The Secret Life of Ceecee Wilkes [Hardcover]

Diane Chamberlain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2006

Bestselling author Chamberlain weaves deep emotion into this electrifying page-turner as she examines the consequences of a mother's desperation, her love gone too far, and a decision that blurs the line between right and wrong. Reissue.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Chamberlain has penned another compelling women's novel with characters who become real through their talents, compassion, and indiscretions." -- Booklist on Her Mother's Shadow

"Here, as in previous offerings, Chamberlain creates a captivating tale populated with haunting characters." -- Publishers Weekly on Summer's Child

"The story . . . unfolds organically and credibly, building to a touching denouncement that plumbs the nature of crimes of the heart." -- Publishers Weekly on The Bay at Midnight

"The story offers relentless suspense and intriguing psychological insight, as well as a satisfying love story." -- Publishers Weekly on Breaking the Silence

"This page-turner will please those who like their stories with as many twists and turns as a mountain road." -- Publishers Weekly on The Courage Tree

About the Author

Diane Chamberlain is the award-winning author of sixteen novels that explore the complexities of human relationships -- between men and women, brothers and sisters, parents and children. Diane lives in northern Virginia and is currently at work on her next novel.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Mira (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778322750
• ISBN-13: 978-0778322757
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey where, at the age of twelve, I wrote several dreadful novellas, read and admired only by my family. When college rolled around, I forgot about writing and received my bachelor's and master's degrees in Social Work from San Diego State University. I was a hospital social worker in San Diego, and later in Washington DC. I also had a private psychotherapy practice working mainly with teenagers. All the while, I was writing on the side. I viewed my writing as a hobby, but it quickly became a passion. I finally decided to take a class in 'writing the novel.' I was very shy about showing my work to the instructor, but when I finally did, he loved it! He encouraged me to aim for publication and I decided to go for it. A few years later, my first novel, PRIVATE RELATIONS, was published.

Since then, I've written about a book a year-eternity-one at last count. I now live in North Carolina, the beautiful state where many of my books are set and where I'm ten minutes from my grandbabies. I share my life with my soulmate, John, who's a photographer as well as my muse, and with my two shelties, Keeper and Jet.

Are you wondering what my books are about? One of my readers in Japan had this to say about my work: "You make me believe life is beautiful even if it is full of pain and rage." Her words touch me deeply. They hang on the wall above my computer and help me remember exactly what it is I'm trying to achieve in my stories. I hope you'll enjoy them.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diane Chamberlain writes another 5 star book!, June 7, 2006

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret Life of Ceecee Wilkes (Hardcover)

One of my regrets about finishing a Diane Chamberlain book is that because I have read all of her other titles, I now now have to wait for the next one to be published. But as I wait patiently for the newest book, the anticipation builds since I almost always love her next book. And The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, Ms, Chamberlain's newest book is no exception. As I turned the last page, I realized that this title which is the 16th book I've read by this author, will always be among my favorite books by an author whose books I always enjoy.


CeeCee Wilkes is 16 and alone in the world when she meets a man who sweeps her off her feet. As she becomes more and more involved with him, he tells her about his sister who is in prison and asks her to help him to negotiate her release. Never thinking that this man's sister may have killed somebody not the way he described it, CeeCee goes along with a plan to kidnap the Governor's wife in an attempt to ransom this man's wife for his sister's release. But Tim hasn't told CeeCee the truth and playing on her innocence, she becomes involved thinking the kidnapping will last a few hours and ultimately an innocent woman will go free. Unfortunately, for all involved things go terribly wrong and CeeCee is forced to run to another state, change her name and assume a whole new identity with a forged birth certificate. CeeCee manages to graduate from college and becomes a therapist, marries and has a family all the while hiding her secret from everyone. And while the Governor's wife's body was never found, one day 28 years later during the construction of a development, the remains of the Governor's wife are found setting forth a not only a trial of the man who conned CeeCee at 16 but also a floodgate of emotions for CeeCee. And when Tim is found guilty ans awaits sentencing, CeeCee finds it necessary to reveal the truth which she has so carefully buried from everyone including herself all of these years.

I must admit that unlike some of Ms. Chamberlain's books, this title took me longer to get into. And I also had a harder time liking let alone loving the characters. But at some point, everything came together and I gulped down the pages to see how this title would end and if CeeCee could finally live with herself and her actions.

Ms. Chamberlain is among a handful of writers which include Alice Hoffman. Elizabeth Berg and Luanne Rice who write so beautifully of the love a mother has for a daugher and the love of a daughter for her mother or the love between sisters and even good friends.

I first began reading Diane Chamberlain many years ago whei I came upon her book, Keeper of the Light at the library. Since that time I have read all of her books, some more than once. Her books never fail to engage me with her plots and characters. And even today I list this title among my top 50 reads.If you've read this gifted author before I suggest you read this book quickly. And if you've never read her titles, be sure and include this title and the Kiss River trilogy which begins with Keeper of the Light on your to be read list.

Now I am sitting patiently waiting for the next Diane Chamberlain book to be published and already I am anticipating another great read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Secrets, lies and courage..., November 24, 2009

By 

Denise Crawford "DC" (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes (Paperback)

What a great read! I really enjoyed this mystery about a woman who risks everything to finally do the right thing.

The story takes the reader back to 1977 and unfolds over a span of 20 years, but starts when Corinne sees her mother, Eve, on television confessing to intimate knowledge about a long ago kidnapping and disappearance of a pregnant woman named Genevieve Russell. Construction crews have unearthed Genevieve's remains and have arrested and charged a man with her murder.

CeeCee Wilkes is 16-years-old when she is seduced by an handsome older man, Tim Gleason, and is manipulated into helping him and his brother with the crime. Left to guard the prisoner at a remote cabin in the woods, events transpire that force CeeCee on the run with the newborn infant in tow. Unable to bring herself to leave the little girl with her father, CeeCee makes a decision to raise the child as her own. Years pass. CeeCee, now known as Eve, has created a pleasant, comfortable life for herself and thinks she has moved far beyond those days in the forest -- so far that she has almost forgotten that they ever happened.

This is a wonderfully intimate portrayal of family relationships and the love a mother has for her daughter. I really liked the characters in this book -- flaws and all. (Also found it interesting that Eve had rheumatoid arthritis -- as does the author).

This is only the second novel I've read by Diana Chamberlain, and I can say that she has definitely become an author whose books I need to go back and find and read. Next up for me is Breaking the Silence.

I loved this story about secrets, lies, and courage. Highly recommended!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully captivating and enthralling, March 22, 2006

By 

Heartsong (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Life of Ceecee Wilkes (Hardcover)

I have read all of Ms. Chamberlain's books and "The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes" is one of her best. The story had me hooked from the first page and kept me enthralled to the very last word.

The story is told from the point of view of a frightened, naive sixteen-year old girl who is transformed, literally overnight, into a single mother with adult responsibilities. She spends the better part of thirty years looking over her shoulder and hiding a secret that will affect everyone with whom she comes in contact, especially her beloved daughter.

If you are fan of Diane Chamberlain this book is a must read.