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I'm Ashley, a thirty-something, wellness enthusiast turned finance geek (who loves saving money), living in Portland, Oregon with my husband Colton, our kids, and our cat Jericho.

I'm just your average mama sharing about what it is like to be Mrs. Groves and I'm so glad you're following along! I hope you'll grab a cup of coffee and stay a while!

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Book 1: The Masterpiece

Book 1: The Masterpiece

Hi Friends! At the beginning of January, I shared 12 of the books that are top on my list to read in 2019. This post is part 1 of 12 where I share a bit about each of these books, my thoughts, how many stars I’d give it (actually it is how many Jericho’s as I’m using his cute face in place of stars. ;) ), and what other books I've read that month. I find it slightly ironic that in elementary/middle school we were asked to write book reports on certain books as homework. I don't know a single person that enjoyed the writing portion of those assignments and yet here I am doing just that for fun. I hope you'll enjoy this series as much as I will. 

Title: The Masterpiece

Author: Francine Rivers

Genre: Christian Fiction | Romance

Page Count: 496

Short Synopsis: Francine beautifully blends the character’s past with their present by weaving the two most unlikely individuals lives together. A wealthy, “lost,” artist and a gentle-spirited woman who have one thing in common; both are broken people. The outcome is a flourishing friendship where they learn how to heal their hurtful pasts. Spoiler Alert: God is the only one who can heal you completely, which He did by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price

for our sins. The Masterpiece is a story that shows God's beautiful message of Redemption.

“Believing [in God] is seeing [Him].”
— Angel | The Masterpiece | Francine Rivers

My Thoughts: In 2018, I was introduced to the world of Christian Fiction, specifically the authors Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbery. Let me tell you, it has CHANGED.MY.LIFE! All of the Francine Rivers books that I have read have told an excellent story while also teaching you about the Bible. I will admit that I have often found reading the Bible to be boring and full of too much history, but Francine's books have given me a deeper glimpse into the historical context of the Bible and the characteristics of God while also keeping my attention with a good story. The Masterpiece is no exception!

You guys! I could not put this book down! When the Kindle app said that it would take me 8+ hours to read this book, I actually got giddy because I hate coming to a close on a good story. Don't let the length of this book discourage you. I loved that this book gives a real world example of how God can take the most broken of people, with all their hurt and pain, and redeem their life, turning them into a masterpiece.

It does an excellent job of showing how God’s timing is always the best timing. He is orchestrating our entire life for what is best for us, even if we don’t see it.This story gives the readers the chance to view the characters’ life from God’s perspective; one that shows the bigger picture and not just the narrow perspective that we as humans frequently see. Of all the books I have read this January, this one has been my favorite. I highly recommend you give it a read.

“We’re all God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ.”
— Grace | The Masterpiece | Francine Rivers

My Rating:

5 jerichos.JPG
 
Book 2: Beautiful Bodies

Book 2: Beautiful Bodies

2019 Book List

2019 Book List