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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
reflective
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
***These are my opinions, and all ratings are out of 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
▶ Romance – 5
▶ Smut – 0.5 (there is one scene, but it’s not that explicit)
▶ Main Character(s) Enjoyment Level: Michael (5), Angel (5)
▶ Plot - 5
▶ Likes: Michael’s assuring love for Angel 😭😭😭
▶ Dislikes: all who have harmed Angel
▶ Major Tropes/Genres: slowburn, only you, faith, Christian romance, unconditional love, redemption, closed door romance, God’s love
▶Trigger Warning (if any): rape, DV, DA, SV, SA, child loss/miscarriage, child abuse, death, violence, incest, infertility,, self-harm, emotional abuse, slut shaming, abortion, pedophilia, prostitution, religion, faith
▶ POV: 3rd POV dual
▶ Format: Kindle
▶ Memorable Scene(s)/Moment(s): so many…
▶ Memorable Quote(s): n/a
▶ Overall Enjoyment: 5
▶ Review (contains spoiler): My friend, it's going to be an uncomfortable and triggering reading, but I beg you to please try to overcome it and experience Michael and Angel's journey of love.
When I first read the synopsis, I wanted to read the book because I was curious to know how such a story could unfold. But I also shelved it immediately because I knew I wasn’t ready to read it. Half a year later, I came across it and was eager to read it.
Eager to find out how a relationship like this could work.
And the answer should’ve been as clear as day.
Love does not judge.
And that’s what the reader sees Michael give to Angel every time she questions, doubts, and challenges him and his love.
And through Michael, the reader sees how God loves us and how their relationship mirrors our relationship with God.
Michael is just like any other person–wanting a love story that’s purely between them, but God says otherwise and asks Michael to marry Angel, someone already sullied. Michael follows through, never losing faith, and saves Angel from her environment, and the book then centers on their marriage.
I hated that we got to read about Angel’s childhood because it was very maddening and triggering, but it was necessary to see how Angel became the person she is and how she saw “love.” Putting religion aside, Michael came into her life to show what love really is–that the love she’s experienced isn’t love.
I love that Michael had his struggle. He struggled to understand why the love of his life had to be her, but his faith and trust in God were what made him courageous and patient to accept and see Angel for who she is, not for what she had become. She embodies the saying that we shouldn't judge people based on their actions but by the choices they had (but let's take it one step further–just don't judge at all).
There were many times when I was as frustrated as Angel, understanding her doubts about his love for her because all she’s ever known wasn’t love at all. To add to that, Michael’s honest answer for why he loves her is because of God’s calling. Even I wouldn’t know what to make of that. At the same time, because we have Michael’s POV (thank goodness), we see that he has gradually come to love Angel not because God told him to.
Because of Angel’s childhood, I couldn’t be frustrated with her attempts to always run away from Michael. Instead, every time she did, I got scared for her and wanted Michael to find her because he was her safe space. But every time she cheated on him, I hurt for both of them.
Finally, when Michael let her go, I was confused. At this point, he’s come to love her with his heart and not because of duty, but his reason makes sense. She had to love herself first.
So when she returns to him and shares her real name, she has redeemed the one thing she’s truly lost–love.
▶ Romance – 5
▶ Smut – 0.5 (there is one scene, but it’s not that explicit)
▶ Main Character(s) Enjoyment Level: Michael (5), Angel (5)
▶ Plot - 5
▶ Likes: Michael’s assuring love for Angel 😭😭😭
▶ Dislikes: all who have harmed Angel
▶ Major Tropes/Genres: slowburn, only you, faith, Christian romance, unconditional love, redemption, closed door romance, God’s love
▶Trigger Warning (if any): rape, DV, DA, SV, SA, child loss/miscarriage, child abuse, death, violence, incest, infertility,, self-harm, emotional abuse, slut shaming, abortion, pedophilia, prostitution, religion, faith
▶ POV: 3rd POV dual
▶ Format: Kindle
▶ Memorable Scene(s)/Moment(s): so many…
▶ Memorable Quote(s): n/a
▶ Overall Enjoyment: 5
▶ Review (contains spoiler): My friend, it's going to be an uncomfortable and triggering reading, but I beg you to please try to overcome it and experience Michael and Angel's journey of love.
When I first read the synopsis, I wanted to read the book because I was curious to know how such a story could unfold. But I also shelved it immediately because I knew I wasn’t ready to read it. Half a year later, I came across it and was eager to read it.
Eager to find out how a relationship like this could work.
And the answer should’ve been as clear as day.
Love does not judge.
And that’s what the reader sees Michael give to Angel every time she questions, doubts, and challenges him and his love.
And through Michael, the reader sees how God loves us and how their relationship mirrors our relationship with God.
Michael is just like any other person–wanting a love story that’s purely between them, but God says otherwise and asks Michael to marry Angel, someone already sullied. Michael follows through, never losing faith, and saves Angel from her environment, and the book then centers on their marriage.
I hated that we got to read about Angel’s childhood because it was very maddening and triggering, but it was necessary to see how Angel became the person she is and how she saw “love.” Putting religion aside, Michael came into her life to show what love really is–that the love she’s experienced isn’t love.
I love that Michael had his struggle. He struggled to understand why the love of his life had to be her, but his faith and trust in God were what made him courageous and patient to accept and see Angel for who she is, not for what she had become. She embodies the saying that we shouldn't judge people based on their actions but by the choices they had (but let's take it one step further–just don't judge at all).
There were many times when I was as frustrated as Angel, understanding her doubts about his love for her because all she’s ever known wasn’t love at all. To add to that, Michael’s honest answer for why he loves her is because of God’s calling. Even I wouldn’t know what to make of that. At the same time, because we have Michael’s POV (thank goodness), we see that he has gradually come to love Angel not because God told him to.
Because of Angel’s childhood, I couldn’t be frustrated with her attempts to always run away from Michael. Instead, every time she did, I got scared for her and wanted Michael to find her because he was her safe space. But every time she cheated on him, I hurt for both of them.
Finally, when Michael let her go, I was confused. At this point, he’s come to love her with his heart and not because of duty, but his reason makes sense. She had to love herself first.
So when she returns to him and shares her real name, she has redeemed the one thing she’s truly lost–love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence
Minor: Incest
A story of love in many different forms. A story about Christ's love for the lost and broken. Christ speaks through this work by Francine Rivers. I encourage anyone who is lost or lonely and wondering what real love looks like to read this book. It opened my eyes and reminded me how to live out Christ's love on this earth.
This one was absolutely not for me. I see why some might consider it romance but the entire story beginning with a dead mother and the rape of a child set the tone for me.
Michael Hosea also irked me so deeply I could barely get through his pages.
Michael Hosea also irked me so deeply I could barely get through his pages.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated