Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in 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 handprint 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.

Published February 1st 2011 by Cook, David C.

Description courtesy of Goodreads.


I'm pretty sure the only reason I first downloaded this book onto my Kindle a while back is because it was ridiculously cheap, perhaps even free. I'd never even heard of this series. But, I'm pretty sure it was Divine intervention that lead me to this book, because I fell in LOVE!!!

I fell in love with the main characters (Gabi and Lia), I fell in love with Marcello and Luca(swoon!), I even fell in love with the "side" characters that may not always be front-burning. I fell in love with Italy, (Oh, did I fall in love with Italy!), and I totally fell in love with Lisa T. Bergren's writing.

The story starts out strong for me when we meet, teenage sisters, Gabriella & Evangelia Betarrini. They've recently lost their father and are now with their mother, who while a little distant, due to being broken over her husband's death, really loves her girls.

The sisters invetibly get into some mischief, which ultimately takes them to 14th-century Italy where they are separated and immediately thrown into danger and romance. There's war, intrigue, and we're thrown into the harsh reality of what life was like in this time. But, Ms. Bergren softens all of this up with a romance that totally left me breathless and wanting more. Both sisters must face hard choices and make sacrifices. In just this first installment, alone, I can see the growth of both sisters, as they take their inner fierceness, and wield it into a toughness that is essential to their survival.

There are no slow moments in this book. It was one of those reads where I had to MAKE myself put it down...At three in the morning. After finishing just one. More. Chapter.

I more than recommend this book. I tell you right now, go out and BUY this book. Tell your friends. Your sisters. Your aunts. EVERYBODY! And I promise you, you'll want to buy the next two, immediately.

My rating: 5/5 stars!

To purcahse this book on Amazon, click here.

Next week, check back here for my Favorite Friday review of Cascade (Book 2 of the River of Time series) by Lisa T. Bergren.

I've decided that in addition to the reviews of newer books, I'm going to be reviewing some of my "old" favorites on here every Friday. This will be my new "Favorite Friday" post.

I'm really excited about this because while there are SO many wonderful new reads out there, I have my favorites (just like anyone else) that I want to share with you. Some of these will go waayyy back to when I first started my love of reading. Some of these aren't really that old at all. :)



Starting this Friday, and continuing on for a few weeks, I'll be reviewing the RIVER OF TIME Series by Lisa T. Bergren: WATERFALL, CASCADE, and TORRENT. These books are an awesome example of my favorite reads that aren't really that old. In fact, I'm starting with the RIVER OF TIME series because Ms. Bergren is going to be releasing a new installment to this series very soon entitled, BOURNE. To say that I'm anxious to read this book is an understatement. So, check in back here on Friday, and also, click on the picture above to check out these books for yourself!

INBETWEEN (Kissed by Death, #1) by Tara Fuller
Available August 7, 2012

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s
life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving
“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so
Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling
in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who
makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate
has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him
hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,
and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves
from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the
only thing he has left…his soul.

Paperback Available for Pre-Order from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Inbetween-Tara-Fuller/dp/1620610833/ref=lh_ni_t

Add to your Goodreads TBR:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13055677-inbetween

Congrats to the two winners Tess W. and Aprille S.! I've notified both of the winners and one of them has received their book. I hope you both enjoy! :)

It's not too late to get your FREE copy of In His Eyes Anthology by quite a few of the Indelibles. Check it out at Smashwords. Or, it's just .99 here on Amazon for your Kindle.

I've read several books by most of the authors who wrote this book and I've loved all of them so far. I plan on reading the rest soon!

Title: Anew (The Archers of Avalon #1)
Author: Chelsea Fine
Publisher: Acacia Publishing
Pub. Date: Dec. 5, 2011
Purchase:
Amazon / B&N / Book Depository

Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery...until she met a boy with a familiar voice.

Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.

Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past...might just be the death of her.

So, last night I (finally!!!) finished Anew. I say "finally" because I kept putting it off and putting it off. NOT because it was boring or I didn't like it. Quite the opposite, actually. I just didn't want it to end! This book was AMAZING! I couldn't stop thinking about this book over the four days or so that it took me to read it.

First off, the characters were nothing short of wonderful. Scarlet, the main character, is very endearing from the beginning. I love her honesty with herself, over the fact that she's sometimes a bit whiney about her situation. But, overall, she tries to have a positive attitude. And she has the support of her best friend Heather.

I think I almost love Heather as much as I love Scarlet. She is witty, sassy, and SUCH a good friend to Scarlet. She picks her up when she's down, by not allowing her to wallow.

Now, this IS a love triangle. And you know how most love triangles are pretty much clear-cut as to who the "winner" will be? Well, in my opinion, so is this one. But, don't let that deter you!!! Because, I STILL find myself loving the underdog, as well. Also, this book has no werewolves, vampires, angels, etc... Well, not yet anyway. But, I find it nice to have a whole different kind of supernatural.

The two love interests are Gabriel and Tristan and they're twins. Identical twins. And they're HOT identical twins. Ms. Fine tries to keep us guessing as to MANY of the details involving Scarlet and each brother, individually. We're given pieces here and there, scattered throughout the book. And they all bring the reader to a GLORIOUS--however, somewhat nail-biting--finale. This is the first in a series so if you read it, you WILL want to read the second. Unfortunately, that's not out yet, so now I have to wait. I'm not very good at waiting, by the way.

Please, pick up this book! It's got romance, mystery, and some hot guys with weapons... What more could you ask for? Oh, and the cover! It's kind of beautiful.


My Rating:
½

Alright, I hope you're ready! The contest begins Friday at 12:01am EST. I'm doing it through Rafflecopter, and there are many ways to enter, only one is mandatory. You have a week to enter! Winners will be notified by Monday, Feb. 20th. Good luck!

So, if you're here, you realize you're probably one of the first. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to get a blog like this up and running. Add on to that a 5-year-old boy, two 2-year-old girls, and a 5-month-old boy, and I just don't think I thought this one through.
BUT, here I am, going for it because I LOVE this! :) And, I'm starting with a contest. Some "bribery", if you will. It'll be easy. It'll be great. And here are the rewards....






That's right, I'm giving away two Kindle books by two Indelibles! The first is Become: A Novel of Desolation by Ali Cross and the second is Exiled by Rashelle Workman. If you don't know who the Indelibles are, you NEED to check them out! Just click on the word Indelibles. I will be reviewing MANY of their books, as I believe they are all very talented.

For this contest, there will be two winners. The first winner gets first choice of which of these two books they'd like. AFTER the contest I will be featuring a review of each of these books, so those of you who HAVEN'T read them, will, hopefully, want to. Details for the contest will be up within a day or two.

Happy reading!!