Groomed: Danger lies closer than you think

by Casey Watson

It’s late on Friday night when Casey’s mobile starts to ring. She is expecting it to be her daughter Riley. But it isn’t Riley. It’s a woman from the Emergency Duty Team. So begins Casey and Mike’s latest fostering challenge – a fifteen-year-old girl called Keeley who’s run away from her long-term foster home 25 miles away.

The Jonathan Ross Show has just started when Casey gets the call. She thinks it will be Riley – telling her that her favourite actor is going to be on TV. But it’s something far more a fifteen-year-old girl who has run away from her foster family and accused her foster father of sexual abuse. The family deny in vehemently, but such an allegation can never be taken lightly, so a new home must be found for Keeley.

Keeley is polite, but she’s sharp, and she has all the hallmarks of a child who has been in the system a long time, and knows how to play it. Whether the allegation is true or not, Casey knows there will be no winners here. If it is true, then a young girl’s life has been torn asunder. If not, then the heartache for the family will only be surpassed by the bleak outlook for Keeley.

In the short term, it’s a case of providing a safe, supportive home for a vulnerable child. But with the dangerous world of the internet at her disposal, it seems this strong-minded youngster has her own ideas of where that safe place should be…

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Fostering, Ebooks, True Crime, Audiobook, Abuse

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2017

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been dedicated to the army of passionate foster carers out there, each doing their bit to ensure that our children are kept as safe as possible in such changing and often scary world. Some foster parents often have to deal with troubled children that have come from a troubled family. I love reading about how foster parents cope in the difficult circumstances that arise while a foster child is in their care. Although I love reading about children with a foster family I personally don't think that I could do their job. Keely who had been in foster care since the age of ten had run away from her foster-mother Zoe and her paedo foster-father. Yes it seems that is why she run away and made an allegation about her foster dad that will have to be looked into. Was Keely telling the truth about her foster dad?  It also appears that Keely's family did have a long history with social services.  I was absolutely horrified when Casey who is now a temporary foster-mother for fifteen year old Keely finds her in her bedroom on her smart phone doing phone sex with strangers.  How would you cope in that situation if a foster child or your young fifteen year old was doing phone sex when it's happening in your own home? But a fostering agency link worker tells Casey in the eyes of law they are only talking. Oh give me strength please, how on earth does the young fifteen year old Keely find the courage to do phone sex? A brilliant read as all of Casey Watson's books are on foster caring.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won in the Goodreads Giveaways.

[Grass monster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blurb :
It’s late on Friday night when Casey’s mobile starts to ring. She is expecting it to be her daughter Riley. But it isn’t Riley. It’s a woman from the Emergency Duty Team. So begins Casey and Mike’s latest fostering challenge – a fifteen-year-old girl called Keeley who’s run away from her long-term foster home 25 miles away.
The Jonathan Ross Show has just started when Casey gets the call. She thinks it will be Riley – telling her that her favourite actor is going to be on TV. But it’s something far more urgent: a fifteen-year-old girl who has run away from her foster family and accused her foster father of sexual abuse. The family deny in vehemently, but such an allegation can never be taken lightly, so a new home must be found for Keeley.
Keeley is polite, but she’s sharp, and she has all the hallmarks of a child who has been in the system a long time, and knows how to play it. Whether the allegation is true or not, Casey knows there will be no winners here. If it is true, then a young girl’s life has been torn asunder. If not, then the heartache for the family will only be surpassed by the bleak outlook for Keeley.
In the short term, it’s a case of providing a safe, supportive home for a vulnerable child. But with the dangerous world of the internet at her disposal, it seems this strong-minded youngster has her own ideas of where that safe place should be…

My Thoughts :
I have read a couple of Casey Watson’s books and they never disappoint. Told with a caring, sensitive and empathic view Casey opens up her world to the struggles and trials and tribulations of foster caring. Many come to Casey in difficult circumstances and in need of help and support. Thankfully their are people out there like Casey and her husband whom will go to the ends of the earth to help these vulnerable children and teens.
Gripping and emotional, you will not want to put this down.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free from Good Reads.
I had never read any of the other books written by Casey & there are lots more. I look forward to reading some of her other books.
This book was for me, a cannot put down, until I had got to the end book. I read it in a couple of days, as I was intrigued to find out what happened in the end. It has twists & turns from beginning to end.
It gives an insight into vulnerable children, foster carers, social services & the police.
Extremely well written - I cannot wait to read some of the authors other books & will definitely recommend to my friends.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five star read.. I could not put it down.. It's heartening to know caring people like the author exist.

[Martha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Currently half way through this book....and I'm so bored. Probably won't finish it.....disappointing.

[Maryshell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of her Better Books

Casey is one of my favorite authors and I read all of her books. Both her and Cathy Glass. I always look forward to new releases. This book, however, I didn’t care for at all. The story wasn’t that interesting, so I actually had to make myself finish this book. I expect to read about shocking cases, but this one was not. I even found it hard to follow at times. Definitely not one of Casey’s better books. Hopefully the next one will make up for it.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Couldn't put it down, as with all of Casey Watsons books.

[Dan Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, "Groomed" was a well-written and thought-provoking book - one of Casey Watson's best. Unlike some of her other books, the events in this one obviously took place very recently - a lot of which I didn't at first understand, not having teenagers of my own. I admit to being absolutely appalled to read about "phonesex" and "textsex" - apparently commonly carried out by young teenage girls as a method of earning easy money. Sadly, these things have come about by youngsters all having easy access to social media and owning their own i-phones. When Casey discovered her young charge indulging in phonesex, her first instinct was to confiscate her phone; but she was not permitted to do this - apparently every youngster just has to have an i-phone these days. It seems they just can't exist without one. (The fact that generations of people, myself included, grew up happily, healthily and SAFELY in an age where mobile phones hadn't even been dreampt of, seems to have been totally ignored.) But back to the book. Casey describes her experiences with her usual frankness; she writes honestly about her feelings of frustration and anger, and her disagreements with her husband to the point where they both feel like asking Social Services to terminate their arrangement with this particular foster child. But thankfully, she perseveres (I know I couldn't have!) and the story, as always, has a happy ending. Well done, Casey Watson - another winner

[Katie_Potatie]

Three things about Groomed:
1. Pretentious foster carer
2. Horrific sexual grooming
3. Happy Ending

CAWPILE - No Applicable

I think my review of Groomed is slightly bias as my only other experience with Foster Carers memoirs has been the queen Cathy Glass.

I found the account of fostering to be a bit lacking, and we spent a lot of time hearing about how amazing Casey was, which i felt a bit pretentious and self indulgent. I believe Casey is an absolutely admirable person for doing what she does, but i don't really want to hear about it every chapter as a book filler.

Keeeley was unfortunately a product of the system, she knew how to work it and had been hurt enough times top reject the love of a good foster carer. I felt strongly for Keeley's struggle and ultimately the big reveal (although the book is named groomed, so I guess it is not that big of a reveal).

I do genuinely enjoy foster carer memoirs, and will be looking for more Casey Watson in the future.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up a stack of Casey Watson books during a bought of illness. Needing something to occupy my thoughts, but not demand undue energy, or detour rest. Not my usual genre, these social-care mystery dramas, were an on choice. I’d relate them to lifetime movies, with a slower pace and narration. They fit my purpose well, and filled the restless silence.
This particular story was quite predictable. Though, they all are, to a point. However, it had some satisfying twists and turns, and the author’s timing / pace is satisfying. This one, out of the lot, also calls out the faults of the social services system most pointedly.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story about Keeley and her life before coming to stay with foster carer Casey and her family. This being a true story you just can’t imagine what these children have had to go through, but I am pretty sure Casey would welcome you with big open arms, she seems such a wonderful, caring lady and anyone would be lucky to have her as a foster carer. There are sensitive issues raised in the book but they have been written sensitively. I always feel when I have read one of Casey’s books that the children that are bought to her stay with me.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opening read that offers insight into the work of specialist foster carers. The book tells the story of teenager Keeley and her specialist foster carers Casey and Mike. Casey writes with sensitivity and empathy and you can tell that she is passionate about making a positive difference to young people's lives. The story kept me on my toes and I found it hard to put down. I wasn't familiar with Casey's work before I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. However, I'm glad to have been introduced to her books and I will be sure to take a look at some of her previous works.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a few Casey Watson books in the past and this one like the others did not disappoint, it is a story told with such compassion and caring. As with all of her books the reader is invited into her home to see the lives of the traumatised and abused children that she fosters and how with love care and understanding they are helped. I have a personal interest in adoption and fostering so found this book like the others a very informative read.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting yet exceedingly frustrating read about 15 year old Keeley who comes to stay with Casey Watson, a kindly foster carer and her husband. Keeley has a troubled past, and has been moved from her previous foster family due to accusing the husband of sexually abusing her. Throughout the book, Casey tries time and time again to get Keeley to open up about her past, and gives her reasonable and responsible boundaries, and they seem to briefly work, but when she walks in on Keeley having phone sex in her bedroom things take a dark turn, very quickly.
What a relief to finish!

[Mrs Elaine Woolacott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another truly heartfelt cast book

Love all of Casey watsons books and have read them all, this book yet another heart tugging storyline of a young girl Keeley and the horrendous time she is and has been going through, only downside is I read the books so quickly as once I start I can't stop, that I now have to wait for the next book! Good luck Keeley for the future.
Elaine xx

[Lynn Meldrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book yet very harrowing

Casey Watson as always writes a remarkable story of the lives of her foster children. Such a remarkable woman to perceiver with Keeley. So many lives changed forever all because of a warped paedophile. So sad but all ends well. Huge thanks to all foster carers out there for the wonderful work they do.

[Jean St.Amand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. I thought this was just your run of the mill fiction and when I realized it was more of a true story I was prepared for it to suck, to be honest. These types of books usually do. There was the odd bit here and there that wasn't quite as well written but in general it was a really good story about a tough subject.

[Jenny McAteer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

I feel as Casey has written much better books. Not to take anything away from Keeleys story but the book was a bit hard to follow at times
Keely is incredibly strong and smart but also very caring.

[Kate ☕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story but I absolutely hate Casey's writing style and the spelling/grammatical errors littered throughout all of her books, which can sometimes make it difficult to understand what is being said. This will probably be the last book I read from Casey for this reason.

[Tyla-Jade Sweet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story about the realities of what children in foster care system go through. Felt it was very predictable and somewhat slow. The grammatical & spelling errors throughout the book were very frustrating!

[Debbie George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harrowing to read but gripping

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

i won this in goodreads giveaway. gripping and emotional read.

[Rebecca Fowkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book.

[Stacie Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great read by casey, although i did feel it finished a little abruptly and could of been made a little longer.

[DENISE LEE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read could not put it down, the book is a true insight into the world our children grow up in today

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Brilliant book from Casey Watson. <3

[Elizabeth Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good and not predictable!

[Anniz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listening to this as an audiobook. Happy ending but couldn't really enjoy all the voices of the reader as the words came out too strange, and sometimes too weak.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this isn’t very powerful book. It’s worth reading as it opens your eyes.