You may know these famous teenagers... ANCIENT ISRAEL, 1034-1015 BCE Swaggering onto an empty field, the giant, Goliath continues goading his enemies by hurling obscene slurs at the spineless Israelites and their impotent god. A young shepherd brings fresh bread, aged cheese, and news from home while visiting his brothers' encampment. Shocked, David watches thousands of grown-men run away from a giant-man of little consequence strutting across the battlefield, openly defying his LORD, the God of his fathers. The fearless 16-year-old shepherd responds, galvanizing King Saul and his faint-hearted soldiers with the authority of a general, first challenging, then destroying Goliath with the fiery faith of a prophet and a single-river-rock. A few years later, Abigail, a legendary beauty faces a murderous band of warriors led by David intent on slaughtering her wicked first husband (Nabal) for his treacherous acts. Courageously intervening, she saves Nabal's life through her disarming generosity, humility, and sage prophetic counsel, redirecting Israel's heroic outlaw and future king from reckless vengeance and eventual regret. ...now, discover David and Abigail's backstories. This captivating tale explores their childhood, families, and their parents' lives and love stories. Meet Jesse ben Obed, the handsome father of David, a good man of great faith, yet devastatingly remote as a father and husband to his wife and ten children. Meet Alisa, a young orphan who first became David's nursemaid. When life leads her elsewhere, and she kisses her "little prince" goodbye; no one could have guessed that when they next met, Alisa would embrace David as his mother-in-law. David and Abigail's legacies unfold like intricate tapestries woven with authentic faith, shaded by heartbreak and gilded gorgeously with triumphant love. "Gather Rosebuds (while you may)" is the first book in the "Souls of Roses" series.
