Charity's Angel
by Elizabeth Graham

(Novella in Angel Love(Anthology)
Publisher: Zebra Date: August 1996
ISBN: 0-8217-5375-4

A historical romance novella set in 1876 Maine. Charity Brooks doesn't want to marry. But neither does she want to die. When, after an accident, Gabe, her guardian angel, forces her to make the choice she agrees to wed. Only to discover she wants only Gabe, come to earth to aid in her search for a mate. Of course, that would be impossible. An angel can't marry a mortal woman...or can he?

"Charity's Angel is a dream come true! A heavenly romance!"
- Gloria Miller, The Literary Times

"Charity's Angel is a heartwarming and moving tale that will leave readers feeling good about themselves and the world around them. Elizabeth Graham can warm even the coldest of hearts."
- Harriet Klausner, Affaire De Coeur

"An entertaining tale filled with humor and budding romance...charming..."
- Nancy McCann, Rendezvous says:

"With a whimsical sense of humor and a wonderfully light touch, Elizabeth Graham brings an angel to earth and brings love to a cynical human in heavenly fashion."
- Bonnee Pierson, CIS Literary Reviews, RWA On-Line Chapter

CHARITY’S ANGEL
(Historical novella for Angel Love anthology)
Elizabeth Graham
6/96 - Zebra

Charity Brooks is riding her horse and she doesn’t see the low hanging branch in time to avoid a collision. She has a terrible headache that suddenly disappears, and when she opens her eyes, she thinks she’s standing in a cloud. The handsome man beside her assures her that this is no dream and he tells her that he is her guardian angel and she has been given another chance to turn her life around. Charity’s destiny is to marry and have children. But all of the men that she has met are unacceptable to her. She is very wealthy and she wants a husband who will love her, and not just her money. Her angel tells her what is required of her if she wants to go back and resume her life on earth, and Charity accepts the terms.

Later, Gabriel becomes human and appears on earth to help Charity find a husband and he poses as the manager of Sea Brook Inn, which she owns. Gabe’s human emotions are very strong towards Charity and her feelings for him are likewise returned, and yet they both know that theirs is a forbidden love. Gabe and Charity declare their love for each other and give in to their passion, and minutes later, Gabe begins to fade away.

Gabe watches over Charity as she stands on the edge of a cliff in a storm. He has pleaded with Michael himself to go back to earth, but he has been denied. When the cliff crumbles, Charity falls into the sea and Gabriel watches, horrified. Will Charity’s Angel be allowed to save her?

"Romance readers will be delighted with this tale by Ms. Graham!"

"Charity’s Angel is a dream come true! A heavenly romance!"

"Elizabeth Graham has scripted a divine story!"

-Gloria Miller, The Literary Times

Excerpt:

Charity turned to Gabe, her face softened, her smile tremulous. Then, her smile faded as she stared into the depths of his dark eyes. Her joy of a moment ago faded, too, desolation replacing it. How could she ever have thought she could marry another man when her heart, her soul, her body, all of her belonged to Gabe?

And always would.

A small, strangled sob escaped her. Gabe moved a step nearer, then he opened his arms and Charity went into them. His arms closed tightly around her, pulling her against his hard muscled body.

Charity lifted her face toward him. "This feels so right -- as if it were meant to me."

Gabe's dark eyes burned into hers. He was silent for a moment, then he nodded.

"Yes," he said, his voice rough with feeling. Yet even as his trembling hands encircled her face, even as his mouth at last found hers in a deep kiss, he knew how wrong they were.

This wasn't meant to be.

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