Masterpiece in Progress: A Creative Differences Christmas Novella

by DH Renfroe

Hosting their first Christmas should bring Mackenzie and Jackson closer, but fame, new parenthood, and growing distance have made their marriage more fragile than either expected. Between missed moments and unspoken fears, the holiday season forces them to confront what they have been avoiding.

Set in a snow-covered Brooklyn brownstone, Masterpiece in Progress is a tender, romantic story about healing, desire, and choosing love again when it matters most. Some masterpieces take time. Some take intention. And some begin with finding your way back to the person you vowed to love.

90 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2025

Reviews

[Shamoya Radcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I was reading this I was wondering if the author wrote this for me minus the baby and the postpartum whew!!

While we always want every couple to be happy and ride off into the sunset, couples go through things, and the title was perfect " Masterpiece in Progress". This novella catches up with Jackson & Mackenzie who we meet in Creative Differences and saw got married in book 2 Sky High. This picks up with them months after and not everything is all rainbows. There is this unset distance between them where they are both walking on eggshells with each other.

With the holidays approaching and them hosting their families, they are forced to work through and communicate so as to find their way back to each other. I loved seeing them work through their issues, being parents, showing up for their son, and just figuring it out. This felt realistic and felt like I was looking in a mirror myself. Shout out to the author for taking this approach.

[Shades N Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good to spend time with the Porters again. This story leaned heavily into marriage-in-distress vibes, offering a realistic portrayal of life after marriage when a new baby enters the picture, and the very real pressures that come with being first-time parents. I appreciated how thoughtfully postpartum depression was addressed, and how Jackson showed up as a supportive, attentive partner during that season.
That said, I found myself wanting more. I was hoping for a little more fa la la la la—more holiday warmth, more festive moments, and more opportunities to see their family dynamics fully play out on the page. While the story wasn’t bad by any means, it ultimately felt more grounded than seasonal. Overall, it just didn’t give Christmas the way I hoped it would.

[Dannireads17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Porter’s

I really enjoyed catching up with the Porters. This story felt real and raw. It was an honest depiction of life continuing after demanding careers, marriage, and a new baby. It beautifully shows how easy it is to lose pieces of yourself along the way, and how meaningful it is when two people choose to find their way back to each other. A heartfelt, relatable read about love, growth, and rediscovery.

[Coffee&Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

So beautifully written. I love this check in this couple and their family! Really well done.

[Shanae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written with a necessary story, I enjoyed Masterpiece in Progress.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️