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The daughter of a pagan high priest, Sofea finds solace from her troubles in the freedom of the ocean. But when marauders attack her village on the island of Sicily, she and her cousin are taken across the sea to the shores of Canaan. Eitan has lived in Kedesh, a City of Refuge, for the last eleven years, haunted by a tragedy in his childhood and chafing at the boundaries placed on him. He is immediately captivated by Sofea, but revealing his most guarded secret could mean drawing her into the danger of his past. As threats from outside the walls loom and traitors are uncovered within, Sofea and Eitan are plunged into the midst of a murder plot. Will they break free from the shackles of the past in time to uncover the betrayal and save their lives and the lives of those they love?… (more)
User reviews
Shelter of the Most High is book two in
I connected with Sofea, and Eitan was easy to sympathize with. Their romance is unique and satisfying, even though a bit slow moving at times. Their story brought the Bible times to life, as the dangers and fears of that era are so different from what we experience today.
This is a beautifully told story of sacrifice, hope, and God’s healing. Whether you normally read Biblical fiction or not, I think you’ll enjoy this inspirational historical read.
I can’t close out this review without mentioning the cover art. It. Is. Stunning. A cover is, in my opinion, incredibly important. After all, it’s what initially pulls me in. And wow—did this cover hook me! My favorite cover art of the year.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
This book is the second in a series and I did not read the first book. Like a lot of Christian fiction series, the first book centers on one of the characters in this book. The fact that I did not
This was also my first time reading biblical fiction so I had no idea what to expect or if I would even like it. Luckily, I ended up really enjoying it.
The book captured my interest from the very first page. We are immediately thrown into the action of when Sofea and her cousin are kidnapped by pirates. Sometimes books can take too long to get the actual storyline, so I was happy to see this book get right to it. As a whole, this book had quite a bit of action and excitement which I wasn’t expecting (but loved).
There was a really good balance of the religious elements. I never felt like it was too much or too preachy. It was woven into the story beautifully.
The only thing that prevented me from giving this 5 stars was that I didn’t connect much with Sofea. I wanted a little bit more from her. I connected with Eitan no problem, but Sofea not so much.
All in all, this was an exciting tale and if you are looking to get into biblical fiction, consider picking up this book/series.
How can this be the first Connilyn Cossette book I have read? How could I have spent these past few years as an avid reader of Christian Fiction in such ignorance of the pure delight that is
Wow, Shelter of the Most High totally blew me away. Kedesh, one of the cities of refuge during the time of Joshua, came to life in the pages and drew me in immediately. I love the way the author melds historical and Biblical facts with believable and realistic fiction to expand and stretch the reader’s horizon. The writing is beautiful and emotional, the plot is complex yet tightly woven, the characters are truly unforgettable, and the faith lessons are relevant.
Sofea, along with her cousin, is a foreigner stranded amongst the Israelites in the city of Kedesh. Eitan is a young man sentenced to Kedesh for events that transpired eleven years ago. Reading Light On a Hill (book one in Cities of Refuge) prior to this book will help the reader understand the events chronologically. However, even without having read the first book, I was able to piece together the pertinent background from the first book by reading this one. Sofea is a fearful yet curious, loyal, determined, tender soul who has to learn a new way of life - from language to religion. Eitan is impulsive, strong, impatient yet kind, generous, loving, dedicated and fun. They both have different fears and hurts from their pasts to overcome as God gently works on their scarred hearts. Their romance is slow and sweet even as their budding friendship is threatened by evil intentions of others and their own insecurities.
If you enjoy Biblical fiction, you don’t want to miss this book. It’s a must read!
I received a copy of the book from Baker Publishing Group via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Sanctuary cities are a hot-button topic in today’s political climate, and the concept of a city of refuge, while clearly different in implementation, connects the reader to the narrative and makes the story more contemporaneous. The other issues that unfold augment this connection. Some of the characters suffer from PTSD, and the reality of transitioning from one culture to another, overcoming language barriers as well as foreign customs, is very convincingly portrayed. Romance plays a role also, and one of the most poignant elements in the novel is the faith journey that the characters embark upon. Sofea and Eitan were the main protagonists, and the story is told from their alternating points of view in the first person, but this tale belongs just as much to the secondary characters. Cossette truly achieves a well-rounded narrative in which all of the characters’ lives echo throughout the pages and enrich those of the hero and heroine. This is Biblical fiction done well, on par with the works of such authors as Tessa Afshar. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and NetGalley and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
Eitan is a young man who has not been allowed to from leave his city because of a grudge someone has against him. It is evident as you read the story that revenge fuels several characters. I liked how Eitan and his family took Sofea and Prezi in and made them feel safe. There was a bit of uncertainty between the cousins of their new home but at least they were not out in water or wandering around without shelter to protect them.
I loved getting to know each character but I have to say Prezi was my favorite. Her quiet disposition was refreshing and I loved how she was hungry to know who God was. I loved how the story flowed and the mystery surrounding Eitan. Someone is out to harm him and will do anything to lure him straight into the path of death.
I loved this story and how seamless the author incorporated biblical truths throughout the story. It is also a beautiful story of people seeking forgiveness and acceptance. I loved the adventure Eitan took when he found out Sofea and Prezi were in danger. He was willing to sacrifice himself to save them. A great reminder that we also had someone who gave their life to save us. I highly recommend this story filled with historical facts and a lesson in hope.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
What a wonderful, yet chilling, story Connilyn Cossette has penned in Shelter of the Most High. As always,
Cossette takes the reader back to the time in Israel’s history when Israel has just entered the Promised Land, captured much territory, and now their revered leader Joshua is ready to die.
One of Israel’s traveling spies, Darek, finds Sofea and Prezi, malnourished and greatly abused, on an island. Taking them back to his family,
Sofea and Prezi slowly heal as they are assimilated into a large family whose God is so very different from their own.
Cossette is a new-to-me author that I can’t wait to begin reading more, starting with the first and soon-to-come third book of this series. This book, although book two of a series, stands well on its own. Spell-binding could describe Cossette’s writing. Once started, it was hard to stop reading. Perhaps gritty also describes Cossette’s style. Not in language, but the physical abuse, carnage, and false god worship may turn a few delicate stomachs.
What else, besides the compelling storyline, history immersion, and sweet romance make this a great book? Themes of unrelinquished guilt, undeserved mercy, and unconditional love. If you have not tried Cossette’s Biblical fiction, or at least not Shelter of the Most High, I strongly invite you back to Cossette’s ancient Israel, the Cities of Refuge, and the Great Sea.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. No review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Thanks to the author, I received a complimentary copy of Shelter of the Most High and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
I received this fantastic ebook from CelebrateLit and this review gives my personal impressions and opinions.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.