Loved the characters, the knowledge of and the love of the game. I wonder, how many other stories are out there of what could have been had their lives not been intercepted by circumstances outside of their control. We cannot always control what happens to us but we can control how we respond to them. They can make us bitter or make us better, the difference is in how choose to respond. Choose wisely.

I am not a football fan, so some of the technical jargon went over my head. But...I could not put this book down. The story was unique and the ending was wonderful. I am passing on for my husband to read.

This was a wonderful book! It is a story of love, loss, and forgiveness. It was poignant at times, completely heartbreaking at others. It was one of the most touching books I've read in awhile, which is something I seem to always be able to say about Martin's books. He is such a spectacular storyteller! In this one, he again created great characters that I felt very invested in, an intriguing storyline, and a compelling setting. Matthew Rising had it all as a young college graduate. He had a supportive wife that he loved utterly, the promise of a spectacular career in the NFL, and the adoration of the nation. After being accused of a horrible crime, he lost it all. Twelve years later he is released from prison on parole and returns to his hometown, hoping to find his wife, Audrey, who disappeared shortly after he was incarcerated. When he runs across Audrey, even though she seems filled with hate for him, she asks Matthew to coach a talented teenager whose only hope of going to college is a football scholarship. Knowing that being near the young man, Dee, can send him back to prison, Matthew will still do anything for Audrey. Charles Martin is a favorite author for me, and this book is a good example of the reason. It was very emotionally intense, and made me laugh and cry. Even though it had quite a bit about football, which I know virtually nothing about, that didn't affect my enjoyment. There were a couple of times when I felt lost for a paragraph or two during the more technical football parts, but the wonderful story more than made up for that. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.