The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes: A Novel

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 Product Description In 1977, pregnant Genevieve Russell disappeared. Twenty years later, her remains are discovered and Timothy Gleason is charged with murder. But there is no sign of the unborn child. CeeCee Wilkes knows how Genevieve Russell died, because she was there. And she also knows what happened to the missing infant, because two decades ago she made the devastating choice to raise the baby as her own. Now Timothy Gleason is facing the death penalty, and she has another choice to make. Tell the truth, and destroy her family. Or let an innocent man die in order to protect a lifetime of lies... 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 Elliot 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 Elliot 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 over two decades ago-CeeCee Wilkes. ([source][1]) [1]: https://dianechamberlain.com/books/the-secret-life-of-ceecee-wilkes/ In 1977, pregnant Genevieve Russell disappeared. Twenty years later, her remains are discovered and Timothy Gleason is charged with murder. But there is no sign of the unborn child. CeeCee Wilkes knows how Genevieve Russell died, because she was there. And she knows what happened to her missing infant, because two decades ago she made the devastating choice to raise the baby as her own. Now Timothy Gleason is facing the death penalty, and she has another choice to make. Tell the truth and destroy her family. Or let an innocent man die in order to protect a lifetime of lies. (back cover) After a dark night of unimaginable consequences, CeeCee Wilkes starts a new life as Eve Elliot and now, as a successful therapist, finds her past and present colliding, forcing her to make a difficult decision