From the authors website 

"Conquering Your Goliaths"

A Parable of the Five Stones

David gathered 5 smooth stones to meet and defeat Goliath. What did these stones represent and how can you use them to conquer Goliaths in your own personal quests? Ms. Virginia Bean will show you how.

Travel with her on her own personal journey. See what she does. Learn how she grows. Discover what she becomes.

“Conquering your Goliaths—A Parable of the Five Stones” is for anyone desiring to travel beyond mediocrity, pain and fear. Learn of the great power within you, a power given to you from God, a power that must ultimately be unleashed to conquer the Goliaths in your own life. Come to an even deeper understanding of God and what he wants for you. Come…

About this author

When I was young I thought I had to sound like a great writer to be one. It was all so overwhelming; now I know I only need to sound like myself. My ideas come from two primary sources. My work might spark from the enlightening words of a friend, teacher or writing prompt. At other times, I am sitting in a very still space and the words I should write come to me like a powerful and glowing wind.

My favorite tool is the pen. Though computer keys get the words down quicker and easier, I like to put pen to paper, smell the ink, see the words as they are developed and renewed by new phrases or thoughts.

I enjoy traveling to wherever the character takes me. This often means even I am surprised and warmed at the outcome. In the end, when my writing is done, I like to watch the eyes of the reader whenever I can. Their reflective expression gives me the greatest glimpse into what my writing has become.


Before I was one, I loved to read books-or at least, pretend to. I couldn't walk yet but I would crawl to the bottom shelf for what I wanted. My Grandma says my books were placed near the floor for that very reason, and my mother speaks of me pulling my favorite book from the shelf and crawling back to the couch with the book safely in tow.

I would sit on the couch and pretend to read, speaking the language of some foreign diplomat-or perhaps, the tongue of angels, my mother wasn't quite sure which, and when I was done, I would crawl back to the shelf for another story.

When I am not writing I'm reading. I am an avid reader of the scriptures and books of spiritual merit. I have been married 30 years and enjoy teaching and working with youth and children-including my own three girls,three grand-daughters and grandson.

A published writer since 1987, I have published various newspaper and magazine articles for teens and adults.

My Thoughts:

A parable is a brief and to the point story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons. In Conquering your Goliaths the reader is introduced to an analogy to David and Goliath in that Goliath had 5 stones instead of one. This parable is a realistically told story that seems  probable and takes place in a familiar setting of life, meaning the life of Ms. Virginia Bean. She recently lost her job and finds herself going to an interview for a new one. There she finds herself in the presence of God and with His help, learns things that she thought did not pertain to her. She is given 5 different stones. They represent listening, trust,optimism, tenacity and constancy. She learns that these are the 5 things we need to remember to guide us through our lives. Ms.Bean relalizes that things are not always as they appear, the future is not always clear, stay optimistic, no two people have the same journey in life and to be constant as to what matters most. Valuable lessons to be learned for sure. I found this short book to be very enlightening and a pleasure to read. 
You can read more about Kathryn and her books at her website

I received an ecopy of this book from the author and was not monetarily compensated for my review.

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Sela By Jackie Gamber

Synopsis:  Sela picks up a few years after the events of Redheart. Vorham Riddess, Venur of Esra Province, covets the crystal ore buried deep in Leland's mountains, and his latest device to obtain it is by marriage to a Leland maiden.

Among Dragonkind, old threats haunt Mount Gore, and shadows loom in the thoughts of the Red who restored life to land and love. A dragon hunter, scarred from countless battles, discovers he can yet suffer more wounds.

In the midst of it all, Sela Redheart is lost, driven from her home with only her old uncle to watch over her. As the dragon-born child of Kallon, the leader of Leland's Dragon Council, she is trapped in human form with no understanding of how she transformed, or how to turn back.

In a world where magic is born of feeling, where the love between a girl and a dragon was once transformative, what power dwells in the heart of young Sela?

My Thoughts:  Sela was a very fast moving and enjoyable fantasy. It is the second book in the Leland Dragon series that began with Redheart. I think that it has moved to one of my top ten favorite books of all time. I love fantasy and I love engaging, intelligent, strong women in fantasy and just like in Redheart, Sela did not disappoint.

Something that struck me in Jackie Gamber's first book and holds true in the second her writing style makes the fantasy fun and engaging. Many times fantasy is all about the set up with her it is the pay off. She makes characters that are easy to see, feel and like. Jackie Gamber has the uncanny ability to make twists and turns in a story that keeps you turning page after page. She is a true storyteller. Some people just write books and some tell tales and she is the latter. I really believe she loves her characters and feels excited to be the one telling their stories.

Another element I love was that never in a book has a first kiss moved me so much. Sweet moving romantic. Perfection. Sela a sweet young girl so confused and lost but able to find hope and love.

This book had action, adventure, dragon hunts, love and real relationships. The interaction between Sela and her parents was so true of a rebellious teenager and parents that are just trying to figure it all out.

I enjoyed seeing many of the Characters introduced in Redheart continue in this book and the new characters just added to the story.  Bannon and Leesa are amongst a couple of my new favorites and I love how she continued Jastin's story. Jastin may be a dragon slayer but he is one I feel such sympathy for.

Be sure to read Redheart the first in the Leland dragons series. While Sela is truly it's own story Redheart is the story of where Sela comes from. And it also is a great fantasy story. I am stickler for reading books in order and was glad that I had read Redheart first.

Sela will be released in softcover and eBook versions during the first week of April, following the launch party at MidSouthCon in Memphis, TN during the March 24-26 weekend.  Continuing the Seventh Star Press tradition of releasing collectible, limited edition hardcovers, Sela is now available for pre-order in a beautiful hardcover edition that is strictly limited to 75 copies.

The limited hardcover edition is signed and numbered by Jackie Gamber, and includes a bonus illustration from Matthew Perry not included in other editions.  It will be accompanied by an assortment of collectibles, including a set of glossy art cards, bookmarks, and magnets.  The limited edition hardcovers will also be bundled with the eBook version, with buyers able to choose an ePub, Kindle, or Nook version.  Those interested in securing one of the 75 limited hardcovers can place a pre-order at: Pre-Order

The Soft Cover editions can be pre-ordered as well and that will also be signed.

I have enjoyed several books by this publisher and with each order you always get very cools extras, like art cards, bookmarks and magnets.

More Information can be found at the publishers website. Seventh Star Press
Jackie Gamber can be found on Facebook and at her website. Jackie Gamber or Twitter. Jackie is a delightful to talk to and does this amazing thing called book tasting.

As I said it this book as moved into my top ten. I loved it. I give this one a 5 out of 5. I look forward to more adventures in Leland.

I was truly fortunate to be able to receive an early copy of this. I received a copy from the publisher and was in no way compensated for my review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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