The thing we never talk about in Prodigal Son stories is all the time the Prodigal loses while he is prodigal. Sure, we cover the bad at the beginning, we mention the stuff he’s going through during, and we definitely discuss the return home, but all the life that is missed — what family and friend’s go through while the Prodigal is gone, how they change and grow and marry and have kids and get jobs, etc. — is just missed and we never talk about it. Our perspective always stays with the Prodigal. He becomes the focus and all those he left just get left. For me, this is always the most devastating aspect of any Prodigal Son story. Between the Wild Branches really had me thinking on Prodigals. What drives us to be prodigal? Whether we want to admit it or not, we all have prodigal moments in our lives. We all “leave” to pursue what we want, when we want it, how we want it. We think we are so smart. We think we know better than those who love us the most. In fact, we convince ourselves that maybe our loved ones don’t really love us the most or they wouldn’t keep us from that thing we want. So we leave. In book 1, To Dwell Among Cedars, Lukio is a teenager. He is hurt by others and he doesn’t get what he wants, so he leaves. He leaves his adopted family, his dear sister, and the girl he loves all because he has hurt feelings, because he is stubborn, and because he assumes a whole lot. He decides to take control over his own life … and runs right into slavery. At first, slavery looks and feels good. He rises in the ranks as Ashdod’s best fighter. Women want him. Men want to be him. Every worldly desire is at his fingertips. He doesn’t need anyone or any god because Lukio is his own man. At the start of Between the Wild Branches, Lukio is pretty much at the top of his world. And then he sees Shoshana, the girl who got away, and his cushy, opulent life gets shifted on its very axis. The Prodigal has to face his truth — and what a journey it is!

This novel, like every other novel by Cossette, is outstanding. There are so many nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat moments that I feel Between the Wild Branches is totally unputdownable. My husband asked me to describe the storyline in a sentence and I told him, “Think Schindler’s List but scarier.” When I read in the Bible about the different kingdoms and rulers that surrounded Israel, I clearly get the sense that the nations were exceptionally debauched and devoid of a moral compass. The Philistines were a rough people. I know good people existed in these various nations — Rahab and Ruth spring to mind — but in general, the nations were scary. Cossette does a great job capturing this aspect when she recreates ancient Ashdod. She also does a great job illustrating the hatred the Philistines felt towards the Israelites. King Nicaro is a straight-up terrifying character who wants to hurt and shame and destroy every Israelite, and what he allows to be done to people is gut-wrenching and sickening. BUT, no matter how bad Nicaro gets GOOD thwarts his plans. Yes, this earth is pretty terrifying right now. I think it may even be as scary as the days of the ancient Philistine. Right now it looks the darkest I have ever seen it and even scarier things are on the horizon. But no matter how dark it gets, God has His people stationed all over doing His good works. For some, that looks like teaching the kids no one really cares about or expects much out of; for some, it’s fighting terrorists in a military setting; and for some, it’s being in the trenches desperately doing everything they can to save humans from trafficking (just like in Between the Wild Branches). No matter how dark it gets, God still wins cause GOOD is still here. This is the point of Between the Wild Branches. We cannot lose hope in these dark times. Light will always prevail. What a perfectly beautiful truth and such an inspirational reminder for us all today.

Between the Wild Branches is AMAZING and I loved every minute of this story. This is definitely a book I will re-read again. I highly recommend this story and hope that you will immediately add it to your TBR list. This is a book you do not want to miss!

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Between the Wild Branches
by Connilyn Cossette
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance
Pub Date 06 Jul 2021 | Archive Date 11 Aug 2021
This is the second book in the series so you may want to backtrack and read the first one for background.
This is a new author for me, but I love Bethany House and the books they have so I thought I would give it a try.
I'm glad I did. Great book! Thanks to Bethany House and Net Galley for the ARC.
I do have a pet peeve though: how many times did the author say Lukio is "big and beautiful." Too much sensuality for this type of book.
4 star

Connilyn Cossette's imagination never ceases to amaze me and exceed my expectations! After I finished the first novel, I thought I had an idea of how the story would continue, but Between the Wild Branches quickly blew my predictions into the dust. In her usual richly descriptive style, she took me along on an adventurous journey of sacrificial love and redemption that I am still thinking about weeks later. Connilyn is exceptionally talented at bringing the Bible times and culture to life and if you haven't read any of her books you totally should!
Between the Wild Branches could probably be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend reading the first novel in this series before beginning this one. I can't wait to read what she comes up with next!

Thank you Bethany House and Net Galley for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

SO good! This could be read as a stand-a-lone story but there are plenty of comments about the main characters' childhoods, that you'll likely end up wanting to read the first in the series anyway. (You won't regret it, I promise.)

This story picks up 10 years after To Dwell Among Cedars. Lukio has returned to Ashdod to pursue the life he had always dreamed of. Along the way, his past inadvertently runs into him helping him to realize what is really important in life.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Between the Wild Branches centers around the love story of a Philistine man and a Hebrew slave, who love each other in spite of the great divide between the people of their blood. When I finished the first book in the series, To Dwell Among the Cedars, I couldn’t wait to hear the rest of Lukio’s story. It was clear that his abrasive behavior was due to deep-rooted pain and insecurities. The connection that he has with Soshana is so beautiful and real. Each main character had a personal journey with God, learning about his deeply rooted love for them. I highly recommend this book!

"Between the Wild Branches" is the second book in the Covenant House series by award-winning author Connilynn Cossette. Every book this author writes is a treasure and this book is no different. Cossette takes excellence in writing into an entirely new level in this book.

The book picks up ten years after the end of "To Dwell Among the Cedars." The summary of the book states: Ten years ago fifteen year old Lukio fled Kiryat-Yearim, where he'd been adopted by the Levite family who guarded the Ark of the Covenant. Feeling betrayed by everyone, he returned to his birthplace in Philistia to become a famous fighter. Now the champion of Ashdod, Lukio has achieved every goal with the help of his ruthless cousin. But just as he is set to claim the biggest prize of all, the daughter of the king, his past collides with his present in the form of Shoshana.

After a heartbreaking end to her secret friendship with Lukio, Shoshana thought to never see the boy with the dual-colored eyes and the troubled soul again. But when she is captured in a Philistine raid and enslaved in Ashdod, she is surprised to find that the brutal fighter known as Demon-Eyes is Lukio himself.

With explosive secrets and unbreakable vows standing between them, finding a way to freedom for both may cost them everything.

Cossette is amazing at encapsulating epochs of Biblical history and bringing them to life. The detail about the Philistine people is simply incredible. By making them more than a faceless enemy of Israel, she breathes life into the motivations and animosities of the two sides. It also shines the light on how the nation of Israel was seen by the nations surrounding her and her devotion (or lack of devotion) to God influenced them.

Lukio's character development is superb. We see him finally battle the demons of his soul (my pun on his nickname of "Demon-Eyes). What he discovers in the process is something we all need. This is a novel to be read over and over again to mine its depths.

I received a digital copy of the book to facilitate this review. The views and opinions expressed here are 100% honest and my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, part 255 Guidelines, concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in advertising.

I don't know how to describe how amazing this book is! Connilyn Cossette has woven another wonderful story of love, forgiveness, and redemption.

Lukio and Shoshana's story looks impossible and horrific at times. Follow them as God moves mountains to bring them to Himself and together with each other.

Connilyn Cossette's books all draw my heart closer to Yahweh. I feel Him pulling me in and showing me His awesome power and might. I was right there with Lukio (Natan) and his brothers as they fall to their knees in worship of the God Who Sees.

If you haven't read one of her books, I suggest you read them all! I find myself reading the Bible passages again in a new light of understanding.

What an amazing story! I was so glad to see Lukio finally find God and I loved seeing the story from his and Shoshana's point of view. This was a beautiful way to end the duology.

Connilyn Cossette has hit another one out of the park! This is the 2nd book in the Covenant House series and while this one could be enjoyed as a stand-alone, if you're going to read both, I would recommend reading them in order as this one would include spoilers about the ending of "To Dwell Among Cedars". This duology focuses on 2 Philistine children who followed the Ark out of Philistine territory when their land was hit by a plague due to its capture. They were adopted into a Hebrew family. The first book focuses on the oldest of the 2 - Eliora. While Lukio is also a prominent character in book 1, this is HIS book, where we learn more of his story and motivations. This book begins 10 years after book 1 ends and we see that Lukio has achieved all of the dreams that he had for himself, but still finds something lacking. This story was a true tale of redemption!

In addition to the major character character development plot, there are additional plot points of the war between the Philistines and the Hebrews, espionage and rescue of captured slaves and romance plot twists. There's also an allusion to a pre-cursor to the olympic games! (The author does note that there is no historical evidence of this, so this element was purely fiction, but it was a lot of fun!). I really enjoyed all of the elements of the story line of this one as well as the character development. It was incredible to see Lukio's redemptive story and see how things ended as I had no idea how they were going to get there. While the major elements of the Biblical story-line are in the first book and this book just happens to take place in the same time period (in other words, not much Bible story-telling in this one), it was still an enjoyable Biblical fiction read and brought and enjoyable conclusion to the first book in the series. I would strongly recommend to fans of inspirational historical and particularly Biblical historical fiction.

Special thanks to the author and publisher for an advance copy of this novel. Extra special thanks to the author for the bonus chapters offered to pre-orders that amplified this story as well. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

This book picks up where the last one in the series left off but the children are grown up now and caught in their own destinies. This book is so well written and inciteful and I can't recommend it enough. I love historicals that really give you a feeling for the time, place and culture. This fulfills all of that along with some good moral insight and family dynamics. This is one of my favorite books so far this year. I will always pick a new book by Connilyn Cossette to add to my reading list.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Book Two in the Covenant House Series does not disappoint. My emotions ran wild, and I could not stop reading wanting to know more. I loved most of the characters and concur that Lukio’s cousin, Mataro, got his just reward! The story’s crescendo to the end clearly pointed to Christ and the need for forgiveness and a Savior. Although Lukio’s journey to freedom may have been long and painful, the story gives hope to all of us as we navigate our journeys. May we all learn like Lukio, “Fear only the fetters you place on yourself.” Each book is standalone, but I highly suggest reading Book One, To Dwell Among Cedars, in order to familiarize yourself with the characters.
I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley. The opinions are my own.

Wow! If you enjoy reading historical biblical fiction, you will definitely want to add this series to your library! Connilyn Cossette makes this particular Old Testament time period, when the prophet Samuel was judge over Israel, come alive. The book is so well researched and written, that it made me want to go back to the Bible and read about Samual, the ark of the covenant, and what all was taking place during this time period. Between the Wild Branches is the perfect conclusion to this two book series, that follows the lives of sister and brother, Eliora and Lukio. In this book, we follow the story of Lukio, who left his Hebrew adoptive family to return to Ashdod. He believes that his life will be much happier and better in the land of his birth. After years of being used for financial gain by his cousin, he finally realizes the so-called glamour and lifestyle of being a well-known Philistine prizefighter may bring him great riches and all he thought he desired, but he found that it left him feeling empty and longing for what he left behind in Israel. Unexpectedly meeting his childhood Hebrew friend, Shoshana, whom he genuinely loved, causes Lukio to questions his achievements and all that he thought he wanted in life. Knowing that she had been captured by his people, and brought to his country to be a slave causes his heart to soften and he begins to see everything he lost by leaving his birth sister and adoptive family in Kiryat-Yearim. He begins to see the truth of the Philistine people and how brutal they were; as well an understanding of how much his sister and Hebrew family loved him. Lukio makes some difficult choices, in order to protect Shoshana and other Hebrew slaves, willing to sacrifice his life and all that he has achieved, for theirs. He finds that family ties are strong, whether by blood or adoption, and is shown what that love looks like, even when undeserved. Most importantly, Lukio realizes that Yahweh is truly the one and only God. Many details from the first book in this series came to a wonderful conclusion in this book; some being happy surprises that I had forgotten about or didn't realize that they needed resolved. The guard, Jaru, was one of those happy surprises. Connilyn Cossette is a gifted writer that makes the characters, biblical perspective and time period come alive; which is why I thoroughly enjoy her books.

Wow!! I am so in awe of those book. It completely reflects the gospel and the strong narrative or forgiveness and grace.
This is the second book in a series and I would definitely recommend reading the first before you embark on this one. It will draw out the heart of the book and help you understand the main character’s motives better. I am so thankful the author chose to write a second one.

This book came into my life when I needed it and I’m thankful that God used it in such a way.

I was given a free copy for this review.

I have been dying to read Lukio's story ever since reading the first book in this series about his sister. I knew from the end of that one that this one would have some painful moments as Lukio's rebellious spirit was dealt with and he made his way back to Yahweh and His people. Honestly, I was almost afraid it would be too painful and I wouldn't enjoy reading it, but I should not have feared because Connilyn Cossette hasn't let me down yet. Every one of her books is my favorite, and I've never found something I didn't like about any of them.

I absolutely fell in love with the heroine of this book. I never expected her to have such depth from when we met her in book one, but she turned out to be really inspiring. Her courage and resilience is something I want to emulate in my own life. I love the way she stood up for those she loved and for those who were in need.

I don't want to give anything away, but I'll just say that one of the side characters was such a joy to meet. That in itself made this book for me! But the rest is so, so good! Highly recommend! Read it as soon as you can get your hands on it!

I received a complimentary early copy of this book from the author.

I read Between the Wild Branches in three sittings which is quite rare for me these days with fiction. It is always nice to come across a Christian novel I enjoy and cannot wait to sit down and read!

Connilyn Cossette continues to live up to her reputation as a wonderful storyteller. I loved the storyline and the characters were realistic. The dialogue sounded good to my listening eyes and my imagination was stirred with the sights and sounds. I must admit that I did not quite enjoy the first book in the series that much but this one definitely grabbed me.

Be aware that there are some dark bits and hints of sensuality. I also have a pet peeve – why is it necessary to mention so many times that Lukio is big and beautiful?

Other than that, really well written book and I am already looking forward to the author's next one!

Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette is a Biblical story that dives into another Moses type storyline. What I mean by that is that the plot features a character that moved up into the realm of the non-Hebrews, gains wealth, and then observes the mistreatment of the Hebrews and tries to save as many as he can. While the plot does feature a dynamic romantic storyline, it was not painful to observe. The characters were separated because of their place in society. The hero is a fighter who has massed tons of wealth from his ability to fight; whereas, the heroine is a slave in the king's household. The plot is interesting, but at times, it does drag to me. One of my favorite things of a Cossette novel is her research. She brings a tiny aspect of the Bible to life for me. I always feel like I am there, watching these things occur. I can't imagine having that ability. She is a wonderful storyteller who captures my attention. Overall, Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette captures the imagination and allows readers to learn more about the Bible world and brings it to life for the readers.

I received a complimentary copy of Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette, but the opinions stated are all my own.

BETWEEN THE WILD BRANCHES is the second novel in the Covenant House series by CONNILYN COSSETTE and it was definitely well worth waiting for! I love good biblical fiction and this author is without any doubt a master in the genre, with not only her research and knowledge of the Bible, but also her relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
If you have not already read To Dwell Among Cedars I suggest you do so in order to get the background of this book, but it can also be read as a stand alone.
We find Lukio in Ashdod ten years after leaving Kireat-Yearim and his adoptive family. He has become Devil Eyes, the Champion of Ashdod, with land and riches and Mataro the king's favour, leading to him becoming betrothed to Mariada, the king's daughter, and being made the Master of Games. This all becomes unimportant to him when he comes across Mariada's slave girl, Shoshanna, who he has loved since they were young, and hears her story and that of other Hebrew slaves.
Two of my favourite quotes in the book are "One must use every weapon one has when innocent lives are at stake" and "Oshai constantly reminded those of us who met in the wine cellar that although we could not save everyone, every life was precious, formed in the image of Yahweh Himself".
We see the difference between life in Ashdod, where the Philistines indulge in every kind of debauchery and horrific treatment of those they consider their enemies, as opposed to the simple God-fearing life of the Hebrews who adopted Lukio and his beloved sister Risi into their family in Kireat-Yearim.
It is a story of sacrificial love, extravagant mercy, forgiveness and redemption, as we watch Lukio live out the prophetic word given to him by Samuel, the prophet and great man of God.
I cannot recommend Between The Wild Branches highly enough. It is a wonderfully inspirational novel, full of biblical truth, and one I will read more than once.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Loved it!!!!!!!
Part one in this duology left me eager for book two that is for sure!
And this author came through big time!
I loved Lukio's character arch, he had so much that he needed to grow from and realize and I loved how it wasn't instantly realized all at once, he had to grow gradually. And that made it feel so real.
Shoshana was so good too! She survived so much and I loved how devoted she was to others!
The suspense in this book was so well done, so much was at stake that I devoured this book in just over a day. It was so good. The majority of this story takes place in a Philistine city, so there are more mature, violent things happening then most of her stories. I felt like it wasn't overdone or too explicit, yet it gives a glimpse into how bad it may have been.
I loved and cared for the side characters as well and I really hope we get to see them in later books.
This author always creates vivid adventures with the backdrop of Biblical events.
Love it! I loved it so much I ordered a physical copy as well.
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions in this review are honest and completely my own.