The Keeping

by Rochelle Ransom, Kiele Raymond (Editor)

Readers Favorite Award Winner! Gossip Girl meets Gone Girl “Sierra Hart wakes up alone in a strange room and finds a cryptic note from an unseen captor…A suspicious group of friends and family members share what they know about Sierra in alternating chapters…There’s Sierra’s dad, a gambling addict with a criminal record; her mom, a loving but lonely doctor; and her ex-boyfriend, Dave, who hopes to win her back from his rival, Gavin, who recently transferred to her school. FBI agents don’t have much physical evidence, so they interrogate members of Sierra’s inner and outer circles in search of a motive. Their suspects are complex and very human characters…Meanwhile, Sierra herself updates her journal from her holding cell to pass the time…As she re-examines her relationships, Sierra wavers between her desire to trust others and her need to protect herself…This riveting novel shows that there’s more to Sierra’s seemingly idyllic teenage life than track meets, pool parties, and gossiping on the phone with her best friend—and when all is revealed, her reaction to her kidnapper is the biggest surprise of all…”– Kirkus Review

294 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Rochelle Ransom has been writing books since she was a young girl. She grew up in a small rural town in western New York with little access to TV. This led to an overzealous imagination, a pet chicken named Superchick and a memorable and cherished childhood. Her sister was her first reader and critic. She’d find Rochelle’s stories sitting around the house in random notebooks and read them, only to discover they usually had no ending.

A few colleges, degrees and many loans later, her characters were more dynamic, persistent and willing to stick around for an ending. However by then she was busy as her own main character with work, marriage, and four kids. After much support and encouragement from said husband and children; she has reunited with all of her old characters and a few new ones to finally publish her first novel. It has an ending that hopefully her sister and you will enjoy.

Rochelle lives in Virginia with her patient husband, supportive children, and very needy but lovable dog.

Reviews

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frustratingly good

The fact that I hated Gavin so much and was rooting for Dave to get the girl the entire way is evidence of Ms. Ransom's ability to bring all her characters to life with a depth not easy to achieve, especially for a new author. I enjoyed the format and the mystery. It's a compelling story and perfect for a girl or boy around Sierra's age. I think I'll wait a year to give to my sophomore daughter. I know she'll not only enjoy it, but hopefully learn some valuable lessons about love and life. A superb first novel and I'm looking forward to your next endeavor. We'll have to meet for greyhounds at the Viceroy to discuss ideas. Ps. I've told our friend that although Tom Sawyer is the only book he's supposedly ever read, yours should be his second.

[Cara Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. This book was recommended by a friend in St. Thomas and it did not disappoint. The author kept my interest from the first page and I just couldn't wait to finish. Although I did guess the Keeper about half way through, it still was an interesting and very well thought out book. I loved the characters, but most of all the way the story evolved. Excellent!

[Melinda Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you start, you won't want to stop!

The Keeping does not disappoint. The story doesn't just twist, it backflips, with a satisfying ending. Ransom's characters are fleshed out and true in a plot you can't stop reading. And her style keeps the pace moving at a satisfying tempo. Both young adults and adults should be entranced with The Keeping.

[Evelena Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic Suspense at its best! What a page turner! Sierra wakes up locked in a cellar with no windows and plenty of supplies to live off of for quite a while. A note from her captor lets her know that she will not be harmed, but gives her no clue as to why she's being held, for how long she'll be there, or most importantly, what will happen to her when the supplies run out. The story is told from alternating points of view as her parents and friends each tell what they know about Sierra in the weeks leading up to her disappearance. And the reader learns what Sierra knows through a journal she keeps while in captivity. The plot moves along at a steady clip and the characters are well developed and relatable. Highly recommend!

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting. It kept my attention and I wanted to know what happened. You could start to see where the story was headed, which was fine. It made sense. I thought this was going to be a "thriller", and it turned out to be more of a "coming of age but kinda weird and something creepy happened" kinda book. I liked it a lot, don't get me wrong, and the writing style was great. I liked seeing things from the different character's point of views. I wish there was a little more closure, maybe a little more definite answer on how their relationship progressed and if she ended up with anyone. Overall, I would recommend this book for an interesting read. :)

[Denver Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for an interesting book that isn't full of the same twists and turns as numerous others on the shelves, then this book is for you. Ms. Ransom skillfully develops her characters and weaves a story that places her at the level of Gillian Flynn and Liane Moriarty. Her strength in writing is evident in her ability to carry multiple points of view without losing momentum. Your emotions will continually be pulled in different directions as Sierra's life unravels and rebuilds along the way. You will not be disappointed and you will not want to put it down as you read on to see if Sierra makes the choices for her life that you are rooting for along the way.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t see it coming. The ending was indeed a surprise and made me think back the elements of foreshadowing I had missed. A true young adult novel full of the angst and transitions of coming to adulthood. Teen years are full of complex emotions, and this, just when the adults in a family are going through their own transitions. Even the most devoted parents may be unaware of the struggles regarding, love, forgiveness, values and responsibilities. Stick this book in your bag and take it with you, because you won’t want to stop reading it, along the way.

[Connie Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. I could not put it down a times. You won't be sorry if you read it!

[Rochelle Ransom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This young adult novel takes the reader on an emotional journey as he or she learns about Sierra Hart and her life leading up to her abduction. You will fall in love with the characters and find yourself rooting for your favorite guy. But your favorite may change as you discover everyone is not exactly the person you thought they were. I personally rooted for Dave but I won't tell you how I felt in the end because it would spoil the book. The story is about forgiveness and how our choices that seem inconsequential at the time could impact our lives forever. And even though she is a "mean girl" I loved Victoria Spencer. Hope the author has her story in the works...

I think this would make a great book club book because there are a number of discussion worthy themes throughout: trust, forgiveness, addiction, secrets, father-daughter relationships, and peer pressure.

[Darlene Lepson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!