Just five days before Election Tuesday, the nation learns of Charles Dewitt Heubner’s assassination. As the charismatic leader of the Church of Divine Destiny, a neo-Nazi group, Heubner had created and nurtured a culture of intolerance toward anyone he deemed "different. Violence begets violence and more blood is spilled before the awful truth is discovered. At the core of this story lie a sense of family and of national unity -- that all Americans are relatives, bound together by the bonds of blood and brotherhood.
 All the characters are as real as life itself. The reader will love some and hate others…but will forget none of them.

 Praise for BECAUSE THEY WERE:

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - TWO THUMBS UP!!!
Excellent book!! Could not put the book down. This book keeps you at the edge of your seat.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Excellent
The political and racial issues are as true as they can be. Don't be mistaken, this is not a novel about minorities being victimized. The plot is an eye opener to the truth about good and bad people, no matter the race, political and/or social status. Who we are today is a direct result of the way we were raised, no matter our place or condition of origin. As a native of Puerto Rico, I felt extremely identified with the plot. As a member of a close-knit family, I really loved the book.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Because They Were
I enjoyed the book very much because it was fast paced and the characters were so real that it was easy to love them or hate them. I really appreciated the sense of family and how they took care of each other and believed in one another. The "bad guys" were extremely realistic and the evil deeds they committed were not new and have already taken place in our world. It was a very scary scenario but one that would hopefully make you stop and think and realize that we're all in this together and we ... Read More

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - It's about time
As a Hispanic woman, I can really appreciate Caceres' view of a Latino in the White House - it's about time someone addresses the issue.

The murder mystery is well-plotted, with real-life characters who speak real-life dialogue, and the suspense is fingernail-biting. Under it all lies a valuable lesson - that each of us is a product of our culture, together with our parents and theirs and theirs, and that we are the sum of all our ancestors' experiences. Every action, every thought, every decision and every belief our predecessors experienced were carried into each of us. Although we certainly have the freedom of independent thought, there's no doubt in my mind that our paths were forged by our family.

"Because They Were" is a rare find - entertaining fiction combined with a valuable lesson.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - A timely novel.....
A very timely novel, written by a skilled author. As an RN, I appreciated the realism of the medical aspects of the novel. Characters are believable, enabling the reader to love most and dislike some. Caceres has something to say and does so in a realistic way via his excellent prose. The message of his story is ageless, and in 2003 very timely. Do yourself a favor....find a comfortable spot and join the Colon family as they encounter love, fear, truth and acknowledgement. Their story is meaningful and will stay with you long after you read the final page.

Because They Were