Continuing the slice of life in a small, coastal town enchanting and eccentric, a haven for some, a trap for others. All the characters reveal or must confront their own childhood issues, against a background of the complex relationships and environmental issues of California's Central Coast. As Deputy Del Johnson investigates the case of missing journalist Chris Christian, he discovered Stacey Chernak is being abused at home, and may be connected to the case. Zack Calvin is caught in a life-endangering underwater explosion on an off-shore oil rig, environmentalist Miranda Jones is suddenly confronted with the fact that she's dating an oil man, Samantha Hugo continues her tortured search for the son she gave up thirty years earlier, and Sally O'Mally must decide what to do about the child she now carries, and the father who doesn't care.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"A sudsy look at today's toughest issues." -- Hollywood Reporter
"Mara Purl's mix of a soap-opera format is a smash hit in Britain." -- Los Angeles Times
Don't read Mara Purl's Milford-Haven series - unless you want to be captivated. -- Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek - Uhura)
"Mara Purl's mix of a soap-opera format is a smash hit in Britain." -- Los Angeles Times
Don't read Mara Purl's Milford-Haven series - unless you want to be captivated. -- Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek - Uhura)
From the Publisher
Mara Purl's third novel plunges beneath the turbulent surface of life in a small town, and takes readers on a subterranean treasure hunt, not just into the past, but into some of the defining moments of childhood a kind of scuba-trip of the psyche.
In fact, one of the most exciting moments in the series thus far, is where main character Zack is caught in an underwater explosion, and...but I must surface for air before I say too much.
It doesn't hurt that there's a built-in audience from her hit radio series Milford-Haven, U.S.A. which had four and a half million listeners on the BBC. It also doesn't hurt that the Milford-Haven web site (www.milfordhaven.com) is hosted by the Family Internet which brings 1.5 million hits a week. And if you like broadcasting museum shops, all the major ones carry the Milford-Haven audio tapes.
But now the novels have an audience of their own, building momentum as Purl criss-crosses the country at book signings from Richmond, Virginia to Anchorage, Alaska, from Somerset, Kentucky to Los Angeles, California.
Purl uses environmental issues as the undertow in her complex cross-referenced stories which roll over each other like so many waves. Just when the water seems calm, the tide comes in bringing with it the detritis of buried secrets and hopes which float to the surface like long-forgotten messages in bottles.
Samantha Hugo as head of the Environmental Planning Commission faces off with corrupt builder Jack Sawyer but he's also her ex-husband; Zackery Calvin falls in love with wildlife painter Miranda Jones but he works for an oil company. Chris Christian has gone missing while pursuing a story about the corporate ownership of a house under construction but the CEO has ties to oil interests.
Adept at conveying vivid images of her California coastal setting, Purl also shows a special gift for vernacular expression transplanted Arkansian Sally O'Mally's homespun lingo flies off her tougue faster than the grits fly off her skillet.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the novels turns out to be the journal entries, which so far have ended each book. The fast paced language of the main text gives way to deeply reflective soul-searching, replete with metaphor and observation. Indeed the title of each novel becomes the theme for each diary segment a kind of expansively explored poetic icon which illuminates the preceeding text, and foreshadows the next novel in the series.
If you're searching for what to read next, and want a combination of escapism and thought-provoking prose, your answer is Child Secrets.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Secret's Out - this book is a WINNER!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Child Secrets (Milford-Haven, Book 3) (Paperback)
Last night I was up til the wee hours with CHILD SECRETS - it was wonderful to revisit the Milford Haven folks again after so long, and to see them in such bold relief, via descriptive prose. I've long been a fan of the radio series and the tapes, and of course, Books I and II. But now I don't think there's any question - this is my FAVORITE Milford-Haven book (so far!!??) It's so much more complex and deeply involving because with this book, we're delving into areas that can only be reached with the written word, I think. Don't know how long I can wait for Book IV!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deep insightful characters, exciting adventure, sexy romance,
By A Customer
This review is from: Child Secrets (Milford-Haven, Book 3) (Paperback)
Wow - 'Child Secrets' is fine story telling. In this book author Mara Purl is extending backward very artfully. It's hard to imagine how she manages not to violate the outline which the soap opera affords, and yet have a lot richer fabric of the whole story. I was pleasantly surprised at some of the things - such as the the detail of Miranda observing birds in the wild, and the feel for her being an artist. The sex scenes were handled very well - exciting but tasteful. I thought it was quite a thing to have Sally having had an affair with Tony in the past - gives her a lot more character and substance, and it accounts for his coming on the scene. Same thing with Cynthia - her past explains so much about her behavior now. And talk about excitement - that underwater off-shore oil rig segment was high-tech tension. Each novel is deeper and more life-like and realistic, bringing the town and all its characters more and more vividly to life. The whole series is coming on great. It's great stuff!
5.0 out of 5 stars
beautiful new edition of compelling story!,
By middlemoo "maraschino" (United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Child Secrets (A Milford-Haven Novel) (Milford-Haven Novels) (Perfect Paperback)
Last night I was up til the wee hours with Child Secrets. It was wonderful to revisit the Milford Haven folks again and to see them in such bold relief, via your descriptive prose. I don't think there's any question--this is my FAVORITE Milford-Haven book (so far!!??) The radio drama was one thing--this book series in another altogether!! It's so much more complex and involving because you're delving into areas that can only be reached with the written word. Thanks for writing these books!
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First Sentence:
Fog had settled over Milford-Haven in the cool spring night, like a blanket dropped over a child by a watchful parent. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mara Purl, Calvin Oil, Santa Barbara, Samantha Hugo, Joseph Calvin, Jack Sawyer, New York, Doobie Brothers, Zack Calvin, Rune Sierra, Central Coast, Miranda Jones, Delmar Johnson, Morro Bay, Kevin Ransom, Cynthia Radcliffe, Russell Clarke, Thank God, Chris Christian, Child Scows, Nurse Bowen, Environmental Planning Commission, Stacey Chernak, Tony Fiorentino, Mary Meeks Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Fog had settled over Milford-Haven in the cool spring night, like a blanket dropped over a child by a watchful parent. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mara Purl, Calvin Oil, Santa Barbara, Samantha Hugo, Joseph Calvin, Jack Sawyer, New York, Doobie Brothers, Zack Calvin, Rune Sierra, Central Coast, Miranda Jones, Delmar Johnson, Morro Bay, Kevin Ransom, Cynthia Radcliffe, Russell Clarke, Thank God, Chris Christian, Child Scows, Nurse Bowen, Environmental Planning Commission, Stacey Chernak, Tony Fiorentino, Mary Meeks Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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