{Late post} Christmas Countdown--2 days to go!

Countdown Christmas is an event at A Bookalicious Story to celebrate the coming of Christmas in 2 weeks time. There'll be fun interviews, Christmassy excerpts and giveaways just brimming with bookish-goodness ranging from YA Fantasies to New Adult Contemporary Romances to Adult Historical Romances. I hope y'all will join in this celebration! The more the merrier, aye? ;)

So, the next guest we have for this late Christmas Countdown is one of my FAVORITE YA authors of all time, a time travel romance novelist who is a huge fan of olden day Italy...

Lisa Tawn Bergren!

About Lisa

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 40 books, with more than 2.5 million copies sold. Her most recent works includes a YA series called River of Time (Waterfall, Cascade, Torrent, Bourne & Tributary), God Gave Us Easter, a devotional called Upside-Down Prayers for Parents and the Grand Tour Series (Glamorous Illusions, Grave Consequences, and Glittering Promises). She’s currently at work on a new YA series called Remnants, coming out in 2014.

Lisa’s time is split between managing home base, writing, and working on ducks with her husband, Tim (RMrustic.com). Tim’s a worship leader, graphic designer and duck-sculptor. They have three kids–Olivia (18), Emma (15) and Jack (10).

The Bergrens make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Connect with Lisa:
Author's Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Waterfall
The River of Time series #1

Blurb

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

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.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

 

Other books in series:

Glamorous Illusions
The Grand Tour series #1

Blurb

When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Other books in series:

Season of Wonder
Remnants #1
Expected Publication: Febuary 24th, 2014

Blurb

In the first book of the new futuristic dystopian series from author Lisa T. Bergren, the chosen remnants must work to redirect humanity’s course.

The year is 2095. Gifted teens known as Remnants have been chosen and trained to act as humanity’s last hope to rectify the horrors that are now part of everyday life.

The Community has trained these teens as warriors and assigned them Knights of the Last Order as protectors. Together, they are a force that will be difficult to bring down.

But the Sons of Sheol, of course, are determined to do just that. As the Remnants begin their mission to course-correct humanity by saving and protecting key individuals, their enemies move to stop them, placing the entire world in peril.

Bestselling author Lisa T. Bergren presents the first book in her new YA futuristic dystopian series—The Remnants Novels—fitting in with the current dystopian trend in the marketplace.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Other works by LTB:

And MANY more. (Covers lead to Goodreads)

Character Interview with Marcello and Luca Forelli from the River of Time series

A week ago...

*clang, clang* "Damn, that's a $10000000000 down the drain.." I said as I stared at the broken pottery. Well, I read about the time leap the Bettarinis made and did some finagling to get a pass into this tumuli. You never know until you try and all, right?

Spotting the handprints at the other end of the room, I tiptoed cautiously across and placed my hands on them.....

A week later...

I sat down in a trattoria in Siena for a brief chat with Marcello and Luca.

CYP: Hey, I can't believe my luck, I actually found you guys! Thank you for taking time off for this, by the way! What's with this dress anyway? It's all tight and stuffy. Y'all should try it some time to appreciate the pains women of your time go through. Hehe.
But anyway, how's the keep so far? It took quite a beating for the past few years, dinnit?

Marcello: It's taken fine form. The Betarrinis have assisted us in making some improvements that all enjoy. A number of latrines, an additional well and proper barracks for our guard. All damage has been repaired and fortified.

Luca: I was rather partial to the old place...

Marcello: *rolls eyes*


CYP: Talking about the Betarrinis, how's Gabi doing? And the blonde beauty? Any progress so far, Luca? *smirks*

Marcello: Gabriella is wonderful. I never thought it possible for a man to fall more in love with a woman the longer he knows her.

Luca: *hand to chest* She wounds me, daily, by her refusal to spend every waking moment by my side. But I continue to attempt to woo her.

CYP: Hahaha, well, the best are always hardest to get and all, huh. How would the both of you describe the past...how long has it been since you've met the Bettarinis? How would you describe the time it's been since they've arrived?

Marcello: An earthquake.

Luca: A tornado.


CYP: It's surely been quite a whirlwind of a time, hasn't it? If y'all had a whole month off from all these constant bickering, politicking and fighting, how would y'all spend your time? Private honeymooning or a big family beach party kind of thing?

Marcello: I am not familiar with this term, honeymoon.

Luca: I think she's referring to the weeks after your marriage.

Marcello: *sly smile* Well then, yes, I'm all for long, languid weeks full of honeymooning.

Luca: And I've never been to a beach party. But I would most definitely be for that.


CYP: Ugh, so predictable, you two haha. Luca, how would you describe Marcello? And Marcello, how would you describe Luca? No word limit, haha.

Luca: A brutish lout.

Marcello: A cad.

*brief, playful scuffle*


CYP: Marcello, I can't help but ask...are y'all making babies yet? Any plans?

Marcello: *takes deep breath and widens eyes, nods soberly* Gabriella is with child now.


CYP: HOLY cow!! Congratulations!! Luca, how bout you? What are your plans for now? Would you prefer to stay on the front lines or stay home to woo Lia?

Luca: All is quiet at the moment so I am pleased to be with her a great deal of time. At least every minute I am free and I can find her.


CYP: You do that. How's Lord Greco doing, by the way? He is well?

Marcello: He seems quite well. Adjusting to his changes in fortune, both good and bad. Of course, the love of a good woman has helped him too.


CYP: Yeah, it would. Good for him, though! How's the relationship between Siena and Firenze now?

Luca: As I said, it's quiet, but there are always rumblings. It's like a thunderstorm on the distant horizon.

CYP: Abrupt change in topic now, if y'all had a choice, would you like to go to the future, where Gabi and Lia came from? Aren't y'all curious at all?

Luca: I'm curious, of course. I'd give my right arm to return with them, at least for a time. And they're frustratingly closed mouthed about it. Something about disrupting the time continuum further by sharing too much.

Marcello: God put us here, in this time, in this place, for a reason. In the same way, he brought them to us. I will not mess with it further.


CYP: Ok, time for the rapid response questions.

Favorite food?

Marcello: Bread, fresh from the oven.

Luca: Wine.

*Marcello hits him on shoulder*

Luca: Ow! Grapes, preferably fed to me by Evangelia while we lounge beneath the trees on the hills...

CYP: Favorite weapon?

Marcello: *confused look* Sword, of course.

Luca: Sword. But have you glimpsed my Lia with a bow? It's worthy of a portrait.

CYP: Dine with Lord Barbatos or be skinned alive?

Luca: I'm partial to skin. Dine with him, if I could stomach food in his presence.

Marcello: Dine, then skin him.

CYP: Thank you for your time, guys! It's been fun. :)

Lisa is very generously giving away one (1) paperback copy of the winner's choice of a book in the River of Times series. Giveaway is open to wherever TBD ships for free (which is almost every country) and ends Jan 21, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for visiting! You can refer to the master calender of events on Day 1's post. :)