Redeeming Love
by Francine Rivers
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Read in March, 2008
The content of this novel is mostly taken from Bible, especially from the story of Hosea and Gomar – Hosea was a prophet. God told him to marry a prostitute, Gomer, but she kept on left him. God told him to go and get her back, several times.
The story of this book was in California gold country in 1800 setting. Angel, a high-priced soiled dove from Pair-a-Dice – hated her life as harlot (even she forgot to use her real name, Sarah). Mostly hated men who only used her, where all they saw we...more
The story of this book was in California gold country in 1800 setting. Angel, a high-priced soiled dove from Pair-a-Dice – hated her life as harlot (even she forgot to use her real name, Sarah). Mostly hated men who only used her, where all they saw we...more
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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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I really enjoyed this audio book (from the gorgeous new Encinitas Library). It's a well-told story, a satisfying love story, and most of all a powerful parable about how difficult it can be to accept the Savior's love and forgiveness. The audio book kept me listening, every opportunity I had. My criticism is that the dialogue felt too modern for the time period, and perhaps this book would not be considered "great writing". However, it's great storytelling with a powerful message.
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Read in August, 2007
recommended to Jan by:
Found at libraryrecommends it for: Adults only
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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I am involved in two books groups and in both we are reading Bible based stories. I probably never would have read either on my own, but I am glad I read this first one. I read not only the book, but the entire book of scripture it was based from to refresh my mind about this little known story. This book is a Christian romance and is called "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. I don't know what faith she is, but she did a wonderful job in her story of telling what it might have been l...more
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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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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
ages 16 or over
This is a beautiful western-style retelling of the Biblical book of Hosea. Due to the intense nature of the plot and certain thematic elements, I would not recommend this book to anyone under 16.
The main characters Michael Hosea and Angel(aka Sara, Amanda, Tirza, Mara); a godly farmer and a San Francisco prostitute are thrown together in marriage through random events based loosely on the book of Hosea.
Through God's amazing grace, Michael is able to convince Angel that love is not what ...more
The main characters Michael Hosea and Angel(aka Sara, Amanda, Tirza, Mara); a godly farmer and a San Francisco prostitute are thrown together in marriage through random events based loosely on the book of Hosea.
Through God's amazing grace, Michael is able to convince Angel that love is not what ...more
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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
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Read in January, 2008
This book is a typical romance, but with a decidedly Christian viewpoint. Hence it being Christian Romance. I wouldn't say it was great literature by a long shot, but there were times when I was really emotional while reading it. The first chapter in particular had me wanting to go wake up my son several times just to make sure he knew I loved him. It also made me re-evaluate my own view of faith. It also had a great message about not judging another too quickly. But, I guess I like these ...more
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Read in October, 1998
recommended to Dawn by:
Bronwyn Gibsonrecommends 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 and love an...more
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 and love an...more
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Read in January, 2000
This book was beyond amazing. It was life shaping. In allegorizing the Biblical story of Hosea, Rivers weaves a complex story with complex characters into a beautiful tapestry.
The one draw back is that Rivers used to be a romance, bodice ripper, writer. Sometimes that comes through - to distraction, but the work as a whole is so powerful that these lapses fade away in the midst of it's illustration of:
Sin, it's power over us, God's pursuit of us, our preference for sin because of it's f...more
The one draw back is that Rivers used to be a romance, bodice ripper, writer. Sometimes that comes through - to distraction, but the work as a whole is so powerful that these lapses fade away in the midst of it's illustration of:
Sin, it's power over us, God's pursuit of us, our preference for sin because of it's f...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Claudia by:
Rosalyn Contrerasrecommends it for: Melissa Lopez, Bryony Amador, Vanessa Gomez
This is my first Christian novel and I'm so happy my friend Rosalyn lend it to me -- otherwise who knows if I would've read it.
At first I was a bit overwhelmed (the book is 464 pages) and the content is one that will take you through a roller coaster of emotions. At times I was frustrated with the protagonist of this novel, Angel, and her constant struggles. However at the end it all came together.
I have to admit that this is the first book that has made me cry. If you enjoy stories about th...more
At first I was a bit overwhelmed (the book is 464 pages) and the content is one that will take you through a roller coaster of emotions. At times I was frustrated with the protagonist of this novel, Angel, and her constant struggles. However at the end it all came together.
I have to admit that this is the first book that has made me cry. If you enjoy stories about th...more
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Read in January, 1998
In this splendid retelling of the biblical story of Hosea, bestselling author Francine Rivers pens a heartbreaking romance between a prostitute and the upright and kind farmer who marries her; the story also functions as a reminder of God's unconditional love for his people. Redeeming Love opens with the Gold Rush of 1850 and its rough-and-tumble atmosphere of greed and desire. Angel, who was sold into prostitution as a child, has learned to distrust all men, who see her only as a way to satisfy...more
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Read in May, 2008
What a story. How ironic that i would have read it on the heels of my last Christian fiction book from the Mitford series that I didn't care for. This book was redeeming to me as well, because it cleansed my palate after digesting the last novel. The characters were well developed and I loved the good vs. evil imagery. It takes such love and patience to help move someone past pain. How patient are we with even people we love that have pain in their past? Michael was selfless and saw through Ange...more
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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 between th...more
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 between th...more
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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. It make...more
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. It make...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Lindsay
Francine Rivers takes a delicate subject and gives the right information so that the reader so gets it without having to read through garbage to get to the point. I really liked that about her book. Rivers develops the character's relationships to one another as a direct result of their behavior.
I highly recommend this book for entertainment - not to be changed. However, I am changed because the faith based tone of "Redeeming Love" is really about God's uncondi...more
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This is a good love story and also a story in the Book of Hosea. It is a retelling of the story of Hosea, it is a heartbreaking romance between a worldly prostitute and a simple down to earth farmer who marries her.. It also refers as a reminder of God's unconditional love for his people. It opens up with how Money(GOLD)makes an environment of greed, lustful desires. OMG did i cry so many times as i read about Angel go from being a prostitute to becoming a wife of a simple loving man she did...more
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This was one of the best books I've ever read. I like some Christian based novels, but sometimes they can be disconnected from the reality of the world. This book was taken directly from the Bible and just re-created in a story that can be easily understood. This book opened up so many emotions, and made me realize how much I relate to Angel. I know in my own personal life and relationships I have created the same defense mechanisms and prejudices that she did to shield herself from experien...more
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