Customer Reviews

A Reason To Live : The True Story of One Woman's Love, Courage and Determination to Survive

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Although A Reason to Live by Billy Hills and Dale Hudson is classified as a true-crime book, the focus is not only on the crime, but on the aftermath and its effects on the one of the victims and her family. Through carefully researched storytelling, the authors portray just how far-reaching the effects of a horrific crime can be, not just impacting the victim, but the families, caregivers, legal system. The writers were very moved by this story, and they expressed that well through the writing of this book, which flows more like a novel than a re-iteration of the facts of the case. Wanda Summers is a true hero, and everyone should read this book to learn how to gracefully overcome enormous adversity. Thanks to these remarkable authors for sharing this story, I look forward to reading more of your work!

The title of this true crime book is profoundly appropriate. More than the story of a woman who survived sexual assault and attempted murder, Hills and Hudson have written an intimate portrayal of several South Carolina families, whose lives were shattered and destroyed by two men on a senseless killing spree in February of 1979...all because some guys wanted to make easy money by robbing an elderly man. The determination and courage of Wanda Summers is, for me, the profile of a heroine. This is an emotional book; it made me cry. With skill and sensitivity, the authors deal with the gruesome facts of the attacks. The details of the court case move along swiftly and then the reader must learn how the legal system can be agonizingly complicated after a guilty verdict and a death sentence. There are some bizarre connections to other crimes in A Reason to Live. True crime readers will not be disappointed with Hills and Hudson's second book! Sobering...poignant...inspiring.

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.

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!!

It doesn't matter if you are a true crime junkie or not, I think
A Reason To Live is a must read for everyone. It is more than just a true crime book; it is a book of courage, inspiration, and
human tragedy. Wanda and Jimmy Summers, and the other victims of
Ronald Woomer and Eugene Skaar were brave, God-fearing individuals, who didn't deserve what happened to them. Yet, in the same manner, the authors depicted Woomer and Skaar as such
troubled humans that I couldn't help but feel sorry for them, too. Call me crazy, but even after reading what Rusty Woomer did,
I felt he was somehow salvageable. A Reason To Live will test
every human emotion and challenge your position on the Death
Penalty. I read the first Hudson-Hills book, An Hour To Kill,
and believe these two authors just keep getting better and better with each book. I look forward to reading their next book,
and hope it will be as good as their others.

I read An Hour To Kill, the first book written by these two authors, and liked their writing style so much I bought this book. This story was a little different in that it was written
from the perspective of the victim, but it was just as interesting. I like the author's writing style, as it moves the story along at a nice pace and sticks to the story--doesn't get
caught up in all the nonessential facts of the case. In this story, Wanda Summers is the focus, as she and her family attempt to survive an unthinkable crime. I won't give the story away, but will say the reader is captivated from the first page to the last. How Wanda and her family ever made it through is beyond anyone's guess. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to
read a survivor's story.

There were many expectations as to how Dale Hudson and Billy Hills would handle their second true crime book. After all, their first, An Hour To Kill, with all its controversy and popularity, would be a hard book to follow. It was no surprise however, to find that their new book, A Reason To Live, is filled with so much more than ever was expected.

In Hudson-Hills style, not only does the reader get an inside detailed and sordid crime story, but also an inside look at victimization at its finest. The story, which revolves around Wanda Summers is an inconceivable story of valiancy and determination. In 1979, Wanda Summers became the unfortunate victim of Gene Skaar and Rusty Woomer, two men with no consciousness. Wanda, along with her friend Louise, was kidnapped, brutally raped and then shot in cold blood, left to die. She and Louise were not Skaar's and Woomer's first victims however, they would be the last. Shortly after their crime spree, Gene Skaar killed himself before being apprehended by police, and Rusty Woomer was arrested and charged on numerous counts.

Hudson and Hills provide a spellbinding story by introducing the reader to Wanda's life of victim and survivor, which is a rarity in true crime books today. As many books mainly focus on the crime and criminal, once again Hudson and Hills provide readers with a different look at a crime through the victim's eyes. The reader has the ability to feel the emotions that Wanda has been going through years after the crime occurred. Not only the emotions keep the reader wanting more either, the facts of the case and the determination by Wanda to change victim's rights is truly an act of bravery; after so much endurance of pain and frustration through years of legal mishaps during penalty phases for Woomer.

While many readers of the true crime genre wonder what happens to the victims of violent crimes, A Reason To Live makes sure the reader is satisfied with the results of the victims afterwards, instead of leaving the reader unsettled. There is no doubt that this book will also catapult among the true crime genre population with great strides. A Reason To Live is poignant and courageous and will leave you ready to read Hudson and Hills next book.

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.

What a great true story of how a woman overcomes such tragedy. This is a true crime story but instead of focusing on the perp, Billy and Dale focus on the survivor, Wanda. She overcomes being raped and being shot in the face. Such a great way to tell a true crime story and it definitely is a twist from traditional true crime books. Nicely done!

This is The Best True Crime book and one of the best books I have ever read! I Read alot of books and this one just haunts me..Its a inspirational story of Wanda Summers who survives a Shot gun Blast to the Face.It tells of her struggles,The Case,Its much more than a True Crime Story..Its a Story of a Survivor! I look forward to reading more by these Authors!