"The Heart Of A King : The Loves of Solomon"
By
Jill Eileen Smith


About the book - In the engrossing novel, find yourself whisked away in ancient Israel, where you'll meet for remarkable women:

Naamah - the desert princess
Abishag - the shepherdess
Siti - a daughter of pharaoh
Nicaula - the queen of Sheba

As you look at the world of Solomon through his eyes and theirs, you'll grapple with rather this king's storied wisdom ultimately benefit him and those he loved.

My review - I have to say that this is one amazing story! Like so many people, I have read the story of Solomon in the bible, but "Heart Of A King" by Jill Eileen Smith brings the story to life. While reading this book I was transported back in time. You can envision yourself back in time, standing on one of the balconies watch the temple for God being built.

You start by seeing the relationship Solomon had with his dad. He wanted to make sure that the temple was built the way David always envisioned. It was a relationship of respect and love.

I have to say out of all the women in Solomon's life , I love the relationship he had with his mother. There was so much love there. He went to his mother "Bathsheba" for advice on several areas of his life. He talked to her about his love for God and advice about his many wives.

The next woman in Solomon's love was his first wife "Naamah". She loved Solomon from such a young age. She even approached her father about a union between the two. She was able to give him who's first born son. It was a very sweet union! She did struggled when Solomon started marrying other women.

Next was Abishag. She was brought into the picture when King David's health was failing. She was his wife, nurse maid and companion. There was a connection between Solomon and Abishag from the very beginning. After his father died, Solomon decided to marry Abishag.

Siti, the daughter of pharaoh, was Solomon first wife whom worshipped other Gods. She was fascinated by Solomon and his religion and his way of life. Their marriage was one of allegiance in the beginning, but soon turned to love and respect. You can almost feel the conflict, Solomon felt about marrying a woman who worshipped other God's besides his Lord. He was also concerned about how his mother would feel about this union especially after the conversation they had before he left for Egypt.

The last wife mentioned in the book is Nicaula. Nicaula was the queen of Sheba. She came to Jerusalem to seek Solomon's wisdom and to learn About his God. It was one relationship, that was on the same level as Solomon.

After reading this book, I really began to wonder about Solomon's wisdom. God gave him wisdom, but I wonder if he used it wisely.



About the author - Jill Eileen Smith is a bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, the Daughters of the Promised Land, and the Lives of King Solomon series. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in the Old Testament time.

When she isn't writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, reading stories that Take her away, riding her bike to the park, snagging date night's with her husband. You can contact Jill through her email (jill@jilleileensmith.com) , her website (www.jilleileensmith.com) Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

Disclaimer - In accordance with the FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, not was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own

This is an incredibly well developed Biblical novel!

Of the five main characters in this book the only one that we know very much about from the bible is Solomon. We have bits and pieces about the four women in this story. I found the way that the author presented them to be very plausible and the story held my attention.

I had never given much thought as to how it might have come about for Solomon to have married so many women. This book has definitely given me much to think about as to this king with amazing God-given wisdom. He was called to be a King of Peace. Yet as a mere man I’m sure he would have struggled with trying to fulfill that.

I thoroughly enjoyed the look at what it would have been like for Solomon’s first wife. Human nature would have her wanting to keep him to herself. Yet that was not how her life and marriage played out. It had to have been extremely hard for her each time he married another woman and she knew she would have even less time with him.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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 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!

I enjoyed this fictional account of Solomon and 4 of his wives. I haven’t read much if any Biblical fiction to date and this was a fantastic start to my introduction to this type of fiction. Jill weaves the story in an easy to read format and it was hard to put down when life intervened. Before reading this book, i had no idea that Solomon had that many wives and concubines! Definitely mind blowing. Getting to “know” Solomon and the wives featured in this book was interesting and eye opening to say the least. It definitely makes me want to go and read the actual Biblical account in Samuel and Kings. So I love the fact that it is increasing my wanting to read the Bible(which I struggle with if I am honest)! I am adding more of Jill’s books to my to read pile-especially “Redeeming Grace” which features Ruth.

I received this book from the Author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

What can I say? I was once again blown away by the talent of Biblical fiction writer Jill Eileen Smith as she transported me back to the twilight of King David’s life and the world of his son, King Solomon.
The Heart of a King follows Solomon’s amazing life, from his early years when he wanted nothing more than to please and glorify God, through his years of testing limits as he took many foreign wives and acquired vast riches. Jill’s story stays true to all we know from the Bible about his life while adding plausible fictionalized background and details that engage readers and encourage them to delve more deeply into Scripture. It recounts how Solomon interacted with his parents, King David and Bathsheba, as well as his brothers and other members of the royal court. It paints a vivid picture of how he used the unparalleled wisdom given to him by God for great good, but how human desires lead him to drift slowly but steadily away from the solid foundation on which he began.
Jill focuses on Solomon’s relationships with four women who are believed to have been particularly important in his life: his first wife, Naamah, who was the mother of his heir; Abishag, of Shunem, who had been a helpmate to his father; an Egyptian Pharaoh’s daughter, called Siti in this story; and the Queen of Sheba. In doing so, she reveals more about the complex, brilliant, passionate man who held such power and potential, yet who began to care more about the gifts than the Great Giver.
This book brings together modified versions of four e-books Jill previously wrote (The Desert Princess, The Shepherdess, Daughter of the Nile, and The Queen of Sheba) into a more complete narrative of King Solomon’s life. I have not read these e-books yet but will likely do so now to gain even more background on these intriguing women and the influence they may have had on a royal reign.
I highly recommend The Heart of a King to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or has an interest in Old Testament times. I received a complimentary copy from Revell Publishing but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The wisest man in the world - who made the utterly idiotic move of marrying 700 wives and 300 concubines. That's 1000 woman - for one man! But he didn't start out that way...

Starting as an ambitious but worried young man who is interested in a girl but desperate to be named co-regent with his father before one of his brothers manages a successful takeover that would end in his own death, we see glimpses of his reign, his worries, his relationships, his excuses and rationalisations, and his loves, right through until the Teacher finally realises and accepts that the Creator and Gift-Giver is far greater than any gift he has given.

This is an amazing fictional account of the life of Solomon, with introductions to four of his wives at different stages to complete the picture. Bits of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon are woven naturally through, giving them context and meaning, and his life as a whole is made real. Obviously lots of imagination is involved and may or may not be correct, but I didn't notice anything conflicting with the Biblical account, which was good (though one bit seemed far-fetched to me). All in all, the writing is good, the content clean, the storyline well done, and the overall book well worth a read. I don't think I'll ever look at Solomon in quite the same way again, because he feels more of a real person - and that's a good thing! I definitely hope to read more by the author, and would highly recommend this book to readers of Biblical fiction.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

King Solomon and his world comes to life in the pages of Ms. Smith's new release The Heart of a King; The Loves of King Solomon.
While it is believed that he had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. Could you even imagine that? My husband says keeping one happy is hard enough. *wink*

In this novel Jill Eileen Smith focuses on Naamah a desert princess from Ammon, Abishag who was king David's care giver at the end of his life who Solomon inherited after David's death and was Solomon's brother, Adonijah's downfall, Siti the Egyptian princess, and Nicaula the queen of Sheba.

Both king David and Bathsheba make cameo appearances which I enjoyed! I loved the Wives of David series so I was thrilled to see them again.

Within the four hundred plus pages of this beautiful, well crafted novel Ms. Smith brings the time, place, and people to life. I felt as though I had been taken back in time to Jerusalem. The detail she put on the page brought the building of the temple to life beautifully with reverence.

Out of the four wives this book concentrates on Abishag and Nicaula are my favorites. I believe he loved all four of the wives featured but I choose to believe the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon were written because of his deep love and connection with these four. Ms. Smith weaves scriptures from Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon in the story, which was a nice treat.

My heart broke for Solomon. He had wealth beyond measure, wisdom from God, enough wives and children to keep him occupied every hour of everyday. And while God said he would be the king of peace for Israel, he really had no peace. He was trying to be wise and peaceful in his own strength not relying on the strength and wisdom of the One who bestowed the gift.

Just like Solomon, I do that too. I know in my head God is in complete control and will do what he says he will. I just have to let Him handle it but in my humanness I think I know better so I attempt to handle it in my own strength and make a complete mess of things.

Jill Eileen Smith has been a favorite author of biblical fiction since I read Michal in 2009. She not only brings the biblical world to life she weaves spiritual truths that grab at your heart and make you sit and ponder.
I highly recommend this book! It is a must read!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher in association with Jill Eileen Smith's street team. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.

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.
@jilleileensmith @revellpublishing @bakerpublishing

Heart of a King is my first adventure with Jill Eileen Smith. When experiencing a new author, it can be a little unnerving as to whether you will have a connection with the story and its characters, or if you will close the book in frustration and find your time wasted. I am thrilled to say that Smith developed a connection with me from the first – her writing style, gift of storytelling, attention to historical accuracacy, and character development were engulfing. Her other books will be making their way to my reading list soon!

This particular book features the stories of 4 of King Solomon's famous 1000 wives/concubines. I loved how Smith portrayed Solomon – a man who wanted to serve God, but allowed the desires of the world to erode his focus, making his pursuits ultimately meaningless and unsatisfying. My heart ached for this man with his misplaced priorities and heart full of dreams. But I also felt a connection to the women he chose as his wives. Smith did a wonderful job with these 4 women, drawing me into their minds, hearts, and personal desires. She put a face on these wives of Solomon and brought them to life within these pages.

I am so glad I took a chance on a new author. This book is highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I have already read the four novellas about the loves of King Solomon. However, I really like how they are all compiled into one novel. This helps the reader to see the bigger picture and to see how Solomon has grown as a character. While I like the novellas as individual books on their own, this novel is more easily accessible. This is an excellent novel set that is beautifully written set during King Solimon’s Era. I recommend this for fans of Angela Hunt, T. K. Thorne, and India Edgehill.

The Heart of a King is a fascinating look at what it might have been like to be one of Solomon's wives. Beginning with Naamah, the mother of Rehoboam, and ending with the Queen of Sheba, each women's thoughts and motivations are examined.

The author speculated as to which woman Solomon married first and chose Naamah for this distinction. Seeing her perspective as the first wife - how she would have reacted in finding out that Solomon was to marry again. And again. And again. Ouch!

My favorite aspect of the story is the way the author pulled so in much of the Old Testament. I loved Solomon and David's excitement as they planned the temple and the descriptions of the temple and the sacrifices once it was built. Bits of wisdom from Proverbs and portions of the Song of Solomon were sprinkled through the book as were portions of Ecclesiastes. This was done quite well.

Solomon's character as shown in the book was quite multifaceted. He sought to follow God and showed a deep love and concern for following His ways - at first. Though in some ways he appeared strong - in his rulings - he also seemed quite insecure and unsure of the right actions to take, especially after the death of his mother. His portrayal was a bit swarmy in the way he related to the women. Then again, this is probably the way it really was. Seeing his alleged reason for taking on all his wives was quite thought-provoking.

Each wife portrayed had a different personality and experience with Solomon, as would be expected. Seeing things from the viewpoint of his Egyptian wife was interesting, especially considering she is the one who had a palace built for her outside Jerusalem. As a result, we learned the author's speculation on how this came about to be mentioned in the Bible. While I didn't much like the personalities of the women, I very much enjoyedntheir stories.

The subject matter here is a little mature, in my opinion, for younger teens. While entirely clean, there are numerous preludes to lights-out liasions.

This book did to me what no book has done to me in a long time! I’m usually the person who is constantly watching the clock while I read - not because I don’t like the story, but just because my attention span isn’t what it used to be. The Heart of a King by Jill Eileen Smith did that! I glanced down after what felt like 5 minutes, and I had already read 30 pages!
Jill brings the Bible to life in a way I didn’t think possible. She researched thoroughly and tells you when she has taken liberties when there were conflicts in research.
She has me almost inderstanding Solomon (although he was very complex and I doubt we will be able to ever fully grasp his mind).
Jill does an excellent job of fleshing out characters and making us imagine the what ifs of Biblical fiction, all the while nudging is closer to God and reading the Bible more for ourselves.
** Note I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing, However, all opinions expressed here are strictly my own, and I was not required to give a review.

"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 via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

From the minute I opened the book I was transported back to the days where Solomon was awaiting his turn to be king. I could see the palace, guards and servants as King David barked commands. The author breathes life into a story we know with a fresh look at the women in Solomon’s life.

When Solomon becomes king, you can feel the honor and blessings that are bestowed upon him. His first wife has given him a child but will that keep his eyes from wandering? I loved getting a better insight into each of King Solomon’s wives. Each one played an important part in his legacy. The words he spoke to them was poetic and filled with love. The risks he took in having many wives was a heavy price. As you read the book, take note of each wife and how they impacted King Solomon as he made decisions, betrayed people and grew to know the gift of wisdom was the one gift God had given him. Did he use it wisely?

The book is fictional with some liberties taken to give readers a glimpse of what it may have looked and sounded like as King Solomon ruled. There isn’t much in the Bible about his wives, but with the authors gifted artistic way she lets us imagine what they may have said . I was captured by King Solomon’s story and basked in the beauty of how the author paints a masterpiece in words. Each chapter becomes more involved and let’s us see the heart of a King.

King Solomon did have his faults as we clearly see by the wives he took and the need for material wealth. God was very specific in the orders he gave Solomon but when they are ignored will there be consequences? It is important to read “Note to the Reader” at the end of the book. The author explains more about King Solomon and his passion to serve God. Oh that we may have that same desire. There is much to learn from this story such as, “he came to realize that even amid our failures, life isn’t meaningless but can have great purpose if we fear God and keep His Word."

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

This is a beautifully written story that takes scriptures from 2 Samuel, 1 Kings and Song of Solomon. The use of scripture to create a story was AMAZING! It brought the scripture to life in a different way.

This is my first Jill read and I was impressed and I've fallen in love with her writing. I have never read anything about King Solomon so this was such an amazing experience. I know of King Solomon as the wisest king, but this story looked at how well his wisdom helped him in romance. A king of 700 wives and 100 concubines, but his romance sucked.

Four wives are central in this story: Naamah, Abishag, Siti and Nicaula. All four different types of women. All four captured his heart in some way.

Before I dive into the women, I want to talk about the cameos that King David and Queen Bathsheba had. I just LOVED them and the wisdom they gave to Solomon and the women. Bathsheba was more crucial in the romance while David was crucial in Solomon's kingship. They were some amazing parents and their love was beautiful -- even though it started off rough in sin.

Naamah was the first wife. She has loved Solomon since she was 10. At 15 she became his betrothed and at 16 they married. Naamah was in love with Solomon and their love was the most realistic for me since they had known each other for some time. I enjoyed Naamah up until there was talk about other wives. She had this false hope of being his only wife and she didn't handle it well. She did bare him two children in the story -- a son and a daughter. Her role as the first wife was done really well. She was the most whiny of the four wives.

Abishag was the second wife. She was previously the wife of King David, but married Solomon to be safe from his twisted brothers. Abishag was such a woman! She didn't let herself be played a fool nor did she have any delusions about being Solomon's second wife. She was such a artsy and pure hearted of the four wives.

Siti was the third wife and daughter of the pharaoh. I did not like her at all. I didn't care for her attitude and how she tried so hard to turn Solomon from God. She annoyed me with how sneaky she was -- like a serpent. She planned so much to get Solomon's attention. She had no real respect for him as her husband. She was a spoiled brat. I didn't care for her at all. She was the only wife who did not seek to learn and get to know about God.

Nicaula was the fourth wife and queen of Sheba. I loved her second to Abishag. She was smart, kind, pure. Everything about her screamed royalty. She did almost make some dumb mistakes, but she felt convicted about them. I loved her desire to know more about God. She ruled well. Carried herself as a queen and didn't allow Solomon to play with her emotions. Of the four she was the most intellectual.

King Solomon was such a fool in romance. He just made so many foolish mistakes and broke laws concerning women. I just can't deal with him in certain parts because he seemed like a baby when it came to the women. Seeing him fall due to a simple mistake was heartbreaking -- but it also shows that good intentions don't always yield good results.

Overall, I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it.

I loved learning more about King Solomon and four of his many wives. Biblical Fiction tends to stick with me better than reading the Bible because it gives depth to the people of the Bible. This book focuses on how those four wives may have felt before, during, and after marrying the King. We can only imagine what feelings they may have had in such a situation but I felt like Jill portrayed them very well. The book also gives depth to Solomon and what thoughts and feelings he may have had as he was leading a nation and what may have lead to his eventual worship of idols.

The beginning of the book also includes a portion of King David's life and that of his wife Bathsheba. Where this story begins is toward the end of their lives, when they have a nice love story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Who can discern the thoughts of a king? There are few who can, but Jill Eileen Smith manages to shed light into Solomon's love stories. I have often tried to place myself in the stories of old in order to bring them to life in my own heart. The stories of Solomon are difficult to capture because as a woman, I too would want to be the singular love of my husband's life. I cannot imagine being one wife of so many. Smith creates each personality in such a way that I find myself cheering for them, almost forgetting that there are others to come. In this telling, Solomon makes each woman feel loved, individually and uniquely. We see into the heart of each woman as well as Solomon, making each person real and relatable. The love poems of Solomon come to life all throughout the book and I wasn't ready for it to end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love it when an author who has the heart and does the research it takes to make a story come to life—especially biblical fiction. Even though some of the story is fictionalized, it still gives me a strong feel for the culture and practices of the time period.

The Heart of a King gives a well-rounded view of Solomon’s life and loves. I’ve always been both intrigued and puzzled by Solomon. He was blessed with wisdom, yet he made some poor choices.

Each of these loves of Solomon (Naamah, Abishag, Siti, and Nicauala) have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and I was able to connect with them in different ways—some stronger than others.

As with any of the books I’ve read by Jill Eileen Smith, I really enjoy the wonderful descriptions and the characters’ journeys of faith. In this particular story, I love how the Songs of Solomon (from the Bible) are tied to each of these wives. It unifies the story and gives it the softness it needs.

If you enjoy biblical fiction or would like to read about the wisest king in history and the women he loved, I’ve no doubt you’ll enjoy this book.

Source: I received an advanced copy from the publisher as a member of the author’s street team. I was not required to leave a favorable review.

Award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith’s latest biblical fiction novel, The Heart of a King, is a fascinating look into the life of King Solomon, his incredible wisdom granted by God, and his numerous foreign wives and many indulgences, which ultimately led to his downfall. Jill Eileen Smith is a master at bringing Scripture to life and filling in the details in a meaningful way that encourages readers dig deeper into the Bible and discover more about the word of God.

Portions of this book were previously published as e-books by the author (The Desert Princess, The Shepherdess, Daughter of the Nile, and The Queen of Sheba), so readers will thoroughly enjoy how all of these stories come together to tell a more complete narrative of King Solomon’s life. This novel focuses on four important loves in King Solomon’s life, while also exploring the relationships Solomon had with his parents, King David and Bathsheba, one of his half-brothers, Adonijah, and most importantly, his relationship with God. Readers will learn about his first wife (and mother of his heir) Naamah, Abishag the shepherdess, Siti the daughter of an Egyptian pharaoh, and Nicaula the queen of Sheba.

This is an amazing book that readers of historical fiction and biblical fiction will not want to miss! Jill Eileen Smith’s eloquent writing style is easy to follow, thoroughly captivates readers, and keeps them invested in the novel right until the end. King Solomon was a highly charming, wise ruler of Israel, whose seven hundred wives, one hundred concubines and extravagant life of excess was in contrast to the teachings and obedience that God asked of him. I can not wait for Jill Eileen Smith’s next release. I enjoyed The Heart of a King so much that I plan to read more of her earlier biblical fiction novels on other women from the Old Testament.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.