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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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Disclosure

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

Miriam's Song by Jill Eileen Smith | Biblical Fiction Review

Miriam's Song

Jill Eileen Smith

Biblical Fiction

She has prayed for deliverance from Egypt.

But perhaps the greatest liberation happens within the heart.

From the very beginning, Miriam has lived in her younger brother's shadow. Thrust into the role of protective older sister before Moses was even born, she will grow up into a woman who not only keeps her family's secret but bears the burden of leading a new nation.

In her mind, she knows that she is serving both her God and her people. But in her heart, Miriam yearns for more. She longs to experience the privileges Moses has--to talk with God face-to-face. But when God finally does speak directly to her, the outcome is not at all what she expects.

With her impeccable research and keen eye for detail, bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith offers this epic novel to fill in the gaps in Miriam's story, following her from childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and yearning to fulfillment as she learns that what God promises He provides--in His own perfect timing.

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My Thoughts

Miriam's Song may be Jill Eileen Smith's best book yet! I've read all of her other biblical fiction and I am always impressed with the detail and accuracy she brings to each story. If you've not yet read one of her books you need to treat yourself soon.

In the biblical account Moses is the main character, as he should be. Miriam is his older sister and we meet her with the account of her brother's birth. After that the story shifts primarily to Moses. But who is Miriam? What was going on in her life in the intervening years between Moses' birth and the time when the Israelites are set free?

Jill fills in the gaps with information we know and what we can assume was taking place. Before I read one of her books I like to read over the biblical account so I can keep in mind what is fact and what is fiction. Every time I have been impressed with her ability to merge the two while remaining dedicated to the historical record.

If you've never read biblical fiction because you are hesitant about the fiction aspect I urge you to give Miriam's Song a try. I think you will lose yourself in the beauty of the story of a woman chosen by God to uphold His servant Moses. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading many more by her.

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Photo Credit: © J. Lynn Perry Photography

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Revell to facilitate my review.

A Passionate Hope: Hannah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith | Historical Fiction Review

A Passionate Hope

Hannah's Story

Jill Eileen Smith

Historical Fiction

Can one woman's prayers change the world?

Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, share a deep and abiding love for each other, for their God, and for His tabernacle at Shiloh. Greatly disturbed by the corruption of the priests, they long for restoration and pray for a deliverer. But nothing changes as the years pass. Years that also reveal Hannah to be barren.

Pressured by his family to take another wife, Elkanah marries Peninnah, who quickly begins to bear children. Disgraced and taunted by her husband's new wife, Hannah turns again to prayers that seem doomed to go unanswered. Do her devotion and kindness in the face of Peninnah's cruelty count for nothing? Will God remain silent and indifferent to her pleas?

Travel back to the dusty streets of Shiloh with an expert guide as Jill Eileen Smith brings to life a beloved story of hope, patience, and deliverance that shows that even the most broken of relationships can be restored.

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My Thoughts

The Prophetess: Deborah's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land, #2) by Jill Eileen Smith {Book Review}

The Prophetess: Deborah's Story

Daughters of the Promised Land, #2

Jill Eileen Smith

Historical Fiction/Biblical Fiction

Canaan has ravaged Israel.

The people are in hiding. All that stands between

surrender and hope is one untested woman.

Deborah will never forget the day her father and brothers left to worship at the Lord's tabernacle--or the wails of her mother after finding their bodies at the city gates. The memories of Canaan's cruelty haunt her and all of Israel. Now in this dark time, the Lord calls on Deborah to lead His people away from the idols of other nations and back to Him.

Deborah never asked to be a prophetess or a judge over God's people. Still, she cannot deny His voice or the visions that accompany it. Can her family ever understand? Will her people believe God's calling on her life? And can the Canaanite menace be stopped?

With her trademark impeccable research and imaginative storytelling, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the story of Israel's most powerful woman in this intriguing and inspiring novel.

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My Thoughts

I remember way back in my early Sunday School days learning about Deborah. I was so fascinated by her story. Up until this point most of the women in the Bible were ordinary but suddenly there was Deborah, chosen by God to be a judge for her people Israel. That's exciting type stuff for a young bossy flossy type girl like me.

When I received Jill Eileen Smith's new book The Prophetess: Deborah's Story I couldn't wait to dive in. I knew it would be good but I wondered how she was going to expound on the little we know about Deborah from Scripture. Deborah's story is riveting but it is told in two chapters, Judges 4:1-5:31.

Jill begins Deborah's story by introducing us to Deborah and her eventual husband Lappidoth when they are young teenagers. I appreciated how she set the stage by letting us imagine with her how their personalities were. Eventually we meet Barak and others that are also mentioned in Scripture.

As I said earlier I am familiar with Deborah's story but it has been a while since I have read through the book of Judges so some of the details were a bit foggy. After I finished the book I grabbed my Bible and reread the story of Deborah. Jill nailed it. Every detail mentioned is told in her story exactly. Yes she added new characters and dialogue but the basics of the story are the same. She masterfully took the skeleton of Deborah's story in Judges and added muscle and flesh and in essence breathed life into the characters.

I have a high standard for Biblical fiction. I have no use for a book that deviates from the original story just for the sake of heightening the story line. In my opinion it must be accurate above all else. As with all of her other stories The Prophetess meets and exceeds my expectations.

If you are looking for an accurate account of Deborah's story this is it. Through the telling of this period of Israel's history we're reminded of the cost of turning away from God. But the best part is that we also see the joy of repentance and restoration. There is much to be learned from the life of Deborah.

If you happen to be in a book club I would highly recommend this book to your group. You can find a Reading Group Guide on the Baker Publishing Group's website.

Other Reviews For This Author

The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story

Rachel

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The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story (Daughters of the Promised Land) by Jill Eileen Smith {Historical Fiction Review}

The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story

Daughters of the Promised Land

Jill Eileen Smith

Historical Fiction

Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.

In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls--or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

Under Jill Eileen Smith's talented hand, the familiar story of Rahab bursts forth in high definition. Immerse yourself in a world of dark and dusty streets, clandestine meetings, and daring escapes as a mysterious biblical figure claims her full humanity--and a permanent place in your heart.

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My Thoughts

If you've read any of Jill's Wives of King David or Wives of the Patriarchs series you already know that you are in for a real treat with this first book in the Daughters of the Promised Land series. My book club has read several of her books so I was thrilled to get my hands on The Crimson Cord.

The book is divided into three parts. In the first part Jill pens a what if scenario of Rahab's life before the Biblical account. She fills in the blanks of all those questions that we have about this infamous woman. How did she become a prostitute in the first place? What type of relationship does she have with her family that they would be willing to come to her house of ill repute to be saved? I enjoyed Jill's suppositions and thought that the situations that she came up with were very plausible. She fleshed out Rahab and allowed the reader to see what Rahab's life must have been like.

The second and third parts of the novel are made up of the Biblical account sprinkled with some more maybe this could have happened scenes to fill in the gaps of the complete story. This portion of the book was particularly moving for me. To watch a woman go from being a self-loathing wretch of a person to a beloved wife in the lineage of Christ was just beautiful. It was also a wonderful reminder that no one is ever too far away from God to be redeemed.

I highly recommend this book for personal reading. I also think that it would make a wonderful novel for your book club. The discussion would be interesting. I personally can't wait to read it with my club.

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Rachel by Jill Eileen Smith ~ A Biblical Historical Fiction Book Review

Rachel

Wives of the Patriarchs, Book 3

Jill Eileen Smith

Historical Fiction / Biblical Fiction

Back of the book:

Can true love overcome a legacy of betrayal?

Rachel wants nothing more than for her older half sister Leah to wed and move out of their household. Leah wishes her father would find a good man who would love her alone. Unbeknownst to either of them, Jacob is making his way to their home, trying to escape a past laced with deceit and find the future God has promised him.

But the past comes back to haunt Jacob when he finds himself on the receiving end of treachery. The man who wanted only one woman ends up with sisters who have never gotten along and now must spend the rest of their lives sharing a husband. In the power struggles that follow, only one woman will triumph . . . or will she?

Combining meticulous research with her own imaginings, bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith not only tells one of the most famous love stories of all time but will manage to surprise even those who think they know the story inside and out.

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My thoughts:

I grew up going to Sunday School so the story of Rachel, Leah and Jacob is not a new one to me. However, through the wonderful writing of Jill I was still enthralled by the retelling. I found myself anticipating what was next as if I didn't already know what was about to happen.

Jill did a masterful job of portraying the struggles of a household that contains two wives. Can you just imagine the tension, especially when the second wife is actually the favored wife? Add to all of that the fact that the two women are also sisters . . . drama at its finest! When the two concubines are added into the mix the situation is almost unbearable.

While this book is primarily from Rachel's perspective I also enjoyed how Jill delved into the background of Jacob and his brother Esau. I found it interesting to ponder how Jacob really felt about his deceit where his brother and father were concerned. I had never really thought about him being introspective about his deception as compared to that of Laban.

This was a quick read, but it was full of beautiful complexities that made me once again consider the Father's plan in our lineage. If you are at all interested in Historical Fiction and specifically Biblical Fiction, I believe you will really enjoy not only this book but this series as a whole.

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