Roman Velasco has a thriving career as an artist and a beautiful mansion outside Los Angeles, but still feels like the defiant foster-child he used to be. No one can even last as his personal assistant for more than a few weeks. Sent by a temp. agency and desperate for a way to support herself and her young son, Grace Moore agrees to give the job a try. Grace manages to not only get Roman's business affairs in better order, but begins to inspire and encourage him in ways he didn't know were possible. Still recovering from her failed marriage, Grace does her best to ward off Roman's advances but finds it more and more difficult as she learns more about the fascinating artist and his past. Knowing he doesn't share her faith, Grace must fight an uphill battle to keep her heart safe. Will Roman learn to love in the selfless way Grace deserves? Will Grace ever have the courage to risk her heart again?
Francine Rivers will not disappoint her avid fans in The Masterpiece. While contemporary literature has never been my favorite, Rivers does it well. Both Grace and Roman were believable, real, round, dynamic characters that I loved getting to know. With her typical talent, Rivers also manages to weave complex moral and ethical dilemmas into a fast-paced plot. I couldn't put this one down, and remain a devoted fan.
