A Light on the Hill

     BOOK REVIEW:   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 inn 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.

     MY REVIEW:  This is the first of Connilyn Cossette's books that I have read. She writes Biblical fiction; not about Bible Characters, rather, Bible Happenings. This book is written of the Cities of Refuge inhabited by Levites and open for falsely accused manslayers, etc.
     The entirety of this book but for the introductory chapters have Moriyah on a frantic journey to a City of Refuge. She is pursued by the man she is to marry because she accidentally---well, that would be a spoiler. 😊  This makes the book very interesting, not slow and boring. It made me appreciate cars. And GPS. And shoes versus leather sandals. And hotels!
     But to the authenticity, it felt too familiar between Moriyah and the men she encountered. I have in mind that men and women didn't communicate except when married and few special circumstances. I understand it had to be otherwise in this book because of the storyline---Moriyah is escorted by a man whom she (of course) falls in love with---but it takes away from the authentic feel of the book.
     There were, however, some very good lessons in this book. Moriyah hides her face behind a veil for she has the mark of a temple priestess which draws stares and whispered condemnations. She withdraws into herself and in so doing, sets an unconscious wall against God, then despairs at His seeming absence from her. As she finds acceptance and peace in her life, she is able to let down that wall and let God in. He hadn't been drawing away from her, she had been keeping Him out, though unknowingly.
     I enjoyed this book, though the repeated dangers got a bit long at times. It is a light read with subtle lessons. And I enjoyed the culture insight, some of which is into the lifestyle of the Canaanites which was interesting to compare, both to the Israelites then and to the world today. 

  I received a copy of this book from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS, and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.