Kay Hooper tells a terrifying story in "Blood Sins" about the power of a charismatic cult leader called Rev. Samuel. Samuel has gathered his flock behind a fortified compound in the mountains in a small town named Grace. At least two women who lived in Grace have been found murdered in a way scientists can't explain. The Rev. Samuel is a known psychopath who possesses strange powers. Unable to approach him in an ordinary manner, the FBI enlists Tessa Gray to pretend to be a wealthy, grieving widow, seeking solace. The want her to infiltrate the compound and use her own psychic power to gain information. Tessa finds her powers are no match for the Rev. Samuel but Tessa has the courage to face this monster in hopes of rescuing children who are being held in the compound. One of the residents of "One Fifth Avenue" by Candace Bushnell describes the aging building as "being clean, authoritative and implying -- class and money and prestige." Not just anyone can live there. You have to be rich and or famous and to be accepted. You have to meet the approval of the older residents who also establish all the rules. The residents are described as being so greedy and filled with envy they will do anything to destroy each other or anyone who doesn't conform to their expectations. The media is also very involved in the story reporting the gossip about who's sleeping with whom and when and where. Seemingly happy marriages are exposed as bursting at the seams as passion leads to blatant adultery. The desire for money, recognition and even notoriety drives the residents to make rash decisions and uncomfortable liaisons. The surprise ending doesn't really solve problems but will at least lead to some changes in the drama at One Fifth Avenue. ...more

April 1, 2009

People may not have changed a lot since 18th century England, when some actually relished public hangings. ...more

February 18, 2009

Polk County deputies have charged the mother of one of the girls involved in the beating of a teenage girl recorded for YouTube with domestic battery in an unrelated incident. ...more

February 15, 2009

Jury selection began this morning in the first-degree murder trial of Carl Roland, a sometime computer salesman who gained notoriety for perching himself atop a crane in Atlanta while fleeing Pinellas authorities. ...more

February 10, 2009

Arizona Cardinals rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie received more negative labels by the time he reached his early 20s than one person should endure. ...more

January 26, 2009

What topic instantly evokes a conversational bond among a diverse array of strangers from both Pasco and Pinellas counties? ...more

January 10, 2009

Player Of The Game He doesn't usually get the notoriety that DeMarcus Ware and Zach Thomas get, but the Cowboys probably don't win this game without LB Bradie James. James was a big part of a Dallas pass rush that continually collapsed the pocket around Jeff Garcia, especially in the fourth quarter. He finished the day with six tackles, second only to Thomas, and had one sack, one tackle for a loss, two quarterback hits and a pass defended. Dallas needed to step up in a big way to break out of its slump Sunday, and James led a defensive unit that did that from start to finish. ...more

October 27, 2008

The biggest stereotype about Canadians is that they're all hockey fans. And it's "pretty accurate," singer Alanis Morissette confirms. ...more

October 10, 2008

If you'd told Pfc. Leonard Noreen a month ago he would be getting national attention for the World War II military canteen cup he lost more than 60 years ago, he wouldn't have believed you. ...more

August 25, 2008

Within weeks, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will train detention cadets and deputies on how to lift, search and otherwise handle disabled inmates. ...more

August 16, 2008