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:
I thoroughly enjoyed Connilyn Cossette’s newest novel, To Dwell Among Cedars. Arisa/Eliora captured my imagination at the beginning and I quickly became invested in her story. Eliora’s devotion to Yahweh and the Ark of the Covenant undergirds all that she does. Such dedication set an encouraging example to those around her and for the reader. I loved journeying with her as she learned her true value and I rooted for her as arose in boldness when necessary.
While Eliora shines in To Dwell Among Cedars, the story has a substantial romance thread between her and Ronen. Ronen’s quest to move the Ark of the Covenant to a different location besets their blossoming love. This difficulty added a layer of tension to their unexpected and beautiful love story.
To Dwell Among Cedars is the first installment in The Covenant House series by Connilyn Cossette. I am eager for book two. Five stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a
copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are
my own.
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