Book Review and Giveaway: Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert

This well written story is startling and heart wrenching.

Mother of Pearl
by Kellie Coates Gilbert

File Size: 2533 KB
Print Length: 306 pages
Publisher: Amnos Media Group; 2 edition (February 20, 2017)
ASIN: B06VYJ118F
Genre: Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

How Far Would You Go for your Child?
Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as the high school counselor in her close-knit community. Without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed and lashes out.
Nothing prepares this mother for the helplessness that follows when her attempts to steer her daughter back on course fail, and Pearl shuts her out . . . or when Barrie discovers the unthinkable about her nemesis, the football coach.
Emotionally riveting and profoundly moving, Mother of Pearl brings us into the heart of a mother bound by an incredible burden, who ultimately finds she must recognize her own vulnerability and learn to trust in something much bigger..

Review:
Barrie Graeber has a strong loving family: husband, 16-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. She is respected and enjoys her work as a high school counselor. Barrie has the usual mother concerns about her daughter, but Pearl is well grounded, popular and a good student working toward a scholarship to college. Then Pearl loses her boyfriend and best friend in a terrible act of betrayal. Rather than seeking help from her mother Pearl has shut herself off although she does have one new friend who tries to help her.

Tragedy strikes the family causing emotional devastation. And as if the first injury isn’t enough Barrie learns another shocking secret. Barrie becomes obsessed with this, driving a wedge in the family.

This story was more than I expected. It wasn’t always an emotionally easy read, but riveting is an appropriate description. It is well written in first person voice of Barrie. There are friends who step forward to help and others who step away. An attorney who helps is a bold, colorful character. There are Christian and faith elements woven naturally into the story. I kept hoping Barrie would find her strength in faith.

This is our Ladies Book Club for August.
Source: I had print copies for others but was able to snag the Kindle version on sale in 2017. This qualifies for my 2018TBR and Alphabet Challenge.

GIVEAWAY

Paperback Book (US and Canada Only)

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review

(b) visit the author's Website and tell me something you like there.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only for the paperback book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) September 29, 2018.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Sunday Post September 16, 2018/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 17, 2018

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date (at Wordpress).

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I had to hustle with work this week and pulling files to take with me on our trip. We headed out for traveling Thursday morning and I had forgotten that my mobile hot spot had stopped working. I figured we might have internet at the campgrounds we stayed at, but we didn't. The first stop was beautiful but didn't even have cell service.
We are visiting our son and his family in Illinois. Our daughter-in-law's cancer tumor has been reduced under her chemo treatment but she is suffering other side effects. The cut on her leg where they took skin for the graft has opened to a very painful sore. Healing is hampered by having to handle twin two year olds.

My reading still seemed slow this week but one was longer than normal. I finished one audible title and one ebook. I posted one Read-a-Thon and a book Spotlight with Giveaway, as well as all of my usual memes (although late).

I visited only 20 blogs last week.
No Shout Out this week.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post September 9, 2018/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 10, 2018.

• Fraterfest Read-a-thon October 2018.

• Spotlight with Giveaway: WRITE-PUBLISH-PROFIT Super Stack.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 14, 2018 - Posted 9/16. Open Worldwide. Ending 9/20/2018.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement September 16, 2018.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (Author2018)

The Memory Tree (Carson Chronicles Book 2)
by John A. Heldt
I like this time travel series.
Source: Author.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Nation
By: Terry Pratchett
Narrated by: Stephen Briggs
Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
I found this unusual and interesting. Source: Audible 2012 January Credit Purchase.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Audible Smartphone (A2018)

The Watchmaker's Daughter
Glass and Steele, Book 1
By: C. J. Archer
Narrated by: Emma Powell
Series: Glass and Steele, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
I have been pulled into this story.
Source: Audible Sale Purchase February 2018.
Publisher's Summary
India Steele is desperate. Her father is dead, her fiancé took her inheritance, and no one will employ her, despite years working for her watchmaker father. Indeed, the other London watchmakers seem frightened of her. Alone, poor, and at the end of her tether, India takes employment with the only person who'll accept her - an enigmatic and mysterious man from America, a man who possesses a strange watch that rejuvenates him when he's ill. Matthew Glass must find a particular watchmaker, but he won't tell India why any old one won't do. Nor will he tell her what he does back home, and how he can afford to stay in a house in one of London's best streets. So when she reads about an American outlaw known as the Dark Rider arriving in England, she suspects Mr. Glass is the fugitive. When danger comes to their door, she's certain of it. But if she notifies the authorities, she'll find herself unemployed and homeless again - and she will have betrayed the man who saved her life. With a cast of quirky characters, an intriguing mystery, and a dash of romance, The Watchmaker's Daughter is the start of a thrilling new historical fantasy series from the author of the best-selling Ministry of Curiosities, Freak House, and the Emily Chambers Spirit Medium books.
©2016 C.J. Archer (P)2016 C.J. Archer

2. eBook/Kindle (Review)

A Nanny For Christmas: A Harper's Corner Series Novella
by Christina George
This a light, easy read I am enjoying.
Source: Author Marketing Experts for review.
Willa O’Rourke knows the true story, the story that doesn’t sell magazines.
In less than 8 hours Willa went from being a behind-the-scenes nanny for one of the hottest A-list celebrity couples, to having her picture splashed all over every magazine in the country.
Caught in the arms of her sexy employer, Johnny Blaze.
No one cares that Johnny hit on her, and she repeatedly told him no.
The world thinks Willa O’Rourke is more interesting as the slutty, home-wrecking, opportunistic nanny. She even has a hashtag trending on Twitter. #dirtynanny
Humiliated and desperate to get away from the harsh eyes of Hollywood, she decides to take a short break from her suddenly not so glamorous life and head home for the holidays.
But a quiet Christmas to recoup before heading back to LA wasn’t in the cards.
She immediately runs into Jack, her seriously hot, fireman ex-boyfriend.
Despite Willa’s attempts to keep a low profile, she and Jack are thrown together for a Christmas charity project -- making her wonder if she’s meant for a simpler life in Harper’s Corner after all.

3. eBook/Kindle (NG2018)

Shelved Under Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
by Victoria Gilbert
This looks like a good  cozy to help step into Fall.
Source: NetGalley 2018.
Autumn leaves aren’t the only things falling in the historic Virginia village of Taylorsford—so are some cherished memories, and a few bodies. October in Taylorsford, Virginia means it’s leaf peeping season, with bright colorful foliage and a delightful fresh crew of tourists attending the annual Heritage Festival which celebrates local history and arts and crafts. Library director Amy Webber, though, is slightly dreading having to spend two days running a yard sale fundraiser for her library. But during these preparations, when she and her assistant Sunny stumble across a dead body, Amy finds a real reason to be worried. The body belonged to a renowned artist who was murdered with her own pallet knife. A search of the artist’s studio uncovers a cache of forged paintings, and when the sheriff’s chief deputy Brad Tucker realizes Amy is skilled in art history research, she’s recruited to aid the investigation. It doesn’t seem to be an easy task, but when the state’s art expert uncovers a possible connection between Amy’s deceased uncle and the murder case, Amy must champion her Aunt Lydia to clear her late husband’s name. That’s when another killing shakes the quiet town, and danger sweeps in like an autumn wind. Now, with her swoon-inducing neighbor Richard Muir, Amy must scour their resources to once again close the books on murder in Shelved Under Murder, the charming second installment in Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library mysteries, perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Miranda James.

September 16, 2018 - I enjoy my You Version App where I get to highlight passages and create Biblical images. I am on track with my morning reading the One Year Bible plan on my smartphone. You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.

I completed 2 books and posted no reviews. That puts me at three reviews to post.
I'm doing pretty good adding current reviews to Goodreads, Amazon and Audible. I have some older ones to catch up on.
My NetGalley shelf is still at 13. I still have one author title in queue and two review titles. Still many through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I have no new review titles and no audio books although I pulled up one ebook for Ladies Book Club reading September.
I didn't pick up any Kindle paid titles.
I picked up NO free kindle titles this week. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

September Book for Ladies Book Club.
The Evidence (The Mars Hill Classified Series)
by Mr. Austin W Boyd
I picked the Kindle version up on sale in May 2017 since I had print books for club members.
Christian Sci Fi.

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

I added No free titles to my Kindle library this week. Another week of no time even to download free titles. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement September 16, 2018

We are away from home visiting our son and his family. Hubby was recuperating from driving the three day trip. I took our 5 1/2 year old granddaughter to church this morning. It is wonderful that she is excited to go!
My son wasn't able to get me set up on internet until the kids were in bed I am posting everything late.

I enjoyed the sermon this morning but don't feel I have time to share it right now.

I have chosen this song video with my daughter-in-law in mind. Her cancer tumor is significantly reduced which is a blessing and the goal of the treatments. Unfortunately she is experiencing some side effects including an open sore on her leg where the skin graft was cut. I appreciate prayers for her continued healing.

Verses for Today:
John 4: 23-24 NIV
23 “…Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

This was a key part of this morning's message:

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 14, 2018 - Posted September 16

Happy Friday on a Sunday!  
Sorry to be so late with this post and no warning of delay. We headed out for traveling Thursday morning and I had forgotten that my mobile hot spot had stopped working. Almost four days without internet is rare for me!

We are away to visit our son and his family and to help a little as our d-i-l continues to work through her chemo treatments. The tumor is reduced but she has had other complications to cope with.

My prayers have been with those on the east coast facing Florence and the floods she brought.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.

INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the September 7 Pick. There was one automatic win again this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. No title was blocked.
SueF gets Pretty Poison

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from September 7 Pick:
DI gets Red Cover Inn (She only chose one Carla Neggers, leaving the second title as a single) and
St.J gets a GC (Welcome and extra congrats for a first time win!

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Since the kids are back in school this image seemed like a good one. Plus I am visiting the 2 year old twins so we'll be doing lots of childrens books this week!
Image found at The Deliberate Mom.

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

There are three audios at the top:
No One Left to Tell is MP3
Kisscut is Cassettes
Dark Summer is CDs
Pairs: Kay Hooper and Carla Neggers Red Clover Inn
The rest are singles
Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers
Zombies of the Gene Pool 
Pretty Poison


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Pairs: Fern Michaels and James Patterson
The rest are singles
Note:
The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes



New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
The Maverick Preacher by Victoria Bylin (personally autographed)
The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver
The Doctor’s Forever Family by Marie Ferrarella
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Branded by the Sheriff by Delores Fossen
The Italian’s Inexperienced Mistress
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
Rhapsody in Time by Judith O’Brien
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham
The Cowboy’s Christmas Miracle by RaeAnne Thayne


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

Midnight Rainbow
Betrayed
Indigo Blue
By a Spider's Thread 
Johanna Lindsey Pair 
Judith Krentz Pair
Breaking Point 
My Dark Prince
Fatal Defect

New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 books remain of the original 37:

I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
Echo Burning by Lee Child
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
Tempted All Night by Liz Carlyle
Day of the Dead by J.A. Jance
White Night by Jim Butcher
Five Gold Rings Anthology Constance O’Banyon and three others
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Wizard’s Daughter by Catherine Coulter
Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
Night Whispers by Judith McNaught
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff

 THESE BOOKS CHOSEN/WON ARE THE ONES STRICKEN HERE:
Finger Licken' Fifteen
How to Tame a Highland Warrior
The Texan
Total Control
Atlantis Found
Stephanie Laurens Pair
Desperado 
Rebellious Desires 
Forget Me Not 
The Eighth Commandment
Ghost Riders
The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber 
Shadow Music 
Corbin's Fancy 
Hawk's Lady

This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Daring
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
The New Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman
A Kiss Before Dawn by Kimberly Logan
The Fireman’s Fair by Josephine Humphreys (Hardcover)
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
There Was A Little Girl by Ed McBain (Audio Cassettes)
Love's Brazen Fire by Betina Krahn 

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost EIGHT years I have posted 75 groups of 16 (1,200) books to find new homes! (as of November 2, 2017).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,186+books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A month or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Spotlight with Giveaway: WRITE-PUBLISH-PROFIT Super Stack

From Obscurity to Highly Paid Bestselling Author

41 cutting-edge e-books, e-courses, and other resources to help you fulfill your dreams of becoming
a bestselling author!

What is the Write-Publish-Profit Super Stack?

It's a curated selection of premium resources and tools, including e-books, e-courses, software, and coupons. It includes 35+ contributors across a broad range of the self-publishing space.

The combined retail value of everything in the stack is almost $3000.00, but you get everything for a humongous 96% off!

This is one of the best compilation of resources I've ever seen for writers and self-publishers.

When is this sale happening?

For a very limited time from September 10 to 14. After the “Flash Sale” is over, this deal is gone.

Who is this resource for?
Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, are just starting out or are attempting to take your already successful writing career to the next level, there’s tons of cutting-edge up-to-the-minute content here for you.

What kind of resources are included?
I don’t even know where to start telling you about the depth of information they’ve compiled… but here’s a quick list of just some of the info that’s included:

Derek Doepker shows you how to discover the insider strategies used to launch a book that sold over 631 copies in only 5 days. You’ll find out how a bestselling author goes from just a vague book idea to proven concept, to bestselling book in today's extremely competitive kindle market... including strategies even total newbie authors can use

Jonathan Green tells you how to get paid upfront as a writer for hire, and how to find the most loyal (and lucrative) clients. He also shares his best strategies as a ghostwriter, and how he’s able to write 5,000 words every day before lunch.

Matt Stone (aka Buck Flogging) shares his definitive course on e-mail list building for authors. Find out the exact steps one of the web’s top list building experts uses to rapidly build a list of raving fans in any niche or genre.

Tom Morkes, founder of Insurgent Publishing, is including access to what many consider the premier self-publishing and bestseller book launch platform in the world: “Publishers Empire.” Inside, Tom shares step-by-step tutorials on how to create, package, and launch your book, even if you're starting from scratch (these are the same strategies his clients, authors, and students have used to land on the New York Times, WSJ, USA Today, and Amazon bestseller lists).

C.S. Lakin gives you access to her book called “Crank it Out” that will show you once and for all how to hack through the excuses, bad habits, and distractions that block your way from becoming the writer you know you're capable of becoming.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! There’s 30 more full-length courses and e-books!

You have nothing to lose by checking it out.

I'm interested! Show me the Super Stack

GIVEAWAY

But before you go, help us spread the word about this awesome opportunity by entering the giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card:

Giveaway ends Sept 14, 2018, at 11:59 pm.
a Rafflecopter giveaway