A chocolate chunk cookie Masterpiece

The book: The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

Genre: Christian fiction

Published: 2018

The bake: Triple chocolate chunk cookies

What’s the story?

The worlds of two intriguing people collide in this powerful novel about facing your past and redeeming your future. Roman Velasco is a successful artist, with the world at his feet. Privately, however, he feels rootless and still bound by secrets and sufferings from his traumatic childhood. Grace Moore is a driven and ambitious young woman. But, beneath her calm surface is someone who has known immense tragedy and heartache.

Grace is a single mom desperate for a job. Roman needs a personal assistant, and Grace seems perfect for the role. Immediately there is a spark between them, but Grace doesn’t need a man like Roman in her life right now. And Roman doesn’t really know what he wants or needs. Grace has her faith to keep her strong, although she is haunted by her past. Roman believes only in himself. He tries to keep his demons at bay by doing illegal graffiti on the streets of Los Angeles.

After the unthinkable happens to Roman during a work road trip with Grace, his life changes dramatically. But, will he ever be the man that Grace needs? And will he be able to face his demons and accept God’s love?

Why read it?

I’ve always been a fan of Francine Rivers, ever since I devoured her Mark of the Lion books. Redeeming Love is also one of my all-time favorite novels. The Masterpiece is a stunning book that will leave you inspired and thankful. I love how Rivers creates ‘real’ people, people with issues and troubles and who make mistakes, just like the rest of us. Her narrative flows between the present-day story of Grace and Roman, to flashbacks of their traumatic pasts which shaped their present.

This book doesn’t bash you over the head with its Christian message, but it’s woven through the whole story effortlessly. You don’t feel like you are being preached to. But, when you close the book, you know that Rivers got her message across. God can use any situation for good, and nobody is beyond redemption.

If you love novels with multiple layers, and characters you can identify with, you MUST read The Masterpiece. It’s Christian fiction at its best.

Pair it with: Triple chocolate chunk cookies

These cookies are indeed little masterpieces, but they were also part of a really big masterpiece in my family’s life. In December 2019 my youngest sister got married in a beautiful town called Dullstroom in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It was a glorious day filled with love, friends and of course, yummy food. I baked these cookies as gifts for the wedding guests. I made oversized cookies and guests could help themselves. They could either eat them there and then, or take them home for later in a customized brown paper bag.

I chose to pair this recipe, originally from the blog Simply Delicious written by my friend Alida Ryder, and published in her book Heerlik & Maklik, with this book because to me these cookies symbolize a happy ending. We are so thankful my sister’s wedding was BEFORE the chaos caused by Covid-19. So many other friends had to postpone or tone down their celebrations. From milestone birthdays to baby showers. We feel blessed to have had such a wonderful day with loved ones. Below is a pic of them on their big day.

These cookies are delicious on their own, but extra morish with a glass of ice cold milk, or a cup of coffee. I’ve tweaked the recipe a bit to suit my taste. But, the most important thing is to use the best quality chocolate you can get your hands on! And chop them into big chunks – it’s lovely to get a big mouthful of chocolate!