Redeeming Love

My friend Renay let me borrow a great book the other day. It is called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. The book is loosely based on the book of Hosea in the Old Testament. In the Biblical account Hosea's relationship to his wife Gomer, a harlot, mirrors God's relationship with Israel. Though Israel turns from God and returns to its former ways, Hosea ultimately encourages Israel to seek forgiveness and promises restoration from God. Mrs. Rivers' book tells the story of Angel, a young girl sold into prostitution at an early age, and Michael Hosea, the man who is called by God to love her. The book is set in the days of the California gold rush. I would encourage you to read the book of Hosea before you read this book and see just how nicely Mrs. Rivers' has woven the Biblical story into her own. It is a very nice "redeeming" story, but it certainly has gritty details of Angel's life to allow the reader to understand her shame. So be ready for that. I highly recommend this book.