Shelter Of The Most High by Connilyn Cossette

Shelter of the Most High
by Connilyn Cossette
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764219870

So, a little background into getting this book at exactly this time... First, I've never read any books by Connilyn Cossette, although I have 2 of her books on my bookshelves. Time just keeps getting away from me!

Second, I'm in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and this year we are covering The People of the Promised Land. We started in the book of Joshua and have read through it as well as the book of Ruth. We're now at the beginning of Samuel.

When I was offered this book for review, I jumped at the chance because now I HAD to read Connilyn's book and was very excited. What I didn't know was, this book was going to be set during the time of my Bible study! I can't tell you how amazing it was to read the description of the book again, realize the series name, and understand how well God works things together! I already understood what "Cities of Refuge" was because of what I'd learned in Joshua. I was SO ready to dive into Shelter of the Most High.

Summary:

The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.

Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a city of refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood, yet chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past.

As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Can they uncover the betrayal in time to save their lives and the lives of those they love?

My Review:

Have you ever just devoured a book? I had no idea going into Shelter of the Most High that I was going to be so lost in the book.

As I previously mentioned, I hadn't read any of the author's books before, but her book covers compelled me to purchase her books. lol I had a feeling the stories inside would be just as incredible. I was right, but I had no idea how far off the mark I was. What was inside was even BETTER!

The story begins with the reader meeting Sofea and her cousin Prezi. They're out having fun like teenage girls will do, even back in Biblical times. Little do they know their lives are about to change forever. Kidnapped and taken to a foreign land, they only hope to survive, even if it's as a slave.

Connilyn's detailed description of almost every moment in the book gives so much life to the characters and Kedesh. After reading this time period in the Bible, it was incredible to see her pull into what was going on during that time and add it to what's going on in the story. We know that there were cities of refuge where people who accidentally killed someone could seek refuge. They would then have to stay there until the priest at the time dies. Kedesh is one of 6 cities named in the Bible.

For Sofea and Prezi you can feel their fear through the author's writing. When they're brought to this city, which they don't know anything about or understand the language, they don't know if they'll be sacrificed or enslaved for the rest of their lives. Can you imagine? As a reader, I could feel Prezi's helplessness and Sofea's desire to protect her.

We meet Eiten and his family, who are introduced in book 1, which I will absolutely be going back to read! There's such a mix of emotion and drama within this family you might wonder how they all live under one roof. What you do know is, there is a lot of love and reverence for God.

The way Connilyn Cossette describes nearly every piece of this story with such detail, you will think you've been transported to Kedesh! I could barely put this book down. I was up to the wee hours to get one more chapter in. I can't wait to go back to read book 1, and I can tell you I'm already impatiently awaiting book 3 when I've only just finished Shelter of the Most High!

About the Author:

When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand), bestselling author 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. Her novel Counted With the Starswon the 2013 Frasier Contest and was a semifinalist in the 2013 ACFW Genesis Contest. Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas. Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.