The SettingSet 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 CharactersWe 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 PlotThe 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 RomanceThough 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 ThreadAbove 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.*The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this title, and I have stated my honest opinion.