Perceptions are not necessaryily the truth. What you see on the surface is not necessaryily the whole person. Each of us has a past, present and future, but we are not required to share those with every one we meet.

These seem to be the guiding principles in this story of a celebrity whose surface shows only a very successful woman who wants for nothing. As we read, we discover the real person behind the mask.

A story that will touch your emotions as the characters mature and face the truth about themselves.

Maybe Joe Sue (her real name) was a famous, brilliant actress who was grappling with emotional pain that was brought on by her traumatic childhood and complicated by her strong desire to create her own family with her movie star husband who was frequently away on location. Eventually Joe Sue became addicted to drugs and needed medication to help her sleep and medication to help her wake up and work the long hours necessary during filming her blockbuster movies. The only constant in her life besides pain was the presence of her bodyguard, MacThomas Pockets, who could always be counted on to protect her and look out for her best interests. Joe thought of Pockets as a friend but Pockets, though kind, kept an invisible boundary line between them at all times out of respect for her. This book asked the question: How far would you go to save someone you love? And it answers the question in a thought-provoking way. I was gripped by the mystery, the suspense, and the complicated relationships. While there were no overtly Christian references I was inspired by the beauty of the purity in a radical true love that willingly lays down its life for the good of the loved one. I only wish that the book ending could have been longer; after all of the drama, I needed a little more happy. An excellent book and I highly recommend it! I received an ARC from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I can't believe it's taken me this long to discover him! He definitely has a different writing style than I'm used to but I loved this book! There are parts that are a little unbelievable but overall, it's fiction at its finest. The characters are so flawed but you are rooting for not only their love story but their lives in general. Maybe Joe Sue (yep, that's her real name!) is a famous Hollywood actress who is as flawed as they come. She is the "people's" actress because she really is one of them - caring, comes from nothing, very charitable, down on their level, etc. - but she's got so many issues! She is addicted to drugs to deal with all this fame and the fact that she has infertility issues. Her husband, also a famous actor, is a scum and I disliked him instantly! However, my favorite character is MacThomas Pockets - Joe's Scottish bodyguard. He is former military and will not cross any boundaries but guards Joe with everything in him. He goes above and beyond. I loved his character and his personality. He stuck by Joe through thick and thin. The suspense storyline shows his true character also.
I have thought about this book for days since finishing it. That's how I know it's a fantastic story. It's made me THINK about so many things! Mainly, what would you sacrifice for the one you love and how far would you go for another one's happiness and their security? So thought provoking! I will be thinking about this book for months to come!

"The Last Exchange" by Charles Martin is a story structured to oscillate between 'Before' and 'After’. It’s a complex tapestry weaving together the lives of a Hollywood actress, her struggle with drug addiction and infertility, her husband, and her bodyguard. It also tackles themes of abuse, kidnapping, among others. Amidst these intricacies, an interesting twist awaits readers towards the story's conclusion.

This book presents its narrative through a third-person perspective, a style that did not resonate with me. Also, there was an excess of dialogue, which at times overshadowed the narrative's potential depth.

Having previously enjoyed Martin's works like "The Mountain Between Us" and "When Crickets Cry," I regret to admit that "The Last Exchange" falls short as my least favorite among his novels. Regrettably, I failed to form a strong attachment to any of the characters, which hindered my immersion in the story.

Moreover, the ending left me somewhat conflicted, as it ventured into controversial territory. I won’t reveal more to avoid spoilers. While I acknowledge Martin's undeniable talent as a writer, this particular novel didn't strike the chord I had anticipated.

Thank you to @netgalley and @thomasnelson
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bravo! What a truly unique story seeped in love, betrayal, honor, duty and brokenness. Martin’s characters drew me in and kept me there, the plot had me reading far into the night and thinking about the story when I had to finally put it down. There are heartbreaking events of miscarriage and infertility along with truth, protection and justice. Just an all around incredible story that will warm your heart after ripping it apart.

Charles Martin writes another book to catch your heart in The Last Exchange!Maybe Joe Sue is the unusual name of a movie star whose rags to riches story started when she was a worker at a diner.Mac Thomas Pockets is a Scottish Special Forces operative who becomes her bodyguard.There are two sides to Joe .One side is the personal side that wants a family and a child to love.The other side is the side the public sees and that side shows on the red carpet of Holly Wood.Following the back and forth between the points of view of different characters in this book is a treat and you will enjoy every page! Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this book!

Charles Martin returns following his Murphy Shepherd series with his latest standalone, THE LAST EXCHANGE. From Hollywood to Montana, an unlikely pair, a Scottish bodyguard and a former waitress/Hollywood star, team up as their paths diverge in this complex tale of love and sacrifice.

Kelly MacThomas Pockets (known as Pockets) in his early forties, fit and raised in Scotland, and later with the Scottish Special Forces (classified). Most recently, he was hired to consult for a film director to help with some of the scenes, then moved to LA to work as a bodyguard to a movie star, Maybe Joe Sue. Pockets has seen much, often quiet and an enigma.

"Scars are just the body's response to things that shouldn't be there. A reminder of pain."

Maybe Joe Sue came from a poor, traumatic background as a diner waitress and has made it to Hollywood. However, she is addicted to pills and wants desperately to have a child. She’s married to a narcissistic actor, Syd. She has endured multiple trips to a fertility clinic, and all has failed. She has had a tough childhood and is looking for love and validation. She returns to the pills to pull her through when she can't get it.

She has been in rehab more times than she can count. Oxy was her go-to, alternating between Adderall, Ambien, Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and trazodone. Something to stay awake. Then, something to sleep or keep sleeping. Up and down. Then, her surrogate disappears. She is devastated. She is kidnapped.

Pockets will protect and love her even if he has to go to extremes to help this woman and give her what she desires. How far would you go to save someone you love?

Alternating between before and after, the past and present slowly unraveled. In Charles Martin's signature fashion, a budding romance. The loyal, caring, strong protector defends the flawed, troubled woman.

I have been an avid fan of Charles Martin for many years since his first book, and have read all his fiction books and some of his non-fiction. While I have always enjoyed his beautiful writing and storytelling, his last two books and this one are different than the older emotional literary stories I long for from Charles. I own all his hardcover books except this one and the last two. His storyline seems to be changing, and often, it does not seem like the same author. Unfortunately, these last few are 4 stars instead of his usual 5 glowing stars.

I would love to see Charles go back to writing similar to his earlier novels, When Crickets Cry, Chasing Fireflies (all-time favorites), Water From My Heart, and all those in between to The Water Keeper. But the second and third Murphy Sheperd series and this one, The Last Exchange, appear to be moving towards the thriller genre and away from the beautiful Southern emotional literary fiction I adored that made Charles Martin so famous. His writing seems more commercialized and contemporary, and I am saddened by the change from my favorite author.

CON: This is a sweet story of love and sacrifice if you can get through it. I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by Joshua Manning and MacLeod Andrews, both outstanding narrators. However, every time he spoke, the 'mum' from Pockets to Joe Sue drove me nuts! I could not finish the audiobook. It was so distracting. It sounded like a child talking to his mom. Also, reading the e-book was repetitive and distracting for the same reason. The audio was much worse because you had to hear it. I would not recommend the audiobook.

I was teetering between 3-4 stars for a while on this one, but it is Charles Martin, so I will stick with the 4. However, the audiobook would be a 3 or less, not due to the narrator but to the writing of 'mum' throughout the book.

Fingers crossed, Charles will return to the type of books fans grew to love and his earlier storylines with more emotional depth. I like him for literary fiction. Even though I do like thrillers—not from Charles. I am looking for something deeper and more meaningful. His earlier books are classics!

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 3, 2023
Oct 2023 Must-Read Books

Charles Martin has been one of my favorite authors for many years. Once again his newest novel succeeded in holding my attention from beginning to end. I did take a while getting used to the quirky character names and "before" and "after" timelines. It wasn't until nearly the end of the book that we finally find out what it was that happened in between. Be prepared for an emotional read that incorporates bits of philosophical advice. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an advance copy to read and review.

I want to start this review off by saying if you haven't had the pleasure of reading one of Charles Martin's books, please pick one up now!!!!

Everytime I read his books, I am in awe at how he can take tough, heart wrenching topics and write about them with the most delicate of hands. In addition to that, he comes up with simply the best stories that are not your run of the mill fiction or mystery.

"Scars are just the body's response to things that shouldn't be there. A reminder of the pain."

As with most of his novels, this one is a story within a story. You have Maybe Joe Sue (which let's be honest here - who would ever name their child that!), who is a broken woman with the biggest heart on the planet, but her ife is one big roller coaster ride. And all she wants is to have a baby and be loved. You have Pockets (which let's be honest here is just the coolest name ever!), who is her bodyguard, confidant, safe keeper and moral compass. I think we all could use a Pockets in our lives.

"We are all a mess. And no amount of money, and no amount of drugs, changes that. When you're broken, life is finding beauty in the mess. And then holding in for dear life."

The Last Exchange is about how their lives intersect and to what lengths one will go to for love. It's a story of friendship, commitment, love, forgiveness, intelligence, lots of heart and fight, and survival. Martin's writing is inspirational, beautiful, exciting, emotional and has some surprising mystery and twists built in.

Overall this is a hard to put down page turner, that is one awesome story with incredible characters that have multiple layers to them. And with all of his books, I feel like I've walked away learning something deeper about myself.

"A life laid down is better than one picked up.

Charles Martin is hands down my favorite author. But I promise you that did not influence this review. His book is just that good!

My thanks to Charles Martin, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a good book! The characters immediately draw you in. It’s a story of the effects of trauma and how easily it is to lose yourself to try to hide the pain. This would be a great high school character analysis book.

To the public, Joe Sue seems to have everything. But the man who knows her best sees that front for what it is, and realises what her life is really like. The truth is that she's broken and reaching a point from which she may not be able to come back - and he's the only one who can help. But helping her may cost him everything...

This is one of the most (perhaps even the most) moving book I've read in a long time. Why? I think a lot of it is the characters. Joe, while pretty much my exact opposite, is incredibly relatable, and as for Pockets - well, I'm not sure I have words strong enough. He's inspiring, an amazing character, and a great example of love and loyalty even when it really hurts - and the extent to which he will go, with nothing personal to gain, is deeply touching and thought-provoking. But even great characters can't make a story - the story itself is a beautifully woven tapestry of events. It alternates between past and present, at times covering a lot of ground quite quickly, but never for a moment losing my attention, and all building up to the perfect ending - perfect because it's not perfect. I've enjoyed books by this author before, but this has far surpassed them (though I didn't realise that was possible). Highly recommended.

"A life laid down is better than a life picked up."

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loved this book, characters are so well developed and readers connect immediately, Martin’s characters are always damaged in some way and I love how he weaves their stories together for healing and finding love and solutions to problems. The gradual unwinding of a character’s story is one of the best parts of his books. Loved it. Thank you.

An Extraordinary Story of Service and Commitment

SUMMARY
Maybe Joe Sue is a famous movie star under tremendous pressure, and to cope, she wears a pill fob around her neck and pops pills like candy. She has been through rehab six times. Nothing works. But now, there is an even more significant threat to her happiness. She has been trying for years to have a baby. Now, she has a surrogate carrying her baby, but even that seems to be in jeopardy. The surrogate has disappeared.

Six years earlier, MacThomas Pockets, who had served in the Scottish Special Forces, was hired as a movie consultant. He moved to L.A. To be a bodyguard for Maybe Joe Sue. He served as her bodyguard, where he came to know her all too well. He would do anything and everything to protect her, even from herself. He kept an eye out for her even when he could no longer work for her. He promised to always be there for her and even protect her heart.

REVIEW
Charles Martin is a consummate storyteller. All of his books are exciting and emotionally profound. THE LAST EXCHANGE is an extraordinary and gripping story of service, commitment, survival, and forgiveness. The writing has numerous shifts and is brilliantly plotted. The unrelenting tension will hold you captive for hours.

The characters were unforgettable. From the honorable special forces soldier turned professional bodyguard to the diner waitress turned pill-popping movie star, you cannot help but be amazed at the depth of the character development.

You must add THE LAST EXCHANGE to your reading list. If you are a Charles Martin fan, you know what I mean. If you have never read Charles Martin, you are missing something special, but be careful; just one book is enough to get you hooked. You will want to read all his others, too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Publisher Thomas Nelson
Published October 3, 2023
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Wow...no words

What an amazing creation this book is! Celebrity has its privileges, but also its disadvantages. Joe Sue, a woman who went from nothing to everything in an instant, appears to have it all. But what she didn't have and desperately wants, is a baby to love and nurture. What she had instead was a career in a 24/7 spotlight and a resulting drug problem, pills to stay awake during the day, to create the movie magic she was adored for, and pills to sleep at night. A rotating addiction that was wasn't able to beat despite 7 times in rehab.

Kelly MacThomas Pockets has a storied life of his own, but most is classified. When he is asked to consult for a movie Joe is starring in, they meet, and eventually she convinces him to take a job as her bodyguard. Pockets accepted, and spent the next 5 years as Joe's bodyguard, friend and confidant. He is devoted to Joe and would do absolutely anything to protect her, never crossing the line between them.

Told in dual timelines, Before and After, this beautiful story shines a light into the dark path of addiction, those who suffer from it, and how lives change due to it. I highly recommend this book, it is one of my rare 5 star reads.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

The last exchange follows, a very different tale of love, brokenness, healing, and the spirit of overcoming life‘s challenges. Pockets is a bodyguard hired to protect three time academy award winning actress Maybe Joe Sue. She is married to another actor Syd, who later turns out to be not such a nice person. I don’t really want to spoil this book for you! Please trust me and just read it! I will be thinking about this book for a long time! I did include some of my favorite quotes below—-

How far would you go for someone you loved?

“This love is wrapped around my soul. It can’t be doused. Or appeased. Or talked off the ledge.” I tapped my chest. “And it doesn’t die because you lock it up. Or grow old.” I held out my hand and uncurled my fingers, noticing the scar where the bullet entered. “This kind empties itself. Holds nothing back. Gives you all of me. When your hope hurts, this love stands on a rooftop, or shackled in a courtroom, and screams at the top of its lungs. This love stands up and stands between. It says to those who would hurt you or steal from you, ‘Not today. Not as long as I have breath.’ So that’s what I did. I stood up. I gave you me.”

How far would you go to protect those you love?

“That said, there was one thing I had not protected her from because it’s the one thing on planet Earth that sets us free from the stuff that enslaves us and holds our heads under the water. The stuff trying to kill us. We can lie to one another to soften the blow, but lies only strengthen the chains. There’s only one thing in this universe or any other that cuts through prison bars and sets us free from the prisons in which we live. And that thing is the truth. Without it, there is no freedom.”


“So Pockets did for me what I could not do for myself.”
“Which was?”
“The last exchange.”
“The what?”
She spoke slowly. Enunciating. “Last exchange.”
He looked confused. “I don’t under—”
She cut him off. “It’s when you cross paths with someone who’s broken, just a mess of pieces, unable to fix anything about anything, and yet for some inexplicable reason, you stoop down, reach out and say . . .” She paused. Collecting herself. “Me for you.”
He protested. “But he took you—”
Joe cut him off again. Her voice stronger. “He took from me my pain and gave me what I do not deserve.”
“Which is?”
“My next breath.” She tapped her chest. “And the reason to take another.”

“Brokenness is not weakness.” She waved her hand across the crowd. “Look around. We’re all broken. Welcome to the human race. Weakness is being broken but too proud to ask for help. Sitting there thinking you got this.” She shook her head once. “You don’t got this. You don’t got this at all. Real strength is knowing that and when you’re broken. Only then do you got anything.”

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Wow. Charles Martin writes stories that break your heart and heals it at the same time. This might be my favorite of his ever! I don’t think men like this actually exist, but it is a beautiful reflection of God’s love for us! Highly recommend!!

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read/listen and review this amazing book!

The story was powerful and demonstrated clearly the sacrificial love that is required in a love story. Parts of it seemed to move a little slowly, but that could have just been me. I did think it was a bit fantastical and some of it would not happen in real life, but that could be part of the point, I don't know. It was still a good read and kept my attention, but it didn't grab me as hard as the other Charles Martin books I have read.

“Love is what makes us who we are. Hope is how we express us. Hope is love with legs.”

Confession time: this is my very first Charles Martin book. I had a bit of difficult time adjusting to the third person omniscient narrative with some first person perspective thrown in - it’s a style of storytelling that I don't usually read. But everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) was saying I need to read a Charles Martin book and about a third way into the book, I got it. I got the author's brilliant voice, his masterful weaving of the plot, his exquisitely crafted characters, and his call to hope and love even when all seems hopeless and bleak. Using flashbacks to fill in the past history and intense suspense and intrigue to propel the plot forward in time, the author completely captivated me once I found my bearing. Joe was lovable but broken and Pockets was undeniably the shining star - a loyal, compassionate, humble, honorable, resourceful protector. He wasn't perfect but was the perfect hero that Joe needed. The plot overflowed with surprises and plot twists, heart-rending memories, and unforgettable scenes of tenderness. The book played out like a movie and I sat utterly mesmerized until the end.

Now I must go and read all of his other books. I'm so glad I listened to "everyone" who told me to go pick up a Charles Martin book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors and this book is another winner. This book has a different feel to it from the last three books. There are some trigger warnings for this book, it deals with addiction, miscarriage and abuse. It is an amazing book, and the contrasts of self-love vs self-sacrificing love, addiction vs discipline, giving life vs taking life are very thought-provoking. The ending was not the story book ending I wanted but it reflects real life as there aren't always happy endings.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced reader copy.

4.5 stars
As with every book by Charles Martin, you can take the story for what it is on the surface--an intriguing adventure tale with twists and turns--or you can look a bit deeper and see the themes relating to faith, love, sacrifice, and freedom. This is a gorgeously told, multi-faceted story about sacrificial love.

There are so many genres represented here: mystery, thriller, domestic drama, romance, courtroom drama, and so much more. It's the story of a broken woman and a stoic man charged to protect her, even from herself. Because isn't that what all of us need? Someone to save us from ourselves? I know I do.

I listened to the audiobook of this one and the narration captures the main characters perfectly. I listened to this in less than a day because I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen.

I highly recommend this book, and all of Martin's other books. His writing is superb.