The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes.

This book was wonderful! I was completely engrossed after the first few pages. The story sucked me in right away and kept me interested through the very last page.

Diane Chamberlain's The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes opens with the introduction of the title character. She is 16, naive, and alone in the world, left behind by her mother who passed away of cancer when CeeCee was only 12 years old. CeeCee's path crosses with a graduate student in the diner that she works at near campus. This graduate student plays on her naivety, her loving spirit, and her need for love to talk her into doing his bidding on a kidnapping which he claims will exonerate his sister who is on death row for a crime she did not commit. CeeCee reluctantly agrees and her adventure quickly begins.

This story is exciting, and intense. The characters are richly developed and there is an underlying commentary on the love of a mother for her child and what it means to be a family. This is definitely a must read!