Review: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren:

Release Date: Feb. 1, 2011
Publisher: David C. Cook
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 369
Type: E ~ book
Source: Barnes & Noble
Author Information:
Website


Gabriella has never spent a summer in Italy like this one. Remaining means giving up all she's known and loved...and leaving means forfeiting what she's come to know...and love itself.

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot dusty archeological site. Gabi and Lia are bored out of their 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. And thus does she come to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Forelli who takes her back to his father's castle -- a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your Knight in shinning armor lives literally in a different world?

-- Amazon Description



Waterfall is such an amazing book its hard to put into words how wonderful it is. It starts off with a girl named Gabriella (Gabi), her sister Lia and her mother. They are gallivanting through the woods in Italy looking for the lost city of the Etruscans. Gabi's parents are archeologists her father died six months ago, and ever since her mother is determined to find the Etruscan tombs. Once they find the tombs Gabi's mother is super happy and jumps right in. Gabi and Lia are both bored. Though they are in Italy, and any teenager would love to be in Italy for the summer, all they get to see is forests and dirt.

They sneak into the tombs and place their hands on some painted hand prints. This sends them through time. Gabi comes out of the tombs, with no sign of her sister, in the middle of a battle. The battle is between two medieval families the Paratore and the Forelli. At first Gabi thinks its a renaissance reenactment until she sees and smells blood, and is at the sharp end of a sword.

The knights think she is a witch with her weird clothes, and language, and she is about to be killed or taken when she is saved by the handsome knight Marcello. He takes her back to his castle, given "proper" clothes, and a place to stay. Gabi is smart and adapts well. She comes up with a believable story that gets her through the week. As much as Gabi tries to blend in and adapt to the Dark Ages its hard. She is unlike any women they have seen before. She reads, wields a sword, and knows healings the Doctors don't. She is remarkable, courageous, and a force to be reckoned with.

Though her main goal throughout the book is to find her sister, and return home to her own time; her feelings begin to change as she falls for the gorgeous Marcello, and becomes more comfortable and more at home at the Castello Forelli. She will have to choose between her family, equality, and modern times, or the Dark Ages, endless war, and love. Which will she choose? You will have to read and find out!

I absolutely loved Waterfall! It pulled me in, took me through time, and into a journey filled with romance, comedy, action, and suspense. I loved every moment of it. There is something in this book for everyone.

Gabi is such a unique and courageous character. Headstrong, determined, and fierce. She tackles every trial and tribulation with a strong heart and a severe will to survive. Though Gabi is a strong female warrior she is also equally tender, sweet, and caring. I fell in love with her character from the beginning, and you will too!

If all of that doesn't get you excited for this book there are also some yummy, sexy knights thrown into the mix of loveable characters. All in all I fell in love with this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to be swept through time on a remarkable journey.

Overall Rating: A ++ (and a million more pluses)



I am really looking forward to devouring the next to books in the series and will be in November!!