Shelter of the Most High

von Connilyn Cossette

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

Cover:

The cover shows the spirit of adventure and the love of the sea by the protagonist.

Rezension:

„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?“

Shelter Of The Most High is the second book in the Cities of Refuge series. It can be read as a stand alone. The story is written in a split first person narrative from the perspective of both main characters. The story is set during a period between the Conquest and the Judges, when the Israelites were settling into the Promised Land and begins with such chilling drama you will be captured from the first page. The plot was engaging and had many twists and turns and an element of mystery to keep the story interesting. Shelter of the Most High is a story of redemption, love, trust, hope, and forgiveness. As you turn each page, you will be captivated by the characters of and love story unfolding between Eitan and Sofea. As he learns self-discipline, she learns how to open her heart - to not just Eitan, but to God. The characters are well-developed and complex. My favorites were Sofea, Prezi, Eitan, and Moriyah. These are all characters I would like to read more about and get to know better, especially Moriyah. There was just something about this character that felt warm and welcoming. This book was deep, hopeful, encouraging, exciting, and it was also entertaining! The things that Sofea so often misunderstood about the Hebrew culture and customs were almost comical, in a sad sort of way. Watching her experience that world and God for the first time was an amazing experience, as was the rest of the book. The only thing I did not like about the book was the biblical quotations. I am an atheist and unfortunately I can not do anything with it. Still, it was interesting to read a book on this topic.

I give the book 4/5 stars.

Thank you Bethany House and Netgalley for the free copy of Shelter Of The Most High.