The Masterpiece

Grace Moore is the novel’s female protagonist and Roman Velasco’s love interest. She exemplifies the theological quality of grace, which means divine compassion or favor, even for the undeserving. Grace embodies forgiveness and resilience as she moves forward from the many traumas of her past. Importantly, she also inspires Roman to heal through faith and forgiveness.

Grace is a single mother to a baby named Samuel; she had initially planned to give the baby up for adoption, but since his birth, she has reconsidered that decision because of her attachment to him. She gets connected to Roman Velasco via a temp agency, which places her on assignment as Roman’s personal assistant.

Like Roman, Grace has experienced childhood trauma: She lost her parents when she was seven and ended up living with her aunt who was undemonstrative and cold toward her. She married her high school boyfriend but divorced him after he cheated on her. Because of her earlier experiences with men, Grace is initially extremely wary of Roman’s intentions toward her. Grace is a dedicated Christian, and she wrestles with feelings of shame from what she perceives as sinful and unwise decisions in her past. After her divorce, she had a one-night stand during which Samuel was conceived, and Grace struggles with guilt when she recalls it. These experiences make her significantly less inclined to consider Roman as a potential romantic partner until late in the novel, particularly since Roman does not share her faith at first.

Despite the difficulties she has faced in her life, Grace is determined to build a stable, happy life for herself and Samuel. She is a loving and responsible mother. Her strong Christian faith makes her resilient and compassionate, and she is a stabilizing influence in Roman’s life. Grace is wise beyond her years and is efficient and practical. When making important personal decisions, she thinks them over repeatedly, prays about them, and consults her circle of Christian friends to get their advice.

Grace’s relationship with Roman evolves throughout the novel. It begins as one of mutual professional respect. Grace is initially uncomfortable when she suspects that Roman has romantic feelings for her because she knows that his irascibility and lack of Christian faith make them incompatible. However, they develop a profound personal and spiritual connection, and this inspires Roman to reevaluate his behavior and his connection with God. By the end of the novel, they are united by their love for one another and their Christian faith.

Elizabeth Walker, usually referred to in the text as Aunt Elizabeth, is a supporting character who acts as a maternal presence and guide for Grace, though their relationship is a complicated one. In the novel’s flashbacks, Aunt Elizabeth is portrayed as being so struck with grief at her sister’s passing and her own experiences with her father that she is largely bitter and uncompassionate.

In the novel’s main timeline, however, she has become more gracious and understanding with age, thus often surprising Grace with her reactions. Like Grace, Aunt Elizabeth is a faithful Christian, and much of the growth in her character is attributed to her ongoing relationship of faith in Jesus. Her best friend is Miranda Spenser, Grace’s old Sunday school teacher, and the power of Christian friendship is illustrated in their relationship, as they counsel each other, encourage each other, and help each other grow in the virtues of the Christian life.

Brian Henley is a supporting character who acts first as a possible love interest for Grace, and thus, in an understated way, also as a foil for Roman. Later, he is a friend and counselor to Roman in his journey of faith. Brian is a local youth pastor and a widower, having lost his wife Charlene in a car accident. They had been hoping to have children, and Charlene was pregnant when she died. As a result, Brian has a unique affinity for babies and gets along well with Grace’s son, Samuel.

Brian is young and handsome, with blond hair and blue eyes, and he has a charming manner with the people he meets, effortlessly connecting with them on a deep level and easily bringing up matters of faith. He is patient and insightful, and his authentic kindness eventually wins over Roman, for whom he becomes a spiritual mentor. His role as a love interest for Grace does not pan out, but he later becomes a love interest for Shanice, Grace’s best friend, and ends up marrying her.

Shanice Tyson is Grace’s best friend. She is part of a larger group of Grace’s friends in the novel, all of whom support and encourage Grace, but Shanice appears most frequently and occupies the most central role. Grace’s friends are an important part of the novel’s portrayal of her Christian faith—she lives out her faith in communion with others, seeking their counsel and their prayers, as she encourages them, and they encourage her in return. Shanice is foremost in this role; often, she is the first person whom Grace will contact to talk about something or pray with.

Shanice’s role not only underscores the strength of Grace’s faith but also the brokenness of her past trauma. Part of Shanice’s connection to Grace includes an episode that causes both of them immense regret: Shanice’s invitation to go out dancing at a club, which ended for Grace in a one-night stand with a stranger.