his late father's estate. His friends decide Nicole could cheer him up but he believes this innocent gift is worth more than just a one-night stand."The Black Beast of Belleterre." Baron James Markland wears a cloak to hide his hideous visage. He visits Sir Edwin Hawthorne, whose estate is in ruin due to gambling debts. Sir Edwin plans to sell his daughter Ariel to a lecher, but James buys her instead, promising a marriage in name only. However, Ariel wants a real relationship with her cloaked spouse.Four reprints and one new story, CHRISTMAS REVELS is a wonderfully warm holiday collection that displays the gift of Mary Jo Putney.Harriet Klausner