A Stirring from Salem - Softcover

Anderson, Sheri

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1402244770 ISBN 13: 9781402244773

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark, 2011

Synopsis

As New Year's fireworks light the London sky...

The fallout from Richard Gaines's financial debacle spreads deeply into the lives of the citizens from Salem. With John and Marlena's help, Charley believes Richard's unspeakable wrongs have been rectified. But soon, while on an unexpected and lifechanging journey to South Africa, Charley discovers that the scandal has far wider implications.

In the exotic and dangerous lands of South Africa...

A deadly secret is revealed that threatens a clinic run by Kayla, Patch, and Bill Horton. John and Marlena, with the help of family and friends from Salem, work to uncover the truth and save the clinic. Amid the scandal, Charley finds herself thrown into the world of high fashion and drawn to a man she never expected. Where danger lurks behind every bush, old loves will be challenged, secrets will be revealed, and passions will ignite stronger than ever.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Few places on earth are as dazzling as London on New Year's Eve, and this year was no exception.

Hundreds of thousands of revelers swarmed the streets for miles around the Thames as they waited in the freezing night air for the most recognizable clock in the world, Big Ben, to strike midnight. The centuries-old celebration in historic Trafalgar Square had been relocated to the "London Eye," a massive Ferris wheel on the Thames that could be seen from all across the most visited city in the world. And when the ten-minute fireworks extravaganza started, London would erupt into glorious chaos.

Most people huddled together for warmth on the packed streets while they waited, but the glitterati were celebrating in the world-famous clubs and bars across London. Charley Gaines, a beautiful teenaged former heiress, and her brothers were at the hottest New Year's Eve party in the city at the rooftop club Rockwell.

Jubilation, passion, debauchery, and hope mingled in the air. Dom Pérignon corks popped. Everyone was there-from Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, The Black Eyed Peas, and Quentin Tarantino.

"Jackson," Charley said as she tapped her big brother on the shoulder, "I want to get out of here before the city goes mad."

There was no answer. Charley turned to see that he was in a lip-lock with Abby Deveraux. Jackson and Abby had been seeing each other off and on since they had met the previous summer in Monte Carlo. It had been a tumultuous summer for the Gaines family-a summer that had ended not only with the collapses of their father's financial empire and their mother's OMG fashion house, but with their parents' tragic deaths as well.

But this was New Year's Eve, and Jackson, Charley, and Chance were determined to put the old year's tragedies behind them as best they could. It's what their larger-than-life, full-of-pride, and totally image-conscious parents would have expected.

"It's not even midnight," Charley said, shaking her head with a smile. Then her other brother squeezed past her as he headed to his Tom-Ford-suited date. "Chance!" she shouted.

The next in line to the now-defunct Gaines throne was car­rying two shots of Milagro Select. "Can I get you one, Sis?" Chance smiled, indicating the pricey liquor as he inched his way through the massive partying crowd. "It'll have to be after midnight."

"No, I'm leaving...and tequila's not my thing, in case you for­got!" she reminded him.

"But New Year's Eve is a time to celebrate. This last year is almost over," he said emphatically over the escalating din. "Only way to go is up."

"And we will!" Charley proclaimed a little too emphatically. "I feel it."

"Me, too," Chance lied. The Gaineses all hoped for the best but had learned to expect the worst.
Someone blew a paper horn in Charley's ear. It didn't matter that these were some of the wealthiest celebrities from around the globe; cheesy horns and noisemakers were at the ready.

"Ten..." the crowd started as the countdown all around Europe began.

"Oh, no!" Charley gasped.

"...nine..."

"See you tomorrow?" she yelled to her brother over the deaf­ening noise.

"...eight..."

"Gotta go over our resolutions!" she continued, straining to be heard.

"...seven..."

"Bye!" She needed to make her getaway.

"SEX!"

Chance nodded, laughing cheekily at the crowd's countdown joke as he turned and handed his date the intoxicating drink.

"...five..."

"'Scuse me, 'scuse me!" Charley repeated as she shouldered her way through the crowd.

"...four...three..."

Time was running out, and Charley began to panic. If the club was a madhouse now, in ten minutes it would be a zoo. She was in a sea of Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, and even some cherished logos that represented her mother's internationally coveted OMG brand.

"Charley, how was your Christmas?" squeaky-voiced Dalita Kasagian yelled, distracting Charley whose heel caught on the rug as she tried to avoid Dalita.

"...two..."

Charley lurched for the exit and struggled to keep from falling flat on her face. As she started to go down, the club went totally mad.

"Happy New Year!" Horns blared, people kissed, confetti flew, and fireworks filled the London sky. Charley fell into the arms of a tall, dark, and strikingly handsome man who was standing with a eurotrash entourage behind him.

"Just who I was looking for." The man smiled evenly through pearly white teeth. "Charley Gaines."

Did he just say my name? she thought.

"Vincent Castle?" Charley gasped as she realized who he was.

Vince Castle was only the most successful photographer since Annie Leibovitz. Charley's mother had always wanted him for the OMG fashion layouts. And as an aspiring photographer herself, Charley was in total awe.

"Good eye." Vince smiled as he indicated the madness. "This is nuts."

Before she could agree, Vince wrapped his arm through hers and led her out of the party everyone in London would give their eyeteeth to be in.

As they made their way through dozens of kissing, groping, and dancing partyers, Charley was dumbstruck.

What does Vince Castle want from me?

Review

Author and former soap opera writer Sheri Anderson has delivered another exciting, passionate and well written book in "A Stirring from Salem."

It's no secret I'm a Days of Our Lives fan. Yes, I can't get enough of the Hortons, Bradys and DiMeras. Give me a good cat fight between Sami and Nicole over Jerry Springer any day. And as many fans I was so disappointed when my favorite characters were written off due to storylines, budget cuts or actors leaving.

Last year I was lucky enough to review Sheri Anderson's book A Secret in Salem. It brought me a story with Marlena, John, Shawn D, Belle, Claire, Chelsea, Abby and even a bit of Jack and Jennifer. I was also introduced to a few new characters, one of them being Charley Gaines who it was discovered was a daughter of John and Marlena. Yes, another Marlena child she didn't know she had.

Well, I had the opportunity to read A Stirring from Salem. A Stirring from Salem is book 2 in a 3 part series featuring Charley Gaines. In this book Kayla and Patch are working at the Tomali Clinic, owned and run by Bill Horton. Tomali is on the Timbavarti Game Reserve in South Africa. Charley just happens to go there as an assistant to one of her favorite photographers on a photo shoot while John and Marlena visiting Patch and Kayla. They're all caught up in a blackmarket poaching ring and John using his ISA contact, Shane Donavon helps to bring the ring down and capture the master mind.

While all of this is happening we learn a bit more about what's been happening with Patch, Kayla and Little Joey as well as Bill Horton. There are some new friendships made, old ones strengthened and further bonding between Charley, John and Marlena.

I can't wait to read book 3, A Scandal in Salem.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1402244770
• ISBN 13: 9781402244773
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 292