OBSESSING RUFINA

Growing up an orphan in the care of the Benedictine Sisters in post World War II Germany, Lina clings to the simplicity of her sheltered life, even as she longs for a taste of adventure and an identity of her own. As a college student, on a trip to the Louvre in Paris, she becomes transfixed-haunted even- by a 17th century Spanish painting by Bartolome Esteban Murillo. Lefebvre captures the hurt and deception as seen through the eyes of an intrepid college student. Stumbling upon art crimes perpetuated by the Nazis and their cohorts, the novel's heroine refuses to turn a blind eye to the sins. She dares to investigate and expose, with help from two intriguing yet wholly dissimilar romantic interests, a sordid past that others would just as soon forget.

A man for all seasons, Gil Lefebvre is a veteran, a former professional athlete and an educator who has also worked in politics and law. Now an accomplished writer, Lefebvre launched this new phase of his life and career penning commentaries, essays and poetry. His most prominent published works are four novels. The first, Unto Caesar Unto God, assesses the merits of religious activism. The second, Not Too Far To Have Never Been, delves into the challenges that defined the Vietnam generation, examining them through the lens of romance and suspense. Catalina Summer, his third novel, is a romp through a wondrously exotic and historic island setting, a la Huckleberry Finn. With his newest and fourth release Obsessing Rufina, Lefebvre captures the hurt and deception of post-World War II Germany as seen through the eyes of an intrepid college student. Stumbling upon art crimes perpetuated by the Nazis and their cohorts, the novel's heroine refuses to turn a blind eye to the sins. She dares to investigate and expose, with the help from two intriguing yet wholly dissimilar romantic interests, a sordid past that others would just as soon forget. Currently, Lefebvre is working on another historical novel. The Regal Sons of Douglas is a true tale of individual triumph on the gridiron of the University of Southern California (USC) campus in the early 1900s-a story with as much heart as Notre Dame's beloved Rudy's.

Gil is a product of the Southern California lifestyle. Most of his youth was spent at his family's popular baseball camp on Catalina Island. Gil was drafted out of high school with the Oakland Baseball Organization and later traded to the Angels. It became a short baseball career as life was interrupted by the ongoing Vietnam conflict. After fulfilling his obligations in the U.S. Army, he continued his education. Meeting impressive figures such as John and Bobby Kennedy influenced him to achieve a BA degree in political science and then continue on to Western State School of Law. He later became an advisor to two major political campaigns. As newly weds in 1969, Gil and his wife Marcia sailed around the world. The visit of over twenty-nine countries gave him profound incites to world issues. After working in a family law firm he became drawn in another direction, this time as a public educator. He went on to receive many distinguished awards for his innovative style of teaching. Lefebvre began his professional writing career with commentaries, essays and poems. The most prominent of his published books are: THE MAKING OF A HITTER, UNTO CAESAR UNTO GOD, NOT TOO FAR TO HAVE NEVER BEEN and CATALINA SUMMER and his latest release Gil feels truly blessed. He has been a man for all seasons, from professional athlete, to veteran, politics and law, on to educator and now an accomplished writer.