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.
A Light on the Hill, the first book in Connilyn Cossette's new Cities of Refuge series, focuses on Moriyah, a woman branded with the mark of Canaanite gods while in captivity in Jericho. (Moriyah's story began in Cossette's Out from Egypt series, but that series does not need to be read in order to enjoy this book.) Moriyah has spent her life hiding her face—and herself—behind a veil. When her father arranges a marriage for her, disaster strikes, and Moriyah is accused of murder. She must flee to a city of refuge and pray that she will not stand condemned of premeditated murder.
Much of this book takes place during Moriyah's journey, which takes her through much danger and threatens the lives of those trying to help her. The journey isn't all terrible, though, as Moriyah meets some wonderful people, sees beautiful sights, and even falls in love.
I don't want to say much more about the plot than that—the book description does a great job of keeping things vague, and I enjoyed being surprised by people and events as I read.
As her journey goes on, Moriyah slowly begins to accept herself as she is—scar and all—and takes steps toward becoming the woman God made her to be. While I enjoyed the events of the novel, I think my favorite part was just watching Moriyah blossom. And the ending (which I won't spoil!) is so sweet and perfect.
I absolutely loved Moriyah's story, and I actually wish her journey to the city of refuge began sooner in the novel, as that's when I became totally engrossed in the story. This book was a wholly satisfying read, and I can't wait to continue the series with book two! 4-1/2 stars.
Read an excerpt.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Cossette's Wings of the Wind (4-1/2 stars).
When she is not homeschooling her two sweet kids (with a full pot of coffee at hand), bestselling author Connilyn Cossette is scribbling notes on spare paper, mumbling about her imaginary friends, and reading obscure, out-of-print history books. There is nothing she likes better than digging into the rich, ancient world of the Bible and uncovering buried gems of grace that point toward Jesus. Her novel Counted With the Stars won the 2013 Frasier Contest and was a semifinalist in the 2013 ACFW Genesis Contest. Although a Pacific Northwest native, she now lives near Dallas, Texas. Connect with her at www.connilyncossette.com.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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