To Dwell Among Cedars (The Covenant House #1)

Title: To Dwell Among Cedars (The Covenant House #1)

Author: Connilyn Cossette

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Publishing Date: Dec 1, 2020

Publisher: Bethany House

Length: 352 Pages

Links: Baker Book House | Amazon | Goodreads

About the Book:

Eight years ago, when the Philistines stole and then surrendered the ark of the covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora left her Philistine homeland to follow the ark to the community of Kiryat Yearim. There, the family she was adopted into has guarded the ark at the top of a mountain in seclusion.

Ronen is a Levite musician determined to secret away the ark to a more fitting resting place, watched over by priests who would restore the Holy of Holies. He never expected that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would now be part of the very family he’s tasked to deceive.

As Ronen’s attempts to charm Eliora lead them in unexpected directions, betrayal leaves Eliora with strained family ties and Ronen questioning his own loyalties. Ultimately, Eliora and Ronen are caught up in the battle for the soul of Israel and its future under the leadership of Samuel, the last judge before the era of the kings begins.

My Review:

Once again Connilyn Cossette has proved herself as one of my absolute favorite authors of Biblical fiction. Her writing is impeccable, creating imagery so tangible you feel yourself being sucked through the pages into the very setting of the characters. I had been VERY impatiently waiting for this one, and I was not disappointed in the least! I’m only sad I have to wait again for the next in the series to release.

Eliora was such an amazing character, and I felt myself clinging desperately to her story hoping for her healing and happiness. She had such a heart of gold yet struggled to grasp her full worth. She endlessly continued to put more weight on her shoulders, believing that it was what she did for others that earned her her place and love in their lives. I could relate to her in more ways than I’d like to admit, but it served to only hold me more captive in her story.

I liked that Ronen was a complex character, who was flawed yet genuine. He looked to his uncle and cousin to help fill the void that had been created when he lost his family, and just like Eliora, he was looking for a place where he could belong and feel loved and wanted. Despite wanting to make his uncle proud he was also seeking God’s will, and that was more important to him than any human relationship. He went through a lot of growth throughout the story, and  his desire to be obedient to God made him another character that was easy to root for.

I honestly couldn’t recommend this novel enough!! I absolutely ADORED this story, and was not ready to let the characters go when I finished reading. I now sit impatiently waiting for the next book in the series. Absolutely amazing!

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

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