Redeeming Love

I just finished the book I started Monday night. "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. I have always enjoyed reading christian fiction. I enjoy reading period. Some of the christian fiction books I have read have been just like any other books. A good read. Some of them have tugged at me a little bit. However, Redeeming Love spoke to me from the start of reading it to the end. And the thing is, I didnt even want to buy it. I havent wanted to buy it from the moment I first saw it. I would see it on the bookshelf and roll my eyes and walk away. Even when I picked up the book I was grumbling. Grumbling about the cover of the book. Grumbling about how large the book was (It really is a large book. But guess not so large that I could finish it in a little less than 48 hours. lol) There was something really keeping me from reading this book. I know why now. I have never had a book pull at my heart as much as this book did.
Everyone has a past. I dont pretend to have a past like the character in the book does. But I dont know anyone who doesnt have a past they struggle with. That they try running from. Mine has always been the type that pulls me down and keeps me from thinking I am worthy. It keeps me being my own worse enemy and running. I have begged God to help but never really gave it all over to him to let him do his work. I always felt that I had to be "strong" and do it own my own. This book took the story out of the book of Hosea and put it in a some-what modern form. Like I said, it touched me. I am not here to preach to anyone. Just wanted to introduce to a great author! I highly recommend trying this book out.
Description

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. Over 1 million copies sold!

(copied from FR's blog)

Also, Tyndale House Pulblisher's is having a contest to win some of Francine River's books. I found it while looking online for more books from her.

Grand Prize—complete Francine Rivers Library

Subsequent Prizes –

First Place Prize (1)—1 copy each of Her Mother’s Hope/Her Daughter’s Dream

Second Place Prize (2)—1 Mark of the Lion boxed set

Third Place Prize (3)—1 copy of A Lineage of Grace

Fourth Place Prize (4)—1 copy of Sons of Encouragement