Easter is here, and for that reason alone, I decided to read a book based on God’s love to us, a fallen humanity possibly beyond repair. You see before I read this book, I was on the brink of despair. I could talk about all the ills in the world, and how far from reason humanity has fallen, but instead I will focus on things closer home. The little foxes that eventually destroy the vine. The friend who backstabs you. The mean boss, who never keeps their word, and their main ambition is to bring you down, no matter what it takes. The husband who senselessly beats his wife daily, and while I am going on and on about humanity and its ills, allow me to stop because I am already getting depressed and believe it or not, this post was supposed to be an upbeat one, I guess it just took another turn of its own.
So I picked a book by Francine Rivers, the title, Redeeming love! it’s hard not to have high expectations going into this book especially seeing the 760+ 5 star reviews at Amazon) and half way into the book I could see why! The story is about a prostitute named Angel who is relentlessly wooed by a God-fearing man named Michael. Touted as a retelling of the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. This story has never had more meaning to me, like it did, reading this very book. I must admit however that, employing a prostitute as the vehicle to demonstrate God’s boundless, tenacious love, is very effective.
The book is set in 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 Hosea 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 husband’s pursuing love, terrified of the truth she can no longer deny: Her final healing must come from the One who loves her even more than Michael Hosea does…the One who will never let her go. A life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love.
This book captured my heart for two reasons, first a prostitute named Angel, ok that got me, the irony however was not lost on me. The second reason, I saw myself as I read the countless times Angel decided to go back to her old ways and yet Michael never lost faith in her. I see myself countless of times, dropping the ball. I do wrong, I upset the balance, I betray a trust, and just like that, God never looses his faith in me, at all, and he continues to give me countless of chances
so if you are feeling worthless, wondering if God will ever love you again, after seemingly messing up over and over, why don’t you have a take a this book. If you are baffled by the meanness of humanity and you probably wonder if there is any hope, I think this is the book for you, and most importantly is you love a good christian book, that points you to the truth in an exciting and adventurous way, then you my dear friend, need to read this book.
Happy Easter
The Book Swag
xo
This is one of my TOP FIVE favorite books of all time. Now I want to go read it AGAIN! Its truly amazing, love love love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yah, I would like to know which other books are in your top five list 🙂 Francine Rivers, rocks. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I love taking the time to read as well. It sounds like this was a fantastic choice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
ooohhh, what are some of your favorite reads? Thank you for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This is such a lovely sentiment. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
That sounds like a great read. I am adding it to my reading list 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
yaayyyy! Thank you for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I love this! Well written. Can’t wait to read the book. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
awww, thank you. Thank you for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this book- it sounds really interesting and appropriate given the timing of Easter
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This is a great summary – thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Sounds like a great read for this season!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right! Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This book sounds intriguing! I might have to check it out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you do. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Sounds like a great read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It definitely is. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Sounds Like a good Book. Thank you for sharing, I will look into it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping by. Hope you get a chance someday to read it. xo
LikeLike
Great review, didn’t get a chance to do quite as much reading as i had hoped over the long weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoyed the holiday though, and got to rest? Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Going to have to add this to my list, I was just looking for more reading material!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yaaay, glad you found some. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I always enjoy reading your book reviews! You’re making me add so many good reads to my reading list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
awww, thanks for the comment, and thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Sounds amazing!! I’m definitely going to read this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
awww, thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
So cool! Thank you for sharing this review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I love Redeeming Love! I usually donate books I have already read but am holding onto my copy of RL because I know I’m going to need to read it again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow! That is amazing. where do you donate your books? Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This looks like an amazing read, and I love that it retells a classic Bible story in a new way. Novels like that are my favorites – they always seem so magical to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right! Hey thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I am not religious, but I’d still check out this book. It sounds interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get that, and understand that, that is why I appreciate you stopping by. Thanks xo.
LikeLike
I have never even heard fo this books, thans for the discovery I will have to check it out for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the recommendation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your welcome, Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I have heard very good things about this book. I will certainly be adding it to my {long} list of books to read. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, you are welcome. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
What a beautiful message. Angel had been through so much and to find someone who loved her and would never give her up for anything is amazing x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right! sigh. The story gets me every time. Thank you for stopping by, xo.
LikeLike
Happy Easter! Love your book reviews! Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
To you too! Hope you enjoyed the holiday! Thank you for your kind words, and thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Haven’t read this book but upon reading this I definitely need to start reading it now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
awww, thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
Interesting read.. Now browsing my bookstore dashboard for its availability locally 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for the review. I love hearing what inspires people to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I love this book sounds really good. Might have to add it to my reading list, currently going through the Outlander series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need to look for the outlander series as well, you are the umpteenth person to tell me about it. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
It sounds like a book with a compelling story. It’s really nice to find books that continue to move you as you read. I’m sure this is worth it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes it is. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I enjoyed the Francine Rivers series when she was doing women of the Bible in the line of Christ. I will have to check this one out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. “Lineage of Grace” she called it. She is amazing. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
I’ve just gotten into reading again. I really want to read a lot I plan on reading the song of ice and fire (The Game of Thrones) series as I love the show.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ooohhh, I promise you, you will love the the books. sadly I only watched season one of GOT and felt I had had enough, and so I just stuck to the books. George Martin is an amazing author. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
What a beautiful read. I must admit I am convinced that this is such a great book. I think I have to buy one now. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
aww, thanks for the lovely comment. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLike
This is a great review. I don’t read this particular genre, but I am sure your recommendations are worth alot and I am sure someone will want to check this out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
awww, thanks. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Such a great and inspiring story. I believe that nowadays, it’s really hard to tell the word of God’s love to anyone. And this story between Angel and Michael is definitely showing it. This must be an interesting story to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow, you have said it so well! Sigh, it really is an interesting read. Thanks for stopping by. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. Keep sharing inspirations like this. You’ll never know who’s heart you’re gonna touched by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
aww, thanks! you are one in a million. sigh!
LikeLiked by 1 person