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Redeeming Love
Redeeming Love
Author: Francine Rivers
Can God’s Love Save Anyone? — Bestselling author Francine Rivers skillfully retells the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea in a tale set against the exciting backdrop of the California Gold Rush. The heroine, Angel, is a young woman who was sold into prostitution as a child. Michael Hosea is a godly man sent into Angel’s life to d...  more »
ISBN-13: 9781601420619
ISBN-10: 1601420617
Publication Date: 10/16/2007
Pages: 480
Rating:
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 46

4.5 stars, based on 46 ratings
Publisher: Multnomah Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

bananapancakes avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 95 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
I have never read Francine Rivers before so I didn't know what to expect. This book was amazing. Taking place during the California Gold Rush, it is the story of Sarah (Angel) who has lived a terrible life for her 18 years, living as a prostitute in a poor, scrappy frontier town and Michael Hosea the man who sees her in the street and is determined to make her his wife. He rescues her from a brothel after she is beaten and restores her back to health physically but finds it impossible to heal her spirit. She plays tug of war with Michael and God until the very end. I read this book in two days and wish I had slowed down. It is based on the story of Hosea in the Bible. The story displays God's powerful love for his people and the struggle Angel and Michael go through when they don't want to listen to Him.
staceyplaisance avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 29 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This is an incredible book. The whole story is an awesome picture of God's redeeming love for all of us. Even after finishing the book, I'm still thinking about it and can't get it off my mind. One word of caution: You may want to skip reading the Prologue of this book if you are sensitive in nature. The Prologue tells you how the main character, Angel, became the way she is, but you don't have to read the Prologue to understand the rest of the book.
reviewed Redeeming Love on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
The beginning of this book is very dark and hard to read. The main character is subjected to one heartache after another and then abused in ways that are unimaginable to most.

The book then skips ahead in time and meets up with the character who is now older, jaded, and hopeless. In the midst of this, her hero enters the scene and a overblown and completely unrealistic romance novel begins.

Other characters enter the book. Some show love and others continue to victimize her. Two of these new characters, one "good" girl falls in love with the man who continued to victimize the main character. Here is where I gave up on the book. I finished reading it because it was a book that my book club was reading, so I made it to the melodramatic end that was only fit for a cheap romance novel.

While this book may bear the title "Redeeming Love", there was nothing that I loved about it and it possessed little redemptive value.
chosen7stone avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
SHORT REVIEW:This was a fantastic book, but a word of caution: this book is not for teenagers, for anyone who struggles with lust, or for anyone who does not wish to be exposed to some very mature sexual concepts. While the book is not graphic, it is mature. Exercise discernment.
LONGER REVIEW:The book has been heralded as wonderful - as it is - but it contains some very mature subject matter, mostly sexual.
I would not recommend this book for a teenager, for someone who is unmarried, or who wouldn't wish to be exposed to mature sexual concepts. Like the actual book of Hosea, it does deal with prostitution - but becomes more descriptive. It deals with marriage - including the intimate aspects. And there is more than one instance of rape, pedophilia, etc. Evil and wickedness is not at all celebrated, and I wouldn't even say that it is gratuitous, but it isn't "glossed over" either.
This is a book that should be approached with discernment - and a thorough biblical understanding. It is not at all a replacement for the healing counsel of the Holy Spirit. There is also a risk of idolizing the main male protagonist, and feeling disappointed with "real men," just as many romance novels tend to create expectations near-perfection in our minds.
Again, this book is wonderful. The allegory for Christ's role as our kinsman-redeemer, as our faithful lover, is beautiful. The characters' thought processes are real, and familiar. But it should be approached with wisdom, and again, biblical understanding.
reviewed Redeeming Love on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I absolutely loved this book. The story is amazing. A story of true love, kindness, patience, heartache, conflict, pain, selfishness, self-hate, redemption, acceptance and overcoming. In the beginning we learn that Angel is a prostitute and a man who loves the Lord falls in love with her and through a series of events makes her his wife. I couldn't put this book down. I started it one Saturday afternoon when my daughter was sick and I couldn't put it down. This is a must read!
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simplicity avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 33 more book reviews
This is a book that every christian novel lover should read.
reviewed Redeeming Love on + 2 more book reviews
This was a great book!! As a Christian, I felt it was a beautiful portrayal of Christ's love and forgiveness for his people. This was represented by a man led by God to marry a harlot who repeatedly returned to prostitution. My secular book club read this book and unanimously gave it a "thumbs up".
reviewed Redeeming Love on + 12 more book reviews
This is one of the best stories of redemption that I have ever read. It chronicles the story of a harlot bought out of slavery and her journey to healing. Beautiful.
rockabye777 avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 8 more book reviews
It was horrible and wonderful. It broke my heart, made me angry, made me laugh and made me cry.
reviewed Redeeming Love on
This was my first Christian book and I must say it is without a doubt my favorite book of all-time! The message is so clear and further confirms God's love for his children. A must read!
cupid avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 4 more book reviews
I loved this book! The story has a powerful message and it's easy to take it to heart!! The story moves at a quick pace so you do not have time to get bored.
shukween avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 118 more book reviews
This is a lovely retelling of a biblical tale; good historical fiction. It has a definite Christian message but not overbearingly so. While the outcome is predictable, the telling of the story is genuinely and clearly written. An enjoyable read.
chesse avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 135 more book reviews
Nancy 6/22
librarymom avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 15 more book reviews
Caution, not your typical Christian fiction. I loved it despite myself. This is a retelling of the book of Hosea, set in the Old West, with the prostitute as the central figure and narrator. There are scenes that still make me blush.
reviewed Redeeming Love on + 3 more book reviews
This book was well written and worth reading. Rivers was able to incorporate the story of Hosea in a very different setting, yet the theme of God's everlasting love permeates the story.
reviewed Redeeming Love on + 6 more book reviews
This is the best book i have read in years.
chrismommy avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on
I just finished this book, and absolutely LOVED IT! I had a hard time putting it down and did not want the book to end!
reviewed Redeeming Love on + 2 more book reviews
BEST BOOK YOU WILL EVER READ! I COULDNT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! AMAZING, EVERYONE MUST READ IT!
live2readforever avatar reviewed Redeeming Love on + 3 more book reviews
One of the best books I have ever read. Always recommending it to others and always keep a copy on my bookshelves
reviewed Redeeming Love on + 10 more book reviews
Loved this book. Enough sizzle without being graphic.

Book Wiki

People/Characters
Sarah (Angel) (Primary Character)
Michael Hosea (Primary Character)
Fictional Places
Important Events

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