Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

48 reviews

rskey's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

rdesanto's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have never cried so much reading a book. This was the most heart wrenching yet beautiful story. Yet, isn’t that life?!

I would recommend this book, however I strongly recommend looking at the content warnings. There is some detailed triggering scenes writes throughout. Overall the book ends happy, but there are lots of ups and downs to get there. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Trafficking

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Abortion, Death of parent, and Murder

amyreadstoomuch10's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Incest

salutemviv's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

okay i’m gonna be so honest, i definitely put off reading this for a good while. even with all the amazing things i’ve heard about it, i’m afraid ive always held a low view of most “christian romance” thinking it would be cheesy or too simple or something silly like that? but this book far exceeded whatever expectations i had. 

i’ve seen the movie before so i already knew the plot and how things unfold, but that absolutely did not take away from the reading experience. the things this book made me feel, i could go on and on about, but i’ll try to keep it short.

to summarize: the way this story reimagines the story of hosea, and as a whole the story of God’s love for us, is incredible and moving. i felt the Lord’s love for me radiating through these characters. the characters are written so beautifully, with realness and depth and so many layers. the way francine rivers writes is simple, yet descriptive, and touches on exactly the right emotions and the right thoughts. not to mention: the setting?? the descriptions of places?? so immersive and lowkey made me wanna live on a homestead and learn how to farm and garden.
i related deeply to angel much more than i expected to, honestly. but it was that relatability, and the love that was portrayed in the most broken situations to the most broken people, that gave this story almost a comforting angst. the feeling of being seen and being guided towards the One Who sees us all. 

so yeah, 5 stars. if i had to describe it in just one sentence, i would say that it’s like the feeling of baring your soul to someone, broken and in tears, and in return receiving the warmest, safest hug you could ever imagine.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Violence and Abortion

sav_and_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Infertility, Abortion, and Death of parent

sarah_zaffiro's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

I know some of the church ladies in these reviews are clutching their pearls over the sexual content - which honestly isn’t even graphic - but I think the only truly offensive thing about this book is the casual racism that (unfortunately) tends to come along with historical Christian novels. The multiple references to the “heathen Indians” is just super problematic and SHOULD be out of place in a story that is otherwise about love & acceptance. I understand we’re reading a story about white people, but Native Americans were literally being slaughtered for land that was rightfully theirs at this time & that’s all the author could say about them. not very Christian, if you ask me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Incest, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

mr_d8a's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It is a very dark book, but by the end there is hope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Well worth the read, if you can stand the first two-thirds of tense life story.

rhythmofryn's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Suicide and Antisemitism

ashdawn's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was such a hard and dark book, it made me cry and I am not okay. But it was SOOOOOO GOOD. 

Done through a very solid understanding/retelling of the book of Hosea, it deals with a lot of hard topics and trauma, and redemption and healing. It was so beautiful, and spoke to my heart. I honestly can't believe it took me this long to read it after having it be recommended by a friend years ago.

That being said, though I wouldn't say there are graphic details, there is a lot of mentions of very adult themes like sex trafficking. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

guntergirl13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence