Review: Tributary by Lisa Bergren

Tributary (River of Time #3.2) by Lisa Bergren

Ebook novella

Published June 8th, 2012

Source: Purchased

 TRIBUTARY, a novella (1/2 the length of a normal novel), picks up a year after BOURNE... Lia struggles to overcome the fear that constant battle has heaped upon her; Gabi and Marcello face an unexpected crisis; and Lord Greco just may be ready to leave the grief and loss of his past behind him, so that he might grab hold of the future...

Spoiler free for the previous books

 If you are a regular reader of my blog  you may remember that I absolutely adore the River of Time series by Lisa Bergren.  I read each book the moment it comes out and I do everything I possibly can to convince the world the read the books.  In fact, this is my most recommended series because it has something for everyone.  Even my brothers have read and enjoyed the books quite a lot.  One thing that I know makes some people a little afraid to read them is that Lisa Bergren is a Christian author.  They don't want to be preached at or feel like something is overly religious.  I can't speak for Lisa's other books (though my mother LOVES them) but this series definitely does not feel Christian.  They are clean reads, and there is mention of prayer but there's not the elements I normally see in in Christian fiction.  So please, do not let that hold you back.  This series is full of some of the most romantic scenes I've ever come across and has some of the best battle scenes I've ever read.  Every character stands out and every moment I'm reading the books I'm completely immersed and never bored.  

Now as for this book in particular.  It's another novella that comes a year after BOURNE ends.  It has a bit more focus on Lord Greco (YAY!) but is narrated by Lia quite a lot.  There are some new characters brought in to the story as well.  First of all a girl, Allessandro from the other side of the border.  I loved how she had all these conflicting feelings but was so sure her side had to be right and that this side was wrong.  She just had to experience things to really discover how things worked.  

This book had action but a little less battle, which was fine by me since it's a novella.  Now it is half the length of a novel, but it felt long to me.  Maybe I've read too many shorter novella's lately, but this almost felt like a full length novel.  As far as content goes, I mean.  I cruised through it and of course wanted more, but it felt like a full complete story and I loved that!  I'm always ready for more of this series and I really hope Lisa sells more and if not I hope these novella's just keep coming.  I know I'll keep reading them anyway!

If you haven't yet started the series you really must do so!  The order goes:

Waterfall

Cascade

Torrent

Bourne

Tributary

READ THEM!

Series Spotlight- River of Time by @LisaTBergren & Review of Bourne

It's no secret that I'm a ginormous fan of the River of Time series by Lisa Bergren and I'll use any excuse to talk about them and push them on people.  This is my go-to series when giving recommendations.  It's one I can recommend to pretty much everyone.  My entire family has read them (brothers and brother-in-laws included) and they've pushed them on their own families.  When someone asks what they should read next this is the series I tell them to read.  I have a few others that fit in the category as well but none quite as much as this series.  It's got romance for the girls (but is clean), it's got action for the boys (and oh boy, it's stressful!) and it's got depth (for everyone!).  I've bought countless sets of the first three books (I've got family and friends all over the US) and I've loaned out my own set so many times I think it's time for a new one they are so worn out!

Check out my reviews:

Waterfall
Cascade
Torrent

SERIES SUMMARY FOR THE RIVER OF TIME:

Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are the daughters of Etruscan archeologists. Stuck on a hot, dusty dig site for yet another long, dreary summer—far from the nearest boys—they go exploring. They enter a forbidden tomb and find two handprints among the frescoes. And when they touch them, together, they are catapulted back in time…and into the adventure of their lives.

Now Lisa, trying to give us ginormous fans a bit of a teaser so we don't lose interest (yeah right, like that could happen!) decided to self publish (in ebook only) a novella called Bourne.  Bourne takes place immediately after Torrent ends and is full of non stop action.

BOURNE SUMMARY:

In this e-novella, River of Time #3.1, the dramatic tale about the Betarrinis and Forellis continues, picking up directly after where Torrent left off… The battle is done at the front, but the battle is only beginning back at Castello Forelli. Marcello fights for his life; Lord Greco fights to find his place; and Lia fights for love.

My Thoughts:

I was so, so excited to get a taste of my favorite characters but when you read a novella you never know how big of a taste you'll get.  Now while I of course am anxious for another full length novel, this was an excellent novella because it had all of the characters, all of the romance and the action that the first three books had.  We got to see Lord Greco's pain in all he's done and watch as he finally makes an effort to move on.  We see Gabi and Marcello and their love and we see Lia and Luca finally make a bit of head way in their own romance.  This was a good length as it never felt rushed (like some novella's do) but gave us a bit of everything we like (and need) from these books.  
I give this one a full 5/5 stars!

Now Lisa wants to continue the series but the publisher hasn't agreed yet because they need more sales.  So please, please, please, give these books a chance.  Go out and buy your own set.  Ask your library to stock them.  Tell your Indie bookstore to give them a try.  Pass on the word and tell everyone you know to read these books! Have concerns whether it's for you?  No worries!  You can find an excerpt of Waterfall HERE and Cascade HERE.

Want to see more reviews?  Look for reviews of Waterfall on GoodReads HERE.


 

AUTHOR BIO:

Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over thirty books that have sold more than two million copies combined. She’s written fiction of all sorts (romance, historical, contemporary, suspense, YA), nonfiction and children’s books. She divides her time between writing, editing, traveling and co-parenting her three children (16, 13, and 8 ) with her husband, Tim. The Bergrens reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

AUTHOR CONNECTIONS:

http://www.LisaBergren.com (author web site)
http://www.theworldiscalling.com (the Bergrens’ travel web site)
Facebook: “Lisa Tawn Bergren” and “River of Time Series”
Twitter: @LisaTBergren

Buy them on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository  
Buy Bourne for Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Waterfall Wednesdays

I had to share this with you guys because I'm in love with Waterfall, Cascade and Torrent (River of Time by Lisa Bergren) and kinda want the entire world to experience the wonder that is within the pages of these books.  And Tina from Tina's Book Reviews,  Missie at The Unread Reader, Joy & Serena at Edgy Inspirational Romance, Nic at Irresistible Reads and Jenny from Supernatural Snark will be hosting a read-along of Lisa T.Bergrens YA novel Waterfall. For the month of September they will be breaking down the chapters and having a weekly discussion over what has been read. 
It's been a bit since I read Waterfall (February, I believe), but I'm going to be doing my best to follow the read-along and answering the questions.  I hope you will consider signing up!  And if you do you could be entered to win a trilogy set.  Lisa Bergren will be giving them away each week!  That's 5 winners!
Want to learn more and maybe sign-up?  Head over to THIS post at Tina's Book Reviews.

Find my review of Waterfall HERE, my review of Cascade HERE and my review of Torrent HERE.  My Torrent review has a good overview of the entire trilogy though and is spoiler free for all three books (minus a small area which is marked).  

Book Review (that you won't want to miss!): River of Time (and more specifically, Torrent) by Lisa Bergren

Title: Torrent (River of Time #3)

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Details: Paperback, 352 pgs.

Published: Sept. 1st, 2011 by David C. Cook

When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series.

Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times. But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.

This review is spoiler free for any of the River of Time books.

If you haven't yet started reading the River of Time series (first one is Waterfall) then you are most certainly missing out on what has quickly become a favorite of mine.  The series seems to be taking over the blogosphere and I only hope it's spreading outside of it because the entire world needs to read this series!  There's not one single thing I would change in it.

Lisa has pulled me into Gabby's world completely.  So much so I'm dreaming of Marcello (and even Luca) myself.  I can't believe how much I feel like a teenager when I read these books!  Seriously, remember that fluttery feeling when you had a crush on a boy?  Well, I'm feeling it... yep, definitely feeling the flutter.

It's not only the guys that have stolen my heart though.  It's all the characters.  Their bravery, compassion and sense of right.  It's the setting.  The gorgeous Italian country side, the villas, the castello's, the ancient cities... so gorgeous!  It's everything in these books that has stolen my heart and I will be recommending them for years to come.  

These books might be romantic and beautiful but they are packed with danger and action.  Gabby nearly dies several times (in each book!) and each time barely escapes with her life.  But yet instead of becoming more afraid she only gets braver!  She knows who she loves and cares about and she'll do anything to protect them.  Her entire family is that way!  You'd never guess that people from modern day could ever do the things they do, but they do it, they do everything they possibly can to help and to save others.  

This is a time travel series and most of it takes place in medieval Italy.  So I know a few haven't read the books because they aren't into 'historical fiction'.  Let me try to ease your fears.  First of all, these are modern day girls so you'll still hear slang and pop culture references.  They also think like modern day girls even though they slip into the medieval ways incredibly well, at least in appearances.  Some historical fiction books are weighed down with description or historical facts.  These books aren't.  We get a clear picture of everything, but yet the entire things flows very fast, and very smooth.  So somehow Lisa has slipped in enough descriptions for us to see it, but hasn't even made us aware.   I think even people who aren't fans of historical fiction will enjoy these books.  At least I hope I'm not wrong there....

More specific details on this book...

don't read this portion if you haven't yet read Waterfall and Cascade.

I was so anxious to see how things worked out for this one!  If you'll recall in Cascade they recovered her father in the future and brought him back in time. This book picks up immediately where the last one left off and is immediately packed with action.  This book may have had more action than the other two!  But it had some very unexpected twists and turns.  By now we know that things are not going to be easy, but sometimes it's hard on us, the readers, as well.  And I have to say, I did a bit of crying in this one.  So keep some kleenex near.  

The romance... I'm afraid to say to anything because I don't want to give anything away.  Lets just say that things get complicated.  Then they get amazing.  I was definitely satisfied.  And I can say there's one more hottie to add to my list of hotties.  And I really hope that Lisa writes more about that certain hottie.  He needs his own set of books, that's for sure!

I couldn't put this stinking book down!  I read it continuously until I couldn't keep my eyes open and then the second I woke up I started reading until I finished it.  It was freaking fantastic and I'm just sad it's over.

Final thoughts...

If you haven't read the books, read them!  Get everyone you know to read them!  We need Lisa to continue the series with Luca and Lia's story and then write a few more with Lord Greco's story cause I really think he needs his own as well.

Love, love, love this series!  Thank you Lisa for writing such an amazing series of books.  One I can share with my mother and sisters without blushing.  Pretty freaking awesome.

Find the author:

Website/ Blog

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book free of charge for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

MFT Guest: Lisa Bergren Guest Posts + a Giveaway!

Today we're lucky enough to have the wonderful Lisa Bergren on for My Favorite Things.  Her River of Time series has quickly become a favorite and I couldn't recommend them any more highly.  You can find my review of Waterfall (book one) HERE, my review of Cascade (book two) HERE and an interview I did with her awhile back HERE.   Lisa did a wonderful guest post for us and there's a giveaway at the end! 

Five Things I’d Love About Living in Medieval Times

By Lisa T. Bergren  

I’m a modern girl and I love my modern conveniences—computers, Internet, cell phones, hair dryers, stoves, cars, beds, medicine—but there are several things that I think I’d enjoy if I was like my character GabriellaBetarrini, and time-traveled back to medieval Tuscany. Here’s what would top my list:

1)

Rustic, farm-fresh food: Cheese that just came off the shelf where it was aged; meat sliced right from a spit over an open fire; bread just out of a fire-fed oven;olive oil from the grove down the road. The only bummer? Tomatoes didn’t arrive in Italy until later, and no one grows tomatoes like our Italian friends.

2)

Unspoiled countryside: No telephone poles and wires, no traffic, few crowds. Ahhh…Pull up a chair beside me and let’s just stare out at the lush hills and valleys of Tuscana.

3)

Community: In this time period, if people didn’t know and rely on their neighbors like they were kin, they often didn’t survive the year. People needed one another and weren’t afraid to show it—I think we could learn a lot from them in what it means to have true connections.

4)

Chivalry: I don’t know if this is a romantic ideal or truly how it was, but I love the idea of men who know they’re men—leading, pursuing, protecting and cherishing the women in their lives. (I totally value my rights as a modern woman, but there’s just something visceral about this idea of men, right? That’s what I love about Gabi and Lia—they get the chivalrous dudes, but still get to hold to their modern ideals and identity.)

5)

Simplicity of life: I’m sure the medieval mama’s To Do List was quite lengthy, but it largely revolved around just keeping herself and her family alive. When life gets overly complicated for me, I fantasize about having to do nothing but cook, clean and care for my loved ones. Yeah, I know. I’d probably get bored after a week. But on the complicated weeks here in modern times, that sometimes sounds like the ultimate vacation to me. A place and time where I could be solely focused on my relationships and helping to keep us all alive and well.

BIO: Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over thirty books, including her latest, the River of Time Series (Waterfall, Cascade and Torrent). She lives in Colorado but has been to Italy three times—and is returning this fall with her teen daughter. Find her on Facebook(River of Time Series and Lisa Tawn Bergren), on Twitter (@LisaTBergren) and online (www.LisaBergren.com).

The Giveaway:

Lisa is generously offering up a copy of Cascade, the second book in the River of Time Series.  

Open to US only.

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Ends July 5th, 2011

To Enter:

What are a few things that you'd love about living in medieval times? Leave a comment with your answer and contact info.

 

This is just one giveaway of this great event!  For the schedule of The Favorite Things event check out the schedule post.  And make sure you head over to My Bookish Ways to see what she has going on today as well!

Book Review: Cascade (River of Time #2) by Lisa Bergren

Title: Cascade (River of Time #2)
Author: Lisa Bergren
Details: Paperback, 352 pgs.
Published: June 1st, 2011 by David C. Cook
isbn: 1434764311 (ISBN13: 9781434764317)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source:  Author


Description:

Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”               
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, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead. But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

I thought the first book in the series, Waterfall, was amazing!  It was romantic and intense and beautiful.  So did book two live up to the first one?  Why yes it did!   Lisa has a way of balancing everything out so perfectly.  The characters are amazing, the romance is perfect, the action keeps us on our toes, the adventure is fun, and it's such a good time reading these books!  


I really, truly love the characters that Lisa creates.  The main characters, the side characters, they all are so real, and so amazing, and so easy to picture and imagine.  


The romance is some of the best I've ever read in young adult.  I mean these men are seriously *swoony*!  This is the kind of romance that really reminds me of being a teen and that intense love I felt when I thought I was in love.  It's the kind of romance that I dream about in my dreams.  It's perfect how it all plays out.  There's realistic obstacles in their path, but it's not all back and forth about whether they deserve eachother, which is very good in my opinion.   They have very sweet moments where you can really feel the connection, and I love that.  


I love time travel and I love the time period they travel to.  I find it all fascinating.  I also have to point out that Lisa doesn't sway from the realistic aspects of the time period.  There are battles, it's dangerous everywhere they go, everything they do.  And people die.  We see all of that and it makes things more intense and kept me turning the pages even faster!  Just remember that it's young adult so it's not as heavy on the descriptions but I think that makes it even better.  I read this book in a day because I really couldn't put it down!  


I cannot WAIT for the next book in the series!  

Find the author:

Website 

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Cascade Book Trailer!

You may recall my enthusiastic review of Waterfall by Lisa Bergren (HERE) and how in love I was with the amazing time travel story.  Well, the second book, Cascade, comes out this month and the book trailer is now out for me to share with all of you!
Waterfall description:

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.

This trailer is just awesome!  I have to say that I think it tears me up a little.  It's the music.  It all just seems so romantic!
I just got Cascade for review this week and I'm itching to read it!  I have a book I need to get to before it, but it'll definitely be next!  This series is just amazing!