Back Cover
Though Israel has found relative peace, Moriyah has yet to find her own. Attempting to avoid the scorn of her community, she's spent the last seven years hiding behind the veil she wears. Underneath her covering, her face is branded with the mark of the Canaanite gods, a shameful reminder of her past captivity in Jericho and an assurance that no man will ever want to marry her.
When her father finds a widower who needs a mother for his two sons, her hopes rise. But when their introduction goes horribly wrong, Moriyah is forced to flee for her life. Seeking safety at one of the newly established Levitical cities of refuge, she is wildly unprepared for the dangers she will face and the enemies - and unexpected allies - she will encounter on her way.
Review
When I received my review books for this month, I was at a loss as to which one to start first as they all looked amazing! My good friend and fellow blogger, Amanda, (http://cozywritersden.blogspot.ca/), wisely suggested I start with A Light on the Hill by Connilyn Cossette. Amanda read the previous series by Cossette, "Out of Egypt", and is a forever fan of Cossette's work. I am so glad I followed my friend's advice. A Light on the Hill is simply one of the best books I've ever read. And I don't say that lightly. Cossette's writing is equally breathtaking and fascinating as she brings to life the lives of the Israelites we read about in the Old Testament, breathing life into famed heroes such as Joshua, and what it would be like to live in a wild and rugged land, still inhabited in areas by the sworn enemies of God, the Canaanites, a time when Levitical law was firmly established, and a girl's future was fraught with uncertainty. It was a dangerous period of history. But also one where hope was very much alive as the Israelites literally lived on the promises of God - the promise of a land to be their own, and a promise of a Messiah to come.
I don't read much historical, Biblical fiction. I find the genre more often than not undermines the true Biblical accounts and does more harm than good. But I did not find A Light on the Hill problematic in that area at all. While Moriyah's story is not based on a real historical figure, it brought some more texture to the time period, and, to borrow an oft-used phrase, made "history come alive".
Moriyah's story was suspenseful, heartbreaking, and filled with hope. Her character starts out with a weakened faith in God due to past traumatic events she had endured (which I believe were written about in the previous series, "Out of Egypt"). But as the story progresses, so does Moriyah's faith, making for an equally encouraging and inspiring story. HIGHLY recommend!
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
