Helpful Score: 13
Outstanding book! Diane Chamberlain's books get better and better! This book kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginnig. With suspense and love and tenderness, it kept me up and I finished it in 2 days! An A+! I definitely want you all to read this one!
Helpful Score: 8
This is a story about a family and family bonds. It also is a story about courage or rather the courage to do the right thing even if it is the hardest thing to do. It explores the impressions that people make on what makes a person good or evil, or rather do we all possess a little of both?
Helpful Score: 8
I was riveted, pure and simple. Once I started this book, it wouldn't let go. Intelligently written, with terrific characters and a very believable premise, this was a wonderful and thought provoking read. It's one of those books in which you can place yourself in the character's shoes and wonder what you would have done given the same set of circumstances. Diane Chamberlain's well written novels are about love, loss (of life and innocence),relationships and redemption. Very highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 6
I was hooked immediately but worried how the author was going to resolve these very gritty issues for her characters, all of whom I had come to care about, even annoying Cory. However, the ending was realistic without being too pat. Great book.
Helpful Score: 5
I absolutely LOVED this book - one of the best books I have ever read. This was the first book I have read by Diane Chamberlain and I immediately went and ordered five of her other books. Loved it!
Helpful Score: 4
I like this book okay. I found it entertaining. But I cannot say that I'll remember it a year from now. The author has a way of getting you to sympathize with her characters -- all of them, the nice and not-so-nice -- and that part I enjoyed. However, I found the storyline ho-hum, and though I really wanted this book to keep me on the edge of my seat, it disappointed.
Helpful Score: 4
I thought this book was phenomenal. It really makes you think about what choices you would make in difficult situations. It really shows how determination and courage can make you a "better" person. I could not put this book down - read it straight through. Highly recommend. One of the best books I've read this year!!
Helpful Score: 3
I found a copy of this book at the library and so I checked it out to read because the wait list was so long at PBS. I am glad I did because this was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It was really hard to put down and I read it in one day. The book has enough mystery to want to keep you reading and find out what is going to happen next. I will be reading more of Diane Chamberlain's books now.
Helpful Score: 2
I've read a couple of Diane Chamberlain's books but this is by far the best.
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book, I couldn't put it down.
Twenty-eight years ago a North Carolina governor's young, pregnant wife was kidnapped. Now her remains have been found and a man charged with her murder. Only one person -- CeeCee Wilkes -- can refute the charges against him. But CeeCee disappeared years ago . . .
Eve Elliott is a successful therapist to troubled students, a loving wife, a mother deeply invested in her family. But her happiness is built on a lie. When she was a lonely, vulnerable young woman, a single decision made in innocence led to a dark night of unimaginable consequences. Now, forced to confront her past, she faces another terrible choice: reveal to her family that she is not who she seems, or allow a man to take the blame for a crime she knows he did not commit. If the choice affected only her life, Eve is certain she would do what is right. But though inaction means condemning an innocent man, it also means protecting her family from the mistakes of her past.
Corinne Elliott has always known she was different: the only redhead in a family of brunettes, the paralyzing shyness that contrasts with her sister's vivaciousness, the many fears -- of highways, of bridges, of public spaces -- that constrict her daily life. Still, with a new job possibility and a baby on the way, she's found some measure of happiness -- until the day she turns on the television and finds her mother's image on-screen.
Now, as the past explodes into the present, Corinne must confront the secrets she has always intuited, and find answers from the one person who knows the truth of what happened two decades ago -- CeeCee Wilkes.
Twenty-eight years ago a North Carolina governor's young, pregnant wife was kidnapped. Now her remains have been found and a man charged with her murder. Only one person -- CeeCee Wilkes -- can refute the charges against him. But CeeCee disappeared years ago . . .
Eve Elliott is a successful therapist to troubled students, a loving wife, a mother deeply invested in her family. But her happiness is built on a lie. When she was a lonely, vulnerable young woman, a single decision made in innocence led to a dark night of unimaginable consequences. Now, forced to confront her past, she faces another terrible choice: reveal to her family that she is not who she seems, or allow a man to take the blame for a crime she knows he did not commit. If the choice affected only her life, Eve is certain she would do what is right. But though inaction means condemning an innocent man, it also means protecting her family from the mistakes of her past.
Corinne Elliott has always known she was different: the only redhead in a family of brunettes, the paralyzing shyness that contrasts with her sister's vivaciousness, the many fears -- of highways, of bridges, of public spaces -- that constrict her daily life. Still, with a new job possibility and a baby on the way, she's found some measure of happiness -- until the day she turns on the television and finds her mother's image on-screen.
Now, as the past explodes into the present, Corinne must confront the secrets she has always intuited, and find answers from the one person who knows the truth of what happened two decades ago -- CeeCee Wilkes.
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed this book for the most part. It kept my interest and had some twists and turns, though my book club and I thought there were some holes in logic and story.
Helpful Score: 2
This book was fantastic...didn't want to put it down...read in 2 days!
Helpful Score: 1
I could not put this book down, I read it in about 2 days. The author weaves a story that at first seems so extreme. I found myself not liking the main character in the beginning, thinking I could never identify with her choices. But by the end the author brings forth characters that are complex and wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed how she began chapters with letters from the dead mother. WONDERFUL!
Helpful Score: 1
This book is by far the best I have read in quite awhile. If you are a Jodi Picoult fan then I think you should read this book by Diane Chamberlain. I wouldn't say their writing is the same but both authors do such a great job at making you feel as though you really know the characters. And they give you viewpoints from both sides, good and bad. While reading the book I could see the characters so vividly in my mind...this would make such a good movie!
Helpful Score: 1
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story was interesting and definitely kept me turning the pages. There were times though when i got so angry at the main character. It seemed sometimes like some of her actions just did not make sense and she could have gone about things differently, then again If I were in that situation I may have acted the same way. Reading this book made me want to read more Diane Chamberlain. She is one of my new favorites. I kind of wonder what happened to CeeCee after the end of the book.
Helpful Score: 1
A MUST READ! ! ! ! This is the best book I have read in a while. You will not be able to put it down!
Helpful Score: 1
This is a great quick read except for the problem I ran into...my book was missing pages 288 to 353. LOL The book itself really makes you think about what you would do in that same situation.
Helpful Score: 1
This was an excellent story. I didn't want to put it down.
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book! Very quick read, I could not put it down. Would highly recommend.
Helpful Score: 1
I have read hundreds of book in my life time and have never been so fulfilled, as I read, and when I finished, as with this book. Absolutely up on the top of my most favorites. A must read. Great author.
This is an EXCELLENT read - I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!!
Great rollercoaster of a story.
Chamberlain takes you on a journey with the life of CeeCee and what a journey it is. I felt every high and low with this character. I couldn't put it down.
Once you start reading the author keeps you pulled into the story waiting ti see what is in the next page. Great story that leaves you feeling every the characters do. Great read!
Excellent book. Could not put it down.
I came across this book at our local Goodwill. I had never heard of the author or of this book. I am so glad I purchased it! This book gets you right from the beginning and doesn't let go. I really sympathized with and liked the main character and the book is full of really interesting people. I give it 5 stars and I will be reading more from this author!
Great and easy read. Kept you wanting to stop what you were doing to read one more chapter to see what was going to happen next. Highly recommended.
I enjoyed this book, but don't think it is her best work. It was a quick read... great for summer!
Outstanding book! Finished it in two days, just could NOT put it down...I even read at red lights and train stops!!
This is a fantastic novel! It was my first by Diane Chamberlain and I couldn't put it down. She switches beautifully from different perspectives and the result is a fast-paced, riveting novel that keeps you on edge until the very end.
Toward the end I could not put this book down. It wasn't suspenseful in a "mystery" way. It was just watching the people in this family grow and change. I wanted to know what would happen next. I really enjoyed this book.
I found it hard to put this book down, once I started reading it. It was an engrossing story, which kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could. I highly recommend it!
great book
I loved this book. It was so well written, making you want to keep reading to unfold the layers of details involved. You find yourself feeling for everyone in this book. It makes you realize that just hearing something on the news does not give you the in-depth reasons behind decisions that are made. I will seek out other books by Diane Chamberlain after reading this.
Great suspense about moral scrupples and difficult choices...very fast read...would highly recommend...It makes you wonder "what would you do?"
I enjoyed this book...from the first page up until the last. I was drawn in right away. Good book. I will be reading more from this author.
I can't say I loved this book, but it was a story that held my interest throughout and it was a quick read. There were some twists that I didn't see coming, but I didn't really care for any of the characters. At least not any of the main characters. Jack and Dru were probably my favorites, but their roles were fairly minor. I think my problem with the book was that the characters were too black or too white - they weren"t developed enough to feel real - more like cardboard cutouts of what a "good" person or a "bad" person was supposed to look and act like. I give it three stars because the story line held my interest.
I LOVED this book!! I was hooked the moment I picked it up and found myself stying up late just so I could read it. I have since read other books by this author and found them equally as good.
I absolutely LOVED this book! It's a great story, I read it in 2 nights! This book has made me a Diane Chamberlain fan.
This was an excellent book. My first read by this author but I will definitely be reading more. A book about family bonds and doing the right thing no matter how difficult or how serious the consequences. This book kept my interest from beginning to end - hard to put down! I highly recommend this book. Carol
Heavy! Do not choose this book for light reading! When you first begin the story it's a little difficult to follow the story sequence. It keeps jumping from present day to twenty years past. I found story line excruciatingly dark and really almost unbelievable. Sometimes I wondered if it was worth it to continue reading. But then considering the case of the girl who was kidnapped at 11 yrs. of age and then discovered alive almost twenty(?) years later living in California with two children of her own...maybe it's not so unbelievable.
Despite the 522 pages, I found this to be a very quick read. Never once got bored with it. Awesome book, wonderful writing!
Great Book - One of my favorites from Diane Chamberlain.
I had a hard time putting this book down every night. It was written very well and kept me held in suspense. I really enjoyed how it came full circle.
This is the first time I've read anything from this author, and I enjoyed her style of writing very much. She is a wonderful story teller, along the lines of Jodi Picoult. If you like that kind of story, you will appreciate this book. I look forward to reading her other books.
This was a great book! I hope to find more of her's to read.
A sixteen year old girl makes a mistake that causes her to have to change her identity, kidnap a baby and look over her shoulder for 20 years.
A sixteen year old girl makes a mistake that causes her to have to change her identity, kidnap a baby and look over her shoulder for 20 years.
I've had a number of people tell me how good this was, how fantastic is was. I thought it was good but not quite fantastic personally. It's a tad too long-winded for my taste. Minus about a hundred pages and I'd have liked it a whole lot more.
The premise was interesting and the characters likable. I just found myself wishing I was getting through it a little faster. There is another female author who I think writes in a similar way and I can't think of her name right now.
This is the kind of book for a certain reader though - if you don't already like this sort of fiction this probably won't make you. But if you already like this sort of book this is written well and and I have to admit that I was kept guessing in a way.
I wasn't quite sure where Chamberlain was going with a few things.
The premise was interesting and the characters likable. I just found myself wishing I was getting through it a little faster. There is another female author who I think writes in a similar way and I can't think of her name right now.
This is the kind of book for a certain reader though - if you don't already like this sort of fiction this probably won't make you. But if you already like this sort of book this is written well and and I have to admit that I was kept guessing in a way.
I wasn't quite sure where Chamberlain was going with a few things.
A story about a lonely 16 year old who made a very bad choice because she needed love. A page turner! What would you do? My husband enjoyed the story too.
This book was well written and captivating from start to finish. The author made you feel the characters as though you lived with them yourself. I could not put it down, great read!
One of the best books I have ever read.
THE SECRET LIFE OF CEECEE WILKES was the February 2016 pick in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
I'm so happy to say that I loved this book! Although the pace lagged a bit through the middle, for the most part, I couldn't put it down! Especially in the third act. The author did a great job of building the plot and developing the characters and I was 100% emotionally engaged, sometimes even yelling at the book in my hands, LOL!
There were several surprising twists by the end, with a very satisfying wrap up. The writing managed to keep me on the edge of my seat, and even changed my projection about how I would feel about CeeCee in the end.
This is a fantastic story! Highly recommended A read!
I'm so happy to say that I loved this book! Although the pace lagged a bit through the middle, for the most part, I couldn't put it down! Especially in the third act. The author did a great job of building the plot and developing the characters and I was 100% emotionally engaged, sometimes even yelling at the book in my hands, LOL!
There were several surprising twists by the end, with a very satisfying wrap up. The writing managed to keep me on the edge of my seat, and even changed my projection about how I would feel about CeeCee in the end.
This is a fantastic story! Highly recommended A read!
Once I received this book in my mailbox, I couldn't put it down! I read it in a little over a day. I was actually a little sad to have to go to work this morning because it meant no reading! Highly recommend this book.
This was a good book - complex and interesting story. I found it to be very detailed with characters, and it came full circle. Nice ending.
Loved this book.....easy read.
I was addicted to this book! It was fantastic! I didn't want it to end! It had so much emotion with life's ups and downs. It was truly a believable read.
I read all the reviews for this book and ordered it thinking it would be great, but I ended up not liking it at all. The writing was terrible, the story was too dark for me and I just didn't care for any of the characters. I stopped reading after 70 pages.
What a great story.This was my first Diane Chamberlain book but I will read more of her work.
Great book! It is a wonderful tale of a young girl thrust into womanhood after horrible choice she made. It is a facinating story of her dark past and the motherhood she inherited from that past.
Great book, great story line. Held my interest most of the way. I felt Cee Cee was a very brave person and made the most out of her life. Really liked this storyy.
What a great author, what a great book. Wow, this was a good, moving story. How can you not fall in love with CeeCee?
enjoyed this very different story. would be great for a book club with lots of discussion.
