Narrated by Kevin Stillwell
When I started listening to A Life Intercepted, I worried about the amount of football featured in the story. I’m one of the few people who loathes the sport, retreating into a good book whenever people insist on watching the game. So, when I realized just how integral a part football would play in this listen, I heaved an enormous sigh of resignation and settled in for what I thought would be a tiresome ten hours and forty minutes worth of football couched as a romance. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that football, while one of the novel’s driving forces, wasn’t all Mr. Martin had in store for me.
Matthew Rising was once a football hero. He won numerous championships in high school and college. By the time he graduated, he was the NFL’s top draft. Matthew’s good fortune didn’t begin and end with football though. By his side was the lovely Audrey, a quiet, unassuming woman who taught Matthew just what it meant to love someone completely. But early in the morning after the draft, Matthew and Audrey’s lives are shattered. Matthew is convicted of sexual assault, and Audrey retreats to the safety of a local convent.
The main part of the book picks up thirteen years after the events I’ve just described. Matthew has served twelve out of his twenty-year sentence, and is released on parole. He heads back to the small Georgia town where he grew up, intent on reclaiming the love of his life.
Enter Dalton Rogers, a young man whose origins are uncannily tied to the past Matthew is determined to live down. Dalton was abandoned at the convent when he was four, and has lived there ever since. He and Audrey have formed an unbreakable bond, each able to give strength and healing to the other when no one else can. Dalton is an up-and-coming football star, taught by Audrey and old films of Matthew’s games to love the sport with all his heart.
When Matthew returns to town, he agrees to coach Dalton, even though doing so violates his parole. He hopes to win back Audrey’s love, trust, and acceptance. What follows is a remarkable journey for all three of them. It’s a journey toward wholeness none of them ever imagined.
This was my first experience with Kevin Stillwell’s narration. I was neither totally wowed nor greatly disappointed. Mr. Stillwell reads in an understated manner that put me in mind of something being well-read rather than actually performed. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but, if you’re looking for stunning character differentiation and lots of dramatic flare, you won’t find it here.
Mr. Stillwell performed all the characters well, making sure each of the many men were easily differentiated. He gives some of them strong southern drawls, while others speak in polished, business-like tones that lack even the slightest hint of regional accent.
The story is told from Matthew’s point of view, so his depiction is the one we hear the most. Mr. Stillwell used his natural voice when portraying Matthew, and this works remarkably well. It gives the listener the impression that the narrator is completely comfortable with the character he is depicting.
A Life Intercepted does not have a huge cast of female characters. This is fortunate, since Mr. Stillwell does not possess a wide variety of believable female voices. He softens his tone slightly when speaking for Audrey, and raises the pitch just a hair. This suggests her femininity without sounding forced or silly. However, it is not the stunning portrayal some listeners might expect.
Despite my initial misgivings, A Life Intercepted proved to be a remarkably well-told story. It’s not an average romance. It’s far too complex for that. It’s the story of one man in search of redemption and the two people who help him find it. Inspiring and heartwarming enough to bring me to tears on a few occasions, this is a book I highly recommend, even if, like me, you’re not a football fan.
Shannon
Narration: B
Book Content: A-
Steam Factor: You can play it out loud
Violence: Fighting
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Hachette Audio
A Life Intercepted was provided to AudioGals by Hachette Audio for review.
