Shadow of the Storm

I just finished this book a few minutes ago and there is one thing I absolutely HATE about it. It ended. No loose ends were tied up neatly in a bow. Now I HAVE to wait until the next book in the series comes out to find out what happened. In Connilyn Cossette's first book, Counted with the Stars (reviewed here) begins with the story of Kiya and secondarily the story of Shira. While Kiya plays an important part in Shadow of the Storm, the story is Shira's, how she becomes a midwife, how she finds herself involved in difficult births without feeling that she has the training, how a couple of the women in the camp have come to hate her without cause, and how she turns that hate upside down just by finding her strength.

The Israelites have escaped Pharaoh and are now living in the wilderness while Moses is receiving the Ten Commandments. They collect manna every morning, and work on the Tent of Meeting. Shira believes that she's called to be a midwife, even though her mother wants her to continue with weaving and dying wool. The very first time Shira assists Reva with a birth, Reva recognizes Shira's talent for calming mothers and her strength in assisting mothers give birth. When she is called to Leisha's tent to assist in her delivery, she finds that Leisha is married to the man she has admired for a long time. When Leisha dies in birth, Shira wants to give up midwifing, but Yahweh has other plans.

There are several biblical concepts that Connilyn includes in her book: forgiving is freeing, appearances are not as important as what is on the inside of a person, and God is not a being to be messed with--He requires ultimate devotion. I love books that help me grow and this one does just that.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a calm delivery for your next baby.

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.