How AFRAID are you?

I'm a pretty big guy. I consider myself in reasonable shape -- I run five days a week and occasionally bike or swim. And when I play golf, I carry my clubs and usually walk the course. Plus, I'm a second degree black belt in karate.

I don't go looking for fights or entanglements, preferring to walk away from a confrontation. But I don't take crap from anyone, either.

No, I don't scare easily.

Or at least I didn't. Until I read Jack Kilborn's latest novel, AFRAID.

The story starts with a black helicopter crash in the town of Safe Haven, Wisconsin. From there it takes the reader on a nail biting ride of thrills, grimaces, laughs, gasps, moans, and groans. It climaxes with multiple twists and a pair of unlikely heroes.

Truly a really good read.

My only "complaint" with the novel is that there are no chapter breaks. I plan my reading based on chapters (read a chapter at commercial, on the pooper, before going to bed, etc.), and not having them threw me off -- I didn't know when to quit! I read the entire book on a flight home from vacation. Almost five hours of straight reading. And I was too afraid to go to the bathroom....

But the book changed my life. It really did!

My wife and I live near a good sized regional airport and a locally major hospital. As such, we have lots of air traffic flying over our house. Being a pilot and flight instructor, I am thrilled each time a plane flies over, stopping whatever it is I'm doing to gawk at the plane and wonder how the pilot's ride flight is going. Small planes, large planes, Cessnas, Pipers -- it doesn't matter. I love them all.

But...... that isn't the case anymore with helicopters. Ever since reading AFRAID, I cringe each time a chopper flies over head. My pulse quickens, sweat beads on my forehead, and I search for a place to hide. I'm afraid that it might crash and unleash the horrors that a similar incident did on Safe Haven.

And if a helicopter flies over at night, that's even worse! The woosh-woosh of the blades causes me to dash under my bed, hiding in fright, palms sweaty as they clutch my loaded Glock.

Yes, Jack Kilborn's AFRAID has changed my life.

It may not have the same effect on you, but I'm sure you'll enjoy the read.