Blood IS thicker than water...
583560
THAT SUMMER AT AMERICAN BEACH is a complex drama that entwines family bloodlines, unveils family secrets, touches on a current health issue and gives a blossoming couple a twist that could break their hearts.

Rayne Walker learns that the father she has loved for twenty-six years is not her biological father, but her stepfather. She is devastated and she wants answers. On a trip home to check on her 'dad's'(stepfather's)health she meets Wade Jefferson on the beach, they share an instant attraction. But she later learns Wade Jefferson is the son of her biological father.

At thirty-four, Wade has followed in his father's land development footsteps and is making a name for himself. He is quite the lady's man but has been free of a serious relationship for a good while. He is thoroughly surprised at his attraction to Rayne. Once they realize their connection, the couple accepts that they are related, but it does not sit well with either of them. Then their father drops a bombshell, that will turn everyone's world upside down or maybe right side up...

THAT SUMMER AT AMERICAN BEACH shares an excellent history of a beautiful landmark. Ms. Sims gives us family drama that emphasizes the importance of knowing your genealogy. This story is frank, empathetic and risqu, it will pull your emotions in all directions.

Reviewed by aNN

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
4712298
Dying. This book was intense and dramatic. I was surprised at the story.  This book tackled a subject I was not familiar with but I really wanted to know more about how this subject is handled. The book definitely expressed how controlling sin can be to anyone. Sin doesn't care who you are and what title you have.  Pastor Johnson was scarred with a vision and urge that he let in his soul without taking into consideration there could be consequences to the urge.  But he also had no one to scold or chastise him because he started it in secret. The devil latches on to the secret and makes it so enticing to the fact that you can't stop the feeling right or wrong. Pastor Johnson had another problem that fueled the fire of homosexuality. He craved power and money which being a pastor gave him a lot of.  So this gave him prominence and strength to do what he did. These sins hurt his family so deep that he almost lost them completely.  I understand how sin takes a hold on you. Knowing who you are and what you need to do with your life is not enough. You need that relationship with God and his guidance to live a half way decent life.  *** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one elses. ***
2317892
Desecration, the 9th book in the 'Left Behind' saga is one of the better reads in this maxi-series.
From the opening chapter until the cliffhanger it is more or less non-stop action.  Well, that is to say there is much more action than some of the previous novels in this saga due to the fact the authors have only a few books left to cover some of the most explosive events of the 2nd half of the tribulation.
For our main characters, picking sides has never been more important than right now.  For Nicolae Carpathia, the Antichrist, has declared marshal law...and for those who do not brandish the mark of loyalty on either their hand or their forehead is put to death by guillotine.  Worship me or perish he declares as he breaks his peace covenant with Israel and makes a mockery of the most holy of temples.
Now believers of Christ and especially the foretold 144,000 make their way to safety in Petra with the Carpathia's forces in pursuit.
I was also happy to see that the authors had progressed or matured as writers quite noticeably with this 9th effort.  Though the camp dialogue still exists, it has improved and the atrocities and manipulations of the Antichrist are detailed.  In addition when God allows the 1st of the seals to be opened and his judgment brought down upon the world, the descriptions of fleshly boils and oceans of blood are pretty dramatic and page turning.  Even more so is Nicolae's response and handling of these global events, and now we see the world plunge further into chaos as even those with the mark of loyalty begin to question Carpathia's ways and their own decisions.
There are some who have taken the mark of the beast, and only when it is too late do they start to come around.  Woe to them.
There are some introductions of a few new characters, but one death amongst the main characters will shock you.
3188773
In Bone Dust, the Nick and Nora of nurses are back with a splash...a splash of blood, that is.  And boy, are Gina Mazzio and Harry Lucke in the thick of the blood this time. Gina's murderous ex is getting in the way of Harry's love for her just for starters. But Harry has his ways.  And Gina is dealing with a deranged killer right in her own hospital.  Gina is one tough cookie though, and Harry is still her sweetheart.  And they both just keep on fighting to do the right thing and get the bad guys.  Courageous characters and complex schemes. This fast-paced medical thriller keeps you panting until the final page.
714787
Well, this is the first sort of book I've read in a while that goes this far into the darker side of things. First thought after finishing was...Wowzers!

My first feeling and the storyline that I keep coming back too, is the humanity or inhumanity of the characters involved. How deeply human they were and how well they were written. Showing the human race and depicting them spectacularly with all their flaws. A group of church goers, family & friends alike, gather for what is supposed to be the regular, once a week Sunday service.

Meet Angela. A woman who was left as a single parent to son Alex, 3 months ago when her husband Rick disappeared without trace. After a freak wind forced the congregation back into the church, ironically a room called the sanctuary, Rick re-appears out of the blue. There are cries of "It's a miracle, praise God".....but how long will this last? Even before the carnage started Angela had to get her and her son away. Away from the man who abused, beat and broke her for years. A secret kept to herself.

Rick has appeared and claims he has been sent by the Beast. He's there to show them the way and to follow the Behemoth. With this, causes confusions andfractionswithin the group. It seems surprising at first just how quickly the situation deteriorates and the divisions show, in the end it only takes 48 hrs for the whole group to almost self destruct. But, and here's the thing that keeps me thinking and coming back to it. Was it really that surprising? Seriously, what would the normal person do when faced with almost certain death, watching friends and family members literally ripped apart in front of their eyes, what would you sacrifice in order to live? Your morality? How do you draw the line at what is right and wrong? How do you justify those decisions? Honestly, THIS is the underlying storyline I keep thinking about.

Now, it's not all about this obviously, I mentioned the Behemoth. He sends Rick in to speak for him, to tell the congregation he wants a child. They have 48 hrs to decide, give him a child or all will die. This hopefully will explain now why everything went wrong, fast. No-one was allowed to leave and anyone trying will die. Which as promised, they did. The author spares the reader nothing when describing in detail the horror, the gore, the ripping skin from bone ...you get the picture. This is described in such great detail it makes you curl your toes as you can almost hear the bones cracking and the images it creates seems to jump off the page.

The storyline itself was a good one and executed well. The characters were all connected, even loosely, so there was great continuity. I can't say any were particularly likeable, but then, I think this reflects the situation they found themselves in, no matter how much you say your thoughts are about others, it all comes down to self preservation. It was well paced, steady & hadexcellent attention to detail. And I can't let this go without saying something about that cover. Bloody brilliant! I absolutely love it. An excellent and thoroughly fitting picture for this equally good read.

If I'm being perfectly honest, and I don't know what this says about me, but I actually had a lot of sympathy for the Behemoth in the end. He's been around for so long, seen changes upon the earth and managed to survive by himself, albeit reluctantly. All he wanted was a friend, a companion. Someone to end his loneliness. It left me asking the question, WHO is actually the beast on this earth? With the traits shown in humanity here, the lines become blurred.

An excellent example of it's genre, giving the reader far more than just a basic gore fest. It shows us & exposes us to darkness on so many levels. Really well done and I'll look forward to more from this author.
1067746
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is a riveting non-fiction novel about two corrupt men who kill a family of four. It is divided into three parts. Part one is written from the Clutter family perspective.

It describes how Mr. Clutter is such a well-known man who participates in several organizations in their small town Honeycomb, Kansas. Dick and Parry meet up to discuss the big score Dick has in mind. Throughout part one its interest how the author makes it well known that that Clutter family will be murdered by adding their last night, the familys last meal, etc.

After the murder was recognized, investigators came to examine the house in which the killing took place, but they couldn't find any evidence other than a bloody footprint. There seemed to be no explanation for why anyone killed this innocent family.
 Alvin Dewey, the investigator, finally received a phone call that led him to the killers. Dick and Perry were then put on trial to fight for their lives.

The author makes readers change their perspective throughout the book. At the beginning the emotions toward Dick and Perry are very hostile. The audience cant relate to these people because no background information is given about Dick or Perry, and readers haven't murdered four family members for no apparent reason. Then when the book continues the two killers are shown as real people that want to live their lives just as much as anyone else. The simple gesture of Perry caring for a squirrel causes empathy from the reader, and realizing that Perry is a human being.

Later in the book, Perry and Dick get put on trial and the Judge and jury already have their mind set before they even see Perry or Dick. There was nothing that could have been said that would have changed their minds either.
In Cold Blood expresses some of the negative effects of the death penalty. During Dick and Perrys trial they didn't even have the chance to prove they had something mentally wrong with them and back in the day there wasn't the technology to do so. Today there is the technology capable to diagnose someone with a mental disability.

This book related to todays world because there is still controversy over the issue of death penalty. Should someone who kills others, and understands they have done wrong but has a metal disability be put on death row?

I really enjoyed how this book is written from the perspectives of the Clutter family, Perry, Dick, the investigator, and some towns people. It provided information for the reader to foreshadow what would happen in the future. I also enjoyed that the author waited to give the gruesome det
3337753
And another gut-wrenching and emotional addition to the Out of the Box series as Ash and Olivia plan to take their relationship to the next level. The kids are all full of surprises as well (weddings galore), but the shocks regarding Olivia's EX Alan keep on coming and are a test to the strength of Ash and Olivia's relationship.
A huge betrayal from a friend leaves Olivia shocked and in emotional pain...only to be followed by an unspeakable tragedy and heart-breaking loss, that throws her back into Alan's life again. Of course the cheater-of-an-ex has remorse but whether or not it is sincere or just a product of the messed up way his life has turned...who knows? Olivia is fed up and is trying to get back her "happy" and with the help of some young friends, she starts to let loose.
Tommy and Emily get their HEA while misunderstandings, secrets and things not really being how they look puts a strain on Todd's relationship with Kyra, and as usual Ash and Liv are the loving parental units who help keep everyone together.
It is apparent that life and love do not end at 60 and we get a lot of couple time with the very smitten Ash and Olivia as they continue to show each other (in increasingly daring ways) that they are definitely soulmates. A fantasy trip of a lifetime to one of the most romantic cities in the world gives Liv a chance to open up her heart and lose her inhibitions and give Ash a birthday present he will never forget.
This book ends on a huge and very dramatic cliffhanger that will be sure to cause all kinds of devastation in the next book. It was definitely a rollercoaster ride...making you feel giddy and then dropping you into sadness. If you have been through a divorce, had a cheating spouse and found that your children were alienated from their father because of it, this book might cause some painful flashbacks (as it did to me). But if you like a heavy and yet playful family drama that hits you in all the right (and wrong) places...this book is for you!

***** 4.5 ***** "life is never predictable but always surprising" stars
2008169
Well written storyline that pulls you in, and doesn't let go. While reading this book, I felt as though I was on the fast track of an emotional rollercoaster. Much of the subject matter of book,  brought to the surface absolute horrors, within a dysfunctional family. I believe that the author wanted for the reader to be repulsed by the actions/ interactions between family members in this book. I feel that perhaps some reviewers missed the whole point of the book.
2548821
Don't be surprised by how much you like this novel. Plenty of action and more character development than you can shake a stick at. It's honest and funny, but prepare yourself: there will be blood. It's one of their best and I say that primarily due to the growth of the characters. @ilona Andrews - Well done, you!
927520
A global epidemic has nightmarish consequences.
A sleeping virus (SB-16) has affected 80% of the worlds population, turning humans comatose and pet dogs into rabid zombies that exist only to tear people limb from limb.
Calloway Foster has a decision to make, torn between concentrating on keeping his family safe, or recklessly searching for his twin brother.
Not for the faint-hearted, the story is fast-paced and a veritable gore-fest from the outset. Author Ellie Douglas doesnt stint on the bone-crunching, flesh-ripping imagery and the carnage she creates is off the scale! The streets are littered with dead dogs and mutilated human corpses; cities are in the grip of anarchy and lynch mobs become the new order.
But, despite introducing us to this hellish Armageddon, Douglas also writes with a mischievousness that I found appealing. It was impossible not to root for the main protagonists as they battled through the havoc, their playful banter the perfect foil to the jeopardy surrounding them.
The book is left open-ended, amping up the anticipation in readiness for the sequel, which promises to be every bit as bloodthirsty!
4836235
Life, marriage - it all ain't easy. This books takes you through so many of life's very messy emotions. The characters felt so real. You feel for each of them... even when you want to scream at them. I was so distraught over Sadie's circumstances. It was so good to see a story that didn't have some massively rich, ultra alpha male. This was a good book, with "real life" characters (a bit of a contradiction there, but couldn't think of another way to describe it).
3062224
I knew immediately this book was for me when I read this quote at the beginning:

"And any man from the house of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, who eats any blood; I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood..."
 -Leviticus 17:10-11

That for me set the tone of the book. This was something more than a `vampire story.'

What Author James Garcia has done is he's taken two genres: horror and crime and blended them magnificently. The result? A fascinating story.

It reads like a cop thriller yet has the special excitement that one can only find in a horror novel. Fans of both genres will be glued!

The action takes place in a small Northern California town as two detectives at the outset are viciously murdered by a vampire.

The crime begins to be routinely investigated but then strange things are noted like the corpses were drained of blood.

From the novel:
 "They had vampire bite marks on their necks?"
 "Mancuso didn't."

Boing! The cops are onto something--this is no ordinary killer they're after.

The police can't understand what has befallen their town as first one murder and then another are discovered and always the corpses are bloodless.
It is hard to believe yet it keeps happening...

The novels tells the story of two vampires--one the monstrous Vincent and the other Nathanael, a vampire created by Vincent hundreds of years ago `to be his son.'

When Nathaniel comes upon a savagely murdered corpse, he sees his name has been written in blood. He instantly understands why this is!

I don't want to give too much of the story away but I liked that the two vampires had a relationship as well as a past history which makes their depiction all the more interesting.

As for the cop aspect: Mr. Garcia writes with certainty and realism having had a father whose background was in law enforcement. His depiction of police procedure is excellent, but never dry; his characters are too well drawn for that.

He made me worry. I felt his characters' angst particularly when infant twins were mentioned and no! You'll have to read the story to find out what happens!

I guess what I liked best of all was the theme of good and evil, and the inclusion of God in this well-written story, too many times I feel this vital ingredient of good vs. evil is left out of many vampire novels.

So here you have it: small town America, with likeable inhabitants and interesting domestic situations and then the vampiric killings--it is that embodiment of evil amidst these good citizens of Kingsburg that made me think of Hitchcock's masterpiece, 'Shadow of a Doubt.'

That film had a similar theme: one of evil rearing its murderous head in a small quiet town, a town unused to `big city' crime.

There is also a parallel storyline that explains the vampire characters in a most vivid way.

Again the good vs. evil theme is so interestingly depicted as Nathaniel tries to thwart Vincent as much as he can.
Vincent has been after Nathaniel and is planning to punish him along with those he has befriended for `leaving him all those years ago.'

There is a startling surprise toward the end that I was not prepared for. I love when that happens in a book I am reading!

This is fast paced and tense. I liked the time element that the author uses because it tightens the pace even more.
 And if it's like that throughout, as I neared the climax I found the screws were really tightened as I found myself page-turning ever more quickly.

Lastly let me commend author James Garcia, because in his adept hands he has made this thoroughly engrossing novel an exceptional read. I loved it!
1626040
Beautifully written story that shows that family is more than blood. I welled up a few times during this story. I recommend to anyone who loves heart felt and vivid tales. :)
936050
This story is more than a wild ride. I kept wondering when all the wrongs would be made right, only to be hit with more wrongs. Lily & Ed should have hit the annulment button on their marriage; inheritance or not. Good thing they didn't, because then the story wouldn't have been nearly as good. The story of Ed, Lily, Carla, Joe & so many others gets so convoluted, it's better than a soap opera! All I know is that if I were Lily, I would have been a "widow" long  before the husband's Wife made me one.....
4220039
This story went a little deeper into some darker skeletons of a wealthy family celebrating their mother's birthday.  I did not begin to guess the turn this one took at the conclusion.
90127
It will be difficult to write a "non political" review on such a politically charged movie.  It was truly a "true story".  And they didn't hold back on the blood and gore (in other words...reality).  The fact that no one (no one being Obama or Hillary) went to prison is staggering, and a testament to just how numb our society has become and starving for true justice.  It was an emotional movie, difficult to watch, and one I won't watch again simply because it boils your blood.  Seriously...if you have high blood pressure, careful with this movie.  If you're not p*ssed off by the end of it, you're not American.  You can only watch it once.  But you HAVE to watch it at least once.
1477878
A well paced emotional roller coaster of a book.  Unfortunately this is a true story.