The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan.Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a City of Refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood and chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is … He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past.
As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Will they break free from the shackles of the past in time to uncover the betrayal and save their lives and the lives of those they love?
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Can love overcome the pain of the past?
This is only the second Connilyn Cossette book that I’ve read but already I have come to expect a lot from her. Biblical accuracy, historical detail, vivid imagery, characters that are both flawed and memorable, and most importantly an emotionally and spiritually moving story that stays with you long after the last page is turned. Shelter Of The Most High was all of that and then some.
I found myself more than entertained by this story and its characters, I was also by turns inspired and convicted as both Sofea and Eitan travel a road darkened by loss, fear, and betrayal. Discovering along the way that forgiveness is key and that love, in all its forms, can come in the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected places.
Shelter Of The Most High is a beautiful story of redemption and of God’s guiding love even through the darkest of moments. The rich historical detail leaves readers feeling like they are standing right there with the characters. Those two things are sure to delight readers of Connilyn Cossette’s new Cities Of Refuge series and have them, as I am, anxiously waiting for more…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
After so enjoying reading “A Light on the Hill”, the first book in this series, I was most anxious to read this second book and I was not disappointed.
“Shelter of the Most High” is perhaps a more romantic novel than “A Light on the Hill” was but it does not lack in interest, drama, intrigue, excitement, sadness, sorrow, surprise and shock!
The story shows two types of peoples, those who know and follow Yahweh, the One True God and those who follow a religion with many pagan gods. It shows how their lives and relationships differ as they come to interact with one another.
As I read through this story I found it showed me many different things:
It showed how difficulties and loss can be the way people sometimes find the One True God if they do not really know Him yet.
It showed how God’s divine purpose for our lives maybe way different than our hopes and dreams and how His purpose ends up being the better one, even though at times it may not seem so.
It showed how religion is much different than a loving relationship with Yahweh, the One True God.
It showed how bitterness, un-forgiveness and revenge can lead to destruction.
It showed the provision and love of God even for those who yet do not know Him and how He uses life events and people to draw people to Himself.
This book was a delight to read in many ways from beginning to end and I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
(I received this book from Bethany House Publishers but was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.)
–Leona J. Atkinson
In terms of writing Biblical fiction, Connilyn Cossette can do no wrong. Shelter of the Most High, book 2 in her Cities of Refuge series, is another slam dunk! This book is SO good it’s officially on my re-read pile for FOREVER. The plot is so highly engaging that pages flew by at lightening speeds. The characters are perfection — Eitan stole my heart and Sofea is truly endearing. And, the themes Ms. Cossette illustrates within Shelter of the Most High are timely and allow the reader to self-reflect. Shelter of the Most High is without a doubt a must-read for 2018.
When Sofea, the heroine of Shelter of the Most High, first arrives in Kedesh, she is a traumatized, battered young woman who doesn’t speak or understand a single word of Hebrew, and has no clue about who the One, True God is. Sofea grew up surrounded by darkness. Her father, the Sicani chieftain, ruled harshly, violently, and selfishly. He believed his gods gave him the power to be whatever kind of leader to his people that he wanted to be. He hurt people, he took from people, and he sacrificed people to the gods all to suit his whims. When Sofea enters into Kedesh, she believes her life will be just as hard, if not harder, than her home life because she assumes all people, no matter where they live, are the same as her Sicani tribesmen. Sofea fears she is going to be made a slave, or worse, be used as a sacrifice. As a reader, I felt the frustration of not being able to speak to Sofea and clear things up. I actually felt as helpless as Darek, Moriyah, and Eitan as they attempted to communicate with her. However, within the first day of being in Darek and Moriyah’s home, Sofea starts to realize that there is something different about these people and she is confused. These strange people are not acting mean, cruel, or selfishly. Instead, they are feeding her, clothing her, giving her a place to clean in private, ministering to her wounds, and providing her shelter. This is all so odd and foreign to Sofea that she says to herself, “Who [are] these people?”
This moment in the book, this question, made me stop and think hard. In fact, I put the book down and turned to my husband and asked, “If a foreigner who couldn’t speak a word of English came to our door clearly needing a lot of physical help, would that person see kindness, compassion, and care? Would our actions set us apart? Would this foreigner ask herself, ‘Who are these people?’ as Sofea does in Shelter of the Most High?” This was a hard mirror to look into! While I don’t think it is smart in this day and age to open your door randomly to all strangers — some could actually be very bad people looking to take advantage of innocent people — this scenario showed my husband and myself that maybe we could be a little more compassionate towards our fellow man. Perhaps we are a bit too self-focused. I really love when a book stops a reader in her tracks and forces her to do a bit of soul-searching. Shelter of the Most High definitely forced me to take a good look into my heart and assess the kind of woman I am today, and I appreciate that this book did this for me.
Of the many characters in this novel, I closely relate to Eitan and one of his major struggles. Eitan knows why he is in Kedesh. He understands that God put him there. Honestly, most days he has resignedly accepted that God has kept him in Kedesh. BUT, Eitan is beyond frustrated by his circumstances, and he feels hopelessly trapped. It makes him restless, angry, and cagey. The way Eitan feels brought me to tears. At this point in my life, I 1000% understand his trapped, frustrated, hopeless feelings. Feeling trapped with no way out is one of the worst feelings in the world. The only way to overcome this awful feeling is to stay focused on God. We are all Esthers in our own right; we are all here for God’s purpose and for such a time as this. Eitan works through this battle — and many others; he’s quite the busy guy in this story! — really gives himself over to God’s plan, and comes out a better man in the end.
I am truly saddened that my time with this book is over. If I didn’t have such a full review schedule I would absolutely re-read this book right now. If you are looking for a well-researched, fast-paced, stunning Biblical narrative, I highly recommend Shelter of the Most High. This book is AMAZING!
I received a review copy of this novel in paperback form from the author via Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I don’t know where I’ve been, but I can’t believe I have not read a book by this author. Her silky smooth textured writing places readers right in the midst of the story. Sofea is a wonderful character with great passion. As she escapes with her cousin Prezi, the author transports us back in time. It was hard to read how Sofea and Prezi had been treated and to discover what had happened to their village. I loved how determined Sofea was to keep her cousin safe . I’m not sure how brave I would be to jump off a ship but when faced with danger, but Sofea knew they must jump or face death.
Eitan is a young man who has not been allowed to from leave his city because of a grudge someone has against him. It is evident as you read the story that revenge fuels several characters. I liked how Eitan and his family took Sofea and Prezi in and made them feel safe. There was a bit of uncertainty between the cousins of their new home but at least they were not out in water or wandering around without shelter to protect them.
I loved getting to know each character but I have to say Prezi was my favorite. Her quiet disposition was refreshing and I loved how she was hungry to know who God was. I loved how the story flowed and the mystery surrounding Eitan. Someone is out to harm him and will do anything to lure him straight into the path of death.
I loved this story and how seamless the author incorporated biblical truths throughout the story. It is also a beautiful story of people seeking forgiveness and acceptance. I loved the adventure Eitan took when he found out Sofea and Prezi were in danger. He was willing to sacrifice himself to save them. A great reminder that we also had someone who gave their life to save us. I highly recommend this story filled with historical facts and a lesson in hope.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
“The Almighty Creator spoke your being into existence. How could you be anything less than precious?”
How can this be the first Connilyn Cossette book I have read? How could I have spent these past few years as an avid reader of Christian Fiction in such ignorance of the pure delight that is Connilyn Cossette’s writing?
Wow, Shelter of the Most High totally blew me away. Kedesh, one of the cities of refuge during the time of Joshua, came to life in the pages and drew me in immediately. I love the way the author melds historical and Biblical facts with believable and realistic fiction to expand and stretch the reader’s horizon. The writing is beautiful and emotional, the plot is complex yet tightly woven, the characters are truly unforgettable, and the faith lessons are relevant.
Sofea, along with her cousin, is a foreigner stranded amongst the Israelites in the city of Kedesh. Eitan is a young man sentenced to Kedesh for events that transpired eleven years ago. Reading Light On a Hill (book one in Cities of Refuge) prior to this book will help the reader understand the events chronologically. However, even without having read the first book, I was able to piece together the pertinent background from the first book by reading this one. Sofea is a fearful yet curious, loyal, determined, tender soul who has to learn a new way of life – from language to religion. Eitan is impulsive, strong, impatient yet kind, generous, loving, dedicated and fun. They both have different fears and hurts from their pasts to overcome as God gently works on their scarred hearts. Their romance is slow and sweet even as their budding friendship is threatened by evil intentions of others and their own insecurities.
If you enjoy Biblical fiction, you don’t want to miss this book. It’s a must read!
I received a copy of the book from Baker Publishing Group via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Even with the ancient setting, Cossette’s novels have such a freshness to them. I’ve never read any novels with the setting of refuge cities for those guilty of manslaughter in Israel, nor had I thought of the implications that fleeing there means a permanent life within those walls. Shelter of the Most High brings this ancient time to life in Kedesh, one such city of refuge, brining readers back into contact with beloved characters from the first book, while meeting new ones to love just as much.
The opening scenes of Shelter of the Most High are so intense that it was hard for me to put the book down – fair warning that when you start this novel, you do it when you can have a really good reading session. From the first appearance Sofea makes on the page, you can’t help but admire her, Sofea and her deep love for the salty sea, and the solace it provides when her father, a cruel high priest, inflicts pain upon the people she loves. Her beloved ocean turns deadly when she and her cousin are taken by marauders to Canaan, a strange place for her and away from the shores she loves.
Eitan, a little boy in the previous novel, is now grown and still living in Kedesh. Though his past haunts him still, he finds Sofea captivating and hopes for a way out of the secrets that keep him within the city walls. I loved reading of their blossoming friendship, as well as watching Sofea find her place within the family. The continuity of characters from A Light on the Hill is also a huge draw of this novel. All returning characters seem to have grown and changed as if those years really have passed, and I think it takes talent to do that.
The plot itself is steady, providing readers with time to catch their breath, while still staying true to the overall intensity of the story. The faith element is lovely, both on Sofea’s part as a non-believer, and Eitan’s as a believer who has held onto a lot of shame from his childhood. The romance is both tender and timely to the story, never feeling out of place or usurping the plot. This story is just a delight to read, and if you enjoy fiction set during this time period, make it a point to read Cossette’s novels. I would start with her first series, then move to this one, because of the neat connections in the story line. However, if you want to start with this series, just make sure to read A Light on the Hill first.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
Shelter of the Most High (Cities of Refuge Book #2) by Connilyn Cossette is historical fiction based on the Bible. I have loved every book by this author from her first with each a new thrilling story. Her characters are realistic and each book interwoven with Biblical and historical truths. I was blessed by the author showing how God loves, draws and plans for us before we know or love him.
Sofia, daughter of a pagan high priest and her cousin, Perez, are taken, prisoner when their village is attacked on the island of Sicily. They are taken aboard a large ship and forced to endure beatings and starvation. Rescued by strange people that speak a language they can’t understand, they feel they are now slaves. These people serve one God unlike the culture of their village.
Through the love of the people’s God, they find their new home and culture so much more endearing and hopeful.
The book had many moments of intense sorrow but had an ample amount of times of great joy and inspired actions. The characters were well-developed and I connected to them right away. The author’s descriptions of the surrounding countryside brought the Biblical cities and people alive for me. It was a very inspiring read that showed God’s mercy and how much we mean to him.
I was provided with a copy by the author and willingly chose to review it.
Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette is the second book in her Cities of Refuge series. Written from Sofea and Eitan’s points of view the story takes place in Kedesh, a city of refuge. Sofea, daughter of a pagan high priest, is from the island of Sicily. After she is kidnapped, she ends up in Canaan. Eitan, after suffering a childhood tragedy, has grown up in the city of Kedesh. When they meet will they be able to put the past behind them and move into a future blessed by Yahweh? I really enjoyed this book. It had everything you could want in a story; pirates, murder plots, romance, forgiveness and mercy. The way Darek loved Moriyah was very touching and sweet. The words of Eleazar, the High Priest, to Sofea were very powerful. It got me to thinking about how everything is ordained of God and nothing happens without His knowledge. We can rest in the Shelter of the Most High. I can’t wait for the next installment.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
If I hadn’t already been captivated by this author and her amazing way of making the Bible come alive, I might not have picked up this book. Murder, dark secrets, kidnapping in fiction are not generally things I voluntarily choose to read about. But, yep, already captivated, and I’m so glad, because this book was incredible! I loved the way these two broken characters came to care for each other, and behind the scenes of every moment was proof of God’s love and sacrifice, judgement and grace, and overall sovereignty – both in the Bible times and now in my own life. I also loved catching up with Eitan as an adult, after having read about him as a child in previous books. Absolutely beautiful and a story I know I will read again and again.
Sofea’s journey to restoration and healing is captivating. Imagine the terror of being kidnapped by pirates, your family slaughtered and taken to an unknown land.
Yahweh’s loved is clearly demonstrated by Moriyah as she welcomes Sofea and her cousin Prezi into her home. It’s a beautiful picture!
Recommend to readers who enjoy Biblical fiction.
I won a copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
Since the release of her very first novel Connilyn Cossette’s stories have been favorites of mine and some of my most looked forward to each year. The old testament comes to life through her writing and her research always stands out to me. I will always find interesting historical tidbits that have me scouring the internet for more information. Pirates of the ancient world? That is more than enough to pique my interest.
Sofea and her cousin Prezi enjoy nothing more than swimming in the seas of their native island of Sicily. Then in one brief, violent moment they lose all they have ever known and find themselves in a strange land where they are unable to communicate with the people around them. The idea of being so far from home, grieving and afraid, without even the basic comfort of speaking to those around you really struck me.
Eitan will be a familiar face to those who have read A Light on the Hill. The demons of his past loom over his future, affecting his relationship with his father and his God. He chafes at the confinement of Kedesh’s walls and longs to serve his nation as unrest in Canaan starts to simmer.
I couldn’t put this book down and loved the conclusion even though the ending of a great book is always a little bittersweet. I look forward to Until the Mountains Fall and getting to know Rivka and Malakhi better.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Such a great story of God’s mercy on us but also how we need to show mercy to each other. I loved getting to continue the story of the characters from the first book of the series and look forward to the third book coming out this year.
I have read every one of Connilyn Cossette’s books and LOVE them! Each has painted a picture of the Old Testament that breathed life and color into a time in history I knew little about. In Shelter of the Most High, you will not get predictable characters, plot-line, and dialogue. You will encounter intriguing twists that keep you turning pages faster than you thought possible, characters who seem so real that you feel you’ve known them your whole life, and dialogue that is raw, emotional, and honest. The reminder and warmth of God’s faithful love will remain with you long after you have closed the book’s covers.
Connilyn has a gift of writing biblical fiction with problems and struggles so relatable you forget you are reading a story set thousands of years in the past. I promise you will love this story!
I received an advance copy from the publisher; the opinions in this review are my own.
This is the second novel in Connilyn Cossette’s Cities of Refuge series. While it is a standalone novel, the backstory will make more sense if you read A Light on the Hill first.
After Sofea and Prezi’s families are murdered in a pirate raid, they are taken from their home on Sicily to Israel. A series of events leads them to Israel, to the city of Kadesh, one of the ancient Hebrew Cities of Refuge. Here they are taken in by Moriyah, who runs the inn (and who was the main character in A Light on the Hill).
The opening chapters are full of action, but it felt like the story took a long time to get going. I think this is because it takes several chapters before Sofea and Prezi reach Kadesh, and before we meet the hero of the story (I initially thought the hero was one of the pirates, but I was wrong).
Etian is Moriyah’s adopted son, and the reason he and Moriyah have both been banished to Kadesh. As Sofea learns the local language and settles in Kadesh, she and Etian fall for each other … but Sofea is a child of the sea and Etian can’t leave the city to take her to the sea. The result is I found the second half of the book wasn’t as strong, as it focused on a suspense thread at the expense of the characters.
There is also (unsurprisingly) a strong faith thread in Shelter of the Most High, as both Sofea and Prezi learn about the Yahweh, the Hebrew One God, and the way he cares for his people. Recommended for Biblical fiction fans.
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Sofea and her cousin Prezi are taken by marauders from their island home in Sicily, and find themselves alone outside of Kedesh.
Eitan has grown up inside the walls of the refuge city, Kedesh, and has taken the Nazarite vow, wearing his hair long. He longs to serve his countrymen as a soldier like his step-father, Darek, but due to the the tragedy in his past he must remain within the city. He is enchanted by the beautiful Sofea, and their friendship grows as the barrier of language fades.
As a murder conspiracy is uncovered and trusts are betrayed will they learn to trust the One True God, who is a shelter and comfort to those who love Him?
I loved how this book picks up Eitan’s story eleven years after the events of the previous book, and though this book also stands well on its own, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to read Moriyah and Darek’s story in A Light on the Hill. Eitan is an intelligent young man, with a stubbornness that is both his strength and his weakness. He loves his siblings and adores his mother, Moriyah, while his relationship with Darek is more complex. He is honorable and fights to do what is right, even when he doesn’t want to.
Sofea and her cousin share a close bond, brought even closer as they are strangers in a new land. Sofea is willing to put aside her strong will for her cousin’s safety, she is drawn to her new friends and their God who is unlike the demanding and unforgiving gods of her homeland. I admired her sacrificial love for her cousin and her friends, she is quick thinking and daring.
A story of love, sacrifice, family, betrayal, and God’s unfailing love, set during the years after the Israelites entered the Promised Land. Well researched I love how these books help me to think more about the struggles that God’s people faced entering the promised land. Ms. Cossette uses beautiful, lush descriptions that bring the story to life. Prezi is one of my favorite characters, she is a cousin and sister to Sofea, she wants the best for her friend and her calm demeanor compliments Sofea well. Another terrific story from Connilyn Cossette, with a action-packed and tension fraught climax.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This was SUCH a thrilling book! It had me up and down and all around. The tenderness, the adventure, forgiveness and redemption.
I was so thrilled to be able to revisit little Eitan, now a grown man and bucking against the confines of his life, unable to let go and move past the mistakes made in his childhood.
Sofea is such a spunky, curious, free-spirited kind of person, yet unsettled by the life she has always known and the new one she is growing to love.
Eitan and Sofea are drawn to one another and that is just the beginning of a whole mess of trouble. Lies, betrayal and hurt, but also courage, sacrifice and love.
I’m serious, this book has it all! This series (two books, so far) is INCREDIBLE! I was only about a quarter of the way through the book and ALREADY so thrilled by it that I had to stop everything to run and tell my sister that she would absolutely ADORE this series and needed to get reading it immediately!
Way to go, Ms. Cossette! This is one of the BEST Biblical fiction books I’ve ever read! I can’t WAIT to get the chance to dive into book #3, “Until the Mountains Fall”!
4.5 stars
An excellent book full of good biblical detail. Loved how a person from no knowledge of God thought looking in from the outside and how this changed.
I’ve found an author to keep reading. This book goes straight into the contenders for my top books of 2019
Connilyn Cossette does it again!!
This book though!!!
Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette is an amazing example of Biblical Fiction! One of my favorite things about Connilyn Cossette’s books is her unique perspective on Biblical events—the way she writes these stories about these incredible events from the view of “regular people” during Biblical times, rather than the more “famous” people.
Kidnapped from her beloved home by a band of pirates, Sofea must fight to survive, but when she is rescued by a group of Israelites, she wonders if perhaps she has found a safe place and a new home in the midst of all the trouble that surrounds her.
Eitan has lived in the City of Refuge since boyhood, and although it seems impossible, he longs to leave the city and join in the fight to protect the fledgling nation of Israel. However, when his father rescues a beautiful (and fierce) foreign young woman, and brings her to safety within their home, Eitan comes to realize there is much more at stake than he ever imagined.
A stunning sequel, with so many beloved characters, along with some new ones—I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it’s powerful message of hope, trust, and new beginnings through the love of God.
Connilyn Cossette does such a wonderful job of presenting the truths and lessons from God’s Word through these fabulous stories…I cannot wait to read the next installation in this incredible series—HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and !
Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette is a novel not to be missed. It’s difficult for my words to adequately reflect the magnificence of this story, and a 5-star rating falls far short. I found it entertaining, informative, and uplifting. It stands tall in the biblical fiction genre, but reads purely as exquisite historical fiction also.
When a writer describes a setting or scene, I usually feel one of two ways – either standing at the edge, looking on to what is happening, or being drawn in, practically breathing the same air as the characters. I can’t explain how Cossette does it, but the second effect is what I felt on every page. Everything from Sicily to Kedesh of 1388 BC is vivid, and I have a much greater understanding of the depth of meaning in the term refuge.
Characters are so very rich and complex …
… the relationship between Sofea and Eitan: “I’d vowed from the beginning that I wanted nothing of Eitan’s interest, but at this moment I wanted nothing more than to live at the center of it.”
… Moriyah, a devout woman who felt that Sofea and Prezi had been brought to their family in order to heal
… the strained relationship between Eitan and his stepfather, Darek
… Prezi, Sofea’s cousin, once a follower who now found her voice: “Given the choice between the gods our people venerated on that hill and the God who offers shelter for even the most undeserving, I know whom I choose.”
But what touched me the most was seeing Yahweh through the eyes of Sofea and Prezi, with their heritage of pagan gods and evil worship practices. I’ve always loved the revelation of God’s character that the Old Testament gives us, and Cossette’s narrative makes it fresh and new all over again. Yahweh, the God of refuge, shelter, protection … the God who values all life.
It’s hard to put this book down at any point, especially when the danger and action picks up in the second half, but Cossette still gives readers time to breathe. Shelter of the Most High is a story that lives on long after the last page is turned. Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.