What do you think?
Rate this book
River of Time #1-3
The River of Time Chronicles
Love calls across the centuries in the River of Time Series.
WATERFALL: Gabi and Lia are stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, boring, and dusty archeological site … until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy.
CASCADE: When Gabi and Lia find themselves back in the fourteenth century—and in the middle of major battles alongside romantic knights in shining armor—they have no idea if they can get back. Or if they even want to.
TORRENT: When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in Torrent, the third and final book in the River of Time series.
WATERFALL: Gabi and Lia are stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, boring, and dusty archeological site … until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy.
CASCADE: When Gabi and Lia find themselves back in the fourteenth century—and in the middle of major battles alongside romantic knights in shining armor—they have no idea if they can get back. Or if they even want to.
TORRENT: When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in Torrent, the third and final book in the River of Time series.
928 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
108 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Tawn Bergren
102 books3,792 followersAbout
Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 books, with more than 4.5 million copies sold. She recently released The Sugar Baron's Daughters Series (KETURAH, VERITY and SELAH), and recently finished a teen series called Remnants (SEASON OF WONDER, SEASON OF FIRE, and SEASON OF GLORY). She's also written the River of Time Series (WATERFALL, CASCADE, TORRENT, BOURNE & TRIBUTARY, DELUGE) and The Grand Tour Series (GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES, GLITTERING PROMISES), time-slip romance duology called River of Time: California (THREE WISHES and FOUR WINDS), and some contemporary romances (ONCE UPON A MONTANA SUMMER and ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER are the newest releases).
Lisa’s time is split between managing home base, writing, consulting and helping Tim with his business. Her husband Tim is a sculptor of ducks-out-of-fenceposts (RMRustic.com), graphic designer and musician. They have three big kids–Olivia (who just got married), Emma (who is about to get married) and Jack (who is a junior in high school).
The Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 books, with more than 4.5 million copies sold. She recently released The Sugar Baron's Daughters Series (KETURAH, VERITY and SELAH), and recently finished a teen series called Remnants (SEASON OF WONDER, SEASON OF FIRE, and SEASON OF GLORY). She's also written the River of Time Series (WATERFALL, CASCADE, TORRENT, BOURNE & TRIBUTARY, DELUGE) and The Grand Tour Series (GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS, GRAVE CONSEQUENCES, GLITTERING PROMISES), time-slip romance duology called River of Time: California (THREE WISHES and FOUR WINDS), and some contemporary romances (ONCE UPON A MONTANA SUMMER and ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER are the newest releases).
Lisa’s time is split between managing home base, writing, consulting and helping Tim with his business. Her husband Tim is a sculptor of ducks-out-of-fenceposts (RMRustic.com), graphic designer and musician. They have three big kids–Olivia (who just got married), Emma (who is about to get married) and Jack (who is a junior in high school).
The Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 7, 2014
These are by far my favorite books!!! I'm totally in love with Luca and Marcello❤️❤️❤️
July 14, 2025
Where do I even start?? My mom got these for me for Christmas back in 2019, and I have read them every year since. They never get old. Bergren is a master of making you feel like you’re a character in Medieval Italy and keeping you up till 2 in the morning.
Gabi and Lia, two teenage sisters, are still grappling with the loss of their dad when they are whisked away to a world of the past, where adventure, love and new beginnings await them. I was pulled right in with them, and after reading the entire series, I found it difficult to get back to reality.
So if you’re looking for nail-biting adventure, clean romance, and intriguing characters, these are the books. You won’t want to put these down!!
Gabi and Lia, two teenage sisters, are still grappling with the loss of their dad when they are whisked away to a world of the past, where adventure, love and new beginnings await them. I was pulled right in with them, and after reading the entire series, I found it difficult to get back to reality.
So if you’re looking for nail-biting adventure, clean romance, and intriguing characters, these are the books. You won’t want to put these down!!
July 29, 2024
Time travel at its best!
November 2, 2016
They make a re-reading button. ;)
September 8, 2021
After reading Waterfall, the first book in the series, I was compelled to continue the series. When I searched for the next book, I found this digital "boxed set" to supply Books 2 and 3, Cascade and Torrent, which originally rounded out a trilogy. Since then, 2 novellas and another book have been added to the sequence, and I fully intend to complete them as well. Aside from the knuckle-whitening adventure and the heart-squeezing romance, I have been interested in Gabriella's spiritual journey and I have documented some of those ideas in my highlighted quotes.
October 27, 2018
Bingeworthy!
Since these three books came bundled together as a set, I treated them as one, bingeworthy book. The action and concern for the characters kept me hooked into the stories; they read like fast-paced adventures, with all the attendant elements: beautiful setting, romance, sneering foes, and good swordplay. Time travel yarns are always an interesting concept!
Since these three books came bundled together as a set, I treated them as one, bingeworthy book. The action and concern for the characters kept me hooked into the stories; they read like fast-paced adventures, with all the attendant elements: beautiful setting, romance, sneering foes, and good swordplay. Time travel yarns are always an interesting concept!
December 1, 2020
My emotions have never been so up and down through a book! There is so much going on in these books and I was on the edge of my seat through all of them. What a ride! Great read and so much fun! I never wanted to pull a sword or use a bow and arrow on another character in my life until now! Wow!
November 22, 2024
These were the books that introduced me to romances. I love the storyline and the way Gabriella and Evangelia grow in both maturity and faith throughout the books. Strong female characters that can still rely on others and inspire the men they love. It’s beautiful. Really enjoyed these and I still reread them every few years for the nostalgia.
April 27, 2018
One Big Happy Family
The Ladies Betarrini return to the present time to grab Dad and take him back with them to Marcello's time only to discover it is at least a year later and a lot has changed.
The Ladies Betarrini return to the present time to grab Dad and take him back with them to Marcello's time only to discover it is at least a year later and a lot has changed.
February 21, 2020
These are one of the only series that I find myself coming back to over and over again. Love it!
October 1, 2021
Such a great series!
I love the adventure and action in these books. They are so intriguing; it is hard to put them down.
I love the adventure and action in these books. They are so intriguing; it is hard to put them down.
July 28, 2023
If you love time travel as well as faith, romance, and Christ, you’ll love these 3 stories!!!!
January 3, 2015
I bought the first book in this series just because I thought the concept was interesting, but as I began reading the books, I began to fall in love with the characters! I felt as if I were Gabi and Lia, saving the ones I loved from unstoppable evil! I felt as if I were the one the people of Siena cheered, and the people of Firenze feared! My family had a hard time getting me to put down the books, and even when I did, my mind was elsewhere! I didn't realize as I started the books that there were 5 total, so each time I finished one, I discovered there was another, and I quickly went through my purse to find the money to buy the next! I began the first book on my way back from Thanksgiving with my family, and within a few days I had finished it! I waited until after Christmas to start the next one (so as not to distract from school exams and christmas activities), but the next day (December 26th) I started on book 2 and this morning (January 3rd)I finished book 5! I loved these books and I would highly recommend them to anyone! They are full of romance (which is an ABSOLUTE NEED for me- but it didn't distract from the story), it contained much action that I thoroughly enjoyed, it held much creativity, filled me with pure woman appreciation, and it made me more thoughtful to God! It is an absolute must read! Have fun! And stay safe on your journey (we all know it'll be the best adventure from the first word of the first book to the last word of the fifth book)!
nfs
April 18, 2016Waterfall (River of Time, #1) - 2 stars
On an archeological dig with their mother, Gabi and Lia discover a way into the past. Now stuck in the past Gabi Betattini not only does she have to find out where her sister went but also how to get back from fourteenth-century Italy and the battle that rages on there.
The author had an interesting concept and the synopsis drew me in. Everything just seemed a little too easy. No girl in the present day is going to be able to fit right in with fourteenth century Italian customs and be able to explain away everything different by being from ‘Normandy.’ Even in that day and age people knew basic customs of the places around them for diplomatic reasons alone. Also something as outlandish is making a skirt into pants would surly travel throughout the lands. Gabi’s whole attitude was more boy-crazy than terrified and worried about her sister. Furthermore, Marcello would not have such an easy going manner to a woman standing up to him especially in front of other people.
The whole entire story, while slightly entertaining, was completely overdone and unrealistic. I will not make the attempt to continue on with the series.
Not finishing series
On an archeological dig with their mother, Gabi and Lia discover a way into the past. Now stuck in the past Gabi Betattini not only does she have to find out where her sister went but also how to get back from fourteenth-century Italy and the battle that rages on there.
The author had an interesting concept and the synopsis drew me in. Everything just seemed a little too easy. No girl in the present day is going to be able to fit right in with fourteenth century Italian customs and be able to explain away everything different by being from ‘Normandy.’ Even in that day and age people knew basic customs of the places around them for diplomatic reasons alone. Also something as outlandish is making a skirt into pants would surly travel throughout the lands. Gabi’s whole attitude was more boy-crazy than terrified and worried about her sister. Furthermore, Marcello would not have such an easy going manner to a woman standing up to him especially in front of other people.
The whole entire story, while slightly entertaining, was completely overdone and unrealistic. I will not make the attempt to continue on with the series.
Not finishing series
June 3, 2019
I loved this series! I’ve long been looking for a Christian YA fantasy series where I could really get into things. I started reading after I got off work at 8 and I finished the first book by midnight. Then immediately borrowed the next one.
Possible spoilers ahead:
My main criticism is that the main character Gabi starts out not believing in God, which isn’t really that big of a deal. As the books progress we see her pray more often, which again is fine. But she never really makes a concrete decision/declaration of faith.
The other, minor criticism is that for all the trauma both Gabi and her sister, Lia, survive there aren’t many lasting effects. PTSD doesn’t get a nod in one of the two novellas, Bourne and Tributary (though honestly I can’t remember which one because I read them all together and things start blending into each other) but as a whole we don’t see the girls deal with that trauma.
That being said, I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend reading the series.
Possible spoilers ahead:
My main criticism is that the main character Gabi starts out not believing in God, which isn’t really that big of a deal. As the books progress we see her pray more often, which again is fine. But she never really makes a concrete decision/declaration of faith.
The other, minor criticism is that for all the trauma both Gabi and her sister, Lia, survive there aren’t many lasting effects. PTSD doesn’t get a nod in one of the two novellas, Bourne and Tributary (though honestly I can’t remember which one because I read them all together and things start blending into each other) but as a whole we don’t see the girls deal with that trauma.
That being said, I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend reading the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2016
While I found these books engaging and I was drawn through the story, I was distracted by the vast contrast between the modern language of her inner dialogue vs. the poorly written attempts at period dialogue. I found myself rolling my eyes at it on several occasions.
July 7, 2014
I could not put the books down, was exciting, with lots of adventure and romance.
August 5, 2014
4.5 Overall Series Rating for Books 1-3. Go to each book's individual page to look at my reviews!
February 7, 2015
These are the best books I have ever!!!!! Read!!! Thank you Lisa T. Bergren!!!
January 23, 2016
These are among my most favorite books EVER!!
January 2, 2017
Unbelievable story.
What a great read. Loved how the family were able to be together in time. Loved the intrigue. With everyone involved was so happy to see the love.
What a great read. Loved how the family were able to be together in time. Loved the intrigue. With everyone involved was so happy to see the love.
June 1, 2019
I loved these books! I hope she writes more on them. It’s hard not to fall in love with the love story and the time it is written in as well.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews