Tag Archives: Biblical fiction

Top 10 Tuesday — Water

29 Aug

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT is Water. Bloggers could choose titles or covers depicting water. I could have gone with places you find water — lakes, creeks, rivers, oceans, bays, waves, rain . . . even tears, but I chose to stick to plain old water(s) in the title. I was amazed at how quickly I compiled 10 titles. All but one of the novels has water on its cover too! Win-win! The books chosen represent a variety of genres, so there should be one you like.

For more water-y titles, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Bookshop at Water’s End by Patti Callahan Henry

By The Waters of Babylon by Mesu Andrews

Deeper Water by Robert Whitlow

Farewell, Four Waters by Kate McCord

Muddy Waters by Candace J. Carter

Out of The Water by Ann Marie Stewart

Still Waters by Lindsey P. Brackett

Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin

Water from My Heart by Charles Martin

The Water Keeper by Charles Martin

Top Ten Tuesday — Throwing It Way Back(list)

1 Aug

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is Backlist Love. So what’s a backlist? Older books still in print are considered part of an author’s backlist. I thought about going way back and listing the author’s debut novels (and some of those on the list are), but some authors wrote for the general market back in the day or the books are no longer available (unless you want to pay an Amazon seller several hundred dollars 😉 ). I’ve listed books that I still need to read from the backlists of favorite authors. In some cases, it’s the only book I haven’t read by an author! There are lots of genres to pick from — hope you find one to love too!

For more amazing backlist suggestions, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Backlist Books

Deadly Pursuit (2011) by Irene Hannon

Evidence of Mercy (2010) by Terri Blackstock

The Haven (2012) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Harvest of Rubies (2012) by Tessa Afshar

Magdelene (2011) by Angela Hunt

A Memory Between Us (2010) by Sarah Sundin

Mine Is The Night (2011) by Liz Curtis Higgs

No Where to Turn (2014) by Lynette Eason

Paint Chips (2013) by Susie Finkbeiner

My Stubborn Heart (2012) by Becky Wade

Happy Release Day — Daughter of Eden

14 Feb

Happy release day to Jill Eileen Smith. Her latest Biblical fiction focusing on Eve, Daughter of Eden, is now available. I have already read and reviewed this book and loved it! It is a fascinating what-if of life before and after the garden. Read all about it below.

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on One whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to one like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as they explore Eden. But her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Until everything changes. With one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown future–the births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the one home she has ever known. Perhaps worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden?

Bestselling biblical fiction author Jill Eileen Smith imagines the life of the first woman to ever live, unspooling a story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.

To order, click HERE.

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, Wives of the PatriarchsDaughters of the Promised LandThe Heart of a KingStar of PersiaMiriam’s Song, and the nonfiction 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 Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).

Book Review: Daughter of Eden

13 Feb

Daughter of Eden, the latest Biblical fiction by Jill Eileen Smith, releases tomorrow. I snagged an early copy, and devoured it! The what-if are fascinating. With Eve, I felt the loss and grief of sin’s advent into the world, along with the estrangement from God. If you have ever wondered what life in the garden might have been like or what it must have been like to be the first to do anything, then this book is for you. Well-researched and thought-out, Daughter of Eden is a recommended read.

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on One whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to one like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as they explore Eden. But her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Until everything changes. With one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown future–the births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the one home she has ever known. Perhaps worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden?

Bestselling biblical fiction author Jill Eileen Smith imagines the life of the first woman to ever live, unspooling a story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, Wives of the Patriarchs, Daughters of the Promised Land, The Heart of a King, Star of Persia, Miriam’s Song, and the nonfiction 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 Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).

My Impressions:

Created to be the perfect partner for her husband, Eve’s life in the garden was idyllic . . . until her choices allowed sin to enter the world and change everything. Daughter of Eden by Jill Eileen Smith explores all the what-ifs of the first man and woman. Faithful to the scriptural record, Smith fictionalizes the account to perhaps ask more questions than she seeks to answer. I loved how she portrayed Adam and Eve in all their innocence — an innocent and pure, and yet intimate relationship between each other and the special bond they had with their Creator — before all was shattered. The book explores what might have taken place following their expulsion from Eden — the need to find shelter and food, the need to make useful items for their household, and the beginnings of a family. One thing this novel stresses is that though estranged from God by their sin, He never truly leaves them alone. They are His despite their disobedience, pride, and willfulness. A good reminder for modern day readers too. Regret over her decision to disobey God stalks Eve, especially when her children repeat her mistakes in a variety of ways. Adam and Eve lived a long time, so the story doesn’t end with the birth of Seth, but with the ways the world was shaped by their descendants. Cities are built, traditions are established, and sin lives on. But hope is never too far away, as Eve looked for the one who would redeem her mistakes. This work of Biblical fiction made me think, made me consult scripture, and made me examine the consequences of my own actions.

With what must have been an enormous undertaking, Smith brings forth a very plausible storyline that’s a pleasure to read, not a dry philosophical tome. I very much liked Daughter of Eden. As a leader of a combo Bible study/Book Club, I would not hesitate to use this novel as a companion to a study of Genesis. If you are a fan of Biblical fiction too, give this one a look.

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

First Line Friday — Daughter of Eden

10 Feb

Happy Friday! Daughter of Eden by Jill Eileen Smith doesn’t release until next week, but I got my hands on an early copy! It is a fascinating what-if of Adam and Eve, their relationship with each other and with God, and the very different life they lead from the perfect one designed by their Creator. This one is a must-read!

Here’s the first line:

The first time he opened his eyes, light, brilliant and pure, moved in colored ribbons about him.

The first time she opens her eyes, Eve gazes on One whose beauty nearly blinds her, whose breath is in her lungs. Her Creator takes her hand and gives her to one like her and yet different. Together, she and Adam experience pure joy as they explore Eden. But her favorite moments are when the Creator comes to walk with them, day after day.

Until everything changes. With one act of disobedience, Eve finds that her world is no longer a friendly place. With remorse in her heart, she must face the unknown future–the births, the deaths, the sacrifices, the loss of the one home she has ever known. Perhaps worst of all is the loss of trust, not only with her Creator but with the man who shares her life. How will they ever survive out of Eden?

Bestselling biblical fiction author Jill Eileen Smith imagines the life of the first woman to ever live, unspooling a story of love, loss, and the promise of redemption.

To pre-order, click HERE.

Top 10 Tuesday — 2023 New Series

7 Feb

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is 2023 Debuts. I really didn’t have the energy to track those down, so I am going first books in a new series. Most of these are from favorite authors who have a lot of books to their credit, so the only thing my list has in common with the original topic is that they will be published in 2023. LOL!

For bloggers who diligently stick to the topic, check out That Artsy Read Girl.

Top First Books in New 2023 Series

The Broken Hearts Bakery (Haven Ridge) by Carla Laureano

Cold Light of Day (Missing in Alaska) by Elizabeth Goddard

Cold Pursuit (Ryland and St. Clair) by Nancy Mehl

Counter Attack (Pearl River) by Patricia Bradley

The Lies We Believe (Shadow Stalkers) by Lisa Harris

Memory Lane (Sons of Scandal) by Becky Wade

The Metropolitan Affair (On Central Park) by Jocelyn Green

The Woman from Lydia (Emissaries) by Angela Hunt

Top 10 Tuesday — Shelf-ish Organization

31 Jan

Happy Tuesday! Today is a Freebie day for Top 10 Tuesday. I am going completely random today with fiction chosen from the shelves in my house — as opposed to those on my NetGalley shelf and Kindle. 😉 I organize my shelves in a way that makes sense to me. Fiction is organized by genre and then alphabetically by author. I keep series in order of publication. If it’s Biblical or historical fiction, I organize chronologically and by location (example: European vs American. Old Testament and then New Testament). And then there is my Austen knock-off shelf which contains a variety of genres, but all tie into one of Austen’s novels. That’s alphabetically by author. I even have a shelf for signed books. So if I am in the mood for a mystery, I know which shelf to head to.

Confusing? Probably, but it works for me. At least I don’t divide my mystery into historical or cozy, etc. I’m not that obsessive or am I?

I am.

In the spirit of transparency, the books represented today are on shelves at my primary residence. We have a house in the woods that boasts a very small library. That’s where it really gets tick-y. That’s where the mass market cozy mysteries reside. Likewise, all the Grishams. Then there’s my husband’s western fiction, the American historical fiction/non-fiction that revolve around major events. Think Revolutionary War, Pearl Harbor, etc. I have a shelf for veterinary fiction. Yes that’s a thing. Small town fiction like Jan Karon. A shelf where humorous fiction (P.G. Wodehouse) coexists with short story collections. And last but not least, the shelf with North Georgia authors. Too much? LOL!

Enjoy my random and complicated system!

For more freebie fun, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Random Books from My Shelves

Austen Variations (or knock-offs) Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken

Autographed Books — The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barratt

Biblical Fiction/OT — Journey by Angela Hunt

Biblical Fiction/NT — Three from Galilee by Marjorie Holmes

Christmas Fiction — A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

Classical Fiction — Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Contemporary Fiction (including romance) — Dearest Dorothy, If Not Now, Then When by Charlene Baumbich

Historical Fiction/European — To Love A Viking by Heather Gilbert and Jen Cudmore

Historical Fiction/American — A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton

Mystery — Suspicious Minds by Christy Barritt

Suspense — Shadow of Doubt by Terri Blackstock

Speculative — The Ishbane Conspiracy by Randy Alcorn

Top 10 Tuesday — New-To-Me Authors in 2022

24 Jan

Happy Tuesday! Today bloggers are sharing new-to-them authors from 2022. I love discovering new authors. Often their books become must-reads. A few of the books may be debuts, but by and large, the authors on my list have other books to their credit. More great books to read! 😉

For more new authors, visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top New-To-Me Authors in 2022

Among The Innocent by Mary Alford

The Blackout Book Club by Amy Green

Driving Force by Kate Angelo

Firefly Diaries by C. C. Warrens

Honor’s Refuge by Hallee Bridgeman

In Search of A Prince by Toni Shiloh

A Light on A Hill by Connilyn Cossette

The Librarian of Saint-Malo by Mario Escobar

Operation Joktan by Amir Tsarfati and Steve Yohn

Shadows in The Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp

When The Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

Where The Blue Sky Begins by Katie Powner

Top 10 Tuesday — Most Recent Additions To The NetGalley Shelf

27 Dec

Despite my TTT post last week listing all of the books I would love to have Santa pre-order, I have yet to receive them. My immediate family hasn’t had Christmas together yet, but I don’t anticipate any book gifts in my future. Most of them think I have enough books already. 😉 But I have been diligently adding to my NetGalley shelf and those are the books I am spotlighting today. I have quite the range of great books. Hope you find one to love!

For more book shelf additions, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Ten Most Recent Additions to My NetGalley Shelf

Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon

Broker of Lies by Steven James

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

Daughter of Eden by Jill Eileen Smith

The Metropolitan Affair by Jocelyn Green

A Novel Proposal by Denise Hunter

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin

The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy

What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson

The Year of Jubilee by Cindy Morgan

Top 10 Tuesday — Winter TBR List

13 Dec

Happy Tuesday! Today bloggers are revealing their Winter TBR Lists. Mine as usual is a mix of hopes and dreams — I hope I get to them all and I dream of whittling down the pile. 😉 My list includes book club choices, books for review, and just-because-I-want-to-read-them books. I hope you find one to include on your list!

For more bloggers’ TBR lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books on My Winter TBR List

The Brilliance of Stars by J’Nell Ciesielski

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason

Daughter of Eden by Jill Eileen Smith

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd

Honor Bound by Hallee Bridgeman

A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson

Within These Walls of Sorrow by Amanda Barrat