Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert

About the Author:

Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who writes with a sympathetic, intimate knowledge of how people react under pressure. Kellie’s books tell emotionally poignant stories about women in life-changing circumstances. She writes about messy lives . . . and eternal hope.
Kellie currently makes her home in Dallas, Texas.
Her latest book is the Christian fiction, Mother of Pearl.
Visit her online at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.
Connect with her on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/#!/KCoatesGilbert
Like her at Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/kelliecoatesgilbert
Purchase your copy of Mother of Pearl at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Pearl-Kellie-Coates-Gilbert/dp/1426733437/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1348334991&sr=8-2&keywords=mother+of+pearl
Pick up your copy of Mother of Pearl at the publisher’s website: http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/DynamicContent.aspx?id=160&pageid=698
Purchase your copy of Mother of Pearl at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mother-of-pearl-kellie-coates-gilbert/1108857097

 

About the Book:

Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as the high school counselor in her close-knit community. Then, without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed by friends and lashes out.
Barrie’s attempts to steer her daughter back on course fail. Nothing prepares this mother for the helplessness that follows when Pearl shuts her out . . . or when the unthinkable comes to light about her nemesis, the football coach.
MOTHER OF PEARL is a story that puts absolute truths and convictions to the test. It’s the emotionally riveting tale of a woman who finds she must recognize her own vulnerability and learn to trust in something much bigger.

My Take:  Being a mother of a teenage girl I really could relate to Barrie.  You only want to do what is right for your children even if that means to do the hard thing and fight for them no matter what.  It is a book about trusting in God and giving things over to him.  Sometimes all our intentions won't do any good so we just have to let God take over.  This is a great book by a new to me author and I will be looking for more books by her.  Great Book.  

I received a review copy of this book from Pump Up You book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Mother of Pearl complied by Margaret McSweeney

Mother of Pearl compiled by Margaret McSweeney

ABOUT THE BOOK

Like oysters, women often encounter unexpected grit during their everyday lives. In response, God’s love and grace covers this grit and transforms the pain into a precious pearl that leaves a layered, luminous lining within a shell: Mother of Pearl. This brilliant luster is strong, lasting, and purposeful — just like the love, lessons, and legacies left by the special women in our lives.

Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives.

These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and weathering the death of a special loved one. Poignant and thought-provoking, the stories serve to inspire, encourage, instill hope, and strengthen faith.

The proceeds from the sale of Mother of Pearl will be donated to organizations helping struggling women and children. The charities include Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger) to help fund the Safe House in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Zambia.

MARGARET MCSWEENEY

Margaret McSweeney is a well-published author often writing online articles for Make It Better (the former North Shore Magazine) and freelance articles for the Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. In addition, she has authored and compiled several books including A Mother’s Heart Knows; Go Back and Be Happy; Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace and most recently, Mother of Pearl. Margaret has a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in international business. As is the founder of Pearl Girls, Margaret collaborates with other writers on projects to help fund a safe house for WINGS, an organization that helps women and their children who are victims ofdomestic violence, and to build wells for schoolchildren in Uganda through Hands of Hope. For the past 10 years she has served on the board of directors and leadership advisory board for WINGS. Margaret lives with her husband and 2 daughters in the Chicago suburbs.

My Take:  These are very uplifting stories be they humorous or serious.  No matter what season of your life you will find inspiration from this book of stories about life.  Each story is just a few pages long and can be read as a devotional or just read in quick snippets when you have a few moments to spare in your day (lets face in todays day and age that is sometimes all you have.)  Each story starts with a scripture verse that fits the story and there is a short bio of the author at the end.  Some of the ladies I have read before and some I haven't  but will be looking for them.  A great little book to remind us that it takes friction to produce a pearl just like the friction in our lives helps us grow and wonderful things usually comes from it. 

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse.  

To celebrate the release of Mother of Pearl: Luminous Lessons and Iridescent Faith I'm hosting an evening of chat, laughter, and encouragement on Facebook! I’ve invited the Pearl Girl contributors to join us on the evening of September 4th. I’d be so honored if you’d come too! We’ll be giving away a ton of fun stuff {books, gift certificates and a Beautiful Pearl Necklace set}. Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. We’ll gather to connect, be encouraged and make some new friends! So RSVP today and then come back on September 4th (at 5pm Pacific, 6pm Mountain, 7pm Central, and 8pm Eastern) and join us for the “Pearl” party. Let’s share our stories and encourage one another. We’ll also have an update from the charities involved with Pearl Girls, Wings and Hands of Hope. (See what others are saying about Mother of Pearl.)