King Solomon was wealthy and wise beyond measure. He could–and did–have anything he wanted, including many women from many lands. But for all his wisdom, did he or the women in his life ever find what they searched for all of their lives?In this engrossing novel, you’ll find yourself whisked away to ancient Israel, where you’ll meet Solomon and four of the women he loved: Naamah the desert … desert princess, Abishag the shepherdess, Siti the daughter of a pharaoh, and Nicaula the queen of Sheba. As you experience the world of Solomon through his eyes and the eyes of these women, you’ll ask yourself the ultimate question: Did Solomon’s wisdom ultimately benefit him and those he loved . . . or did it betray them?
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When it comes to Biblical Fiction, I’ve said it before, I am a picky reader. Only a select few can truly take a Biblical story, keep it true to the Bible and add in in the fictional elements and make it come to life. Jill Eileen Smith is one of those authors. She has been a long time favorite author of mine and will forever be one. So, when I got the chance to read The Heart Of A King, I jumped on it. I was not disappointed!
Her characters, once again, are chiseled beautifully. Full of depth and emotion. Every emotion they felt became mine while I read this. I fell in love with Solomon and didn’t want his story to end. The love he had for our God, the love he had for his wives, was beautifully portrayed in the words of Smith’s writing.
With tenderness and hopefulness, this story will wrap you up and put you in the center of a time, that is only read about in the Bible, of a time many have forgotten to remember. The rich historic detail is vivid and captivating and Smith has once again managed to make me fall in love with yet another amazing book. This is beyond 5 star worthy and I hope you, too, will fall in love with the story of Solomon and his loves.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*Jill Eileen Smith
“You will never be all that he needs, dear girl. Only God can give us all that we need. Only He can feed the hungriest places in our soul.”
Jill Eileen Smith is a master storyteller of Biblical fiction. Her research is detailed, her is writing exquisite, and her renderings of the Biblical stories that we know well are so fresh, thought-provoking, powerful and unforgettable. From the prelude, she will pull you into the world of a thriving and prosperous Israel near the end of King David’s reign with sights, sounds, smells, and tastes that are so vivid and tangible. This book is a little different from the others I have read by the author in that Solomon is the central character holding the story together while the four featured wives have their own stories that intermingle with Solomon’s life and in each others’. I did not read the four previously published novellas of the four wives from where this particular book was drawn from but thoroughly enjoyed the book. The book flows well to encompass Solomon’s life from being a prince, to the celebrated wise king, to an older, more experienced king who has much to repent. It doesn’t feel like a compilation of previous novellas and apparently is different from the novellas in the approach and presentation. I can’t believe how much anticipatory angst I had while devouring the book when I already know the ending! Such is the skill of Jill Eileen Smith. If you’re a fan of Biblical fiction, this book is a must-read!
The four wives and their characters showed the complex man Solomon was underneath his wisdom, love for beauty and women, and passion. Naamah, his first wife and mother of his heir, was his first political obligation and passion of his youth though he didn’t love her as much as she loved him. Abishag shared his curiosity, joy in song and poetry, and offered him comfort and unconditional acceptance. Siti, an Egpytian princess, captured him with her exotic beauty and intelligence that challenged his belief in One God. Nicaula, the Queen of Sheba, sought to learn from Solomon’s wisdom and, in return, learned about Solomon’s One True God and sacrificial love. The incorporation of David and Bathsheba into the story at the beginning was also quite delightful.
Solomon, though having experienced real love from God, unfortunately let his passions rule unchecked and trusted the gift instead of the Giver. His story is poignant and heart-breaking, but surprisingly hopeful. This book is not just about the loves of King Solomon but is a journey of the heart and faith – for Solomon and for his wives.
I received a copy of the book from Baker Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Smith has brought to life the story of Solomon’s many loves in this very descriptive and dramatic novel. She has enhanced with colorful details, this ancient time in Israel when Solomon was king. This novel deals with four of Solomon’s wives out of 700+ wives. Also it has a lot about his mother and His father David, before his death and Solomon was given the kingdom. Solomon was granted wisdom from God when he asked and this also brought many gifts of gold and silver from foreign king who hoped to make am alliance with the king of Israel. They also presented the king with their daughters to wed. Solomon felt that he could not refuse their gifts, in this he greatly erred, disobeying the law of God. The wives brought their servants and their foreign Gods with them and eventually turned Solomon away from the true God. Smith has done her research well and this is a most enjoyable read……..
I received a copy of the book from Baker Publishing and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
In “ The Heart of a King” Jill Eileen Smith adds Solomon’s point of view to her previously published “The Loves of King Solomon” ebook series.
We are first introduced to Naamah, the desert princess who was introduced to Solomon as a teenager in the first of what was believed to be over 800 politically-arranged marriages. Naamah, to her benefit, truly loves Solomon and is blessed to be the bearer of his royal heir, Rehoboam. Naamah’s struggle presents itself when she is forced to share Solomon’s love with Abishag, the beautiful young maiden who was brought into the royal household in order to keep Solomon’s father, King David, warm during his lengthy illness. When the mighty King David passes, after appointing his son Solomon as the next ruler over Judah and Israel, Solomon is free to follow his passions and take the beautiful Abishag as his wife. Later in the tale we are introduced to Siti, the young Egyptian princess who longs to marry for love and falls for King Solomon’s prolific poetry-filled pronouncements of love. But was young Siti prepared for life alone in a much-different country, and was she willing to give up the idols she worshipped, even for love?
Smith weaves an intriguing tale that highlights the personal inner battle Solomon must have continually waged, trying to balance keeping peace in the land by taking on more and more wives, and the gods that came with them, and staying true to the one personal God of his youth.
The Heart of a King (2019) by Jill Eileen Smith is a standalone Biblical fiction novel. This book comes in all forms including eBook and is 422 pages in length. With a full-time job and a busy seven-year-old at home, this book took me one week to read. I received a copy of this novel in paperback form from the publisher, Revel, to review. In no way has this influenced my opinion of the story. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give The Heart of a King 5 STARS.
The Heart of a King by Jill Eileen Smith is an excellent allegorical tale; I realized a lot about who I am in God and was reminded time and time again that I have to keep my focus on God no matter what. I found the storyline to be as sprawling and expansive as King Solomon’s kingdom. I found the characters to be perfectly, uniquely crafted. The Heart of a King is an example of Biblical fiction at its finest.
Of the four wives illustrated in this novel, Siti is my favorite because of the invaluable lesson she taught me. Siti is Pharaoh’s daughter, whom Solomon takes for a bride so he can take control of Gezer. From the second she married Solomon, Siti knew she was part of a business deal and very little else. While she found herself attracted to Solomon, she knew her marriage was not a love match. She came to the marriage with terms of her own: she did not want to be part of a harem, she did not want to give up her gods, and she did not want to give up her Egyptian heritage. In no way was Siti OK with assimilation. Solomon allowed Siti to have her way but was naively hopeful that Siti would learn the ways of his people, learn about Adonai, and fall in love with both. In his attempt to get Siti to find God, Solomon had Siti sit with tutors daily so she could learn about Adonai and the Hebrew ways. The more Siti learns, the more she realizes that her husband is a hypocrite. He doesn’t follow the laws His God has decreed, yet he tells everyone that he is following them, he’s just obeying them in his wise way. This almost immediately turns Siti away from God and the Hebrew people. She is perfectly content to stay outside of Jerusalem in her own Egyptian world. Solomon was an awful model for his wife. But this got me thinking. Every day I am on this earth, I come into contact with many, many people. It is very well known that I am a Christian. I never hide that fact, but do my actions show those who are watching me that I truly am a Christ follower? Am I like Solomon; do I profess one thing, but do another? My heart broke for Siti, but really my heart broke for every person I’ve ever come into contact with who perhaps saw me as an example of why NOT to follow God.
The Heart of a King reinforced to me that all of our gifts and talents from God are God-sized, even the ones that may seem small and insignificant. And, all of our gifts and talents, small or big, can lead to our downfall IF we choose not to go to God daily. Of the many lessons in this novel, this one resonated with me the most. I think God gives us our talents and gifts as a way to enhance our relationship with Him. If we don’t go to God daily, Pride can wheedle its way into our hearts and kick God out. Solomon was really good at making the big, showy sacrifices to God, and he no doubt intellectually believed in Adonai, but I don’t think he made it a daily habit to go to God with a longing heart. Solomon let Pride take over, and it led to a serious downfall — so much so, he sacrificed his own children to foreign gods. The gifts God gave me may seem small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but they are special. They are a connection that I have to God, and I need to remember to go to Him daily so I can honor Him and that which He has blessed me. Going to God daily with a longing heart is what will keep us on the right track. It will keep our gifts and blessings from being a burden. By the end of this novel, my heart hurt badly for Solomon. Taking oneself away from God is the saddest, most damaging thing anyone can do, and it’s what the greatest, wisest king who ever lived did. I am grateful for The Heart of a King because I really needed this reminder. Go to God daily with a longing heart; it’s the only way to truly live a blessed life.
I wholeheartedly feel that The Heart of a King is a novel that must be experienced. It’s deep, raw, and honest. It holds a mirror up to its readers and gets us to look deep into our hearts. It’s exactly what Biblical fiction should be!
My first book by this author but not my last. A well written Biblical Fiction that was easy to read and easy to keep up with the characters. I love the way she described Solomon’s love and the sacrifice he did for God. This story of Solomon and four of his wives were enlightening. I never thought about the king taking a wife or more wives just to form alliances with another country. Of course it’s no secret that Solomon let his wives and women turn his faith away from the one true God. I think the author did a great job describing and showing us the personalities of each wife and Solomon. To be the wisest man ever lived he sure let women turn his head. To me this shows even more that darkness should have no part of our lives if we are trying to live for God. And that no matter how close we think we are to God “things” will pull us away if we are not careful. This is what I like about Christian Fiction. If you let it, it will speak to you in some form, confirming the Word of God. So all this being said I love the way this book is written, the description of the homes and the gardens, it made me want to sit out on the bench outside that magnificent palace.
If you like Biblical Fiction this is a well researched story of one of the best known kings in the Bible. I believe you will enjoy this view of Solomon and 4 of his wives.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bakers Publishing and was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Reading through the book of Ecclesiastes has always made me wonder about King Solomon. How could this king, to whom God Himself spoke and grant the gift of wisdom, write a book that reads so very much like the futility in our society today? Jill Eileen Smith has written an intriguing book about the life of King Solomon. Following the Biblical account very closely, she brings his story to life as we follow him through the politically turbulent years of his reign; his many marriages; and his search for true peace of heart and mind.
I love the way that Jill Smith makes me feel that I’m an observer in the palace watching all these events take place. We not only see this story from Solomon’s point of view, but a large part of the story is from the viewpoints of four women in his life: Naamath, his first wife; Abishag, who took care of King David in his last years, Siti, his Egyptian wife; and the Queen of Sheba. Following their storylines helped me to better understand how all of Solomon’s marriages influenced the political situation of the nation of Israel. As we read through this book, the author never lets us forget that Solomon, in spite of all his wisdom, chose to ignore God’s clear commands about how a king of Israel should live in regards to marriage and material gain. I was by turns very aggravated at Solomon or felt great pity for him. I have to admit that I’ve wondered how a man who had that many wives would find peace, and there’s a slight glimmer of humor as Solomon has to deal with all their requests.
This is a balanced story about Solomon, showing both his mistakes but also his desire to stay true to God.
Two things you need to know about this book:
First: There are details and characters in the story that aren’t in the Bible. Jill Smith’s done a great job of explaining this in her “Note to the Reader” at the end of the book. Don’t miss reading this. She explains her heart for this story and the spiritual emphasis that was her guideline for writing it.
Second: In telling the story of Solomon’s relationships with his wives, there is mention of his desire and love for them. The author does a great job of never stepping over a line or being inappropriate in any way. I appreciated the author not using these scenes to sensationalize the book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
King Solomon is a fascinating character, and this fictional account follows the Bible story from his childhood through his extraordinary life. The dramatic tale focuses on four of his wives: his first, Naamah, a princess from Ammon; Abishag, inherited from his father, David; Seti, the Egyptian princess; and the queen of Sheba, whom legend says may have had a child with this mighty king. Passages and thoughts from his wisdom books in Scripture are incorporated naturally into the text. The author brings the saga to life, with rich cultural and setting details included. She manages a believable version where Solomon seeks to remain true to the Lord amid his extravagant wealth and wives. I enjoyed the novel as it transported me to the time and place in such a realistic way. All opinions are my own.
Interesting story of King David and King Solomon . Much good ideas and story
I originally read Smith’s Loves of King Solomon series when they were released as novellas focusing on some of the women in Solomon’s life: Naamah – the mother of his heir, Abishag – the shepherdess who cared for his father, Siti – a princess of Egypt and Nicaula – the famed Queen of Sheba. Now, Smith has taken those excellent stories and woven in King Solomon’s perspective as well. It was interesting seeing how Solomon grew and changed through the eyes of wives and under the guidance of his mother Bathsheba. Each wife had a distinct personality as well as a vastly different relationship with Solomon. Solomon himself seemed in love with the idea of love but never content in his relationships.
Smith poses and explores the question of whether Solomon’s wisdom ultimately helped or hindered him and how his relationship with God was affected. Even though I had already read the bulk of this story, I enjoyed every minute of it and it never felt stale or repetitive. Smith always writes fantastic Biblical fiction and I definitely recommend this one!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I saw King Solomon in a different light. I had compassion for the wisest man who’s ultimate downfall was his pride and disobedience to God. The heart of the king gives you an insight to what it means to be the wisest person on earth and still be so lonely and experience darkness. Jill Eileen Smith has done it again – remarkable reading experience.
It presents a side of King Solomon that provokes thought. He’s not likable at all but it’s good reading because we get insight into what could have happened.
The Heart of a King is a collection of four novellas from Jill Nelson Smith’s The Loves of King Solomon series. It tells the stories of Naamah, Siti, Nicaula and Abishag. I loved this book. The details of the book made me feel as though I was right there taken back in time of the Kingdom of Israel in the presence of these admirable women and King Solomon.
I give The Heart of a King five plus stars and highly recommend it for readers who enjoy Biblical Fiction. It most definitely not a book to be missed this summer.
Great read!
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
An interesting perspective on the life of King Solomon and a selection of his many wives. I really enjoyed reading about this time period and the way the author has researched about how people lived during this time. I look forward to reading deeper into the stories that Jill Eileen Smith has written about this selection of wives.
Wow. That’s how I felt when I finished this wonderful novel. Just wow.
I have never read any of Jill’s fiction before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was not disappointed. She really gave me a new and better perspective on King Solomon and kind of helped me to understand him a bit better.
As Jill has said, this is kind of a follow-up to her The Loves of King Solomon e-book series, so this book did not dive as much into the characters of Solomon’s wives as it did his, which I didn’t mind much at all. I thought that all the characters were well fleshed out and written so well. I was able to see the human flaws in Solomon that often get glossed over and, like I said above, I was able to understand him much better.
I did think that this was a bit slow to begin, definitely not a super fast read, but that didn’t take away from it too much. It is also a heavier book, as I have found most Biblical fiction to be, but I rather enjoy heavier books, so that didn’t bother me one bit.
Once again, the writing was captivating, the descriptions impeccable, all together a wonderful story and perfect for lovers of Biblical fiction and really any historical fiction.
**I was given a complementary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts in this review are mine alone.**
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and it was fantastic. I eagerly await new books about King David so was thrilled to see this one as his son, Solomon, seems to be just as interesting. The author focused on Solomon’s ascension to the throne following this brother, Adonijah’s, attempt to take over the rulership of King David’s kingdom by force.
This book brought four of Solomon’s wives to life: Naamah, Abishag, Siti and Nicaula, the queen of Sheba. All became characters that you cared about for different reasons. Some of them there is very little known about but that, too, is something that this author handled well.
There is a lot of research that went into this book and it’s apparent. She is a master at describing the settings and creating believable characters and situations.
For all of his wisdom, Solomon seemed to struggle in the area of love. Some wives were selected for political reasons and some for other reasons.
I can’t wait to see what Jill Eileen Smith writes next. I do know that it will be excellent. I highly recommend this one.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Jill Eileen Smith @revellpublishing @bakerpublishing
Before I go into my review, I want to state how much I love this cover. The colors just pop and it is beautifully designed! And the spine of it too – it’s beautiful!
The inside of this attractive novel was very enjoyable as well. Not once was I bored or lacking interest. I found this book to be very well-written, and captivating.
It was really interesting to see into King Solomon’s life, as well as a few of his many wives’ lives.
I was really impressed with how the author wrote King Solomon’s character – he was likeable and understandable, and yet so frustrating with his weakness for many, many women. I have always wondered about him and his many wives, and honestly, he was irritating in this aspect but I couldn’t hate him. His flaws made up his character, and his strengths were shown as well. Like I said, I was impressed with the overall respect the author wrote into his story.
And I also found the four wives highlighted in this novel to be fascinating and well-written. I felt for each of them and enjoyed getting to know them. I think Naamah and Abishag were my favorites, but they each were unique characters that had complex stories.
I would like to add as well that it was all tastefully written. I was a little cautious about how…passionate it might become at times because of the nature of the story, but the descriptions never went too far, and it was handled really well. I was very appreciative of this!
The historicalness of the story felt natural, and I would easily classify it as such; historical fiction.
“The Heart of a King” is definitely my favorite of this author’s work thus far, and I would recommend it to fans of Historical/Biblical fiction. This novel felt similar to the author Mesu Andrews’ writing, so if you’ve enjoyed her novels, be sure to check out this one as well.
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Jill is such an amazing writer and you can always tell she is well-versed at research.
This story was a bit different from some of her other stories. This one covered FOUR of Solomon’s wives in one book. I’ve now learned that they were originally four separate e-novellas.
I loved the honesty about Solomon’s struggles. CLEARLY he loved women. To have a thousand wives? I can’t even fathom. To be in LOVE with at least four of them? I had a hard time with this.
Solomon’s struggles with his gift of wisdom were very well demonstrated in this book. His truly became a situation of loving the gift more than the Giver.
I look forward seeing what Jill Eileen Smith comes out with next!
This is a stand alone and would make an excellent book club pick.
The Heart of a King is a captivating Biblical historical book. Jill Eileen Smith does a great job of taking historical facts and fleshing out the individuals involved, Solomon and four of his wives in this story, crafting them into characters that are believable and have issues that readers can connect with. With descriptive prose that makes the reader feel like one is right there in the scenes and realistic dialogue, the author expertly portrays the struggles and emotions of the characters and brings an understanding of some of the political alliances of this time period. It is evident that the author has researched this time period well as she writes of the settings, customs, and religious beliefs during Solomon’s reign as king. The story is thought-provoking as to how the wives of King Solomon might have reacted to becoming his wife and then their feelings as they realized or knew that he would take/had other wives. The portrayal of grief at Solomon’s mother’s death was very well done. Throughout the story, Solomon is reminded of following God’s Law, especially in regards to taking many wives lest they lead his heart astray and yet even with all of his wisdom he chose to disregard this edict for kings. His emotions and thoughts–guilt, discontent, weariness, contemplation of life’s purpose–are illustrated well as is his special love for each of the wives in the book. And in the end, perhaps he came to the realization that instead of pursuing and trusting the gift of wisdom God had given him, he should have been seeking the Giver instead–a good reminder for each of us. Another wonderful historical fiction from a gifted author.
I read a complimentary copy of this book and a positive review was not expected. The opinions are my own.
Another stellar book by one of my favorite authors. What sets Jill Eileen Smith apart is her use of imagery in everything that she writes. Every night, as I read this book, I was transported to King Solomon’s garden, or I stood against the wall of King David’s chambers beside Abishag as she cared for the ailing king. I felt as if I traveled to Egypt with Siti and rode a camel from Sheba with Nicaula. Thanks to her unique story telling style, Jill Eileen Smith’s stories stick with you. No longer is King Solomon an ancient, abstract king, he is now someone who is relatable, someone who now sparks emotion, because I have a better understanding of him and the life he led.