To Dwell Among Cedars is another fabulous story from Cossette. With easy to love, relatable characters, and Cossette's unending research on every page, you won't find a better written biblical fiction novel.

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

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. Though a little slow for me at times I enjoyed this book.

Connilyn Cossette has a way of writing that takes you right into the story as if you are a part of it. It's not just the characters that grip your heart but the setting, lifestyle and activities she depicts. To Dwell Among Cedars is set during the time of the judges and the Ark of Covenant being taken and returned - but it is not a retelling of a Bible story. It's a story following Philistine siblings who are adopted by a Hebrew family. One sibling is grateful and loyal and the other is unsure and bitter. As you read through the pages, adventure unfolds along with moments of joy and pain. You will find yourself holding your breath, laughing and even crying. I highly recommend this book to anyone! Anything by Connilyn Cossette is on my shelf!

I loved this book. It's the first book I've read by this author, and I want to read more! I thought she did a great job pulling in historical and biblical elements. While I admittedly don't know much about Old Testament times beyond what's in the Bible, it was well-thought out and put together., and the story kept pulling me along.

All the books by Connilyn Cossette are excellent. And this story is full of adventure, mystery, and romance. Definitely the kind of book that’s hard to put down. I loved it!

To Dwell Among Cedars, by Connilyn Cossette, is the first of two novels in the Covenant House series. Set thousands of years in the past, this book is excellent historical fiction! Beautifully written and richly detailed, this book is a well-researched, utterly immersive story of faith, perseverance, courage, and hope. Page after page, this novel captivates with its thoughtful descriptions, gripping prose, ancient settings, engaging characters, and relevant themes.

With undeniable skill, Ms. Cossette successfully uses the first person point of view to draw the reader more fully into the story. Her purposeful use of this narrative style ensures that this story is very relatable. Her careful attention to sensory details makes the story vivid and real. This book welcomes the reader to breath alongside the main characters, hear the rustle of leaves in timeworn oak trees, feel the warmth of the sun shining on hilltop gardens, and slip back into a bygone world of loss, love, family, tradition, faith, and intrigue.

As the story develops, the characters face situations that challenge their assumptions and test their loyalties. Though they may struggle with understanding God’s specific purposes for their lives, they demonstrate determination, perseverance, and courage as they endeavor to make the right choices for themselves, their families, and their communities. When the characters encounter various opportunities, choices, and trials, they find themselves on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and redemption that shapes their hearts and defines their futures.

To Dwell Among Cedars is an unforgettable novel that is strengthened and enriched by its genuine respect for both history and the Bible. Throughout this book, Ms. Cossette shows how challenging it can be for those who long for true belonging and acceptance. Yet, for those who desire to be known and wanted, no better place can be found than in the welcoming embrace of God’s goodness and grace. From beginning to end, To Dwell Among Cedars is a powerful novel that illuminates the truth about the restorative and redemptive nature of God’s love for all people. Truly meaningful and deeply moving, it is a book that entertains, uplifts, and inspires. I recommend it most sincerely. 

*I was given a copy of this book from the publisher. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.

Afraid of her uncle, Eliora and her brother Lukio run from their Philistine city, following the Ark of the Covenant. They are adopted by the family tasked with guarding the Ark in Kiryat Yearim. Ronan was part of the group the recovered the Ark and found Eliora. Tasked by his uncle to return the Ark to the rightful bloodline, Ronan has come to Kiryat Yearim to infiltrate and find out where the Ark is being guarded.

I struggled with this book. It took me two weeks to finish it. Arisa and Lukio were interesting and I wanted to know how things would turn out for them. I was ify about Ronan and then I liked him less and less. I just really didn't like Ronan's duplicity and naivete. The one thing the kept me reading is I wanted to know what was going to happen to Lukio/Natan.

So overall it was okay.

Connilyn Cossette is a must read author for me. She deeply captures the historical elements of the Bible history accurately and blends captivating and realistic characters to the page. I know once I start I can't stop reading - these books usually keep me reading late into the night (or early in the morning!). Once again To Dwell among Cedars is an instant favorite and one I will be sharing with family and friends.

Philistine siblings Eliora and Natan follow the golden box stolen from the Hebrews, leaving behind their past. Eight years later there is dissention among the clans about the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, musician Ronen is sent ahead to discover its location for his clan.

Overcoming betrayal and heartache, Eliora and Ronen must fight for truth.

Set in the years that the Ark came to rest in Kiryat-Yearim, the author vividly brings to life the culture and landscape of those years. Eliora is drawn to the Ark when it is taken by her people, she sees firsthand the power that it represents. I admired her deep love for her brother and adoptive family, she has a heart for service, but it is also more than that. Eliora is a strong relatable heroine, she carries a heavy burden.

A well written book that brings to life the years of judges, imagining what life might have been for Israelites during those years before they had a king. I loved how Ronen is a musician, and how he and Eliora find a listening ear and a understanding heart in each other. This is a gripping read, that I was loathe to put down. I loved the characters and how it sets up the next book fantastically. I loved the strong themes of grace, adoption and redemption that ran throughout. A richly woven story, with great character development and beautiful descriptions that bring the setting to life. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"Follow the Ark, Arisa. Do not turn to the right or to the left, and do not stop until it dwells among the cedars and you are sheltered in perfect peace."

Once again, I am amazed with Connilyn Cossette's ability to transport me back to biblical times and open my eyes to truths shared in the Holy Bible. To Dwell Among Cedars begins in Philistia in 1070 BC and Cossette immediately captured my attention with her imaginative tale of what might have occurred during the attempts to recover the Ark of the Covenant, as she bases her story on scripture from 1 Samuel 4 and 1 Samuel 6. Fascinating characters and her wonderful descriptive powers are the keys to this intriguing tale of adoption, forgiveness, a return to faith, and the beginning of a sweet love story between Eliora (Arisa), a Philistine girl, and the Levite musician Ronen. Eliora's brother Natan (Lukio) is also an important part of To Dwell Among Cedars and I am looking forward to learning more about him in the next book in The Covenant House duology!

I recommend To Dwell Among Cedars to all who enjoy biblical fiction and Christian romance. You won't be disappointed!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. There was no obligation for a favorable review and no monetary compensation was given. These are my own thoughts.

The story in To Dwell Among Cedars is based off a story in the Old Testament where the Ark is taken by the Philistines and the is returned to Israel, and settles in Kiryat-Yearim. It takes place during the time period in Israel's history when judges ruled, right before they get their first king, in 1 Samuel 4-7.

I was not really familiar with the Biblical account. It seems like I had heard about portions of it, but did not have knowledge of or understand it in great detail. It was good to refresh myself and go back and read the account in the Scriptures again.

At the beginning of the book, there is a map (which I love) that helps you become acquainted with locations in the story, since the setting for the book takes places in several places.

In To Dwell Among Cedars, Connilyn Cossette has built a beautiful story around the account in 1 Samuel. It tells the story of a girl who goes from darkness to light, which I believe is the story of us all who have put our trust in Jesus.

The girl follows the Ark of the Covenant, and it leads her into peace and family, redeeming grace and hope.

I loved this story. I read it slowly this time. Often when I am reading, I read quickly because I want to know what happens next! But this time, I read the story slowly, and just rested in the peacefulness of the setting and the plot.

There is a clean romance as part of the plot, which would be encouraging to young women/men in your life who are looking for God's best. Honesty, courage, love, service, and kindness are all interwoven in the story, as well as how to handle situations when these character qualities are not demonstrated.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction and stories based on the Bible. This would be a great book to include as part of a high school homeschool curriculum.

Many blessings to you as you grow in grace and the knowledge of Him,
Beth


*Disclosure statement: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This book is the beginning of The Covenant House Series by Connilyn Cossette and, once again, the Old Testament has been brought to life through her beautiful writing. In this series, Cossette explores the period of time during 1 and 2 Samuel. Her research is, as always, impeccable, thorough and stays true to Scripture.
A note to readers: this author writes fascinating Biblical fiction but it isn't 'fluff'. You want to read slowly, savor each word and be prepared to be blessed. I strongly urge you to be sure to read the author's note at the conclusion which explores the subject matter within the book more deeply. It also may help clarify portions a bit more as well.
This author never disappoints and she didn't this time either. I loved her Cities of Refuge Series and didn't think she could top them. This one is off to a very promising start!
I received a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This story.

First, let me start off this review by mentioning how good it feels to delve back into the pages of a Connilyn Cossette book. There's nothing quite like her strong, courageous characters and the patterns of faith, hope, and second chances that make up the soul of her books.

And this story was no different.

The fact that Ms. Cossette is exploring a new era of Biblical history through her duology intrigued me, and reading about one of my most favorite times in that history was incredibly fascinating. The conflict created by Eliora's (btw, I'm obsessed with her name) Philistine heritage and the scars from both Ronan's and her histories tugged at my heartstrings and kept me deeply invested throughout the book. I also really appreciated the familial elements and how they wove such a strong thread throughout the book. My heart broke with Natan's repeated rejections and I ached for the love he continued to spurn. But knowing that the next book in this series is his story--I can't wait to see how his life is explored and his tale is told.

Overall, there were so many wonderful things about this story, and while I appreciated its consistency with Connilyn Cossette's previous stories, this book also had its own unique flavor and kept me enthralled. I'm so excited to see what comes next in these characters' stories.

#BookReview: TO DWELL AMONG CEDARS by Connilyn Cossette

This is my first Connilyn Cossette book and it won’t be my last. The compelling story caught my attention and stayed true to biblical facts. I know because I read the bible side by side with this book. Arisa’s trust in Azuvah led to this journey of life and faith.

“Follow the Ark, Arisa. Do not turn to the right or to the left, and do not stop until it dwells among the cedars and you are sheltered in perfect peace.” - Azuvah

The Bible came to life with this amazing book. I really enjoyed it. It’s that kind of book that you want to savor on your first read. Then you want to read and read it again. I look forward to the next book in the series. 5 stars

Thank you to Bethany House for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own. This book is now available for purchase.

To Dwell Among Cedars is the first book in Connilyn Cossette's new Covenant House series. In this series opener, siblings Eliora and Lukio are forced to flee from life as they know it when they find themselves in serious danger. They trust their aunt's guidance and begin to follow the Ark of the Covenant. They are welcomed into a Levite family where they become settled and happy. Years later, they find themselves in trouble again when a group of misguided Hebrews plan to steal the Ark and transport it to a new location. Eliora does not know who to trust and she must find her way with God's help as she tries to help herself and her brother.

I always enjoy Connilyn's books. Her Biblical fiction is the best I have read. I love how she uses her imagination to fill in the blanks while still staying Scripturally sound. I also really appreciate her talent for character development as the characters in her books are always relatable and interesting. I especially enjoyed Eliora's character in this book and I look forward to reading the rest of this series. Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the chance to read and review this book!

I couldn’t wait to dive into this book, after reading Cossette’s previous Cities of Refuge series! I loved those books and expected another good read here—which I got. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of my favorites of hers in the end, but that was because the action seemed more stilted here and wasn’t in the high-risk/high-stakes danger I was accustomed to in her other books. Despite my slight disappointment there, however, I was impressed at her ability to pull the Biblical account into the story the way she did.

Many parts of this story—especially the first section—felt almost as if they were lifted from the Bible. They were taken a step higher with a touch of fiction added, but it felt very close to the Biblical account. I loved that.

Otherwise, this book was good. Encouraging, somewhat challenging, but good. If you’re looking for a book similar to her previous series, you might be somewhat disappointed—I didn’t feel like it was as good as those. In saying that, though, I still enjoyed it enough I can’t wait until the next one comes out, so my disappointment can’t be that great! Another good story, with a strong historical basis and an intriguing setting.

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

To Dwell among Cedars
by Connilyn Cossette
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 01 Dec 2020



I am reviewing a copy of To Dwell among Cedars through Bethany aHouse Publishers and Netgalley:




Eight years prior, the Philistines stole and then surrendered the ark of the covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora left her Philistine homeland in order to follow the ark to the community of Kiryat Yearim. It is there, the family she was adopted has guarded the ark at the mountain of seclusion.




We meet Ronen too a Levite musician who is determined to hide away at the Ark to a more fitting resting place, watched over by priests who would restore the Holy of Holies. He could never have imagine that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would now be part of the very family he's tasked to deceive.




Ronen attempts to charm Eliora which leads them into unexpected directions, while betrayal leaves Eliora with strained family ties, and also has Ronen ask himself questions about his own loyalties. Eliora and Ronen are caught up in the battle battle for the soul of Israel and its future under the leadership of Samuel, the last judge before the era of the kings begins.




If you are looking for a good historical novel To Dwell Among the Cedars is definitely one I would recommend.



I give To Dwell Among the Cedars five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Connilyn Cossette's new book is amazing! It follows Arisa and her brother Lukio, through trials and adjusting to a new family and culture. I love how Connilyn weaves the Old Testament stories into fantastic adventures that bring the Bible to life. I find myself looking up Bible verses to see what is going on and get more involved.

Connilyn also does a great job of showing the parallels of physical adoption and the spiritual adoption e receive when we believe in Jesus. We are an adoptive family, and I am so blessed by the portrayal of adoption and love in this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I can't wait for the next one!

Summary: Arisa and Lukio are fleeing from Ashdod and an uncle about to sell Arisa to the temple. Through the sacrifice of a Hebrew slave who taught them the stories of her people, Arisa and Lukio follow the “magic box” that’s wrought havoc on their community. Since capturing it from the Hebrews, the box has brought plague and death to the Philistine cities possessing it. The siblings follow it as it enters Hebrew lands. After being discovered by Levites, they are lovingly adopted into a family who vow to keep the box, known as the Ark of the Covenant, safe until God makes clear where it should be kept. Some priests, however, believe the ark should be restored to Shiloh and make plans to steal it during the next Levitical festival no matter the cost.

Review: The book dives into a period Scripture says little about, between 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. Arisa grapples with her past and what her people have done. She fears losing the love of her adoptive family and throws herself into serving others. Her brother, however, doesn’t want to forget his Philistine heritage and is bitter living among Hebrews. Ronen is a priest tasked with gathering information about the ark’s whereabouts, but the kindness and faith of Arisa’s family calls into to question Ronen’s own family’s motivations for stealing the Holy of Holies. For these three characters, love and loyalty are put to the test in heart-wrenching ways. The story is unhurried as characters grapple with themes of faith and acceptance despite how one looks or where a person comes from. Cossette’s ability to bring Biblical times and its rich cultures authentically to life is, in a word, glorious. This is a beautiful exploration of the ancient past that will resonate with modern readers.

Connilyn Cossette has brought another Biblical saga to life in the pages of To Dwell Among Cedars, a story of the Ark of the Covenant and of God’s judgment, His mercy, and the redemption and forgiveness of those who feel beyond His reach. In it, she pens a stirring romance between vivid characters that come to life off the page and are not easily forgotten. (She gives them the most awesome names!) There were moments that moved a little bit slow in the earlier part of the book, but the unfolding drama and suspense heighten as the story reaches the turning point and beyond. A beautifully written novel I enjoyed very much.