Redeeming Love

Summary (from the publisher): Best-selling author Francine Rivers skillfully retells the biblical love story of Gomer and Hosea in a tale set against the exciting backdrop of the California Gold Rush. The heroine, Angel, is a young woman who was sold into prostitution as a child. Michael Hosea is a godly man sent into Angel's life to draw her into the Savior's redeeming love. This remarkable novel has sold over a million copies globally and has been a fixture on the CBA bestsellers list for nearly a decade. A six-part reading guide, suitable for individual use or group discussion, is included in this best-selling novel.

Review: I won this novel as a giveaway on Goodreads. This is a Christian romance novel of a man who falls in love with a prostitute and, over the course of many years and many flight attempts by said prostitute, gains her love and inspires Christian faith in his bride. While this isn't my everyday literary cup of tea, I like palate cleansing novels like this that show love as a simple, Christian act. This novel certainly does a good job of showing that faith in Christ can transform any life, including that of Angel, who is sold into prostitution at the tender age of 8. Michael is certainly an exemplary Christian who is capable of forgiving pretty much the worst that his soiled bride can sling at him.

However, although I understand that Rivers was re-telling the biblical tale of Gomer and Hosea, I felt like Michael and Angel's story was drawn out. At a certain point I just wanted to tell Angel to get over herself and stop running away already. Also, I wasn't a fan of God "speaking" to the characters, emphasized by dark bold type in the book. I felt like praying or reflection would have been sufficient.

Stars: 3