DELILAH by India Edghill, 2009.

Like her previous novels, Queenmaker and Wisdom's Daughter, Edghill takes a Biblical story and expands on it to create a fully absorbing and satisfying read. In this case, she uses the Old Testament story of Samson and Delilah, weaving an entirely plausible backstory for the characters as well as keeping the basic story in view. Beautiful and graceful Delilah is raised as a dancer-priestess to the goddess Atargatis in the Philistine city of Ascalon. She falls for Samson, the Hebrew judge and reluctant warrior-hero who is considered an enemy by the Philistines, as soon as she sees him, but the evil High Priestess has plans for them both. Plots and schemes separate them physically but not in their hearts, and when events finally bring them together, it's with the knowledge that love can last even in death. Excellent storytelling, accurate description, and I enjoyed the way the author actually includes connections to her earlier books. If you enjoy Biblical based fiction, this will satisfy.