The story has ended

Reviewing Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love was truly an experience.

It felt as if I was walking on hallowed ground, given its iconic status in many Christian circles. When I took on the Romance Challenge and promised to read a Christian Romance novel, Redeeming Love was predictably one of the most highly recommended.

With so many 5-star reviews on Amazon, it was impossible not to have high expectations. But as I read, I struggled. The prose, at times, was mediocre and redundant.

The story of Angel, a prostitute, and Michael, a god-fearing man, is a retelling of the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. While the concept is powerful, the execution had its flaws.

The overuse of short, clipped sentences and starting sentences with pronouns made the reading feel staccato and repetitive.

The redundancy in the plot, with Angel constantly sinning and Michael taking her back, became tiresome.

However, I also want to discuss the claim that Redeeming Love is an example of edgy Christian fiction. I found this claim to be lacking.

The story takes place among prostitutes and in brothels, but the lack of cursing and the implied references make it more G-rated than edgy.

Despite its flaws, the book does have its strengths. The redemptive arc and parabolic whimsy are powerful.

Angel represents the sinful state of humanity, while Michael reminds us of God’s unrelenting love.

This theme is the essence of the Gospel of Grace and is what makes the book endure.

In conclusion, while I may not have loved Redeeming Love, I do appreciate what Francine Rivers was trying to accomplish.

She captured the hellish depths of human depravity and the vastness of God’s love, which is essential to good Christian fiction.

I would rate this book three out of five stars and hope that there are better Christian Romance novels out there.

5 stars
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"Love cleanses, beloved. It doesn't beat you down. It doesn't cast blame. My love isn't a weapon. It's a lifeline. Reach out and take hold, and don't let go.”

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Honestly, I almost never read historical romance. It just doesn't interest me as much as contemporary does. However, I saw this on my library's page and it had been recommended to me in the past. So, out of curiosity, I picked up the audiobook. And boy, am I glad I did! This book was absolutely fantastic and I loved it to bits!


This book is set in California in the 1850s. Michael, a hardworking farmer, goes into town to sell some of his produce and that's when he lays eyes on Angel. Angel's life has been a series of hardships. Despite being young, she has endured so much. She is a prostitute who has been under the control of others since a very tender age.


Michael feels a strong calling to marry Angel. At first, Angel is highly resistant to the idea. But gradually, she starts to come around. Michael treats Angel with the utmost kindness and shows her what true love and partnership really mean. However, Angel has a hard time accepting this love. She constantly feels unworthy, which leads to several issues between them. But through it all, Michael never gives up on her.


Redeeming Love is, above all, a story of unconditional love. It is based on the Bible story of Hosea and Gomer, which serves as a powerful parable of God's love for us and His unwavering willingness to take us back, regardless of our mistakes.


Angel/Sarah and Michael's love story was truly beautiful. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the story, eagerly anticipating how things would unfold. By the end, I was overjoyed. This is a clean and inspirational romance that evoked so many emotions in me. The hero, Michael, was simply amazing and I adored him. I can't recommend this book enough.
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Though fallen low, God raised her up, an angel.

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When I read this book approximately ten years ago, I bestowed upon it a 5-star review. I had wept my way through the majority of it, believing it to be incredibly redemptive and emotional. I spoke about it in reverent tones with my friends.

However, upon recently looking through it (I have never been able to bring myself to reread it, and I wonder why?), I find myself questioning how much of it truly presents an accurate portrayal of love and redemption, and how much is simply emotional and sensual manipulation. I am aware that Francine Rivers has explained her reason for using such descriptive language, but to be honest, it is nauseating and extremely painful.

This is one of the primary issues I have with Christian romance novels. They are intoxicating and emotionally manipulative, and overly sexual, with a sprinkling of "religious" language meant to make it seem acceptable. But what good does that accomplish? If one is a Christian, one is called to do everything "unto the Lord". I simply cannot read this book in that manner.

It makes me wonder if there is a better way to present the themes of love and redemption in a Christian context without resorting to such tactics. Maybe there are other authors who can handle these topics with more authenticity and integrity. I hope to discover such works in the future.

Just as amazing and heart-wrenching as the first time!

What I thought the first time:

After reading the prologue, I must admit that I had my doubts. However, as I reached the end, my perspective had completely changed, and I found myself in love with the story. For a clean Christian book, I was truly impressed by how well the sex scenes were handled. They were tasteful and added to the overall depth of the relationship between the characters. The portrayal of unconditional love was done with the perfect choice of words, making it both beautiful and moving. The internal dialogue of the characters was not only realistic but also incredibly insightful. It didn't feel forced or artificial, as if it was just there to fit into the arc of the story. Instead, it added a layer of authenticity to the characters' thoughts and emotions. I do remember having moments where I thought, "If Angel runs away one more time, I would want to slap her!" or wondering why she didn't just tell Michael her name. But in the end, everything came together perfectly. I think this is a highly plausible and well-written story that had the power to make me cry, think deeply, and hold onto hope. It's a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Didn't quite finish but I cannot keep reading this drivel. I usually don't leave reviews for books I don't finish, but I'm making an exception here because I have strong opinions.

I can forgive a book for bad ideas/theology if it is well-written. I can even forgive inappropriate content if I feel that it is necessary for moving the plot of a well-written story forward. What I cannot forgive in a book is bad writing.

This book gets two stars from me (I almost gave it one) because it is poorly written. It is objectively bad. The story is unbelievable as a whole. The characters are flat, boring, and undeveloped. The allegory is forced and weak. The entire plot pivots around sex which is shallow and annoying. And this book is SO. LONG. The author could have condensed it to 200 pages and it would have been better.

I can understand the appeal, and I think the content itself - as a Christian story - is okay. The allusions to sex are not graphic or gratuitous, though the material is dark. I can understand the message Rivers was trying to communicate and I applaud her for the attempt. But even so, this book would have been so much better if Edith Wharton or Thomas Hardy had written it. Francine Rivers just didn't manage it.

I love Christian fiction. CS Lewis, George MacDonald, JRR Tolkien, Louisa May Alcott, GK Chesterton, Elizabeth Prentiss, John Bunyan - they all wrote such beautiful, morally high stories: Art. This book is not that. I criticize it not because I don't like Christian fiction, but because I don't like it when authors write bad novels, slap some Christian themes and a Christian label on them, and then believers are expected to praise it to the ends of the earth. Nope, won't do it. So this is my harsh but honest review of a badly written novel.

*Note: I don't want to get much into the topic of content because, like I said, I can forgive content. But one major issue I had in this book is the issue of consent in Sarah and Michael's marriage. He expects her to be faithful to him, but she did not want to nor consent to marrying him. The whole premise of the novel falls apart right there, in my opinion. Furthermore, it is so hard to suspend disbelief with a character who glimpses a hot woman and immediately "falls in love with her". I know that the book claims it was a message from God, but this really just sounds like the Christian version of "love at first sight" and it's just as unbelievable as in a secular romance novel or a Hallmark movie.

**Edit to add: I am aware that the novel is loosely based on the Book of Hosea. Francine Rivers made it abundantly clear (her main character is named Michael Hosea for goodness sake and she references the book a thousand times). Just because she based the book off of a bible story does not mean that she did a good job writing this novel. Further, this is not a good retelling of Hosea. Gomer was a "whore" and many scholars believe that she was not a prostitute before she married Hosea, but rather chose to commit adultery after they had married. Hosea then chose to love her again and again in spite of her betrayal. Sarah in the story was sold into prostitution as a child and has suffered immense psychological trauma. She does not want to marry Michael and doesn't consent to the marriage, and when she leaves him it isn't to return to prostitution, but to break free and be on her own for the first time in her life. The allegory is flawed, and Rivers' writing is so poor that there is no way I can overlook it.

In conclusion, while the idea behind the book may have been interesting, the execution was severely lacking. The writing was subpar, the characters were unappealing, and the overall story was just not engaging. I would not recommend this book to anyone, especially not those who are looking for a well-written Christian novel. There are so many other great works of Christian fiction out there that are much more deserving of our time and attention.

Woah. I am completely lost for words. This is truly a story that stands out from any other I have ever read.

God reveals to Michael, a deeply devoted man, that he must marry a prostitute. She is the woman that God has specifically chosen for him. Despite his initial resistance, Michael obeys God's command. Surprisingly, he falls in love with her instantly. However, for her, he is just one among hundreds. She is like a cold stone, an impenetrable wall, and a soulless entity.

I simply couldn't put the book down. I devoured the entire story within a single day. The narrative is so incredibly heavy and wrenching, yet at the same time, it possesses a unique beauty. It left me with a strange and unfamiliar feeling in my chest.

This book is an absolute must-read not only for those who are hopeless romantics but also for those whose hearts have become fearful, cold, and mistrustful. As the saying goes, “…for some of us, one mile can be more to walk than thirty.”

It makes you realize that sometimes, the shortest distance can be the hardest to cover when it comes to matters of the heart.

5 STARS

  
   

She thought she had been saved by his love for her, and in part she had been. It had cleansed her, never casting blame. But that had been only the beginning. It was loving him in return that had brought her up out of the darkness.

  




Wow! There is so much to say about this remarkable book, and yet I find myself at a loss for words on where to begin. The emotions it incited within me were truly overwhelming. Even now, my chest still aches from the profound feelings it evoked. I must admit, I don't cry often when I read, and when I do, it is usually out of sorrow and pain. However, this book made me cry out of sheer joy. Just thinking about it still chokes me up. It is an incredibly inspiring read.



This story follows the life of a girl who has believed from her earliest memories that she was a mistake, not meant to be born, and a burden to everyone she encountered. As she grew up, her beliefs were reinforced time and time again. She lost all hope of finding love and happiness in her life, having to trade those frivolous needs for mere survival. Deep down in her soul, she knew that those things were not meant for her.



It was the 1850s, and the California gold rush was in full swing. Angel soon found herself in the midst of chaos. Enduring the ship journey alone was enough to take her sanity. The freedom she thought she would find upon her arrival quickly turned into a fight for survival. Penniless and alone, she was drawn back into the life she had tried so hard to escape. There was no freedom, no happiness, not for her, not ever. But then something happened. His name was Michael Hosea.



This was a man who was told by God that he should marry Angel and deliver her from her bondage. However, Angel wasn't buying it. The more he tried to convince her, the more convinced she was of his insincerity.




  
   

What was it about this man that got to her? She preferred the numbness to this stirring of emotion. Hope was torment. Hope was an enemy. And this man was a thorn in her side.

  




Until fate eventually gave her up to him, just as she knew it would, but she wouldn't go easily.




  
   

She was the blackest night, and he the starlight piercing it, creating an unfolding pattern in her life.

  




This book was a struggle for one woman to overcome the power of her own self-worth. In a way, it proved that although food and water are needed to nourish our bodies, they may not be as important to our survival as faith, hope, and trust.




  
   

She stared at those aristocratic hands, hands without calluses, pale and manicured. Beautifully shaped hands that were capable of unspeakable cruelty.


She remembered Michael’s hands, large and strong, clearly used to hard labor. They were callused and rough. His hands had looked so cruel and yet been so gentle. His touch had healed her body and opened her heart.

  




I don't want to say too much more. I will say that this book will go straight to my favorites list. I know this review may be lacking in many ways, but the book most certainly is not. I will leave you with a few quotes, some photos, and my update photos as well.



I cannot recommend this book enough.


BTW... my update photos are better. ;)

4.5 stars - Incredible. I really loved it.


This book is truly a remarkable piece of work. It is a touching and inspiring love story that delves deep into the human heart and showcases great character development. The historical fiction novel is based on the Book of Hosea from the Bible, which tells the story of God instructing the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute. This unique premise makes for a memorable read that kept me engaged from start to finish.

What I loved most about this book was the way the author brought the characters to life. They felt so real and their struggles and triumphs were palpable. The relationship between the main characters was both beautiful and complex, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the story.

Finally, a book that lived up to its hype! I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good love story or is interested in historical fiction. It is a must-read that will leave you with a sense of hope and inspiration.

Favorite Quote: You and I are not an accident.

First Sentence: Alex Stafford was just like Mama said.

The number of characteristics of the language used to describe the beauty of things is quite significant. This is because all these characteristics, according to a government decree, must be applied to this beautiful novel.

Love towards women among most men lies in the love for the body, face, color, eyes, and all the accessories that fade away with the passing of days. With this type of love, the so-called noble type of love that lies in tolerance and support, in the love of the soul and the longing for care, dies.

This novel describes the most beautiful meanings of love in the noble meanings of tolerance, faith, and virtue.

The miracles exist, and love does not create them but rather increases the miracles. The disappearance of love after its appearance kills the miracles.

There were so many biblical and decency issues with this book that I hardly know where to start my review.

This is, unreservedly, the story of a girl forced into prostitution at an indecently young age. The numerous sexual entanglements that the character willingly finds herself in are described in just enough detail to make it embarrassing to the point of being grotesque. I can easily envision this sort of topic emerging from a secular mind, but coming from the pen of a professing believer, it's truly startling. Essentially, this is a story of barely-veiled pornography in the name of Christ.

I can understand where Rivers gets her idea; it's from the biblical account of Hosea. However, I have serious issues with that as well. As much as I appreciate the book of Hosea, Rivers missed the point that what God was doing with Hosea and his wife was creating a vivid example of Israel's relationship to God: although God had bought her, she continued to play the harlot among the nations. Without being inspired by God to create an example, Rivers turns this tragedy into a novel. This book is filled with blatant wickedness, desperation, occasional faulty uses of Scripture, and a fundamental misunderstanding of God's work in Hosea. Hosea was a living parable, but Redeeming Love barely reaches the truth in Christ to make it worth reading.

I am well aware that there are many instances of people who have been saved from deeply depraved situations. In those cases, as Paul said, we should not dwell on past wickedness. Instead, "but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

I really don't know how to start talking about a story in this way.

It was a magical, wonderful, and captivating story. As I was reading it, I felt that the world around me had stopped spinning, and I had been transported to a different time and place, exactly the time and place of the events in the story.

The characters were clear, delicate, with a fixed stance and goal, no matter what.

It's really amazing that a person can emerge from the darkness of the world, penetrate everything, challenge everything and everyone, just to light a flame that guides you on a path that you thought was non-existent due to extreme despair, and strive for you to see it and walk on it. A person who persists despite all your circumstances, the darkness of your heart, and the harshness of your style.

The writing style is unique and very delicate, with a high sense of refinement and a unique way of expressing that God is always with us, always able to tolerate us, help us, and hear our voices, no matter how low they are.

And of course, I will never forget to thank the translator who translated the story in that wonderful way, perhaps even adding to its beauty.

And a big thank you to the friend who recommended it to me.