Usually, I don’t read contemporary romance books, but I am a Francine Rivers fan, and the beautiful cover of The Masterpiece caught my attention. Francine Rivers can write romance! I loved the stylistic beauty of the author’s prose, as well as the emotional engagement I felt with the characters and storyline. Her moving dialogue left me breathless.
Roman Velasco didn’t have the easiest life as a boy or as a successful artist in Los Angeles. I loved how God provided strong Christian men to come aside this troubled youth, such as Mr. Newman, an inspiring teacher, and Jasper Hawley, who never gave up on Velasco.
Another one of my favorite characters is Grace Moore, a Christian and single mother who wants to do right by her daughter. The chemistry between Moore and Velasco is so realistic that I felt like I was inside the room with the characters.
What I enjoyed the most about this book was the theme of hope. The Christian community rallied around this couple, giving them encouragement and strength. Even though Grace and Roman possessed character flaws, their friends stood by them and held them up through prayer.
In this novel, Rivers allows readers to feel the grace of God and glimpse His redemption.
If you enjoy novels filled with hope and romance, you may also like Redeeming Love and The Lady’s Mine by Francine Rivers. Additional recommendations include Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon, Tried & True by Mary Connealy, Finally Forever by Karin Beery, and A Woman Called Sage by DiAnn Mills.
