Mundie Moms

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Book Review: Waterfall (River of Time #1) by Lisa T Bergren


Published by David C Cook
Released on February 1st, 2011
Source- from the author for review
5 series- You HAVE To Get This Book
Purchase from: Amazon| Barnes & Noble

Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

An adventure back in time to medieval Italy, a chivaltirstic Prince/Knight who will sweep you off your feet, a fabulously strong heroine and a beautiful love story make Waterfall a clean cut, must have book! From her descriptions of the setting, to the clothes, the mannerisms and to the way they dressed and even how they ate, Lisa brought medieval Italy to life and did an amazing job with weaving modern day Gabi into the story.

This is truly an adventure story centered around a beautifully written love story between American teenager Gabi Betarrini and the swoon worthy fourteenth century Italian Knight, Marcello Forelli. What starts off as a summer exertion with their mother turns out to be an unforgettable adventure for sisters Lia and Gabi, who somehow triggered a passage back into time during medieval Italy. I loved not only Gabi's reaction to finding herself in the middle of a battle as she stumbles out the tomb she's just landed in, but Marcello's reaction to seeing a girl clearly from another time. I was immediately drawn to both of these characters, who each have a strong sense of honor to their families, an admirable inner strength, passion, trust, loyalty and a engaging chemistry together that kept me wanting more.

Along with their heart felt love story (you know the kind that leaves you longing for more and sighing all the same time), are epic battles, fabulous secondary characters and plenty of wit that had me laughing out loud more than a few times. Aside from Gabi and Marcello, I adored Marcello's closest friend Luca, who's the loyal best friend and also the biggest flirt. He also provides the perfect dose of humor to the story. Between Gabi's inner monologues and Luca's comments, I found myself laughing out loud more than a few times. Unlike Marcello, Luca isn't betrothed, which also puts a damper on the chemistry Gabi and Marcello have. I love the way Lisa developed their relationship and how true she stays to the ways of society during this time period. This definitely effects some of the choices the two of them make.

I'm a huge sucker for history, and I really liked the way Lisa brought Waterfall's history to life. I liked the hierarchy with the characters, the way they acted, and feeling like I was able to get a peek back in time. I even enjoyed some of the sweet, scandalous stolen moments between Gabi and Marcello. I say scandalous, because a women from this time period wasn't suppose to be spend even a moment with a dashing, charming Knight (or anyone from the opposite sex) in a darkened room or outside after sun fall.

Lisa's writing is beautiful, vividly detailed and I'm in awe how she was able to make Gabi's travel back in time feel so realistic. From the development of the characters, to her descriptions of the setting, and the time period, to the development and pacing of her storyline, Waterfall is one of those books that literally swept me away and left me thinking about it long after I finished. Okay I'm still thinking about it and I rushed right into the sequel, Cascade. I can not even begin to describe how much I loved every moment reading this book.

Labels