To Dwell Among Cedars

To Dwell Among Cedars is another captivating Biblical fiction book from talented storyteller, Connilyn Cossette. Her books are fascinating stories, rich with detail that take readers right into the scenes of Scripture. Readers will love this fictional account of a young Philistine girl. Arisa follows the Ark of the Covenant during its return to Israel after its earlier capture by the Philistines. The story unfolds with subsequent events as a faction of Israelites scheme to remove the Ark to another site. The characters have depth and reality. Their emotions and strengths resonate well with readers. And what is a good fiction book without a romance? Readers are entertained with that as well. The development of Arisa/Eliora and Ronen's relationship quickly drew me in. The historical lessons are blended well with lessons about family struggles and learning to value oneself because of who (or Whose) you are and not because of what you can do. To Dwell Among Cedars is the beginning of a new series, The Covenant House, and I fear the wait for the next book will be a long one. I received a copy of the book from the publisher, and a favorable review was not required. The opinions are my own.

This was such a beautiful read for me. I truly enjoyed the history and atmosphere within this book. I felt like I was there at the beginning of Samuel's time. The writing was flawless. Each character was so unique to the other which I truly enjoyed. Eliora is such a sweet girl who stills struggled with the understanding of being in a family and not having to work for love and support. I adored her shyness. I loved the faith she had even though she was originally a Philistine. She was such a joy to read! Lukio is the younger brother of Eliora and he frustrated me the whole book. However, he is such a broken child with abandonment issues. My heart ached for him and seeing him battle with happiness was hard. I still have high hopes for him. Ronen is such a sweet guy caught up with a twisted family. I liked him a lot. I liked seeing his struggle with faith and believing God's power after dealing with a loss. I think he learned some valuable lessons and grew from the beginning to the end of the story. The romance was adorable but also absolutely frustrating because as a reader you know the motives, but can also see the genuine emotion between Eliora and Ronen. I think it was a great progressive romance that felt very realistic. I loved the drama, loved the secrecy, enjoyed the cute moments and loved the ending. The other characters were all so interesting. I also enjoyed seeing the different tribes and other nations that lived in those times. The faith aspects were great for me. This was a well-written story! Overall, I enjoyed this book and can't wait for the sequel, Between the Wild Branches, to be released next year !!

"We can never guess what may come of our obedience, but that is not for us to know anyhow. We are not the All-Knowing One. We are simply called to 'hear and obey' and to love Adonai our God with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength." Another incredible, heart-wrenching, soul-stirring Biblical fiction from Connilyn Cossette! To Dwell Among Cedars starts a new series The Covenant House, set during the time of the judges when Samuel starts his ministry. The story starts with the Ark's capture by the Philistines and the subsequent arrival of the Ark at Beth-Shemesh, and unfolds with the years following the Ark being ensconced within the mountain village of Kiryat-Yearim. The author has an uncanny ability to transport you to this faraway land and place you in the middle of the thriving community to see, hear, taste, smell, touch, and feel the daily activities, the novelty of hosting Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah) celebration, the unrest and division within the Levites, and the spiritual apathy and ignorance rampant in Israel during that time. Painted on this vivid backdrop, there are profound faith lessons on sense of worth and purpose, God's immeasurable grace and mercy, and the meaning of God's adoption of us as His children. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, this book is a must read. It will stay with you long after you've finished the book and have you going back to 1 Samuel 4-7 to see these Biblical passages with fresh eyes. I loved Eliora, the rescued Philistine girl who becomes adopted into a loving and devoted Levite family that guards the Ark. She's loving and tender with a servant's heart but still struggles with her Philistine heritage and her place within the arms of a loving and gracious Yahweh as well as within her family. Her younger brother Natan (Lukio) grabbed my heart with his impulsive and rebellious ways that are fueled by rejection and resentment and I can't wait for the next book in the series where we'll get to meet the grown-up version of this young man. Ronen is so lovely in his genius and dedication as a Levite musician, devotion and loyalty to family, sense of justice (though sometimes misguided), and tenderness. There is awe, wonder and splendor of Yahweh seen with ethereal beauty of worship within these pages as well as betrayal, sweet romance, and power of familial love. Definitely in my top 20 reads of 2020! I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.