Review: Torrent By Lisa T. Bergren

Title: Torrent
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: David Cook
Publishing Date:  June 1, 2011
Length: 388 pages
Series: River of Time #3
Summary: (From back of book)  Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are just two normal American teenagers. Normal-except for the fact that they time travel to fourteenth-century Italy, where they've lived in castles, become swept up in historic battles, and fallen in love with handsome knights willing to do anything to keep them alive.
They've returned with their mother to the present to save their father before his tragic death, and now the family travels back to the place that holds the girls' hearts; medieval Italy. Both remaining there means facing great risk as the battle for territory wages on and the Black Plague looms. Will the Betarrinis truly be willing to risk it all? Or in facing death head-on, will they discover life as it was always meant to be?




My Thoughts:  This series was such a wild ride. I enjoyed reading these, but it did have it's down sides. But we'll do the good first.  I loved Gabi's strong willed character and Luca's constant teasing; the characters really came to life in these books and that is something I loved.  The plot was twisting, and kept me guessing, even though some parts were pretty obvious on how it would all turn out. I've never read a book with fighting scenes and must say I found the action in these to be realistic and moving. It didn't feel forced or flat which can be difficult in describing movement. 
The message of the books was a positive one. It taught me to rethink my life and live in the moment and enjoy life because you never know what will happen next. It also made me think about God's hand in my life and to look for His influence in everything.
Now for the negative. I first heard about these books under a clean read site and must say that these books were the most violent, and at times racy pieces of fiction I've ever read. It was disappointing that they would be filed under 'clean fiction' and still have parts in it that were hardly appropriate. There were several acts of violence I found to be unsettling and in the final book, Torrent, towards the end, the villain begins harming innocent people in a very disturbing manner. Maybe I'm just sensitive to things like that. But had these scenes been in a movie, the rating would surely be PG-13 at it's lowest.
The sexual tension in the books was also a little questionable. Gabi is a seventeen year old girl and she falls for Marcello who is just a few years older than her. That's fine by me. They kiss in the first book, more passionately in the second and by the third book, were practically making out.  Spoilers here, mouse over to keep reading: Marcello and her end up getting married, and they justified her being underage by saying she had matured enough and was really ready for such a commitment. There is a scene of kissing where both talk about desire and Gabi hints at not waiting until the wedding to go off and do you know what. They keep it clean, but only after pulling away with much reluctance. The wedding ceremony was cute, and I think it should have been left there. But instead, the story continues to them in the bedroom with Marcello unbuttoning Gabi's dress and says something along, 'growing closer in the hours that followed' so you clearly get the idea of what they were doing. The scene cuts there, but picks up in the morning with him jumping back in without his shirt on and you learn that Gabi is topless. 
I'm sorry, but this girl is seventeen! Do I want to be reading about this in a piece of young adult fiction? Absolutely  not.  I find it offensive and just plain wrong. To tell you the truth, I felt guilty after reading it. No wonder the youth today have such a low sense of purity, it's inescapable! It's everywhere in the media. Magazines, TV, movies, books; even Christian,  proclaimed, 'clean fiction' books. 
I just find that really ironic.
One of the characters I really liked was Lord Greco. He was a character you could never be sure which side he was on and I wish I knew more about him. I understand the author is writing a novella about him; the cover is gorgeous, by the way, but it's only being published as an E-book so I probably won't get to it. 
All in all, I would give these books three out of five. The plot was interesting, the characters compelling, but the several innuendo remarks and violence really turned me off.

Review: Cascade By Lisa T. Bergren

Title: Cascade
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: David Cook
Publishing Date: June 6, 2011
Length: 399 pages
Series: River of Time #2
Summary: (From back of book) Gabi knows she's left her heart in the fourteenth century, and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, months have passed, and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence-while their enemies will go to great lengths to see them dead. 
Even in the midst of the battles, Gabi's heart is increasingly drawn to Marcello, just as Lia's is to Luca. In medieval Italy, the sisters discover things inside themselves that they couldn't seem to find in the present-connection with their mom, courage within, and the understanding that a life well lived often means encountering sacrifice. But in a world long past, many things still keep Gabi from giving Marcello her heart forever...and one thing in particular calls all three of Betarrinis home.
My Thoughts:  The book picks up right after the end of the last one, and it can be a little hard to jump back into considering the gaps in publishing dates. But I have the entire trilogy, so I just put book one down and reached for book two. (Thank you, mom, for the books) Still, picking up one right after another is not something I particularly like in a series because I think it's hard on the reader to find the pace.
I'm still more drawn to the smaller role character, Luca, than Marcello, but I think it's because I am horribly biased given the fact that Marcello has curly hair and that isn't something I'm particularly attracted to in a guy. Let's just say that this is my own opinion and has nothing to do with the writing. The writing is wonderful. But for the record: Go, Luca.
The action in the sequel picked up a lot and intense fighting scenes were the norm; I felt like that there was more action than story plot. None of it was incredibly graphic, but I'm still not a fan of reading about just what Gabriella can do with a dagger.
I am very interested in the smaller plot running through the books about Gabriella coming to recognize and grow closer to God. I enjoy Christian themes and this one has been done in a way that isn't overbearing or cheesy like some Christian literature can be.
Things To Be Cautious Of:
Violence. There were quite a few skirmishes and Gabriella passes a sentence on one of her enemies that's a little cold hearted. I could give details, but it's crucial to the plot and there were so many fighting scenes running throughout the book that it would take awhile. If you're interested in knowing exactly what to avoid for sensitive readers, just leave a request in the comments and I will be happy to send them to you.
Romance: Ok, ok. I get the whole YA fiction, heartthrob, he's so hot, thing. I mean, c'mon, these guys are Italian and I am loving them. The kissing isn't incredibly passionate; but I could probably do without some of it. It's all clean, and cute and flirty, so don't worry about it being dirty. I just must be jealous of not having an Italian boyfriend for the hand holding thing to be bothering me so much.
Random Little Things: The fourteenth century saw women a little differently than now and Gabriella and Lia wield swords and occasionally men's dress which gives the men in the stories to leer and make the occasional suggestive comment. None of it goes anywhere, nor is it the definition of inappropriate, but I still felt like it was borderline awkward.

Review: Waterfall By Lisa T. Bergren

Title: Waterfall
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: David Cook
Publishing Date: February 1, 2011
Length: 369 pages
Series: River of Time #1
Summary: (From back of book) Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with archaeologist parents. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in a 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 hand print 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. Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. 




My Thoughts:  I have a love for all forms of time travel and this book didn't disappoint. It took me a few chapters to become interested, and then after that, I couldn't put it down. Gabi is a strong willed, courageous narrator/character and I enjoyed reading a YA where the heroine wasn't a 'stand by and do nothing' type. I know that half the appeal of this book is supposed to be the hot Italian guys that wield swords and are the perfect, chivalric boyfriend personified, but I got a little tired of the head over heels romance. I much preferred the teasing, flirtatious relationship of the main character with Luca, a smaller main male role, rather than Marcello, the intended heartthrob of the series.
All and all I found it a very enjoyable book and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. There was sword fighting action, plausible plot and enough romantic interest to keep me cheering and reading on late into the night.
Things To Be Cautious Of:
There is violence. Including mention of torture, a small scene of interrogation tactics using pain influence, Gabi kills three men in self defense and some men are killed by an archer.
Romance: There is some kissing between the main characters. Nothing extremely passionate or inappropriate, but more awkward than Junior High age would probably want to read.
Other: Gabi is captured by the enemy who attempt to take advantage of her. Nothing happens, but I still found the scene unsettling.