Milford-Haven, California accumulates many individuals with various ambitions and secrets. Zachary Calvin takes time from his high power job to stop in the beautiful quiet town to become immersed in a piece of art at a gallery. He becomes completely taken by Miranda Jones and her paintings. Miranda comes from an influential rich family and has broken off to pursue her dream of painting, striving to come into her own person revealing the soul of the animals she paints and the life she puts into her landscapes. Zelda McIntyre is a voluptuous owner of Artist Representations in Santa Barbara, and Miranda's rep, art buyer and a female who has her eyes set on super rich Joseph Calvin, and father of Zach.

Samantha Hugo, director of Milford-Haven's Environmental Planning Commission, is the former wife of Jack Sawyer, a handsome but gruff contractor-builder, always stretching the guidelines. Samantha and Jack are always at each other's throats with different opinions, which can halt Jack's construction attempts. But, Sam has a secret that could change Jack's life as well as her own forever.

Christine Christian is a vivacious blonde with a penchant for pursuing her special investigative talents for Satellite TV. Joseph Calvin and Christine are romantically involved, even though there is an age gap between them. Joseph is very concerned that Christine has missed their romantic rendezvous and missing now for some time, completely unlike the energetic female.

Visitors come and go to Milford-Haven, each with a story of their own. Their lives intertwine and secrets are kept that can and will change lives forever. WHAT THE HEART KNOWS is one of the Milford- Haven series with Mara Purl's line-up of sexy, and sometimes, eccentric characters. The series will continue through five books, and I imagine each will have its own line of unusual characters with their extraordinary and peculiar circumstances. I think the key to this series is to be sure and read them all or the reader is sure to miss something vital.

The first book seems hanging at this point, and only makes me want to read the next to complete that circle of lives I've already read about. This author is a former soap opera celebrity who has used her background talents to include an abundance of thrilling mystery, suspense and romance throughout her story. If this doesn't keep your mind working, nothing will!