Review: To Dwell Among Cedars by Connilyn Cossette

About:

As they fight for the soul of Israel, will they find healing for their own?

Eight years ago, after the Philistines surrendered the stolen Ark of the Covenant back to the Israelites, Eliora and her brother left their Philistine homeland to follow it to the community of Kiryat-Yearim. Though they both were lovingly enfolded into a Levite family that guards the Ark, Eliora can't stop feeling like she doesn't belong.

Meanwhile, a faction of discontent Hebrews finds Kiryat-Yearim to be an unfit resting place and believes that the sacred vessel should be in the hands of the priests who mean to restore the Holy of Holies in a new location. Under the guise of gathering Hebrews to worship together for the festivals, Levite musician Ronen has been sent by his uncle to find where the Ark has been hidden and steal it back. But Ronen never expected that the Philistine girl he rescued years ago would now be part of the very family he's tasked to deceive.

Ronen's attempts to charm Eliora into revealing the location of the Ark lead them in unexpected directions, as they must battle betrayal and fear to help establish Israel's leadership for a better future.

My Thoughts:

With her attention to historical detail and masterful storytelling, author Cossette again brings another historical Bible scene to life. I have always enjoyed the drama and attention to detail that 1st and 2nd Samuel has to tell the stories of Samuel and the early kings of Israel. How God fights for a nation that still has now clue that His way is best. This story begins with the death of the priest Eli and his sons and the capture of the Ark of the Covenant.

Yes, the Philistines thought they had Israel and their God beat. Until strange and terrifying things begin to happen. Their god is beheaded with his hands cut off, earthquakes, and deadly plagues that torment them. This is where we meet the young Arisa and her little brother Lukio, Philistine children abandoned by their father and the rest of their family dead, accept a cruel cousin.

I really enjoyed their story as they were taught about the one true God by an Israelite slave who also saved their lives by telling them to follow the Ark, even though everyone else was terrified. They did as they were told and were not only saved but were adopted into an Israelite family and could choose new names.

Arisa is now Eliora and she is a grown woman who serves and loves her family well. Things are still not peaceful in Israel as different families of the Levites are still bickering. Ronen who met Eliora that fateful night meets her again eight years later as he is on a mission with his family and return it to what they believe is the rightful place. 

As Eliora and Ronen learn to care for each other, they also learn about family- adopted or blood- means a great deal and they will not just toss you away. There was a great many truths in this story about family love and God's love for us. I really liked that this was about two Philistine children, who followed God when they were too young to understand and grew up in a horrible culture, and yet they were saved. Not without tribulation and this story continues with Lukios tale.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Connilyn Cossette (www.connilyncossette.com) is a Christy Award and Carol Award winning author whose books have been found on ECPA and CBA bestseller lists. When she is not engulfed in the happy chaos of homeschooling two teenagers, devouring books whole, or avoiding housework, she can be found digging into the rich ancient world of the Bible to discover gems of grace that point to Jesus and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience. Although she and her husband have lived all over the country in their twenty-plus years of marriage, they currently call a little town south of Dallas, Texas, their home.