Review: Redeeming Love

Redeeming Love
Francine Rivers
July 2011

Oh man . . . where to start?

I must say, I was pretty excited when I finally got my hands on a copy and it didn't disappoint! By the end of the novel you will either 1, be crying your eyes out, or, 2, sitting there numb as your process everything you just read.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Redeeming Love, it is a story set in 1850 during California's Gold Rush. Angel—one of our two MCs—was sold into prostitution as a child and that's all she's ever known since. One day a God-fearing man named Michael Hosea stumbles into her life and declares that God told him she was to be his wife and he wasn't leaving without her. And he sticks to that, despite all the protest and disapproving hate he gets along the way. When Angel leaves him multiple times, he doesn't give up as he lovingly and painstakingly cracks through the casing around her.

“I want to fill your life with color and warmth. I want to fill it with light.” -Michael Hosea

Redeeming Love is a retelling of the book of Hosea in a total skin-peeling way that will leave you raw by the time you finish it. This is a novel about redemption that I think speaks a little to each of us.

I didn't have any issues with this book. Writing was smooth and all characters were sound. Not without human flaws, but the characters were sound in writing.

Francine Rivers delivers a powerful, raw, and emotionally gripping ride in Redeeming Love.

Review: Eternity Falls

Eternity Falls
Kirk Outerbridge
Read July 2011

First off, may I say how much I love the cover of this book? I know people say to not judge a book by its cover but still, I can admire them. I think it is important to have a great cover for your novel because that's what stops me and other readers—that generally is what makes us flip the book over and take a look at the synopsis. Don't get me wrong though, I still give other books a chance.

Eternity Falls is the first publication I've read by publishing house Marcher Lord Press and I wasn't let down. I've heard raving reviews about books coming out of there and when Jeff Gerke, founder of Marcher Lord Press, spoke at a writer's conference I was at last August, I purchased this copy.

“The undying has died.”

The Miracle Treatment has kept people from death, and suddenly a famous movie star dies of natural causes. This book crafts an epic tale of the beauty of mortality, combined with a cyberpunk-packed feel and slamming fish.

One thing that I really loved was how vibrant and different the characters were. Some attributes I had to take a minute, step back, and wrap my mind around them, but I was never once disappointed.

The imagery of this novel is amazing and I could totally feel their world around me as I read, but I found myself wanting to walk away for a bit during the first half of the book. It wasn't that the writing was bad or setting, but I felt the pace moved too slow for me. Also, I found a few technical flaws that an editor overlooked, but it wasn't with the writing. All in all, a wonderful new flavor to the world of fiction.

Review: The Hiding Place

The Hiding Place
Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill
Read June 2011

The Hiding Place was an intense journey through the Dutch Underground, which smuggled Jews during the Nazi invasion. It shows us the powerful story of Corrie ten Boom who displays forgiveness in a way that every human should, but few could comprehend.

The story moved along at an even pace, never feeling slow or “wordy”. I wasn't as moved as I expected to be by the time I finished reading it, but nonetheless the story was a good story that I'd recommend reading at least once. Corrie ten Boom looses her whole family, and yet, she offers forgiveness and looks past the hate and pain that the Nazis endure. She sees them for what they are, not the facade that they are trying to be.

Given the subject, some of the content has potential to be disturbing to some readers, as a warning. Nothing offensive is given great detail and is handled in a classy fashion.