I really love the characters so I was looking forward to this book. The writing, the way you easily are transported, it was wonderful to pick up another book by Connilyn.
The romance between the characters is sweet and the main point I was curious to see was the continuation of the search of Zevi’s brother. It was a bit hard however to see the main leads romance come from a situation like it did because it was what Zevi despised yet he did the same actions to someone else, and I wish that wasn’t the way he had fallen in love. (Also ahhhhh the death of certain characters I was so sad! 😭) but I look forward to the next book and have them appear and continue to follow this family and their experiences.

This book did not disappoint. I love this author and she did a great job at telling a good story (continuation of previous story line, but you wouldn't need to read in order, although knowing the character's history does add to the story). A story of faith, forgiveness and growth and resilience. I love this author's writing as I feel I grow both spiritually and am entertained at the same time. The Old Testament is not as well known as the New Testament/Gospel and this story helps give a new look at an ancient time with relevant lessons for today.

Shield of the Mighty is a wonderful follow-up to Voice of the Ancient which is one of my favorite books of 2023. Connilyn's Biblical fiction are really my favorite of mine. She really knows how to bring to life the setting and all her characters so you feel like you are walking along with them. Zevi and Yochana are a great match for each other and I relished every moment of reading/listening to this story. I loved watching them grow and learn from their pasts.

If you're in the mood for amazing Biblical fiction, read Connilyn Cossette's books!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 20 August 2024

Shield of the Mighty
The King's Men #2
By Connilyn Cossette
Zevi's whole life is focused on serving as a soldier and getting vengeance on the Philistines. He's never forgiven them for the pain they put him through. Rather ironic as the man he calls father is a Philistine, but it is what it is. And now he is returning to the town that sent him away as a child - Maresha. He needs to convince to supply men to serve in King Saul's army and to supply skilled workers for Saul's court.

Maresha has suffered loss as men lose their lives in service to a king they don't accept. Yochana lost her husband mere months after they were wed. She is no fan of a king who would squander the lives of his men, and she has no intention of using her skills as a perfumer in his court. And she'll gladly see Saul's recruiters gone.

But when events force Zevi and Yochana to see events from a different perspective, the Lord might give them peace and new beginnings more than they ever expected. But they must both let go of the resentments they stubbornly cling to.

This is a fascinating step back in time that doesn't rely on gimmicks to hold one's attention but on research and attention to detail. Both characters have compelling stories that elicit sympathy, and their growth moves the story forward. The story, though the second in the series, is complete and does not leave one hanging waiting for what comes next. This an excellent read and one I highly recommend.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

My Quick Takes:
- 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 kisses only
- Content Considerations 🤔 themes of violence, imprisonment, war. Past rape, parental death, spousal death

Readers finally get a peek into Zevi’s past. The male main character is sent on a mission to recruit more men to fight the Philistines, and to find skilled artisans to fill King Saul’s court. While on his mission, Zevi is forced to come face to face with his past, lending itself to great character development.

I love how Cossette drops readers into the biblical time period throughout her narratives. I enjoyed learning more of Zevi’s background and what makes him tick.

Yochana, a widow and perfumer, seems to be Zevi’s opposite in every way. As their stories intertwined, the romantic plot that developed is one I really appreciated. The book wrapped up so perfectly, and the final 20% made me want to reread the biblical account of the events referenced by Cossette. Very excited for the third book!

“But just as a soldier trusts his commander and a commander trusts his king, you must trust the King above all Kings to direct you. And as I’ve learned over these past years, the orders are more often whispered than shouted.” – Natan, Zevi’s father

❤️ MY THOUGHTS: Voice of the Ancient was one of my top reads of 2023 and so, when I received the approval email from NetGalley for Shield of the Mighty (book two of The King’s Men series), I was thrilled!

Connilyn Cossette is a gifted writer, a master at weaving biblical facts and fictional aspects to bring forth a captivating tale that not only honors and glorifies God but brings to life the rich history of Israel. Her stories are ones that ignite a desire to dig deeper into the Word of God and Shield of Mighty is no different as it will have you diving into the Old Testament and diligently reading the pages of 1 Samuel.

Told through the eyes of Zevi, a captain in King Saul’s army and Yochana, a widow and skilled businesswoman, Shield of the Mighty shines a light on the faithfulness and goodness of God and reminds us that when all seems lost, He is still there. That vengeance and justice belong to the LORD and that His ways and His timing are always perfect. It is a story of healing and forgiveness, love and restoration.

💜 READ IF YOU LIKE:
Ancient Israel
Biblical Fiction
Rich atmospheric settings
Well-developed characters
A clean, compelling romance
Biblical themes woven throughout

⚠️ CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS: Kidnapping, loss of a parent and sibling, battlefield imagery and description; mention of stealing, arson, murder, and rape.

I loved it! Thank you, NetGalley and Bethany House, for my eARC in an exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Aside from being absolutely frustrated by Zevi’s decisions from the start (which I can’t talk about because, you know, spoilers) — I loved this story. @connilyncossetteauthor can craft such rich, colourful descriptions that I have no trouble picturing historical Israel.

I always love how Connilyn places her stories during real biblical events but doesn’t focus on real people in the Bible as her main characters. It’s a preference of mine not to read fictionalized accounts of actual people in the Bible, and I haven’t found many authors that write like Connilyn does.

I loved how relatable Yochana and Zevi are. Even the secondary characters in this book are colourful and brought to life. There are many deep spiritual truths to be found in here, and yet as a Christian book it never comes off as preachy. I know Christian books get a bad rap as being too ‘preachy’ but Connilyn weaves truth in her books in a beautiful, engaging way.

SHIELD OF THE MIGHTY highlights the very beginning stages of King Saul’s reign, with all the tensions and turmoil among the Israelites. Many have lost hope in a united Israel and have come to reject the king who sent their men to their deaths, all in the pursuit of glory. Which leaves Zevi, a captain in King Saul’s army tasked with recruiting soldiers, in a tough position.

I do recommend reading book 1, Voice of the Ancient, before you read this book, as there is an overarching storyline that would probably make sense on its own, but you’ll get more of the message if you read book 1 first. I absolutely loved this book and yes, I’m already waiting for book 3.

I love Avi's story, so I was excited to hear about this new book. I'm glad I read it. It's a fantastic story of love and loyalty. It was nice to see familiar characters from previous books. I think Zevi and Yochana are a perfect match. I wasn't happy with Zevi's initial choices, but I guess things happen for a reason. Their romance was a wild ride. So many things happened, making this a very interesting read. I highly recommend this series and can't wait for the next one.

Rating: 5 stars
Pub date: Aug 20 2024

Thank you Bethany House Publishers and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book is a continuation of a series. It was an enjoyable story set in the time of King Saul's reign. It is a romance but it also gives a lot of biblical background. Cossette's books always have depth and seem to be well-researched. I enjoy biblical fiction greatly and she is one of the best, in my opinion. I enjoyed seeing characters from the previous books in the series and seeing what has happened to them a few years later. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes biblical fiction and./or romance.

The Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette is a wonderful read. It kept me guessing what is going to happen next. I love the way the book is written, she writes it like it could have happened. You will enjoy reading it till the end. You won’t regret reading this story. Thank you for a wonderful read and I can’t wait for the next book you write.

I had only read about one page of this book before I set it down and went to grab the first book of the series. And I am so glad that I did. While the stories can stand alone, they are best read with the intricacies and history that come from starting at the beginning. A series of four close-knit cousins whose adventures begin together but take them through a wide array of life.

A Biblical Fiction with Romance story from the early years of King Saul’s reign, this novel took us on an adventure through the countryside and war. An enemies to lovers trope, our hero struggles between trusting his own strength and trusting Adonai. Our heroine is a widow and broken over the loss of her husband in battle. The depth and breadth of characters and culture was vast. This has been such an amazing series and my only disappointment is that the rest of the series isn’t available for me to read right now!! I’m excited to go and read all by this author.

I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I have never read a book by this author, but after reading this wonderful book I plan to go grab any of her other books that are published.

I see that this book has connections to previous books she’s written; however, it does stand alone and I never felt confused by all the characters introduced. Actually I thought the character development was done wonderfully.

Things happen quickly in this fast-paced book, and it’s hard to put it down. There are wonderful characters, plenty of action, intrigue, romance, and so much more. It was a wonderful way to see a scene from the Old Testament come to life. I look forward to reading any more books in this series.

"But just as a soldier trusts his commander and a commander trusts his king, you must trust the King above all Kings to direct you."
"Only Yahweh can stand as a righteous judge. Leave vengeance in His capable hands."
Once again Connilyn Cossette has managed to make me feel like she's dropped me right into the middle of the story to experience everything along with her characters. She has a real knack for making the story come to life. And, there were some very timely reminders throughout. Sometimes it's necessary for us to revisit our pasts so that God can use it to help us see the big picture about why we may have experienced certain things. He always knows what's best for us, even when it seems like we're going backwards. We always need to be willing to use our gifts for our King. There is no satisfaction in revenge and we need to leave it in His hands.
When I started reading Shield of the Mighty, there were a few choices that Zevi made that made me initially think that I wouldn't like him as much as I had Avi. But as God used his circumstances and his past to help him grow and learn to rely on his faith more, I liked him more and more. His leadership skills were apparent from the beginning but his choices were clouded by regret and a desire for revenge against the Philistines. But, even when he was forcing choices on Yochana, he was still protective and determined to do the right thing. I really loved how Zevi and Yochana's relationship developed and how she was willing to see past what he'd done to the honorable man he truly was. By the end of the book, Zevi may be my favorite of the cousins and I really can't wait to read the next installment!

This was such a wonderful story for me! The story of Zevi and Yochana, an army captain and a perfume maker. Quite the match! 🥹

You can tell that there was a lot of research that went into it, as it is a Biblical fiction story, and I loved every bit of it. Connilyn really painted the scene for me throughout the whole book! Everything was so beautiful and I loved the dual pov (possibly my favorite pov ever). This read was so touching!

After reading books that took me to 1920s Paris, pirate ships, regency ballrooms, and WWI New York, I loved being transported back in time to ancient Israel via Connilyn Cossette’s vivid descriptions that left me standing amongst the sights, smells, and sounds of God’s people in the time of King Saul. Utterly captivating, beautifully written, and emotionally moving, this story entertains while also pointing straight to our God as savior and protector of His beloved people. Complete with an excellent enemies to lovers trope, protective hero, spunky yet caring heroine, and well written character development, this romance is perfection! I highly recommend Connilyn Cossette’s biblical fiction to everyone— even those who don’t typically read biblical fiction. This is because her biblical fiction creates main characters who witness history as “extras” without comprimising true events. I prefer this over rewriting backstories of real biblical figures, which requires me to continually separate fact and fiction in my mind. I normally didn’t read biblical fiction before discovering Connilyn Cosette’s books, and now I love them! So give this series a try, and be swept away to ancient Israel to witness history unfold!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for receive purposes, but my thoughts are my own. I really did love it!

I really liked Connilyn Cossette’s book and how she takes us on a journey into biblical times. I liked seeing the struggle that these characters had as they tried to decide whether to serve the king or not and what that would mean for them. I liked how both Zevi and Yochana were strong, independent characters and how they complimented each other. I liked that we got insights into what the world would have been like at the time of Saul and how different people struggled with whether to support him or not. I feel like I learned more about this time as I read.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Captured by the Philistines as a young boy, Zevi has grown into a formidable warrior. As a captain in King Saul's army, he is assigned a crucial mission: Recruit soldiers, gather tribute for the royal coffers, and find talented artisans for the king's court. But when he is sent to Maresha, the town he was forced to leave as a child, he faces a startling truth--the elder council rejects King Saul and his campaign against their enemies. Yochana, a widow and skilled woman of business, is captivated by a stranger who enters her perfume shop. Upon discovering he is not only a soldier but a captain responsible for enlisting young men to die in battle, fury and pain from her past loss resurfaces, threatening to consume her. When Zevi's actions in Maresha entangle Yochana in his scheme, they both are forced to confront present dangers and past hurt

I was introduced to this author in my church book club. We recently read the first in this series, so when NetGalley and the publisher offered this one, I was anxious to see what had happened to the characters. Again, her writing is outstanding, and her descriptions of Israel are very good. She develops the character of Zevi and re-introduces his cousins from the first book. I loved Yochana, and the author also developed her characters as the book developed. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the books. I highly recommend this book and this author..

Connilyn Cossette has yet to disappoint! This book is even stronger than the first in the series! I fell in love with Zevi as a boy in Lukio's story and have enjoyed watching him grow in the novellas Mrs. Cossette has been releasing about his boyish escapades. After reading his cousin Avi's story in Voice of the Ancient, I could hardly wait for this book to come out, but it was worth the wait! I loved how he had to face all the pain of his past and that he found true healing and wholeness in Yahweh rather than in himself! His journey was really breathtakingly beautiful! And Yochana is a wonderful character in her own right, but together with Zevi -- brilliant! I really loved everything about this book and wouldn't change a thing!

Another amazing book in the King’s Men series! Shield of the Mighty is an inspiring, thrilling story with action, romance, & compelling characters! Connilyn Cossette brings so much heart to this faith filled story. I enjoyed the instant attraction, captor/captive, slow burn romance and the beautiful messages woven throughout the story. I loved the way this Biblical time period was brought to life in such a vivid, exciting way.

Zevi was captured by the Philistines as a young boy, but is now a formidable warrior fighting for King Saul. He wants revenge against the people who inflicted so much pain on him & his people. Returning to Maresha, the place he called home before his capture brings back bittersweet memories as he tries to recruit men to fight in Saul’s army. When he steps into a perfumer’s shop, he’s instantly attracted to the beautiful owner. While they’re at odds over King Saul, he admires her skills & determines to have her travel back with him.

Yochana’s a talented perfumer & adept businesswoman now a widow after her husband of only a few months was killed fighting for King Saul. Her bitter resentment over his death causes her to work against the King. When a handsome stranger arrives in her shop she’s immediately attracted to him, but when she finds out he’s a soldier recruiting men to fight for Saul, it exacerbates her anger. Finding herself forced on a journey to see the King, her anger soon cools as she learns more about Zevi and his cause. On their journey, they face dangers, betrayals, intrigue, and their own pasts as their attraction turns to love.

I adored this story! Zevi’s & Yochana’s relationship starts out on the wrong foot where he’s her captor. As they get to know each other, Zevi regrets his actions and realizes they make him like the very enemies he resented. I enjoyed seeing his growth as his single focused mission begins to change. Yochana is such a kind, sympathetic character & I enjoyed learning more about her unique profession. I loved how Yochana & Zevi both come to the realization that revenge is best left in God’s hands. There are some definite surprises that kept me quickly turning the pages & I enjoyed the time spent with Zevi’s adopted family. There’s also the continued story of Zevi’s lost cousin from the previous book & I can’t wait to learn his story.

Highly recommend to historical & Biblical fiction fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

1040 BC Israel

Beautifully written Biblical Fiction. Connilyn Cossette has a gift of creating engaging stories based upon Biblical events. In Shield of the Mighty Saul is serving as King.

The series is focused on four young cousins with warrior Zevi as the main character in Shield of the Mighty. Zevi is eager to defeat the Philistines in part for vengeance. His present and past collide when he returns the city of his birth: Maresha. In Maresha, Zevi is impressed by a beautiful perfumer Yochana.

Their story has me captured from beginning to end. This novel is full of historical details, faith messages and a slow burn romance. The ending is charming. Another home run of a novel by the talented Connilyn Cossette. I can't wait to read the next in the series!