Esther is poised to save her people from annihilation. Relying on a fragile trust in a silent God, can she pit her wisdom against a vicious enemy and win?

Christian AllegoryIn an adventure reminiscent of the Christian life, one girl struggles to find her way out of the dungeon, beyond the perils of the journey, to the Kingdom that awaits.BONUS MATERIAL:Each of the six chapters includes questions for reflection, suitable for individual use, or for discussion in a book club, Bible study or small group setting.Hypotenuse: A detective and a witness become acquainted as he investigates the death of one of their neighbors.Colossus: An arctic scientist explores the habitat of the Colossal Squid, and finds a secret even larger than the cagey mollusk.Support: An Explosive Ordinance Disposal officer connects with his family as he wrestles with an especially difficult day in Iraq.Something to Say: A forensic tech examines the body of a woman murdered outside a police station.Why There Are No More Dragons Or Unicorns: A father's tale of the last dragon and unicorn.Turing's Test: A computer with a personality disorder mulls its own idiosyncratic existence with its human roommate.Only Numan: A young man with a genetic predisposition toward unstable genes is given the opportunity to become a part of governmental experiments to develop superhumans.Prisoners of War: A forensics anthropologist and a left-for-dead Marine track a war criminal, in post-war Vietnam.Raider: A woman comes to grips with her own identity and mortality while breaking into an Egyptian pyramid.Dante's Infirmity: An old man and his family struggle to preserve his humanity and independence navigating the medical establishment, as he approaches the end of his life.The Ghost Club: Mr. Houdini and Mr. Doyle explore the question of life after death.Suicide Spear: Humanity takes the battle to an alien homeworld's doorstep, after decades of a devastating war of attrition.Hang Around: A cowboy, a Buddhist monk, and others relive the results of one choice.Ghost Dust: A medical patient reflects on the aftermath of 9/11.Bloody Hands: A community shares responsibility and blame after a young boy's call for help.

A jealous Egyptian queen.A lascivious Galilean governor.How can one servant girl possibly make a difference? An orphan since birth, Lydia lives in the palace at the demand of Cleopatra and her royal child, the son of Julius Caesar.But Lydia's beauty is becoming a liability to the aging queen, and the visiting Herod's undisguised interest in Lydia only makes matters worse.When Lydia's mentor is murdered, the handmaid inherits a daunting task.An ancient set of sealed scrolls, the secret writings of the prophet Daniel, must be returned to Jerusalem–before those who killed her mentor destroy the scrolls as well. Lydia joins Herod the Great's retinue and soon becomes absorbed in the machinations of his Jerusalem palace. But dark forces, older than Jerusalem itself, are at work.And Lydia has no idea of the true nature of her destiny.

Natalee restores museum pieces, but she's not sure there's much hope for her own shattered life. Until one Christmas Eve, when she meets a stranger with a broken past of his own...Ebony is a smart, sexy, career-oriented black woman who wants nothing more than a summer fling with a man who challenges her mind and body. What she doesn’t expect is a blond haired, blue-eyed bass player—who won’t take “no” for an answer—to accept the challenge. When Ebony’s attempt at a brief fling turns into more, despite negative reactions from friends and family, she finds juggling love, family, and career are nothing compared to the ultimate betrayal she endures. Now her dreams spiral into lies and secrets that threaten her future and her best friend’s trust.

Where the Dead Breathe and the Immortal Die: The epic battle between angels and demons begins....Lucifer grows restless. A sense of unquiet gnaws at his ether. He seeks something. Something more....Lusting for the power to create worlds and to rule races inferior to his own, Lucifer trains the Malakim in the art of swordcraft, unknowingly preparing them to aid him in his attempt to usurp King Elyon’s throne. Bearer of a sword that can slay a spirit-lord, Lucifer grooms Michael, his favored lieutenant, as his second-in-command. But Michael starts unraveling the mystery behind the secrecy, and is forced to choose between his comrades and loyalty to his King.History and fantasy collide as the ultimate struggle between good and evil rises in this 20,000 word novella, Dawn of Shadows, the first installment in the epic supernatural Christian fantasy, Prophecy of the Heir.

Abigail's hopes and dreams for the future are wrapped up in her handsome, dark-eyed betrothed, Nabal. But when the long-awaited wedding day arrives, her drunken groom behaves shamefully. Nevertheless, Abigail tries to honor and respect her husband despite his abuse of her. Meanwhile, Abigail's family has joined David's wandering tribe as he and his people keep traveling to avoid the dangerous Saul. When Nabal suddenly dies, Abigail is free to move on with her life, and thanks to her brother, her new life includes a new husband--David. The dangers of tribal life on the run are serious, but there are other dangers in young Abigail's mind. How can David lead his people effectively when he goes against God? And how can Abigail share David's love with the other wives he insists on marrying? Jill Eileen Smith, bestselling author of Michal, draws on Scripture, historical research, and her imagination as she fills in the blanks to unveil the story of Abigail and David in rich detail and drama. The result is a riveting page-turner that will keep readers looking forward to the next book in this trilogy.

Bathsheba is a woman who longs for love. With her devout husband away fighting the king's wars for many months at a time, discontent and loneliness dog her steps—and make it frighteningly easy to succumb to King David's charm and attention. Though she immediately regrets her involvement with the powerful king, the pieces are set in motion that will destroy everything she holds dear. Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God—and David—forever?With a historian's sharp eye for detail and a novelist's creative spirit, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the passionate and emotional story of David's most famous—and infamous—wife. Smith uses her gentle hand to draw out the humanity in her characters, allowing readers to see themselves in the three-dimensional lives and minds of people who are often viewed in starkly moralistic terms. You will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in the same way again.

Beautiful Rachel wants nothing more than for her older half sister Leah to wed and move out of their household. Maybe then she would not feel so scrutinized, so managed, so judged. Plain Leah wishes her father Laban would find a good man for her, someone who would love her alone and make her his only bride. Unbeknownst to either of them, Jacob is making his way to their home, trying to escape a past laced with deceit and find the future God has promised him.But the past comes back to haunt Jacob when he finds himself on the receiving end of treachery and the victim of a cruel bait and switch. The man who wanted only one woman will end up with sisters who have never gotten along and now must spend the rest of their lives sharing a husband. In the power struggles that follow, only one woman will triumph . . . or will she?Combining meticulous research with her own imaginings, Jill Eileen Smith not only tells one of the most famous love stories of all time but will manage to surprise...

When her father dies and she is left in the care of her conniving brother Laban, Rebekah knows her life has changed forever. Her hope for the future is restored when she falls in love with her cousin Isaac, and their relationship starts strong. But marital bliss cannot last forever, and the birth of their twin sons marks the beginning of years of misunderstanding, disagreement, and betrayal. The rift between them grows wider and wider until it is surely too deep to be mended. And yet, with God all things are possible.Join bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith as she fills in the blanks around the biblical women behind the men we know well. Her in-depth research and creative storytelling bring Rebekah's unique story alive with romance, heartache, and the power of forgiveness.

Two Old Testament women want to be loved by their shared husband—and to bear children. To what lengths will they go to get what they want most, and will either find her heart's desire?

The Queen of Sheba has unparalleled power and wealth, but when King Solomon offers her the one thing her heart still desires, what will she risk to obtain it?

When Princess Siti marries Solomon to strengthen ties between Egypt and Israel, she brings her god into the palace. Will she bring harm to Solomon's household by rejecting his ways and his God?