** I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Like all of Connilyn Cossette’s books, this was beautiful, breathtaking, inspiring, and moving. I absolutely adore the Biblical setting and have come away from her books with such a richer understanding of these Old Testament times!

While maybe moving a little slower than past novels, with more focus on character development in fewer characters, the richness and impact of this novel is not to be disregarded. The whole story being a Prodigal Son analogy blew me away—and I loved the New Testament/Old Testament crossover. Rivkah was an especially amazing character, her arc so incredible to watch, and so easily to care about. Malahki as well. Both these characters drove the story more powerfully than many plot lines, and held me captive as I watched them unfold into who they were created to be. <SPOILER> Even though their romance was predictable, it did not lessen the enjoyment I found in reading it, nor my smile at their eventual union. <SPOILER>. Each character, though many, held a significant part in the plot, creating a very lifelike story. The author does amazing at keeping all the characters straight and distinct and pulling them all in so very carefully.

As with the author’s other novels, this book is one of the very few that I really soaked in its length without feeling dragged out or bogged down by unnecessary scenes. I could have read about Rivkah and Malahki forever!

All in all, this book impressed me in creativity and setting and character and story, held my attention all the way through, and is another amazing installment in the author’s works. I’m already counting down until her next book!

"Until the Mountains Fall" is by Connilyn Cossette. This book is a Biblical fiction book and is so well written. It is the third book in the City of Refuge series. Rivkah lives in the City of Refuge called Kedesh. Her husband
died and according to the Torah she has to marry her husband's brother. She was not comfortable with her husband's brother and resisted any possibility of marrying him. She yearned for her freedom and wanted to leave Kedesh so she would not have to marry her husband's brother. She felt tremendous pressure from her family to follow of the Torah but she did not want to do as she was told to do. Malachi , her husband's brother loved Rivkah for years and was happy to have the opportunity to marry Rivkah. Rivkah left Kadesh in the middle of the night so she could not be stopped and ended up in a foreign , worldly land. She became a scribe to support herself. She was her owners slave and forced to work for him for many years. The people where she lived did not follow the Torah. What became of Rivkah in this foreign land? The reader will develop a deeper understanding about life during the Old Testaments times. The setting, characters are described so well and the reader will feel like they are part of the story. I highly recommend this story. Thank you to netgalley , the publisher Bethany House and the author for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book. I am not obligated to give a positive review.

I love biblical fiction and Connilyn Cossette writes some of the best. This is one of my favorite series. It is so neat to be able to learn a little bit about what might have really happened in a City Of Refuge. This book has fantastic characters. Rivkah and Malachi were both very young when this story starts and they both needed to grow up and learn to trust in God so that they could come together. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Written about the time period when the Israelites returned to their Promised Land of Israel, this novel focuses on Rivkah, a recent widow. She was to enter in marriage with her husband's younger brother Malakhi so that he might have an heir when she flees her home. The author weaves a beautiful story of love and forgiveness not unlike the Prodigal son. This is the third in the series. Highly recommended!

Honestly, I never thought I would want to read Biblical fiction, but this author has it down! The research that goes into this series is phenomenal. I have loved this series and this book just added on to the already fantastic books of The Cities of Refuge Series.

Rivkah is a recent widow whose father has arranged a marriage to her deceased husband's brother. A type of arrangement known as a Levirate marriage where she is to marry the brother of her husband. She is not happy... And she flees the city of Kedesh where she lives. Eventually her heart changes and .... well, you will need to read it! Can't give it all away.

The book is so fascinating it will be impossible to lay down. You'll love reading this book! It brings Biblical times to life. It's so interesting to find yourself there in those days and the different culture and lives that these people lived. It was a well-crafted book you will want to share with all your friends!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I always love Connilyn's book and this did not disappoint!
This is a Biblical fiction novel set during the time just before the Judges in the Old Testament, but also a retelling of the Prodigal Son and so well done it's most of the whole book before you realize it is a retelling of the prodigal story.
I loved it so much and had to keep reading. I also love how it connects to the older books while still moving along and I don't want this series to end.

This story begins with Rivkah's betrothal to Malakhi. Rivkah does not want to marry Malakhi, her main tormentor as a child, and so attempts to dissuade him through a variety of pranks. When all fails, Rivkah decides to flee and support herself as a scribe.

Malakhi has loved Rivkah from afar since his early teens. When Rivkah married his older brother, he was disappointed. When his brother dies just months into the marriage, and Malakhi is asked to join Rivkah in a levirate marriage, he thinks he is getting a second chance. When Rivkah flees, he is devastated.

Rivkah's plans go awry almost immediately. She is accosted <spoiler> and raped by a fellow Hebrew </spoiler>. Now penniless, Rivkah knows she can never return home.

Five years pass before the story resumes. In this time, both Rivkah and Malakhi have grown into adults. Malakhi was injured in battle and returns to Kadesh to heal. When word reaches them that Rivkah is alive, Rivkah's father sends Malakhi to find her and bring her back home.

Throughout this story you get to see how the tribes of Israel are slipping into bondage. Rather than remove the Canaanites as commanded by God, they sought treaties and compromises. The Canaanites added Yahweh as one of their gods - even "married" him to another goddess.

This is the third book in the series, and you get to meet many of the characters from previous books, which I found rather like meeting up with old friends. The character of Rivkah is very self-centered, and that made her a little unlikable at times. But as the second part of the story unfolds, you get to see her growth and changes.

As Malakhi and Rivkah's stories unfold and blend together, you get to see them deal with the consequences of choices they made, and to find hope and healing together. This story loosely follows the parable of the prodigal son and I found that beautiful.

Connilyn Cossette is one of my most favourite authors. I recommend you read this book. I also recommend you read start with her very first book and follow the characters from Egypt into the promised land. This book has the grandchildren and great grandchildren of the characters from the first two books.

Until the Mountains Fall is probably my favorite book by Ms. Cossette. The Cities of Refuge books touch on a little known period of history following the Israelites return to the Promised Land of Israel, before the book of Judges. Cossette's attention to historical detail and vivid descriptions combine with elegant prose in an enthralling story that transcends historical settings and is relevant even today.

The compelling theme of forgiveness is interwoven in this re-telling of the prodigal son, in this case a daughter, in a way that convicts the reader. One scene in particular had me hiding my tears as I was reading on a airplane.

Recently widowed, Rivkah rebels against her father's wishes to marry her to her husband's brother and runs away. In her search for freedom, she finds herself shackled both physically and spiritually. I loved Malakhi. Cossette gives the reader a noble hero, one filled with integrity. His love for Rivkah was kept hidden while she was married to his brother. But how can he convince Rivkah that his love is real? Can he forgive her betrayal? As the threat of war between the Israelites and the neighboring countries becomes a reality, can Rivkah find a way to return home?

While this book can be read as a standalone, well-loved characters from the first two books in this series, while not the principal characters, have important roles. The spiritual themes of mercy and the healing of the brokenhearted are woven throughout the series.

A couple of my favorite quotes:

"Our family was built atop the ruins of tragedy, each brick fashioned by mercy."

"There is nothing you have done or will do that will ever erase the love I have for you."

"It is time for us to move forward -together- and stop flogging ourselves for whatever lays behind."

Connilyn Cossette is one of my go-to authors for biblical fiction. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I delighted in the first two books in the Cities of Refuge series. Though there were portions in each one I didn’t necessarily appreciate, I loved the overall setting and story, and couldn’t wait until the next one finally arrived. For me, that happened just a few weeks ago, when I was able to download Until the Mountains Fall! What an absolutely amazing book!

One of my most favorite aspects of Cossette’s writing is that not only is it Biblically sound for the most part, but I also feel immersed in the culture when I read her books. Unlike other books I’ve read, even the little details are accounted for here—and I love that! One little example would be the fact that one of the characters mentioned the Mosaic stipulation that any recently-married man cannot go to war for a year. It wasn’t a big thing—only mentioned once in the Torah, I think, but I loved that it was in there at all!

The story itself was special too, in so many ways. I loved the main characters AND understood why they did things the way they did. The things they faced were so difficult, but I loved the love and courage here. I also appreciated the glimpse into the Canaanite world here; it wasn’t too overt most of the time; you found out what was happening, but only enough to know. While remaining as discrete as possible, we still got a sense for why the Lord hated some of the religious actions of the Canaanites—and why He told the Israelites to kill them. The whole theme of the prodigal son was beautiful as well.

As a continuation of the series, I feel like Cossette outdid herself. It’s definitely my favorite so far! There were a few scenes I would have preferred to be a bit less graphic, but I completely understand why they had to be the way they are, too. Some of the romance and kissing was again a bit on the detailed side for me, although I didn’t notice it as much in this book as in the two previous ones. Recommended if you love good Biblical fiction.

I requested a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion of it.

Let me say right up front that I have not been a fan of Biblical Fiction but I am very glad I read this book. It was amazing with very real characters, especially Rivakh and Malakhi. Rivakhi is rebelling against a levirate marriage to the younger brother of her deceased husband so she runs away from home and from her Heavenly Father. This story follows the line of a prodigal daughter and the pit that you can fall into when you are away from God. It also depicts forgiveness in a way that only with the help of God are we able to forgive and is a picture of how God forgives us when we rebel against Him. I have been in that situation and so this book really spoke to my heart. I will be looking for more from this Author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book. All views are my own.

Just finished this delightful read and I'm wondering if anyone noticed the theme here? It's in one of Jesus' parables and one of my favorites of all of His stories!!
I was really happy to return to Kedesh with all of my friends again!! It seems forever in between books!!
Forgiveness is also the theme here.
Forgiveness is a very important part of our lives even in Biblical times.
I love Connilyns' stories!! I love how she makes the characters come to life from the Bible. It's amazing that you can feel their feelings coming through the pages of time from her pen
I love how Conni continues the story from the Book of Joshua.
I liked how the book was action packed from the very beginning and you definitely wanted to see what happened to Rivkah and Malicah.
My mom always told me that some boys have trouble with their feelings about telling a girl he liked so he picked on her. Of course I thought Mom was full of it. But later on in life I found that she was right.
Usually moms are. Dads too.
These authors that write stories like this are truly gifted.
Well done Connylin!! Will Amit have his story to tell? I'm hoping so!!
Oh and twins rum on my husband's side of the family too!! More on the Fox side though. Thank goodness!!
Well, anyway I enjoyed this story very much and I eagerly await the next story from Conni!!

I’m a great fan of Biblical fiction and this is truly at its best! Connylin Cossette is one of my favorite authors in this genre.
I haven’t read al of her books, I just started reading “The Cities of Refuge” Series and I just fell in love with her stories. They always touch real and hard issues, but there’s always hope and light at the end of the tunnel when the people open up their hearts to the Lord.
And this is the case too. Rivkah is a recent widow and she’s still grieving when she’s told that by the Torah, which is the Law of Moses, she must marry her husband’s brother to guarantee a heir in the family. Rivkah know Malakhi since her childhood and he’s always been the pestering kid that tormented her. She’s too blinded to see that Malakhi has matured and has always had feelings for her, but kept it to himself. So when things get tense and forceful, she decides to flee from Kedesh, hoping to survive working as a scribe, something she can do well. But she never expects that life away from the safe environment in which she lived (that’s why the cities are called of refuge) and from her father’s protective figure, is full of dangers and it’s difficult to know who to trust.
Malakhi is left to lick his wounds of Rivkah’s betrayals and he centers in preparing for war again the Canaanites, until he is injured and begins to question his purpose in life. When Rivkah’s father asks him to look for her, he wants to resist, but he finally accepts he needs to know if she’s doing okay.
When Malakhi and Rivkah encounter again, things seem different. They have both changed... Can they manage to start a relationship and get to know each other better and open their hearts to a second chance love?
I loved the characters! Rivkah was a bit prideful at first, but I loved how she grew along the stories until she comes to see Malakhi as he really is. She’s kind and generous too. And Malakhi was a true gentleman, kind compassionate and understanding. He’s truly pacient in his relationship with Rivkah and slowly, And he manages to get her feel at ease and to trust him with her struggles. will they make a great team while enemies lurk around and danger is always near. can Malakhi really protect her.
I loved seeing other characters from the previous books, but it still can be read as a standalone. But I definitely recommend to read the whole series in order.
The setting was my favorite. I love getting to more about the place where Jesus lived and died, and how the people from this era lived and acted. It’s easier to put my imagination to work.
I really enjoyed this book and it left me inspired. It also touches issues of forgiveness, patience and lots of love and a great dosis of humbleness. I loved both main characters, but I especially fell in love with Malakhi and his big and compassionate heart.
This is definitely a recommended read. I think the plot was done masterfully and the danger and intrigue made it all the more interesting.
I was always rooting for them to find each other.
A courageous story, while sweet, clean, and full of hope. I loved how Rivkah slowly returns to God again.
a must read! Thank you Connilyn. Can’t wait for the next one!
I received a copy from the author and the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased review.

I greatly enjoyed this story! A tale of Rivka, widowed and betrothed to her late husband's younger brother, she decides to run away. She doesn't realize how costly that decision is, but five years later Malakhi walks back into her life. She has to make life altering decisions in a short amount of time, and choose if she will return with Malakhi. Beautifully written, I couldn't put this one down. I admit, I enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would! I will be reading it again!

I love Biblical fiction. You can never exhaust the riches found in scripture. I am always amazed at storytellers who take scripture and teach us something about grace and God. Until the Mountains Fall is one such story.

Until the Mountains Fall, by author Connilyn Cossette is the 3rd book in her Cities of Refuge series. In the Old Testament, a city of refuge was a place where a person could go if they had accidentally killed another person, and are a beautiful picture of the person of Jesus. You can learn more about the cities of refuge in Joshua 20 and Numbers 35. In her latest novel, Cossette tells us the story of Rivkah, the daughter of the head priest, who lives in Kedesh, one of the six cities of refuge.

As the story opens, Rivkah is being given in marriage, a levirate marriage, to her late husband’s brother, Malakhai, and she is not happy about it. Gidal, her late husband, has just recently died, and her father has arranged this marriage very quickly to Malakhai, whom she has known since childhood.

According to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a levirate marriage is “a form of marriage prescribed by the Law of Moses in which a man was required to marry the widow of a brother who died with no male heir. The term “levirate” means “husband’s brother.” The purpose of the law was to provide an heir for the dead brother, thereby preserving his name and estate. The law also was designed to provide for the welfare of the widows. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)”

Because of her displeasure about the marriage, Rivkah takes matters into her own hands, and makes a very poor decision. She doesn’t understand how Malakhai feels towards her, and she flees Kedesh.

I love the story. But at the beginning of the story I did not like Rivkah. She made me so mad! As readers, we can see things the characters cannot see. So, we can sit on the other side of the pages so to speak, and scream, “Noooo! Don’t do it!” But alas, they make their own choices anyway. She was unhappy, which I get. But she was throwing away something that would be good for her, even though she couldn’t see it.

Later on in the novel, my heart softened toward Rivkah. Slowly, the author was able to weave some sympathy and compassion for her into the story and into my heart. I felt very much connected to Rivkah and began to really like her. Just like this story's main character, I have made my own choices and ran from people who loved me into great trouble and distress. But God was there to clean up my mess, pick me up, and help me start over. God is always looking out for us.

I don’t want to give away all the details or surprises of the story, and there are many, so I cannot say much more. But it is worth it to follow the journey of Rivkah and Malakhai to find out how their story unfolds. I cried multiple times as I traveled the road with them. God is a God of rescue even in our darkest hour.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who loves biblical or historical fiction. Cossette has taken just one small portion of scripture and taught us so much.

I also recommend this book to homeschooling families who have high school age students. If you follow the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education, this could be considered a great living book for studying ancient civilizations and the Bible.


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

This was my favorite in this series so far. The story and the characters were rich and well developed. The chemistry was really well done. I don't enjoy mushy gushy love stories, and there was none of that here. I was rooting for this couple the whole time. There were so many obstacles in their way, physical and emotional. It was just such a great love story. Highly recommended if you enjoy historical romance.



I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for the purpose of review.

I loved the way Rivkah's story illustrated the parable of the Prodigal Son. Author Connilyn Cossette boldly gives Rivkah a less than stellar character. I found that I couldn't really see how Malakhi could be enamored with her, especially with the way she treated him. And then when she escaped Kadesh... Let's just say, I wasn't very happy with her.

But she changed. The events that occurred in Laish were terrible. It was there I realized this story is that of the prodigal son. Um. Daughter. It was in Laish that Rivkah realized her folly and began to desire to go home. Until. And then she knew. Her sins were too great and she could never go home again.

It was at this point that I began to have compassion for this lost woman. Fast forward five years and my compassion turned to admiration for the character she was starting to develop. While I knew, she was wrong in assuming her family despised her since I know the end of the prodigal's story, the author made me experience her pain and guilt and to understand how she would have felt this way. Ouch!

Malakhi was wonderful! Though as a young man he had quite a few flaws, as time, grief, and circumstances began to refine his character, I grew to admire him more and more. I loved the way the author showed how he was crushed by Rivkah's desertion and how he fought with bitterness and unforgiveness towards her. If he had simply continued to pine for her and embraced her immediately, it would have made the story a bit ridiculous.

Until the Mountains Fall is a deeply moving story. The despair of the prodigal, the vigilant prayers and longing of the father for the prodigal to return, and the seeker of the lost sheep all touched my heart.

I'm looking forward to the conclusion of this wonderful series and have already picked out those I hope to see as the main characters!

Each of the books in the Cities of Refuge series contains characters from the others yet each can be read as a standalone. I just don't encourage that - they all should be read (and, ideally, in order). There are some adult themes, so I suggest this book for older teens and adults.

“But still she fled, leaving me battered and bleeding among the only remnants of my brother’s life, each of her parting footfalls another blow to the dream I’d not deserved, but had foolishly dared to hope for.”

Connilyn Cossette is a master at using the first person narrative to draw you into the hearts and souls of her beautifully crafted characters. Her vivid description of the ancient cities will pull you into that time period and have you walk in the sandals of the Israelites as they live and fight for their Promised Land around the time of Joshua’s death. The first person narrative flows smoothly and the plot moves along at a great pace with plenty of action, heartache and angst as the narrative switches back and forth between Rivkah and Malakhi. I absolutely loved that I could envision the Cities of Refuge in my mind’s eye while reading this book - the sights, smells, noise, feel and taste of Kedesh and Golan.

And the characters!! Rivkah is a young widow who is selfish, self-righteous, and stubborn but also intelligent, resourceful, and determined. Through the years and folly of her own making, she gains humility and wisdom. She isn’t particularly likable in the beginning but her brokenness is so tangible and her servant’s heart so real as she grows up. Malakhi is young, reckless, impulsive and totally devastated when Rivkah leaves him and their betrothal. Even in the midst of his anger, hurt, and humiliation, he matures into a humble, kind, and loyal leader of men. The fierce infatuation he held for Rivkah morphs into an enduring and unending sacrificial love for her and their relationship is achingly sweet. The message of forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope within the story will strengthen your faith.

This is a must-read for all Biblical fiction fans. I was given a copy of the book by Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I have not read any books by Connilyn Cossette, but this will not be the last book of hers that I read.

The characters were believable and well described. The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout. The setting was also believable and interesting.

This was an advanced reader copy that I got through Netgalley so the editing was not perfect but was done well enough that it did not detract from my enjoyment.

This is set in the time and area Isreal after the Jewish people were given the promised land, after the death of Joshua. It felt like it was a bit of a combination of a few of the parables in the New Testament, but it was very interesting.

I give this book a 5-star rating and would recommend this to my friends.

Connilyn Cossette has again succeeded in drawing me into another time and culture. It is a rich story demonstrating unconditional love. Look at the beautiful book cover. Even without it, Cossette’s descriptions of clothing, surroundings and emotions bring the characters to life. The central characters are Rivkah, a young recent widow and Malakhi, her husbands brother. Rivkahs father, the head priest of their city, has decided she will marry Malakhi. She doesn’t even like Malakhi, remembering their childhood days and how he had treated her badly. She feels like she is in prison and is determined to escape. Rivkah meets a young woman, Nessa. Nessas father has told her she will marry and she is not happy about it. A common bond it seems. Nessa convinces Rivkah to sneak out to a festival in another town. Is this temporary or the escape Rivkah had wished for? Has she turned her back on her family and heritage? There are twists and turns and for me plenty of oohs and aahs as Rivkah and Malakhi mature and their journey unfolds. I eagerly await the next book in this series.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Until the Mountains Fall is the third book in the Cities of Refuge series. You could read this story first without being confused, but it is best if read as the third book in the series as Cossette ties up a few things from the beginning of this series.

Rivkah is the main character. She has recently lost her husband to a tragic accident, and her father wants her to fulfill the Leverite marriage to Malakhi. Rivkah is independent, and strong willed. She works as a scribe for her father who is priest. Rivkah doesn't want a loveless marriage, and decides to run away. She hatches a plan with her friend Nessa to leave their quiet town of Kedesh and go to a Canaanite festival in the nearby town of Laish. This begins an adventure of serious consequences that Rivkah and Nessa may never be able to return from.

Malakhi is a handsome young man who has the eye of many young Jewish girls. Yet, he only has eyes for Rivkah. While he was the young he played many tricks on Rivkah to capture her attention and maybe receive a smile from his friend. All of these tricks come back to haunt him as a young man who is willing to fulfill the Leverite marriage to Rivkah. He suffers quietly as Rivkah tries to get Malakhi to divorce her because she is an awful cook, or destroys his clothing. Malakhi's patience is proven time and again. Once Rivkah disappears, Malakhi trains to be a warrior like his father. This ultimately brings about the reconciliation of Rivkah and Malakhi after many years of pain and heartache.

I loved this story and was pleasantly surprised to have a new spin on the parable of the Prodigal Son. The unfailing love of family overflows from this story. Cossette's research, relatable characters and insight into life during the Old Testament will draw the reader into the story. I couldn't put the book down.

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the complimentary e-book in exchange for my review.