Redeeming Love by Francine RiversI thought today I would share one of my favorite books with you all, as Ive never gotten to write a review on this masterpiece. Ive read this about ten times and each time I read it I cry like a baby and learn something new. When I was first handed this I was like hmmm I don't think so I'm not into Christian romance novels, they are way to cheesy for me. My friend assured me, this is not like anything you've read you will not be disappointed. I just thought yeah right, the first Christian fiction book I tried to read was about living in a log cabin knitting and plucking your own chickens.... my mind after reading that ridiculous fluff garbage was like whatever real people don't live like this, talking stupid and plucking chickens, everything is great because God says so!! I myself am a person of Faith and everyday is not honky dory so needless to say that religious version of "bake and sew" had soured my taste for Christian Fiction, but I thought hey, I am a devour of books Ill give it two chapters and if the knitting and chickens show up I'm outta here.....(no offense to those who knit, it is a valued skill).......WOW I had no idea the road Redeeming Love would take me on. It not only perked my interest in Old Testament biblical and Jewish history but also opened the door to so many great authors and phenomenal books Ive gotten to read over the years that normally I would have never given the chance.
Redeeming Love is based on the book of Hosea from the Old Testament. Hosea if you don't know him was the last great prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He ministered to its citizens from the last years of Jeroboam II until the Assyrians conquered and put the people into exile. His preaching dates from about 753 B.C. until 723 B.C.. The book itself in parts reads almost like poetry. I think Hosea was a tenderhearted man who had deep emotions. As always with any person in the Bible, drama struck and Hosea was called to a special mission by God. He was to share in the Lord's anguish with the people's unfaithfulness. The first three chapters tell the story of the prophet and his own unfaithful wife, Gomer. She is a prostitute who abandons him over and over, has children with other men and continues to fall back into prostitution. Like God's continuing love for Israel, Hosea continued to love Gomer and finally brings her home. In the heart and flavor of this book we meet Michael and Angel in Redeeming Love following the steps of Hosea and Gomer.
The story starts off in New England, 1835. Sarah, a beautiful young girl, learns that she is the product of an adulterous affair and her father Alex a wealthy man had urged her mother Mae to abort the pregnancy, but refused to do so. This decision alienated her from Alex, whom she continues to love in hopes that he will leave his family and marry her. Mae the classic rebound desperate woman finds herself homeless and with an eight year old daughter with no means and no job she finds a shack on the docks, where she takes up prostitution to make ends meet. Within a few months, Mae succumbs to a terrible illness, leaving Sarah alone with Rab, a drunk who was a frequent customer. Unsure of what to do with a child, Rab finds a man that is looking for a little girl for his wealthy master. Sarah soon learns Duke, the "Master" had been scouring the town not for a new daughter, but a new mistress. Duke informs Sarah that her new name is Angel, that he wants to teach her many things. He gives her her first "lesson" that very night. Angel lives in a world of prostitution at the age of eight from that night on, living in luxury but also living a nightmare. She services men, has lost all respect for herself and is a bitter and cold woman at the ripe age of eighteen.
Michael Hosea changes everything for Angel. Seeing her for the first time he knows he's in love with her and as God commands him to marry her he heeds obedience and against all odds finds a way to get Angel out of the brothel and married to him. The easiest part- getting her to his farm! Michael was in no way prepared or ready to face the battles and heartbreak of this woman's healing. Even though Angel is so cruel to Michael not once while I read this did I ever get mad at her. I wanted to see Angel find her self again, to heal from the brutality of her life. I felt hopeless for Michael when Angel would leave him again and again to pursue her life in prostitution. He never gives up though and never stops trying to help and love Angel. He never wavers and always hes waiting. Waiting for her to heal, waiting for her to love, waiting for her to overcome. This is a breathtaking story of love between a man and a woman but also its an amazing heart wrenching story of healing and abuse and how God can redeem the nonredeemable. I highly suggest reading this even if your not a Christian this book will open your eyes to the horrendous issues of sexually abused women and the awful reality of prostitution/ human trafficking. You will be encouraged by the bravery and humanity of the character's. You will be cheering and crying for Michael and Angel!!!
5/5 Christian Fiction
Hi, I came to thank you for following my blog and your review blew me away. I've never really read Christian Romance before and I never imagined it would have anything to do with prostitution etc (I figured it was the knitting and chickens stuff you also mentioned). Thanks for a great review and a new (to me) book to seek out!
ReplyDeleteBoth my mom & sister adore this book, it's on my list of things to read.
ReplyDeleteTwo of my all time favorite books are the Mark Of The Lion Series by Francine Rivers, I believe the first book is call Voice In The Wind...soooo good, you should check it out if you haven't already
Thank you for the review. The book sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt's always strange when a book you don't think will be something you like, just blows you away. :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this book! soooo good! I am actually rereading this book for the 5th or 6th time (ive lost count) but I am starting a blog that discusses this book in depth and dives into the things that God can teach us about His love and character while we read this book and I would like you to check it out! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://ofbooksanddiscussions.blogspot.com/