Review~My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century~by Rachel Harris

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stars to infinity! How on earth would you rate such a whimsical and amazing work of complete art such as this? Rachel Harris created a character that, in my mind, will become a literary classic. I've always been in love with time travel historical fiction novels and this addition to the genre is a welcome one.

Cat is by no means a typical teenage girl. Most girls spend their evenings with friends, hanging out, getting in trouble, and going on dates. Not so much, for Cat. She is the daughter of a scandalous actress who deserted her and Cat's father when Cat was young. Her scandals are constantly being thrown into Cat's face on the covers of tabloids all over the world. As if that isn't enough for any teenage girl to handle, Cat's father is a well known film director. Although he strives for Cat to live a normal life as much as possible, it simply isn't easy when the paparazzi are always following you, just knowing you will mess up just like your mom.

To make matters worse is Cat's over the top, future stepmother. Miss I-Can't-Wait-To-Use-My Fiance-To-Better-My-Own-Career Jenna. Cat wants to stay out of the media yet party planner Jenna wants to throw her an extravagant sweet sixteen bash. Sounds innocent right? Not! If done correctly, this extravaganza will be broadcast on Mtv and will be the ticket to Jenna's success. Selfish much?

It's no wonder Cat's Dad has agreed to take her on a trip to Italy. He's totally trying to butter her up. Cat has always been in love with Italy and their art. She aspires to be an artist one day, herself. In her spare time, she studies everything she can about Renaissance Artists.

Knowing she will eventually have to give an answer about this dreaded birthday bash, she decides she needs a bit of time for herself in Italy. After assuring her dad she would return for dinner with him and Jenna, he reluctantly agrees. While exploring, Cat stumbles upon a gypsy tent. Very curious and with time to spare, she enters. After what seems to be some normal gypsy mumbo jumbo, Cat feels something unusual happening around her and soon realizes she has been transported back to Renaissance Italy.

Cat finds herself thrown into a conundrum of events. She must pretend to be someone she is not. Perhaps, however, this new person is who she needed to be all along. Is this where she was meant to be, with the chance of love or must she find a way back to her father and her own time?

Thank you, Rachel, for creating a masterpiece I am sure I will reread many times. I'm already looking forward to sharing it with my daughter. Looking forward to the next installment in this captivating series. You rock, girl! Congrats on your debut. You can only go up from here!

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Torrent~by Lisa T Bergren

Torrent by Lisa Tawn Bergren

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Torrent was amazing. I read it in a week, which is difficult for a mom who homeschools her two children to find time to do so!

Torrent finds the reader again swept back into the lives of Gabi and Lia. Their family is whole again and they must begin to accept their new life in Medieval Italy. Their parents must also accept the fact that their daughters are now considered women and the role of parents of teenagers in this time period is drastically different from the 21st century. As Marcello and Gabi's love grow, so do the battles that surround them.

Can their love survive the stress of normal medieval times along with the added pressure of Marcello's stature of Lord Forelli? Gabi is thrown from being a typical modern day teenager into the possibility of becoming Lady Forelli. Could this really be happening to her? How will she accept this new role if asked? Is she ready for such a role so young? Will her enemies even allow the She-Wolves to relax and get settled into their new roles in this time? Will her parents accept that they must take certain orders from Marcello? All questions that are explored in this book! Enjoy! Dive into the river!



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Cascade~by Lisa T Bergren

Cascade by Lisa Tawn Bergren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great sequel to Waterfall. I could not put it down.

The story picks up as Gabi and Lia return to their mother, but leaving behind her love. Gabi convinces her sister and mom to return to medieval Italy, if it is even possible to return to the same time, or accept that her Marcello may be out of her life forever. If they return to the fourteenth century, they will be faced with known battles, illnesses, and the like. They will be leaving all they have ever known behind. Also thrown into the mix is a question. Can another be saved by time traveling? Or should history be left alone?

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Waterfall~by Lisa T Bergren

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I downloaded this when it was offered free by amazon on my Kindle. I'll be honest, the cover grabbed me and I thought I'd read it eventually no matter the subject matter. I read the description and immediately added it to the top of my list. Then, I stumbled upon Waterfall Wednesdays, a read along. Oh my! What a great way to read and share with other Tribe fans! I soon realized that this would be one of those series I would fall in love with.

Waterfall is a story of two young girls, who are constantly dragged along to archaeological dig sites with their parents. Although Gabi and Lia find the teachings and history of historic Italy to be a bore at the time, it soon becomes absolutely relevant to them. After the tragic death of their father, their mother believes she has found an Etruscan site that she and her husband have always searched for. Knowing full well she should not, Gabi persuades Lia to enter the tomb her mom has found. Seeing two odd handprints on the wall of the tomb, the girls feel compelled to touch them. That's when everything changes, even the time. Medieval Italy, here they come. And they can only survive by trusting each other and by faith.

To say this book was amazing is an understatement. I cannot put into words how this book made me feel. It is refreshing to read a story that compels me to share it with my children. When I fist downloaded Waterfall, little did I know I would be buying the next two in the series within the following two months. Almost a year after I found Waterfall, I am using it as a homeschooling family reading novel with my two kids, who love it. This series is a wonderful young adult medieval time travel series.

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