One of the Best Books I’ve Ever Read

About twenty years ago while working at a Christian bookstore part time while I was in college, I was introduced to an author named Francine Rivers. My first introduction to her work was through her Mark of the Lion series. While I was working at the book store, Rivers had another book published that to this day has stood out as one of my favorite books. When I saw that Multnomah Waterbrook Publishing had the 20th anniversary edition of Redeeming Love available for review, I wanted to read it again and share this wonderful book with a new group of readers.

In 1850s California, Angel has already lived a hard life (one that no one should ever have to go through). She has surviving by living in a brothel and selling herself to the men who come looking to get rich looking for gold Angel despises and distrusts all men. Michael Hosea is a man after God’s heart. He has waited for God to show him who his bride will be. When God tells him Angel is the one He has chosen for Michael, Michael isn’t sure he heard correctly. As Michael struggles to break through the walls Angel has put up around herself, he wonders why God chose her but he is committed to loving her for the rest of his life. Can Angel let go of her past and accept Michael’s love or will she go back to the life she was living before he came into her life?

A powerful retelling of the story of Hosea and Gomer, Redeeming Love shows the reader how God pursues each and every one of us. He continues to chase after us despite our turning back to a life of darkness, sin and shame. He continues to love us through our pain and suffering, making us new an whole in him. Now I’m ready for April 2014 when Rivers will have a new book, Bridge to Haven available to read.

*****Multnomah Waterbrook Publishers provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. I was not compensated in any way for either a negative or a positive review.