Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert

From the Back of the Book:

Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as a high school counselor in her close-knit community. Without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed by friends 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 she 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.

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My Thoughts:

What a surprising story!  Kellie Coates Gilbert has rocked the fiction world with her stunning debut novel, and this author is a keeper!  Her tale is a "ripped-from-the-headlines" kind of story, and she tells it very, very well.

Barrie is easy to feel for and identify with.  She only wants the best for her children, just wants Pearl to have a good chance at success, and works hard at all she does.  Her own past sins still dog her steps, creating tension as she guides her own daughter through life's emotional minefield.

Steve is a bit harder to connect with, but you know he only wants the best for his family as well...just goes at it differently.  I was happy to see him stand up to Barrie's mother and defend her...just wish he'd held it together a little more throughout the story.

And honestly, Kellie doesn't let you see it coming.  I mean, you can feel something is up ahead for the Graeber family....but you just don't know until the unthinkable happens and you're left holding Kleenex and wishing it wasn't so.  And, as you're praying for Barrie, you'll realize...SHE'S NOT REAL!

Oh, but she is VERY real...and you just might know her.  That's what makes the book so gripping, is the reality of the fictional tale.  And what makes it so relevant to today's audience. 

My only quibble is the message of faith in Christ...could have been a bit stronger without being preachy or heavy-handed...but it is there, and it does make a difference in people's lives...although, I'm still wondering about Tess!

I received a complimentary copy of "Mother of Pearl" from Abingdon Press for a book tour with "Pump Up Your Book" publicity in exchange for an honest review.  I honestly recommended you pick up a copy of "Mother of Pearl" today.

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.  Connect with Kellie by visiting her online at Kellie Coates Gilbert, tweet with her on Twitter or like her at Facebook.

Purchase your copy of Mother of Pearl at Amazon, at the publisher’s website, or at Barnes & Noble.

Happy Reading!





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