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Shades
David Quinn isn’t about to get drafted into the Army. Let someone else slog around the jungle to fight Lyndon Johnson’s war. But his student deferment is about to run out, and the Navy and Air Force recruiters are already swamped with panicked college boys in the same pickle. He can’t run to Canada. That would kill his dad. And getting a conscientious-objector deferment practically requires being a priest. So when a recruiter shows up on campus pitching the sizzle of naval aviation, Dave is seduced by the golden wings, ultra-cool aviator shades, and the promise of a jumbo jet career as a Pan Am captain. It is both his way out and the glamorous career he deserves.
But he lands in a remote outpost, where he struggles against a demanding superior, aging aircraft, and his own fears. When his dogged ambition inflicts devastation, he has to face the kind of man he has become, profiting from war while others suffer. Now, he must make an agonizing choice.
SHADES is a story of ambition and friendship, sacrifice and loss, and ultimately, discovery and hope. In the worst of times we find the best in ourselves.
But he lands in a remote outpost, where he struggles against a demanding superior, aging aircraft, and his own fears. When his dogged ambition inflicts devastation, he has to face the kind of man he has become, profiting from war while others suffer. Now, he must make an agonizing choice.
SHADES is a story of ambition and friendship, sacrifice and loss, and ultimately, discovery and hope. In the worst of times we find the best in ourselves.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2019
57 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Ken Hubona
3 books2 followersKen Hubona has been a naval aviator, attorney, electrical engineer, and federal bureaucrat. He is the author of three novels -- Brewing Justice, Shades, and Sheila Craig, Esq. -- and several published short stories. He lives and writes in suburban Richmond, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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November 24, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/24/2019)! 🎁
July 18, 2022
This book captured my interest from the beginning because the time period was my own coming of age, and also because the writing was clever with some great figures of speech: "The men....raced into the hall like a tributary joining a river of green cockroaches fleeing the light." The first quarter of the book moved along casually but the story got increasingly interesting as the characters and situations developed. Towards the end I couldn't put it down til I finished it. This story was particularly vivid for me as I had just seen the movie "Top Gun-- Maverick" which was also about Naval Aviators and I found the two perspectives to be not in conflict.
January 23, 2020
This was an excellent story.
Mr. Hubona provided a book that deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
I was "coming" of age in the 1960s. I remember this time vividly. I recall far too many of my male classmates and friends going to the Far East. Many died and many returned with "scars" for a lifetime.
Thank you Ken Hubona for honoring our veterans who sacrificed their lives.
I look forward to reading more written by you.
Mr. Hubona provided a book that deserves nothing less than 5 stars.
I was "coming" of age in the 1960s. I remember this time vividly. I recall far too many of my male classmates and friends going to the Far East. Many died and many returned with "scars" for a lifetime.
Thank you Ken Hubona for honoring our veterans who sacrificed their lives.
I look forward to reading more written by you.
February 22, 2020
Heartwarming and meaningful
I thought this is going to be a silly romantic book But it turned out to be far more thoughtful It's really sweet book about people who make choices and how those choices affect their lives. Being a hero is about caring for others over yourself. Great job Mr. Hubona
I thought this is going to be a silly romantic book But it turned out to be far more thoughtful It's really sweet book about people who make choices and how those choices affect their lives. Being a hero is about caring for others over yourself. Great job Mr. Hubona
July 6, 2023
A Naval aviation novel set in the late sixties same time I served in the US. Navy Destroyer Wiltsie in the Philippines. The book brought back many great memories and some not so great. It tells a wonderful story of a young lad graduating from college and then entering the U.S.Navy as an Officer Cadet and his progress in maturing to a complete Naval officer.
November 25, 2019
Great historical fiction
Well written book following life through the Viet Man War to present day.
The characters and the choices they make will keep you interested to the last page.
Well written book following life through the Viet Man War to present day.
The characters and the choices they make will keep you interested to the last page.
November 26, 2019
Great read!
Fast paced, exciting and definitely evocative of another place and time. If you like stories packed with adventure as well as personal growth, this is the book for you. I highly recommend.
Fast paced, exciting and definitely evocative of another place and time. If you like stories packed with adventure as well as personal growth, this is the book for you. I highly recommend.
February 29, 2020
Great Story told in the era of Vietnam War.
Great story told in the era of the Vietnam War. I didn't realize until I had finished it that the author was indeed a aviator during that war. So Ken, I so enjoyed your writing and thank you for your service.
Great story told in the era of the Vietnam War. I didn't realize until I had finished it that the author was indeed a aviator during that war. So Ken, I so enjoyed your writing and thank you for your service.
September 2, 2021
Entertaining read that recovered memories.
The attitude shown by the cover made me want to see if David would survive in spite of it. I used the same strategy in preflight Pensacola.
The attitude shown by the cover made me want to see if David would survive in spite of it. I used the same strategy in preflight Pensacola.
December 15, 2019
Wonderful read!
This is an excellent read. Well written, intense and action packed.
This was my first Hubona read. I couldn't put it down
This is an excellent read. Well written, intense and action packed.
This was my first Hubona read. I couldn't put it down
December 20, 2019
Well done
Characters are relatable and story is interesting, even if Vietnam war isn't my typical reading genre. Well told story blending history and fiction.
Characters are relatable and story is interesting, even if Vietnam war isn't my typical reading genre. Well told story blending history and fiction.
December 30, 2019
Good characters, good story and good writing. Read in one day. Would like to see more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2020
This was an exception, fast paced and exciting book. If you enjoy stories of war heros or even men who were not so hero type, because they couldn't stay out of trouble. This book gives an excellent view of the lives ours men lived and many men died during the Viet Nam war.
It keeps you turning page after page, hard to put down no matter what time the clock says.. Buy the book.If you like history or action or romance its all included. Buy the book you'll enjoy it.
It keeps you turning page after page, hard to put down no matter what time the clock says.. Buy the book.If you like history or action or romance its all included. Buy the book you'll enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews