The Last Exchange by Charles Martin (2023)
Leave it to Charles Martin to once again take a reader on a whirlwind emotional journey........ and keep you compelled to abandon everything else in your life until you reach the final page.
Every time I find myself completely engulfed in a Martin book, my overall reaction is always the same......that this author's like Nicolas Sparks on steroids. He starts out by gripping you with a story and characters you can't resist........then along the way, he manages to impart some universal life lessons in love, loyalty, courage, faith and the power of good to overcome evil.
Somehow (I don't know how he does it) he never makes it feel preachy, just common sense inevitable wisdom. You'll be pleased to know he's more than done it again with "The Last Exchange", a heartfelt, yet suspenseful saga of a celebrated, but much troubled movie star and her stalwart Scottish bodyguard.
The stoic, taciturn Scot MacThomas Pockets has traveled the world as a battle hardened warrior and when needed, a fearless, loyal protector and defender. It's in that last capacity that he finds himself guarding movie superstar Maybe Joe Sue. A gifted, gorgeous multiple Oscar-winning actress, 'Joe' survived a trauma filled childhood to become beloved by millions. But while she's admired and coveted worldwide, her drug addiction keeps her constantly in and out of rehab. And her equally popular movie star husband offers little help or solace...since the world doesn't know he's actually a self-aggrandizing jerk who only lives for his own fame while hopping from one movie set to another.
But in her sturdy, steady bodyguard Joe develops a slow burn, unlikely (and yes, sometimes downright funny) friendship, which Pockets struggles to not cross the line into anything more than that.
In true Charles Martin fashion, multiple terrible calamities befall Joe, seemingly all at once. And it's up to Pockets to put things right and thwart some hateful people, who've no idea of the fierce depths of his loyalty (and obvious unspoken love) for his besieged client.
Fair warning here - by the time you arrive at this book's grand slam finale, you're not going to move a muscle other than your finger furiously turning the pages or swiping across your e-reader. It's a prime Martin-ized wrap-up filled with stunning revelations, gut wrenching emotions and even some surprising humor along the way. All of that makes "The Last Exchange" easily one of the best 5 star books I've read all year......and highly recommended (*****)
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