Pearl of Great Price

An abandoned Arkansas lake resort holds the key to a young woman’s past . . . and her future.

Raised by her grandfather after her mother died, flea market manager Julie Pearl Stiles promised herself she’d postpone the search for her absentee father until the truth could no longer hurt Grandpa. Then one crazy June day ushers in a series of discoveries that threaten to turn Julie’s peaceful, small-town life upside down. Her encounter with Little Rock socialite Renata Channing seems more than coincidental, but equally disconcerting is her grandfather’s immediate dislike for real estate entrepreneur Micah Hobart.

Haunted by a devastating childhood mistake, Micah turned his back on God a long time ago, but success has proven a poor substitute for the inner peace he craves. Everything changes when he’s blindsided by the outspoken flea market manager who quickly captures his heart.

Renata Channing has devoted her life and ample bank account to helping underprivileged children. But no amount of philanthropy can blot out the emotional abuse she endured at the hands of a mentally ill mother, and all the money in the world won’t restore the precious “pearl” lost twenty-five years ago in the depths of Lake Hamilton.

As Julie is drawn deeper into the tragic past Micah and Renata share, she finds herself questioning everything she’s ever believed about herself, her family, and her future.

What readers are saying . . .

A compulsive read! I honestly couldn't put this book down. . . .It's about being rooted in relationships that can build you up or tear you down. It's about how the choices we make determine the life we live. Powerful stuff and Johnson tells the story so well. A stunning read that will linger with me for a long time to come. —Best Reads review

And on Amazon.com:

I was deeply drawn into this book and for what seemed to be more about the characters, I was amazed what a page turner it was. Really engrossing, characters I cared about and was rooting for. It was a wonderful romance but so much more! I loved it.

Johnson wrote a well-thought out tale of growth and self-awareness. In the end the value of a person's worth isn't hinged on who they are but what they do, and what they choose to do. Great story and strong characters draw the reader into this page-turner.

This book really will keep you on the edge of your seat...trying to figure who is who in this book.

This reader very much enjoyed this novel! It was hard to put down, and I read it on my phone when not at home to use my tablet. I would highly recommend this book to young adult and adult readers of any age who enjoy a Christian family drama, mystery, and romance.

Myra has really outdone herself with this great read! I loved the book and highly recommend it. Myra has a gift of writing a heart-warming story that includes inspiration, forgiveness, trust and humor. I was totally captivated by the story and could not put the book down until finished! I look forward to reading more great books by Myra.

I've read all of Johnson's books and this is one of the best so far. . . . Johnson's handling of dialogue and narrative are skilled, and she includes some surprising plot twists, not the least of which is the ending. I like being surprised when I'm reading if it fits smoothly into the plot, so this suited me fine.