Review ~ Waterfall ~ Lisa T. Bergren



3 stars


Title: Waterfall
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Published: February 2011
Format: Kindle edition
Source: Kindle free books

Opening line: We paused on our hike, panting and wiping our upper lips as our guide-the old Italian farmer who owned this land-chopped down a small spaling, clearing the overgrown trail.

Closing line: Back to Marcello.

Favourite quote: "Saints in heaven, I believe I'm in love," ~Luca~

Goodreads says:~
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 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.

I had read several reviews about Waterfall before reading it and most on goodreads are 4 or 5 stars with rave reviews but I'm afraid I don't fall into that band. My 3 star rating is because there are elements of the book I like but over all the story just failed to captivate me.

I like that Gabi is a strong character and she sure isn't afraid to stand up for herself, the skills she has learnt throughout her life more than aid her in the past. Hell bent on finding her lost sister, Gabi will stop at nothing.
Lia, Gabi's sister, annoys me a little but later in the story we see her character grow and her archery skills are put to good use.

I love our lead male characters, Marello and Luca. They are the sword fighting, romantic heroes, I say heroes, the females have no problems fighting for themselves. I think I love Luca just as much as Marello and I am looking forward to seeing more of these swoon-worthy 14th century men!!

It certainly is the characters that make this book for me, the over all story falls a little short of the mark.
I found the whole time travel story line a little hard simply because I don't feel readers are given an explanation as to why the sisters travel through time or why they have to be together when they do so. I also don't understand the title of the book, does the travel through time feel like you are fall down a waterfall?
I also found the end of the story and little rushed and alot is left unsaid.

Will I read the second book? Yes, because I want to see what happens with the characters.