The Masterpiece

“You’ve had more than your share of heartache, honey, but sometimes what looks like a gift is a gift.”

Grace’s best friend, Shanice Tyson, speaks these lines to Grace. She is addressing Grace’s wariness toward Roman and her hesitation about accepting his offer to rent the guest cottage on his estate. Shanice reminds Grace that despite the pain of her past, she must remember to approach life with openness and optimism.

“The crucifix bothered him. Why would anyone worship a man who claimed to be God and yet died on a cross? […] Jesus couldn’t save Himself. How could He save others?”

This quote comes from a flashback chapter, in which Roman is a young man touring around Europe to study the art of the great masters. While spending time in the old cathedrals of Italy and France, he observes the religious iconography and pious devotion of those around him, and this irritates him. This passage elucidates Roman’s biggest hesitation toward the idea of faith: He sees himself as someone who needed saving as a child, and he believes that God hadn’t saved him.

“He had already achieved what most Americans wanted: the big house, the fast car, a rising career, money, sex whenever and however he wanted it. He should be happy. He should be satisfied. But he felt hungry for more. How much would it take to fill the void inside him?”

These lines describe Roman Velasco’s internal struggles early in the novel. Despite all his outward success, he finds himself plagued with discontent. From this starting point, he begins The Journey From Brokenness to Healing, finding comfort primarily in his growing faith and secondarily in his relationship with Grace.

“‘I deal with stuff my own way.’

‘And how’s that working for you?’ Masterson shook his head. ‘The truth is, you don’t deal with anything. You’re pushing it all down where you think it’ll stay buried. It’ll eat you alive.’”

This interaction occurs between Bobby Ray Dean and Chet Masterson in one of the flashback chapters, when Bobby Ray/Roman is a teenager who has recently arrived at the group home at Masterson Ranch. Chet’s insight elucidates the nature of Roman’s inner brokenness; rather than addressing his wounds and finding healing, he instead seeks to repress them. This merely leads to the splintered identities with which he lives, causing further discontent.

“Bobby Ray Dean was the boy with the thick social services file, the cast-off, the nobody who belonged nowhere. Roman Velasco had class. With a name like that, life could be a whole lot different.”

This passage addresses the motif of character names within the novel. It occurs in a flashback chapter, during Roman’s years at Masterson Ranch. Susan Masterson has suggested the pseudonym “Roman Velasco” for Bobby Ray to consider for his future art career, and he leaps at the idea. For him, it is not merely a matter of having a fitting pseudonym for a career in the art world, but an opportunity to cast aside an old identity associated with his broken past.

“He could almost hear Jasper Hawley’s voice. Where are you going this time, Bobby Ray? What are you looking for?”

The question posed here—"What are you looking for?”—is one of the driving questions of Roman’s character arc. It speaks to his search for genuine identity and purpose, and for finding something in life that truly satisfies him in a deep and meaningful way. Early in the novel, the only answer he can muster to this question is “More,” but by the end, he realizes that what he has been longing for is the healing and renewed purpose that comes from a relationship with God.

“What I’m trying to tell you is sex is powerful. In the right context, it’s a beautiful gift from God. Used in the wrong way, it can wound and break hearts. It can ruin lives.”

This quote comes from Brian Henley’s talk to his church youth group, but its relevance extends beyond that context. Grace observes this conversation and concurs with his assessment, as it illustrates the nature of some of the brokenness in her own background; she bears the scars of her unhealthy relationship with her ex-husband and the lingering pain of an ill-advised one-night stand.

“‘It’s quite a view, isn’t it?’ He nodded toward the canyon. ‘Makes you wonder why he never paints it.’”

Jasper Hawley is speaking to Grace, who agrees with his observation. They are commenting on the beauty of the natural landscape of Topanga Canyon, which is visible right outside Roman’s window. Jasper’s comment ties in with the symbolic use of landscapes throughout the novel to illustrate the beauty of God’s artistry—whether in the natural world or someone’s life—and how Roman is unaware of that beauty.

“Jasper stepped in front of him. ‘What are you afraid of, Bobby Ray?’

‘Don’t call me that.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with who you are.’

‘And who is that?’”

This rapid-fire interaction between Jasper and Roman illustrates the theme of The Search for Genuine Identity and Purpose. Jasper, as one of the few people who knows Roman’s whole story, usually refers to him by his given name, even though this is the name that Roman would most like to leave in the past. Jasper tries to remind him that a search for genuine identity must begin by embracing the simple fact of one’s own life and experience, rather than running away from it.

“We’re all sinners, and friendship is a good place to start a lasting relationship.”

This is a quote from Brian Henley; he says this to Grace, who has just expressed her feelings of inadequacy. The first part of the quote addresses her feelings by expressing solidarity with her, and the second part shows Brian’s wisdom regarding healthy relationships. Brian is the archetype of a trustworthy pastoral voice in the novel, and much of his dialogue is used to convey wisdom and guidance. This becomes important later in the novel as he steps into the role of offering moral counsel to Roman.

“I don’t know. I want more, I guess. […] More life. I want whatever it is you have that makes you see what I miss.”

This is one of Roman’s characteristic refrains in the first half of the novel—he always wants “More.” It expresses his sense of discontent with his life. In this case, he is speaking to Grace, and he expresses this desire, which is, in fact, an unwitting admission of his desire for faith.

“You see it as you wish, Roman, but I see sunrise as God’s good morning, and sunset as God’s good night.”

Grace speaks these lines to Roman during their road trip, after they have seen the beauty of Yosemite together. While Roman still sees natural beauty as something passing and ultimately insignificant, Grace views it through the eyes of faith as a visual representation of God’s kindness and blessing.

“‘It looks like a prison break. What I’d like to know is why you’d want to run from love and go back where you had no hope.’

‘I knew who and what I was in the streets.’”

Grace and Roman are talking about one of Roman’s early artworks, which is still present at Masterson Ranch. Grace has a knack for reading the meanings behind Roman’s paintings in a way that no one else can. Here, she uses that insight to prompt Roman’s admission that his desire to escape the ranch and go back to the streets was a longing to hold onto a sense of identity that had been slipping away from him.

“Where was God in everything you and I have been through, Grace? Tell me that. Where was God when your father was beating your mother to death and then blowing his brains out? Where was God when my mother was selling her body to keep a roof over our heads? […] Where was God in all of that?”

As The Role of Faith in Personal Growth is amplified throughout the novel’s first half, Roman’s resistance to it grows. Here, he has an angry outburst while he and Grace are driving; this signals not simply his opposition to the idea of faith, but more importantly, the depth of his sadness and brokenness. He believes that God has failed to deliver redemption and healing from his trauma, which is why he is affronted when faced with Grace’s faith.

“He screamed out the last thing he remembered. ‘Jesus!’

Shrieks rippled through the cavernous tunnel.

Roman cried out again. ‘Oh, God! Christ, help me!’

Blinding light filled the darkness. Someone clasped his wrist, lifting him, and in the midst of hell’s cacophony, whispered, ‘I am.’”

This is the climactic scene in Roman’s near-death experience. He cries out to be saved from the demonic forces dragging him down to hell. With this plot point, Rivers adds an element of explicit supernaturalism to the novel, which is a step beyond the internal and subjective ways in which faith is experienced by most of the other characters in the novel. This moment acts as a transformative event for Roman, and he completely pivots around on the subject of faith.

“All I can tell you is faith is just the beginning of a long, difficult journey.”

Here Jasper Hawley is speaking to Roman, and his measured insight offers a wise perspective on faith. Many writers of Christian fiction portray the journey of faith as one of blessing, hope, and joy. While those elements exist in Rivers’s portrayal as well, she also tempers that vision by infusing the story with a dose of realism by noting the challenges of the Christian journey as well.

“‘Love is worth it, Bobby Ray. It’s the best part of being human.’ He smiled. ‘Faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. It can last forever.’”

In this quote, Jasper encourages Roman to consider pursuing Grace romantically. He portrays romantic love as one of the best blessings of life. He quotes a passage from the Bible when he says, “‘Faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” This is a line from the end of 1 Corinthians 13, which is Paul the Apostle’s famous “love chapter.”

“You want a relationship that lasts? You commit.”

In this quote, Jasper is helping to counsel Roman in the aftermath of his disastrous dinner date with Grace. Roman tells Jasper how he had suggested that he and Grace have sex, and he expresses his sense that most couples use sex to see if they are compatible before committing. Jasper responds by chiding him, noting that it’s not sex that makes a relationship last—it is commitment itself.

“You want to get things right, my friend? Stop obsessing about Grace. Make Jesus your first priority.”

Brian Henley gives this advice to Roman as Roman considers what to do after Grace breaks things off with him and leaves town. The structure of the novel, unlike most romance novels, includes a long hiatus in the main characters’ relationship toward the end of the book. This hiatus is crucial, however; it gives Roman the time he needs to get his priorities straight and to grow in his faith as a Christian, and it is only that growth that makes his future relationship with Grace possible.

“You just need to remember who you are and who’s on your side. God’s going to take care of you, honey. Just stick with Him.”

Shanice counsels Grace as she struggles to figure out the next step for her. This quote underscores The Search for Genuine Identity and Purpose—namely, the most important aspect of Grace’s identity is that she is beloved by God.

“God nudges people. […] Most people don’t pay attention.”

This quote is another piece of insight from Brian, taken from his conversations with Roman. As Roman struggles with questions and issues about his own past—such as why God wasn’t there to prevent the tragedies of his youth—Brian reminds him that the real issue is not God’s absence, but simply that most people are oblivious to the way God is always present and working in their lives.

“The longer you stay away, the more excuses keep you away. There might be a few people who think they’re holier than thou, but the rest love you and wanted a chance to let you know.”

Aunt Elizabeth is speaking to Grace in this quote. She encourages Grace to be active in finding a church and faithful in attending. Aunt Elizabeth’s kindness and wisdom reveal some of the personal growth she has experienced through her faith. In earlier portrayals of her character, she was judgmental and sharp, like the “holier than thou” people she mentions in this quote.

“He studied the painting. It looked like someone else’s work, not his own. God was in this, and Roman felt exhilarated, excited, alive. Art had always been his means of expression, a way to pour out his wrath and frustration, but this work had a whole new dimension. He knew the One who had inspired him and why. This universal Christ triumphant hadn’t come out of his mind, but had been planted by the Lord.”

Roman’s earlier refrain in the novel was that he wanted more, and here, his longstanding desire has been fulfilled. Instead of his perpetual discontentment, Roman is brimming with gratitude and joy. Faith has not only transformed his inner life but every aspect of his outward life, too—including his professional career as an artist.