The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

I've been a Francine Rivers fan for a couple decades and wait eagerly for each new book. There's something about a master storyteller that enables her to engage the reader from the first page, and Francine does that again with The Masterpiece. I read this over the course of a week, savoring each page and waiting for the big moment. It's hard not to compare this with her previous work and to review it on it's own accord, but the ending just fell flat for me. It was like it was building and building and building and then quickly tied everything up with a big red bow. I did not feel the sense of satisfaction that I usually do when I finish reading one of her books. 
This book carried the two main characters through similar backgrounds, one choosing to follow the Lord and the other choosing to go his own way. They collide and the years of layers fall off as they begin to get to know each other. The book shows very good examples of both sides of the faith lifestyle. One Godly and one ungodly. It also presents the gospel in a non-threatening way and could be a good evangelistic tool. 
It's definitely a new direction for Ms Rivers, just not my favorite of her works. I will still seek out her books because she is in a class of her own.

This book was provided for review by Tyndale.