Rating: 
Summary: Inspiration without sentimentality
Review: Because the book tells a true story that happened in the community where I live I wanted to read the facts. What I found in this book was much more than facts. The authors have told a story of inspiration without ever becoming preachy or sentimental. This book should be required reading for every adult. How amazing to see someone like the criminals in this story with no regard for the consequences of their acts and to see the amazing resilience of someone like Ms. Summers (whose actions had no reason to cause these circumstances)taking on the responsibility to survive, to grow, to raise her family, to be a contributor to society. How many of us would have her courage, strength, spirit to survive never mind to triumph. Thank you to Ms. Summers for letting her story be told and to the authors for telling a gripping and suspenseful tale while still respecting the victims and never manipulating the reader to feel... the reader feels the love and determination of these survivors thanks to the authors.
Rating:
Summary: A Heartbreaking Story
Review: Excellent. This book I couldn't put down, even though I tried. What happened to Wanda Summers and the other people broke my
heart. Wanda is a special and courageous young woman and I hope
she has found the peace she deserves. A BEAUTIFUL STORY!!
Rating:
Summary: A Definite Must-Read!
Review: From the intriguing and unusual cover to the contents of the book to the back cover -- this book is one of those books you just can't put down.Wanda's courage and strength comes shining through due to the incredible writing of Hudson and Hills. This woman defied all odds and should have never lived, much less have the nerve to tell her story to all. But she did. The story reads easily, like fiction, but you must remind yourself at all times this is REAL. Events really DID HAPPEN. In order for Wanda's suffering to have been worthwhile to share, we have to learn from her. I implore women especially to read this book and to see that we do have a way to take an extremely bad situation and right it. Another fascinating part of this book is the way Wanda's husband stood by her, throughout it all. This man has had to suffer his own grief and guilt. Another title could have been "In Hell: A Love Story Emerges." Wanda is -- tragically -- not just another pretty face, she was a daughter, a mother, a wife, a friend ... a survivor. Thanks for a story well told.
Rating:
Summary: Hils and Hudson have another best seller on their hands!!
Review: From the moment I opened A Reason to Live, I found it nearly impossible to put down. Billy Hills and Dale Hudson have a way with writing true crimes that place you right at the scene as though you are watching the story unfold in front of you and you begin to feel as though you know the people involved. A Reason to Live lives up to the high standards they set with their first great book, An Hour to Kill. I highly recommend A Reason to Live as this book not only tells of the horrible crimes befallen on Horry County, but the strength and determination to live of Wanda Summers. It's also a story about love as her husband Jimmy stands by her side and fights to get his family back, no easy feat. My heart went out to this couple. They have my utmost respect and admiration. Dale and Billy--thank you for bringing me such a heart-felt story, one that I will not likely forget, and I definitely look forward to your next work.
Rating:
Summary: A Reason To Live....Hudson & Hill's Do It Again!
Review: Hi, I am an avid True Crime reader and loved the first book"An Hour To Kill" by these two, This one even beat That!I highly recommend this book for everyone,not just True Crime fans, This is a Story of crime,Yet offers Much More! It is a page turning book of a horrible day of crimes,but doesn't end there. This book is also a Story of bravery ,courage,and Strength by Wanda Summers and her Family. The Book makes you cry then rejoice with the surviviors. I am not a reveiwer of books,but a reader! This is a must read for everyone, Believe me you will be touched, maddened,and Inspired. One of the best (If not The Best)Books I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: A Reason To Live....Hudson & Hill's Do It Again!
Review: Hi, I am an avid True Crime reader and loved the first book"An Hour To Kill" by these two, This one even beat That!I highly recommend this book for everyone,not just True Crime fans, This is a Story of crime,Yet offers Much More! It is a page turning book of a horrible day of crimes,but doesn't end there. This book is also a Story of bravery ,courage,and Strength by Wanda Summers and her Family. The Book makes you cry then rejoice with the surviviors. I am not a reveiwer of books,but a reader! This is a must read for everyone, Believe me you will be touched, maddened,and Inspired. One of the best (If not The Best)Books I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: An engrossing true crime story
Review: I am a huge reader, but very seldom, if any, do I read true crime stories. But this book was recommended by so many true
crime readers, I thought I'd check it out. After meeting one
of the authors on the Internet, somehow I knew I wouldn't be
disappointed.
The story of the survival of Wanda Summers is an engrossing story, to say the least. What fascinated me is how in the beginning Rusty Woomer didn't care whether Wanda lived, despite her many reasons for living. Yet in the end, Wanda lived and,
Rusty died, after finally finding religion and his reason to live. Oh, my, how the tables were turned.
It is the authors who make this story work. All I can ever remember about true crime books are stories which spotlight the
killers, to the point sometimes it was sickening. Why should we
make celebrities out of cold blooded killers? A Reason To Live
takes the opposited position and details events from the survivors lives and how difficult they had it after the crime.
I liked that approach.
As stated before, I don't read true crime and was hesitant to read this one for fear ir would be cast from the same dye as other true crime stories. But these two writers crafted a wonderful story, built strong characters, fashioned a well-designed plot, then let it all unfold for the reader. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a well-written story.
Five stars to Billy Hills and Dale Hudson for their efforts.
I believed Jack Olsen, who said there were no more good true
crime writers left. Honestly, I believed him, until I read this book, but Hills and Hudson have given me hope that this genre is going to see some big changes.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Reason to Read..A Reason to Live
Review: I am a reader...not a book reviewer..so I hope you will bare with me as I try to tell you my feelings about ~A Reason to Live~. I finished the book this morning and as I put it down I felt satisfied that the Wanda Summers story was told with compassion and love. She was no longer a victim but a survivor. I was swept into her life from the first page and shed tears as I read of the terrible crime that was committed against her and her family. I recommend this to all true crime aficionados like myself. It is written in a clear concise style and it has several pages of pictures.... a must with me :) I will be looking forward to the next book from this pair of authors...
Rating:
Summary: I Have Never Read Any True Crime Book Like This One
Review: I just finished pulling an all nighter with A Reason To Live. This book is so compelling I could not put it down until I had finished every single page. Most other books in this genre rely upon gruesome pictures and horrible narratives to sell their books, but not these authors. This is my second book I have read by Hudson and Hills and they are superb writers. These two guys take the raw material from their research and weave it into spellbinders! This is the first time I have read a book that focused not only on the crime but the victim. What Rusty Woomer and Eugene Skarr did to his victims are beyond belief, and Wanda, Jimmy, Louise and the other victims didn't deserve this. After reading this book, for the first time I felt like I really understood how our American Justice System continues to victimize these people over and over again. It just isn't fair that we give the criminal so many rights, but think nothing of the victim's plights. This book is a must for all true crime readers, who have heard enough about the criminal's plight. I am going to recommend this book to everyone I know. Honestly, I have never read any true crime book like this one.
Rating:
Summary: True Crime About the Victims
Review: I rarely read true crime because I find it hard to enjoy reading about real people's tragedies. This book was different.Everybody assumes that it's all over as soon as the jury brings in a verdict. Not true. Wanda and her family lived with the attack on her for many years afterward. She was shot in the face and left for dead with no more thought than you and I would give swatting a mosquito. Her face was destroyed. She endured years of surgeries, depression, a justice system that dragged its feet, and withdrawal from society because of the stares she got.But Wanda also had love and support in her life from family and friends. Her husband Jimmy was wonderful. His life wasn't a bed of roses either, but he stuck by her side all through it. His values and sense of family earned my admiration and respect.
I don't think most people would have hung in there year after year. A Reason to Live showed the crime from all sides and read like a fictional novel instead of a police report. Whenever my problems threaten to overwhelm me, I think of Wanda and Jimmy and their family. They are an inspiration to me and I wish them the best possible future they can have.
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