Gather Rosebuds by Deborah Bronson begins in ancient Israel with the birth of David and takes us through his childhood and young adult life in great detail. The hows and whys of him becoming a shepherd watching over his sheep, his relationship with his parents, brothers and sisters and so much more. We are introduced to Alisa, a young orphan girl, who becomes part of Jesse ben Obed’s household and nursemaid to a very young David. We also get acquainted with Abigail, the girl who will become David’s wife. We learn of King Saul and his troubles and meet Samuel, the prophet, who will answer to God and make things right once again. There is always a strong belief in God and prayer shining through in each of the characters.

Gather Rosebuds: While You May is the perfect mix of fact and fiction. All of the characters were brought to life and sent me to the Bible to re-read the story of David with a feeling of really knowing him. While some of the story was the imagination of the author, Deborah Bronson, it all seemed real and plausible. It was hard to stop reading and even though I know the story of David, Gather Rosebuds made it come so much more to life. If you enjoy reading good Christian romantic history, then this is a must-read. Gather Rosebuds would make a wonderful made for TV movie that everyone would enjoy. I am so looking forward to the next book in the Souls of Roses series.

Gather Rosebuds (While You May) by Deborah Bronson is a biblical fiction novel and the first book in the Souls of Roses series. The series as a whole brings to life the stories of King David of ancient Israel and Judah, and his wife Abigail. Bronson puts the focus in this first installment on the origin stories of the famous pair, walking back in time to the moments even before their births. Born of a respected landowner, Jesse ben Obed, and his wife Netzevet, David is raised alongside his other siblings and under the tutelage of an indentured servant named Alisa. Alisa is privy to much of the family's private life, both the happy moments and moments of pain, primarily among the sons of Jesse who seem in a perpetual state of war even in their own home. David is raised to be a lead shepherd on his father's land, but ultimately his path takes him further than anyone ever dreamed possible.

Deborah Bronson offers an interesting account of the early shaping of David in Gather Rosebuds (While You May). Alisa, the mother to Abigail, has a responsibility of care in a family that seems to have everything. There is a particularly cruel irony to this, as it comes on the heels of thirteen-year-old Alisa losing absolutely everything. The birth of Abigail is seen as a blessing and I loved how her precociousness as a young child gives insight into the woman she is destined to become. Her growth is a way off as David is coming into his own, bringing down the famed Goliath of Gath, conscripted by the king, and an officer in his army—but not so far off for Jesse to request that ten-year-old Abigail be betrothed to David. I found Bronson's balancing act with matters that were the status quo in a historical context, but would be horrifying today, to be well executed. Overall, this is a good story and I have no doubt that the writing will flourish with the novels in the series still to come.

Many of us have heard the story of David and Goliath. But, like so many famous people, what is neglected from the tomes of history are the simple facts that lead up to the big historic event. David as a child grew up first in the care of a young girl, Alisa, who had recently lost her family to a violent raiding party. When Alisa leaves Bethlehem to marry and start her own family, the young David grows into a distinguished young man. Little did either Alisa or David realize that their lives would once again become intertwined when Alisa’s daughter, Abigail, is betrothed to David, the much-loved hero of Israel who had defeated and killed the giant Goliath.

Deborah Bronson’s novel, Gather Rosebuds: While You May, is a thoughtful look at an era in biblical history. With delightful insight into the times and the customs, the author brings the reader right into the story. The plot develops as the two main characters, two young people, Alisa and David, cast their webs of love and beauty that have been sadly overlooked in the retelling of the famous fable. This is a love story, quite literally of biblical proportions. It’s told with reverence and a thorough knowledge of the language, customs, and times. It’s a gentle, soothing read of two young lives leading up to the event that makes David into a hero. The power of love, faith, and dedication to living a full life with a caring heart rings through the entire story. Beautifully told with ease and compassion.

Gather Rosebuds: While You May by Deborah Bronson is a historical fiction novel depicting a beautiful love story between Old Testament King David and his wife Abigail. But more than this one romance, it's about family too, and history, and faith. Other biblical figures are included as well, from David's father, Jesse, to the powerful, egocentric King Saul. This dramatized account of the life and loves of King David will draw you in with the author's intricate attention to detail, vivid sense of time and place, and pure, dynamic imagination. Though we can read biblical chapters of these people, this book breathes life into them in a way that puts flesh, blood, and soul to the bones, thanks to one of the main characters, Alisa. She is the thread running through the entire novel. This is the first in Bronson's Soul of Roses series, and a refreshing take on the romance genre.

The novel opens with Alisa, a thirteen-year-old orphan whose loss of family puts her into the household of Jesse, David's father. She will become David's nursemaid and play a key role throughout his life and this story. These first chapters lay the foundation for this lovely, powerful saga to unfold. I admire the author's balance between fact and drama. Although she uses customs, food, and culture of the day, it occurs naturally, never forced, or encyclopedic, which transports the reader into the biblical era. The romance as well as the relationships and personalities of the other characters have a modern feel. The pacing is well-balanced, the Bible scenarios gripping and moving. Bronson's style is magnetic. I think having the children playing a game of Noah's ark is especially cute and clever. Once you get into the story of David, Abigail, and other biblical events, you are compelled to keep reading, even though you know how things will turn out (if you've ever read the Bible). The opening chapter--about the loss of Alisa's family--will hook you, and it just keeps getting better from there, and you feel like you're living in the Old Testament, which is an amazing experience. When you reach the end, you'll understand the significance of "rosebuds". Gather Rosebuds: While You May by Deborah Bronson is an unforgettable journey of romance and biblical events.