Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert Book Review

Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert is the story of Barrie Graeber, a successful high school counselor, mother of two and in love with her entrepreneurial husband.  She and her daughter Pearl are close-knit.  Pearl is on the dance team and is headed toward a bright future.  When her daughter is betrayed and begins to act out, Barrie is helpless.  She never imagines the tragedy that occurs and how it connects her to the most hated person in her life.  She must learn to stand up for what's right, be strong and fight to save others from being victimized.   She feels weak, but battles against lies, loses support from her husband, but gains a new confidence with the help of her competent lawyer.  Barrie pursues a path any mother would who is desperate to make wrongs right.

Kellie's writing is sensational.  Her flow and rhythm create an intimacy of storytelling at its finest.  She draws the reader in by writing in  first person so the reader experiences all the main character's faults, weaknesses and successes.  Her blend of descriptive details and personal thoughts of the protagonist keep the reader suspended in page-turning pursuit.  Mother of Pearl is riveting, heartbreaking, hopeful and a must-read for Christian fiction lovers.

Kellie's Website: http://kelliecoatesgilbert.com/

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book for my review.  All opinions are my own.*

For Such a Time as This by Ginny Aiken Book Review

For Such a Time as This: A Women of Hope Novel by Ginny Aiken is a historical rendition of the biblical story of Esther.  Olivia is the oldest daughter of a hardworking family in Bountiful, OR, but Olivia feels like a burden with the downfall of the family farm  She boldly finds a job as a nanny for the town's prestigious widowed banker, Eli Whitman.  When rumors start to circulate, the banker and nanny get married for the sake of reputation.  Time goes by and affections grow between Olivia and Eli, but sinister things are happening with the bank and the new railroad.  Will Olivia have courage to approach her husband about the devastating letter from the bank to her parents who were asked to foreclose on their home before the new year?

This book showed the main character having strength and dignity in tough situations.  Olivia is a well mannered young woman who took it upon herself to face great challenges.  I really enjoyed how Olivia interacted with each person in the story.  She was patient with the children, gracious to the proud cook and respectful to her husband.  She longed for trust and deep intimacy, but was torn between the promises she made to her family and to her husband (not to interfere in his business).  We can all learn a lesson to know we are placed in situations "for such a time as this."


*I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Hachette Book Group for my review.  All opinions are my own.*

Heavenly Homemakers Ebook Overload Sale! 10 books for $20!!

This is a deal you can't pass up! If you love Heavenly Homemakers as much as I do, consider getting this ebook overload package while it's on sale! There are 10 books for $20. That's only $2 per book.

What will you receive:

• Have Your Fruits…and Veggies Too!
• Have Your Cookie…and Eat it Too!
• Have Your Cookie and Eat it TWO!
• Think Breakfast…Outside the Box
• Totally Tortillas
• What to Do With the Kids in Your Kitchen
• What to Do With the Chicken in Your Kitchen
• What to Do with the Cocoa in Your Kitchen
• What to Do With the Cow in Your Kitchen
• What To Do With the Vanilla In Your Kitchen

Heavenly Homemakers Ebook Overload Sale

10 books for $20

ends 9/27

Win a Kindle or Nook from @SarahSundin and RSVP for “With Every Letter” Facebook Party 9/27! + Book Review

Celebrate with Sarah by entering to win a eReader (winner's choice of Kindle Fire or Nook Color)!

See what folks are saying about With Every Letter!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire or Nook Color (winner’s choice)
• Handmade With Every Letter First Aid Kit
• With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 26th. Winner will be announced at the “With Every Letter” Author Chat Facebook Party on 9/27. Connect with Sarah, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of With Every Letter and join Sarah on the evening of the September 27th for a chance to connect with Sarah and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book – don’t let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!
My Review:
Sarah Sundin's new novel With Every Letter: A Novel (Wings of the Nightingale) is a page-turning historical romance.  Tom is an engineer building airstrips in North Africa during WWII.  He not only battles the foreign enemy, but he fights to make sure he doesn't follow the footsteps of his murderous father.  Mellie is a confident nurse, yet a misfit with her peers.  She looks different, acts different and desperately seeks her head nurse's approval.  Mellie is asked to take part in a letter writing moral program to American officers in the war.  Mellie doesn't want to participate, but reluctantly writes a letter.  Her letter happens to fall in the the hands of Tom.  Both are honest about needing friendship and maintaining anonymity.  When Mellie's flight nurse program is transferred, she meets Tom and figures out he's the man she is corresponding with.  She secretly begins to fall in love with him and he with her, but he is torn because he is already in love with his letter writing woman friend who he doesn't know is Mellie.  Situations become intense on the battlefront and also between Tom and Mellie.  Will they be able to fully disclose their love for each other despite their vow to remain anonymous?

This is the ultimate love story!  Tom and Mellie are two similar people who jump at the chance of a safe friendship on paper, not realizing that they could possibly meet and fall in love in person.  There is also a lot of tension once Mellie figures out who Tom is and she balances her secret letter writing and her in-person relationship with fear.  There were many characters in this story and a lot of battle scenes that were not too appealing to me, but necessary to validate the flow of the novel.  But the romance and tension was strong and delightful.  I was hooked from the beginning.  I plan to read more books by Sarah Sundin.

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book for my review.  All opinions are my own.*

A Woman's Right to Rest by Denise George Book Review

A Woman's Right to Rest by Denise George is a unique look at "14 types of Biblical Rest that will transform your life."  Women of today are tired and overworked.  They take on many roles and before they know it, they are exhausted, but press on because they don't know what else to do.  Denise gives a beautiful perspective of the "right" women have to rest based on biblical principles.  God gives permission for physical rest, mental and emotional rest, trusting soul rest, rest in prayer, heart rest, rest of forgiveness, rest of contentment , rest of commitment, rest in caretaking, rest in beauty, harmony and peace, rest in selected memories, rest in friendship, rest in times of crisis and rest of heavenly assurance.  She completely unveils the true way of resting in the arms of God through her own life examples, the stories of others and the life of Jesus.  She begins each chapter with a Bible verse that addresses that particular subject of rest.  At the end of each chapter she lists several practical suggestions, a personal quiet time reflection and questions for group study.

As a busy mom of two little ones, I am in need of rest!  I can go, go, go, but I don't know when to stop or why.  I was astounded by the number of different types of rest Denise wrote about in her book.  I was especially drawn to how to take physical rest, to rest in prayer and resting in caretaking. I believe women will run themselves to complete burnout if they don't take time to see what God's Word says about rest.  Denise's book is very relevant for today's women with practical examples of how to take rest that is needed to transform your life. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from ACU Press/Leafwood Publishers as part of their ACU Press Bookclub Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

September Booking It 2012

Books I read:





Each of these book are absolutely great!
You can read my review for 31 Days to a Happy Husband here.
My review for With Every Letter and A Woman's Right to Rest will be coming soon.

I'm Guest Posting at Good Morning Girls!

Hi everyone-  I wanted to let you know that I am over sharing a Word Study for Kids to coincide with Good Morning Girls Colossians Bible study!  I am very excited to be reading God's Word to my kids and I pray that you are doing that as well.  So jump on over and see what I have cooked up!  Thanks, Shonda

Good Morning Girls- Word Study for Kids: Where, What, Why, Write

100 Days to Christmas 2012 Ebook Review and Giveaway!!

100 Days to Christmas 2012 ebook

by Jennifer Tankersley of ListPlanIt

Does thinking about Christmas make you feel a little overwhelmed?  It sure does for me.  Although I like to keep things simple, I want to be organized and I never know where to start.  How about 100 days BEFORE Christmas?  In Jennifer Tankersley's new book 100 Days to Christmas 2012 ebook, she has 100 days of getting ready for Christmas so the rush will not cause a panic, but will create a peaceful and happy time to celebrate a very important day of the year, Christ's birth and time with family!

100 Days to Christmas 2012 ebook is a "daily dose of inspiration & motivation for a meaningful holiday season."  This eBook is designed to be used each day from September 16 through December 25. Each page lists the date and a motivational task, activity, or event. There are also additional resources listed at the bottom of the page including one or more of the following links: a list from ListPlanIt.com, a photo board on Pinterest, a link to further discussion on the official 100 Days to Christmas Facebook page, or other resources that may be helpful during your holiday journey.  There are also 25 downloadable interactive planning pages.  You not only will be getting ready for Christmas, but enjoying all the holidays in between with lots of other fun tucked in as well.  You will not be "stuck" planning, but hikes,activities, recipes, parties and other events will keep the ball rolling all while you are effortlessly planning for Christmas.  One feature I really like is the Weekly Workshop where you take a day to get projects finished and check things off the list!

This little book is the answer to having a smooth path toward a beautiful Christmas.  Be sure to get your copy today so you can begin your 100 days to Christmas journey with a smile on your face!

*This book was provided to me free of charge for purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion of this book and no monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*
 

 Win it:  I will be giving TWO of these 100 Days to Christmas ebooks away.  Giveaway ends Wednesday, September 12!

To enter: Be sure to click on all the links before filling out the entry form.

1.(NEW)  Make a comment about why you need this book in the comment section below (you must then fill out the entry form for your entry to be counted!)(required)

2. "Like" 100 Days to Christmas on Facebook. 

3. Be a follower on my blog

4. Subscribe to my blog by email (link on blog)

5."Like" The Knowlton Nest on Facebook (link on my blog). 

6. Post about this giveaway on another site (your blog, facebook, twitter, etc) (1 entry for every site- see share buttons below) 

DON'T FORGET- fill out the entry form after making a comment!  Comments only count if you have filled out the entry form.

Entry for 100 Days to Christmas Ebook