Featured Content for Front Page

Hello,

Im working on a blog website and the client is seeking out a different layout for the front page than the rest of the site. Visually, this is is what they are after:
http://docs.presscustomizr.com/article/153-how-to-setup-the-home-featured-pages-in-the-customizr-theme

Things the client likes about it
* The circular thumbnails with the “larger on hover” rollover
* Being able to set/tweak the excerpt text

Sadly, this is the only thing they are interested in about the theme so I have begun looking for a standalone plugin for featuring the clients important pages on the front page. Turns out that the author of PressCustomizr has created a standalone plugin here:
https://wordpress.org/plugins/featured-pages-customizer/

However, it doesnt look like its being maintained (but cant contact the author to ask due to their limited communication channels). Part of me guesses that he probably wont update this plugin esp with his pro plugins and themes being what he’d probably want to focus on more. Tried a few different plugins to see if I could find something close but more updated but Im at a loss.

Anyone know another way to produce this kind of “splash page” element ?
http://demo.presscustomizr.com/ (see just below the slider)