Kait, Renata, and their guests Ally (of Join the Girl Gang) and Katelyn (of Women of Library History) read the classic evangelical Christian romance novel Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It’s AU Bible fanfiction based on the Book of Hosea, a minor prophet’s story of a fallen woman and the man who loved her, and also Israel. Francine Rivers has transformed it into the story of a good Christian cowboy who marries a soiled dove because God told him to (although it took her awhile to get the memo, possibly due to the Lord’s confusing font choices.) In the end, they all live happily ever after, except for the bad prostitutes who died in a fire, and also the podcasters who had to read this.

Content warning: This book contains child abuse, rape, racism, religious prejudice, and Satan, and so does our discussion of it.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Beautiful Cinnamon Roll Too Good For This World, Too Pure

Hugh Jackman’s Australia shower scene

Candy pairing:  Ally says Testamints, Kait says Bible verse chocolates, Katelyn says soiled Dove promises, Renata says milk.

Coming up next: Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe.

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(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)