The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes: Chapters 50-71

This post is in response to the book club, Book Beginnings and Bookends, hosted by Erin and Rachel. We just finished up reading The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. I actually finished the book weeks ago, and I am thrilled to finally be able to share the end of the book with everyone. It was such a great story, and definitely a book I would reccommend to anyone out there who is looking for a good read!

If you haven't already joined our book club, now would be a great time! Soon we will be starting our 2nd book. There is a poll up on the book club blog where you can vote for the book you'd like to read next.





1. At the end we find out Tim was sending Cory money because he thought she could be his daughter since he was having an affair with Genevieve. Did you see this coming?

Somewhat. I definitely figured that it had been Tim sending the money. We basically knew it was him who sent CeeCee the $5,000 in the beginning of the book, so I think it just seemed like it had to be him sending the money now too. However, I didn't see the part about him having an affair with Genevieve and Cory possibly being his coming! I was a little shocked by that part, but really at that point in the story it was hard to be shocked by anything. I think it was a little admirable of him to send money to a child who could have possibly been his, but I don't think that makes up for the situation he helped to put CeeCee in, and now Cory in too.




2. By the end of the story, what were your feelings about Eve? How had they changed since the beginning?
In the beginning of the story I thought CeeCee was a young, slightly immature, and very naive. She also seemed to be fairly brave and strong, especially to have been able to have dealt with the kidnapping and everything that followed it the way that she did. Overall my feelings about her haven't changed too much. In the beginning I felt bad for her because her mother had died and she had been in and out of foster homes. When she got involved with Tim, I continued to feel bad for her because it was obvious to me that he was taking advantage of her. When the truth finally came out, I felt horrible for her because her whole life was put at risk, and she was facing lots of jail time. At the end of the story, I still feel bad for her. I feel like she has spent the majority of her life having to deal with problems. Whether it be the death of her mother, a manipulative boyfriend, or having her whole world turned upside down, she has constantly had something to deal with or to worry about. I feel like she hasn't had a chance to really enjoy life or to enjoy being a mother, and that really devestates me for her.




3. Were you happy with the way President Russel treated Cory?
I felt like he came on a little too strong. Then again, he probably figured Cory would have been a lot like her sister, Vivian. Geneiveve and Vivian are really all he had to compare her to, especially since they were her real family. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm, he just didn't know Cory. He didn't know about all her fears and her insecurities. He had been missing his daughter for 20 years, and now here she was. Of course he felt like he needed to make up for the time he had missed. I felt like it was a little unfair for him to be so frustrated wth Cory, she was only trying to protect the only mother she had ever known. I was amazed though that he didn't push for life in prison for Eve. I thought that to be very admirable, and only showed how much this child (Cory) meant to him - even if he had just met her.








4. If you were in Cory's shoes and had just found out all of this about the woman who raised you and who you believed to be your mother, how would you react? Would you forgive?
I couldn't ever imagine this happening to me. It would all seem so unreal, like a dream. Obviously at first I would be in shock, and probably not want to see or speak to anyone. Once the inital shock wore off though I would have lots of questions. I don't think I would want to meet my biological family right away. They would take some getting used to, that's for sure. Eventually I think I would have to forgive though, especially in this situation. It may have taken a while to get to that point, but biological or not, she would still be the woman who raised me - and that makes her my mother.






5. In your mind, how does this story end? Do they all live happily ever after? Does Cory go on having relationships with her old family and her new family?
I think they lived as happily as they could have. I'm sure at first things were very strange, especially for Cory. I think that Cory had relationships with both families afterwards. I think she would have remained closer to the family who had raised her, but I'm sure she had a relationship with her biological family too.








6. How do you think Cory has changed throughout the story? Have your feelings about her changed?
I think she has come to realize just how much Eve, her mother, really does care about her. I think that she sees now that Eve was only trying to protect her. Whether she went about it the right way or not, her motives were still the same. I think she finally understands why her mother felt the need to protect her so much - she was scared Cory would be taken away from her. Back when Cory had moved out and was living with her boyfriend, I thought she was being a brat. Now, I think more highly of her. Just like CeeCee/Eve, she too had a horrible situation to deal with that matured her and changed her life forever.

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes: Chapters 36-50

This post is in response to the Book Beginnings and Book End book club hosted by Erin and Rachel. We are reading Diane Chamberlain's "The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes". I must say that I already finished the book, and I loved it!

I though these chapters were the most suspenseful thus far! I had a difficult time stopping at chapter 50, and I'm pretty sure I just kept reading and ended up finishing the book in the same night. Ha!

1. Have your feelings about Tim changed through out this last section of chapters?
Yes and no. I still think he was wrong for involving CeeCee in his plan, and for being so dishonest with her. I do think it is admireable though that he hasn't mentioned CeeCee. He could have thrown her under the bus and not been sentenced with murder. I guess he has some good qualities about him, or maybe this whole experience has matured him and taught him a lesson.



2. Do you agree with Cory and her behavior as an adult and her life with Ken? Is she justified in cutting her mother and father out of her life?
Heck no! I am so irritated with Cory right now. She may not really be Eve's daughter, but she sure is acting a lot like how CeeCee did in the beginning of this book with all the dumb decisions she is making. I understand that she would want to get away from her mother to become her own person, but letting her boyfriend brainwash her is not the way to do it! If she wants to find herself then she is going to have to learn how to stand on her own two feet. I also want to mention that I was totally disgusted by the amount of disrespect she and her boyfriend showed Eve and Jack when they were in their home! It's one thing for Cory to act that way, but it was totally innappropriate for her boyfriend to act that way!


3. At what point do you think Cory decided to spend less time with her mother?
I think this all started back when Cory wanted to know more about her father and her father's family. Eve wouldn't really answer her questions, and I think that made Cory start to trust her mother less and less. I think that was when she noticed that all of her fears and insecurities were caused by her mother and that made her want to get away from her. It's just so sad though because Eve really does love Cory, and all she wants is for Cory to love her too. It is really upsetting to read about how their relationship has become.



4. What do you think is Eve's biggest fear?
I think Eve is most afraid of losing Cory. I think she is more afraid of that happening than she is of spending time in jail or having to confess to Dru or Jack. I think that having her past thrown back in her face has made her think that she is living a life that is not really hers to live, and that she doesn't deserve it.


5. When the story about Genevieve's body came out, what would you have done if you were Eve? Just sat back and watched things unfold? Come forward? Would you tell Jack?
Like I said in previous posts, I would have been honest from the beginning. I definitely wouldn't have let it get this far. But at this point, I'd probably just sit back and watch it all unfold. I would have to be honest with Jack though. At least to get it off my own conscience and to let him know what they may be up against if her name ever gets mentioned. Tim wasn't concerned about her life and her safety when he involved her in the beginning, why should she worry about him now?

6. Do you think Eve should tell Jack and confess? Why?
Definitely. Jack is her husband and so he has a right to know. I don't believe in keeping secrets in a marriage, especially big ones like this. This is something that could potentially effect Jack and their children. It's only fair that he should know. If not for his sake, than at least so Eve can get it off her conscience and stop acting so strangely around him.

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes: Chapters 21-35

Hello! The following post is my response to the discussion questions for the Book Beginnings and Bookends book club hosted by Erin and Rachel. If you haven't joined yet then you really should! We are about half way through our first book now, but you could definitely join us for our second book that we'll be starting sometime in September.

Are you enjoying this book as much as I am? Honestly, I have already finished it and now Jaime is reading it. Ha! It was such a great story though, and I can't wait until the next book. In the mean time, I am reading "Eat, Pray, Love" and I hope to read "The Help" after that. This book club has really brought back my love of reading and I am enjoying every minute of it!


1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?
Honestly, I have no idea. It seems like he could be the one sending it because we're fairly certain he sent it before, but how in the world does he know where CeeCee/Eve is at this point? Also I think that by sending her the money he is putting himself at risk of being found. It would also put CeeCee at risk of being found and connected to the crime as well. However, seeing as how he is probably the one who sent CeeCee the $5,000 before he is probably the one sending money now. Maybe he feels guilty for what he has done to CeeCee or even feels partly responsible for this baby she is now having to raise.




2. So far, there's been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?
First of all I think I would have had to confess about Cory and what happened to Geniveve from the beginning. Secondly I think I would have had to be more honest with Jack. Maybe not right away of course, but eventually I'd have to let him know. Or at least tell him that Cory is adopted and not actually her biological child. I wouldn't have been able to keep up the charade of going to doctor's visits alone.



3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don't like?
I really like him! I think Jack is just what CeeCee/Eve needs in her life. He is upbeat, funny, and seems like a genuinely good person. He is very different from Tim and that is a good thing. I also like how well he interacts with Cory. She kind of gives him a hard time at first, but he keeps trying and eventually she starts to come around. The only thing I have a problem with is how willing he is to depend on his parents his whole life.



4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve's relationship with Tim and Eve's relationship with Jack?
When CeeCee was with Tim, she was young and inexperienced. She jumped into a relationship with a man much older than her for all the wrong reasons. She was too naive to see that he didn't really care about her, he was only using her. With Jack it is much different. Not only is she now more experienced in life and relationships, but she has also had a bad experience in her relationship with Tim and that makes her more cautious. She is also several years older and has been raising a child for the past few years, and that makes her more mature. She was essentially a child before, and now she is an adult.






5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory's fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?
Yes, definitely. She is way too overprotective of Cory. They have been through a lot, but she is going to have to let her take risks and fall down sometimes too. That's an important part of being a kid and growing up. It's hard for any parent to let their child do that, especially one who has been through what CeeCee has been through, but she needs to do it.
I think she is doing the right thing by sending her to a private school. There will probably be kids there who she can better relate to.




6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory's questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?
I think that she answered them the best that she knew how. She obviously doesn't want to answer those types of questions, but can you really blame her? She wants to be able to be honest with her daughter, but the effects her honesty would have on Cory would be devestating. For now Cory is satisfied with Eve's answers, but I think she will definitely have more questions to come.

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes: Chapters 11-20

This post is in response to Erin and Rachel's book club, Book Beginnings and Book Ends. We are currently reading The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. These responses are for chapters 11-20. I am already almost finished with the book, and so far it is great! I would definitely reccomend it to any of you out there who are looking for a good book to read!

1. Where do you think Tim and Marty are at this point in the story?
Honestly, who knows?? Hopefully they are out negotiating with the Governor just as they said they would. For poor CeeCee's sake I hope they didn't decide to back out of their plan and leave her to pick up the pieces of this mess that they've made.



2. What were your thoughts as CeeCee was helping Genevieve deliver her baby?
"WHAT IS GOING ON? CEECEE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DELIVER A BABY!! TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL!!" This part of the storyline seemed so intense to me, and I was definitely flipping through the pages much faster during this part. My heart was beating faster, my palms got a little sweaty - I can't imagine what it must have been like for CeeCee. I just kept anticipating something bad to happen, but I couldn't picture CeeCee doing anything bad to her (on purpose).


3. After Genevieve died, what would you have done with her baby if you had been in CeeCee's shoes?
I would have called the police and turned myself in. CeeCee got wrapped up in a crazy plan that she didn't know a lot of the details of. I'm not defending what she did, but I think this is when she could have redeemed herself. There is no way I could live my life knowing that I had essentially stolen another woman's child. Yes, that woman is dead now, but Cory's father is still very much alive and should be with his daughter.

4. Why do you think CeeCee/Eve is still holding onto hope that Tim will come for her?
Because like most 16 year olds, CeeCee truly believes that Tim loves her. She is expecting him to come to her rescue and save her from the uncertainty she is facing. With all that CeeCee has been through, losing her mom and being in foster homes all her life, I think she is just looking for someone to love and for that person to love her in return. Right now she believes that Tim really does love her, the way that she loves him.

5. How do you think Eve will establish her new identity in Virginia?
I think her first step should be to get a job so that she can have her new name documented somehow and so that she will have some sort of income and a seemingly normal life. After living in foster homes all her life and essentially having to start over each time, I think this is something that may come easily to her. I'm hoping that she will see that she doesn't need to depend on any man (especially Tim), and that she can do it on her own.

6. What do you think of CeeCee/Eve now after she has gone through with the kidnapping, the delivery of the baby, the escape, and the relocation?
At this point in the story, I really like CeeCee. She has definitely made some bad decisions, and really needs to think things through a little better, but all in all I like her. I feel horrible for her though because she seems like such a good person with such a big heart, but every person she has ever really cared about has been stripped out of her life. Now she has Cory, and I think this is her chance to start her life over and to finally be happy.
I do have to touch on the part where CeeCee thought Cory cut her hand on CeeCee's hair. Um...DUMB! Up until that point I was so involved and interested in the book and then....BAM! I literally almost started laughing out loud! I'm not sure if it was just poor writing, or if it was to show just how immature CeeCee is. Either way, it seemed a little out of place and I think it could have been written better. Other than that though, I am loving the book so far!!

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes Chapters 1-10

I'm sure many of you bloggers out there a very familiar with Erin from Blue Eyed Bride. Her blog is one of my daily reads, and is also one of my most favorites. Recently, she and another blogger, Rachel, started a book club called Book Beginnings and Bookends. I've always loved reading and also always wanted to join a book club. So when I saw that Erin and Rachel were starting an online blogging book club, I had to join!

Our first book to read is The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. This was our first week, and we were supposed to read chapters 1-10. It was a book that I had never about, and also written by an author whom I had never even heard of. I had to keep myself busy reading other books up until the first official day the book club started because I was so tempted to start it early! Come August 9th though I dove right in! I liked the book from the very beginning, and I've really had a hard time putting it down. Before I started reading this book I had convinced myself that between being a mom and having a house to take care of, I didn't have time for reading. I still really don't, but I've been able to find ways to make time for it now. Let's just say that I've found myself up way past my bedtime because I'm unable to put the book down!

Here are my answers to the discussion questions for the first week, chapters 1-10:

1. What was your first impression of Tim?
 At first I was very skeptical and suspicious of Tim. I mean, why would someone Tim's age be so interested in a 16 year old? Especially because in the book it describes Tim as being very handsome, right of the bat I was thinking he must be a womanizer.

Then later, $5000 just shows up for her and (we think) it's from Tim. That seems a little odd if you ask me. First of all, where did he get all that money? Secondly, why would he just give it to CeeCee? To me he seems like a perfect example of "too good to be true". Yea, sure, we think he gave her $5000, but is it really worth having to "pay" him back?

Now I'm definitely wondering what his intentions are with CeeCee.

2. If you were in CeeCee's position, would you be willing to help your boyfriend in the way that she is willing to help Tim?
Definitely not! I am all for helping out someone who is in need, but if that help comes in the form of breaking the law then you're outta` luck. Plus, it's just not me. I'm not a law breaker, nor have I ever been. I can't believe that CeeCee would be either! My first impression of her was totally different than how she is turning out to be.

3. Why do you think CeeCee is so eager to please Tim?
Because she's 16! This is her first relationship, she is very naive about dating at this point. Plus, CeeCee's mother died when she was very young. She has been in and out of foster home after foster home since then. Of course she is looking for someone to please! I think CeeCee is afraid if she disappoints Tim then he will leave her and she'll be alone again.

4. Who do you think has it harder? Tim or CeeCee?
This question is a toughie. I'd say they have both had difficult lives and have both had to deal with a lot. CeeCee has had to deal with her mother passing away and Tim has had to deal with the incarceration of his sister. If I had to pick one who has it harder though, than I'd have to say that it's probably CeeCee. CeeCee has been an orphan since she was a preteen and has had to work at a diner and live with a roommate just to make ends meet. While Tim has only been on his own for a few years. His dad also left him with a house and money.

5. What character trait(s) about CeeCee stuck out the most to you in these 10 chapters?
First of all I have noticed that she is very naive, but she is also very loyal. She is naive because she is willing to do whatever it takes to make it work with Time, even though it is very obvious (at least to me) that he is only using her in his kidnapping scheme. However, she is also very loyal and even though she seems to know what she is doing is wrong, she sticks to her word.

6. Do you think CeeCee is as mature as she seems?
I think CeeCee is mature in some ways, but immature in others. First of all, she has been taking care of herself for a while now, so it is obvious she is mature in that sense. However, I'm afraid that without her mother's guidance, she hasn't learned how to make responsible decisions. I think that is why she is so willing to help Tim with the kidnapping and to take his word that everything will be ok and that they will be able to see each other afterwards.