The Masterpiece

Francine Rivers has published numerous novels - all bestsellers - and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe.  Her books have been awarded or nominated for many honors.
In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from ACFW.  Francine's novels have been translated into more than thirty different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries.  She and her husband, Rick, enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Connect with her via her website HERE.

A successful Los Angeles 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.

You might enjoy this radio interview with Francine Rivers where she talks about not only The Masterpiece but her writing in general.



My Thoughts:
The very first book by Francine Rivers that I ever read was Redeeming Love which is now a classic and the novel by which Rivers is largely known.  I remember thinking when I read that book, "How can Rivers or any author rivel the message of this book?"  I believe Rivers may have accomplished this herself.
The Masterpiece is a book about identity and takes a strong look at the things that shape us and make us who we are.  Reading the back stories of Roman and Grace was completely heartwrenching at times.  I really appreciated the way Rivers juxtaposed the present and past in order to explain the dynamic tension in the main characters' lives.  
Rivers does a masterful job of showing the transforming power of the gospel through Roman's and Grace's story.  Rivers clearly shows readers that the things that shape us are sometimes very hard and painfully difficult but God's grace is greater than all these.  And like Roman and Grace wondered where God was at certain points in their life, we too may wonder.  
Rivers also used secondary characters to show the importance of others that come alongside us to speak truth into our lives and challenges us to look at our influence and how God may be using us in the lives of those around us to know Him and His love.
The Masterpiece is gritty and it is genuine and is a reminder that God can take the most broken things in our lives and create something beautiful...bueaty for ashes.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.  All opinions here are my own.

Blessings,
Jennifer