A Light on the Hill Book Review

Cities of Refuge Series

Book One

SUMMARY:  Though Israel has found relative peace, Moriyah has yet to find her own.  Attempting to avoid the scorn of her community, she's spent the last seven years hiding behind the veil she wears.  Underneath her covering, her face is branded with the mark of the Canaanite gods, a shameful reminder of her past captivity in Jericho and an assurance that no man will ever want to marry her.

     When her father finds a widower who needs a mother for his two sons, her hopes rise.  But when their introduction goes horribly wrong, Moriyah is forced to flee for her life.  Seeking safety at one of the newly established Levitical cities of refuge, she is wildly unprepared for the dangers she will face and the enemies - and unexpected allies - she will encounter on her way.

REVIEW:  Connilyn Cossette has written another fabulous book, this time regarding the cities of refuge that were set up in Israel.  As with the books in her first series, OUT FROM EGYPT, this one picks up a few years after Wings of the Wind ends.  Moriyah, who had been rescued from captivity in Jericho and branded on her face, hides from the rest of the world behind her veil.  Even though she loves God, she has a hard time loving herself.  As she runs for her life, I love how she finds strength in accepting herself as she is, and with it, becomes a stronger person.  The author does a great job showing how Moriyah begins to see those around her who love and support her no matter what marks she carries . . .  they love her for her.  

     This story still resonates with me, even though I finished it weeks ago, as does all of her books.  Now, like in the other books the author has written, she refers back to characters and events that has happened previously.  So, to get a much better understanding of Moriyah's background and struggles, it is good to read Wings of the Wind.  That being said, I would suggest just getting the three books of the OUT FROM EGYPT series and read them.  I don't think you will be disappointed.  Connilyn Cossette has become one of my favorite authors, and I'm sure she will be one of yours too.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Connilyn Cossette is the CBA bestselling author of the OUT OF EGYPT series.  Her debut novel, Counted with the Stars, is a Christy Award finalist, INSPY Award finalist, and Christian Retailing's Best Award finalist.  She lives south of Dallas with her husband of twenty years and two awesome kids.  Connect with her at www.ConnilynCossette.com.

Wings of the Wind Book Review

Out From Egypt series

Book Three

SUMMARY:  Can vengeance give way to forgiveness when one woman's destiny becomes entangled with the very enemies she sought to destroy?

     Motherless and raised alongside her brothers, Alanah, a Canaanite, is no stranger to fighting.  When her father and brothers are killed in battle with the Hebrews, she disguises herself and sneaks onto the battlefield to avenge her family.  The one thing she never contended on was surviving.

     Tobiah, a Hebrew warrior, has spent his share of time on the battlefield and is shocked to find an unconscious woman among the casualties.  Compelled to bring her to a healer back at the Heb

rew camp, he's unprepared for the consequences of what he intended as an act of compassion.

     In order to survive, Alanah must unite with her enemy.  But will a terrible revelation drive her toward an even greater danger?

REVIEW:  This book was interesting and opened my eyes to how God set the Israelites apart from the Canaanites and other kingdoms.  While it is strictly fiction, I like how the author uses her characters to show us God's bigger plan.  Alanah was a Canaanite who was rescued and taken in by Tobiah, an Israelite.  As she learns about the God of Israel and His laws, she sees how those laws protect everyone in the camp: families, widows, orphans, foreigners and the nation as a whole.  I like how when she faces some major troubles, Alanah remembers God's provision and trusts Him to take care of her and those around her.  Seeing how God took care of His people by doing the unusual and with out of the box thinking to accomplish the impossible made the Old Testament become more real. 

     This book is the third in the series.  Each book stands alone, separated by about twenty years, but does refer to characters and incidences in the others without making the reader seem like they missed something if they didn't read one of the other books.  

     I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others by this author.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without any compensation.

 

When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand), Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends, and reading obscure out-of-print history books.  There is nothing she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus.  Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas.  Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.  

Counted with the Stars Book Review

Out From Egypt Series

Book One

SUMMARY:  Sold into slavery by her father and forsaken by the man she was supposed to marry, young Egyptian Kiya must serve a mistress who takes pleasure in her humiliation.  When terrifying plagues strike Egypt, Kiya is in the middle of it all.

     Choosing to flee with the Hebrews, Kiya finds herself reliant on a strange God and drawn to a man who despises her people.  With everything she's ever known swept away and now facing the trials of the desert, will she turn back toward Egypt or surrender her life and her future to Yahweh?

REVIEW:  This book was intriguing, engrossing and delightful.  It's the first book I've read that spoke of the plagues and the exodus of the Hebrews from the point of view of an Egyptian slave as she experienced them.  Instead of being in the middle of the action in the throne room, Kiya hears the stories of Moses from a distance.  Kiya went from wealth to slavery to experiencing the move of God as He rescued His people from Pharaoh's grip.  Ms. Cossette shows how God saves His people from the Egyptian soldiers and provides food and water for them, even those not of Hebrew birth.  The depth of characters, their relationships, and the troubles they faced kept my attention the whole time and made it difficult to put down, even for a moment.
     This was a most enjoyable novel.  I cannot wait for the next one to be released so see how the rest of the story plays out. Connilyn Cossette is an author I am keeping on my must read list and look forward to anything else she will write.

This book was provided by Bethany House for review without compensation.

Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends and reading obscure, out-of-print history books when she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand).  There is nothing she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus.  Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas.  Counted With the Stars is her first novel.  Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.