Redeeming Love
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is a powerful, fresh re-telling of Hosea, a small prophetic book in the Old Testament. Rivers passionately and originally modernizes the story of Hosea’s wife, Gomer, and her unfaithfulness to him, which is a clear depiction of the relationship between God and Israel. In this gripping, “unputdownable” novel, Rivers brings to life the character of Angel – a young woman in 19th Century America thrown into prostitution at an early age as a result of a chain of unfortunate events.
In a brilliant, heart-wrenching narrative, Rivers delves into the complex relationship between Michael Hosea, a devout man guided by God to take this young prostitute as his wife, and Angel. As a reader, you are dragged into every element of the story, you relate to Angel’s pain, you sympathise with Michael’s impatience and you hope, with all your heart, that there will be a happy ending.
A rollercoatser of twists and turns, Redeeming Love will shock you, depress you, encourage you, challenge you and tug on your romantic heartstrings. Ultimately, it all boils down to God’s workings within Angel and using Michael to guide her to Him. Her journey is a beautiful mixture of sadness, hope and redemption. A must-read for all!
Reviewed by Sarah Broady
