Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story by Jill Eileen Smith | Biblical Fiction

Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story

Jill Eileen Smith

Biblical Fiction

When the greatest joys she has ever known are stripped away, the first woman must find the courage to face an unknown future

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on one whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to another like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as they explore Eden. Her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Then everything changes.

Through one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown future--the births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the only home she has ever known. Perhaps worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but also with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden?

Bestselling biblical fiction author Jill Eileen Smith imagines the life of the first woman to ever live, unspooling an epic story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.

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My Thoughts

I have to admit that I am always a bit hesitant to read Biblical fiction. It stresses me out that the author may take too many liberties (according to my standard) and I'll be left disappointed. The exception to that are stories by Jill Eileen Smith. She is meticulous about accuracy yet gifted with imagining how it might have been.

Daughter of Eden is glorious. I found myself at times weeping at the profound sadness of the Fall. But then I also couldn't help but smile at the beauty of creation and the Creator Himself. As you can guess by the title this is Eve's story. The time span is from her creation to her death.

The details pack in between those two dates are fascinating and thought provoking. Think about this . . . when Adam and Eve are removed from the garden they are suddenly thrust into a world that is completely unknown to them. How did they know to make fire the first time? Or weave a basket to use as a container? Ms. Smith uses these instances to show God Himself teaching them and reminding us that He never left them.

I can't recommend this book enough. It's beautifully written and I think it will leave you longing for a deeper fellowship with the Creator. 

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Photo Credit: © J. Lynn Perry Photography

www.JillEileenSmith.com

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

 

Cold Light of Day (Missing in Alaska #1) by Elizabeth Goddard | Romantic Suspense

Cold Light of Day

Missing in Alaska #1

Elizabeth Goddard

Romantic Suspense

Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in the quiet Alaska town of Shadow Gap when an unexpected string of criminal activity leaves her with a wounded officer, unexplained murders, and an attack on her own father. Despite her mistrust of outsiders, she turns to Grier Brenner, a newcomer who seems to have the skills and training Autumn needs to face this threat to her community.

Grier is in Alaska for the same reason many others are--to disappear--when Chief Long enlists his help. He emerges from the shadows and proves his mettle, but his presence in her life could be a deadly trap for them both. If his secret is exposed, all will be lost. And he's not sure even Autumn could save him.

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My Thoughts

If this opening salvo to the Missing in Alaska series is any indication of what's to come, we are in for a real treat. Cold Light of Day had me entranced from the very beginning. There's a prologue that sets the intensity level for the rest of the story. And let's just say that it's up there. 

After having read a few chapters I thought I knew how the prologue ties in to the rest of the story. But I was wrong. I hate being wrong but in this case it was a good thing. The truth was ten times better than what I had thought.

The main character is Police Chief Autumn Long and I was fascinated by her character. She has a lot of pluck about her. She's definitely one that runs towards danger rather than away. If you need someone to have your back she would be the one I would pick.

Grier Brenner is the mystery man in this tale. He arrived in the small little town of Shadow Gap just a short while ago. He came there to disappear. But when he sees someone in need of a rescue he can't help but give aid because that's just who he is.

The plot twists and turns are well written and keep the reader guessing as to the meaning and outcome right up until the very end. I'm excited to get my hands on the rest of the series. In the mean time if you haven't read anything else by Elizabeth Goddard I highly recommend any of her previous titles.

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Photo Credit: Madeleine Coussens Photography

www.ElizabethGoddard.com

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

 

Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I (Tudor Ladies in Waiting #3) by Sandra Byrd | Historical Fiction Review

Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I

Tudor Ladies in Waiting #3

Sandra Byrd

Historical Fiction

What happens when serving a queen may cost you your marriage—or your life?

From the author of To Die For comes a stirring novel that sheds new light on Elizabeth I and her court, a book that evokes the Tudor period's complexity, grandeur, and brutality.

In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiancé has fallen in love with her sister, and her dowry money has been gambled away. Ahead of her lies an adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power and plunge her to the riskiest, most heartrending lows.

Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth's circle and Elizabeth's dear friend and confidant. But in a court surrounded by enemies plotting the queen's downfall, Helena is forced to choose between her unyielding monarch and the husband she's not sure she can trust—a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences.

Vividly conjuring the years leading up to the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots, Roses Have Thorns is a multi-layered exploration of treason, both to the realm and the heart.

~~~

A discussion of potentially sensitive content may be found on the author’s webpage for this book for those who would like to preview it before reading.

Read the entire series:

1. To Die For

2. The Secret Keeper

3. Roses Have Thorns

My Thoughts

In Roses Have Thorns we are taken into the inner circle of Queen Elizabeth I. The story is told through the perspective of Helen von Snakenborg, who is a confidant of the queen and the second most powerful woman in all of England.

If you are a fan of Tudor history you are really going to enjoy this book! Sandra Byrd has woven a tale that is compelling yet tasteful. She gives you insight into just how turbulent the times were. We are reminded of how much shifting between Catholic and Protestant religions her predecessors embarked upon. The religious tension of the day was very pervasive in the lives of everyone, from those at court to those among the masses.  

I came away from the book with a new respect for Elizabeth I. She really did sacrifice her life and happiness for her subjects and her country. She was a very devout woman yet her court was still riddled with scandals. One of the things I appreciate about Sandra Byrd’s writing is that she tackles these disgraces head on in a discerning manner. We are aware of exactly what is going on, but we don’t have to muck through the tawdry details.

I was also profoundly affected by the story of Helen. I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like to live at court. Every luxury is at your fingertips, but your children and even in Helen’s case your husband are elsewhere. The power the queen held over her life would have been completely overwhelming to me. I loved her strength of character and also her flaws that reminded us that we are all vulnerable when we take our eyes off of our Savior.

This is the third and final installment in the Ladies in Waiting series. The first book is To Die For; A Novel of Anne Boleyn.  The second book is The Secret Keeper; A Novel of Kateryn Parr. Even though these three books are considered a series they are easily read as stand-alone novels. I highly recommend each of them!

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www.SandraByrd.com

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

 

The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Katherine Parr (Tudor Ladies in Waiting #2) by Sandra Byrd | Historical Fiction Review

The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Katherine Parr

Tudor Ladies in Waiting #2

Sandra Byrd

Historical Fiction

In a court full of intrigue, what if the most heart-wrenching secrets Juliana must keep are her own?

Sir Thomas Seymour offers Juliana St. John a place in the household of Katherine Parr, a welcome reprieve. Juliana blossoms under Kate's maternal warmth, but all is not well. Juliana has the gift of prophetic dreams and "sees" terrible events visited upon the highborn. If her prophetic gift is discovered, she will be accused of heresy or, worse, witchcraft.

Katherine Parr is a beautiful, intelligent woman whose generosity is surpassed only by her kindness. Unsurprisingly, she attracts the attention of King Henry VIII, who recently dispatched his fifth wife. Unfortunately, being Henry's beloved carries no small risk for Kate and her household, especially after she becomes his queen. As a member of the queen's inner circle, Juliana bears witness to a barrage of plots within the increasingly treacherous court—many intended to remove Kate's influence and, perhaps, her life.

As Henry's illness progresses toward death, those seeking to claim his power descend on the queen. Meanwhile, Thomas Seymour is revealed to be both more and immeasurably less than the kindhearted benefactor Juliana once thought him to be. As the queen's trusted confidante, Juliana is a well-practiced secret keeper. But when unforeseen violence upends her future, the most heart-wrenching secret she keeps is her own.

Threading historical fact through gripping fiction, Byrd creates a rich tapestry of one young woman's battle to protect those she loves from harm.

~~~

A discussion of potentially sensitive content may be found on the author’s webpage for this book for those who would like to preview it before reading.

Read the entire series:

1. To Die For

2. The Secret Keeper

3. Roses Have Thorns

My Thoughts

I naturally gravitate to historical fiction and I’ve read To Die For, book one in the Ladies in Waiting series, so I had an inkling that I was probably going to like this one. I liked it and more!

In this second installment, Sandra’s voice just gets better. She again tells the story of a very turbulent time in history. While the majority of writers that delve into this era tend to focus on the tawdry details, Sandra focuses on the events that surround the court and eventually shape the makeup of England as we know it.

The story is told through Juliana St. John a lady in waiting to Katheryn Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. We get to see the conflict with the reformers and the ways in which Queen Katheryn helps the cause. There is a particularly intense and touching portrayal of Anne Askew. I loved the boldness Anne had in proclaiming truth as the flames grew higher.

We are also privy to the ways in which Katheryn convinced Henry to restore his children who will go on to be the ruling monarchs of England. Although Katheryn didn’t have children of her own with Henry she showed great love towards Mary, Elizabeth and Edward.

This book is full of wonderful learning opportunities. The opening pages contain the family trees of all the main characters. I finally put a tab in so I could quickly turn back to that section. It was invaluable in keeping everyone straight. The author’s note and interview in the back of the book gives important information about what was factual and what was fiction in the story. Even with all of that I still had to look up the terms shriven and auricular confession. Go ahead and Google them, you’ll enjoy the education!

My hope is that this series will continue. I love this series and two books just aren’t enough. Whether Sandra continues to write about the nobility of early England or not, I will continue to seek out her work. She has a wonderful writing style that makes you lose yourself in the story.

Favorite quotes from the book:

“Time will discover everything . . . it is a babbler and speaks even when no question is put.”

~ Euripides

“Religion might be the arena the game was played in, but the prize, no doubt, was earthly power.” ~ Juliana

“The men began to moan and cry immediately and I closed my eyes and prayed for them, the words formed upon my silent, moving lips. Askew herself did not scream until the fires hit her face. Instead, till the end, she corrected Shaxton on his Scripture. ‘Yes, he’s got that right,’ she’d boldly call out of a passage, or, ‘No, there he misseth and speaks without the book.’ I was strengthened by her courage and forced open my eyes in order to honor her.” ~ Juliana

Connect With The Author

www.SandraByrd.com

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

 

To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn (Tudor Ladies in Waiting #1) by Sandra Byrd | Historical Fiction Review

To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn

Tudor Ladies in Waiting #1

Sandra Byrd

Historical Fiction

Could that which is worth dying for be exactly what makes life worth living?

When Anne Boleyn catches the eye of the king, Meg Wyatt accompanies her dearest friend to the thrilling court of King Henry VIII. However, as Anne and Henry's affections grow, Meg receives devastating news: the man she loves is forfeiting their future together to pursue his calling as a priest. Heartbroken, Meg commits to ensuring Anne's well-being.

The court crawls with climbers; some see Anne as an ally, while others consider her an adversary. In a place where deception and intrigue are common currencies, it is difficult to discern friend from foe—even within one's chambers. Anne's status rises, and Meg remains her loyal confidante, positions neither takes lightly. Unfortunately, the same determined ideals that make Anne a worthy queen and a champion for the English Reformation provide her enemies with a deadly foothold on her future.

Charismatic Henry is a single-minded king and a fickle-minded man. When Anne cannot produce the male heir he desires, she falls out of favor, allowing her enemies to pounce. Accusations and false testimony prevail. Anne Boleyn is sentenced to die.

Meg bears witness to her friend's stalwart grace, even unto death. Weighted with grief, Meg expects a dim future. But then, an unexpected source reignites a long-held spark still kindling in her heart. Could that which is worth dying for be exactly what makes life worth living?

Fusing compelling fiction with historical facts, To Die For is a masterful tale of unflinching friendship and unquenchable love.

~~~

A discussion of potentially sensitive content may be found on the author’s webpage for this book for those who would like to preview it before reading.

Read the entire series:

1. To Die For

2. The Secret Keeper

3. Roses Have Thorns

My Thoughts

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, but I’m also a very picky reader. When I first picked up To Die For I was very skeptical. I have read several of Sandra Byrd’s contemporary fiction books and enjoyed them. I just wasn’t sure about how she would do with this new genre. I am happy to report that Sandra blew me away.

The story of Anne Boleyn has been told by numerous authors over the years. Most of those pieces of work center on the downright tawdry details of the House of Tudor. While Ms. Byrd did include those details, she did it in a way that was tasteful while being truthful.

Meg Wyatt has been Anne Boleyn’s friend since childhood. When Anne is called to court to serve Queen Katherine she urges Meg to come with her. The story of Katherine’s downfall and Anne’s rising is very well known. The difference in this telling is the way that Ms. Byrd weaves in the details of the Reformation and the hand that Anne had in that coming about.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how the Tyndale Bible made its way into the hands of the common man. In the back of the book there are a couple of sections that go into more detail about this. I really enjoyed the Q & A with the author. It gave wonderful insight into her reasoning for the way she had the story unfold.

It is my hope that Sandra Byrd will continue to write Historical Fiction. She definitely has a talent in that area. But of course I’ll be happy to read her other works as well.

Connect With The Author

www.SandraByrd.com

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Disclosure

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.