Daughter of Eden - by Jill Eileen Smith

I have to admit that I am always a bit hesitant to read Biblical fiction. It stresses me out that the author may take too many liberties (according to my standard) and I'll be left disappointed. The exception to that are stories by Jill Eileen Smith. She is meticulous about accuracy yet gifted with imagining how it might have been. Daughter of Eden is glorious. I found myself at times weeping at the profound sadness of the Fall. But then I also couldn't help but smile at the beauty of creation and the Creator Himself. As you can guess by the title this is Eve's story. The time span is from her creation to her death. The details pack in between those two dates are fascinating and thought provoking. Think about this . . . when Adam and Eve are removed from the garden they are suddenly thrust into a world that is completely unknown to them. How did they know to make fire the first time? Or weave a basket to use as a container? Ms. Smith uses these instances to show God Himself teaching them and reminding us that He never left them. I can't recommend this book enough. It's beautifully written and I think it will leave you longing for a deeper fellowship with the Creator. I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

Eve is not someone we have a lot of information of in the Bible. We know she was created to be Adam’s helpmate, taken from his rib. She’s the first to succumb to the serpent and receives the curse that she will bring forth children in pain and that her desire will be to her husband. She gives birth to Cain, Abel, and Seth + other children obviously. Beyond that? Nothing else. So a lot is left to the imagination. Jill Eileen Smith attempts to chronicle the life of the first woman God brought into being and life after Eve and Adam fell. Is it compelling? Definitely. I was surprised and appreciated Mrs. Smith tackling the creation of the angels, satan's fall, and the divine counsel of the Godhead concerning the creation of the world and man. My only complaint is that they were brief and mostly scattered, as if the author was unsure how far to go with those scenes. But moving on. I loved how the description of the idyllic life Eve lived with Adam. Freedom to roam, time spent with her beloved Adam, and best of all, fellowship with the Father. No hours spent looking at the sky wondering if there was a Creator or where He was. No, God Himself came down to walk and sit with the children He had formed with His own hands. Then there is the fall, and life isn’t perfect anymore. It’s sweat and tears, loneliness and bitter regret. Both Adam and Eve now struggle to adapt to the new state of things and even with their own feelings regarding each other. I can’t say I liked how Adam was portrayed in this. Adam came across as a selfish and sullen cur with anger issues he’d take on Eve, because he blamed her for eating the fruit. While we did touch on the anger at his own inaction, most of it was focused on blaming Eve. Plus, he’d struggle with not wanting to ask God for any help learning to live, because he wanted to do everything himself. Personally, I feel if you’re walking and talking with the Creator and experiencing perfect fellowship every day, then go to almost nothing, you’d be grieving like you lost a loved one. Not looking to prove you can do everything yourself. If anything, you’d be doing that after a few centuries. With Eve, she too avoided calling on God’s help, but it was done a little differently. Eve truly missed God’s presence and love, and she continually felt like a failure and wondered whether God still loved her for what she had done. Which I can totally appreciate and expect, because I think it’s only natural. But it really grated because of the lack of remorse you saw with Adam. The rest of the story focuses on Adam and Eve learning how to survive in their fallen world and building a civilization. There’s a lot of fast-forwarding through the years and even centuries which does tend to jar the story a bit. You have mini-subplots that will encompass a couple chapters, get resolved, then zoom! We’ve advanced another century or decade. I’m not saying the subplots were not interesting. Conflicts with their now-grown children who are now questioning the Creator’s ways, the devil’s plans to corrupt man with the fallen angels, a rescue, Enoch’s attempts to warn humanity to repent—it’s all enough to keep you turning the pages. But it’s far too brief before you’re carried along to the next part in the story. But finally you reach the end. And while I think it could have been done differently, it was still sweet and beautiful as Eve gets to meet God once more and understands how much she is still and forever loved. Gripes aside, it was still a poignant story with a lot of lessons to learn. But the most important is while we see the price of disobedience, we see also that God’s mercy is never-ending and He will never desert you or stop loving you. And that is what will stick with you long after closing the pages. Disclaimer: I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review. The views expressed are completely my own.

Book Review: Daughter of Eden by Jill Eileen Smith Eve's Story was indeed an intriguing story to read. I am sure most of us have wondered what life was like in Eden and imagined how things might have happened in the days before Eve and Adam sinned by disobeying God. I know I have read and re-read those scriptures in Genesis and wanted to know more about Eve, Adam, the animals, plants, and their day-to-day life as they lived in that beautiful garden and walked with God daily, therefore when I had the chance to read this book, I happily accepted, and I can say I really enjoyed Eve's Story. This book weaves a fictional story that is quite believable. You will enjoy walking through the beautiful, lush garden of Eden with Adam and Eve as they spend their days tending the garden, playing with the animals, and spending time talking with God daily. There is a beautiful innocence to everything until the time sin enters and corrupts it all. You will weep and be heartbroken as Adam and Eve sin by disobeying God. All innocence is lost, and evil seems to have won. Adam and Eve are cast out of the garden and have to learn to survive in an unknown world where the animals are now their enemies, and the earth is no longer lush. Pain, toil and sadness fill their days and they live in regret as they realize the magnitude of their disobedience. However, there is hope, as you will also see, all through this story, how God's unconditional love shows through in everything He says and does. He is a just God, but also a loving God, and because of His great love, He makes a way for Adam, Eve, and all mankind to be forgiven and restored again to gain a right relationship with Him. There were things in this story that I did not really agree with but overall, I think it Jill Eileen Smith did a great job in writing it. I received this book free, from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.

I love biblical fiction and I consider Jill Eileen Smith to be one of the premier authors of this genre. In this book, she weaves fiction and the first book of the Bible into an engrossing tale that centers around Adam, Eve, and many of the others mentioned in the early chapters of Genesis. Smith helps us to imagine the views of Cain, Abel, Seth, Enoch, and Methuselah, along with the intriguing thoughts of Archangel Michael and Lucifer! What I especially loved is that she gives Eve the human traits of so many of us women! Wives who wonder if their husbands are losing interest and mothers who fear for their children's physical safety and pray for their spiritual health. From the time that she realizes that she's pregnant, Eve worries that her actions in the Garden will hinder her children's relationship with God! She experiences many "What ifs" and often questions if she has been truly forgiven? Yes, I know that these are fictional details, but they make her so very relatable! Smith's descriptive powers helped me visualize the beauty of the Garden and feel the overwhelming peace that Adam and Eve experienced in that holy place. A peace that was shattered by their disobedience, along with the beautiful innocence that was forever destroyed! Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story is the painful story of being separated from God but a wonderful affirmation of the redemption that is available to all mankind. It is a beautiful story that clearly demonstrates God's gift of salvation! Believers will certainly appreciate this book but it's a story for all readers to enjoy and savor! I pray that it spurs us to refer to the Bible for the original story, and I believe that it would be a wonderful addition to a women's study group. I received a copy of this book from the author and Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

I am so enamored with this book that I can’t even begin to know where to start! Just reading Eve’s story, I can tell that a lot of thought and prayer went into this book. I. Absolutely. LOVED it! Not only was the story of her life all-encompassing, but it really made me think and consider things about how difficult and strange things must’ve been back then. Yet the same struggles and ups and downs present then, are what we still experience today. I was pleasantly surprised at the range of Eve’s life that this novel covered, along with the different aspects of interest along the way. I loved the additional perspectives scattered throughout of Adam, Cain, etc., along with the portions from the Unseen Realm! Those bits really kept things in perspective and were a good reminder of what everything in this life is ultimately all about! So now I’ve gotta go make sure EVERYONE reads this book, because it really is just so incredible! I had read Ms. Smith’s A Passionate Hope some time ago (Hannah’s story) and enjoyed it a lot too. I have now been reminded just how much I really LOVE this author’s work! Daughter of Eden is definitely going up there with some of my favorite Biblical fiction! It’s sooo worth the read!

This story starts with Adam and Eve living a perfect life in the Garden of Eden. In snake form, the devil entices Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. That led to Adam and Eve being expelled from the garden, and living with the consequences of that sin. Now the story really begins--what life was like after Eden. Adam and Eve have no skills whatsoever, and just trying to find food and shelter are monumental tasks. While doing that, they are dealing with the anger they have at themselves for giving in to temptation, and the deep grief of not being in God's presence anymore. Despite Adam making the choice to eat the fruit, he blames Eve, and has lots of anger towards her. He also expects Eve to let him treat her like a slave. Eve constantly feels terribly guilty for her part in all of it. This book is a fascinating study of how hard it would have been for the couple just to exist, let alone have, and then raise, children. As the children grow, they face more difficulties including Cain's murder of Abel. As time goes on, some of their family fall away from faith in God. Additionally, some become involved with fallen angels, which leads to more heartache, and serious problems with their eternal souls. This is a great story of what might have been, bittersweet situations that could have taken place. One that stayed with me was when a lion they had played with and rode on while in Eden, tried to kill them when they were ousted from the Garden. This is a clean five-star book, built on the pages of the Bible. It will appeal to anyone who wonders what it may have been like for people to experience these things. Thank you, Revell Publishing, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.

“Please forgive me, Adonai. Please come to us again. Show us how to live, how to survive this world, how to care for children, how to please You outside of Eden. I miss you,” Eve prays to the Almighty in Jill Eileen Smith’s novel, Daughter of Eden: Eve’s Story. ~ What ~ This three-hundred-and-thirty-six-page paperback targets those interested in Biblical fiction about the beginning of creation on earth with Adam and Eve. With no profanity, topics of illness, murder, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. The ending includes a note to the reader, acknowledgments, an excerpt of the author’s prior novel, her biography, and advertisements. This story follows Adam and Eve when they are in the Garden of Eden and cast out, only to face the ongoing struggles to survive and reproduce on the earth. Covering several generations, it contains how the pair learns to accept loss, forgive others, and attempt to do things on their own as they regret their separation from God. It also includes Satan’s fall from Heaven, Cain killing Abel and being sent away by God, and Enoch’s walk with God. ~ Why ~ I have always enjoyed fictional books about the Bible, yet I have read only a few about the first five chapters of Genesis. I appreciate the tender details of Eve’s dealing with the guilt of her sin of disobedience, the understanding of obeying Adam, and the longing and seeking of the Redeemer. I liked that the author incorporated the evil watchers of men, Nephilim, and giants into the story. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not like reads that are based on Scripture will avoid this book. Some may disagree with the ample liberties taken that are not noticeably included in the Word such as Adam and Eve being “born” on the same day, Eve giving birth to over thirty children, and Enoch going into the Garden of Eden. I found the storyline got sidetracked a few times when it focused on other characters instead of Eve. ~ Wish ~ While it is clear that the author did plenty of research with the little information available, I felt she veered off-topic on a few questionable areas that may not have been needed. Adding discussion questions at the end would be thoughtful for book clubs. ~ Want ~ If you like a story about Adam and Eve’s dealing with pride, guilt, and control in their new earthly environment, this is a good read, but be aware it is a fictional account. Thanks to Revell for this complimentary book. I am under no obligation to give a positive review.

What a beautiful thought provoking story that changed me , as it brought to life the possible thoughts and feelings Eve might have experienced. I never really considered how Eve felt when Cain murdered Abel until I read this. My sister is mourning the murder of her daughter so I can definitely identify with how Eve must have endured this. I also was struck with the eye opener of how difficult life must have been after being banished from the garden of Eden and the remorse she lived with for giving in to temptation. The parts dedicated to describing the spiritual realm gave me Holy goose bumps it was so realistic. Ms Smith did an amazing job with this subject of Eve as the descriptive words were poetic and flowed like a crystal river straight into my heart and spirit. I hated to see it end as I was totally engrossed from beginning to end. You definitely want to put this on your must read list. I just wish I could give it more stars as in my opinion it was an exceptional read. I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

This is a lovely biblical fiction giving us a possible glimpse into the life of Adam and Eve both in the Garden of Eden and then out in the world. If we read the story of creation in the Bible, we also read how, through the enticement of Lucifer, both Adam and Eve died to an innocence they could not define, nor would they ever experience it again. Sin always follows when we think what we want to do is best and leave God out of our plans. Banned from the Garden, there was so much to learn. We know that God will not abandon us and I can only believe He did not abandon them either. Unfortunately as we also know, that while sin had entered the world without any fanfare, its insidious work will continue until the Redeemer comes. What a joy and privilege it must have been to walk and talk with God, like we spend time with a friend. An early copy of this book was received through Baker Publishing Group, Revell and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

Jill Eileen Smith has tackled a really difficult part of the Old Testament spanning from Genesis 1 through beginning of Genesis 6. This account starting from creation and ending with Methuselah told in multiple points of view is a fascinating look at the beginning of our faith. Eve is the major contributor to the plot and her guilt, shame, and desire for love and acceptance after the fall are so palpable. Adam, in his anger and frustration at the burden of caring for his family, is relatable. Their marriage shifts and matures during their long years on earth together and it's a very real picture of how God shapes and molds each man and woman individually and as a couple through the years. Other human voices build the plot and we get to meet Cain and his wife Hasia, Abel, Seth, and Enoch. We also hear Archangel Michael and Lucifer's thoughts, which makes for a richer experience as events on earth unfold. This is the most ambitious and creative Biblical fiction the author has penned to date and it made me re-read these Genesis chapters with a new appreciation. I had hoped for a longer author's note with explanations of her research and reasons for how she addressed the vague areas. Perhaps the author will have a blog post or a newsletter after the book's release to satisfy my curiosity. I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Genesis in the Bible doesn’t give an extended account of Adam and Eve after they were removed from Eden by God for disobedience. This author creatively writes an account of what could have happened and it was things I had never thought of. How did they begin again with nothing? How were they able to take care of themselves with little to no knowledge of how to survive? Finding shelter, food to eat, and how to construct containers and tools to work by were just some of the things they struggled with. Living into their 900s and seeing many generations being born and growing into adults was interesting. Many of the human race began to turn away from God. Satan’s demon angels disguising themselves, began mating with human female virgins. Evil personified! God’s heart grieved but He knew ahead what was going to happen and had a plan. It was eye-opening how the author developed Eve over time. How she missed Eden and grieved over her sin, even though she knew God forgave her. The progression of the human race and the many different names for the characters by the author was fascinating. The book was based on the Bible but the author had to use creative license to fill in the blanks on the things unknown. It gave me lots of things to ponder on and appreciate about our earliest ancestors. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.