4.5 stars

When I was a little girl, my parents had a series of books from Moody Publishing called The Muffin Family Picture Bible that paired Bible stories with application illustration tales involving the Muffin family (including children Maxi and Minnie). I loved when my parents would read these to my brother and me, and I associate a warm, cozy feeling – the kind that comes with a well-told story – with those reading times. I get that same feeling whenever I settle into a Biblical fiction novel by Connilyn Cossette, and I was completely swept away by Shield of the Mighty.

We became acquainted with Zevi as part of the band of cousins in book one of this series, Voice of the Ancient. But readers of Between the Wild Branches will also recognize his adoptive parents, Lukio and Shoshanna. It’s not necessary to have read that book first, as I haven’t and had no troubles following along, but I’m sure it would add extra depth to the already rich layers to this story if you have. Zevi has become a skilled and trusted soldier in King Saul’s army (with the swoon factor to go along with it!). As such, he is given an important, if formidable, assignment – to recruit soldiers, tradesmen, and artisans from the distrusting-of-Saul Yehudites in the face of looming war with the Philistines. The task takes him to the place where his story began… and all the grief and pain entangled with his childhood memories there. Memories which Cossette weaves into the narrative with insight and compassion, drawing empathy from readers as well as giving his character needed depth and emotion to balance his warrior spirit and strength.

Something else that balances Zevi’s soldier side is Yochana … or more specifically, how besotted he is with her from the moment her unique scent draws him into her perfumery. Cue the fans and fainting couches, my dear readers, because goodness he’s swoony around her. Even if he ensures her continued presence in a rather unorthodox way which, I must admit, had me thinking, “I don’t think this is going to end well for him” haha! Oh me of little faith, though, because Cossette beautifully sketches their instant-attraction-but-slow-burn love story throughout these pages. Ahhh be still my heart, because it’s still all aflutter over their chemistry, yes, but also the way they just ‘belong’ to each other so well.

Bottom Line: Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette is so many wonderful things – a deeply beautiful romance between two wounded souls, a meticulously-researched historical novel that brings the Old Testament to life, and a riveting military fiction full of stunning twists and daring action, just to name a few. But more than any of those, it is an exquisite illustration of what it looks like to trust God with your life, to listen to His Voice, and to take shelter in His mighty shield of refuge. I adored Zevi and Yochana together, and I loved the Biblical history that Cossette painted as a vivid backdrop to their story. The ongoing series arc of the youngest cousin continues, and I am very curious how that plot line will ultimately play out. This is another winner from a gifted author, and a must-read you don’t want to miss!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Shield of the Mighty is yet another beautiful story of faith, Biblical truth and love set in the Old Testament backdrop. Connilyn Cossette’s ability to craft a romantic love story full of adventure and suspense is unrivaled. I’ve loved every one of her books, and I can’t get enough. I’ve loved Zevi’s character ever since he was introduced in Between the Wild Branches, and was so excited to learn that we’d get to see his story play out in Shield of the Mighty. No longer a young boy, Zevi’s grown into a strong soldier on a special mission for King Saul. His first meeting with Yochana made me smile. I loved seeing their chemistry right from the start! I also loved Yochana’s journey throughout the book (I won’t say more than that – you just need to read it for yourself!) And that ending was everything!
I have to say, every time I pick up a Connilyn Cossette book, I know I’m in for twists and turns, and sweet romance, as well as lessons of God’s faithfulness, power and might woven throughout the story. Absolutely recommend Shield of the Mighty, as well as all of Connilyn Cossette’s books!

Intimacy: Sweet Kisses only

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and author. All opinions are my own!

I'm so glad I got to enjoy this one this month! What a great story. I knew I would like Zevi's story, especially since I loved getting to meet him as the protective and precious child Lukio grows attached to, and from getting to know him a little in the series prequel and Avidan's story.

I also loved Yochana! The idea to make her a perfumer and maker of healing salves was a fun one, and I loved seeing how that played into the story in different ways as the story goes on. She is such a fun character, even from the start, and that made me love their unfolding love story all the more.

This was a fun story, and a quick read. There are several entertaining twists along the way, and I loved some of the surprises, and unsuspected allies the show up!

There is nothing better than reading a book that pulls you in from the very beginning! "Shield of the Mighty" by Connilyn Cossette does exactly that.

Synopsis - Captred by the Philistines as a young boy Zevi has grown into a formidable warrior. He is on a mission as captain in King Sauls army to recruit soldiers, and find talented artisans for the king court. He returns to the town that sent him away after his parent died. The town decided not to sign up to fight for Saul.

Yochana is a widow who is very skilled at making perfume and healing medicine. She is mesmerized by a stranger who walks into her shop. That is till she realized he's there to recruit men to go to war. She lost her husband to war!

Thoughts - I have to say that I love the way this author intertwined the story with the biblical time of Sauls reign. You see how Zevi is trying to overcome the pains of his past and protect a town that will not support the war. Then there is Yochana and her pain of losing her husband. Will Zevi and Yochana be able to overcome their past and look to the future. This a great love story!

Disclaimer - I received this complementary copy from the publisher through netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette
(Book 2 in The King's Men Series)
4 Stars

“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."

Shield of the Mighty is a captivating dive into the ancient world of Israel. Connilyn seamlessly weaves a rich narrative in faith, love and biblical truths. I really enjoyed this second book in the series and look forward to book 3!

This story follows Zevi, a warrior who, as a child was captured by the Philistines. Zevi is a captain in King Saul's army who is tasked with recruiting soldiers and artisans for the king's court. Zevi goes back to Maresha. Here we see the start of his character development as he is struggling through his past memories, while trying to get the job he has upon him completed. We see Zevi meet Yochana, a perfumer whose shop has beautiful scents that hide from the world. Yochana is still grieving the loss of her husband and learning how to run her perfume business by herself when she meets Zevi. Zevi and Yochana embark on an unexpected journey together and the chemistry between them is remarkable.

I loved how rich the historical context is for the biblical times in this book. Connilyn really transports you right there and it feels accurate for the time. From the details of the markets, to the land, to the battlegrounds of the men fighting.

Fans of historical fiction, biblical stories will love this series. This was written so well with great characters and a compelling romance. I highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the ARC and finished copy of Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette. All opinions are my own.

Last year, I read the first book in this series called Voice of the Ancient. I really enjoyed that book and was excited to be back in that world. Shield of the Mighty far exceeded my expectations. It was just so good that I didn’t want to put it down!

This biblical fiction story has so many great aspects to it including romance, a surprising plot, a focus on family, and spiritual growth. I loved this book from start to finish, and I was surprised by so much of the plot, and I loved the characters so much that I kept wanting to pick this book back up. I can’t wait to see where this story goes in the future.

One of my favorite parts about this book was the romance. While the first book in this series had romance, I feel like it was a bit more of the focus in this story. I loved Zevi and Yochana and their many interactions. While Zevi wasn’t justified in his actions early on, I liked that he learned from those mistakes and that Yochana was such a forgiving person. I think that they both suited each other so well and really brought out the best in each other.

Besides the romance, both main characters grew so much as people. It was beautiful to see how they grew spiritually and how they allowed themselves to learn from their mistakes and not stay set in their old beliefs. They both had past trauma to deal with, and I liked seeing them be vulnerable with each other and the people around them.

The plot in this story was so exciting and had so many unexpected twists and turns. There was a moment in particular that I gasped out loud because I was so shocked. The unexpectedness of a lot of the plot made this story so exciting, and it kept my interest the whole time.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone (even if you aren’t a Christian) because the story is just so unique and interesting. I can’t wait to see what happens next for these characters!

3.5 stars

Having enjoyed Cossette’s books for years now, I was excited to see this one coming out. I love the way she brings Ancient Israel to life and also enjoy her well-rounded, relatable characters. This book wasn’t a disappointment! Although some elements of the story annoyed me to some extent, I ended up enjoying the story quite a bit.

I don’t think I’ve ever come across a book of Cossette’s where I’ve struggled to get into the story or connect with the characters. This book was no different. I appreciated Zevi’s zeal and Yochana’s sweetness right away, and could easily understand why they were at the places they were. One thing I especially appreciated was that though this is a book featuring a woman in charge of a business (a popular theme these days), it never felt forced or unnatural in the setting—the explanations made perfect sense, so that part didn’t feel so much like modern thinking as I was afraid it might. I also enjoyed reading about Yochana’s job as a perfumer and ointment maker. I’ve been interested in herbs and their uses for years, so seeing that in the story was a lot of fun!

The only thing I really struggled with in this story was the romantic element. I enjoy reading romances, but the way this one worked out didn’t completely sit well with me. It was predictable, and I came away from that part of the story feeling like the way things worked out here was somewhat unrealistic, especially since both characters started the story needing to work through grief from the past (rather than immediately get a romantic attachment). Their interactions with each other wouldn’t have been what I would have necessarily chosen—several times, the characters put themselves in situations where they could have gotten into trouble—but overall, it wasn’t too bad.

I enjoyed reading this book, and as a snapshot of part of King Saul’s reign, this book has a lot of value. There were a couple of places where I got jerked out of the storyline when modern terminology was used, but overall, this book feels like it’s a fairly good representation of what that time in Israel’s history may have looked like. I especially appreciated Cossette’s research into the Old Testament law—I never noticed any inconsistencies there, and that’s something that often bugs me if it isn’t done right! From a faith perspective, too, I was impressed at watching these characters’ faith journeys—I came away encouraged by that. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, and especially romantic Biblical fiction, I’d recommend you check this book and its prequel out. With just enough adventure to keep you turning pages, and enough tension to make you wonder how, exactly, things will turn out, this makes for a fast, easy, enjoyable read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

I absolutely love Connilyn Cossette’s Biblical fiction. She is such a talented author! I always become so immersed in her stories and the lives of her characters. I’m happy to say that Shield of the Mighty was no different!

I loved both Zevi and Yochana! Their chemistry jumped right off the page! I enjoyed how their bond developed and how their relationship showed the importance of forgiveness. Their story was one of healing, compassion and strength. It had so many surprising twists and turns! I loved every second of it. The mystery thread that started in the first story, Voice of the Ancient, continued in this story with many questions left unanswered. I cannot wait for its resolution!

I am so fond of this series and its characters! I cannot wait for the next story, which I’m hoping is about Gavi. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, you must try this excellent series!

I purchased and also received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

"What if I stopped holding on to what I thought my life should be and let Adonai determine my path? What would happen if I stopped gripping so tightly to what I held dear and opened up my hands instead?"

Love the way history comes alive in Shield of the Mighty, when Saul is recently king and the tribes are all still unsure of where their loyalties lie and whether they can trust their new king to protect their borders. Zevi was a wonderful male lead- he was kind and good, and I like books about kind and good people. Despite the instant connection between him and Yochana, they don't get started off on a great foot and their divided loyalties put them at odds with each other.
I was enjoying the book, the plot and romantic tension until the plot twist halfway through! That cut deep! There were little signs that something always coming but it was far worse than I imagined.
But when Yochana ends up at Kiriath-Yearim and meets Natan and Shoshana and all of Zevi's family - that was wonderful. I love Lukio /Natan as a middle aged dad and seeing his love for his grown (adopted) son and the lengths he'd go to for him.
This is a great story, and I'm looking forward to Gavi's book even though I'm worried about him! Bro isn't making good choices.

"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.”
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ebook for me to read so I could write an honest review. I was not compensated in any way and all opinions are my own!

A year without a new Connilyn Cossette book feels incomplete. I eagerly anticipate each release, ready to immerse myself in Biblical Israel, uncovering sweet romances woven into rich historical backdrops. However, this year's release, Shield of the Mighty, struck an emotional chord as it followed Zevi's quest for vengeance against the ruthless Philistines who kidnapped him and pillaged his city as a child.

“All I’d ever wanted was to become a soldier, and I’d excelled at it that day, but I had not been prepared for what looking into the eyes of an enemy as he took his last breath would do to my soul.” ~ Connilyn Cossette

As a long-time fan of Connilyn Cossette, I was thrilled to dive into Shield of the Mighty, expecting to be swept away as I have been many times before. However, from the book's dedication, I sensed this would be a different and difficult read. The story hit close to home, with moments that didn't feel ancient at all. For the first time, I cried over a Biblical fiction novel. While these stories are powerful reminders of our Mighty God, since October 7th, the line between past and present blurred, and I struggled to separate the two. Zevi's raw accounts of his kidnapping and his desire for vengeance were painfully relatable. No one should endure the destruction of their home or the loss of family to heinous acts of evil. Yet, rather than dwelling on the resentment and sorrow of these events, I found hope in how the characters in the book responded to these attacks, especially in their humility when they surrendered to God's will. 

“The Philistines are not bound by the battlefield laws Yahweh gave us through Mosheh. So they have no restraint in how they wage war. Women and children are not exempt from their unspeakable atrocities. They plunder and pillage and rape and burn simply because we are Hebrew and they covet the Land given to us by the Creator.” ~ Connilyn Cossette

Since meeting Zevi in Between the Wild Branches, it was rewarding to delve into his thoughts in Shield of the Mighty. His character had matured wonderfully, and although I wasn't fond of his initial actions, he more than redeemed himself in the book's second half. From the meadow scene onward, I was completely hooked, unable to put the book down until the final page. I am continually in awe of how Connilyn transforms vague Bible passages into rich, intoxicating tales of war, heroism, faith, and restoration. Her passion for God's people and the Promised Land shines through every page. 

“There is nothing wrong with fighting for our people, Zevi. It is a noble thing to sacrifice your life for another. 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.” ~ Connilyn Cossette

Yochana was another standout character. She was unafraid to speak her mind and stood firm before influential people to protect those she loved. Her growth throughout the story was beautifully portrayed, and her relationship with Zevi blossomed — though it sometimes felt rushed. 

“It hadn’t been since Ilan that I’d enjoyed the feeling of a man’s attention. In fact, I actively avoided it, and here this stranger walked into my shop on a rainy day and I was overwhelmed by his presence and nearly desperate for just the promise of his laughter.” ~ Connilyn Cossette

If nothing else, I hope readers come away from Shield of the Mighty with a deeper understanding of why Israel must stand firm against its enemies. Attacks like the Black Sabbath are not new, and we must intercede, asking God to continue shielding His people and land as we fight for peace. Zevi's story reminded me of the truth I had lost sight of after almost a year of war: Our God is mighty. He can vanquish our enemies with a mere breath, and His Word stands forever. Though we look at the vast armies surrounding us and wonder how we will survive, we must remember that God hears our cries and uses us as His soldiers to bring glory to His name. The threats are real, and the situation is severe, but as we see throughout the Bible, our God is all-powerful and confuses the enemy's plans, bringing victory in His name! 

“No matter our faithlessness, the will of Yahweh would not be thwarted.” ~ Connilyn Cossette

This is the standout message and theme I took from Shield of the Mighty. Watching Zevi wrestle with his childhood vow, release the trauma of his past, and choose to honor God above all else was powerful. Yes, he made mistakes, but God used the bad to bring blessing, restoration, and life. That's the God we serve — He makes beauty from ashes. I'm excited to read Gavi's story next and see how the Lord uses him in the unfolding events of King Saul's reign. 

“What if I stopped holding on to what I thought my life should be and let Adonai determine my path? What would happen if I stopped gripping so tightly to what I held dear and opened up my hands instead?” ~ Connilyn Cossette

Lastly, I want to thank Connilyn Cossette for standing with Israel, writing stories like this, and reminding readers that while these are historical accounts, the story continues today, with us as the characters in God's ongoing narrative. We all have a purpose; we are all precious in God's eyes. Through our obedience, God uses us in mighty ways to bring Him glory and honor. May we continue to see the Lord as our Great Commander and Shield through the wars we face, trusting that victory is only found in Him. Am Yisrael Chai!

“Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.” ~ Deuteronomy 33:29 NIV

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.*

As always I enjoy this authors stories and this was the best one yet.
I was immediately swept away in Zevi's story.
He's my hero for being brave, loyal and oh so handsome!
This wonderful book has the right amount of romance, history on what life might've been like then.
What I loved most was that God was always there watching and protecting just like He is today. All we need to do is ask.
Told in multiple voices Cossett brings to life King Saul and how he was annoited king.
I couldn't put this amazing adventure down!
I must say too, I've learned a lot of things about Biblical living. I didn't want to come back to the present. I'm still thinking about these characters. What an amazing adventure and journey in King Saul's army!
5 stars for a well written story that kept me engaged from the beginning.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine

Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette is a Christian Historical Fiction novel set during the time of Biblical Saul. It is jam packed with adventure, betrayals, distrust, fascinating history, varied characters, wholesome romance and family dynamics. But the author's main focus is Yahweh, our All. He guides and protects us but gives us free will. Sometimes our decisions are for our glory, not God's, as demonstrated in this beautiful story. Cossette reminds us of the importance and power of repentance and forgiveness. Be sure to read her notes at the end.

Yochana is a plucky young widow and knows just the right combinations of flowers, herbs, oils, resins and minerals to make the best perfumes and medicinal balms. She is angered and bewildered when Zevi, a respected captain and recruiter for Saul's army, takes her. Surprisingly, she is treated with great care. She discovers she is to become Saul's royal family's personal perfumer but she has questions. Told in both characters' perspectives, the reader discovers more of their back stories, including Zevi's adoptive father. They have reasons to oppose the Philistines and believe God chose Saul. The trials they face at times seem insurmountable, but God has unparalleled ways to work in their (and our) lives. He prepares us for life even before we're born. These are the hands which tenderly hold us!

A rich tapestry of details is gorgeously woven with vivid imagery of daily life, bits of war, turmoil and love. I really liked mentions of Biblical characters including Samuel and Saul, the Ark of the Covenant and cultural mores which breathe life into the story. It isn't a stretch to imagine the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the era. The writing itself is lovely and points to our Father.

My sincere thank you to Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this enchanting novel.

Cossette has a gift of bringing to life the stories of the Old Testament, making the truths applicable to our lives thousands of years later. She skillfully inserts historical detail and fiction to flesh out the story, her vivid prose appealing to our senses, transporting readers as the Bible is brought to life.

Shield of the Mighty is a strong addition to The King's Men series which focuses on the role of four young cousins as they are drawn into battle with Israel's first king. Zevi's past continues to haunt him, with vengeance as his driving force. His role is to recruit and train soldiers as well as discover talented young artisans for King Saul.

Zevi's mission slowly unfolds into a touching journey of faith, as he seeks God's plan and purpose. His growing friendship with Yochana, a young perfumer, helps him survive an unexpected betrayal. As he seeks to right wrongs, he learns a powerful lesson. "El Shaddai, the Might One, would be my shield and I could absolutely trust in His strength and righteousness. "

Woven throughout this story is a beautiful romance. The witty banter between the two brought more than one smile to my face.

Cossette has skillfully inserted foreshadowing that has me eagerly awaiting Gabriel's story in the next book of the series.

****I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Soldier and the Perfumer

A wonderful story of a soldier named Zevi in King Saul’s army and the beautiful perfumer Yochana. It is a story of love, romance, war and obedience to God.

Zevi was captured by the Philistines at an early age and his village was destroyed along with his young cousins who he tried to save. Since that time as a young boy, he has vowed revenge on the Philistines.

As the mighty captain in Saul’s army, he is sent to conscript men for the army and artisans for Saul’s kingdom. In doing so he kidnaped a young perfumer who refuses to go with him to serve in the king’s service.

How he later repents this mistake is part of the story of how he finally puts aside his revenge and listens to what God has to tell him. It takes the death of a friend and the betrayal of one of his most trusted companions along with danger to the perfumer he has fallen in love with to teach him this lesson.

I liked how the Philistine man took in Zevi to be his son and how he converted to knowing God and raised Zevi to be one of his family.

I also liked how Yochana was able to forgive Zevi for kidnapping her and finally was instrumental in saving his life.

It is a heartwarming story of biblical times and I enjoyed reading. it, I think you will enjoy it as well.

I received a copy of this book for free. The review is voluntary and in my own words.

Another stellar Biblical Fiction novel by Connilyn Cossette! This book has solid potential to be my top read of the year this year! With wonderful characters, new perspectives on Biblical events, solid spiritual truths and a fantastic plotline, this one will be hard to beat. This book is the 2nd book in the King's Men series. Though I believe enough information is given to be able to enjoy this story on its own, it is best read not only after Voice of the Ancient (book 1), but also Between the Wild Branches, as Zevi is a minor character in both of those books and this book expands on those experiences. Fans of the author will be glad to finally learn the motivations for Zevi's introspective and observant nature and more about the events who have shaped him into the person he is today. When he is sent to the town of his birth to recruit additional soldiers for Saul's army, he is taken with the local perfumer. Since he is also tasked with bringing artisans back for King Saul's court, he seeks to recruit Yochana as well. And thus begins a story of love, betrayal, healing, and surrender. Taking place during the time of King Saul and the war with the Philistines, Cosette once again brings the Bible to life by weaving a beautiful story set in the times surrounding key events. I don't imagine I'll read the events of 1 Samuel the same again. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Connilyn Cossette is my go-to author for riveting Biblical fiction. I can always count on her stories to sweep me away to Biblical times and places and keep me engrossed and turning pages. Shield of the Mighty is Cossette’s second book in The King’s Men series and stars Zevi, who is a captain in King Saul’s army. He is sent to surrounding cities to recruit soldiers to join the army and fight against the Philistines. He is also tasked with finding skilled artisans to serve in Saul’s court. When he happens upon talented and beautiful perfume maker Yochana, he tries to persuade her to join his group. Zevi is courageous and loyal, but his difficult past is proving hard to overcome. Yochana, whose husband was killed in battle, is plucky and has a gift for healing. The story alternates between the points of view of these two characters, and it’s interesting to see what each is feeling.

Cossette is a master at creating vividly-drawn, colorful, engaging characters and bringing them alive in a captivating tale. Her stories are richly detailed and impeccably researched and always have a deep inspirational message. This book has a very strong faith message as well as a message of the importance of family, whether biological or adopted. I recommend this book and series to those who enjoy Biblical historical fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley.. All opinions are my own.

Another winner from Connilyn Cossette! I have loved every single book of hers that's I've read so far, and this one is no exception. I read this and Voice of the Ancient back-to-back, and it's a wonderful story, and an interesting glimpse into how the various tribes of Israel would have been reacting to a Benjamite king versus the one from Judah that they were expecting. I'm eagerly anticipating the next one as we are still waiting to find out what has happened to the youngest cousin from the original foursome.

As always, Connilyn Cossette's newest book is full of action, drama, redemption, historical richness, and two broken main characters who end finding belonging with each other <3 This book follows Zevi, a military commander, and Yochana, a widow perfumer (business owning woman!!), in their journey to follow King Saul's orders. Never a dull moment, the plot always kept me on my toes and the history seeped in the pages fully immersed me in the story! I learned so much about perfume making and flowers haha. Z and Y's enemies to lovers (clean) love story was sweet, although I was shocked at what Zevi thought was a good idea to bring her with them... gotta read it to find out. Some of the romantic scenes are swoonworthy, even when Zevi was being a little cheeky lol. There's also a dog for part of the book, which made my dog-loving heart happy!

And with all her books, God is the one who binds the story together, in both MCs lives. You really get a sense of God's sovereignty from their stories. Also, seeing and hearing from Saul was so cool, since I haven't read a lot of biblical fiction with him in it.

I also realized that I love her stories, but I think I prefer the audio versions of her writing style. So there will be a future reread, but on audio!! Here are some my favorite quotes:

“‘And you trust King Saul?’ ... ‘I trust the God who placed him on the throne.’”

“It didn’t matter that her hair was streaked with mud and her tangled hair was a sopping, matted mess. I’d never seen anything more beautiful in my life.”

“It may be your perfume that drew me into your shop that day, Yochana. But it was you who captured me first.”

“What if I stopped holding on to what I thought my life should be and let Adonai determine my path? What would happen if I stopped gripping so tightly to what I held dear and opened my hands instead?”

“Are you ever going to look at me?” 🤤🫠

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for an advanced reader e-copy. All opinions are my own.

I am immersed in the world of ancient Israel when I read Connilyn Cossette's books! The writing is so genuine and engrossing. Hebrew history comes alive in ways I've never known before. This story follows Zevi and Yochana's story. They battle each other and others before finally trusting in Yahweh, the God who shields them. I laughed out loud at some parts and cried at others. Faith, adventure, and love all come together in this beautiful story. I highly recommend this book!

I'm going to go back and read the Scripture from this time period and renew it in my mind. God's power has not changed in all these years. He is still the God who makes the earth tremble.

I read an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Open the pages of this beautiful book and you are transported to ancient Israel where you will meet up with Zevi, one of the boys from Kiryat-Yearim, all grown up. Be prepared for a wild adventure, new and old friends, intrigue, betrayal, and sweet romance all wrapped up in faith journeys that the author does such a wonderful job of weaving into her stories. Connilyn Cossette’s extensive research into ancient Israel, the culture and landscape will have you experiencing life in that time and place just as if you were there. The author’s love of Yahweh shines through, with hope for all broken people. And no story of Cossette’s would be complete with that one special animal to add spice and interest. An absolute must read.
“He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in.” Deut. 33:29

I received a digital ARC copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.