Redeeming Love

by Francine Rivers

book data

5,229 ratings, 4.51 average rating, 1,328 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		66%
4		22%
3		8%
2		2%
1		0%

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published

May 9th 2005 (first published 1991) by Multnomah

binding

Trade Paperback, 479 pages

characters

Angel, Michael Hosea, Angle/Sarah

setting

The United States

isbn

1590525132 (isbn13: 9781590525135)

description

California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a place to sleep.

Ange...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 6,618)

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03/14/09

Auntee rated it:

bookshelves: 2009_reads, fiction

Read in March, 2009

recommended to Auntee by: Kathrynn M.
recommends it for: Any/all Romance readers

I'm not even going to attempt to review this one because I doubt that I could do it justice. Besides, there's over a thousand reviews of this book on GR (hard to believe--I must have been one of the few people who haven't read this book)! Anyway, it was definitely the best book I've read all year, and probably one of the best books I've EVER read. It was easy to read (the story flowed very smoothly), yet emotionally, it was very difficult to read. Parts of the book just tore me up inside, an...more

Like this review? yes (16 people liked it)

15 comments

06/03/07

Michelle rated it:

I have never bawled when reading a book until I read this.
Oh. My. God. I was very skeptical because I don't like "Christian" genre books, but once I started reading this, I couldn't stop. I stayed up till Lord knows when in the morning because I literally could not put the book down. There were times during my reading that I was so emotional I had to look away to cry, and then revert my attention back to the story. I don't know how Francine Rivers does it. The relationship betwee...more

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03/24/09

Eastofoz rated it:

Read in April, 2009

recommended to Eastofoz by: Auntee
recommends it for: Readers looking for frontier inspirational romance or a retelling of the Book of Hosea

This is a difficult book to rate because at times it’s a 1 and then a 3 and I can even see how readers could give it a 5 star rating. It’s an inspirational romance that at times is quite heavy on the religious aspect in my opinion. If the idea of a kind of self-sacrifice to the extreme that doesn’t seem to benefit anyone apart from God (but even then that’s debatable) appeals to you, then you’ll probably like this book. I didn’t particularly enjoy it, but I could appreciate it.
...more This is a difficult book to rate because at times it’s a 1 and then a 3 and I can even see how readers could give it a 5 star rating. It’s an inspirational romance that at times is quite heavy on the religious aspect in my opinion. If the idea of a kind of self-sacrifice to the extreme that doesn’t seem to benefit anyone apart from God (but even then that’s debatable) appeals to you, then you’ll probably like this book. I didn’t particularly enjoy it, but I could appreciate it.

It’s not the greatest writing in the world. It’s very simple in style and reminded me of something like the Good News Bible where Biblical verse is written in a more modern, accessible way with a simplistic approach to what is otherwise complicated religious dogma when you really look at it. The relationship between the two frontier families is a bit too utopian but fits in with this striving-to-be- like-God ideal and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I think you have to like reading about that sort of “wholesomeness”. There’s a note from the publisher that says it’s a PG 13 novel and maybe for people who read inspirational romances it is but I didn’t think so. There was one very brief disgusting scene but given the situation and the period I thought that was misleading to brand it PG 13. There is virtually no physical intimacy in this book, apart from the odd kiss, and any sex is glossed over leaving you wondering if they had sex or not. The violence in the novel is treated the same way and I think it’s a disservice not to “show” the reader what the author is seeing. You get these one liners about horrific beatings, great sex on a very spiritual level but no detail. The author shows a lot about God but not enough about the h/h together as a married couple. Emotional, spiritual and physical intimacy make for better rounded characters I think and I felt short changed not to get all that. The book could probably be a good 4 ½ stars if this aspect of the writing had been developed.

The hero and the heroine are very well-drawn. Michael is a true saint and if you took away his devout belief in God he’d make one of the best romance heroes around. He gets kicked in the teeth so many times but he still keeps coming back for more. He reminded me of poor Job at times. His self-sacrifice skirts the incredulous and I still can’t see what he got out of it during those years of waiting. His character’s endless patience reminds me of Sarah McCarty’s Asa in Promises Linger. As for Angel/Sarah, she is such an irritating/stupid woman. She has heaven in hand and she keeps throwing it away. Her life is a nightmare and it’s a wonder she never killed herself to get out of it, but I had a hard time understanding that after so much unconditional love from Michael that she felt too she ended up leaving him.

It was difficult to believe all this love at first sight and God speaking to these people in mysterious ways. It’s the Old Testament mysterious mean God in this story at times who takes everything away and you get to live in emotional hell. Why I don’t know and that’s what I really didn’t like about this book from a romance perspective. Michael’s a good guy why keep testing him? Angel has been through hell and back why have her leave her haven incessantly? I guess you could say that they both had things to do first before they could be together but I think they really wasted some very valuable time that they could’ve been better spent together.

The epilogue is quite moving and God finally decides to give something back apart from just his love which is supposed to be the true reason for living, but I didn’t really see what kind of happiness it brought these people because without each other they were horribly sad and lost.

If you take the novel as a retelling of the Book Hosea(what little I know about it) it’s pretty good, but if you read it as a romance you may be disappointed. So two stars for romance, four for the retelling of the Book of Hosea for me.

FYI: If devout believers who see God in everything as well as true faith being the only way to find happiness in life bother you, you may want to pass on this book.
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Like this review? yes (10 people liked it)

11 comments

04/11/09

KarLynP rated it:

bookshelves: read-2009

Read in April, 2009

wow, a very powerful story! I listened to this one on my iPod. I tried so hard not to cry (especially toward the end) but I finally had to pull over and wipe my eyes when it ended. So much grief, redemption and joy. A fantastic story that drew me in and kept me glued.

Its a historical romance set in mid 1800's gold country region of California. Angel is a damaged young woman working a brothel and struggling with many horrors from her past. Michael is a devout Christian who believes ...more

Like this review? yes (9 people liked it)

6 comments

07/20/07

Nicole rated it:

(review of isbn 1576738167)

Read in November, 1999

recommends it for: Anyone who wants to read a story about love that's founded in God's love, and not just in lust

This book is incredibly romantic, in that it is a story about a powerful love that brings about happiness in the lives of the couple. It is less romantic in that it is also the story about a couple who must deal with a damaged past, and a damaged soul, and the pain and destruction that that damage can still inflict. It is not the story of an easy love. It is also a story about God's plan. Most Christian books are about people who are Christians. The main characters mostly do good things. ...more

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02/20/08

Sara rated it:

First of all, this book was PG 13--which I didn't know when I purchased it. I couldn't relate with the characters. Next, and I probably should have mentioned this first--she takes her clothes off way too much. I understand why they got married, but why were they intimate? There was no relationship. She was a prostitue, then got married and was still in that frame of mine. I think the only redeeming quality is that it did not describe the sex ilicitly, except to mention that it happened. Th...more

Like this review? yes (6 people liked it)

8 comments

12/08/07

Kathrynn rated it:

bookshelves: 2005, christian-romance, favorites, own, reviewed

Read in October, 2005

What a great romance! It had everything in it...everything. Action, adventure, rape, incest, rape of children, prostitution, adultery and love. What a ride! I had goosebumps! Grab some Kleenex and enjoy this western set in California--gold rush time.

Like this review? yes (6 people liked it)

7 comments

10/15/07

Chloe rated it:

Read in July, 2008

Wow, this book is absolutely incredible. This book touched me so deeply and the resounding truth behind the story brought me to my knees. The metaphor of this beautiful story is completely undeniable, which made it one of the most powerful books that I have ever read. As a woman, there is something inside me that was able to relate to Angel on so many levels, and the feelings of unworthiness and mistrust that plagued her every day. I loved that Rivers included so much of her inner monologue in t...more

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08/31/07

Meg rated it:

bookshelves: the-best

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in June, 2006

recommends it for: Christian readers looking for something better than the average Godly book

I loved this book. It is based off of the story of Hosea and Gomer but set in the California Gold rush. Angel is a prostitute who has closed off everything but her body to the world. She is cold and unfeeling but when Hosea sees her he know this is the woman God wants him to marry wheter Hosea actually does or not. This is an amazing story about God's never ending love and perfect for anyone with doubts.

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10/08/07

Dawn Michelle rated it:

bookshelves: books-i-cant-live-without

Read in October, 1998

recommended to Dawn Michelle by: Bronwyn Gibson
recommends it for: Anyone who loves a good love story and also knows the story in the Bible of Hosea

This is a tremendous book. I was given a copy of this book to read when I was a newlywed and really struggling in my marriage. It was amazing to me to read this and see the parallels that are in the book and in the Book of Hosea in the Bible.
This is the story of Michael Hosea (a deliberate play on words) and a woman (Angel) he meets at a brothel.
Michael is a godly man and isn't there to be with the women, but to try and get them away from there.
This is a story about redemption...more

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11/20/08

Marian rated it:

Read in December, 2008

I didn't love this book. It had a rocky start for me. There were parts in the middle I enjoyed. It was a passionate book, but never erotic (if you know what I mean). But the ending was corny and I was tired of the same ideas and phrases being used over and over again. I found myself skimming to finish the book. And I really hate epilogues where authors laundry list future events instead of writing snipets of their characters future lives in the same manner the rest of the story had been told. If...more

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08/22/07

Merrin rated it:

bookshelves: books-about-god

Read in January, 2006

recommends it for: believers and married folk

I'm very, very skeptical about religious fiction. I've read some good, I've read some bad, and very often the vast majority of it is so cheesy and lame that I can't stomach it. Francine Rivers has always been an exception.

This book retells the book of Hosea, which is all about God giving Hosea this horrible wife that used to be a prostitute and leaves him and cheats on him and all manner of wretched things, and it's a parallel with God as Hosea and the church as the prostitute wife....more

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08/14/07

Amy Gentry rated it:

Read in August, 2007

This is the first Christian fiction book I have ever read. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT. I FINISHED IT IN 4 DAYS AND COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. A great fictional example about God's redeeming love and testimony about how when we are willing to be in God's Will we can truely be His hands and feet here on earth and impact how others see the God who loves them, even before they know Him personally, a story about how He knows the plans He has for us and how those plans are for our good to bring us to a place...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

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08/31/07

Nichole Dansel rated it:

Read in January, 2004

This was a great book! I don't read alot of Francine Rivers, but this was a book I couldn't put down. Based upon the book of Hosea in the bible, it is a compelling story of Mr. Hosea and his love for a his wife. She is a prostitute whom he saved out of that life, but she keeps going back, and Mr. Hosea keeps loving her nonetheless. It's a portrayal of God's never ending love for us, even though we continue to fall back into our life of sin. So good! Everyone should read this. Even if you ...more

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09/12/07

Christina Kirby rated it:

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in January, 2006

My parents gave me this work of Christian fiction, and I wondered how much I would really like it. I loved it! I read it non-stop on a 5 hour flight, and couldn't believe how fast the flight went by (that never happens to me - no matter how many good books I have to read). I got so into the story that I completely tuned out EVERYTHING going on around me. Some parts of the book are so sad, while others are a little cheesy, but the book and its message are great. I highly recommend it.

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04/16/08

Awesome rated it:

Read in February, 2008

recommended to Awesome by: Sarah Zimmerman
recommends it for: see above^^^^ :)

OMGSH!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS DEFINATELY MY FAV BOOK OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!! it's about a girl who is sold into prostitution(i think thats how you spell it) at a young age a continues in this lifestyle; until a farmer named micheal is called(by God) to marry her. its a story that mirrors the book of nahum in the bible. but it's sooo good!!!! omgsh!!! i loved it!!!the message in it is soooo powerful! definately a must read for every teenage girl.

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03/08/09

Mandy rated it:

bookshelves: q32009

Reedeming Love, by Francine Rivers, is a Christian, fiction book based on the story of Hosea and Gomer from the Bible. The book begins when the main character Sarah is just a little girl. She soon realizes that her biological father wants nothing to do with her, even at her young age of 6. When her mother dies she moves in with a family friend, who realizes that he is not capable of taking care of young Sarah. So he sends her to a new home full of wealth. When she is there she is raped and ...more

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03/19/09

Kim rated it:

Read in February, 2009

Good Book. It gave me new perspective on God's love for us. I usually avoid romance but this book was recommended by my daughter and several of her friends. I read it and will never forget it. We all want unconditional love but never find it because we live in a world of imperfect people. That was the most difficult part of the book for me. Michael Hosea is representative of God's love for us but he was "too good to be true" as a real person. At times I felt sorry for him and other tim...more

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04/08/08

Morgan rated it:

bookshelves: christian

Read in September, 2008

recommended to Morgan by: Britt
recommends it for: all women...

Darn you, Francine Rivers. Your ability to tell a story is so phenomenal, and you consistantly drag me in to each and every book you write. But, honestly. Christian Romance Novels?!?!? Who wants to like those? They're so cheesy, so...naive. Well, I guess I just THOUGHT they were. But all of your books are so wonderful, full of lively, realistic characters in real life situations. And 'Redeeming Love' was certainly no different.

My 1st introduction to the book was in college gr...more Darn you, Francine Rivers. Your ability to tell a story is so phenomenal, and you consistantly drag me in to each and every book you write. But, honestly. Christian Romance Novels?!?!? Who wants to like those? They're so cheesy, so...naive. Well, I guess I just THOUGHT they were. But all of your books are so wonderful, full of lively, realistic characters in real life situations. And 'Redeeming Love' was certainly no different.

My 1st introduction to the book was in college group, where after the book had been mentioned I was met with a surround sound "Ohhhhhhh, Reedeming Love. I LOOOOOOVE that book!" by every girl in the room. That was probably enought to turn me off. But then I read Rivers' "Mark of the Lion" Series, and was forever changed. Seriously, those books rock my face off. So, after finding this book at the thrift store for 90 cents (why in the world did they get rid of the cents symbol on the keyboard? Honestly....) how could I go wrong? I picked up this book and quickly devoured it. I read it in two days, and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it. When I wasn't thinking about it I was sleeping and dreaming about it. And now that I'm done, all I want to do is pick it up and start over.

Reedeming Love is a "modern-day" (set during the 1800's) story following the book of Hosea. Angel, an 18 year old prostitue was sold into the business at the tender age of 8. Being old beyond her years, she trusts no man after all she has been through. After Angel winds up in California during the Gold Rush, we meet Michael Hosea. A simple farmer, a godly man with a heart for God and others, Michael is told by God to marry this woman. Hardly an easy task, he accepts whole-heartedly and begins to show this woman a life of love and freedom. But after so long in a cage, Angel is hardly ready for the life she's been given. At one point, she even runs away and goes back to her life of prostitution. But this story is about the amazing redemptive power of God's love, and how that love can be shown through our everyday actions. It's such a beautiful story, and a beautiful picture of God's love for us. I think everyone should read this book. Forget the fact it's Christian Romance. This is Christian truth in literary form, with some love thrown in. (So much better, right?) So honestly, give this book a chance because your life will be changed for the better.(less)

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