Book Review: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

Waterfall
River of Time #1
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Pages: 352 Paperback
Reading Level: YA
Published: February 1st 2011
Review Source: Author
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Indiebound

Summary: (from 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 vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidentally 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 hand prints 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.

I am so happy that Lisa contacted me about her River in Time series because I might have never heard or read them otherwise. I'm also very thankful to Katie (Mundie Moms) and Andye (Reading Teen) for recommending the series when I asked them both about it on twitter. So Lisa make sure you virtually hug them both, they completely pimp out the series to me and had me sold within seconds. I don;t give out my 5 ratings very easily, the books have to work hard for them. So that being said Waterfall deserve the 5 trees with out a doubt. What a world Lisa has created here. Its nothing I've read before. I'm not a big fan of historical stories, but Waterfall is so unique and amazing that its makes the story. Lisa brings life to the history we travel back to. The details we read in each page, seems so realistic and alive. 

The story begins with two sisters that in the summer are stuck in Italy while their archaeologist mom digs and works in the tombs. Gabi is the oldest sister and decides that she is fed up with not being able to venture into to the site. While her mom is occupied with Italians officials about the site, the girls venture into the tomb and discover some hand prints on the wall. These hands prints fit one their hands perfectly and also feel hot to the touch. The girls at one point place their hands on the wall at the same time and cause a time travel reaction. Gabi comes to and realizes she is still in the tomb but where is Lia her sister. She also notices the tomb is different and heads outside. She is in the middle of a battlefield, full of knight in Armour and swords flying. Some how the girls by touching the hand prints have traveled back into medieval Italy. Gabi is in shocked and wonders where Lia might be. If you think that causes a reaction, well wait until you read how Lord Marcello reacts when he sees in, mind you she is dressed in skinny jeans and a tank. I'm sure I have caught your attention so far. I wont spoil anymore for you. Does Gabi find Lia, how will Gabi go back home. What is a girl to do if she falls in love with a knight from the 14th century? 

Waterfall is a fast-paced adventure with a beautiful love story intertwined in its pages. Now don't be shocked if you catch yourself laughing out loud too, when you read some of the dialogue Lisa gives her characters. Gabi is one of my favorite characters, she has you in switches when ever she talks to herself. Then lets not leave Lord Marcello behind, he is 100% swoon-worthy. Waterfall is a perfect beginning to this series. I have read Cascade already and can;t wait to write that review as well. Next ill be reading Torrent and just don't want the series to end. I really believe everyone should read Waterfall and see what I'm fussing about.