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    The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon
    The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon
    The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon

    Written by Jill Eileen Smith

    Narrated by Rachel Botchan

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    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?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateApr 30, 2019
    ISBN9781980039365
    Author

    Jill Eileen Smith

    Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King, Star of Persia: Esther's Story, Miriam's Song, The Prince and the Prodigal, and Daughter of Eden. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in biblical times. Jill lives with her family in Michigan. Learn more at www.JillEileenSmith.com.

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    Reviews for The Heart of a King

    4.5/5

    35 ratings9 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Awesome ? book. It stole my heart. Great book. Beautiful ?
    • 4/5
      The heart of a king is well written. It seem to be about the life of King Solomon. We see it though the view of the his wives. This is what I got though reading the book. It seem like book that tell the story of the king. It starts out with him with his father being King of Israel and his son a prince. We see how he becomes King and what he wants. Do his wives get what they want? I believe this is a story about King Solomon and his god. We are brought back to ancient Israel. We also see him struggle with himself and his god. He seem to questions if he is doing what is right by his god. His he not following God commands or comments? If you are into reading the bible, but in a simpler way. This book is good for you. This is what it kind gave me as I was reading it. I enjoyed it, do not get me wrong. It seem better then reading the bible it self to get the history or story of King Solomon. Wish is best for me to understand. I am not into reading the Bible for say but learning about ancient Israel is something different and the lives of King Solomon and his wives. This book did have look up a bit about King Solomon on google. Which is interesting say the least.
    • 4/5
      In The Heart of a King, Jill Eileen Smith imaginatively explores the life of Solomon, king of Israel, lover of many women, and receiver of God’s wisdom. It’s a story rich in history and detail, proving absolutely captivating.Smith focuses on four women in Solomon’s life: Naamah, Abishag, Siti, and Nicaula. Each woman comes to him with a different background, yet prompts similar questions of whether Solomon is living in accordance with the wisdom granted him. As the story unfolds, all five of these central characters come to life on the page with their strengths, flaws, and emotions, as well as a thought-provoking message, vividly displayed.I enjoyed this fictional peek into the life of Solomon. Though I would have liked to see a little more of the women throughout the novel, I understand that the accompanying novellas dive deeper into each woman’s perspective—I will most assuredly be reading those soon.I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 5/5
      I received this book as part of the Revell Reads blog tour. I chose to be a part of this and my review is my own opinion.I truly enjoyed this book. Jill Eileen Smith does research into the Bible and history and it shows. This is a fictional book based on her research and opinion of what King Solomon might have been like and what his life may have been like as an adult.The characters are very believable and the background of the story is well written. You feel like you could be reading an autobiography, it is that realistic in my opinion.The story flowed well and it was very well edited. The grammar and punctuation were done well and it did not detract from the book at all. That is a very important element, in my opinion on my enjoyment of a book.I give this book 5 stars out of 5. I would recommend it to my friends.
    • 3/5
      “If they can learn from my errors, then my life will have been worth something.”The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon by author Jill Eileen Smith.So, I'll admit it. While I've appreciated a number of novels from this publisher, their fairly ooh la la approach to selling this book grates against my psyche. "Get swept away by a story of love, loss, and longing," they say on the back cover. "Find yourself whisked away to ancient Israel..."For this biblical subject, that dreamy tone turns me off. The idea of a man of excess with a harem of multiple wives and concubines doesn't sweep me away. Not at all.But I decided to check this book out—precisely because my reaction to some biblical topics (and how they're sometimes sold in fiction) is so strongly negative. The romanticizing in the outward presentation aside, I wanted to see what message the author would bring out surrounding this notorious king of Israel.At times, I enjoyed this novel as much as I would any vivid and well-detailed piece of historical fiction. At other times, the story became repetitive, and besides Bathsheba, there wasn’t anyone I really liked in the book. The character and emotional development is rushed much of the time, with the four principal ladies doing a great deal of worrying and aching over a man of empty assurances who repeats some of the same poetic lines and gets each of the ladies to fall for it.It basically turns into a bunch of women pining for a pimp. A royal, wise, increasingly depressed, increasingly pushy pimp.Yet, as hard as it was for me to read, I came out liking the story. Why? Because of the thread that runs through it from the Prelude, and the way the author painfully brings it together in the end.I've not been swept away by this novel. But it's the kind of read that encourages you to remember your faith, your conscience, and who you are._______Revell provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      "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.
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This book is mostly focused on King Solomon and his relationship with God. I do like how the book is parted out by the first half featuring Solomon's first two wives, Naamah and Abishag and the second half with Siti and Nicaula. This allowed me to get to know the women better without being introduced to all of them at the same time. Of the four women, I thought I had a favorite but it is hard to choose. This is because each woman is different from one another. They each had a purpose and a reason for being in Solomon's life. I do truly believe that at one point Solomon really did love each woman; even, though, he was materialist. HIs reason for marrying each woman was not just for love but for power. There is a quote that I really loved that happened early on in the book. It is when Naamah is worrying about how she will be enough for Solomon as his wife. Bathsheba tells Naamah "Only God can give us all that we need, Only He can feed the hungriest places in our soul."
    • 4/5
      Solomon, the storied King of Israel known for his wisdom, is the subject of Jill Eillen Smith’s newest novel, The Heart of A King. Drawn from her ebook novella series, The Loves of Solomon, this standalone novel brings all four women’s stories together with the unifying thread of Solomon’s life. Set in the exotic courts of Jerusalem, Sheba, and Egypt, this what-if explores the motivations and heart-decisions of the last ruler of the unified kingdom of Israel. As always, Smith delivers a highly readable novel that causes a reader to reach for her Bible, as well as examine her own life.In a dream, God offers Solomon what his heart desires. Although Solomon could have asked for any number of things — wealth, love, a larger kingdom — he chose wisdom. In the Bible, Solomon is described as the wisest man who ever lived, astonishing the many visitors to Jerusalem with his knowledge of nature and his insight into human hearts. Smith portrays Solomon as a charismatic leader and a sensitive lover — he has 700 wives, you know! ? But the wisdom he cherishes becomes a burden when he puts it above all else, including his relationship with God. I think that is the most important take away of this novel. Despite the fact that he has such a powerful gift, the advice of his priests and a godly mother, and the word of the Lord, Solomon believes in his own abilities more than anything else. The four women who figure prominently in the novel, Namaah, a princess of Ammon, Abishag, his father’s last wife, Siti, the daughter of Pharaoh, and Nicaula, the Queen of Sheba, are interestingly portrayed. There isn’t much in the Biblical record from which to draw, but Smith makes them believable. They love Solomon, and he in turn loves them, but never whole-heartedly. Solomon is a restless man striving to gain more and more. Each part of the novel is introduced by musings of the Teacher, an older Solomon who found that life is meaningless. While it would be easy to throw stones at Solomon, this novel made me examine the many blessings that God has given me that I in turn take for granted. Like Solomon, I believe in my own abilities and wisdom in running my life.The Heart of A King will appeal to fans of Biblical fiction. Its unique perspective, historical details, and insightful message make this book a recommended read.Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)