Waterfall by Lisa Bergren

Title: Waterfall

Author: Lisa Bergren

Series: River of Time #1
Format: Paperback copy from author

Summary from Good Reads:
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.

My thoughts:

I really LOVED this book.  I received a copy of Waterfall from the author (thank you!) and I think it is the start to an action packed, exciting, and suspenseful series.  I also really liked that I can call this a "clean read" too with no bad language, etc.  The characters are very realistic and Gabi's voice is very contempory and funny- especially in light of the 14th century setting.  The budding romance between Gabi and Marcello is awesome and the search for Gabi's mother and sister,  and the tension and danger between rival factions in 14th century Italy create a fast paced and exciting story.  I highly recommend Waterfall and can't wait to read Cascade, the next book in the series, which I plan to purchase on my new Nook Color!  This is a series I expect to be a big hit with the students at my high school.