"In 1367 BC, hunting for his daughter's killer, Liyam bargains to rescue a strong-willed woman who is determined to complete her mission. Tirzah attempts to convince him to fight alongside her, but his thirst for vengeance may outweigh his duty to God and the woman he's come to love"--
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"In 1367 BC, hunting for his daughter's killer, Liyam bargains to rescue a strong-willed woman who is determined to complete her mission. Tirzah attempts to convince him to fight alongside her, but his thirst for vengeance may outweigh his duty to God and the woman he's come to love"--
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Can they find love in the midst of loss and turmoi
If there's one thing you can count on it's that Connilyn Cossette will always deliver a story that's moving and unexpected. Like Flames In The Night is exactly that. With each of her books that I read I'm continually impressed with the author's attention to historical detail, Biblical accuracy, and the depths of emotion that her characters elicit from the reader.
I have to say that Tirzah is one of the most unique heroines I've encountered in my years of reading. What would, in most books, be considered her weaknesses, are actually her strengths in this book. She's described as 'bold', 'reckless, and 'brash', which, by the way, is the first time I've ever seen a heroine labeled as brash. Liyam is her match in every way and together the two make a pretty dynamic duo in the spy game.
If I were to pick two themes as the dominant ones in Like Flames In The Night it would be forgiveness and the need to stand for your faith against all odds. Just as the ancient Hebrews did so must we make the same choices today. Those choices may not be life or death in modern America but they are no less valid. On the forgiveness angle, author Connilyn Cossette chose to make her hero a blood avenger, which is pretty much opposite of the previous books in the Cities Of Refuge books, an idea that I wasn't too sure of at first. However, the way she wove his story was very moving and even a little thought provoking.
I will be honest, like the Bible on which this book is based, this story is a bit violent and harsh in places. If that bothers you, skip this book over, but if you like to read truth through fiction, Like Flames In The Night is perfect for you. Connilyn Cossette has penned an inspiring story of love, loss, faith, and redemption. It will tug at your heart, challenge your own complacency in matters of faith, and it will also entertain you with the romance and adventure of it all.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Natalie
Mar 18, 2020
A vivid, inspiring journey not easily forgotten.
The Setting
Set in a time when God's Chosen People had surrendered to idol worship, and subsequent oppression under Aramean rule, Like Flames in the Night follows two spies whose mission is to infiltrate the house of the commander who controls the Aramean army. These Arameans had enslaved and killed many of the Hebrews in their own land, but it's up to the main characters to sew the seeds of faith once more, encourage the people to rise up in faith, overthrow the enemy, and retake the inheritance promised them by Yahweh.
The Characters
We sympathize with the hero and heroine from the beginning due to their painful pasts. Liyam, a redheaded, half-Canaanite, half-Hebrew warrior sets out for revenge against the Moabite trader who killed his daughter. Tirzah, daughter of the fiercest trainer of spies in Israel's army, is now widowed and grieving miscarried pregnancies, searching for self-worth in her quest to turn the tide in the fight for her nation's survival. Connilyn seamlessly weaves in characters from previous books as well, updating the reader on different families introduced throughout the series. I loved getting to see these old friends and their continued commitment to the growth they experienced in their own stories.
The Plot
The first plot point hinges on a controversial, and admittedly disturbing step for Liyam's character, one he defends while still entrenched in his flaws, but which never seems to incur serious consequences. Otherwise, I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story. I love when a book surprises me with plot twists. Some developments I saw coming. Others, I didn't. And that made me smile, because I know this is a difficult thing authors work hard for, and Connilyn makes it look so easy and smooth. With each new switchback, my heart pounded in hopes the characters would overcome, or at least survive, the challenge. I tend to bite my lip when the stakes are high in a book I'm reading and...let's just say after reading this book, I don't think I'll need a lip exfoliator for a long time. :)
The Romance
Though Liyam and Tirzah's first meeting is not without its challenges, these two skilled spies are well matched, both hearts brimming with courage while running from deeply buried pain. Their flaws hinder their mission and their growing relationship as he clings to his need for revenge and she to her need to prove her worth. On the other hand, Liyam challenges Tirzah to have faith and make wise choices while she encourages him to smile again, to live in light of the blessings God has given him.
The Spiritual Thread
Above the gripping plots, unique characterization, sweet love stories, and complex character webs, the spiritual content of Connilyn's books is what draws me back time and again. I found myself connecting to both Liyam and Tirzah in their faith-journeys from revenge to forgiveness, from insecurity to identity, from latent unbelief to fearless, conquering faith. I loved the through-line of challenging God's people to rise up in faith and live out what they claim to believe, throwing off complacency, fear, and idolatry to engage in the spiritual fight under the banner of the Almighty.
