Golden Gate Gazette

Golden Gate Gazette
By: Carol Cox, DiAnn Mills, Darlene Mindrup, and Kathleen Y'Barbo

I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself wishing that the authors had all gotten together and wrote complete novels, instead of just novellas. I could not put the book down! It was so easy to get into the minds of the characters and I really wanted to know more every step of the way.

Due to the men on strike, Amy was given a position at the Golden Gate Gazette. While covering a local fire on her first assignment as a reporter, instead of her typical society column, she meets Jennie, Helen, Penny and Penny's brother. Amy gets the girls jobs at the paper and a place to live and they quickly become good friends. Join them for their interesting journeys as young women of the newspaper in a time when women don't typically work for a living.


Back of the Book:
In 1860 San Francisco, when the newspaper workers strike, four women take on the task of reporting the news in a man's world while skirting danger and romance. Who can they trust?

Amy Lattimer's allegiance to the paper is questioned when arson fires seem linked to her family. Can she prove her innocence to a handsome policeman?

Jennie Montgomery's curiosity gets her into the middle of a murder investigation. Has she gotten in too deep and compromised another reporter's work?

Helen Morgan makes a printing error that has criminals hunting an innocent man. Can she fix the mistake and save a new friendship?

Penny Brice's attempts to prove her value as a writer could cost her her life. Will she impress her boss or only draw him into a dangerous web?

When the newspaper stories hit the stands, will these four women's faith - and lives - endure to grasp the hand of love?

Angel of Wrath

Angel of Wrath
by Bill Myers
This month, CFRB presents Angel of Wrath by Bill Myers.

Though not my usual style of book, I really enjoyed reading Angel of Wrath. This book is definitely a page-turner. The excitement of what will happen next begins on page one with the first murder scene. Followed by a string of murders all connected to the same church. There is a man connected to the murders who is also leading some local teenagers as they begin playing around with satanic sacrifices and rituals. They end up getting themselves in way over their heads and calling a legion that effects the minds of those who look into its eyes. Dangerous!!

Mr. Meyers does a great job at reminding Christians that we are not fighting just against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). We need to remember and pray daily for the spiritual warfare that is going on all around us. Satan does not want God to have the victory. Put on the whole armour of Christ - Ephesians 6:10-18.


About the book:

Thirteen-year-old Jazmin, her ex-Special Ops uncle Charlie, and former FBI agent Lisa are reunited in the second of the Voice of God series to stop a an assassin driven to murder members of a megachurch led by Lisa's brother. This assassin has drawn in a coven of teens toying with satanic practices to support his efforts. The naive youth engage in ceremonies that appear to usher in the death of each of his victims. When their rituals open a portal into the spiritual realm, a terrifying and mysterious entity crosses over to our world.
The battle culminates with the capture of Lisa's father as the next target and a Black Mass requiring both their deaths as a sacrifice. The team will, once again, have to rely on all their wits, strength, and faith to survive in this action-packed, unearthly warfare.

About the Author:

Bill Myers is a popular and prolific writer who has authored nearly eighty books, has over two dozen screenwriter/director credits, and holds several national and international awards for his work. Myers holds a degree in stage directing from University of Washington and has studied at the Italian State Institute of Cinema in Rome. He was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in theology from the Institute Theologique de Nimes in France, where he taught. When not writing and directing, he enjoys acting, speaking at various schools and colleges, and working with the youth of his local church. Myers lives in California with his wife and two daughters. You can visit his Web site at Bill Myers Books.

Purchase Angel of Wrath at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

The Ark, The Reed, and the Firecloud

The Ark, the Reed, and the Firecloud
by Jenny L. Cote
Jenny Cote has a wonderfully vivid imagination and very easy reading style. While meant for young readers, this book can be enjoyed by all, young and old. A great book to read to middle elementary with a good attention span and ideal for junior high readers. Something I had never thought about, this is a story about how the animals came together before the great flood. While I may not agree with her exact perspective it is very well written in a way that teaches children about some of the many cultures around the world. I really enjoyed the personalities of the different animals and the characteristics they were given based on the region that they came from. I really liked her perspective on how Noah prepared for this experience and the way the people of that day treated his family. The main message in the book is TRUST GOD. No matter what the situation looks like around you, when God calls you to do something you obey without questioning him. The animals didn't understand why they were following the Fire Cloud, they just knew that they should obey. Noah didn't know why he was building this large boat, but he obeyed and made the preparations he was told to make. A great message and reminder for us all. The only negative thing I could say is that it is a bit long with kind of a slow start. Other than that, this book is greatly recommended.

Also, keep an eye out. This book will be made into a movie later this year. I can't wait to see it!!

About the book:

Wit, Whimsy, Heartache, Tragedy, Triumph and Biblical Truth. A magical adventure of animals traveling worldwide to Noah's ark. Max, a Scottish terrier, takes his usual morning trot down to the loch where he hears a mysterious Voice humming in the reeds saying, "COME TO ME...FOLLOW THE FIRE CLOUD." He embarks on an unknown journey from Scotland, meeting other animals along the way including Liz, a brilliant, petite black cat from France. Max and Liz become the brave leaders for their group, and eventually, for the entire ark. The mysterious journey, filled with danger, humor, trials, and triumphs, leads them across Europe to the Middle East. The moment of arrival for these animals is spectacular as the ark is miraculously transformed into the animals' natural habitats.

Throughout the prior one hundred years, Noah and family have to endure ridicule from villagers while building the ark. Now this family must painfully witness the loss of lives and total destruction of the earth through the mighty flood. After the journey to the ark, the voyage in the ark begins. Liz finds ways to keep the animals occupied, including daily exercise led by the flamingos and talent night where the animals entertain each other with their natural abilities. BUT a sinister plot develops. Someone is out to kill Noah and his family. Liz follows clues that lead her to discover a stowaway who has deceived them all. Max and Liz foil the plot, but at a high price. The end climaxes with unexpected twists and turns, taking the reader from despair to hope.

About the Author:

Jenny Cote developed a early passion for history and the sea. Her first book, Now I Sea! (2003) is an inspirational book of sea stories and spiritual reflections. Jenny's education and career have focused on strategic planning and marketing in healthcare and church work. She now writes full time and lives in Roswell, Georgia, with her husband Casey, and son Alex. She is active in student ministry at Dunwoody Baptist Church.

The Ark, the Reed, and the Firecloud is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.




Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

The Secret

The Secret
By: Beverly Lewis

Grace Byler is at a point in her life where she thinks everything is going just right except for one thing - her mother keeps getting up in the middle of the night and wandering around. She knows her mom received some news that upset her terribly and Grace only wishes she knew what it was so she could help. Come along side Grace as she takes care of her family during this tough time.

This is another great start to what will be a great series by one of my favorite authors. There are so many great characters to meet and as always, you are left hanging at the end, not able to wait for the next book. It will be a hard, long wait, but I am eager to see what happens next in the Byler's lives.

Back of the Book:

The loving hand of God is at work in even the most unsettling circumstances. . .

In the seemingly ordinary Amish home of Grace Byler, secrets abound. Why does her mother weep and wander deep in the night? Andy why does her father refuse to admit something is dreadfully wrong? Then, in one startling moment, the queit life Grace has known is irrevocably altered, leaving her to question all she has been taught about love, family, and commitment.

An Interview with Emily Wierenga

Welcome! Today I am posting something new - an interview. I hope to have many more of these for us to be able to get to know the authors we love to read.

With us today is Emily Wierenga, author of recently reviewed book, Save My Children. Welcome to One Rainy Afternoon, Emily!

How did you first learn about the ministry at Bethany Homes for Children?

I first learned of Bethany Homes while serving as associate editor for Living Light News (www.livinglightnews.org) in Edmonton. Bethany was advertising in the paper, and I took the advertisement home to my husband. Both of us were working with teens at the time, and had dreams of one day starting a teen home. This organization seemed to feel our burden. I subsequently began to serve on the board of directors with the hopes of initiating such an idea, but we ended up moving to Korea and teaching English, and then relocating to Ontario because my mother is ill with brain cancer. Meanwhile, I stayed in touch with Bethany and they asked me if I would consider writing a book for their 60th anniversary, commemorating the work they'd done. I was employed by them for six months, and in that time, was able to complete Save My Children: The story of a father's love.

What an honor to be chosen to do this special project! Was it hard to choose which stories to include?

I tried to represent all of the children's stories in this book. Hence, using fictional characters to share the painful backgrounds which most endured prior to arriving at Bethany. It was challenging to write these stories--to imagine myself in these little ones' shoes, and the pain they endured, but since I used fictional characters, and took a lot of creative license, that helped me to space myself (and cushion my heart) a little.

It is so sad to learn what some children have endured. This is your debut novel (I apologize for the confusion), what other writing endeavors have you pursued?

Actually my debut novel was Canvas Child, which was shortlisted in The Word Guild's Best New Author Contest of 2006. However, this is my first published work. I have also recently completed a memoir on my mother, called Mum's Dance (which talks about how my mother, in spite of not being able to walk due to brain cancer, can still dance when she hears music). That is currently in the hands of a literary agent. I am currently freelancing for Faith Today, Christian Week, Focus on the Family and others, as well as completing another commissioned project for a family whose daughter died of Leukemia last year. That book is called The Girl Who Became a Butterfly.

Sounds like you keep busy doing what you love. What was the hardest part of writing this book?

The hardest part was staying true to the spirit of the story while taking enough creative license to fictionalise it. While I based the bare bones of the story on facts, I imagined all of the children, the conversations, the settings, and circumstances. I knew Harvey Jespersen, the founder of Bethany, would be reading it once I was finished, and feared insulting him with my fictionalised account, yet also knew I needed to make it appealing to readers who'd never before heard of Bethany Homes and merely wanted a heartwarming read.

You have certainly accomplished that. I had never heard of Bethany Homes, but loved reading of the amazing ways that God worked in so many lives. What was the easiest?

While at the same time difficult, having facts to work with also made the story easy to write as I knew the founder (Harvey) personally, and had been inspired by him on more than one occasion. I also had numerous interviews to guide my pen, and the prayers of Bethany backing me up.

I found writing the individual accounts of the children easiest, for, in spite of a few details, there was hardly anything to go on, and so my imagination took full flight.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I am an avid painter (www.canvaschild.com). I am also in a band with my sister (http://www.myspace.com/aletheiasrequest), and enjoy playing guitar and songwriting. I garden with my husband, go camping, and travel voraciously.

Who is your favorite author?

My favourite author is Heather O'Neill, author of Lullabies for Little Criminals.

If you could meet one character from a book, who would it be and why?

Similarly, I'd want to meet Baby from Lullabies for Little Criminals. A 13-year-old motherless child who's forced to live in Montreal's red-light district with an immature father, she still manages to find sparks of light in little, every-day things, in spite of her dark existence. I want to be like that.

That sounds like a great book! Thank you so much for joining us today! It was a pleasure to get to know you better. I look forward to reading more of your work in the future. May the Lord bless you in all you do.