It was important for her that Michael’s character and the message behind the storyline were conveyed effectively. Rivers co-wrote the screenplay along with director D. She said, “I felt like I had been Angel my whole life, just looking elsewhere, being defiant against God and then fearing him because he doesn’t ask for bits and pieces of our lives – he wants all of us.” Sources also revealed that the writer herself had gone through an abortion, which is a recurring theme in several of her writings, including ‘Redeeming Love.’ All these factors possibly explain why Rivers chose to get closely involved with the movie as well.

In fact, Francine Rivers drew parallels between her own life and that of Angel’s. So, this book was an attempt to reach out to her usual readers and offer a whole new perspective. Before writing ‘Redeeming Love,’ she used to write steamy historical romances set in the same time period. It was by design that Rivers chose to set the storyline during the California Gold Rush. Therefore, the movie highlights themes of forgiveness, redemption, and all-consuming love, much like its Biblical counterpart. Similarly, we see Michael pursuing Angel, in spite of her ill-repute, because God directed him to do so. In the Old Testament, Hosea marries Gomer because he is asked to marry a promiscuous woman by God. But something shifted in her when she read the Book of Hosea, and she felt a divine calling to write a romance inspired by that. However, Rivers suffered writer’s block for almost three years after that. The couple got baptized together in 1986. Apparently, she and her husband hit a rough patch in their marriage in the 1980s, which is when they turned to religion and the teachings of the Bible. In a Fall 2018 interview, Rivers opened up about how the book came to be.Īlthough Rivers was raised in a Christian family, she only began walking down the path of faith much later in life.

Translated to more than 30 languages, the bestseller sold more than three million copies all over the world. The Western historical film is based on Francine Rivers’ novel of the same name that was originally published in 1991. No, ‘Redeeming Love’ is not based on a true story. Could Angel’s character be inspired by one such individual? Let’s find out! There are countless instances of people trying to overcome difficulties to live a more wholesome life. But Angel’s past continues to cast a shadow on the young couple’s happiness. When Angel meets a young farmer named Michael Hosea, she begins to get in touch with parts of herself that she did not even know existed.

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