When Angels Paint: a Milford-Haven Holiday Novelette

By Mara Purl

Can an artist’s imagination alter reality during the magic of the holiday season? Can something in the heart manifest in the real world? Artist Miranda Jones might have agreed that dreams sometimes come true. But she’d never presume to believe something could leap from her canvas into the life of someone she hardly knows. Until now,

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bellekeep Books, LLC
• Release date: Nov 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781936878727

Mara Purl

Mara Purl, author of the national best-selling, critically acclaimed and multiple-award-winning Milford-Haven Novels, Novellas, and Novelettes, pioneered small-town fiction for women. Mara was named Fiction Author of the Year by The Authors Show, and her series has won more than 40 book awards. Mara's beloved fictitious town has been delighting audiences since 1992, when it first appeared as Milford-Haven, U.S.A.©-the first American radio drama ever licensed and broadcast by the BBC. The show reached an audience of 4.5 million listeners throughout the U.K. and won the Finalist Award at the 1994 New York Festivals World's Best Radio Programs. What the Heart Knows (Book one) reached #5 on Amazon's best-seller list. Where the Heart Lives (Book Two) reached #22 on Barnes & Noble's best-seller list, #7 on Amazon's Women's Fiction list and was ranked in Kobo's top-100. Mara's novellas When Hummers Dream and When Whales Watch also each also became best-sellers. Mara's novels and stories have collectively earned more than 30 literary awards. Mara is a guest-blogger for USA Today's Happy Ever After Book Blog, National Association of Baby Boomer Women, Romance Junkies, The Lady Killers, Boomer Brief, Plaid for Women, Women Speakers Association, and has co-founded two women's speaking organizations. As an actress, Mara was "Darla Cook" on Days Of Our Lives, and has won awards for her theatrical appearances in "Mary Shelley: In Her Own Words," as well as critical acclaim for her performances in Becoming Julia Morgan and Sea Marks. She was named one of twelve Women of the Year by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women. Mara is married to Dr. Larry Norfleet and lives in Los Angeles, and in Colorado Springs. Visit Mara's website at www.MaraPurl.com. She welcomes e-mail from her readers at [e-mail].

Book preview

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Miranda Jones would never make such a claim.

Her skill has begun to put her in the limelight and her artistry is being admired both in San Francisco, where she grew up, and in Milford-Haven, where she moved a few months ago.

But being an artist is hard work as far as she’s concerned, and she takes it seriously. Rather than waiting for inspiration—or for a so-called angel’s touch—she buckles down, researches her subjects, perfects her technique, and turns out work she’s grateful to be able to complete.

She chooses her subjects . . . except when they choose her.

Having decided upon a hand-made Christmas this year, she has thoughtfully planned each gift, from the hand-carved box for her friend Samantha, to the hand-sewn placemats and napkins for her artist’s rep Zelda, to the original presents for her parents and sister. It all made sense . . . until a strangely irresistible impulse had her painting the image of a rugged cliff with a ragged rope hanging across its face. Why? Who is it for?

Milford-Haven is particularly delightful during the holidays.

Decorative lights twinkle along Main Street, adding cheer and special appeal to the quaint array of shops and cafes. Delightful aromas waft from store to store as shop owners outdo one another offering baked goods and spiced drinks.

Miranda feels more cheerful during her first Christmas in her new town than she has in years. Yet even in the midst of her holiday preparations, she feels so driven to commit this ominous image to canvas, it’s almost as though it’s being painted by a hand other than her own.

Why did she feel compelled to complete the odd little painting so urgently? Since it doesn’t feel appropriate to display it in the gallery, who will ever see it?

Come discover for yourself . . . When Angels Paint.

The Press & Readers praise

Mara Purl’s Milford-Haven

Holiday Novellas & Novelettes

"Mara Purl can grab and hold your attention until you reach the last page. She leaves you always wanting more. Mara can pack more meaning and emotion into a few pages than most authors can in 250, and Where An Angel’s On a Rope is no different. A wonderfully moving story and as I’ve come to expect, it leaves us to wonder what’s coming next, because obviously this story has not ended. I can’t wait to read the remaining stories."

– Linda Thompson, Host of www.TheAuthorsShow.com

"I treated myself to reading the first two of your Christmas stories – Where Angel’s On a Rope and When Angels Paint – and I REALLY love ’em! Your literary gifts just continue to amaze – yours is an ever expanding talent, and I was truly touched."

– Marilyn Harris, Musician, Song-writer, Composer

Mara Purl’s story is beautifully told, with exquisite detail and gripping scenes that take you into the lives of these characters in a suspenseful and riveting way that will keep you reading rapidly to find out the ending. She has a wonderful way with words and images.

– Sam Summerlin, former President/Chairman, The New York Times Syndicate

"I LOVED the Christmas Angels collection including Whose Angel Key Ring. Read it while visiting back East in my solitary room with the snow and barren trees outside. It was an excellent companion. Beautiful work!"

– Katherine Doughtie Nolan, Award-winning author

"I loved Whose Angel Key Ring. What a beautiful and touching story – my favorite. I just loved the letter that Joan Calvin wrote to her son Zackery. Believe me, I had tears in my eyes after reading it. Thank you for your beautiful stories. I’m going to start reading the whole series! I love reading and I love your type of books. Thank you."

– Kathleen Lawrence, San Diego

The Press praise

The Milford-Haven Series

In Mara Purl’s books the writing is crisp and clean, the dialogue realistic, the scenes well described. I salute her ingenuity.

– Bob Johnson, Former Managing Editor, The Associated Press

"Every reader who enjoys book series about small town life has a treat to anticipate in . . . Mara Purl’s Milford-Haven Novels."

– Dee Ann Ray, The Clinton Daily News

Mara Purl’s characters have become old friends and I keep expecting one of them to give me a call!

– Nanci Cone, Ventura Breeze

. . . an intrigu[ing] cast of diverse characters.

– Fred Klein, Santa Barbara News Press

"You can’t escape the pull of Milford-Haven, the setting for Days of Our Lives actress and award-winning author Mara Purl’s enticing new novel What the Heart Knows. My kind of romance, this [is a] juicy, read . . . plus, the inviting story makes you think."

– Charlotte Hill, Boomer Brief

"I read Mara Purl’s What the Heart Knows and loved the book—just devoured it, in fact—and can’t wait to read the next installment."

– Anne L. Holmes, APR, National Association of Baby Boomer Women

Endorsements from Other Authors

Mara Purl is a skillful storyteller who has written a charming and tantalizing saga about the ways in which lives can intersect and be forever changed. The first novel in the saga is not-to-be-missed.

– Margaret Coel, New York Times Best-Selling author of the Wind River series

I found a kinship with . . . your heart for character . . . and with your truly fine unveiling of story events.

– Jane Kirkpatrick, Author, Wrangler Award, Willa Award

I so admire Mara Purl’s writing style. The pictures she paints are just glorious, her characters and attention to detail inspiring.

– Sheri Anderson, Emmy