“But”, Francine says, “we are precious in his sight. The book also connects with people because we so often define ourselves through the way the world sees us instead of how God sees us. None of us go throughout life without feeling broken in some way. Other readers identify with Paul or Angel. She has found that people identify with the characters in various ways. Francine said that the story of Hosea showed her what it looks like for a person to come to Christ and what that means.įrancine thinks her book resonates with people because we are all looking for the kind of unconditional, passionate, undying love that Michael shows Angel in the book. When you finally surrender fully, you find joy. “Then, when you begin to get to know God and realize He wants every part of you, your past, everything there is, it’s scary.” But when you surrender, you began to look outside yourself and connect with other people. “We want to be the master of our own soul”, says Francine.

“It broke me wide open” she said, “I could really identify with that.” She looked at Hosea from the standpoint sinners with no knowledge of God, realizing we all go through a phase where we don’t want anyone to tell us what to do. Rick hit it off with the pastor of the church and not long after he and Francine were baptized together.īefore that, Francine had a career writing steamy romance novels but when she became a Christian, she said she couldn’t write anymore, until she came to the book of Hosea. Rick, her husband, wouldn’t attend so instead the church started a bible study in their home.

They taught scripture, verse by verse, including the historical context and the way it applies today. She started attending that non-denominational church and begin learning about who God was from the Word. Francine was invited to church by an eight year old boy from next door. As young marrieds, they moved to California to start a new business. They had known each other since fifth grade and were good friends but marriage was difficult for them. She shares what led her to write the book and why it holds deep personal meaning for her.įrancine was twenty one years old when she married her husband who was twenty-two. Recently, it was made into a movie that is now showing in theaters across America. Best-selling author Francine Rivers wrote an allegory of the book of Hosea, “Redeeming Love” in 1991.

Redeeming love author