Redeeming Love

The book "Redeeming Love" written by Francine Rivers is a Christian Fiction and romance novel which is almost replica, more like a retelling, of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea.
The book has two versions, the original which was published in 1991 and the second version published in 1997. The essence of the second version was to make it more presentable to Christian literature market. More editing was done on the original copy in a bit to remove some coarse words and love scenes, making it a clean read.

 It is a novel that is beautifully written with so much grace and eloquence. Undoubtedly a page turner, once you begin, you keep going till the end.

 The storyline is centred around Sarah, who was never accepted by her father because she was an illegitimate child from her parent's secret love affairs. Suddenly, Sarah's mother, Mae, stops receiving support from her lover and so retorted to sleeping around to fend for herself and her daughter. Unfortunately, Mae dies leaving Sarah in the hands of a drunk who sells Sarah at the age of eight into prostitution to a powerful Duke who later renamed her to Angel.

This was a rough start for Angel and she never remained the same afterwards.


Eventually Angel escapes from the Duke's dreadful security but falls into the hands of a Duchess who uses her to make her brothel bloom. Angel becomes one of the most priced, and very expensive, prostitutes in this new place since most of the men would give anything to be with her.


She did this to survival not like she had another option. For her, this was all she ever knew, her body was the only asset, she felt.

Due to the hardships, betrayals and dark times she faces, hatred begins to creep into her, darkening her entire being. Hatred towards the men who pay to use her becomes her only means of survival for she knew no better way to face the unbearable outcome of her life.

In the course of time, Michael Hosea, a hardworking and honest farmer, spots her and immediately gets captivated by her ravishing beauty. She was a fair, flawless and irritable beauty to behold, the type all the men took off their hats whenever she passed by.
On the spot, God tells Michael that she is his wife which he takes in good faith not until he is informed that she sells her body for a living. He struggles a bit to accept what God had told him but later yields totally to God's plan.

He goes through a tough time trying to prove to Angel that his love is real, pure and different from her past experiences with the other men she had encountered. He also tries to draw her closer to God. Despite her poor attitude towards him, he remains steadfast, extremely patient, forgiving, and continues to show her unconditional love.

Angel on the other hand, filled with unbelief, remains untrusting to the type of love Michael professed. She also patiently waits for when he would reveal his true colours like the other men she had been with especially the Duke.
Fortunately, with time she begins to yield to Michael's love, accepting it wholeheartedly but then feels undeserving. She begins to think that he is too good for her and that he deserves someone better. Her barren state did no good either but only made her worries worsen.

 She runs away again like she had done several times but this time her reason is different. This time, it wasn't to escape from him as though he was an enemy but it was to protect him from her so he could have a better life and love than she had to offer.

During this period, Angel discovers God by herself because even though Michael Hosea's love was pure, it wasn't enough to sustain her. She needed the one that could erase her past and makes her totally whole.

 In fact, when Michael tries to go after her as usual, God tells him not to because He wanted her to know and experience Him for herself.

From this part, you will realise that human love is never enough for any of us, no one can actually fill or complete us like God can. The only way we can ever feel complete and whole is when we totally yield ourselves to Him and know Him for ourselves and not through anyone.

In the end, she goes back home made whole, fully renewed, and eventually had children for her husband.

"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." This is definitely the true definition of love.

"Redeeming Love" reveals to a great extent God's love for humanity. He is wiling to give anything to bring us back to Himself. Even when we are undeserving, He still loves and treasures us. He calls out to us, because He alone has the power to cleanse us and make our lives meaningful.

We can only experience and appreciate His unconditional and redeeming love when we accept it.
Redeeming Love is worth reading...


#Reviewed by  "Jennifer CHIOMA"

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