Cities of Refuge Series by Connilyn Cossette

        

"A Light on the Hill" by Connilyn Cossette

One of the most interesting yet least talked about parts of the Bible is the cities of refuge.  These were places were those accused of crimes punishable by death could flee and remain safe.  They would either get a trial proclaiming them free or be confined to the city gates.  Going outside the city when guilty meant a vigilante could legally kill them.  This is the case with Moriyah.  When she accidentally kills two young boys, she is forced to flee to a city of refuge.  Things get interesting when the man who wants her dead is chasing her, trying to prevent her from reaching the city of refuge.  Add in the fact that Moriyah's love interest is the brother of said vigilante.  As if that were not drama enough, add in Moriyah's troubled childhood where she is kidnapped and branded with the mark of a pagan harlot.  Yes, interesting indeed.  I won't give any more of the book away but will say it is quite the page-turner.  For romance, that is there but not graphic.  As for the vigilante chasing, there is action and suspense but nothing too scary.  I like how biblical fiction ties in aspects of the human condition that apply to modern day.  While readers may not be fleeing for their lives after the fall of Jericho, they may be able to relate to the concept of others judging them, running away from a bad situation, and dealing with worrisome in-laws.  I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

"Shelter of the Most High" by Connilyn Cossette

The second book in the cities of refuge series does not disappoint.  It follows two Italian cousins--Sofea and Prezi--as their island hometown is ransacked by marauding pirates.  Kidnapped and taken aboard a strange vessel, they manage to escape and end up in Israel.  Unfamiliar with the language and customs of the Hebrew people, the girls fear that this new land they are in is full of ruthless pagans.  Injured and starving, they are taken back to town by local Jews.  Scared and confused, the girls initially think they are slaves bound for human sacrifice (not uncommon in their own land).  They are pleasantly surprised to realize that the Hebrews believe in a God of kindness and mercy, one that sacrifices sheep instead of people.  As the girls slowly learn Hebrew, they make friends in town and even spark romantic interest.  The plot takes a twist when they finally discover that the Israelite city they are in is actually a city of refuge and that the people around them have been accused of accidental killing.  Will this newfound realization make the girls leave the city and abandon their newfound community, or will they stay?  Read the book to find out!

"Until the Mountains Fall" by Connilyn Cossette

The third book in the series follows Rivkah who is a young widow when her first husband dies.  Due to the levirate marriage laws at the time, she is betrothed to her late husband's brother in an effort to continue his family name.  Distraught and upset, Rivkah flees to a neighboring town.  She soon realizes that the people there are not as faithful as those in her hometown.  Used, abused, and confused, Rivkah ends up a slave while her betrothed searches for her.  This book is a tale of sorrow, loss, and redemption.  After five years, has Rivkah's betrothed given up search and married another?  Can Rivkah's family forgive her for what she's done and the pain she's caused them?  Aside from the interpersonal drama, there is the threat of foreign invasion looming as neighboring armies march forward.

"Like Flames in the Night" by Connilyn Cossette

The fourth book in the series follows Tirzah, the youngest spunky daughter of Moriyah.  With the very real threat of Aramean occupation, the Hebrews are not at peace.  A widow with no children, Tirzah decides she wants to help her people regain their homeland.  She goes undercover as a spy, first cooking for an enemy king and then laundering fabric for an enemy warrior.  Through her cunning, she is able to determine when the Arameans are going to strike and relay this information to her Hebrew brethren ahead of time.  A Moabite convert named Liyam enters the scene when he makes a deal wih Tirzah's father.  By marrying Tirzah under false pretenses to aid in her spy efforts and provide protection, Tirzah's father agrees to help Liyam track down the man who ran over his daughter (his first wife died in childbirth).  Themes of intrigue, love, jealousy, revenge, and more are at play in this book.  Readers will get a firsthand glimpse into what life was like the in the biblical "cities of refuge", especially during the time of Aramaean occupation.  They will also understand how manslayers end up in these "cities of refuge" and what those seeking their life go thru.  Can one forgive another for an accidental death?  How do these emotions impact one's closest relationships?  Read and find out!