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Waterfall (River of Time #1)

by Lisa Tawn Bergren (Goodreads Author)

4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 · rating details · 6,306 ratings · 995 reviews

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

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 archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Ga...more

Paperback, 369 pages

Published February 1st 2011 by David C. Cook

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New YA historical fiction in 2011

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The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson

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May 21, 2012 Tara rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Little girls with big dreams.

Shelves: not-for-kids-only, past-and-present-collide, urban-fantasy-paranormal

DNF. This has to go down as one of the silliest, if not the silliest novel ever written in the history of YA fiction! Our 17 year old heroine finds herself in midst of a medieval battle after travelling back in time and what does she do?? She falls crazy in LUST with the first guy she sets eyes on. "I was in the middle of a real battle. Men were wounded or dying. I glanced left and saw that one wasn't battling any longer; instead he stared at me as if I were a female Lazarus. I wanted to look a

...more

89 likes · like · see review

Jun 29, 2011 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, kindle, historical-fiction, romance-awww, young-adult, time-travel, read-in-2011, swoon-worthy-read

For those who like a visual ~ Marcello http://irresistiblereads.blogspot.com...

My Favourite Quote: We froze. Neither of us moving, simply staring at each other if the other was going to move first.
"You are," he whispered, "uncommonly stirring."
He closed his eyes then, as if he had to in order to break the bond between us, then lifted me to the saddle and stare at the ground as he guided my feet into the stirrups.

AWESOME! I am not usually a fan of anything that slightly resembles historical fict...more

47 likes · like · see review

Aug 24, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone!

Shelves: favorites

The cover of this book drew me in first, and reading about the book thoroughly intrigued me. It sounded like a really neat, adventurous read. But I was slightly wrong in my assumptions. It wasn't just a neat read--it was an AWESOME read!

It had everything a reader could want in a medieval adventure: battles, sword fights, balls, adventure, peril, humor, suspense, mystery, romance...everything! To put it simply--I was completely wowed by this book. The River of Time series ranks right up there wi...more The cover of this book drew me in first, and reading about the book thoroughly intrigued me. It sounded like a really neat, adventurous read. But I was slightly wrong in my assumptions. It wasn't just a neat read--it was an AWESOME read!

It had everything a reader could want in a medieval adventure: battles, sword fights, balls, adventure, peril, humor, suspense, mystery, romance...everything! To put it simply--I was completely wowed by this book. The River of Time series ranks right up there with the best of them and will have a permanent spot on my bookshelf!
Gabriella (Gabi) was one amazing woman. While she was strong and fearless, she was also gentle, compassionate, and had her weaknesses. Being able to wield a sword gave her some advantage when the time travel landed her in the middle of a small war, but knowing how to spar with her father did little to prepare her to take on seasoned knights three times stronger than herself. But even then, she does not shirk from danger. That was one of my favorite aspects of Gabi--she was heroic and brave, even if she was inwardly scared out of her wits.

I didn't get to know her sister, Evangelia (Lia) that much, but she was very similar to her sister, though a bit more sensitive and naïve. But living with the Sienese had caused Gabi to grow up almost overnight, and Lia was no different. What a heroine she was as she used her impeccable skill with the bow and arrow! I was cheering for her right alongside Gabi--what a formidable team they formed. No wonder they were called the She-Wolves of Siena.
The men in these books were amazing! Marcello and Luca were just plain awesome. What girl wouldn't want a brave knight beside you, ready to die to keep you safe? And handsome, ta boot! While Marcello was wonderful, I felt more of a liking his sidekick, humorous Luca. His gentle teasing and quirky comments in the face of danger endeared me to this man who was so devoted to Marcello, and in turn, Gabi and Lia.

While this book is published as YA fiction, I believe adults would find Gabi and Lia's adventures to be stirring and extremely satisfying. Geared for the younger readers, Lisa kept her book clean, light-hearted, and funny. I loved the writing style she used, giving Gabi such a dry sense of humor as she struggled with the differences of living in the medieval world as opposed to the 21st century. There were times where I outright laughed!

Lisa has written a true winner with this book, and, I am confident to presume, with the next two in the series. The book doesn't end with that bad of a cliffhanger, but enough to make the reader run to the calendar and figure out how much longer they must wait for the next book to be released. What an awesome series this will be! I think the uniqueness of the storyline--21st century girls traveling back to the 1300s--really make for it to be such an awesome series. I can confidently say that I won't tire of rereading this book again, and again, and again!

The perilous adventures that Gabi faces will leave you breathlessly clinging to each word as you read through the pages. I loved that Lisa didn't make her characters invincible or anything--they were hurt and bested at some points. This all made their adventures that much more believable and the characters that much more human. And it added a hook to the whole plot as I read into the wee hours of the night, wondering how on earth Gabi and Lia would make it out of such a predicament alive. I seriously cannot wait until all three books are released! I am counting down the days as I keep my copy of Waterfall close at hand for constant rereading. :-) (less)

17 likes · like · see review

May 24, 2012 Keertana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley-and-first-reads

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Waterfall is probably one of the most misguided books to have ever been marketed. The title Waterfall implies that there will be at least a mention of a waterfall throughout the book. Let me tell you now, there isn’t! The cover of this book is gorgeously deceptive and seems to portray a girl going through a gateway of some kind. I’ll spoil something for you again: there’s no gateway. The synopsis of Waterfall will tell you that this is an adventure novel about time-travel – wr...more

8 likes · like · see review

Apr 15, 2011 Amber rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, ebook-own, hall-of-fame, favorites, all-time-favorite-series

Love this book!!!! This was the "Total Package" for me. There wasn't an ounce of anything missing! I'm a sucker for a good history/action/adventure/romance book, but this far exceeded my expectations! I couldn't put this one down, loved every bit of it!

The story is about two sisters who travel to Italy every summer due to their mom and late father's love of archeology. The Betarrini sisters search a tomb in which they were not supposed to enter and find handprints on the wall. As they both place...more Love this book!!!! This was the "Total Package" for me. There wasn't an ounce of anything missing! I'm a sucker for a good history/action/adventure/romance book, but this far exceeded my expectations! I couldn't put this one down, loved every bit of it!

The story is about two sisters who travel to Italy every summer due to their mom and late father's love of archeology. The Betarrini sisters search a tomb in which they were not supposed to enter and find handprints on the wall. As they both place their hands on these ancient handprints things begin to change. Upon entering the 13th century, Gabriella finds she is alone in this tomb, not sure where her sister Evangelia is. As she exits this tomb, she is captured by Marcello, whom by the way is eye candy!

The story is based on Gabriella's search for her sister and mother. She is such an amazing protaganist. Such spunk and wit, it makes you giggle at times. The knowledge she learned growing up helps her with her protrayal of a Lady from this current time. Of course she finds herself developing feelings for Marcello, but he is betrothed and let's just say his soon-to-be partner is anything but kind.

Gabriella does her best to not fall for Marcello, due to an alliance needed by the betrothel of Lady Rossi and Marcello the future Lord of Castello Forelli. She finds it hard when he is so attentive and attractive. Throughout the story you will find yourself at the edge of your seat and cheering on Gabriella as she deals with the longing to find her sister, the fight to not fall for the "knight in shining armor", a devious Lady Rossi, and a battle of inner strength.

The Characters in this story were so well written and the story was so believable. I LOVED the chemistry between Gaby and Marcello. There was such a pull there, which made you want to read more. Gabriella was a strong heroin. She can wield a sword, climb down a stone wall on a rope, give an attitude and yet Present herself as a Lady when needed. Such a fun character to read about. Then there is Marcello, oh Lord Marcello...dreamy, muscular, attentive all rolled up in his Italian hotness! Need I say more??!!

The secondary characters were amazing as well. A great story isn't a great story without the jealous, devious, bitchy girlfriend. Lady Rossi surely played her part in that. Ugh makes me cringe thinking about her! Luca, captain Luca Forelli, cousin of Marcello. Such a great cast of characters and they all contributed to make this story as amazing and wonderful as it was.

This has got to be one of my favorite books so far this year and I can't wait until June when the next book in River of Time series comes out. I would recommend this book to everyone. Young and old. It is a book that is relatable yet very enjoyable to read.

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24 likes · like · see review

Sep 19, 2012 Abbi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: wish-list, kindle-books

Review originally posted on my blog Christian Novels

Ok so it's been a little while since I read this, but I'm finally posting my review!

My Thoughts
WOW! What a great book! Honestly this has to be one of my favorite stories ever. I'm normally not into the whole time travel thing, but my sister told me it was really good so I figured I'd give it try. And am I glad I did! This book literally has it all, romance, intrigue, battles, humor, and not least of all great heroes and heroines.

Book Descriptio...more

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May 19, 2011 Lucia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Read the review at iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books.

Okay, I admit it. I don't like writing reviews. It's kind of like homework. I'm still in school, so having homework on top of homework kind of turns me away. However, it doesn't stop me from reading or blogging. That being said, I think this was the first time I've ever been excited to write a review. Why? Because I want to spread the word about how wonderful this book was, and tell all of you to read it.

I was instantly hooked right after the first...more

9 likes · like · see review

Aug 16, 2011 Nafiza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

So I was skeptical when someone told me I would like Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren. It just didn't seem to be my thing. I mean, the premise was good enough but honestly, it didn't seem to be something I would be interested in. However, since Amazon was offering a free copy, I decided to read it anyway. I mean, I should only make up my mind about its worthiness once I had sampled a few chapters for myself, right? So, no one was more surprised than I when I tore through the book and finished it i...more So I was skeptical when someone told me I would like Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren. It just didn't seem to be my thing. I mean, the premise was good enough but honestly, it didn't seem to be something I would be interested in. However, since Amazon was offering a free copy, I decided to read it anyway. I mean, I should only make up my mind about its worthiness once I had sampled a few chapters for myself, right? So, no one was more surprised than I when I tore through the book and finished it in about two hours. It's a well crafted novel. Well thought out. The author preempts the readers more discerning questions and answers them.

I found the characters believable and engaging. Gabi's experiences back in time are relatable and it is quite easy to empathize with her. Speaking of characters, I think Gabi might have been the main reason I finished the novel. It is very refreshing to come upon a heroine who, while in the throes of a painful love, does not lose her mind (and her sanity) over her beloved. She remains logical which doesn't sound very romantic, but let me reassure you, it is a darn sight more palatable than seeing an otherwise intelligent woman/girl turn into a spineless maiden after the first brush with love. So while Gabi's actions might seem pragmatic and perhaps just a smidgeon cool, they do invite the reader to accord more substance to her character than one normally would.

I also found all the instances of girl power to be absolutely heady stuff. This is pure entertainment and I am sure Ms. Bergren is taking artistic license with the reactions to girl heroines but I totally loved it. The love interest. Hmm. I don't have much to say about him. Honestly, it's Gabi who's the stronger character here and it is her relationship with her sister that resounds the most. So while the knight was seemingly delicious, he didn't have as much an impact on me as he had on Gabi.

The plot is fast paced and the narrative even and the culmination, while not a cliffhanger, does leave a teasing thread that the readers can grasp and use to launch themselves into the second book in what seems to be a series. Honestly, give this a try. It's entertaining, it has girls kicking ass and winning the fair knight and well, it's just delicious stuff. I recommend it.(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Apr 29, 2013 Cari rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Cari by: GR friends

Shelves: 2012, historical-fiction, best-of-2012, 2013, favourites

April 29, 2013
Just finished reading this again, and oh man! This book is so good! The entire series is good! I wish I could find more books like this.

____________
July 2, 2012
Sighhhhhh. What can I say? This book has got to be one of the best books I've read this year. Full of adventure, suspense, and of course, romance... I couldn't put it down. I am eagerly awaiting til I have the second book, Cascade, in my hands!

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 17, 2013 Charity U rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Can't believe I didn't rate this one yet! I read it in October or so and absolutely loved it. Amazing story...very fun. I loved the romance, the setting, the characters (oh yes, the characters!), and everything else about the book. I really want to read the other two books in the series, but haven't been able to as of yet. But definitely, if you can get this one, read it!

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 15, 2011 Juju (Tales of Whimsy.com) rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished this. My goodness it is SO SO SO good. I have no idea how to write a review for it that will do it justice.

Review coming someday. Maybe after I finish the trilogy.

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 10, 2011 Jen (A Book and a Latte) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: signed-by-author

Originally posted on my blog, A Book and a Latte .

If you’re a fan of historical fiction and romance, then this is a must read! Lisa’s debut YA novel is fantastic. I was quickly sucked into the story and became lost in the pages to the point that I forgot I was reading. Well, you know what I mean, right? I’d look up from the book and be shocked that HOURS had passed!

There is so much to love about Waterfall – strong capable heroines, honorable knights, sword fights, and time travel! The story is...more Originally posted on my blog, A Book and a Latte .

If you’re a fan of historical fiction and romance, then this is a must read! Lisa’s debut YA novel is fantastic. I was quickly sucked into the story and became lost in the pages to the point that I forgot I was reading. Well, you know what I mean, right? I’d look up from the book and be shocked that HOURS had passed!

There is so much to love about Waterfall – strong capable heroines, honorable knights, sword fights, and time travel! The story is told from the perspective of Gabi, a fairly typical American teenager except that she gets to travel every summer with her sister and archeologist parents to Italy in search of Etruscan ruins. While there, on a dig site, bored and feeling a bit rebellious, Gabi and her sister Lia accidentally find a time portal, and suddenly Gabi finds herself in 14th century Italy on the brink of war, in the middle of a battle… in 21st century clothes.

I believe Lisa Bergren did an excellent job of describing 14th century Italy. I could easily see the world she built, and felt completely immersed in that time and place. I appreciated the details she included without it feeling overly done and drawn out, as I feel with some historical fiction novels. I feel I should mention that though this series is categorized as Christian historical fiction, it isn’t really obvious or distract from the story in any way.

I really grew to love Gabi as a character; you can’t help but admire a strong female protagonist stuck in the 1300s when women were supposed to be silent and weak. Gabi’s love interest, Marcello is brave, passionate, and loyal to his family and to Gabi. As much as I loved Gabi and Marcello, I think my favorite character was Luca, Marcello’s cousin and best friend. He’s funny and light-hearted, and his character had a way of lighting up the page.

Waterfall is a captivating adventure across time, and not to be missed! I recommend picking up a copy along with Cascade (book 2) as you will want to immediately start the sequel once you finish!
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4 likes · like · see review

Jul 21, 2012 Judith (Judith'sChoiceReads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-book-ever, best-friends, books-i-want-to-own, broads-of-the-world-united, crazy-phenomenal, crazy-romantic, deeper-than-the-cover, drama-angst-filled, endings-that-suck, favorites, first-reads, give-me-the-sequel, good-reads, heroines-with-spunk, hunks-of-the-world, men-i-want-to-steal, mystery-novels, must-haves, need-you-now, paranormal-perfection, recommended-that-i-should, series-i-love, unpredictable, unrequited-love-bites, read-again

Goodreads Summary

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

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 archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and

...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 13, 2011 Jess (Gone with the Words) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, read-2011, historical, female-narrator, time-travel

Read my review here! --> http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2011/06/review-waterfall-by-lisa-t-bergren.html

Wow! What a great adventure this book was. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything more adventurous than traveling through time, to a time period and world you have only read about, be it on purpose or by accident. In the case of Gabi and Lia Betarrini, it was completely accidental.

Their accidental adventure begins early on in the book. Problem is, Gabi and Lia get separated in their atte...more Read my review here! --> http://www.gonewiththewords.com/2011/06/review-waterfall-by-lisa-t-bergren.html

Wow! What a great adventure this book was. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything more adventurous than traveling through time, to a time period and world you have only read about, be it on purpose or by accident. In the case of Gabi and Lia Betarrini, it was completely accidental.

Their accidental adventure begins early on in the book. Problem is, Gabi and Lia get separated in their attempt to stop what’s happening. Gabi’s reaction after stumbling out the tomb into a full on battle between Italian Knights was very believable. She firsts believes it to be some kind of reenactment or play, but I liked that she quickly came to terms with the reality of her situation. Those guys were not acting, they were really killing each other. She realizes that thinking things through and staying calm is probably the best way to make sense of things, not crying or crumbling down because you don’t know what to do. I loved her strength and her intelligence. She is unselfish and kind and certainly no damsel in distress. If there’s a character out there for girls to look up to, it’s her.

Gabi is taken in by Marcello Forelli and his Knights to his family’s castle. She explains to them she’s become separated from her sister, who she’d been with on a journey to find their mother. Marcello offers to help her search for her sister without hesitation. He is one of the most honorable and brave characters I’ve read. He was also, of course, very handsome and sweet. Oh, and betrothed to another. Aren’t the good ones always taken? The only problem being that Marcello and Gabi were undeniably drawn to each other from the start. These type of love stories always get me...right in the heart! I felt their yearning and my heart broke for them often.

Besides the heart-fluttering romance, we also get some great humor in this book. I laughed out loud several times throughout this book, courtesy of our awesome Gabi. She had these sarcastic inner dialogues with herself that were quite funny. Another character that brought the smiles was Luca Forelli, Marcello’s cousin, handsome charmer. He had all the same great qualities as Marcello, except he was free to flirt with anyone at anytime. No betrothed to hold him back. There is lots of action in this book. The fight scenes were very exciting and were never gory (a good thing).

Lisa T. Bergren has created such an epic adventure in Waterfall. The quests, the battles, the history, the romance...it truly makes for my kind of perfect book. If you need a break from the paranormal creatures of the night or the reality of life, this is the book you want. Trust me.

(This book was provided by the author and/or publisher for an honest review.)(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 30, 2011 Noelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-books, disco-chicken, yay-for-ya, reviewed, it-s-so-fluffy-i-m-gonna-die

I found some of the circumstances a liiiiiittle convenient (oh, you're sent back in time to medieval Italy? Good thing your pops taught you ancient Italian and sword fighting!) and would have liked a bit more of a culture shock (no plumbing! females with opinions!) but nevertheless thought this had likeable characters and an entertaining story. Think sweeping romantic adventure. Also: Italian boys. Always relevant to my interests.

7 likes · like · see review

Nov 29, 2011 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was just plain silly. I got a kick out of reading the silliest parts to my poor family. Won't they be happy I've finished it! :o) It had some serious editing issues, and the main character was quite annoying.

Here is an example (and there are many sprinkled all through the book) of how poorly written it is:
"Please," I said, tears dripping down my face. Lia did not cry.....
I looked to Lia. "I'll be back for you," I promised. She nodded, trying to be brave, but there were still tears run...more

17 likes · like · see review

Aug 09, 2011 A Canadian Girl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, 5-stars

With strong characters, frequent battles, political intrigue, hot guys and a sweet romance, Lisa T. Bergren’s Waterfall is a thrilling and enchanting debut that’s impossible not to love. Marketed as Christian fiction, Waterfall actually doesn’t have a huge dose of religion within it; rather, there is the occasional reference to praying to God for example, which would not be uncommon in fourteenth century Italy.

The main character, Gabi, is no damsel in distress and knows how to wield a sword and...more With strong characters, frequent battles, political intrigue, hot guys and a sweet romance, Lisa T. Bergren’s Waterfall is a thrilling and enchanting debut that’s impossible not to love. Marketed as Christian fiction, Waterfall actually doesn’t have a huge dose of religion within it; rather, there is the occasional reference to praying to God for example, which would not be uncommon in fourteenth century Italy.

The main character, Gabi, is no damsel in distress and knows how to wield a sword and throw daggers. Therefore, she tends to surprise men and has at least a fighting chance around enemies. Weak heroines that need to rely on guys are a pet peeve of mine, and I’m so glad Gabi is strong-willed! Plus, she is loyal and quick-witted, coming up with a plausible story that allows her to search for her sister Lia who also made the leap through time and that explains why she, a seventeen-year-old girl, is walking around unescorted. The one thing that bugged me a little about Gabi is that she doesn't sound like a typical teen when she mentally speaks to herself. It's easy enough to ignore though since she doesn't do it that often.

The main secondary characters in Waterfall are just as terrific as Gabi. Lia with her superb archery skills, funny and gorgeous Luca, and smart Fortino were each outstanding and memorable in their own right.

Oh, and of course, there’s Marcello. While I tend to go for blonds – *gets distracted by the thought of Luca* – Marcello is hot too. Dark-haired and more serious than his cousin Luca, his romance with Gabi felt completely natural as it developed from attraction and admiration to something more. Someone please transport me to medieval Italy so I can get a guy like Marcello or Luca!

Besides the amazing characters, the plot was wonderful as well. Bergren describes Toscana and Siena in a way that makes you feel like you’re a part of the story too; and with two castellos trying to get each other’s territory and Gabi having to find Lia, there is plenty of action and danger. It’s also fun to see Gabi try to adjust to the time period she finds herself thrust in.

A splendid start to a new trilogy and definitely one of my favourite reads of the year!
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5 likes · like · see review

Sep 01, 2011 Sheri Salatin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Sheri by: Katie McCurdy

Shelves: favorites

I didn't plan on reading this book in one sitting but once I started it I couldn't even begin to put it down. WOW! What an amazing story. This is saying a lot for me because it had two things against it when I started.

Number one - I'm not a big fan of Youth Fiction

Number two - I rarely like or enjoy stories written in first person.

I think I'm going to have to stop saying that after reading this novel. The writing was absolutely AMAZING. Bergren really knows how to draw her reader in.

I had heard...more

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 20, 2011 ♥♥Mari♥♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, fantasy-ya, historical-fiction, romance, books-reviewed

Reviewer's Note: This book was a giveaway prize at "Legacy of A Writer", and I won it!! The author sent me an autographed copy! This is the first time I review a book I've won in a giveaway, and it won't affect the honesty of my review; if I feel a book is not quite up to par, I will state this, regardless of how I obtained said book.

Although time travel is considered a staple of the science-fiction genre, I would really classify this novel as more of a science fantasy, since it doesn't go into...more

3 likes · like · see review

Sep 05, 2011 Heidi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Waterfall is the first in a trilogy of time travel romance novels. I would rate this 3.5 stars. This book has so many positive reviews I was excited to read it but I don't think it lived up to the hype. However, it is still a fun and entertaining read.
What I liked:
*The main character Gabi is a modern day 17 year old whose parents are archeologists. Thus, she has spent the majority of her young life traipsing to numerous archeological digs. This gives her an education in 14th century life which p...more Waterfall is the first in a trilogy of time travel romance novels. I would rate this 3.5 stars. This book has so many positive reviews I was excited to read it but I don't think it lived up to the hype. However, it is still a fun and entertaining read.
What I liked:
*The main character Gabi is a modern day 17 year old whose parents are archeologists. Thus, she has spent the majority of her young life traipsing to numerous archeological digs. This gives her an education in 14th century life which proves to be beneficial as she suddenly finds herself whisked back in time. I did appreciate that Gabi was a strong female lead willing to stand up and fight to protect herself and those she loves. I think my favorite part about her character and in truth the entire novel was all of her witty, snarky aside commentary. It spiced up the descriptione of life in 14th century Italy. It was a novel approach to have modern day impressions and comparisons in Gabi's voice.
*This book has time travel, action, treachery and romance all in one. Add in the historical setting of 14th century Italy and it is a marvelous adventure.
*I enjoyed the two lead male characters; Marcello and Luca. They are dashing, sword buckling heroes with romantic flair, enough to make every young girl's heart flutter. I have to say I preferred Luca to Marcello. He was witty and just more endearing. I so want to see him get the girl he desires.
* Fortino, the ailing older brother of Marcello. I think I loved him the most I was rooting for him the entire way. I am anxious to see how his story continues.
* Lia, at first she is introduced as the soft, timid younger sister but I was delighted to see her character mature and develop until she was as strong of a female lead as Gabi. It was especially rewarding to see her skills in archery.

And the not so much:
I had a hard time with the whole time travel concept. I have read books in this genre before and enjoyed them, such as Diane Gabaldon's Outlander. For me this book was not quite as believable. The girls suddenly time travel and there is no explanation as to how or why the girls traverse through time. It just is and the reader must take it at face value to enjoy the story.
*There were many things that just did not come across as authentic for this time period.
*I did not realize upon starting this book that it was Christian fiction. I am not a fan of Christian books that is just my personal preference. However, this novel is better than all the other Christian fiction I have read. The God references in this book were not a big glaring distraction to the story. Truthfully, if I had known this was a Christian book I would likely not have read it and I would have missed out; so do not let that deter you from reading this book.
*Why is the book titled Waterfall? There is no mention of a waterfall nor any explanation for the title. This was puzzling to me.

Waterfall is a ***1/2 star read for me. It is a charming book. My recommendation is to read with an open mind and imagination. Enjoy the adventure. I will be interested to read the follow up novel Cascade to see if Gabi and Marcello can find a way to be together.
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4 likes · like · see review

Sep 19, 2011 Gwen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great book! I don't usually read books written in the first person, but Gabi's teenage sarcasm was unique and very endearing. I'll be reading more of Lisa Tawn Bergren's books.

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 22, 2011 Mel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindled-it

I don't really know what to say about this book. I mean, I felt like the concept was fantastic but the execution wasn't totally there. The book centers around Gabbi who finds herself in fourteenth century Italy, which then leads her to meet Marcello, a hot Lord and warrior. The two have instant attraction but Marcello is engaged to someone else. There are two major things that I have a problem with:one is that I didn't feel Marcello was strong enough for who he was supposed to be. He supposed to...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Kathy Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-bug

Oh my heck! Where in the world should I begin?! First off... I have never really been into time travel books. I have tried to read a couple but quickly lost interest and moved on to another book. But when a trusted friend told me that I would LOVE this series... I knew I had to give it a try. And, as always,... she was right!! Thank you Kathy!! :o) I was about half way through the first chapter when I was sucked in and HOOKED!!

Gabi and her sister Lia find them selves in Italy for the summer whil...more Oh my heck! Where in the world should I begin?! First off... I have never really been into time travel books. I have tried to read a couple but quickly lost interest and moved on to another book. But when a trusted friend told me that I would LOVE this series... I knew I had to give it a try. And, as always,... she was right!! Thank you Kathy!! :o) I was about half way through the first chapter when I was sucked in and HOOKED!!

Gabi and her sister Lia find them selves in Italy for the summer while their archeologist mom goes exploring through ruins. They are bored one day and decide to do a little exploring of their own. While they are in one of the tombs they find two hand prints on the wall that fit perfectly with theirs. When they place their hands on it together, they are catapulted back through time to the exact same place only the year is 1332. And all I can say is... let the adventure begin!!

I fell in love with Gabi and Marcello! They are definitely in my top favorites of heroes/heroines! They are so perfect for each other! They are both very strong as individuals but are also strong together. I loved the fact that their story was not all about romance. They got to know each other... had challenges of their own that they had to overcome... differences between each other (she's all for getting involved with battles, while he wants to protect her) that needed to be faced but it only helped them to grow stronger together as well as individually. Their story was very believable!

And of course you cannot forget Luca! That man was constantly crackin me up! I loved it! Heck... I love him too!! While you didn't really get a chance to get to know Lia all that well, you can see that she has some of the characteristics of her sister, but is also a bit sensitive and naïve. I'm looking forward to getting to know her more in the rest of the series!

I am so glad I found this series AFTER it was completed because I am not very patient when it comes to waiting on the next book! This is definitely a must read!! The book is jam packed with adventure that will keep those pages turning until the very end... trust me!! I skipped lunch AND dinner because it would've taken too much time... time that was spent reading!! ;o) READ IT!! You will NOT be disappointed... I promise!! (less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 06, 2012 Panda Incognito rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance, never-read-again, fantasy, read-in-2012, alternate-worlds, time-travel

To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln: "For people who like this kind of thing, it's the kind of thing they'd like."

This book was not completely awful. Though I did not like it, I understand why others might. Some of the more believable plot elements are interesting, I just couldn't get past the bad writing, awful romance, stick-figure characters, and overall poor quality.

I'm not saying that no one should read it, I just wouldn't recommend it.

Here are some of my biggest complaints:

Many of the plot elem...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 09, 2012 Preeti Joan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gee! I was surprised to have really liked and enjoyed the book. Even more surprised to read it continuously from midnight to 5 am. CRAZY, right? That shows how hooked I am to reading this. It wasn't even a planned read. Blame my love for history, Italy, and my weakness for hot guys for loving this book! I was immersed with Gabi's adventure and was dying to read every single detail of it. I'm afraid if I pause for a minute, it would really bother me and it might keep me haunted while I sleep.

I w...more

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Apr 30, 2012 E rated it 4 of 5 stars

Also Found On: A Book and A Record

I love time travel books. Really really love them. Basically, I think that time travel is the coolest thing ever. And Lisa T. Bergen does an excellent job with these time travel books. Waterfall is one of those books that is just fun. Time travel books are hard, because the actual act of time traveling can either be over or under explained. Some become too science-fiction-y and then they are boring, whereas others are more of a dream-like state. I loved that thi...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Christie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, kick-ass-heroines, middle-ages, romance, young-adult, time-travel, italy, 2012-genre-bingo, 2012-paranormal-scavenger-hunt

I really wasn't expecting to like this book. I've read several reviews from friends and other goodreads members so I was really expecting it to be bad. Now I'm not saying its the best book ever not by a long shot but if you are looking for mindless entertainment you can do a lot worse.

The book follows Gabriella Bettarini as she time travels through an Etruscan tomb to 14th century Italy where she finds herself caught in the middle of a war between Siena and Florence and two families that suppor...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 11, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone!

Shelves: favorites

'Waterfall' is the first book in 'The River of Time Series' and the first book that I've read by Lisa T. Bergren.

Since Gabi and Lia spend every summer in Italy, they find themselves bored at yet another archaeologist site. But when Gabi and her sister place their hand on a set of hand prints in an ancient tomb Gabi finds herself transported to another time...Literally! Fourteenth-century Italy during a battle between knights.

Gabi finds herself having to adjust to this strange and dated way of li...more

4 likes · like · see review

Nov 12, 2011 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-releases, y-a-paranormal, borrowed-library

*Rating* 3.5
*Genre* YA Fantasy

*Review*

Waterfall is the first novel in the River of Time trilogy. Gabriella (Gabi) Betarrini is a 17 year old American who spends her summers in Italy along with her sister Evangelia (Lia), and her mother Dr. Adri Betrarrini who is a world famous archaeologist.

As with most teenagers, Gabi and Lia get bored and decide to explore after their mother Dr. Betarrini believes she has found the lost civilization of Etruscans in the northern part of Italy known as today’s...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Ashley - Book Labyrinth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, for-review, from-author, fave-heroines, book-boyfriends, my-books, favourites, dac-2011, must-re-read

4.5 stars

I totally fell in love this book: I didn't want to stop reading it! Gabi is a seriously strong character. She's intelligent and brave, and she faces her fears in order to save her sister and protect those she cares about. I'm not sure what I would do if I were sent back in time, but hopefully I could be like Gabi, who really tries to deal with the situation while also making the most of it. Gabi isn't the only awesome character in the book, though. Pretty much every main character is fu...more

1 like · like · see review

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About Lisa Tawn Bergren

About

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 35 books, with more than 2 million copies sold. She recently finished a teen series called River of Time (WATERFALL, CASCADE and TORRENT) and soon will release a follow-up e-novella called BOURNE. She's currently writing a New Adult series called The Grand Tour, and the first release is GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS (June 2012).

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Trivia About Waterfall

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Quotes from Waterfall

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something is more important than fear.” — 115 people liked it

“Sometimes the heart tells us to venture where the mind fears to tread.” — 46 people liked it

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Waterfall (River of Time #1)

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