Mother of Pearl [Paperback]

Kellie Coates Gilbert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2012

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"MOTHER OF PEARL kept me turning pages and on the edge of my seat. Wonderful, richly-drawn characters who drew me to their hearts despite their flaws."

~Deborah Raney, bestselling author of the Hanover Falls Novels series

"A cautionary tale for our times, MOTHER OF PEARL is a compelling journey through loss and longing, grief and redemption, crime and justice. Kellie Coates Gilbert unfolds her story with the sensitivity of a skilled writer."

~Lisa Wingate, national bestselling, award-winning author of Dandelion Summer and Blue Moon Bay

"A story that could have come from today's headlines, MOTHER OF PEARL is a compelling, thought-provoking debut. With impeccable prose, Kellie Coates Gilbert kept me turning pages in this high-stakes story of one mother's quest for healing and justice."

~Carla Stewart, award-winning author of Chasing Lilacs and Stardust

From the Author

I don't think a novelist can be an effective storyteller without laying parts of herself all over the pages of her book. People who know me best will see some of my characteristics in Barrie Graeber, particularly in her tenacious spirit. Some of my marriage struggles show up in Barrie and Steve's relationship. Certainly, the trial reflects my earlier professional life. 

I love crafting poignant and emotionally compelling stories about women in life changing situations. Please visit me at kelliecoatesgilbert.com and join my Reader's Club. At my core, I am a girlfriend and I love a good time. So, join the party!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (September 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426733437
• ISBN-13: 978-1426733437
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #875,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More 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 with her husband and a very spoiled 2.7 lb. Yorkie named Emmie Sweetpea.

Please visit her online at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mother's Love September 7, 2012

By A. Newberry

Format:Paperback

Barrie has a great family, and a respected job as a high school counselor. Her life is just puttering a long until one night her daughter Pearl is betrayed by her best friend, Callie and boyfriend, Craig.
Pearl goes from being the outgoing, smiling, teenage daughter that Barrie knew to withdrawing from the family, sneaking out at night, drinking, becoming a stranger.
Barrie has no idea what has happened to her daughter, but she is determined to find out!
Barrie's determination causes a huge rift within her marriage, her relationship with her mother has never been good and this doesn't make it any better.

This was a book that touched me on every emotional level. I was crying, laughing, and cheering.
I don't want to give to much away, yet I want to say that Kellie conveyed the pain my dear cousin went through 14 years ago and I was able to glimpse just a tiny bit of it.
I had a hard time believing that this was Kellie's debut novel, she writes like a seasoned author.
Kellie's ability to delve into the relationships between Barrie and her mom, Barrie and her husband, and Pearl and keep the plot moving forward was phenomenal! I started it mid-evening and just couldn't put it down!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A tender tale of loss and redemption September 6, 2012

By Julie Kibler

Format:Paperback

I received an advance read through Net Galley. Debut novelist Kellie Coates Gilbert delivers a compelling story about a topic we'd mostly prefer to ignore, but can't and shouldn't. Gilbert's writing is smooth and engaging, and she explores touchy and emotional issues with grace. As a mother of teenagers, I found myself with a big lump in my throat on more than one occasion while reading. While MOTHER OF PEARL is from a Christian publisher, the characters are flawed and human and Gilbert's story does not feel constrained by "the rules" we often associate with inspirational novels (other than a few substitutions for swear words that made me smile). The story touches on spiritual matter, but does not hit the reader over the head with it. Ultimately, it was a fantastic read and I recommend it. This would be a great pick for book clubs.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mother of Pearl August 28, 2012

By Lisa Buffaloe

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Barrie Graeber seems to have it all, two wonderful children, a loving husband, and a respected job as a high school counselor. When her daughter, Pearl, is betrayed by friends, Pearl withdraws from friends and family. As Barrie's life unravels she must fight for justice, even as others chose to tolerate harmful behavior for their own gain.

Debut novelist, Kellie Coates Gilbert has birthed a beautifully written, poignant and riveting, novel. Kellie's background as a paralegal and legal investigator take the reader behind the scenes as a mother's tender love searches for truth.

I look forward to reading more of Kellie's work!