Thruly awesome. A very moving account of what might really have been the feelings of a kIng whose life was one of unparalleled luxury. I liked the way it narrated the lives of his different wives.

A fictional story created from Biblical history that gives you insight into the times of that era and the life of Solomon. Very intriguing thought provoking story.

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.**

The Heart Of A King” is the first book that I have read from author Jill Eileen Smith. Portions of the book are part of previous e-books, however I don’t feel it is necessary to read those to understand King Solomon. The author is a master story teller and the reader will be pulled in from page one bringing scripture to life. I love reading biblical historical fiction and King Solomon did not disappoint. I look forward to reading the author’s other books.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above in the hope that I would review it on my blog. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I really enjoyed reading this new biblical fiction book featuring King Solomon and some of his wives. The story focused on 4 main women as the chapters followed from one story to the next.

I was struck with how that time period differs so much from our own. Meaning, that the king had responsibilities to take multiple wives for peace treaties or for gifts as to not offend another country. The burden of being the king and making decisions and accepting gifts seemed to wear King Solomon down after a while. But I like that throughout the story, he continued to keep his faith and love to one God.

I liked reading about his relationships but I totally understood how Naamah and Nicaula both felt-that they wanted the love of one man and didn’t want to share him. What a complicated time!

This story was easy and fun to read. I love biblical fiction books and I really enjoyed reading this. I felt like I got to know King Solomon and his wives better, although it is fiction-it makes the bible seem more alive to me.

I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.

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 wasn’t real sure how I was going to feel about this book when I first got it. I was pleasantly surprised. This author paints a beautiful picture of King Solomon. I thought I would get bored or tired of the book but that didn’t happen. I enjoyed this book.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.

What a wonderful book! This book is about King Solomon and his many wives. It's one of those books that start great and just keeps getting better. It's my first book by this author, certainly not my last. Songs of Solomon, in the Bible have been interpreted in so many different ways. The reader can check it out. If you perchance find the Bible "boring," just read that one book. It's been called porn, and lots of (even) Christians think it should be ignored, perhaps, removed. Not this reader! I've heard many sermons about it, being raised in the Bible belt in the South. There's nothing more beautiful than to read that book. It's a love story. Very highly recommend!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thank you so much, Netgalley!
All opinions are my own.

Having recently completed a Bible study featuring King David and King Solomon, I was anxious to read this book. I read a lot of books, being in a book club, reviewing books for publishers and being a church librarian. I made it almost to 40% of the he wY through before putting it aside to read something else more interesting to me.

I think Jill Eileen Smith is a good author, and our book club enjoyed reading and discussing Michal from the Wives Of King David series. However, just couldn’t get in to this one.

I usually love this author's books. This one was good and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't my favorite.. It was well written and the storyline was good, but I just couldn't connect with it for some reason. I was frustrated because I really wanted to love this book. Would it stop me from reading another? No. Biblical fiction is one of my favorite categories so I will be happy to read another and I would recommend this to my friends.

The Heart of a King by Jill Eileen Smith is part of The Loves of King Solomon series and a book you definitely don't want to miss.
Jill Eileen Smith is one of those authors that draws you in and transports you back in time with her wonderful stories and characters. While reading The Heart of a King I felt like I was witnessing King Solomon and his loves first hand and it makes me want to read more of the stories in this wonderful series.

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

Biblical fiction, when written well, is one of my favorite genres. The Heart of a King definitely delivered and I enjoyed almost every moment of it. I will definitely be looking for more books from Jill Eileen Smith in the future.

WHAT I LIKED:

-Each of the four women where well-developed and unique. My favorite was Abishag, closely followed by the Queen of Sheba. Both were women of honor and faith. Naamah and Siti were more demanding of Solomon and weren't as close to God (especially Siti).
-Along with the women in this book, Solomon was also a very well developed character. I didn't always like him, but I understood him.
-The writing! Beautiful, clear, and with just a hint of poetry in places.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

-Some of the author's interpretations of different Bible verses and accounts didn't sit well with me. For instance, I don't believe David and Bathsheba would have been so happy with Solomon marrying Naamah, a foreigner (especially to the point where they were encouraging the marriage).
-Sometimes the plot got a little repetitive.

Overall, The Heart of a King was an intriguing, gripping look into the life of one of history's most famous kings. Highly recommended for fans of well-written Biblical fiction.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing through Interviews & Reviews.

The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon is a fascinating look into who this mysterious man may have been and it gives an opportunity for us to wrap ourselves in the garments of the women who were part of his colorful life. Solomon was the son of King David, he was known in history as the wisest man in the world, and he was ordained by God to build His temple in Jerusalem. And yet, at the end of Solomon’s life, he declared in the book of Ecclesiastes that so many things in this life are “Meaningless.” How did he get there? How did he fall so far from the place the appointment the Lord had placed on his life? We can hear the longing in his voice as he penned the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, but what filled his heart in the days before? Jill takes a beautiful approach at trying to process his journey as well as the tumultuous journeys of the women who were part of his life. In each of Jill’s books, she brings the places that matter so much to our Christian history and splashes paint onto them so we might find ourselves standing in the Temple, or at the entrance to the Tabernacle. I am so grateful that the Lord led me to her work and that He has illuminated my faith in a whole new way through her gifts she is sharing with the world

Wow. I’ve a feeling that the essence of this novel will be with me for a very long time to come!

The Old Testament is full of profound stories of people still iconically remembered today through novel and movie retellings. My excitement is always piqued by those retellings, and I try to read or watch as many as I can. When the chance came for me to review Jill Eileen Smith’s latest novel, The Heart Of A King, I happily dived in.

This novel is very imaginative, very emotional, and very thought-stirring. It displays King Solomon (and some of his many loves) in a way I’ve never considered before. As each love interest made her appearance, the character of King Solomon became more alive and more understandable. And I could not tear myself away from that inside look! What I loved most about this novel was that it gave Abishag – a personal caregiver to King David and someone I’ve always wondered about – a special and surprising place in the story. I’m still thinking about the connection Jill Eileen Smith made between the woman in The Songs of Solomon and the women highlighted in this novel.

My new favorite from this author, The Heart Of A King is a novel I think lovers of biblical fiction would very much enjoy reading!

I always in enjoy Jill’s books. This one was no exception. However, I found I actually liked the women in the book a bit more then Solomon. I felt like I could connect better with his wives and their desire to be loved by him, then Solomon who was constantly striving.

Reading this did make me want to go back and read the parts of the Bible this story came from.

Overall, a very engaging story that I enjoyed.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

Personal Rating: 4.14
Star Rating: 4/5

The Heart of a King takes place during the mid 10th century when Israel thrived under the rule of godly kings. This book delivers more than a story about a king and his country. It's about King Solomon who served His God and about four of the women who loved him.

We can only guess at the emotions of historical people, but Jill Eileen Smith does a fantastic job. I enjoyed reading her blend of facts and speculations. She stays true to the Biblical account while taking freedom to explore unwritten feelings. Writing with empathy and sympathy she gives us a better understanding of the heart of a woman who has to share the man she loves.

She also gives perspective to the unique life of King Solomon. We see him as a royal king, a wise leader and a romantic man. The romantic side of King Solomon is shown when his own words are quoted. They are taken from Songs of Solomon.

I can comfortably give this book four stars for adult readers. I appreciated the reference to King Solomon's well known thoughts from Lamentations, the appearance of King David and Bathsheba, and other Biblical parts relevant to the story. However if a teen would read this, it would be wise to have someone available to engage in a conversation about polygamy and harems during Old Testament times.

Note: I received a free ebook from Fleming H. Revell Company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jill Eileen Smith has such a talent for bringing Biblical characters, the culture of the day and that time period to life through her writing! Her latest novel is "The Heart of a King: the loves of Solomon" and it is another fantastic read! King Solomon is a well known individual and he is known for many things, but one main thing is the large amount of wives he had. This book focuses on four of the many wives and the roles they played in his life and how his marriages were. Solomon was very wise; however he also at the same time made several mistakes. Solomon loved God and tried to live pleasing him, but yet struggles with this. And yet don't we all.
I just love how this book is so rich with historical details and I really felt as if the characters and the setting just came to life for me while reading. Solomon made many wise decisions, but at times was trying to justify other decisions that he had made that did not completely follow God. I feel like so often we are trying to justify and make excuses for behaviors and choices; this is something that has not changed throughout the years. Therefore, I felt like I could relate to the characters to certain extents which always pulls me further into the story. So many emotions are at play as well which really helped bring it to life, such as love, jealously, loss, longing.
I highly recommend this book for those whom enjoy historical romance, you will not be disappointed.

This is a well written Biblical fiction. I loved getting a look into King Solomon and the women in his life from a different prospective.. All the characters, especially the four women were very well developed and unique. The stories while a work of fiction stayed true to the Biblical accounts. An interesting read that brings the Bible story to life.

I’m not usually a fan of biblical fiction but I’m glad I took a chance on this. This book tells the stories of Naamah, Siti, Nicaula and Abishag the loves of King Solomon. The book is well written and takes you right back to the time of the Kingdom of Israel, there are lots of historical details. The characters are both believable and sympathetic. I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

“The Heart of a King” by Jill Eileen Smith, though ostensibly a story of love, loss and longing, of the many loves of King Solomon of Israel, is really about Solomon and his God. This is the true-to-life story of how the wisest King of a vast kingdom allowed passion to overrule his unique God-given wisdom, making him trust the gifts instead of the Giver.

Jill Eileen Smith skillfully brings King Solomon to life,  portraying his real personality as a man of many loves, with creative interpretations, systematically interspersed with rich Biblical truths.

In his persistent quest for true love, after receiving the greatest wisdom in the world from God, King Solomon must have finally realized that only God can satisfy the deepest longings and deep-seated desires of the human heart.

In this book, the author effectively portrays King Solomon’s multi-faceted personality, giving us an intuitive and imaginative understanding of the different layers of his emotions and human nature. For all his great God-given, the tragedy of King Solomon life was that he could not conquer his passions.

In this deeply engrossing novel of biblical facts embellished with fiction, the author portrays the varied sights and sounds of King Solomon’s world through his own eyes.

Jill Eileen Smith is a master craftsman, with her beautifully chiseled characters, full of incredible depth and amazing emotion. Her characters spring to life vividly and with rich, captivating historic detail, drawing us instantly into King Solomon’s world. Wise and wealthy beyond measure, only one thing eluded King Solomon – the quest for true love, which can only be found in God alone.