(Review) A Secret In Salem

TITLE: A Secret in Salem
AUTHOR: Sheri Anderson
PUB DATE: November 2010
PUBLISHER: Soourcebooks
PAGES: 309
SOURCE: Received from publisher

ABOUT THE BOOK:
On the winding roads leading to Monaco, a convertible careens off the road and over the cliffs-killing a mother and leaving her distraught daughter Amelia in critical condition. Amelia’s accident reveals that she is not truly her father’s daughter. Against her aristocratic fiance’s wishes, Amelia sets out on a quest to find her biological parents that leads her to Salem. She begins a determined investigation of the denizens of the city and tracks down the possibilities- Patch and Kayla, Bo and Hope, John and Marlena-gobbling up every bit of history she can find. As she uncovers secrets and scandals, she finds herself growing dangerously close to the truth. (From Good Reads)

Marlena & John have never been so close, and yet so far apart…

Marlena’s love, John, has been paralyzed for two years, and she is becoming desperate. Although her love for him has never waned, she must find a cure before they drift too far apart as man and wife. But John’s illness may not be all that it seems, and the truth could tear them apart forever.

On the winding roads leading to Monte Carlo…

Charlotte Gaines, daughter of one of the world’s richest men and one of the hottest fashion designers, discovers a hidden truth about her family that she never suspected. It sets her on a quest that will uncover long-buried secrets, hidden passions, and dangerous mysteries…all leading to a city called Salem, and a revelation that will change all of their lives forever. (From Publisher’s Website)

MY THOUGHTS:
I have to send out a huge THANK YOU to Liz from Sourcebooks (who I got to meet at BEA and when I was in Naperville this summer) who emailed to ask if I would be interested in reading A Secret In Salem. She didn’t have to ask me twice. I think that might have been one of the fastest email replies.

Days of Our Lives is one of my favorite all time Soap Operas and I started watching it back in 1988. I watch it all the time and its sad to see your favorite characters leave the show either by death (Alice Horton on the show and in real life) or their contracts expire.

The reason I started to watch it back in 1988 was because of Mathew Ashford, who played Jack Devereaux. I thought I would include this picture taken roughly around 1990 or so when I got to meet him when he came to Montreal. He was so sweet.

Anyways, back to my review. I LOVED, LOVED this book. You don’t have to be a fan of Days to read this but if you are you will realize that the book takes off where the characters left such as John and Marlena, Belle, Shawn and Claire, and Abby and Chelsea. Do you remember when John and Marlena left? Well we find out that they are living in Switzerland and John was paralized when he left and no idea why. Well the answers will be revealed. Plus John has a few secrets of his own that as your reading the book you wonder what John is up too and could it possibly ruin his relationship with Marlena. I mean what man makes his workers sign a confidentally agreement about his treatment and Marlena isn’t to know? Well John Black does. I was curious to see what John was doing.

Belle, Shawn and Claire left Salem and decided to see the world aboard the Fancy Face IV. They are in Monte Carlo when life changes from them. Belle has a secret that could possibly tear up hers and Shawn’s relationship. Plus she has some good news to share with Shawn which the reader can almost guess right away what it is but then as you are reading you wonder more about it.

WE are introduced to some new characters, siblings Charlotte, Chance and Jackson, their rich parents Olivia and Richie. They are the couple behind OMG a fashion design label.

I was curious to see how they would play into the storyline and it kept me reading and turning the pages to find out plus a few late late nights.

When Olivia suddenly dies in a car crash The Gaines secrets are revealed and they especially hurt Olivia the most because she begins to question her life and changes her world as she knows it.

So, if your a fan of Days then I have to say you must read this. You won’t be disappointed. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series called A Stirring in Salem (February 2011) and A Scandel in Salem (May 2011). I am not sure if all the books are linked together but from the sounds of it A Stirring in Salem might pick up where this one finished.