Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers:

Release Date: October 16 2007
Publisher: Multnomah Books
Reading Level: Adult
Pages: 480
Type: Hardcover
Source: Bought from B & N



California's gold country, 1850. A time when men sold their souls for a bag of gold and women sold their bodies for a  place to sleep. Angel expects nothing from men but betrayal. Sold into prostitution as a child, she survives by keeping her hatred alive. And what she hates most are the men who use her, leaving her empty and dead inside.

Then she meets Michael Hosea. A man who seeks his Father's heart in everything, Michael obeys God's call to marry Angel and to love her unconditionally. Slowly day by day, he defies Angel's every bitter expectation. Until despite her resistance, her frozen heart begins to thaw. But with her unexpected softening come overwhelming feelings of unworthiness and fear. And so Angel runs. Back to the darkness, away from her husbands pursuing love, terrified of the truth she no longer can deny. Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael does...... the One who will never let her go.

--Back Cover Description

I absolutely love this book!! It pulls you in, tears up your heart, and pieces it back together. Its a retelling of the book of Hosea in the Bible. Except here a beautiful girl named Sarah faces all the horrors one can face in their lives. Her name gets changed to Angel when she is forced into prostitution. She tries just to survive on a day to day basis, all the while hardening her heart to the world.

Then she meets Michael who can't believe that God wants him to marry her, but he obeys. After Angel is beaten almost to death Michael saves her and takes her away. It is there in Michaels house, where she battles everything she knows about life, and love.

This book is a very wonderful book about God's unconditional, unwavering love. Its a wonderful story that show us that God loves everyone no matter what they have done, and they can always turn to him. Its a story about facing the darkness, survival, and above all else, love.

It absolutely broke my heart to see what Angel went through and survived. To see her struggle with the love Michael gives her freely, with no strings attached. Also to see Michael struggle with Angel, and his love for her, when she puts him down and breaks his heart. But in the end love always wins. I think I already said this numerous times, but here it is again. I loved this book. Its one of my favorites, about life, love, and struggles with darkness.

Overall rating : A+