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    Cascade (The River of Time Series Book #2)
    Cascade (The River of Time Series Book #2)
    Cascade (The River of Time Series Book #2)
    Ebook406 pages6 hours

    Cascade (The River of Time Series Book #2)

    By Lisa Tawn Bergren

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Mom touched my underdress--a gown made six hundred years before--and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia's gown. "Where did you get these clothes?"

     In Cascade, the second book in the River of Time Series, Gabi knows she's left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence--while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

    But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she's willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateJun 1, 2011
    ISBN9781493420698
    Cascade (The River of Time Series Book #2)
    Author

    Lisa Tawn Bergren

    Lisa T. Bergren is the author of over forty books, with a combined count of nearly three million copies sold.  She has written bestselling children’s books, award-wining YA (River of Time Series: Waterfall), popular historical fiction, contemporary fiction, women’s nonfiction, and gift books.  She is a writer residing in Colorado Springs, CO, with her husband and three children.  You can find out more about Lisa at LisaBergren.com.  

    Read more from Lisa Tawn Bergren

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    Reviews for Cascade (The River of Time Series Book #2)

    4.5/5

    106 ratings17 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I think I liked this one even better than the first! It definitely left me wanting more and I can't wait to get ahold of the next book in the series! I loved that their mom was able to go with them this time and at least this time their skill level is a little bit more believable since they have been through so much already. I love that the author puts in a note explaining the territories of the time and how she did make some changes for the good of the story. Definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves Outlander and time travel stories!
    • 5/5
      Personal Reaction:Tons of action, adventure, and romance. The book picks up were the other one left off and you are instantly sucked back in. The love story continues and you fall more in love with the characters. The characters are easy to relate too and are excellent role models for teens. They demonstrate strength of character, problem solving skills, leadership abilities, positive attitudes, and strong family connection.Classroom Extension: Connect with 1400 Century, Sienna, Italy, medieval weaponry. This is a fantastic series for young adults, and I would add this to any Middle School and High School library shelf. I would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fiction.
    • 4/5
      I loved being back in this world and in Gabi's head. She is so fierce, open, and so easy to pull for. I wanted the best for her, and of course, I desired to see her and Marcello reunited. On this trip back in time, Gabi, Lia, and their mother show up, and it doesn't take long for the action to get going. There are still skirmishes, the threat of the plague coming, Rossi, danger, love, and adventure that fill the pages, and I was sucked into the story. So many things were moving this plot forward as well as letting me get to know not only Gabi and Marcello better but also Lia and Luka, their mom, and through Gabi's memories, their father. You really see what people are made of when those around them are hurt or sick, when your land, home and those you love are threatened. We see Gabi in some really tough spots, with huge decisions on her shoulders, and I couldn't help admire how she faces it all with bravery, common sense, loyalty and love. The ending was a pleasant surprise, and I can't wait to see how things go in the next book especially with the new plot developments towards the end. I have never been more eager to go back in time!Bottom Line: Great second book.
    • 4/5
      *Originally Reviewed at Witchmag's BoekenplankThis book didn’t grab me as much as the previous one. I still enjoyed reading it, but this time there were some things that bothered me tremendously. Like when they discover someone who has the plague. Gabi immediately orders anyone who has been in contact with the person (she, Marcello, Lia , Luca and some of the knights) to go in quarantine and don’t be in the vicinity of other people for a duration of 10 days. When they have to flee before the ten days are over, she turns a deaf ear to her sound advice and doesn’t even think about the people she meets and who help her ( no problem if the enemy catches it ;) )! She doesn’t even warn them!And the people who do have the plague are better way too soon. If someone is suffering from the plague, which is most certain deadly, it’s not possible to be up and running within days… at least I haven’t heard or read of something like that happening.Gabi started to annoy me a little. She sometimes acted without ever thinking about what consequences her actions would have. In the first book I kinda overlooked this because she just arrived there, but now? After some time, you would get used to think before you act, wouldn’t you? Since some of her actions already had consequences in the first book, I thought she must have learned something from that, but apparently not.Another fact that bothered me was that, after spending more than two days in the burning sun with no water (which makes you very weak and can kill you) she was all better a couple of hours after she drank some water…. That’s just not possible, your body needs more time to recover from it.Little side note: Noticed Luca somewhere saying: I could sail the seven seas… Seven seas? I doubt they knew there were seven at that time ;)My overall rating of this book is still, despite my remarks (okay I can be a nit-picker ;) ) is 4 hearts. Quite enjoyed reading it and I’m patiently (so not ;) ) waiting till the next and last book comes out in September. And for those of you who are wondering: Marcello is continues to be a true knight in shining armor. Even in this book I wasn’t able to find a single flaw in him ;)
    • 5/5
      Like the first in the series, I thought Cascade started out pretty slowly. I found myself losing interest a couple of times, but am I glad I kept on reading! It's packed full of action and interesting twists. It ended on a cliff-hanger, so I'm excited to read on and find out what happens.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely love this series. There is just enough romance and adventure to keep most any reader hooked. I also like the 13th century Italian setting. This is the second book in the River of Time series, and I found it just as likable as the first.
    • 4/5
      This is the second book in the River of Time Trilogy, the third book is Torrent. I didn’t like this book quite as much as Waterfall. It was still a very engaging book and made for a wonderful historical fantasy. Gabi and Lia are back in modern times and trying to explain to their mother about the time portal and what happened. Gabi finally convinces Lia and her mother to return to 14th century Italy via the time portal. When they get there they find that weeks, not hours, have passed. Marcello is still waiting for Lia and Lia and Gabi are celebrated as heroes. The battle still rages between Florence and Siena. Gabi has a difficult question to answer, will she stay in the past and follow her heart by being with Marcello even if it means living a war torn life.This story started a bit slow. Once they return to Siena there is a lot of lovey dovey going on between Gabi and Marcello. Marcello wants to keep Gabi safe and loves her. Gabi loves Marcello but doesn’t want to be stifled by him. They both love each other and adore each other and we hear about it constantly for quite awhile. I don’t mind the romance, it is sweet, but there was just too much gazing and longing in the first part.After that things really pick up and the second part of the book is filled with intrigue, battles, and lots of action. This was an excellent part of the book. You have to love the characters in this series; they are noble and good, but also have good senses of humor. I love the historical setting and enjoyed the beautiful style of writing. The book is so easy to read and moves quickly.There is another thing about the story that bothered me. At one point the characters are exposed to the black plague and one of them actually catches it. The story makes a huge deal about this, the characters isolate themselves so as not to spread the plague etc. As the story continues and war ensues, this is brushed aside. We see the character in question later fully healed, but we don’t know how they healed. We also don’t learn if any of the other people in the party got the plague. The whole thing, which is so important for a large portion of the story, is just brushed aside with minimal resolution. The book ends with another kind of cliffhanger. I am eager to see how all of this resolves in the third, and final, book Torrent. Overall a good continuation of this series. Gabi and Marcello’s need to constantly profess their love bothered me in the beginning of the story and the topic of the black plague been brought up and then dropped was another issue for me. The writing style was very beautiful, the characters are engaging and have a good sense of humor, the setting is fascinating, and the action scenes are very well done. I definitely recommend this series to fans of historical fantasy with a large dash of romance.
    • 3/5
      (Note: This review is for both Cascade and Torrent)In short: Though I needed more depth than the River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren was able to give me, I do actually recommend this series if you're looking for a fun, fast-paced read.The River of Time series has received so much hype and positive reviews that I just had to jump on the bandwagon and read it too. And I can see why this series is so popular. The extremely fast pace, the non-stop action, the swoon-worthy boys men, the feisty and brave heroines - the River of Time series is Entertainment with a capital "E". At no point is there ever any scene that is boring and at no point is there ever any lull in the non-stop adventures of the Betarrini Family.At times, however, I felt the series was actually a bit too fast-paced for me - and this was ultimately the major factor in every little problem I had with the series. Plot points could have been better developed, characters and character relationships could have been further explored, and the time travel aspect could have been better explained, if only the series had slowed up the pace a bit more and included these things. Action scene after action scene is really fun, but I needed some filler to fully flesh out the story. And I really needed to know why Gabi and fam thought it was okay to completely mess with world history.Something that really bothered me about the series, which I believe stemmed from the extremely fast pacing and not enough time spent developing the characters, is that Gabi and Lia kill A LOT of people and feel no remorse for it. We see them experiencing some grief after their first human kills in Waterfall, and then NOTHING in Cascade and Torrent. I realize that they're in a war situation and killing in defense is inevitable and I'm not asking for an all out Angst Fest here, but I needed for these young girls who grew up in the 21st century to feel something about these countless people they were killing, especially in a series where there are several passages where Gabi reflects on the value of human life. And though this has nothing to do with this series being considered Christian Fiction - because if you are a GOOD person, you will feel remorse for killing someone no matter what your religion - I was kind of under the impression that God wasn't down with killing humans.Am I taking this series too seriously? Probably. But if that isn't an indication that what is supposed to be a light, fun read isn't the type of read for me, then I don't know what is. I needed more depth than the River of Time series was able to give me. This all being said however, I do actually recommend this series. All my complaints are obviously highly subjective and I think the vast majority of people would actually really enjoy spending an action-filled time with a cast of fun characters in Lisa T. Bergren's River of Time series.
    • 4/5
      Cascade picks up right where Waterfall drops off. Gabi and Lia have returned from fourteenth century Italy, but Gabi has left her heart in the past. Gabi convinces Lia to return to the past with her, despite the risks. The sisters find themselves in the middle of a fanfare celebrating their heroism for saving Siena. Everything seems to be going well, accept for Gabi's relationship with Marcello. She's left to decide if she should remain in ancient Italy forever, and forsake her family, or return home, and forsake her heart.I'll admit -I wasn't incredibly impressed with Waterfall. Maybe it's because I read and ARC of the book, so it wasn't completely polished -or maybe it's because the ARC I read was factory defective: it was printed upside down and from right-to-left, instead of left-to-right. Needless to say, this probably impacted my reading experience in a negative way. Still, I read the entire book and thought it was a lovely YA historical novel.Cascade, on the other hand, is a considerable improvement on Waterfall. This time, the world and characters have already been established, so author Lisa T. Bergren has the opportunity to really expand on her characters and the world in a new and compelling way. This time, I felt like the romance between Gabi and Marcello was more mature, more genuine, and the plot far more compelling. Though Gabi has established herself as a heroine, she now finds herself firmly in the cross hairs of an enemy that would see her dead.As a fan of YA novels and historical fiction, Cascade satisfies both of these interests perfectly. This is a wonderful series for readers who enjoy a little history, a little romance, and a well-constructed plot that'll keep you flipping pages up to the very end.
    • 5/5
      AHHH-MAZINGGGGGG.This is such a delicious series. More twists, more adventure, more danger, more kick-ass she-wolves moments, more yummy knights in armor! Gotta love when an author is capable of making you fall in love with every single character. Especially the male characters, of course! (I'm in love with Fortino!) Also, I have a feeling I'll be Team Rodolfo in the next one! Yeah, I feel a triangle-awesomeness coming. And I always love the naughtier of the two.The story picks up exactly where Waterfall left off. With one of the best first lines of any sequel I've read, it pulls you right back in from the very first sentence. I felt the world set around me, as if I had never left. Gabi's voice remains as fresh and awesome as before, while the story moves on, bringing more complications in its way.Lisa's wonderful writing full of descriptions and vivid imagery, makes you 'see' everything. It's so rich when you are able to 'see' the past through books. I felt alive, just like Gabi did, when I was immersed in her world. And SO MANY surprises and so many OMG moments! It reminded me a bit of The Hunger Games with the cage stuff. So Katniss!Anyway, my verdict: a must-read for everyone.
    • 4/5
      Cascade is a wonderful continuation to a historical adventure series filled with action, romance and a touch of danger. Starting right where Waterfall left off, I was once again sucked back into the story but this time we didn't just get Lia alongside Gabi, but their mother as well.Though its been a month since they saw each other last, Marcello and Gabi's relationship hasn't missed a beat. I love how even in the middle of a full on war, nothing can keep these two apart. Talking about the war, the action and intensity in this novel is much darker then in Waterfall. You really feel that all the characters lives are in danger and that anything could happen.Gabi is still willing to do anything to keep the people she loves safe, which eventually lands her in a terrible situation. I love how even in her bleakest moments Gabi never lets her bravery or hope die. She is such a wonderful believable character. The inclusion of the mysterious Lord Greco had me dying to find out more about him and where his loyalties lie. The entire plot line including Lord Greco was wonderfully written, with loads of twist and turns. I can't wait to see how and when he pops back into the series. Lets just say, he has me very intrigued!While I loved that we got to see more of Lia and Luca (I seriously love him), I was a bit bummed that the novel wasn't actually told from Lia's POV. I'm not sure why this bothered me since it wasn't clear that it was ever going to be, I just wanted to know more about her. I still feel like she's a bit of a mystery to me and of all the main characters, I feel that she's the least developed.I was pretty shocked by something that happens right at the very end of the novel and I'm curious to see what, if any consequences they'll be because of it. Lisa T. Bergren had definitely written an addictive series and I can't wait to read Torrent to find out how its all going to end. If you loved Watefall then you're sure to enjoy Cascade!
    • 5/5
      In Cascade events pick up immediately at the end of Waterfall. Gabi and Lia are safe and back in their own time again. However, Gabi wants to return to Marcello and convinces Lia and her Mother to go back with her. What was just a few minutes passing for them in the 21st century was months passing in the fourteenth century, and the girls return to find their reputation has grown beyond their control and that battle lines have been drawn. Their lives are in constant danger and the Betarrini sisters are torn between love, family, and time. Lucky for me I didn’t read Waterfall until the Cascade was already published, so I didn’t have to wait long to find out what was going to happen next. I literally put Waterfall down and picked Cascade right up. It was the perfect way to start a fabulous read. I enjoyed Cascade just as much as I enjoyed Waterfall. The characters continued to be strong and I liked that they developed more over time. Since there was a time leap in the fourteenth century some big changes had been made while the sisters were gone and just like Gabi, my feelings were mixed on the outcomes. Gabi is still the lead as we follow the story from her perspective, which I was grateful for because she is such a great character. I enjoyed her personality and strength. The danger seemed to be ramped up even more in this novel and the girls were in the middle of a lot of tough situations. This novel tugged a lot on the heartstrings, bringing extremes from heartbreak to joy. The writing and story flowed well and was fast paced; I was not ready for this book to end! The plot had a few twists I wasn’t expecting and I am anxiously looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Torrent, which comes out in September. If you enjoyed Waterfall you should definitely grab Cascade, you will not be disappointed!
    • 5/5
      This book did NOT let me down! Seriously, I was gripping my Nook so hard I thought I was going to break it! Ohhhh Marcello! Ohhhh Luca! Oh my! I'm totally jealous of Gabi and Lia! I love it when a book takes me through different emotional experiences. I was happy, sad, mad, and fell in-love. I also felt the pain Gabi went through. She is one tough chic! Would you give up what you have for love and live in the 1300's, during a time when war, sickness, and brutal punishment happened? Could you give up your home, car, internet, cell phone, iPod, hairdyer, fast food, and other wants? *** Spoiler Below*** Gabi endures humiliation and painful attacks. She was kidnapped and used as bait to capture Marcello. She was then placed in a wooden cage that hung far in the air. She was there for over four days without food or water. Even the Nuns wouldn't help her. Gabi was their prize. She wasn't even let out to relieve herself. You can guess what she had to do, and she was humiliated even more. How much can a seventeen year old girl endure? Where was Marcello? Why had he not come for her? This had me close to tears. Gabi wasn't the only one brought to humiliation. Fortino had also endured more than his fair share and what the enemy had done to him, broke my heart. People gave their lives for Gabi and Lia. I'll never forget them! It pained me when this book ended. Now my heart begs to read Torrent. Come back to me Marcello! Luca! Where are you?
    • 4/5
      **originally posted on BUNNYCATES.COM**OMGOSH! Cascade: A Novel (River of Time Series) is book 2 in the River of Time series. (see my review of book 1, WATERFALL, on my site). I have to say after waiting on this book to arrive for nearly two months, I was NOT disappointed!!!All the main characters (that I loved) from book 1 are back in this one. Gabi, Lia, Marcello, Luca♥, and now Gabi and Lia’s mom! OMGOSH! haha. You know, when I saw that in this one they were going to be taking their mom back with them, I was worried. I was really afraid that having their mom would tone down the action scenes a lot, or somehow make the girls “needy” and not the strong characters they were in the first book. I’m so glad I was worried for nothing! Momma She-Wolf turned out to be a little on the bad a$$ side herself. Complete with joining in the battle and saving a few men's butts! hoorah!This was a two day read for me. (and it killed me having to take that break in the afternoon… but I had LIFE to deal with. bluh.) Of course, I LOVED IT {proof –> my reading updates}In CASCADE, Gabi and Lia go back in time again and this time they take their mom along for the ride. They want her to see what she, as an archeologist, has been working on/for for so long. So much crazy stuff happens in this one. There are tons of “battle” scenes. Someone gets captured. Several someone’s actually – the one made me freakin CRY! ugh! Look, I’m tearing up just thinking about it! Oh and someone valiantly DIES and that TOO made me CRY! It’s not spoiling if I don’t say WHO!In CASCADE, we aren’t just fighting the battle, we’re racing time against the plague. There are a few “new” bad guys in this one, and a few new allies. Tons of heart wrenching moments, and quite a few “warm hugs”. You know I wont go into detail because I refuse to spoil the book for you. I can’t tell you how much I love this series. I read CASCADE last night. Finished it around 3am, and am sitting here waiting for my kids to go to bed tonight so I can dive into TORRENT. Two books in a row, Lisa T Bergren’s River of Time has kept me up past 3am reading! Here’s hoping I am still up moping pre-dawn with Torrent!!!
    • 4/5
      TITLE: Cascade: A NovelAUTHOR: Lisa T. BergrenPUBLISHER: David C. CookCascade: A Novel is book two in The River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren. The first book in this series is Waterfall. This book begins exactly where Waterfall left off at the end of the book. So..if you haven’t read Waterfall, the first in the series…you definitely want to read it first.Cascade starts with an exciting adventure. Ms. Bergren brought back the characters you loved in Waterfall and introducing new characters as well. The characters are instantly alive on the pages and face some severe challenges congruent with medieval Italy. The plot is strong and riveting. The characters are life-like and along with their action and adventures it keeps you turning those pages for more.Cascade has not let me down. It is just as good, if not better than the first in the series (Waterfall). I am so in love with this series it isn’t even funny. I can't wait for TORRENT, book 3 in the River of Time Series to come out on September 1, 2011Now to get my paws on TORRENT!!!!
    • 5/5
      Oh Marcello, you hot Italian you. I missed you so much, but in this book you made me so happy! I love this series. And the title fits the book so well too. Cascade is exactly was this book does. This book just keeps on tumbling down, spiraling the reader into a never ending fall of good writing.This book picks off right where the book left off only this time, involving the mother. I can say that as you read this book, mixing the element in bringing in the mother is a good touch. I liked how it showcased the family fighting together as one.Once again, both sisters and the mother are caught up in the politics and war. The sisters fight for not only their hearts but for their men. Gabi is a strong women who really put her heart out there. She continues to amaze me with her wild ideas and great fighting. Both sisters and mother really swept the men off their feet with their fighting techniques that is made me smile big. I loved how the men really love these women and boasted about it too.All the characters in the book grew up so much. Even Lia, Gabi's sister grew up as well. She was lost but found herself in someone. I was glad that she finally admitted it. Gabi as well, learned so much. She learn to trust Marcello and also trust her instincts. Gabi was right about many things and I like how she followed her heart. Gabi also went through some very hurtful times. I like how she held herself up high in it and had faith in God.Now, the ending. Oh Ms. Bergren, you really know how to make a good twist in the book huh? I can say that I am one excited reader to see how this new twist will endure in Torment. I think with this whole new element in it, the next book is going to be very exciting to read! If you haven't read this series, I demand you go to you local bookstore and get this book! It will leave you speechless!
    • 5/5
      If you haven’t read Waterfall, the first book in the River of Time series, then I urge you, nay, kick you to the bookstore to buy, yes, you heard me right; buy Waterfall because it is so worth it! Now, stop reading because this review will spoil the end of Waterfall for you. When my package (Cascade) came in the mail, I screamed and ripped it open. I beheld a signed copy of Cascade with signed bookmarks (Thank you, Lisa Bergren!) Apparently all the noise I was making alarmed my family. When they walked in the room asking me what was wrong, they found me jumping up and down repeating “yes yes YES! AHHHH, I’m so happy!” They just looked at me shaking their heads, probably flashing back at the last time this happened (during my Twilight phase). EPIC. That was the first word that came to mind when I finished Cascade. I didn’t think it was possible to love a book more than I loved Waterfall, but Ms. Bergren proved me wrong. This book was even better than Waterfall. The stakes were raised even higher in this installment. Gabi and Marcello are forced to really think about the direction of their relationship. For Gabi to stay in the past, she would have to force her family to stay with her. She would also have to start thinking about marriage-people got married at a much younger age back then (they also died earlier). When the three Betarrini women travel back in time, they find themselves in the middle of a war. No one is safe; especially the “She-wolves of Siena.” Gabi and Lia are confronted with numerous obstacles in this sequel. The enemies of Siena are constantly hunting them. As a source of hope for the people of Siena, Marcello and Luca, the girls must survive. I’m going to stop talking about the plot here, because there is just too much that happens and I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone. Just know that there are three things the girls are up against: 1) The plague, 2) the war, and 3) the choice to either go back to the present or stay in the past. Okay, now for my gushing! I. Love. Marcello. I might have said that in my Waterfall review, but I don’t care. It’s true! Ms. Bergren created a hero that is charming, swoon-worthy, and…..Italian! All my favorite scenes involved Marcello. Ahhh, I’m smiling just thinking about him. Ms. Bergren did add a new potential swoon-worthy guy, Lord Greco. His status in the book is a bit complicated, so I’ll just say this: YUM! Yep, he has the whole Ash (from the Iron Fey series) attitude. He’s goal-oriented, sly, and is more than meets the eye. He is charged with capturing the Betarrini women. After accepting the task, he finds out that this is much harder than it seems. Cascade was exhilarating! The story never stalled. I was constantly turning the page wondering what happened next. Whenever Gabi overcame one obstacle, there were two more waiting for her on the next page. Just when I thought “Thank God they made it!” the suspense comes creeping back. Usually authors have an action scene then a relationship scene. Ms. Bergren effortlessly blends the two together. The reader feels the urgency the characters are feeling, throughout the book. This made me feel like I was a part of the story; like I was right there in the battlefield/forest. This sequel was much more emotional than Waterfall. Ms. Bergren was not afraid to kill off characters. Gabi, as well as Lia and their mother, had to deal with death at a much closer and bloody level. They begin to realize how tragic and dangerous this war is. They have a responsibility towards the people of Siena whether they like it or not. Whatever Gabi felt, I felt. I could feel her pain and sadness over each death. War is so tragic; it was heartbreaking to read it through Gabi’s POV. I couldn’t put the book down! The only problem was that it ended. Ms. Bergren took me on an exciting adventure that I will never forget! WARNING: Don’t read the book in a public place unless your are fine with being stared at. I read Cascade on the train. Every time something really great happened I wanted to jump up and down. Every time something tragic or sad happened I wanted to scream or cry. Of course stifling my laughter by coughing doesn’t really work because my “coughs” sounded more like cackles. When I finished it (on the train) it took EVERYTHING I had to calmly shut the book. I wanted to dance and run around yelling “THAT WAS AMAZING! WHY DID IT HAVE TO END?!?!?!?!” But instead I fidgeted in my little window-seat replaying my favorite scenes and thinking about how far away the release date for Torrent is.

    Book preview

    Cascade (The River of Time Series Book #2) - Lisa Tawn Bergren

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