Between The Wild Branches is the second book in The Covenant House series by Connilyn Cossette. When I received Between The Wild Branches in the mail, I had yet to read the first book in the series, To Dwell Among Cedars. I’m glad I quickly picked up book one and read it in two nights before starting book two.

The main character in Between The Wild Branches is Lukio and his story begins in the first book as a supporting character. Without reading book 1 you simply cannot grasp the depth of his childhood and how it plays a role in his adult life. So, I highly recommend that this series be read in order.

* Side note: put the covers of both books side by side to reveal a complete picture.

The storyline is set 1052 BC during the period of time that the arc of the covenant went missing. The author does an amazing job of writing between the gaps and coming up with a beautiful tale of fiction. Of course we do not know what happened, but this novel brings light to the time period and what it may have been like to live through it. Lukio’s story picks up in adulthood where he has become a Philistine fighter and given the nickname “Demon Eyes”. Shoshana is the lead female character and she has a story of her own after being captured and enslaved. They know each other from childhood but their stories will intertwine in adulthood. For me, the details and the imagery that is put into words is simply breathtaking. You feel as though you are in the story. The characters, setting, storyline are woven together to create a Biblical fiction masterpiece.

If you are a fan of Francine Rivers (you should be), Connilyn Cossette will be your next favorite author. She is at the top of the list for me!