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

Mourners arrive in droves to pay respects at officer's funeral. ...more

February 26, 2009

Simmons College has come up with a low-tech solution to get rid of the flock of Canada geese fouling its quad. ...more

February 24, 2009

pilot lands after vulture breaks windshield ...more

February 16, 2009

As students race to class, Carlos Pons Paz stands on a ladder in a hallway at Blake High School contemplating and working his next stroke. ...more

January 14, 2009

As students race to class, Carlos Pons Paz stands on a ladder in a hallway at Blake High School contemplating and working his next stroke. ...more

January 14, 2009

Water fowl are easy to count. They just float in place. But flocks require strategy. ...more

January 5, 2009

Equipped with binoculars and identification guides, volunteers hit the Upper Tampa Bay Trail off Waters Avenue on Saturday. They weren't bird-watching; they were spotting, identifying and logging every bird they encountered throughout the day. ...more

January 2, 2009

What started as a protest became a show of support Sunday afternoon as nearly 100 people marched down Seventh Avenue on behalf of Ybor City's chickens. ...more

November 17, 2008

The roosters start crowing outside Tommy Stephens' Ybor City home at 3 a.m. It's been that way since he moved to the neighborhood in 1987. ...more

November 9, 2008