Love in a Broken Vessel: A Novel

Written by Mesu Andrews

Narrated by Lisa Larsen

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jan 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781541433397

Mesu Andrews

Mesu Andrews is a Christy Award-winning, bestselling author of biblical novels and devotional studies, whose deep understanding of and love for God's Word brings the Bible alive for readers. Her heritage as a "spiritual mutt" has given her a strong yearning to both understand and communicate biblical truths in powerful stories that touch the heart, challenge the mind, and transform lives. Mesu lives in Indiana with her husband, Roy, where she stays connected with her readers through newsy emails, blog posts, and social media. Visit her at MesuAndrews.com.

Reviews for Love in a Broken Vessel

[Deb Sanders Morgan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This story of Hosea may have replaced "Redeeming Love" as my favorite biblical fiction book. It really makes the story of God's patient and persistent love for us alive. We are all broken vessels made useful by God's redeeming love in our lives.

[lynelle.clark.5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is easy to read the books of the Bible like a storybook. A story of the Old Testament which many think isn't relevant for today. But once we realize the true meaning and what it took to be obedient to God's Word, we receive greater insight. The author's ability to capture it into a fictional story, adding meat to the bone, drives the message of this book home.

The book of Hosea is one of the smaller prophets with a profound message that he literally had to live. But what it meant for him and Gomer, and how they had to navigate this God ordained path were a different matter.

Love in the Broken Vessel is an exceptional story and worthy to be revisited time and again.

The narrator's telling was also enjoyable, and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of God's Sovereign ways.

[abbieriddle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! Mesu Andrews has done it again. I love, love, love her biblical fiction. The thought she put into it is so evident on every page.

Hosea has been one of the most fascinating stories in the bible to me. Here in this book Mesu Andrews brings out the passion, love, frustration of this wonderful story of God's unconditional love and grace. A story that people often skip over in the scriptures and brought out to be personal and applicable.

Mesu Andrews is a master story teller when it comes to her biblical fiction. She is able to bring to life stories contained in the bible in a way that the reader walks away feeling as if they knew the characters. In this masterful re-telling of the story of Hosea, a faithful prophet of God the reader can not help but see the unconditional and long-suffering love of the Lord. Hosea is called to take a prostitute as his wife (a picture of the Nation of Isreal who had turned away from God). He deeply loves Gomer in a way that she can not yet accept or understand. His love is put to the ultimate test as she time and time again turns away from Hosea to other men.

The question that must be answered is how deep will Hosea's love for Gomer go? Will he continue to redeem her from prostitution or will there be a point that his love runs out and he walks away.

Often we test the Lord just as Gomer did Hosea - turning our back on his love because it is too great for us to accept. Returning back to our old lives because the cloak of shame is more comfortable to bear than the look of grace and deep love in our Saviour's eyes. In the end love must triumph and one must surrender.

I recieved this as a review copy from Revell in exchange for an honest review.

[sashig-751155 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful historical fact based fiction

If you like Tessa Afshar, you will like this author. Faithful to Bible NJ leave story but fleshed out to bring it to life.

[bettyetters-310759 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a wonderful book! Mesu Andrews has made me a fan of Biblical Historical Fiction! This book was very well-written and kept me reading and reading. It offers very interesting insights and emotional connections for the story of Hosea & Gomer from the Bible. There are many moments that well express both the struggles and joys of faith in God. The book left me feeling encouraged in my faith and I immediately re-read the book of Hosea in the Bible. Looking forward to reading the next Mesu Andrews book on my list.

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author does a great job of making the book of Hosea come alive. As the author states in her "Note" in the back of the book: "When people find out I write biblical fiction, the first question I'm asked is "How much is based on Scripture, and how much is fiction?" . . . . The starting point is always the absolute truth of Scripture. If you find anything in the story that disagrees with God's Word, I assure you it was an oversight, not intentional disregard." I felt the author took a difficult time in history and a difficult book of the Bible and did a very good job of making it come alive.

God gives the prophet Hosea a very difficult command. He wants him to marry a prostitute so he can show God's people the depth of love He has for His people Israel. So Hosea ends up marrying Gomer, who is very hardened in her heart. The story will show how Hosea's love for God and God's love for Israel will finally break through Gomer's broken heart. She truly was a broken vessel that God would use. As the book so adequately says, "We're all broken vessels. . . Redemption comes when we submit to Yahweh's hands and are mended by His mercy. Only then can we be filled with His love and be poured out on the broken lives around us." You can tell the author did a lot of in-depth research for this story and weaved a classic story of hope, rejection, betrayal and love. I will continue to look forward to more of her stories.

[lynn_in_mi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Love in a Broken Vessel" is an amazing account of the love story of Hosea and Gomer. Extremely detailed story spun from very few details in the Bible. The book grips your heart with the love God felt for Israel and exampled through the lives of the prophet and his wife. A gripping book full of glimpses into God's love for His people.