Waterfall - Book Review

Title ~ Waterfall
Series ~ River of Time #1
Author ~ Lisa Tawn Bergen
Release Date ~ February 1, 2011
Age Group ~ Young Adult
Publisher ~ David C. Cook
Source ~ Kindle Store

GOODREADS SUMMARY

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.

REVIEW

The first book in the River of Time series brings historical fiction set in Fourteenth-Century Italy. It is the time of ornate castles, elaborate fountains, and a lush paradise. Oh, but it is also a time of knights who take part in perilous battles. There is danger in this beautiful setting.

When Gabi and her sister unexpectedly travel through time, they are unprepared for the ancient Italian civilization they find themselves in. The simple fact that Gabi is wearing jeans is enough to set off a conspiracy that perhaps she is a witch. The girls are appropriately distraught when the first arrive, but they quickly settle in. I don’t know about you, but I would not have been so accepting of the situation.

Gabi falls for Marcello, a young Italian lord who is already engaged to another girl. This is where I wasn’t sure what to think. Why was Gabi going and having feelings for a guy who was already taken. Well, she didn’t realize Marcello was engaged at first. But then again, he started to have a crush on her too. Well that bothered me since he was engaged, but it was an arranged engagement. It felt like every argument I had for them to be apart was taken away from me. I still wasn’t sure what to make of it.

I liked Waterfall for the setting and the knight battles. I was left a little conflicted about the romance, although I did generally like both Gabi and Marcello.