The Lost Daughter (The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes) by Diane Chamberlain

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The Lost Daughter (The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes) by Diane Chamberlain is a story of love and betrayal and how one small decision can change your life, and the lives of those you love, forever.

My Book Review Rating: 5 stars – the book had me on the edge of my seat from the first word to the last.

Here in the UK this book is called The Lost Daughter - and it has a gorgeous red cover that just called to me from the shelf at the supermarket. Although only recently published here it seems this book was released in the States back in 2006 under the label The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes. How’s that for confusing? I have to say, I prefer the UK title better!

I’ve been laid up with a throat infection these past few days and was looking for something to cheer me up and pass the time so I picked up The Lost Daughter, and pretty much devoured it in two sittings. The message on the back cover says “For fans of Jodi Picoult, this is a must read” and they weren’t wrong.

Chamberlain tells the story from the angle of two different characters as we are introduced to CeeCee Wilkes, a sixteen year old girl who falls in love with an older man who then abuses her trust and puts her in a dangerous situation. Forced into the middle of a kidnap attempt which goes horrible wrong Cee Cee is forced to flee the town and change her identity. As time goes by she settles in to her new life, falls in love again and raises a family. All is well until 30 years later the man whom she was so in love with at the tender age of 16 is sentenced to death for a crime only she knows he didn’t commit. She is then faced with a heart-breaking decision. To tell the truth and shatter the lives of her much-loved family. Or keep a secret that will send an innocent man to the grave.

It’s riveting stuff and a real page-turner. I’ll be heading to Amazon to look up some of her other novels as soon as I’ve published this!