Masterpiece - A Review

Published - February 2018, Tyndale
Author - Francine Rivers
Title - The Masterpiece
Format - hardcover, ebook, audio
Find on Amazon

About the book:
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.


My Thoughts:

I always love being able to dive into a new Francine Rivers books because her books are so deep. This book was no exception. I found myself putting it down on a regular basis because I needed time to process what I was reading. I loved her redemption message in this book. I loved how both main characters had issues in their pasts that had to be overcome.

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher to review it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of moving fiction, Karen Kingsbury, Lisa Wingate, Katie Ganshert.

Rating - 5 stars 

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten (Or Twenty) Books Read in 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly theme hosted by The Broke & The Bookish. Feel free to join in.

This week's topic is one that I usually do on New Year's Eve. But it works for this week. This week, the topic is the top 10 books I've read in 2014. This is probably one of the hardest posts I've written. I mean, how can I narrow my list down to just 10?! I've read so many books this year that it was so hard to decide. My initial list contained over 50 titles.

So after cutting some out, here is what I came up with though.... Each title links to the review on my blog and purchase links are listed too.

Beginning with the Women's Fiction/Contemporary Category

1. Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers - this is probably the BEST book I've read this year. It was simply amazing. Buy it here.

2. The Story Keeper by Lisa Wingate - Another amazing book. Buy it here.

Now for the WWII books....

3. In Perfect Time by Sarah Sundin - By far, my favorite of the series. I couldn't get enough of Kay & Roger. Buy it here.

4. Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohkle - I was impressed with her book Promise Me This a couple years ago. This one was just as impressive. Buy it here.

5. For Such a Time by Kate Breslin - A beautiful retelling of Esther set against Nazi Germany. I need a copy of this! Buy it here.

Moving on to the general historical...

6. Love's Fortune by Laura Frantz - This family saga is amazing! Most of these are amazing. But I'm serious, this book, and the others in the series are well worth the time and money on these. Buy it here.

7. Love Unexpected by Jody Hedlund - Probably my favorite of Jody's books. Such a gripping story. Buy it here.

8. Pelican Bride by Beth White - This was a surprise for me. I don't usually read early American history, but I really loved this book. Buy it here.

Now to the romance (both contemporary and historical)...

9. Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade - I adored this book. Absolutely adored it! I loved everything about it - the cover, the characters, the story - everything. Buy it here.

10. When I Fall in Love by Susan May Warren - It's the Christiansen Family. Need I say more? I"m so excited to read the next one (soon). Buy it here.

11. A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert - I've come to expect quality from Katie. And I was not disappointed. Such a beautiful story of discovering true beauty. Buy it here.

12. Here to Stay by Melissa Tagg - Melissa's books always make me giggle. This was no exception. Buy it here.

13. Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck - I love princesses, fairy tales, happy endings. Pure fluff. Buy it here.

14. Tried & True by Mary Connealy - Probably my favorite of hers so far. I laughed all the way through it. Buy it here.

Finally, the Young Adult & Suspense books.

15. Silenced by Dani Pettery - Book 4 in the Alaskan Courage Series, Kayden finally gets her turn. And this McKenna's sister's story of love is filled with danger. But she and Jake figure it all out. Buy it here.

16. Deceived by Irene Hannon - My favorite in the series and favorite by Irene. Can Connor be any more dreamy? Buy it here.

17. The Lunar Chronicles of Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress  by Marissa Meyer - Should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. Especially lately. I've pretty much been gushing about them.  Buy them here.

 

18. Worth the Wait by Laura Jackson - Laura's debut reminded me a lot of the Christy Miller books. Buy it here.

and speaking of the Christy Miller Books,

19. Forever With You by Robin Jones Gunn - I literally squealed when I learned that Robin was writing a series about Christy & Todd and their married life. Literally squealed. Buy it here.

and finally,

20. The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson - a young adult retelling of Snow White. I still have to wonder how I missed her all this time. Buy it here.

So I couldn't cut my list to just ten. Though I did try. I left off wonderful ones of Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman, In the Shadow of Jezebel by Mesu Andrews, With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden, Stuck Together by Mary Connealy, Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan, Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan, Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer, and March Bride by Rachel Hauck. Seriously, there were so many delightful ones I read this year, that I couldn't list them all.

So how did you come out? What books were your favorites this year? Maybe you have a hidden gem I need to discover. Tell me in the comments.

Bridge to Haven - A Review

Published - April, 2014, Tyndale House Publishers

Author - Francine Rivers

Title - Bridge to Haven

Format - hardcover, ebook, audio

Find on Amazon

This is probably one of the best books I've read so far this year, if not the BEST! Anyway. Moving on with my summary/review. :) There are slight spoilers to follow.

Summary (my words): Abra Matthews was abandoned as a baby under the bridge in Haven. Though she was soon placed into the home of a loving family and then later adopted, she grows up guarded and wary. When a handsome LA playboy arrives in town, she throws her upbringing aside and runs away. Soon Abra realizes that the price she's paid isn't worth the Hollywood glamour of the 1950's. Given a new identity, Lena Scott, she soon becomes the newest thing on the silver screen since Marilyn Monroe, and few know her real name or the price she's paid to be somebody. Those who love her back home have prayed for her everyday in the hopes that someday, someway, somehow, Abra will find her way home. With God on her tail, her life disillusioned, she doesn't know who she is anymore. Can Abra bring herself to return home to those who love her - her family, her pastor, the young man who has been the best friend she's ever known?

My thoughts: It has been a long time since I read a Francine Rivers book. I've read all of hers. While my personal favorite is (and still remains) Atonement Child, this one gripped me from the first page. I started this book late Monday night, brought it to work on Tuesday and finished it Tuesday night. Not since the times I read older Kingsbury novels, Joanne Bischoff's Cadence of Grace series, and Katie Ganshert's Broken Kind of Beautiful has a novel tore my heart out like this one did.

Rivers has written the characters in such a way to cause the reader to feel for them. I found myself wanting to shake Abra while at the same time I was weeping for her. And Joshua. Yes, he was honorable. Yes, he was "perfect." I loved his struggle in learning to trust. Pastor Zeke. I loved how he also struggled with letting go. For me, one of the most touching scenes was when Abra came home and runs into Pastor Zeke's waiting arms. Talk about a beautiful showing of forgiveness and redemption right there!

Other reviews are saying that this may not be Francine's best. That's their opinion. In mine, this is going to fast become a favorite. Still, don't just take my word on how much I loved this book, read the opinions of others and make your own decision.

I rented this book from the library and read it for pure pleasure (that and it's been on my reading list for ages and fit a Scattegories category on Goodreads). My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Francine Rivers, Joanne Bischoff, Katie Ganshert, Karen Kingsbury, Nora Roberts, Susan May Warren, Lynn Austin, Denise Hunter, women's fiction

Rating - 5 stars

Atonement Child - A Review

Dynah Carey is a Christian Golden Girl. She's the doted upon only child, engaged to a man who intends to become a pastor, and just has life together. Yet one moment shatters it all. In that one moment, her life is changed by a rape that leads to an unwanted pregnancy. Her dreams are in shatters. Secrets long held in her family are brought to light. Through it all, her family and those she loves encourage her to get an abortion, yet she remains confused and clinging to the One who loves her beyond anything and can bring healing even to the most broken.

This is my favorite book that Francine Rivers has written. I've read it several times. Dynah's faith starts off strong, then wavers, but slowly becomes strong again as she has no choice but to cling to God. She has one friend who doesn't throw stones at her and allows her to make her own decision, and that friend, Joe, truly loves Dynah with a Christlike love. This is a book that offers hope to women who have had abortions, and offers love to women who find themselves in a situation much like Dynah was in.

I reread this book for the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommend to - Karen Kingsbury fans, women who have suffered from abortion, fiction lovers

Rating - 5 stars