Waterfall

What people are saying about …

“I love stories about strong, capable young women-and I love stories set in other countries. Mix in a little time travel and some colorful characters, and Lisa Bergren has stirred up an exciting and memorable tale that teen readers should thoroughly enjoy!”

Melody Carlson, author of the Diary of a Teenage Girl and TrueColors series

“Waterfall will whisk you away to the world of medieval Italy and have you wishing for a dashing young prince of your own. A captivating love story, the adventure of seventeen-year-old Gabi will have you eagerly flipping pages and longing for more. This book should be a movie!”

Shannon Primicerio, author of The Divine Dance, God Called a Girl, and the TrueLife Bible Studies series

“As the mother of two teens and two preteens, I found Waterfall to be a gutsy but clean foray into the young adult genre for Lisa T. Bergren, who handles it with a grace and style all her own. Gabriella Betarrini yanked me out of my time and into a harrowing adventure as she battled knights-and love! I heartily enjoyed Gabriella’s travel back into time, and I heartily look forward to Cascade, River of Time #2!”

Ronie Kendig, author of Nightshade

“I loved every minute of this adventure that took me out of our time and into the fourteenth century, and I marveled at how true to life teenage Gabi remained when facing extraordinary circumstances. Under Bergren’s guidance, I look forward to time traveling again in the next book of the River of Time series.”

Donita K. Paul, best-selling author of the DragonKeeper Chronicles and the Chiril Chronicles

“Diving into Waterfall reminded me why Lisa T. Bergren is one of my favorite authors. Unfolding adventures, fascinating characters, and exciting plot twists make this a stellar read. I loved it! Highly recommended!”

Tricia Goyer, award-winning author of twentyfive books, including The Swiss Courier

LISA T. BERGREN

For Liv and Emma: 1 love you. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

-Mama

Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.

-Dostoevsky

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 sapling, clearing the overgrown trail. “Ecco, vedi,” he said, pointing at the ground. See, here.

“See that?” my mom cried, pushing the tree branch back farther, squatting beside a slightly sculpted limestone paver. Not really expecting a response, she spoke more to herself-or was it Dad’s ghost she addressed?-than to us. But the hairs on the back of my neck prickled with echoed excitement.

“Here, too,” she said, her blue eyes wide, pointing at another. She followed our guide, tossing her Danish blonde braid over her shoulder, ignoring the brambles scratching at her lean, tanned legs. She never noticed much of anything in such situations. I could fall and break my leg, but it would take a fair amount of screaming for her to turn around and tune in.

My sister, Lia, rolled her blue eyes-so much like Mom’s-as if to say, Oh brother, here we go again.

We’d seen it before. My mother, Dr. Adri Betarrini, was on the trail of more Etruscans, the mysterious people who predated the Romans in this region of Italy. Most considered her and my dad to be the preeminent Etruscan scholars in the world. When he died, archeologists from around the world showed up to pay their respects at the funeral.