Look Ahead, Look Back by Annette Laing=REVIEW

Hannah, her brother Alex and their friend Brandon feel that they are about to be transported back in time once again. They can't explain the feeling, they just see the signs. They don't know when it is going to happen though. When Brandon and Alex dig up a skeleton they know the time is getting closer. Hannah is tired of being transported to different time periods. She wishes they had more control about when they go. They have always felt secure in their travels because at some point they run into the Professor who guides them on their mission. But this time the Professor has disappeared!

The friends find themselves in 1752 London. Hannah manages to find work at an Inn, Alex is nowhere to be found and Brandon is now a white boy in the service of the local preacher turned missionary. Through a series of events they all find themselves in America. Alex is now black and a slave to Mr. Gordon who also holds servant papers for Hannah.

Determined to find out who the skeletal remains are, they must each adjust to their new lot in life. Alex(now called Cato) is now afraid of white men, as his owner has been known to be cruel to slaves as an example to other slaves. Likewise Brandon is afraid of the black slaves as he has heard about the rebellions against white owners.

Set in a time when slavery was just becoming legal in Georgia the 3 friends find themselves suffering along with their fellow slaves and wondering if the Professor will ever show up to transport them back to the 21st century.

I really like time travel books! I have really enjoyed the Snipesville Chronicles as each story is connected. Look Ahead, Look Back left many unanswered questions so I am going to assume that there will be another book in the series. I still get frustrated with Hannah's whining and her self-centeredness! I enjoy the historical facts in each story, it gives such a reality to each book. Learning about England shipping their prisoners to America and the slave trade was very educational, and having that history all interwoven into an exciting story made the book a fast and enjoyable read.

Check out my review of the first two books in the series:

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When
A Different Day, A Different Destiny

TORRENT by Lisa T. Bergren-REVIEW

Gabi, Lia and their mother return to the time before their father dies in order to save him. They then race back to the 14th century. A year has passed and Fortino is still being held prisoner. Negotiations to gain his release have failed. The only way Firenze will agree to his release is a trade, the She-Wolves of Siena for Fortino.

Once again Gabi finds herself in Lord Greco's care. Only this time she is being forced to marry him in order to gain peace between Siena and Firenze. Will Marcello be able to rescue Gabi once again? What about Gabi's confusing feelings for Greco?

The third installment of the River of Time series is every bit as exciting as the first. When I turned the last page I found myself wanting more! When first Lord Greco was introduced I wasn't sure if I liked him. I couldn't understand what the hype was when I read about everyone swooning over him! But after finishing Torrent I must say I am a HUGE fan! Marcello, Greco and Luca prove to be swoon-worthy, hunky, chivalrous knights and I'm looking forward to reading more about them.   I was just looking at Lisa T. Bergren's website and it looks like there is a 4th book planned. Tentatively called Tributary. Lisa has a chapter posted for us to read. I don't know when it will be released, but I can't wait! Check out Lisa's website here for more books that she has written.


Sexual Content: It stops at the bedroom door!
Language Content: NONE
Violence Content: It was a violent time in history, not overly descriptive, but people do die.

This is a MUST READ series! Check out all 3!

WATERFALL by Lisa T. Bergren-REVIEW

Gabriella and her sister Evangelia are in Italy with their mother an Etruscan artifacts archeologist. Both of their parents were archeologists, but now that their father has passed away their mother is on her own in her search for Etruscan treasures. While at their mother's latest discovery the girls decide to do some exploring on their own.

Gabi and Lia find themselves in one of the Etruscan tombs that their mother has been excavating. Knowing that they should never touch anything, Gabi is tempted by hand prints on one of the walls. When she places her hand print in one it fits perfectly. Instead of cold stone there is a warmth emanating from it. She has Lia put her hand into the smaller print which fits perfectly. Movement starts happening and even though Gabi tries to hold onto Lia, the girls are separated.

Coming out of the tomb Gabi finds herself in the middle of a battle between 2 families. She soon realizes that she has been transported to the 14th century where there are lords and ladies and where loyalties can be bought for a price.

Marcello, in the heat of battle, is startled to see Gabi appear. He cannot figure out why a girl would be wearing such clothing and also be in the middle of a battle. He offers Gabi shelter in his castello. He feeds her and clothes her as a proper lady. Marcello is not the lord of the manor. His father is still alive(but has suffered a stroke), and his older brother is still alive although very sickly. Marcello has command of his knights though and they are loyal to him. Marcello is also betrothed to lady Rossi. A union between her family and Marcello's will prove very advantageous.

Obsessed with finding her sister, Gabi insists on being allowed to return to the tombs. With unrest all around and battles at every turn Gaby feels the restriction of being a woman in the 1300's. Also with her growing attraction for Marcello and his for her, Gabi knows she must find her sister quickly and return to the 21st century before it is too late.

WOW WOW WOW! I loved this story! I read it on my Kindle, but I think I may have to go buy the trilogy(Cascade is already out and Torrent is coming out soon), just for the covers of the books! They are gorgeous! There was suspense(biting my nails) and toe-curling kisses(sigh) that kept me turning the pages late into the night.

If you are interested there are a group of bloggers that are doing a read-along with this book. The first 6 chapters will be discussed on August 31st. Then every Wednesday after until it is finished. Come join in the fun! Go to Tina's Book Reviews for more information.

Sexual Content= No sex, but a couple of steamy kissing scenes. There is a scene where Gaby is under attack and a couple of men prepare to rape her, but they don't get a chance!

Language Content=  Nothing noticeable

Violence Content= The battle scenes were pretty violent, after all the story takes place in a violent time of history. But nothing over the top or stomach lurching.

DON'T KNOW WHERE DON'T KNOW WHEN by Annette Laing - REVIEW

Hannah, Alex and Brandon find themselves back in time in war-torn England. It is World War II and the children are being sent to live with families in the country to escape bombs falling on the cities. Shortly after arriving in 1940 Brandon disappears to England 1915! This time the setting of World War I.



The young people are sent back in time to find whatever happened to George Braithwaite. Hannah and Alex find themselves living with Mrs. Devenish, her grand-daughter Verity and Mrs. D’s evacuee Eric. Brandon becomes apprenticed to a dentist named Mr. Gordon in 1915.


Hannah has the most difficult time adjusting to the time period and what their purpose for being there is. She has a huge attitude that needs adjusting!


Throughout the story the kids learn some history about WWI and WWII but mostly they learn about George Braithwaite and what happened to him and why they were sent to the past to help.

I enjoyed the story very much. I became attached to the characters. I think that Hannah still ended up being self-centered and selfish. But I also think that she learned a lot about herself and how to love other people. I will look forward to the next installment of the Snipesville Chronicles to see if she matures as she travels to different centuries and learns that there are other people with problems bigger than hers.

SENT by Margaret Peterson Haddix - REVIEW

Sent starts where Found ended. Jonah, his sister Katherine their friend Chip and Alex “land” in the fifteenth century. Jonah and Katherine were not supposed to time travel to the fifteenth century with Chip and Alex. They could mess up history. With the help of the Elucidator they are able to keep in contact with JB. Upon landing in the fifteenth century Chip finds out that he is Edward the Fifth King of England and France and that Alex is his brother Prince Richard.

The kids find themselves in a room where Chip and Alex see ghostly visions of themselves (called Tracers). They meld with their Tracers and are able to know the thoughts of the boys. The problem is that the longer they stay in their tracer body the harder it is for them to come back to their 21st century selves.

While in their Tracer bodies they learn that their uncle plans to kill them and become king himself. With the help of the Elucidator they become invisible so that they can move about more and find out what happened in that time of history.

In order to keep the kids from ruining history JB manages to bring Jonah and Katherine back so that he can coach them how to bring Chip and Alex back to the 21st century without ruining history.

I have to admit that I had a hard time following Sent. With all of the twisted time travel information and the history and the tracers I just got completely confused. It truly was hard for me to even finish the book, but I finished it because I hate to give up on a book. The ending does leave off for another book in this series. I am not sure that it is one that I will pick up again. For those people that like a Science fiction/history/Adventure story this may be right up your alley.