Lisa Bergren's Waterfall ~ Reviewed

Waterfall
Book I in The River of Time Series
By Lisa T. Bergren
2011
David C. Cook
978-1-4347-6433-1

Review by Michelle Griep

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaeologist parents. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of heir minds…until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.


Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.

Time travel lovers rejoice! Then run—don’t walk—to your nearest bookseller and get yourself a copy of Waterfall. This is one thrill-ride to the past you’re not going to want to miss. Sword fights galore. Smokin’ hot Italian knights. Lords and Ladies. Castles and dungeons. Whew. I’m still breathless after having closed the back cover.

The tensions of medieval Italy are brought to life through author Lisa Bergren’s storytelling. Political intrigue and jockeying for power make for many twists and turns in the plot while staying true to the unrest of the period.

Gabi is a genuine, loveable heroine. She’s tough but vulnerable at just the right moments. Her love and faithfulness toward her family—even in the midst of teenage angst—is admirable.

Hero Marcello is everything plus a bag of chips. Strength. Integrity. Faith. Combine all that with drop-dead good looks and no wonder Gabi falls for him...hard. I did, too.

Warning: The end leaves you hanging. I’m just glad I have the next book to crack open right away.

Do yourself a favor and take a trip to Italy this summer via Waterfall. I highly recommend it.