Keeping Secrets

by Rita Durrett

In the coming-of-age novel, ‘Keeping Secrets’, three-year-old Caitlyn Grant’s mother passed away and left her living with the step-father. Now she is seventeen and pregnant. She fears being forced to get an abortion if her stepfather finds out. He doesn’t know yet, and if she can help it, he never will. Gathering courage from her mother’s childhood lessons of faith, Caitlyn goes to school as usual one morning and disappears. Facing the world as a runaway, she has the challenge of hiding from her step-father and keeping her past hidden from those in her new world. She is desperate to find a home, safety and security. What she finds is a formidable, rugged and handsome Forest Thompson. He wants to be a part of her life, but there are so many things she can't tell him. How many secrets can a young girl keep without being found out? Keeping Secrets is a story of courage, determination, and most of all, it is a story of love.

368 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2011

About the author

Over 35 years in the field of education have given Rita Durrett insight and knowledge about American families, their inner turmoil, instability and resilient structure. Living in the Midwest has exposed Rita to individuals as unique and inspirational as the land they come from. Bits and pieces of each of these myriad of personalities help her to create memorable characters that come alive on the page and grab at your heartstrings.
Rita is the mother of two sons and grandmother to five energetic boys and one sweet little girl.

Reviews

[Joleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Christian Fiction? WRONG!!!

When the categories near the bottom of the Amazon page for this book said it was Christian Fiction, I was hopeful, as the premise sounded pretty good.
Oh my, this is not what I would call Christian Fiction. I agree with one reviewer that it's not a good teen or YA book either. Not only is there a lot of emphasis on good looks, big breasts, looking good in work shirts, but I was taken aback right away with a little language. Now, it's only the word "damn", but still, totally unnecessary for something listed as Christian Fiction.
Also, ***SPOILER*** Forrest, the young man interested in Caitlyn, who knows she came to their property as a pregnant teenager, never asked her about the father of the child, or if she was hurt (She ran away!!! Of course she was hurt in some way!!!!)... but because he walked into her home and saw her hind end up in the air showing lacy panties as she was scrubbing the floor, he felt great desire and decided to kiss her and carry her to the bed and proceed to take her clothes off, and put his hands where they just didn't belong.
AND this was after her attending church with the family for months, and where God was supposed to be important.
UGH... This author doesn't have a clue!!! Attraction, physical desire, and touching between two people who are unmarried could have been handled soooooo differently.
After she told him to stop, he never pursued what was wrong, nor did he apologize, but left in a huff and was confused. REALLY????? You never even got to know her history, you piece of poo!!!!!
Granted he was good to her, and he seemed to genuinely care for her, but there were so few real conversations. It was all physically taking care of her, and physical attraction.
This book just burned me. I will never read another book by this author.

[Jennifer McMurrain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping Secrets is a great book, I instantly feel in love with Caitlyn. Durrett has a way of making you care for your characters, whether it be to love them or hate them. She plants you right in the middle of rural America and in the drama of a young girl having to deal with a situation no person should ever have to deal with. Kudos, Rita Durrett, I really enjoyed it.

[Mary Kincaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Young Adult Novel about Caitlyn Grant. Caitlyn is a girl who struggles to find a way to love and be loved after she suffers abuse. It is a story of friendship and the small town who opens their hearts and takes her into their lives. I enjoyed the story. It reiterates the values that I most believe in, ie, if you look for answers you will find a solution.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book shows the emotional side of sexual abuse

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for a quick read on a rainy day. Made me cry. Loved the ending.