The Sheepish Scribe

Cascade by Lisa Tawn Bergren

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


An action packed sequel to "Waterfall", this book continues the story of sisters Gabi and Lia as they travel back to medieval Italy. The girls hopped back to the present at the end of "Waterfall" and return with their mother this time. Once again the girls are in the thick of political intrigue and medieval romance. A less-than-believable series of events (but hey - it's fantasy!) propels them further into the role of true heroines, once again saving the city of Siena before hopping back to the present. There is a wonderful twist at the end of this one!

Tea for Two by Trish Perry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Second chances happen, and sometimes they happen at the right time and for the right reasons. This book highlights that. An enjoyable read about two everyday people who make the right choices. Zack is a single dad with teenagers teetering on rebellion. Tina is a counselor with the ability to help his family. This is a light, feel-good read suitable for any age. The characters are fresh and have a down-to-earth appeal. My favorite character is Milly, the owner of the tea house, who I have named a sheep after. I recommend this one!

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


An entertaining tale of two modern-day teenage sisters who find themselves transported back into medieval Italy. It strains the bounds of credibility in many places, granted, but it *is* a fantasy. Gabriella finds herself separated from her sister and in the middle of a feudal war. Thankfully she also finds a drop-dead gorgeous knight willing to help her in her search for Evangelia. In the process, she helps him and his family. Once reunited with Evangelia (amidst most of the credibility stretches) they find themselves celebrities who have made enemies. This is the first of a trilogy and it ends with more questions than answers. I look forward to reading the next two in the series to find out how it ends. I'd recommend this one for any age, but I suspect it will appeal most to 'tween and teen girls.

The Map Across Time by C.S. Lakin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A very enjoyable tale with more twists and turns than your small intestine. Okay, that's a little graphic, but you get the picture! A classic fantasy romp through a kingdom - and through time - involving all the usual elements of wizardry, good-vs-evil, men swinging swords, and at least one pretty princess. Some rather unusual elements make their way into this one as well, like a talking pig and a map that pulls the holder through time.

The characters are good and diverse, some an open book, others with an air of mystery. The setting is very well done. The tension is in all the right places and keeps the reader flipping the pages. My only complaint is the overuse of words that mean nothing... in English. There was a glossary in the back but it pulled me out of the story to stop and look them up, so I just ignored them and missed the meaning most of those words.

I highly recommend this one to folks who enjoy a complex tale of daring-do!