Moriyah's story is so powerful, so emotional, and simply captivating. Cossette has penned probably my favorite biblical fiction novel of hers in this story. Not a light read my any stretch of the imagination, but one that will touch your heart and maybe even strengthen your faith. I encourage not only biblical fiction fans to read this, but historical fiction fans as well. Cossette weaves history in such an amazing way into her stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was just okay for me.

Since this book carried over from the previous series by the same author, there are several mentions throughout to the Rahab incident which was not represented accurately to the biblical account. I will not go into details here, as the inaccuracies are much more prevalent in Wings of the Wind; for more information, see my review of that title. Though the inaccuracies were mostly glazed over in this book, this still bugged me and, along with the idol worship and derogatory terms, dipped my rating to three stars.

There were consequences for a character’s lying. Finally! I feel like this is something not highly focused on, but lies are not okay and there are real consequences in life. I’m so glad this book spoke truth on this.

The journey and hope for freedom from accidental sin was lovely. We all mess up, sometimes without meaning to. There is still Hope for us in those moments, and His name is Jesus. We serve a grace-giving God, and I’m so grateful He’s quick to forgive when we realize we’ve sinned, admit that sin, and turn our backs on the sin. Y’all, this heartfelt remorse and repentance was on beautiful display within this story. Moriyah’s heart ached at her accidental sin, and seeing her yearning for hope was completely relatable.

Content: idol worship, derogatory terms, rape (only spoken of), tattoos, alcohol and drunkenness

The year is 1399 BC, the walls of Jericho have crumbled, and the Dwelling Place is being prepared as the Israelites settle in the land of Canaan, after spending forty years in the wilderness. It's been seven years since the events of Wings of the Wind (the third book of the Out of Egypt series) and Moriyah has returned to her home in Shiloh with the haunting memories of her time in Jericho still plaguing her mind. Only taking her veil off when she’s alone in her house, due to her fear of bringing more shame upon her parents, Moriyah’s father surprises her with an announcement that he has found her a man to marry. Questions flood her mind about whether or not this stranger will accept her with the pagan symbol branded on her cheek or if he is only going through with the marriage to receive her father’s vineyard upon his death.
However, things go horribly wrong as Moriyah was making preparations to impress her betrothed with her remarkable cooking skills. Forced to flee for her life, Moriyah must race her assailant to one of the Levitical cities of refuge, before he has the chance to take justice into his own hands.
The journey is anything but easy. Moriyah comes across danger after danger and has to use her quick wits in order to save her life and those dearest to her. Will Moriyah arrive in Kedesh before her betrothed? Will Yahweh help guide her way, or has He cut all ties off with her after the events of Jericho? Moreover, what of her betrothed's brother, who is escorting her, can he truly be trusted?
A Light on the Hill is a story about finding out who you are, trusting in Yahweh no matter the consequences, and refusing to live a life of fear. Moriyah, one of the strongest protagonists I’ve ever read about, proves that even when destruction seems to be her only future, Yahweh can bring forth blessings and reveal His presence to us in the midst of our struggles.
I know I write this a lot, but A Light on the Hill is seriously my new favorite book! The way Connilyn Cossette wrote the characters and described the journey made it all seem real and relatable. I instantly connected with Moriyah and could understand everything she was going through throughout this book.
I sapped up every detail that was written, like a sponge in a bowl of water. I honestly couldn’t put this book down and would stay up at night trying to imagine what was going to happen next.
Everything about this book was exceptional. I can’t say one bad thing about it and am genuinely at a loss for words to describe how I feel about this novel. There is no doubt about it; I will re-read this book a hundred times and tell everyone I know to read it!
Thank you, Connilyn for giving me the honor to pre-read your book before it is released. The thrill of receiving a book prior to its release date only added to the excitement reading this incredible book. It gives me such joy to read of people's love for Israel and the culture that comes with it. I cannot wait to read what happens in the next book of this series!

What a breath of fresh air.
I love historical fiction, being transported through a character's eyes to different places and times. Quite often those places are quite significant. This surely is. This is a Hebrew girl, from the time when they had just come out of Egypt (the last 10 of the 40 years) and they entered Jericho, then settling in the area that was previously occupied, and rebuilding. Fascinating place and time to be brought to! An interesting situation the girl is in – she was kidnapped and held, branded with the symbol of a priestess on her face, then rescued and returned to her people. She is ridiculed for the brand and covers her head and face with a veil. Like so many of us, she believes those who belittle her and further imprisons herself. The adventures that happen teach her about her self-worth as well as bring her closer to the one that God chose for her.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

With beautiful imagery and a strong plotline, I was captivated by A Light on a Hill and whisked away to ancient Israel. Few books have done it quite as completely as this one did, and few have delivered such a beautiful story in the context of Biblical fiction. From the first page, I was dragged into Moriyah’s life, sharing in her woes and hoping for her relief. As events unfolded, hope and fear slid through each page until several quite unexpected plot twists sent me reeling.

I loved A Light on the Hill from the first page. Moriyah’s struggles to heal from the past and find acceptance in her future were not only realistic struggles, but ones I could relate to. Woven in with her struggle, outside circumstances forced her on to an unwanted and arduous trek that not only sapped her physically, but emotionally. Through the different events in the book, I got a glimpse of could-be Biblical times that I haven’t seen many places. Not only was the story gripping, but it was also challenging. How do I respond when people’s decisions upset me? Am I really humble enough to accept what is probably best for me, even if it isn’t necessarily what I want?

One of my most favorite parts of the book was the setting—I felt like I was there, seeing the rich landscape, smelling the dust, climbing the mountain. It was beautiful!

There were two things I struggled with a bit, though. The romance felt a bit lustful—although it was fun to watch develop, I still found it somewhat difficult to see all the thoughts of the characters, even if it was realistic. I also hated that the second book in this series isn’t out yet—I need to know more!

I cried right before the ending. The plot twist was very unexpected, and…yeah. It was amazing. And sad. I loved what the author did there!

In all, I loved A Light on a Hill. Terrifying, but sweet, suspenseful but beautiful—this book was a true pleasure to read. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

I requested a review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

A Light on the Hill is the first book in Connilyn Cossette’s new Cities of Refuge series. I think some of the characters featured in her previous Out from Egypt series, Counted with the Stars, Shadow of the Storm, and Wings of the Wind. I haven’t read any of the Out of Egypt series, but didn’t feel I missed anything.

A Light on the Hill is an insight into the life and culture of the times of the Old Testament—in this case, the years after the nation of Israel first arrived in the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. And it does point to Jesus. The cities of refuge represented a revolutionary idea. An accused criminal could seek and gain mercy, instead of being subject to the cultural retribution of an eye for an eye, a life for a life.

But the theme of A Light on the Hill is definitely Christian. Justice, or mercy? Love, or hate? Forgiveness, or retribution? While Biblical fiction isn't Christian fiction per se, good Biblical fiction reinforces the fact the Bible is one story, with the Old Testament foreshadowing the New Testament. This is additionally reinforced by the main characters, most of whom have chosen to follow Yahweh rather than being born Hebrew.

I don’t read a lot of Biblical fiction. It seemed to fall out of favour for a while, and my interest got pulled in other genre directions. But A Light on the Hill easily equals those early Biblical fiction stories I read from authors like Francine Rivers and Angela Hunt.

The story does take a while to get going—the first quarter is background, introducing the characters and setting up the situation that will force Moriyah to flee for her life. However, even this background is an interesting and necessary introduction to life in Shiloh in the early days of Israel.

The writing is strong. It’s an unusual choice to write historical fiction in first person, but it works because it takes us deep into Moriyah’s mind, and that enables us to relate to her. After all, we all have hidden scars of one sort or another. The characters are well-drawn, and the plot is full of suspense as we journey with Moriyah, hoping she’ll reach her objective, yet worried she won’t.

A Light on the Hill a story of judgement as the people of Shiloh judge Moriyah based on her external appearance to the point she hides away from people and from life. It’s also the story of mercy, as Yahweh has already established the means for Morihay to be accepted and saved.

Recommended for fans of Biblical fiction, or for those who would like to better understand the times of the Bible. Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Oh, my goodness! Where do I begin with this story? Connilyn Cossette is an author I watch new releases for. Each story grows on the next and the world just blossom. A Light on a Hill is the first of this new series, Cities of Refuge. It is a bit of spin off from her previous series, but still stands alone. If you haven't read any of the previous books, it's ok, but, you will want to read her other books. Cities of Refuge. It is not a topic in the bible that I have read much about, but the history surrounding it fascinated me. This is a new series by this author, but previous characters from other books came up very briefly. This is a completely new series though. I will say that I was really impressed once again by this author's talent in her writing.

Amazing as usual! Connilyn has done it again. It's an amazing book, I'm not giving away any spoilers. Just read it. It's a good read!

*My Review*

First off, let me just brag about how beautiful this book cover is! Pretty much all the book covers from this
author is just breathtaking. Love it!

So, I discovered this author a while back and I’ve been keeping up with whatever novel she has written.
Needless to say, I’ve enjoyed the journey so far. Usually I read her books within a day or two.

A Light On the Hill’s story started out pretty well and I love how her beginnings of a novel just drew me in from the first page. I’ve always wondered about the cities of refuge that the Bible talks about so I think it’s
great that the author is taking a leap in writing about what could have been. I loved the heroine
Moriyah because she has such a strong character. Also the hero was pretty awesome as well. 😉

Though there were times I did have to skip ahead, I still enjoyed reading this novel. This author has become one
of my favorites when it comes to Biblical fiction. I highly recommend reading her books! I can’t wait for her
next book in this series!

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.-

Seven years ago, Moriyah was captured and taken to the the city of Jericho and her cheek was branded with the mark of the Canaanite gods. Now, even though the Israelites are experiencing a time of peace in their new land, Moriyah hasn’t been able to find any peace of her own. Because of the shameful mark on her cheek, she hides behind a veil and her fear of disdain from the local townspeople, she mostly refrains from socializing. And marriage prospects have been out of the question, until now. Her father has found someone willing to marry her, and Moriyah hopes to use her cooking skills to impress him and his two motherless sons. But, things go horribly wrong and she is forced to flee from her home to seek safety in one of the newly established Levitical cities of refuge. Though, after hiding away in her father’s home for so long, she has no idea the dangers she’ll face, or the enemies—and unexpected allies—that she’ll encounter on her journey to reach her refuge.

This was such a powerful story on the power of faith and forgiveness, of mercy and justice. You can tell how much research Connilyn did into tribal Israel, and the first decades after the crossing of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho. I really found this story to be so incredibly interesting and well written. The characters are all amazing and you really find yourself relating to most of them, even the “bad guys” and enemies. The descriptions were all so clear that it’s like you’re actually seeing the scenes unfold before your very eyes. There were a couple of descriptions that seemed a bit modern, but for the most part, Connilyn managed to keep her portrayal to at least seem as if it could be from the era her book is set in. Really, there’s little, if anything truly negative that I can think of in describing this amazing story. I’m dearly looking forward to reading book two of the series so I can see what happens next!

Moriyah is the only unmarried daughter of a successful vineyard owner, but she hides the scar on her face with a veil, the reminder of when she was kidnapped and taken to a pagan temple before the walls of Jericho fell granting her, Alanah, and Rahab freedom. The brand burned into her skin is like that of the temple prostitutes, and though she was never defiled she lives with the shame of the mark on her face. When her father makes a match for her, she agrees to the marriage to please her father and put his heart at ease. But then tragedy strikes, sending her fleeing for her life to one of the refuge cities with her father's most trusted men at her side, but as they face those who would claim their right of blood she finds herself trusting her life to Darek, the brother of the man whom she has wronged.



A beautiful novel of retribution, forgiveness, and love, set a few years after the fall of Jericho as the Israelites have divided and begun to take possession of the land promised to them. The descriptions are rich adjectives that paint a picture in the mind with vivid evocative imagery, that add depth to the story and set the scene. Riveting storytelling, and compelling characters bring this story of the refuge cities to life. I was intrigued by the use of the refuge cities in this book, as the Bible doesn't contain any histories of anyone who took refuge in such a city, despite their designations and rules being well outlined in the Old Testament. I was completely blown away by how Ms. Cosette brought the refuge cities--which is a part of the Bible that I admittedly don't linger over--to life, I was captivated by Moriyah's plight, as well as her courage.



The characters were well developed, and even characters that were featured only briefly like Eitan, Ora, and Rimona, were crafted with care and had me wondering about their stories. I thought that this book was well done, I had a tough time putting it down, and I am a huge fan of the original concept of the refuge cities.



Moriyah is brave, yet vulnerable, my heart went out to her, yet I admired how instead of becoming bitter over her circumstances and scars, her scars allowed her to see invisible people like Ora and Eitan, befriending outcasts. She grows a lot over the course of the book, and I like how she takes responsibility for her actions, even though she could easily have been indignant and in denial, but bravely faced her trials.



Darek has scouted out the promised land and seen many beautiful things, he believes in justice and mercy, and despite his doubts and misgivings is always respectful to everyone. I liked his willingness to listen, and quick thinking in moments of crisis.



Overall, a thoroughly engrossing read from beginning to end. I loved the originality of writing about the refuge cities, as well as the vivid and lush descriptions. I loved Moriyah, and admired her strengths and vulnerabilities, and how she grew over the course of the book. One of the best Biblical fiction books I have ever read. Highly recommend.







Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

This week’s featured book is Connilyn Cossette‘s A Light on the Hill.  It’s the first book in a new biblical fiction series by the author of the Out from Egypt series. Moriyah has a complicated history.  She was a captive and was branded a temple prostitute.  After her escape, she returns to her home but keeps her face covered in shame.  Her father finds a man who promises to marry her anyway, and Moriyah is determined to honor her father.
Darek catches Moriyah’s eyes from behind her veil the night before she is to meet her betrothed and is captivated.  He wants to win her heart but feels betrayed when he discovers who she is betrothed to.  Will they be able to overcome the odds stacked against them, find justice and mercy, and love each other?
While this wasn’t quite as stunning of a series-starter as Counted with the Stars was, it was still an excellent read.  The Old Testament themes tied in with the overriding message of salvation, redemption, and freedom well.  The setting and timeline was a little hard to follow due to its ancient history, but I found a map at the back of the book that was helpful.  I loved the characters and how they related to each other, pursuing what was right.  It also tied in characters from the Out of Egypt series, which was neat to have a little update on them.
I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of ancient history, the Bible, and biblical fiction!
Thank you to Bethany House publishers for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.  All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Every book in this series has gotten better than the one before. I really enjoyed Moriyah's story. I love how her inner beauty was more visible than her outer beauty, and her character made her outer beauty that much more appealing.

It was a treat being on the run with Moriyah and the fast paced adventure that tooks us throughtout the Promised land. If Darek were my mapmaker & bodyguard, I'd be all set to go.

I was to be introduced to new characters, but still get some scoop about the other characters I also loved.

My only negative was a small portion of the story was too farfetched. I have grown accustomed to Cossette using biblical accounts and hust unraveling them to make them feel as if I'm there. Moriyahs encounter with someone of power & that part of the story was a bit too much in my opinion. I still enjoyed the read tremendously that wasnt enough to deter me from loving this book.

I look forward to the next book in the series. My official rating is a 4.9...lol

I was given a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat! Although I could guess how it was probably going to turn out in the end, the story was very engaging. It was really interesting to me that although the story seems far-fetched at times, this really could have happened. In the time of Joshua, there were cities of refuge that people accused of murder could go to, otherwise the family of the victim could avenge the death by killing the person that they felt was responsible. This story was about a young woman who was accused and had to escape to one of these cities. It also included a clean romance. I enjoyed the book, and I finished it in only a few days.

Moriyah narrowly survives a face branding marking her as a temple prostitute. Though she never serves in the temple, she is bound by the judgment of her own people. When Moriyah is promised to a man, things go terribly wrong during the betrothal and she is forced to flee. Meanwhile, a man hunts her, determined to bring justice. Darek plans to bring Moriyah back to face judgment for her crimes--the poisoning of his nephews. His brother, Raviv, is also on the hunt, full of fury and vengeance with no wish to spare his former bride-to-be.

I absolutely loved this novel for so many reasons. Connilyn Cossette is the master of romance, biblical history, and personal faith journeys. This novel follows her former series and takes place several years later after the Great Exodus. The Israelites have set up cities of refuge, one which Moriyah is desperate to find and enter. Her path entangles with Darek and together they match wits against a cunning Egyptian King and other enemies. The longer Darek is with Moriyah, the more he sees her as someone worth fighting for. It's a tender a love story mixed with plenty of action. Moriyah's growth provides a great lesson. Her walls of self-protection have done more harm than good and she isn't bound by the perceptions of others. I highly recommend this book and I intend to see this series through. NetGalley and Bethany provided a copy for review. My thoughts are always my own and I'm not required to fangirl over novels. 5 out of 5 stars.

You wouldn't think that fiction could speak to you in such a way that it would end up changing your life, but A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette has done exactly that for me.

Our main character Moriyah has been carrying a burden her whole life. After being taken captive by Canaanites in Jericho and then branded with the mark of their gods, Moriyah is safe and home again with her father, but has been living a life of exile from the rest of her fellow Israelites. It is an exile of her own choosing brought on by malicious people who saw the brand and believed she was a prostitute and follower of the Canaanite gods. So she hides away in her home, covering her face with a veil so that no one can see her shame.

But not everyone judges her by the blasphemous brand on her face and through a series of horrific events, Moriyah begins to realize that her self-imposed exile was not something God wanted for her. And her life changes in ways she could never imagine. Even finding someone to love her for who she is, not for her looks.

I was feeling Moriyah's pain all the way through this book. Not because I've experience being branded as something I'm not, but because I have done the same thing she has done - imposed an exile on myself because of the way I look. While my disfigurement comes from a disease, Moriyah's was caused by someone else. Yet the realization of how God can use something as horrific as what Moriyah went through gives me hope for my future.

If you have ever felt ostracized by society because of how you look, this book will give you a whole new perspective on how God sees you. I highly recommend it!

A few Biblical Romance authors are worth reading. A Light on a Hill by Connilyn Cossette is definitely a keeper. It is a page turner. From the beginning, Moriyah's story grabs you and you find yourself rooting for her to find compassion, courage, and love. You pray that someone appreciates her and sees the real person before the abuse and scarring affected her.



When she meets a man who seems to be attracted to her even though he hasn't seen her except through a veil, you suspect as she does that maybe this is the man with whom her father has arranged a marriage match.



You feel Moriyah's disappointment when things are not what they seem and then react in horror to the innocent mistake that ends in tragedy.



Mostly, you root for her as she struggles to get to safety in a city of refuge protected by faithful men of her father and surprisingly by the brother of her accuser. Darek has every right to execute her but he finds himself drawn to the genuine caring woman Moriyah is.



Finally, for those who appreciate it, the aspects of faith and how it drives the characters is compelling especially when Moriyah feels and responds to the promptings from Yahweh. For those who understand and believe, the descriptions by the author are accurate and enthralling.



I give this 5 stars for your keeper shelf and for purpose of disclosure; I received this book from netgalley for my honest review.

This book takes placed right after the birth of Israel and during the wars for possession of the land by the Hebrews. Moriyah, at age 13, was captured by the Midianites during a war and taken to Jericho where she was turned over to the Temple priestess and branded as a prostitute. After rescue and before she could be used as a prositute., she returned to her home where she kept her face covered in order to hide the shame of her branding. It is now 7 years later, and Moriyah's dad has arranged for her marriage.

This book is full of action from start to finish. Cossette is a new-to-me author, and she is definitely a wonderful storyteller. Her Biblical research is evident throughout the story as well as her attention to detail, and I learned so much about the cities of refuge. Her descriptions of the land and the people brought me right into the setting. The main characters, Moriyah and Darek, both learned to rely on Yahweh and listen to his prompting. Moriyah grew more confident and self-assured even though she reels from the horrible accident that she was part of. Darek was a strong, independent, caring young man. His caring and understanding of Moriyah made a huge difference in how she felt about herself.
This was a book that when I finished I wished I could pick up the next in the series right then and there.

Definitely recommend to readers of Biblical historical fiction.

A LIGHT ON THE HILL by CONNILYN COSSETTE is a beautifully written story which takes place after the fall of Jericho and during the time that the land was being divided amongst the tribes of Israel. In spite of the fact that there were still Canaanite cities to be conquered, the Israelites were encouraged to farm the land that was already theirs.
In 1399 B.C., Moriyah, a young Hebrew girl, bearing the mark of the Canaanite goddess Ashtoreth, which was branded on her face when she was captured at the age of thirteen, is living on her father's vineyard in Shiloh. She is ashamed of what the mark means, although she managed to escape before being made into a temple prostitute. She hides behind a veil and there are few people she trusts because of the relentless gossip that surrounds her.
Her life changes forever when her father, who loves his daughter and wants to make sure she is looked after when he dies, offers his vineyard as a dowry to Pekah's son, Raviv, a widower with twin sons. Tragedy occurs, she flees for her life and shows incredible courage in the face of danger.
The story is fast paced, the characters well portrayed and the setting in the Promised Land of Canaan is described well. We see how Yahweh speaks to Moriyah, as she commits to obedience to the Law. I love the descriptions of the Tabernacle and the Feasts of Yom Kippur and Succoth and the meaning in it all for those of us who serve Yeshua. Also the description of Shechem, one of the cities of refuge, which also is symbolic of the Father's protection and forgiveness of sins. It is a book which really makes this time in Jewish history come alive for us. There is a strong message of hope, loyalty and love. I really enjoyed this novel and cannot recommend it highly enough for the inspirational story and strong biblical content.

I became a huge, forever fan of Connilyn Cossette when I discovered (and subsequently devoured) her "Out From Egypt" series. So needless to say, I didn't hesitate to snag a copy of A Light On the Hill. Also needless to say, it was SO GOOD. From the fast-paced plot, to the wonderfully authentic characters, to shedding light on Cities of Refuge and their purpose in the Old Testament...the whole book was incredible, from start to finish. I loved every word.

A beautiful tale of self love and acceptance set in the newly conquered Promised Land. Moriyah is a familiar face to those who have read Cossette's Out of Egypt series. She has struggled to find her place after the horrors she witnessed during the fall of Jericho and when a deadly accident shatters her fragile world she has no choice but to flee, making her way to one of the newly appointed Levitical cities of refuge. This was an enthralling read and an exciting start to a new series.