How much should a wronged husband forgive? This time, Aubrey Beaumont’s wife has left for good. Though a single dad with three children to raise, Aubrey diligently searches for his drug-addicted, runaway wife. Fifteen years later, he has relocated from Vermont to Silver Spring where he serves as a respected minister and chaplain. He is caught in a quandary when he is called to a community … community hospital to counsel a terminally ill patient and comes face-to-face with his long-lost wife.
After leaving her family, Joanna Beaumont becomes a madame for Washington’s rich and powerful. With God’s forgiveness, she desires to find purpose in her final days and negotiates a plea bargain for testimony against her drug-lord lover. She accepts God’s judgment and expects no healing miracle. Her salvation and reunion with Aubrey is grace enough.
While Aubrey can understand his wife’s drug addiction, her romantic liaison with a vicious criminal seems beyond his human capacity to forgive. Does God expect him to rescue her from the bowels of degradation like the biblical Hosea? Why did God bring her back to him only to watch her die?
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This may have been a short book but it sure did have a powerful message. Many readers may pick Aubrey as their favorite character. I can understand why. He exemplifies what unconditional love means. No matter how many times Joanna messed up he still wanted her back. The day she walked out, leaving Aubrey and her kids, some would have said they were done. Aubrey loves this woman with everything he has and never gives up on reconciling with her. I loved his humbleness and heart for the lost. He went to places others would not go to preach the love of Jesus. Yes he is a great example of how we should love the unloveable.
I may shock a few but my favorite character was Joanna. Oh I know she wasn’t exactly mother of the year, and she definitely wasn’t a helpmate to Aubrey. Her journey into violence, drugs and other sins put her in danger everyday. She gets so wrapped up in this world that others have given up on her. God sees His sheep. If one is lost he will go after that one and leave the ninety-nine behind. I have heard that story many times. but never as powerful as illustrated in this story. Joanna reaches the bottom of the pit of darkness crying out for help. I cried along with her as she wanted forgiveness and to have a chance to make amends.
I can’t tell you the rest because it will spoil the book. If you are looking for a story that is filled with undeniable faith and hope, this one is for you. Are you wandering around lost? Do you feel like no one loves you? Can you ask for forgiveness as well as receive it? This book is for you. Let this story guide you if you are dealing with a fractured relationship with God. Allow this story to lead you to freedom from sin and rejoice in the arms of Jesus.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Hosea’s Heart is a modern retelling of the biblical story of Hosea. Powerfully written, the novel is full of complex, realistic characters dealing with serious issues. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, the book is not a “downer,” but rather edifying and uplifting I appreciate Aubrey’s integrity and gentleness which is offset by his friend, Gregg’s rough-and-tumble persona. Aubrey’s wife, Joanna, is genuine and warm as she deals with regrets and consequences of past poor decisions. An excellent book, highly recommended.
I received a free copy of the book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.
I’ve read several books by this author and really started to get into her style of writing. While she doesn’t write true suspense/murder books she writes them full of emotion and full of need. This one has Joanna and Aubrey. They need closure. They need healing. And they need to know where they stand with each other and with God.
Aubrey is a pastor. Joanna was once his wife. Maybe she still is, but she’s left him one too many times. And why has she left? Because of drugs. She’s an addict and no matter how many times she’s gone to rehab she just can’t seem to get ahead of them. After she left the last time her life has taken many turns.
This one has some mystery and suspense. It has lives in danger and hearts being changed.
Aubrey can’t turn his back on Joanna. But their three kids are grown now and haven’t seen their mother in 15 years. That alone is enough for much drama in a novel but add in Joanna testifying against a drug lord she had a thing with and it just gets more interesting. Oh, and she’s dying of cancer too.
I enjoyed this book. It’s not one that had me rushing to finish but more one that I felt such emotions for the characters and wanted to get to know them more and savor our relationship.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Containing faith, family, drug-use, secrets, prostitution, and the powerful world of Washington, DC politics, this book packs an emotional punch. Aubrey Beauchamp represents the consummate husband and father to his three children. Joanna, his wife, ran away 15 years ago dependent on drugs. Now 15 years later, Aubrey finally finds her. The author weaves a captivating, heartbreaking, and inspiring story with powerful words.
My one complaint about this book was that it ended. I want to read more about Aubrey, his children, his best friend Greg Fischer along Cynthia and others in this book. So if you like action-packed, emotion-filled, poignant stories, check out this book for yourself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.