Book Review - Splendor of the Land

Time and place fall away as vivid details bring the reader face to face with the characters of Splendor of the Land, the third book in The King’s Men series by Connilyn Cossette. The cover of this book is rich with the textures of the setting, and it is only a taste of the treasure within. As her characters cross through untamed lands and venture into new cities, it takes little effort for the reader to feel the sand shift beneath their feet or the hot wind blowing across the back of their neck. And if her stories were the sum of her world building, it would be one thing, but the characters are crafted so carefully and easily become so familiar that one cannot help but become entangled in their lives. It is no surprise that I wept and laughed with Gavriel, Zahava, their families and their friends as this captivating story unfolded.

One is a prodigal, running from the shame of his lineage and barreling headfirst into chaos as if his life is worth nothing. The other is the apple of her father’s eye and trusted with a knowledge that will carry on her family legacy, wrapped in an unassuming package and easily overlooked. He a Benjamite and she a Kenite, they would not have been bound together, except for the nudging of guidance given to her father. Through joy and strife, their bond is formed as they are refined in life’s fire and the truths they were not prepared to see before become clear as Gavi and Zahava begin to understand who they are according to their Creator. I highly recommend clearing your schedule for this one, because putting it down is a challenge once you have started it. 

Splendor of the Land, book 3 of The King’s Men series by Connilyn Cossette, is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House        Christian Book        Amazon        Barnes & Noble        Walmart

Book Review - Shield of the Mighty

Connilynn Cossette recently released the latest installment of her The Kings Men series with Shield of the Mighty. In this story, Zevi battles his past and present to save his future. As a captain in the newly appointed King Saul’s army, Zevi is tasked with recruiting soldiers and artisans and gathering tributes for the king from the one tribe he dreads to face: the one that turned him out as an orphaned child and delivered him into the begrudging hands of relatives who did not want him. And one that wants nothing to do with supporting a Benjamite king. It is in his former hometown that he comes face to face with an artisan who just might be able to save them all in the eyes of King Saul; one who has no love for the king or his recruitment. But without her, their hometown forfeits any hope of protection by the army and will inevitably fall in a horrific way to the unspeakable acts of horror by the Philistines. Zevi cannot allow this to happen. Not to Maresha and not to her.

The incredibly talented and achingly beautiful widow Yochana would rather see King Saul deposed than create perfumes for his wife and daughters. Unfortunately, being captured by the his captain means she will soon end up face to face with the king. As she travels with Zevi and his men, information comes out that gives her a new understanding of what actually happened on the day her husband ran into battle. She also learns valuable information about the hauntingly handsome soldier that changes the way she sees him. When trouble strikes, Zevi and Yochana realize their only hope is in the King of Kings and his vessel just happens to be the Benjamite King Saul.

Cossette is positively brilliant with biblical historical fiction. Her passionate research shows as she crafts a rich world in which we can see the history of God’s people play out in a nearly tangible way. There is not a page when I am not in the setting, smelling the earth and the scents of the various plants Yochana uses in her fragrances and oils. Her characters are my family; the compound at Kiryat-Yearim is a familiar home to me. Complex scene settings, thorough and relatable characters, and intricate plots keep me enthralled from beginning to end. Shield of the Mighty is marked with consistency of her craft and a must-read in my opinion.

The Kings Men series new release Sheild of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette is available now from your favorite local bookseller or online:

Christian Book    Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Walmart

This is where I usually write a disclaimer, thanking the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. However, this disclaimer is where I thank my beloved husband for fully supporting my purchase of this book. As always, I’m full of opinions, which are my own and are completely honest.

Book Review - Voice Of The Ancient

From the very beginning, with the four cousins hiding above and spying on the proceedings as the nation of Israel waits with bated breath for lots to be cast and a king to be called forth, Voice Of The Ancient moves furiously and eloquently through the bloody beginning of Saul’s reign. Zevi, Gavriel, Avidan, and Shalem are cousins on the cusp of manhood when the new king’s ragtag volunteer army is called up for battle and the pact of their blood brotherhood is put to the test. With two of them meant for the life of a soldier, the others must decide who they are and who they are meant to be in the eyes of the One Who Sees. And the One Who Sees has a plan beyond their rebellion. For Avi, that includes crossing paths with a young boy who is mistaken as his missing cousin and who is not actually a boy, but a woman in disguise for the sake of her treacherous journey to the safety of family she has never known. As Avidan and Keziah search for his missing cousin and her family, they learn together to listen to the Voice Of The Ancient for guidance.

Connilyn Cossette writes this coming of age story filled with turmoil and hope in a message about value and redemption from the One who gives both. I tried so hard to read it slowly and savor every detail, but was captivated from page one and finished it in a day. Connilyn has a great knack for truly immersing the reader in the lives of her characters. I am particularly fond of the longstanding relationships built throughout the course of her novels, which could be read enjoyably as standalone stories, but have a richness in the familiarity that has been developed through generations as I have read each of her novels.

Voice Of The Ancient, book 1 of The King’s Men series, by Connilyn Cossette is available now from you favorite local bookseller or online:

Baker Book House        Christian Book            Barnes & Noble            Amazon

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.