Matthew Rising is an phenomenal football player from high school through college where he won state championships and US championships along with the Heisman Trophy twice. After college his is drafted #1 and set to attend training camp in Hawaii with his wife, Audrey, when he is charged with several predatory sex charges. He maintains his innocence, but is convicted anyway to due to some damning videos. When he is released on good behavior after 12 years in prison, he returns to his small town, Gardi, Georgia, where he is still being vilified. His friends, Wood and Ray, try to help him as he goes about trying to locate his wife, Audrey, who has not seen him in over ten years. While he was in prison, she has raised a young boy, Dalton Rogers, who is a really good football player in need of a good coach. Apparently the author loves football and tried to become a big-time player but lacked the skills needed. His knowledge of football is on display throughout. I did not understand why Matty did not try to clear himself with help from his friends. ( )

As always, an excellent and poignant read. Martin is the best. ( )

A Life Intercepted by Charles Martin is a heartbreakingly poignant and incredibly riveting story about unconditional love and forgiveness. This engrossing novel is thought-provoking and moving and it carries an emotional and compelling message about selfless love and the restorative power of forgiveness.

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, there are two constants in Matthew Rising's life: his deep and abiding love for his wife Audrey and his love for the game of football. His father instilled a love and understanding of the game and Matthew set and broke numerous records on his meteoric rise as a quarterback through high school and college. With Audrey at his side, Matthew is poised to begin his career as a NFL quarterback when he is arrested and quickly convicted for a heinous crime. Gaining an early release for good behavior, Matthew returns to his small hometown that has turned its back on him where he hopes to find Audrey and win back her love.

Matthew is humbled by his success and he always gives credit to his fellow teammates for their victories. He is adored by everyone in his hometown and they are quick to pay homage to the small town boy who made it big. When everything falls down around him, it is shocking how few people believe in his innocence and how fast that love and adulation turns to disgust and hatred. Despite this lack of faith from his supporters, Matthew worked through his anger early in his incarceration and after he is released from prison, he is not interested in proving his innocence. Instead he is focused on repairing his relationship with Audrey and he is willing to make any sacrifice to achieve his goal.

The depth of Matthew's character is demonstrated through not only his actions but his innermost thoughts as well. Thankfully, he is not portrayed as a perfect person without flaws. He still has lingering anger toward the person responsible for his downfall but he works hard to keep his negative emotions from taking over his life.

A Life Intercepted is written in first person through Matthew's perspective so all of the characters are filtered through his point of view. It is easy to see why he fell in love with Audrey and the fact that she was always his biggest cheerleader underscores how devastating a blow it is when she loses faith in him. But this limited viewpoint makes it difficult to understand how or why Audrey could believe the worst of someone who was never anything but genuinely kind, loving and giving no matter what the circumstances.

A Life Intercepted is an absolutely spellbinding novel with an unusual but believable storyline. While it occasionally gets a little bogged down with the technical aspects of football, this information is essential to the overall plot. The characters are multi-faceted and fully developed with all too human flaws and weaknesses. The overall story is incredibly fascinating and it is extremely tempting to read ahead to find out how the story ends. But it is well worth the wait because Charles Martin brings A Life Intercepted to a very heartfelt and emotional conclusion. ( )

I got this ARC through Net Galley. ( )

A LIFE INTERCEPTED
CHARLES MARTIN

MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
PUBLISHER Center Street / Hachette Audio
PUBLISHED September 4, 2015

SUMMARY
Matthew "the Rocket" Rising's life was not only intercepted, it was ruined. Twelve years ago, Matthew had it all, love, friends, and notoriety for being the winningest quarterback in college football. He was the number one NFL draft pick, and had made lots of people happy. Almost everyone loved him. Almost everyone. But on the night of the draft his glory days came to an abrupt end. He was accused of a heinous sex crime and the evidence was irrefutable. Having served his time, he is now being released from Wiregrass Prison, in southwestern Georgia.

With no one at the prison gates to meet him, Matthew hitchhikes directly back to Gardi, Georgia, his hometown. He has one objective in mind, to find his wife and win back her love. His return to Gardi was met with open hostility and hatred from his beloved community. No one including his wife Audrey wanted him there.

Audrey, who also lost everything twelve years ago, has taken refuge from the press and the community, at the local Catholic school. There she discovered a young orphan, Dillion Rogers. Audrey mentors Dillion to the best of her ability. As Dillion grows to be a talented young man she realizes he potentially has the talent to achieve the football career that Matthew never had. But she knows he will needs a good coach. And then Matthew shows up. But helping Dillon means violating Matthews parole. Should Matthew take that risk? What if it is the only way to win back Audrey's love?

REVIEW
A heart wrenching story of the implosion of a life, the loss of a love, the fight for redemption and undeserved forgiveness. This book will have you thinking about it long after you close the back cover. Matthew Rising has been through quite an ordeal. But his values, his hopes, and his love unbelievably remain intact. That's the amazing part of this story. That's what makes this book so good. He doesn't wallow in the hate or the judgement that surrounds him.

"THEIR LOVE DID WHAT HATRED COULD NOT, AND NEVER WILL" - Dillion Rogers

A Life Intercepted is a spellbinding story about a man's character that is demonstrated though both Matthew's actions and his thoughts. He is humble and always gives credit to his team. He shares in all the glory, but when his life comes crashing down, it is utterly amazing how no one in the community stands by him. The book's ultimate appeal is in its story of forgiveness.

Charles Martin certainly has a way with words. He masterfully weaves this story that comes from his heart. Martin also had a football career, and then one day it was over. He also has a son with a promising football future. This book, while not Martin's story, is rooted in his experiences, his decisions and his heart. When his football career was over in 1989, he came to Florida State University in Tallahassee Florida, (my hometown and my alma mater) and gave up his idol and began his writing career in earnest. By the grace of God, he has touch the lives of million by all the powerful stories he has written ever since. This book is just one of many. And his readers are forever grateful. The inspiration for this book, included in the author's note at the book's conclusion is a must read! ( )