The following comment was posted on my blog post about The Incredibles:
Anonymous:
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. How come that one didnt’ make the list? Just wondering…
I thought about it, and I think my list, and how I came up with the titles may be confusing. The Incredibles is a list of the Christian novels that managed to stay in my mind a long time, and that I’ve READ over the last few years…FOR THE MOST PART. I think the fact that one of the titles, A Moment Of Weakness, has a publication date of 2000, made the titles on the list confusing. Even though A Moment Of Weakness was published in 2000, I didn’t read it until a couple of years ago! So, to me, it’s a recent title.
I didn’t think about all of the Christian titles I’ve read in my entire life. I read so much that I didn’t feel like mentally going through all of the titles I’ve ever read over the last ten or so years! I’d have gone crazy trying to come up with ALL my favorites over that time frame. So I chose to focus on the titles I’ve read recently, like, since I’ve started blogging regularly.
I did read Redeeming Love and enjoyed it. I read it about ten years ago? Here’s the content, and my thoughts about the novel:
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (originally published in 1999)
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Multnomah Books; 1 edition (October 16, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601420617
ISBN-13: 978-1601420619
Amazon.com Review
In this splendid retelling of the biblical story of Hosea, bestselling author Francine Rivers pens a heartbreaking romance between a prostitute and the upright and kind farmer who marries her; the story also functions as a reminder of God’s unconditional love for his people. Redeeming Love opens with the Gold Rush of 1850 and its rough-and-tumble atmosphere of greed and desire. Angel, who was sold into prostitution as a child, has learned to distrust all men, who see her only as a way to satisfy their lust. When the virtuous and spiritual-minded Michael Hosea is told by God to marry this “soiled dove,” he obeys, despite his misgivings. As Angel learns to love him, she begins to hope again but is soon overwhelmed by fear and returns to her old life. Rivers shines in her ability to weave together spiritual themes and sexual tension in a well-told story, a talent that has propelled her into the spotlight as one of the most popular novelists in the genre of Christian fiction. This is one of her best. –Cindy Crosby –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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I read this book a long time ago, and I believe it’s considered a classic. I recall that it shows that the Lord keeps forgiving us again and again, no matter how many times we mess up. Angel is a prostitute who had a poor and unhappy homelife. When Michael Hosea spots her, the Lord tells him that Angel will be his future bride. I recall their getting married and their relationship was full of problems. Micheal is a holy man, relying on God. Angel is initially unsaved in the story. It’s a long book, but I recall reading it fairly quickly and enjoying the story. The book keeps getting re-released, so I can assume it’ll probably continue to stay in print for a long time! It’s a wonderful tale that demonstrates God’s grace and forgiveness.