Books and Needlepoint: Mesu Andrews

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Book Review: Love in a Broken Vessel by Mesu Andrews

Shared by Kristi

Title: Love in a Broken Vessel (New Treasures of Love from Old Testament Tales)
Author: Mesu Andrews
Publisher: Revell

About the Book: Hosea has been charged by God with a difficult task--marry a prostitute in order to show God's people the nature and depth of his love for Israel. When Hosea goes to Israel to proclaim God's message, the prostitute God tells him to marry turns out to be his childhood friend Gomer. He finds her broken and abused, unwilling to trust Hosea or his God. But when marrying Hosea becomes her only choice, Gomer does what she's good at--she survives. Can Hosea's love for God and God's love for Israel heal Gomer's broken spirit?

With her potent combination of in-depth research and masterful storytelling, Mesu Andrews brings to life a complex and fascinating biblical story of the power of love and forgiveness in the face of utter betrayal.

My thoughts: I really enjoy reading biblical fiction. While there is no better source than the Bible itself, reading biblical fiction allows me to retain the story and the message that God was trying to give in an easier fashion.

Love in a Broken Vessel is based off the book of Hosea and helps explain why God had wanted Hosea to marry Gomer. Gomer was representing Israel and the fact that Israel had turned away from God. Gomer was a childhood friend of Hosea, but when he shows up, she turns her back on him and doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Having no other choice, she relents and marries him, only to go back to her old ways. Hosea shows enormous faith and character in taking her back again. In much the same way that God was faithful to Israel, even though they turned away from Him - and as we struggle in our day to day walk with God, and may turn away, He is forever faithful to us as well.

It is a beautiful love story and the author does a great job in bringing the characters to life. It was easy to become immersed in the story and to feel the pain and betrayal, as well as the forgiveness and love that both Hosea and Gomer felt. This is the third book in the series, New Treasures of Love from Old Testament Tales, and I am looking forward to reading the first two that I missed!

~I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my unbiased review.~

About the author: Mesu Andrews is the author of Love Amid the Ashes and Love's Sacred Song. She is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.

If you have any questions for Mesu Andrews, or just want to say hi, Revell is hosting an Author Café, an hour chat with Mesu, on Wednesday March 20 at 3 pm EDT/12 pm PDT . Join the party on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/revellbooks)! Plus get a chance to win a signed book!