"I do not just want to read books; I want to climb inside them and live there." -Anonymous

March 16, 2012

Book Reviews of the River of Time Series #1 - #3.1 by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Here is a link to her website
http://lisatawnbergren.com/




Waterfall (River of Time #1)
by Lisa Tawn Bergren
YA 14 & Up
Publisher: Cook, David C.
Pub. Date: February 1st 2011
eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥










Summary: ~from Barnes & Noble and goodreads~


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 vampires bite but must still fight for her life. In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in the sixteenth-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.


Review:


I discovered this book looking for a historical fiction / romance story to read on my Nook. What hooked me into getting it was in the summary, it mentioned "Knights. Swords, Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties." I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed reading this story (not just because of the hotties). Gabi and her sister Lia learn to be strong. In the 14th century there is no comforts of living and there is constantly fighting all around.  They have to grow up pretty fast in order to survive, and part of survival is to be  mentally strong, learning who to trust and finding faith in God.  I new in the middle of reading this that I had to download the rest of the River of Time series. Great cliffhanger ending, need more...


                                                                        ❖❖❖❖



Cascade (River of Time #2)

by Lisa Tawn Bergren
YA 14 & Up
Publisher: Cook, David C.
Pub. Date: May 24th 2011
eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥(4½)






Summary:  ~ from Barnes & Noble


When Gabi and Lia find themselves back in the fourteenth century-and in the middle of major battles alongside romantic knights in shining armor-they have no idea if they can get back. Or if they even want to. In the first book of the River of Time series, two bored American sisters stumble on a door to the past, where Gabi is rescued by a handsome knight who vows to love her forever. But there is a rival for his affections, and the girls flee into the present to escape. Now lovestruck Gabi persuades Lia to help her return, even though she knows dangers abound in medieval Italy, including an entire city that seeks revenge. But Marcello awaits, and Gabi must decide if she's willing to leave her family behind for love. ... 






Review:


I am loving this series. This a wonderful, inspirational, suspenseful, action filled romance and clean read. It does have violence (it is the 14th century) and  I am a fan of reading in the first person. This story is told in Gabi's point of view. I enjoy being in Gabi's head and going through the experiences and life changing choices she has to make.  Living in the 14th century and facing many obstacles, Gabi and Lia have become very strong females.  Gabi has found love in Marcello and Lia is drawn to Luca.  I also enjoy this story because I felt it stayed historically accurate with how religion was a part of everyday living and there was conflict among the people because of religious politics. Marcello has strong religious beliefs and Gabi learns a lot from him. Again another great nail biting end... I already have the third book ready to read next.


                                                                         ❖❖❖❖



Torrent (River of Time #3)

by Lisa Tawn Bergren
YA 14 & Up
Publisher: Cook, David C.
Pub. Date: September 1st 2011
eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥(4½)






Summary ~ from Barnes & Noble


“Hold tight,” I said. “No matter what happens, do not let us go.”“We won’t,” my dad said.“Never,” Mom added.And with a look at Lia, we laid our hands upon the prints. Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are just two normal American teenagers. Normal except for the fact that they time travel to fourteenth-century Italy, where they’ve lived in castles they’ve seen as crumbling ruins, become swept up in historic battles, and fallen in love with handsome knights willing to do anything to keep them alive.           
They’ve returned to the present to save their father, just short of his tragic death, ... 






Review:


I truly feel this book is amazing. I love how dad is such a presence in this book. Gabi's fatherly love and advice to her and Lia is definitely heart warming. Her father meeting Marcello, their interactions together and dad having to give his approval, was a wonderful addition. Gabi, Lia,and their mother and father show how a family can love, have a strong bond and be a great support to each other.  A wonderful series!


                                                                      ❖❖❖❖


Bourne (River of Time #3.1)

by Lisa Tawn Bergren
YA 14 & Up
Publisher: Bergren Creative Group
Pub. Date: February 26th 2012
eBook
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥








Summary~from goodreads~


Bourne, a novella (1/3 the length of a normal novel), picks up right where TORRENT left off...Find out what happened to men returning from the battle, gravely wounded, to the Betarrinis, fighting for the men they love, and just who is hunting them next...


Review


So this novella has definitely earned a rating of 5.  In the other books the stories were told in Gabi's point of view.  Lia and Gabi's point of view takes turns in this book. In the other books Lia is portrayed more shy and not so sure of what she wants. Through Lia's eyes we get to know her better and see how much she has grown and how devoted she is to Luca, This was a great addition to the series. The 4th book to this series, TRIBUTARY, will be out later this year.  Can't wait to read it. Need to buy!

River of Time #4
release date TBA 2012




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