Review of The Heart of a King by Jill Eileen Smith

About the Book ~

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 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?

For more information about Jill Eileen Smith and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

I've read other takes on Solomon, and each of them has a lesson to learn. The Heart of a King by Jill Eileen Smith is no different! There's a profound message of truth within these pages -- if you're willing to see it!

I have always found Solomon's story to be rather tragic, but I want to be clear that this is NOT the author's fault! While we can't know all the events, thoughts, or feelings that led to his eventual despair, I greatly appreciated the author's perception and insight into the tortured King Solomon!

In The Heart of a King, Solomon was very much ruled by his passions and lusts. Instead of seeking God's wisdom for his kingdom, he relied on man's broken wisdom for a powerful, peaceful kingdom from the very beginning -- and even after receiving God's gift of wisdom! While he was not the first man to succumb to the lie of polygamy in Biblical days, you desperately wanted to see him heed what wisdom was telling him about this. My heart ached for the wives portrayed in the story, but the author did a wonderful job at taking the limited knowledge we have about King Solomon's heart and breathing life into a realistic story about him.

I like that the author didn't shy away from all the different facets of Solomon, from a wise king who longed to serve God to a playboy and even a mama's boy! The author showed us a broken man who worshiped his gift rather than the Giver of the gift, a man who thought his wisdom would surely stop him from making the same mistakes as those around him. This raw and real approach will confront readers to look at their own hearts, and the hopeful ending of Solomon's humble repentance will remind readers of God's unfailing love and mercy.

Three Stars ~ The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon by Jill Eileen Smith packs a powerful punch of truth! While it is inspired by the author's ebook series featuring the same characters, this story is written differently, contains some different content, and really develops Solomon as a character. Therefore, I think readers will still enjoy this novel even if they have read the original ebooks.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

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