Book Review: The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith

 

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith is a beautiful retelling of a familiar story. Smith does a fantastic job of keeping Biblical accuracy while letting imagination run wild. Smith’s imagination helps you feel the story you probably already know in a more real way. The way Smith goes into deep detail of the characters and settings really helps you picture what might have happened.

Another beautiful thing about this book is how well we get to know Zara, Noah’s wife. I think I sometimes struggle to look at the views of the supporting characters when it comes to the Bible. I had often pictured what it would be like to be Noah, but before this book I had not even considered what life was like for Zara.

This book is both a story and a spiritual tool. On the one hand, it is an enjoyable and exciting read. On the other hand, it teaches how to look at the whole picture when reading your Bible. It can be easy to read the Bible and not grasp that people really lived through those things. This book shows us how we can use our imaginations to get a fuller understanding of the Bible.

I am happy to have had the pleasure to receive this book for free in exchange for my honest review from Revell. I do highly recommend this book as well as the previously reviewed “Daughter of Eden” which is also by Jill Eileen Smith.

Book Review: Double Take by Lynette Eason

     Double Take by Lynette starts in such a thrilling place, but the twists continue to the very end. I will say that because it starts in such a thrilling spot, I do feel like the book starts in the middle of a story. Before you even open the book, you know from the back of it that Lainie endured an attempted murder by her ex. I very much so would have liked to know about Lanie's original relationship with her ex. This being said, it doesn't take long to jump right into the story and find it enjoyable.

    The most enjoyable thing about these stories are the relationships between the characters. It's the way that the friendships are written that make the characters so believable. Lanie's relationships with the different characters are unique and believable.

    Let's be honest. I chose this book for the drama and not the romance. I find romance in books is usually that "too perfect" to the point of cringey. This being said, the romance in the book was definitely there, but not overpowering. 

    I really enjoyed this book and all its twists. I put this book down feeling like I had met Lainie. I was briefly introduced to Kenzie who is the main character of the next book. This book definitely made me want to pick up the next one and meet Kenzie too.

    I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review from the Revell Reviewing Program.