Ms. Smith did a fantastic job of showing of what life in the Garden may have been like and then sharply contrasted it with how Adam and Eve may have felt after they were expelled.

Readers will walk with the characters as they learn to exist and thrive outside of the Garden and how the hearts of some of Eve's descendants began to drift away from God.

Daughter of Eden offered a reminder that the devil is real and is the enemy of humanity. He will do anything to destroy us but we can defeat him when we walk with God and call on His mighty name.

As I read Daughter of Eden, my heart hurt for Eve and the regret that dogged her steps every day of her life. It's easy for us to blame Eve for listening to the serpent's lies but if we'd been in the Garden of Eden, would we have done differently? 

Would we have avoided the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Would we have obeyed God? Or would we have eventually gotten to a place where we began to doubt God's goodness and wondered what He was withholding from us?

Readers will be reminded that while sin separates us from God, there's nothing we can do to stop Him from loving us. They will be encouraged to get to know the Creator and to serve Him with their whole hearts.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley as part of the author's launch team; a positive review was not required.

This was a well written biblical fiction on the story of Eve, Adam and their family. This was superb from start to finish. I adored the writing, I loved the raw emotions. Enjoyed the real emotional and mental well-being of the characters. This definitely is descriptive and almost has a "flowery" style of writing.

Eve was well written and Adam as well. I enjoyed seeing the beginning of time even to the earth and angels. Seeing how Lucifer fall and became Satan. Seeing the nephilim born. Seeing the trials and tribulations. Seeing the story of Cain and Abel, experiencing Enoch and even Seth. Just the generations of Adam -- so great.

This was simply everything to me. I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end. There are no words to express my feelings completely on this book. It was just an experience and I truly enjoyed it!

Highly recommend!!

Daughter of Eden by Jill Eileen Smith is a poignant biblical fiction novel that had me captivated from page one until the end. I am still pondering the author’s perspective of the Garden of Eden and Heaven. This is Eve’s story and so much more.

This depiction of creation and the life of Eve is simply endearing. It is evident that author Smith did extensive research on the subject. She worked out how many of my questions might have been. Her skillful pen painted a beautiful picture of Eden and a heartbreaking look at how the Fall could have played out. As I read I could feel the majesty of the Almighty and imagine His mighty works and love.

My heart softened for Eve and what I previously envisioned her to be. There is so much to love about this creative, heartfelt book. It had me going back to my Bible to reference the story. Her version of the Nephilim was credible and aligned with what I have read. I was happy and sad all throughout this emotional book.

This is a book for everyone. Non-Christians and Christians both should enjoy this extraordinary novel. It brings the Bible and its people to life. Any reading group should definitely choose this, as members will want to discuss it as it is read. There is so much to ponder and talk about with this mesmerizing book.

At the end of the amazing story, you will find author notes and a preview of her next book. I am looking forward to this one. It is sure to be another great read, although Daughter of Eve will be tough to top.

I highly recommend it to everyone. It would make a thoughtful gift for any reader. My rating is a 5+ stars. A copy was provided by NetGalley but these are my honest words.

Overall I found the book to be rather slow and not intriguing enough to finish it. It is written in a very interesting style pulling the story of Eve into present time which makes it a little confusing.

A beautifully written book with fantastic imagery. The setting is so intricately described that you can picture yourself in Eden. Eve is an intriguing character. Mother of all, she led an interesting life and left behind a true legacy. This books makes me long to be reunited with Adonia!
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story! The imaginative way that she depicted creation then the story of the first humans was an incredible journey. I really loved the characters and their interactions. Questions were posed that I am still considering. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Daughter of Eden
This book was an unexpected learning experience. I enjoyed the way it caused me to think of all the small details of what it might have been like for Eve in the garden and then after her sin and refusal to obey God the multitude of consequences that flooded life for both her and Adam. It was fascinating to think how the relationship between Adam and Eve would suffer, as well as their relationship with God. Beyond that, thinking about how likely they were untaught in the simplest of things, how to make cooking instruments, how to make tools, how to live with animals that were predators. Then to think when Eve became pregnant, she had no knowledge of the birth process. All these possible implication for life that might have been for Adam and Eve were fascinating.
Then to try to grasp what it might have been like to have your firstborn murder his brother. The author did a wonderful job in giving us a picture of how events might have transpired in the first family. And to consider how that first family grew and the issues over many years of man’s sinful bent.
Biblical “fiction” obviously must be a blending of facts with speculation. The author did a good job of presenting the facts of scripture, with a speculation on possible consequences of what happened. It certainly helped me to visualize that first family.
Redemption and Bible truths are not compromised when you read with an understanding that this is a blend of imagination and Biblical events recorded in Scripture. For me it broadened my view of how it might have been.
It covers a long period of time and I had never imagined what it must have been like for Enoch’s family when he disappeared. I enjoyed the connecting of dots between Eve and Methuselah.
I so appreciated the view that Eve had repeatedly failed God, but He never abandoned her. That most important truth resounded in the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for an advance E copy. I will choose to read this author again.

I have read many books by Jill Eileen Smith and was excited to receive a copy of Daughter of Eden. She writes Biblical fiction in such a way that it could have happened.

In Daughter of Eden, she tackles the story of Eve. I think this must have been hard to do as the Bible doesn't talk much about her. It doesn't say anything about the first few years after the Fall or how Adam and Eve survived leaving the garden. So most of this book has come from the author's imagination. Reading Daughter of Eve did raise many questions for me. Where is they get fire? How did she learn to cook? When did they start flocks for food and clothes? How did they figure out how to make clay pots or to chart the seasons?

The author attempts to answer these questions in Daughter of Eden. The story begins while Adam and Eve are still in the garden. Adam is naming creatures. They go swimming, run together, eat fruit, and visit with God. Eve is temped by the serpent, eats the forbidden fruit and shares it with Adam. They are cast out into the world and left to toil for the rest of their lives. God brings them their first fire and sends the sheep and goats to them to care for. Eve has dreams of how to cook food and make clothes. Adam is gone everyday getting water, firewood and planting crops so they don't have much time to spend together anymore.

They watch their children grow up and pair off to start families. They see their grandchildren and great-grandchildren be born. After Cain kills his brother, the earth continues to be filled with violence as the population increases.

But the story is quick to remind the readers that all is not lost. Eve clings to God throughout her life and reminds herself of all the things he taught them while still in the garden.

I think my favorite part was when Eve is pregnant with her first child. She is wondering how the baby will come out developmentally. Will it be fully formed? How fast will it mature? Later she is lamenting how slow Cain is growing and when will he be able to help them in all their work. This made me smile because, of course, she would have no idea how to raise a child or even what is was like to grow up.

I have read the story of Adam and Eve many times from the Bible, this book gave me a lot to think about. There were times I felt overwhelmed with a sense of dread because I know the story and got caught up in the ‘what if’ of an event that changed the world. I loved the redemption reminder that God is still in control. His love for Adam and Eve has been passed to all of us, His saving grace has not changed. I recommend this book. I look forward to offering it to our book club as a selection to discussed.

Daughter of Eden is a very well written fictional story of Eve and her fall from Grace in the Garden of Eden. I recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This book was a fascinating and thought-provoking take on Creation and God's love and plan for humanity. The author did an amazing job imagining what it could have been like for Adam and Eve in Eden and after they were expelled from the Garden. She brought the world of Genesis and the people of it's pages to life in my mind. I will definitely be checking out more books by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for access to this arc.

This is Biblical fiction at its finest. Though we only see Eve's information in the first few chapters of the Bible and any archaeological evidence we may have had was washed away by the flood, Ms. Smith used passages in the law of Moses and the teachings of Jesus to supplement. I appreciated the thoughtfulness she put into her speculation of the missing details and the story she crafted was both beautiful and thought provoking. I enjoyed glimpses of what Eden may have been like, the process of Lucifer's fall, speculation on how the Nephilim came to be (and why that brought the judgment of the flood) as well as how Adam and Eve walked with God and what they saw of him and his angels and how their sin fully impacted them. I'd never given any thought to the kinds of things they needed to learn after being banished from the Garden nor how they may have longed for the Redeemer already. This was one story that though I knew what was going to happen when the serpent was tempting Eve that I wanted to shout at her "don't do it!" and really longed for a different ending. However, I appreciated the hope that was woven into the story as well as the judgment. I found the author's take on what happened to the Garden to be interesting as well. There was a lot in this novel that was thought provoking, but it fully drew me closer to my Savior and the knowledge of how much we lost all those years ago. One of my favorite elements was the meaning of Methuselah's name, and I appreciated Enoch's role and how his life was portrayed. All in all, I found this to be an excellent novel that had the themes found throughout Scripture pulled within in spite of the amount of speculation required to write it. Special thanks to Revell and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

I’ve heard the Bible story of creation and Adam and Eve since I was young. After reading Jill Eileen Smith’s account, it became real to me. I’ve always have known that the Bible tells true stories. Smith’s account made me think more about who Eve was and what she went through. It shows God’s plan for creation and the need for a redeemer.

I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This was an interesting story. I liked how the author used her imagination to depict Eve's story. I will say that readers should be cautious on the word Biblical fiction because most of the story is fiction. I would go into this knowing fully well the creation story so you won't be swayed with the actual truth from the Bible. Audience should be born again believers who have walked with God for five years.

Such a fascinating take on what could have happened in the Garden of Eden and with Adam and Eve through the years. This is probably my favorite book of Jill Eileen Smith's. Recommended for readers of biblical fiction. I look forward to more books from this author.

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

It is challenging to write about the beginning of creation when Adam and Eve fell from God's grace and were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Whether or not you believe the story to be a factual account or merely an allegorical tale created to highlight good and evil, it is evident that the writers of the Old Testament believed the garden to be a real place as well as its occupants.

Jill Eileen Smith approaches the subject as a literal place in time and Adam & Eve as real people. She looks at the creation story from Eve's perspective, although we are also privy to Adam's thoughts. Smith has a creative imagination that allows the reader to experience the joy and beauty of the garden as well as the purity of walking unashamedly before God. To sit at his feet and commune with Him face to face was the primary joy of the Garden of Eden. But behind the scenes, something else was going on.

The author takes us on a journey of what-ifs and their outcomes. We are given a glimpse into heaven's throne room and the evil one's fall. From there, we can see Eve's confusion and trust in the serpent and why she ate from the forbidden tree in the garden's center. For much of Eve's life, she is tormented by the moment she disobeys God, and she longs to return to the garden and her relationship with Him. Something we all long for.

The author has done an excellent job of highlighting sin. If you believe humanity all descended from Adam and Eve, then you must accept the fact that the corruption of incest was prevalent in Adam & Eve's story. The author did not hide this fact, leaving me with a creepy-crawly feeling while I was reading it.

Much of the story deals with Adam's inability to forgive - first, Eve for leading him into sin and then Cain for killing Abel. While Eve (being a mother) eventually forgives Cain, and she still loves him, Adam struggles to even acknowledge him. It also deals with the day-to-day struggles they had to overcome - from finding shelter to learning how to create things like jars and instruments for plowing. So at times, the story lagged a bit. But it also gives a very clear explanation as to why Cain's offering was rejected by God. Even though this is fiction, the author has brilliantly shown a very plausible explanation.

In the end, the author shows the consequences of sin and the risk everyone takes if they reject God. She also reveals that God loves us, understands our doubts and frailties, and longs for all to repent and return to Him. And that is one of the best lessons in this book. If you like Biblical fiction, you will enjoy Daughter of Eden.

I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I was able to receive an advance copy of this book, thanks to NetGalley and Revell, so that I could give my thoughts. I was excited to do so because this is one of my favorite authors in the biblical fiction genre, and Eve is one of the most intriguing characters to me. While I often think of her as unrelatable, when I read books like this, I feel a kinship with her. While I could never identify with her "in the beginning" of her story, I certainly understand the wonder and admiration she felt as she saw each of her children develop different talents and abilities. I felt with her the concern for her children's spiritual walks. I think everyone can identify a time they wish they could go back to and do over. One thing that could be a problem for some readers is the approach taken on the interpretation of the Nephilim. Since this is fiction and Scripture is not clear on that topic, I did not have a problem with it. The most delightfully surprising part of the book was the development of Enoch's character. This was one of the best wrap-ups of a story that I have read this year and I completely recommend it.

Interesting story about the creation. The author explores the relationship between God and Adam and Eve. Readers can follow the story of the fall and the life of Adam and Eve afterwards through Eve's thoughts. The author has quite the imagination in this fascinating story.

Jill Eileen Smith is one of my go-to authors for clean biblical fiction books. So when I found out she was writing a book about Eve, I knew I had to read it!

The book was pretty great, and it was neat to imagine what Eden might have been like. Imagine playing with tame lions and  bears, swimming with fish and dolphins or riding bareback on the dinosaurs! A whole different and innocent world than we know today.

The message of redemption, and our deep need for God was woven smoothly and neatly throughout this story.

Content warning/triggers for victims of abuse:
It was pretty chilling at one point with the mysterious giants or Nephilim attacking and abusing the descendants of Adam. It wasn't detailed, but was mentioned a few times. Eve and Adam also encountered the creatures.

Thank you to the author, the publisher Baker Books, and Netgalley for this complimentary e-book. A positive review was not required of me, and the thoughts above are my own.

Your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God. Knowing good and evil.

It takes great courage to write a book such as this and I commend Jill Eileen Smith in doing so. What was the relationship between God and the first couple before the fall? What happened after the fall? There is so much spiritual lessons to be learned about Adam and Eve. How their relationship changed because of the fall. The once perfect relationship based on trust and faith was forever changed by mistrust that continues in our relationships today.

It also makes room for the reader to see how the redemptive plans of God starting with his promises, changes our heart to trust Him. The bible teaches us how to trust God. Adam and Eve's account of the fall is how God continues to make a way for us to trust. Not in our own strive but having faith in the ways of God. Mankind has not changed when it comes to God.

A special thank you to Revell and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review