You need to buckle your seat belt and hold on tight for this great read! I was really surprised at how action packed this wonderful tale was.  Connilyn Cossette included it all in this love story; first love overcoming insecurities, accidental deaths, fast getaways, animal attacks, all the while giving you a beautiful tour of what the ancient Promised Land might have looked like. I will be purchasing this book for my church library and I will be highly recommended it!

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

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

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

This book is the first in Connilyn Cossette's new series Cities of Refuge.
If you are new to this author, let me first tell you that her books are amazing! But I truly believe, to get the best experience, all her books should be read in order. 
This might be a new series, but I consider it a spin-off of her Out of Egypt series. This book focuses on Moriyah (a secondary character from Wings of the Wind). I really appreciate how this author truly connects all of her books together even though the main character in each book is different. I have never read a series quite like hers.

As for this particular book, I don't want to say too much, because it would be too easy to give out spoilers. I will only say that up to the very end, I really didn't know how this book could get a happy ending. I loved the characters and the story and highly recommend the book!

Thanks to the publisher for providing me a copy of the book. It did not affect my review.

From the first word that I read from Connilyn Cossette, I knew that this was an author I needed to watch. Her new Cities of Refuge series starts off with A Light on the Hill, and I was not disappointed!
This book kept me up at night. Literally. I could not put it down, as one trial after another fell into Moriyah’s path. I had already come to love this character when she made her debut in Wings of the Wind, and I loved her even more in this book. Her struggle with her disfigurement is heart-rending, and the healing she experiences is so poignant, it made me think of my own less-seen scars and the goodness of God to heal those.
The romance in this book, as usual, is so good! I really wasn’t sure how she would pull it off, but she did it so well. Each character, each scene, is so multi-layered and colorful, I felt as if I was walking through the lands of Israel and Canaan with them.
It was fascinating, seeing the history of this time period. I knew quite a bit about it already, but Connilyn made it come alive.
Listening to God’s voice, trusting Him with our lives, with ourselves, is a huge theme of this book. Connilyn handles it so well, and it will be a theme that will linger in my heart and thoughts for some time.
In summary, if you’ve read any of Connilyn’s books before, you’ll love A Light on the Hill. If you love fiction set during the times of the Bible, you’ll love Connilyn’s books. If you like to read and enjoy quality fiction, you need to read A Light on the Hill!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
https://ontoherbookshelf.wordpress.com/2018/03/06/a-light-on-the-hill/

Moryah was scared at Jericho at then end of Wings of the Wind. It has been seven years and she is content caring for her father and hiding behind her veil. But when an accident happens with tragic consequences, Moryah must leave behind her veil and her fear.

Moryah had so much personality and to see her hide herself because of her scar is sad. I loved seeing her blossom again. I also liked seeing her fall in love with Darek. 

I adore these books by Connilyn Cossette. There is an interesting plot, a bit of romance and adventure mixed in with biblical lore. I gobble them up like candy. They make me think and I'm curious about what aspect of ancient Israel she will explore next.

A Light On The Hill another torch to buy Ms. Cossette that I got to read and I just have to say "Bravo" she is one amazing author who knows how to bring her characters to life and make them real. She also gets you as the reader to become emotionally invested in the characters. How could you not love Moriyah? You fall in love with her strength and courage as well as her face. This is one book you definitely need to read for yourself.

Since I had already fallen in love with a very young Moriyah in Cossette’s last book, Wings of the Wind, it was so exciting to get to read the rest of her story in this book! And as a member of Cossette's launch team, I had the even greater pleasure of getting to read an ARC of it before release day! Cossette’s writing is fabulous, full of complex and growing characters, and the plot is riveting, full of twists and turns that make this book nearly impossible to put down.

This is absolutely a five-star book! There is so much to love about it! The book is told in first person, all from Moriyah’s perspective, and I must admit that there were several times that I found myself desperately wishing we could have some chapters from Darek’s perspective! I so wanted to know what he was thinking!

As I said about Cossette’s Out from Egypt Series, I think readers will enjoy the fresh perspective this author brings to a brutal time in ancient history even if they do not currently believe in God. This book is actually more historical than Biblical since the Bible is fairly silent on this particular time period. I feel certain nearly every reader will find the story engaging!

I really liked how the author brings out one of the more obscure parts of the old testament: the cities of refuge, a refuge for manslayers who have killed accidentally. Since there aren't any specific accounts of the cities in the bible--just the rules regarding them--it gives the author free reign to focus on the story without worrying about getting the biblical account wrong (something I'm generally keen to notice). And even so, the author surprised me with how adventurous this story managed to be; it wasn't what I expected, yet I liked it more, and it was fun to catch the connection to her previous series. And I can see how it is setting up the next book in the series.

I liked how the author was able to work new testament symbolism into an old testament-time story. Even though Jesus won't be born for another couple thousand years or so, the author brings out how the death of the high priest will atone for the guilt of the manslayers--implying that just as Jesus, also described as a high priest, atoned for the guilt of all in his death.

This is the kind of biblical fiction I like--fiction taking place in biblical times without trying to retell the bible. Adventurous, romantic, and full of hope.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

If you love Biblical fiction and you haven’t discovered Connilyn Cossette, you’re missing out big time! Having thoroughly wowed me with her Out of Egypt series, she’s taken things one step further with this new series with a story that feels like a whole new genre: Biblical romantic suspense! Not only has she breathed life into a little known aspect of Ancient Israel’s society, but she’s told a captivating romantic suspense story at the same time, as Moriyah travels on foot across a partially conquered Canaan, trying to outpace and avoid the avenger of blood as she makes her way to a city of refuge.

The instruction to set up cities of refuge—cities where a person who has accidentally killed someone may seek refuge from the avenger of blood—is given in Numbers 35, but beyond knowing they existed, I hadn’t really given them much thought. Until now. Through this story, I discovered what a beautiful foreshadowing they are of the refuge we find in Christ. They also highlight the way in which God’s mercy and justice are in constant tension in this life.

As for the characters themselves, we met Moriyah in Wings of the Wind, and although you don’t need to read that story prior to this one, you will know the full story behind the mark that brands her face if you have read it. I loved the integrity of the hero in this story and his capacity to love Moriyah, and I absolutely adored the romantic tension between him and Moriyah throughout the story. If that sounds vague, it’s for a reason—I loved the surprises in the way the story unfolded, particularly in the beginning, which sets up the romantic tension between Moriyah and the hero.

If you enjoy Biblical fiction, historical fiction, romantic suspense, or even just a great story, make sure you acquaint yourself with Connilyn Cossette’s books!

This book is my 20th book of the year. That is a mini milestone on the quest to the larger goal. It wasn’t meant to be my 20th book. Life went sideways and got really messy. I’m still in sideways messy mode and will be for a while but I’m also working hard at finding a new balance, a new normal if you will. I had every intention of review this book on it’s release day (February 6th). Feel free to re-read above as to why it wasn’t reviewed then. Here’s the thing, I don’t feel like this book has anything to do with sideways messy but I think it was meant for it to have to be postponed. It needed to be my 20th book this year. It needed to be a mini milestone.

We first met Moriyah in ‘Wings of the Wind‘, the final installment on the Out of Egypt series. Moriyah was kidnapped to the temple of Ba’al and Ashtoreth and branded (on her face), by a vicious Priestess, as a temple prostitute. Moriyah escaped from that unscathed, except for the brand. And her view of herself. Moriyah grew up from that 13 year old girl and we meet back with her in ‘A Light on the Hill’ as a woman of 20. A woman who never even answers her door without her veil in place to cover her brand. A woman who never even lets those she loves see her face because of her brand. A woman of compassion and talents. A woman who may have accidentally killed the children of the only man who will agree to marry her – to gain her father’s vineyard. A woman on the run for her life to find sanctuary in a City of Refuge.

What I keep going back to as I think over this book, besides the fact that Cossette has yet to write something I am not head over hills for, is Moriyah’s veil. I might accidentally give you spoilers so don’t hold that against me. There’s so much more to this book than her veil however. There’s adventure on her journey. There’s romance with a character that I might have a ginormous crush on. There’s action throughout. But I keep going back to the veil. As a child, Moriyah heard the voice of God. As an adult she is convinced He has left her, abandoned her, due to her brand. While she follows His laws and love’s Him as the Father she feels as though He has left her. She feels as though He no longer hears her. When her intended husband requires she show him the brand on the day they meet she is broken further at his reaction. When she must remove the veil to save the life of another she is humiliated. However, she finds she is also accepted.

Her brand provides her a small measure of safety in the territory of the enemy on her journey. Here’s the thing though. When she removes the veil, keeps it removed, and calls out to God? She hears Him. Her clinging to the veil as her protection was what was dividing her from Him. Her using the veil as safety instead of God kept her from Him. Her belief that the veil would cover her shame and not her trust that God could cover her shame kept her from Him. And all I could think of was all the things we all put between us and Him to keep us apart. We try to cover our shame, our embarrassment, our insecurities with material (hello veil) instead of with Him. We find our security, our comfort, in our jobs or our friends or our talents or even our possessions. I was drawn to Moriyah and her veil. I mean, I was drawn to the whole entire book but her veil spoke to me.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Baker Books, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

A Light on the Hill
by Connilyn Cossette
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 06 Feb 2018
I am reviewing a copy of A Light on the Hill through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

This book will transport us back to the Old Testament days.  Seven years prior Moriya was taken captive in Jericho and branded with the mark of the Canaanite God's.  Now the Israelites are experiencing a time of speech in their new land but that is not the case for Moriyah she is often judged harshly for that mark, hiding behind her veil most of the time.  It seems to that marriage prospects are out of the question until now.


Moriya's Father had found someone to Marry her, and she hopes her love for cooking will impress this man and his son's without a Mother.  But things go horribly wrong she is forced to flee and finds many dangers along the way until she arrives at the just established Levitical City of Refuge.


I give A Light on the Hill five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I was so excited to read my first book by Connilyn Cossette based on the reviews I had read about the Out of Egypt series. Her book,  A Light on the Hill, is book one in a new Cities of Refuge series, and it is a must read. I'll be honest, I love reading historical fiction but this was my first read in the biblical fiction genre and I am so happy to have started with this book because it was a fantastic novel and I'm already looking forward to seeing book two in this series!

The book begins in 1406 BC Jericho, where we find Moriyah kidnapped by Midianite traders and about to receive a mark of the Canaanite gods which will leave a permanent scar on her face. Moriyah covers this scar with a veil whenever she is out among people, and finds herself retreating to her home more and more to avoid the shame this mark brings in her eyes. I was a bit concerned that I would have a hard time imagining the world that this book was set in, considering how far back in history we were delving into. There was nothing to be worried about because all five senses were brought into the story to make the reader immersed into the setting and action. We smell a new spice that Moriyah discovers at the local market, or hear the silvery leaves of an aspen tree as they moved in a night breeze, then feeling the raised scar on Moriyah's cheekbone, imagine the sight of a pool of water described as  "look like turquoise jewels embedded into the ground" from a story told by a person exploring neighboring lands, and a taste of Chickpea Stew as Moriyah's blind friend Ora savors the ingredients she is enjoying in her favorite dish.

Now if you are excited about exploring this book for the incredible descriptions, the plot and action of story will have you reading far into the nighttime hours because you won't be able to put it down. Moriyah has been living a fairly solitary life on her fathers vineyard, but her father decides that she needs to find someone to take care of her when he is no longer around. He finds a husband for her who is a widower with two sons that she would help to raise. At first she is happy at the prospect but when a series of events happen, this proposed union takes a turn that finds Moriyah responsible for a horrible accident. She is forced to flee for her life to the Levitical cities of refuge and an opportunity to plead her case. The journey is a treacherous one and the people she meets along the way can either help her or hurt her but it's not always clear which path will be taken.

From start to finish this book will keep you wanting to turn the next page and find out how Moriyah's fate and faith will be tested. I hope you enjoy A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette as much as I did.

A Light on the Hill continues with Moriyah's story—the young woman who was branded at the end of the third book in the Out from Egypt series, Wings of the Wind. It isn't necessary to have read the Out from Egypt series to enjoy this book but I strongly suggest doing so. You'll understand Moriyah better and have more of a bond with her.

There isn't a thing that I disliked about this book. For starters, the cover is one of the prettiest that I've ever seen. I was fascinated by the sky, the head covering that I knew was meant to mask Moriyah's disfigured face and the city placed behind her. I'm not kidding—this cover is one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. In fact—I might say it IS the most beautiful cover I've ever seen! I know, what is on the cover doesn't really count for anything but I can't help it. This. Cover. Is. Amazing! So amazing that I seriously just broke my words to emphasize them—this is serious y'all because I hate it when people do that! Well, I did...until I just did it.

Anyway, back to the important stuff—what's inside the book. This story was fascinating and gripping. The action was just right, the romance was swoon-worthy...I'm not kidding. Connilyn Cossette writes these amazingly strong male characters that I can't help but crush on. I'm kinda embarrassed to admit this but I can't help it! She's so beautifully descriptive that I fall in love with the characters and the words. Doesn't this just make your heart stop?

    I could see every nuance within his eyes, the way the brown swirled with green and gold and even the slight ring of blue that encircled all of it as he held me captive within his gaze


AHHHHHH! Okay, enough fangirling, let's talk about the plot. I grew up in church and I've heard my pastor preach many times about the cities of refuge and how they were a symbol of redemption in Christ. For the first time, I considered the people who would have taken refuge within their walls. I had never added the human element and some of the concepts of the cities were somewhat was lost on me—until this book. I understood them on an intellectual level but it was so impersonal to me. Connilyn Cossette brought to life for me the use of these cities and the people who may have sought refuge within their walls. She presented them to me in a way that suddenly made sense—she gave me a character that I could empathize with. A character that I traveled with, agonizing with her every step of the way as she fled to the safety of Kedesh.

Moriyah's character and this book taught me so much. About accepting myself, my self-worth and how I shouldn't let physical problems define who I am. I am loved. I am special to God. I am His. He is my redeemer.

This book was a beautifully woven tale of love, redemption, grace, and acceptance. I'm tempted to say that it is my favorite out of the four the author has written. I so identified with Moriyah.

If you're looking for books to help you understand the geography, the culture and the social standards of the Bible; I would definitely suggest A Light on the Hill.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

I read many books through the year in different genres. It's a rare book that I want to reread again immediately.
This is one of those books. It's that good.

Faithful readers of Connilyn Cossette already agree that she's an outstanding storyteller. However, she just surpassed herself in this extraordinary book. Moriyah's life has been filled with fear and tragedy. She makes an unintentional, terrible mistake and finds herself fleeing to a City of Refuge to escape the man that wants to kill her. The story of her flight to one of the Cities of Refuge is suspenseful, compelling, and absorbing. Moriyah has become one of my favorite fictional characters.

I also loved the setting of the book. Although I've read many times in the Bible about the Cities of Refuge and understood their purpose, I learned so much more about them as I read through the book. I appreciate Ms. Cossette's research and attention to historical detail.

If you love novels set in Biblical times, this book is a must-read for you. I am already looking forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you, Connilyn Cossette, for this beautiful story of redemption.

A Light On The Hill by Connilyn Cossette is an absolutely stunning book! The story is captivating, emotionally engaging and so very, very good.   I started reading this book  and couldn't. put. it. down. I carried it with me and pulled it out while standing in lines, at the stop light, propped it up while doing the dishes  ~ anything to keep reading it. 

Yes, it's that good ... really, really good!

I was a bit sad when I got to the end only because I wasn't quite ready to let this story go. Still, there will be more books in the Cities of Refuge series and I can't wait to read them. I highly recommend this book along with it's gorgeous cover!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Cossette, Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this book.

I am quickly becoming a huge fan of Connilyn Cossette! This is the second book I have read written by her, and it really is an amazing story. I love how she writes biblical history in such a way that can pull in any reader, no matter what religion they are. In my opinion, Christian books like this one are some of the best, because they teach us what's important in life and about values that all should hold dear, regardless of where you stand religiously. It had romance, murder, forgiveness, and redemption, and above all, mercy.

Seven years ago, when Moriyah was a young girl, she was held captive and branded as a temple slave by a Canaanite High Priestess. Marked forever as a prostitute, she has hidden her face with a veil, only showing her eyes and only leaving her home when she absolutely must. One night there is a dance held in her village and all maidens are required to wear a veil - it's the one night when Moriyah can be herself, unknown to all, able to be free if only for a few hours. What follows is a series of events that will mark her far more deeply than her physical scars. She must now rely on her allies, reluctant guardians, and the mercy of Yahweh to grant her justice and a fair opportunity to live her life until she is old and gray. 

This story made me so conflicted on many levels, which is what strikes me as the most important element. Life is not easy, so the story of someone's life should not be easy to read. It starts off brutally, describing the moment when Moriyah is branded, and your soul will feel like you are literally screaming with her. Then comes present day, where she is ridiculed by those who don't know any better, and her best friend is a little boy who is also an outcast due to a birth defect. It's that little boy who will become so important to the story, but the reader doesn't even know it until the end of the book. The author takes us on a journey where sacrifices must be made, bonds are tested, and faith in God is put to its limits. Moriyah was so inspiring to me, because I don't know if I could be as brave as her if I had led the life she had. Darek, the young man in the story, is also a character I had a lot of respect for. He made hard decisions and chose doing the right thing over what his emotions surely pressed him to do. This is not a book you want to skip.

Connilyn Cossette has officially hooked me - I will be reading every book she writes going forward. I love her writing style, the beautiful stories she creates, and the bible history on every page. It's a magical story, every time she writes.

I loved this book. You could tell that a lot of Bible research was done to write it. Morgan was accused of poisoning two young boys and girls on the run so she can have a fair trial instead of vengance. On the run, she meets a variety of characters the help her, ventures into enemy territory, and has encounters with the king. Constantly fearful of the outcome of her trial, she learns to rely on God and gains an understanding that only He is in control. The ending was completely unexpected.

Cities of Refuge. It is not a topic in the bible that I have read much about, but the history surrounding it fascinated me. This is a new series by this author, but previous characters from other books came up very briefly. This is a completely new series though. I will say that I was really impressed once again by this author’s talent in her writing.
So, in my reading Tessa Ashfar, Mesu Andrews, this is another one to add to the pile of must haves, must reads. She brings you into the time period, makes you feel the people and live there among them. You will see, feel and taste with the characters as if you were experiencing it with them.
As a side note, I did look up Oleander and yes, it is very poisonous. I hope I never come in contact with it… I will leave that tidbit for you to ponder as you run out and pre-order this book.
This book was obtained through NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.