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Feb 23, 2011

Auntee rated it:

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...

23 comments like (78 people liked it)

Apr 11, 2009

Eastofoz rated it:

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’ More...

16 comments like (17 people liked it)

Oct 16, 2011

Misfit rated it:

Sarah was the by-product of an affair between her mother and a wealthy married man - a father who was only interested in his mistress and wants nothing to do with his child. He eventually dumps them, and cut off from funds and family let's just say that life on the docks isn't easy. When she's left on her own, Sarah is sold to a pedophile and eventually into prostitution. The main focus of the story begins years later as Sarah (now called Angel) is most highly sought after prostitute in the Cali More...

19 comments like (11 people liked it)

Apr 12, 2011

Arlene rated it:

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers has undeniably earned a coveted spot on my top bookshelf of classically flawless stories. This is a book that I will probably find myself reading over and over again until it simply falls apart at the seams. Such a beautiful love story that I could not separate myself from both mentally and emotionally.

I read this book while I was traveling, and I truly don’t know how I made my connector flights or found my departing gate terminals, or even who s More...

23 comments like (20 people liked it)

Apr 24, 2009

♡KarLynP♡ rated it:

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...

7 comments like (20 people liked it)

Aug 31, 2011

Hannah rated it:

First off, a shout out to my good friend Arlene, who convinced me to re-read this book (which I had read long ago and just couldn't remember). You can read her fantastic review here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/826...

(OK, now that I've paid off Arlene, on to my review)
;D

Redeeming Love isn't a genre I normally read in bulk, even though I do try to read some inspirational literature every year. I consider myself a Christian, but I'm also a fairl More...

30 comments like (8 people liked it)

Apr 17, 2011

Verity rated it:

My 1st Xtian romance & may be my last. Nothing wrong w/ the writing, just not my cuppa. I was raised a baptized & confirmed Catholic who went to Catholic schools, but turned into a semi-atheist (plz don't cast rocks @ me). I still don't feel like converting after reading this book. The romance is above par & told in a smooth style, but I didn't buy the message the author tried to convey & it took some adjustment to see the words 'God' & whatnot popping up way too liberally. I thought the hero de More...

14 comments like (11 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Nicole rated it:

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...

1 comment like (12 people liked it)

May 03, 2011

Amber rated it:

What an incredible journey Francine Rivers takes you on throughout this book. What an amazing story of strength, hurt, hate, fate, love and faith! What an undeniable testament to God’s unconditional love. You will be captivated and pulled in emotionally when you read this story.
Warning: This book is sure to capture you and pull at your heart-strings.

This story is set in New England, 1835. Young Sarah’s life was tarnished from the beginning. Sarah overhears a conversation be More...

39 comments like (8 people liked it)

Feb 20, 2008

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...

18 comments like (10 people liked it)

Dec 08, 2007

Kathrynn rated it:

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.

8 comments like (11 people liked it)

Jul 04, 2008

Chloe rated it:

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...

0 comments like (8 people liked it)

Aug 31, 2007

Meg rated it:

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.

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Feb 18, 2008

Dawn Michelle rated it:

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...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Dec 12, 2008

Marian rated it:

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...

1 comment like (6 people liked it)

Aug 23, 2007

Merrin rated it:

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...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Aug 20, 2007

Amy rated it:

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...

2 comments like (5 people liked it)

Aug 31, 2007

Nichole rated it:

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...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Apr 16, 2008

Awesome rated it:

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.

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Christina rated it:

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.

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Mar 08, 2009

Mandy rated it:

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...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Mar 19, 2009

Kim rated it:

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...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Sep 18, 2008

Morgan rated it:

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...

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 16, 2008

Jan rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 17, 2008

Santh rated it:

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...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 27, 2008

Kathy rated it:

I think the purpose of this book was overshadowed by the very dark subject matter. A lot of people have called this a Christian Romance, I find that very hard to believe. The story is about a young girl sold into prostitution at the age of eight who later is rescued by a man named Michael. The books goes into shocking, disturbing detail of the sad life she led. She run’s away from her devoted husband multiple times, which also got old. The whole thing was very depressing and I only continued to More...

3 comments like (5 people liked it)

Jun 30, 2008

Jennie rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 01, 2009

Lindsey rated it:

If you want to read an AMAZING Love Story, than this is the book for you! Don't forget to read from the Preface (or whatever she calls the chapter before chapter 1) That is the beginning of the book. Very important! This is probably one of the best fiction book of all time for me.

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Sep 22, 2008

Jessica rated it:

OK. I have to say the the cover of the book I got from the library, combined with the title made me a little skeptical of this book (the cover they show here looks much more modern. The one I had looked a little like a romance novel gone bad). But now that I am done I will say that I LOVED this book. It is a little bit cheesy in parts and definitely written by a born again Christian (nothin' wrong with that)but it is one of those that I can't stop thinking about and really sucked me into their l More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 02, 2011

Nic rated it:

I thought this would not be my type of read. It is historical christian fiction (not a huge fan of either) about the life of a woman who was sold as a child into prostitution and then later about the man who feel in love with her.

But Redeeming Love was just a beautiful and breathtaking read. Oh boy did it my make my heart hurt. I cried pretty much the whole way through this story. Angel (aka Sarah) is a character you become very quickly emotionally invested in and Michael is p More...

11 comments like (9 people liked it)