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The Masterpiece
by Francine Rivers
From the back cover:
New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers returns to her romance roots with this unexpected and redemptive love story, a probing tale that reminds us that mercy can shape even the most broken among us into an imperfect yet stunning masterpiece.
A successful LA artist, Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want—money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman’s past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn’t know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist—an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.
Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it’s as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship—and both their lives—forever.
About the author:
New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers continues to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her numerous bestsellers include Redeeming Love, A Voice in the Wind, and Bridge to Haven, and her work has been translated into more than thirty different languages. She is a member of Romance Writers of America’s coveted Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Visit Francine online at www.francinerivers.com and connect with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers) and Twitter (@FrancineRivers).
My thoughts:
No one is beyond God’s reach, but sometimes we have to hit the bottom before we’re willing to accept His hand.
Francine Rivers is known for writing stirring stories of God’s redemptive love, and The Masterpiece is another wonderful work in her collection.
Broken characters can be a challenge to read, and yet Roman and Grace have stories with which so many could relate. Their brokenness sets the stage for work only Jesus could complete.
I loved that The Masterpiece was not entirely predictable and that problems were not resolved with simple solutions because reality is rarely simple. Their struggles kept me reading, anxious that they might blow it again!
I also loved that the gospel was clearly included in very natural ways through the story and not foisted upon the characters.
If you are already a Francine Rivers fan, you already know you want to read The Masterpiece. But if you haven’t yet read her other books, do give this one a try, and withhold judgment until the end. You’ll be glad you did!
(I received a complimentary copy of this novel. The thoughts expressed here are my own.)
Good review! It’s on my must-read list!
Great review, Sarah! I’m looking forward to reading The Masterpiece.