"Utterly mesmerizing..." - IndependentBookReview.com "Beautifully written...cathartic and entertaining." - BookReviewDirectory.com "A highly accomplished work of dark and resonant modern drama." - ReadersFavorite.com In the small town of Larton, Lloyd Wood daydreams of success and struggles to keep his failing restaurant afloat, all the while dodging developers eyeing his land. A ray of hope appears when a charismatic business guru promises to turn things around, luring Lloyd into a risky deal. Toby, Lloyd's son, obsesses over fitting in. Every day, he buries his true self deeper, hoping to blend into the background at school and at home. His quest takes an unexpected turn when he enrolls himself in a program that vows to erase his authentic self permanently, pushing Toby into a journey of unintended self-discovery. Meanwhile, Dawn, Lloyd's wife, finds solace in a new church in town where love seems more transactional than genuine. Lost in her family's shadow, she adopts a new persona in the midst of a church community with questionable intentions. As the Wood family labors to avoid their own realities, the gaps they create around themselves deepen, putting at risk the people they care about the most. 'Be Not Afraid' delves into identity, family dynamics, and the destructive nature of denial. With a strong narrative voice, the novel challenges our ability to accept the things we cannot change, leaving readers to ponder if change is ever truly out of reach.