Redeeming Love – Francine Rivers Evan’s ESS = 8 out of 10
Erin’s ESS = 10 out of 10
Content = PG-13 (Sexual Content, Adult Content, Violence, Loathsome Men, Redemption)
"I want you to love me. I want you to trust me enough to let me love you, and I want you to stay here with me so we can build a life together. That's what I want."
Why: It would be unfair to say that the male bibliomaniac went into this one kicking and screaming, but let’s just say it’s been sitting on the shelf for a LONG time. Our (Evan’s) excuses officially ran out sometime in January...
After two decades of being manipulated and mistreated, Sarah’s only option was to shut herself off emotionally to the rest of the world. Now, as a hardened prostitute, nothing fazes her and no one is able to crack the thick wall she’s constructed around her life. It isn’t until she meets a man named Michael Hosea that she learns God is about to turn her life upside down.
Redeeming Love gets two thumbs ups and both hands don’t belong only to the female bibliomaniac. This novel is probably the best Christian Fiction we’ve ever read and loaded with inspiration. To read about the mistreatment of Sarah, almost entirely at the hands of men, was heart-wrenching. The physical and emotional scars the main character had accumulated over her life were so deep that every time she relapsed, it was easy to understand (yet so hard to read). And the villains... oh, did they ever boil our blood. The hypocrisy of their judgmental attitudes nearly caused us to start popping large quantities of blood pressure pills.
The love experienced between the two main characters was truly remarkable and encouraging. It was also fascinating that through all the pain and hurt, it only took a handful of people showing kindness to start Sarah on the path to recovery. The plot never felt rushed and the problems felt realistic. Many of the characters experienced growth and it was great to be able to exert such a wide array of emotions. Whew... now I think we need a nap.
Editor’s Note: For those male readers out there, Redeeming Love isn’t nearly as bad as the title suggests. However, in case of any temporary eye redness, we recommend two strong doses of Ian Fleming followed by twenty minutes of Clive Cussler. In more serious cases don’t be afraid to supplement with a movie containing deadly robots or droids.
