A Backwards Story is excited to be a part of The {Teen} Book Scene's tour for Lisa T. Bergren's THE RIVER OF TIME series! Check out the tour schedule to see the list of events.
Last year, I reviewed all three books in the original trilogy together (keeping it as spoiler-free as possible). Check it out here!
Today, I'm excited to present you with an EXCLUSIVE look at the beginning of Lisa's highly-anticipated upcoming novella BOURNE! The novella is going to be in the POV of Gabi and Lia!
Are you as excited as I am? Because I'm really, REALLY excited about this one!
Plus, stay tuned after the excerpt for an exclusive chance to win prizes like:
Yes, Lisa IS giving away THREE Kindles and 20 copies of her books. You want to win, RIGHT!?
(But new readers, don't be alarmed by the prospect of more: The original trilogy has a satisfying conclusion and not a cliffhanger of any sort!)
Check out Lisa's blog and follow her on Twitter!
BOURNE
By Lisa T. Bergren
River of Time Series #3.1
e-novella
WARNING:
We’ve tried to edit this chapter to avoid one major spoiler, but you really
should read WATERFALL (book 1), CASCADE (book 2) and TORRENT (book 3) if you
haven’t yet! Continue reading at your own risk!
CHAPTER ONE
~GABRIELLA~
“M’lady!
They approach!” the guard yelled down to us from the walls.
“Thank God,” I muttered, taking my first full breath in what seemed like hours. Ever since the battle had ended the night before, Sienese patrols had circulated in and out of Castello Forelli, to drop off wounded, reprovision, rest, and head out again. As the night wore on, and the Fiorentini withdrew north, the patrols were gone for longer periods of time. But Marcello, Luca, and Lord Greco hadn’t shown up at all.
Leaving me to fear the worst, of course.
“Open the gates!” the wall guard cried.
Three knights went to the massive crossbeam and slid it to one side, then opened the fifteen-foot doors. Twenty of our men on horseback arrived, but my eyes sought only one—
Marcello. I sighed in relief and then picked up my skirts and ran to him, waiting for him to wearily dismount and take me under one of his arms. I laughed and reached up on tiptoe to kiss him. “Oh, Marcello. Welcome home.”
“I have to say, I think I’ll grow accustomed to you welcoming me back, each time I have half a mind to chase a Fiorentini back to his side of the border.” He winced as I gave him a full hug, making me pause in concern, but then Rodolfo Greco came around three others, leading his horse…and in an awkward moment, caught the last of Marcello’s comment.
His handsome chin came up, and he stilled as if embarrassed. Not that he had any reason to be embarrassed. It was simply…awkward. The once-Fiorentini now in our castello. Marcello’s brother. My captor-savior. I think we were all confused as to how to proceed, exactly. It’d take some time to figure out.
Luca came over, right next to Lia, both of them grinning. The grizzled Captain Pezzati clasped hands with Luca and the other guys, then gave me a nod of greeting and turned toward the stables. Mom came over, and I grinned at the circle of them, all around me. Together. At last. Everyone here, present and accounted for. Well, Dad was in his room, recovering from his own wound. But at the moment, we were all safe.
“Thank God,” I muttered, taking my first full breath in what seemed like hours. Ever since the battle had ended the night before, Sienese patrols had circulated in and out of Castello Forelli, to drop off wounded, reprovision, rest, and head out again. As the night wore on, and the Fiorentini withdrew north, the patrols were gone for longer periods of time. But Marcello, Luca, and Lord Greco hadn’t shown up at all.
Leaving me to fear the worst, of course.
“Open the gates!” the wall guard cried.
Three knights went to the massive crossbeam and slid it to one side, then opened the fifteen-foot doors. Twenty of our men on horseback arrived, but my eyes sought only one—
Marcello. I sighed in relief and then picked up my skirts and ran to him, waiting for him to wearily dismount and take me under one of his arms. I laughed and reached up on tiptoe to kiss him. “Oh, Marcello. Welcome home.”
“I have to say, I think I’ll grow accustomed to you welcoming me back, each time I have half a mind to chase a Fiorentini back to his side of the border.” He winced as I gave him a full hug, making me pause in concern, but then Rodolfo Greco came around three others, leading his horse…and in an awkward moment, caught the last of Marcello’s comment.
His handsome chin came up, and he stilled as if embarrassed. Not that he had any reason to be embarrassed. It was simply…awkward. The once-Fiorentini now in our castello. Marcello’s brother. My captor-savior. I think we were all confused as to how to proceed, exactly. It’d take some time to figure out.
Luca came over, right next to Lia, both of them grinning. The grizzled Captain Pezzati clasped hands with Luca and the other guys, then gave me a nod of greeting and turned toward the stables. Mom came over, and I grinned at the circle of them, all around me. Together. At last. Everyone here, present and accounted for. Well, Dad was in his room, recovering from his own wound. But at the moment, we were all safe.
I was relishing the sweet relief, appreciating the feel of
having Marcello next to me again, when I felt him begin to sink. Crying out, I
got a better grip on him from under one of his arms; Rodolfo Greco came under
the other. I tried to ignore his sudden proximity—and the resulting weirdness.
“Quickly, let’s get him inside,” I said.
We eased Marcello into the Great Hall and into a chair,
and I knelt before him. Rodolfo took a few respectful steps away. “Marcello!” I
said, anxiously scanning his face and body for injury. I noticed, then, his
swollen cheek, the cut at his mouth and nose, some bruising. Nothing I hadn’t
seen before, after taking on an enemy. But what worried me was the gray color
of his skin, the way his eyes were hooded, half-shut. “Marcello, what ails
you?”
“Take your ease, Gabriella,” he said in a mumble. “I am
merely weary and in—”
His head rolled forward, and he slumped. I cried out
again, and Rodolfo and Luca came to either side of him. “How is he injured?” I
asked, my voice coming out in a strangled tone.
Luca ran his fingers through his sandy-colored hair and
grimaced. “We ran into some difficulty en route home, m’lady.”
“Difficulty?”
“A Fiorentini patrol. We’d parted from our men—”
Marcello moaned. I rose. “Marcello? Marcello.” I said,
holding his head in my hands. But he was out again.
Lia brought a blanket into the room and spread it out on
the floor. Rodolfo and Luca lifted Marcello and placed him on it. “Quickly,” I
said to the men. “Help me find his wound.”
With trembling fingers, I pulled up Marcello’s tunic and
gasped. His belly was covered with purple, red, and green bruises. I looked to
Luca.
“As I started to say…it happened a few hours ago,” he said
grimly, easing his cousin onto his side to look at his back. Mom knelt next to
him. His green eyes met mine, and his anxious, lowered brows made my heart
stop.
Nothing scared Luca.
I apologize if I put a line break in a weird spot. Blogger is eating all of the tabs. The formatting will look perfect when you read the novella!
* * *
I apologize if I put a line break in a weird spot. Blogger is eating all of the tabs. The formatting will look perfect when you read the novella!
* * *
BOURNE will be available at
month-end on all major e-reading formats, including Kindle, Nook and more. To
find out more, see Lisa’s web site.
* * *
Lisa Bergren is also offering 3
KINDLES and 20 BOOKS as prizes for her RIVER OF TIME Blog Tour Scavenger Hunt,
which ends this weekend! Check out her post to find out how you can take part
and have a chance to win!
AHHHHHH! <3 <3 <3 THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Lisa, what a stopping point!! You have everyone's hearts going pit-a-thump already!!
ReplyDeleteThis was fun to read and has sparked my interest in reading the rest :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I want to read the whole thing! I'm freaking out!
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! i want to read more!!!! =)
ReplyDeleteOh my...am I excited for this book!! <3
ReplyDelete-Maddi
OMG I soooooo bad want to read it now :) this was super great and i'm super excited now :)
ReplyDeleteOH MAN!!! *squeals for a ridiculous amount of time while jumping up and down* MARCELLO! Oh, he better be okay. Cannot wait for this... and *smiles* Lord Greco! :D
ReplyDeleteAHHHHH!!!! I'm so excited! It's gonna be AWESOME =D
ReplyDeletedo you think it will be published in print one day?
ReplyDeleteall the best
I'm really afraid of spoilers so I didn't read it but dropping by to say Hi! *waves to all the River Tribers*
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Torrent, so I didn't want to spoil anything by reading this exclusive look at Bourne. However, I'm anxious to catch-up, and I can bet all those full River Tribers are now swooning for more. =D
ReplyDeleteAh...really? YOU STOP THERE?! AHHH!!! Ok, just how long do I have to wait? Really? I need a day count!!!
ReplyDeleteaaaaaaaah that's it :( Love it already!
ReplyDeleteoh well. my 99 cents will be put to good use when this comes out :)
EXCITEMENT!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, River Tribe, for turning out to read the excerpt! Should be out by 2/28, if not before...
ReplyDeleteI can say with true pleasure that I’ve read ALL of The River of Time books by Lisa T. Bergren! I loved reading them so much I have purchased both hard cover and ebook copies=) This series is so exciting to read and the pages keep you turning eager to find out more with this exciting fast paced story and delightful characters!!! I am so excited to have found such a great series and a wonderful Christian writer=) Thank you Lisa!!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven’t read The River of Time series yet…don’t wait a moment longer! You’ll see why so many love this Series and the Stories within standing for love, family, survival and truth just to name a few=) I am a forever Fan of these books and of Lisa’s writing!!
I sooo can't wait to read this! Woot! The River of Time series is my favorite!
ReplyDeletegaahhhh how am I gonna wait any longer?!
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited to start reading this series. I'm hearing such wonderful things! My TBR shelf has just been so packed, but all this fun has definitely been motivation!
ReplyDeleteMore please! I cant wait! :D
ReplyDeleteMore please! I cant wait! :D
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read the whole thing!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI need to read this series soon!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this cover. Definitely my favorite of the four.
ReplyDeleteI can NOT wait to read this book!!!
ReplyDeleteI want to read more!
ReplyDeleteI am excited about Bourne, but I'll have to pass reading till later. Spoilers, ahhh!
ReplyDeleteDespite the spoilers for me (I've only read Waterfall) I couldn't resist reading the entire excerpt. So now I know that Greco is Marcello's brother:) I am so excited to continue this series!
ReplyDeleteSarah Bibi Setar
sarah DOT setar AT gmail DOT com
Oh my goodness... seriously?
ReplyDeleteMarcello!! I hope he's ok!!! Please, I need to read more! What happened?! Are Luca and Rodolfo alright?! Can't wait for Bourne!
ReplyDeleteLove this series -- wouldn't it make a great mini-series???
ReplyDeleteWhat an opportunity. Please enter my name in the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMike
Thanks soooo much for posting this!!!
ReplyDeleteChristine Pogon
OH MY GIDDY AUNT! I seriously am DYING with anticipation for this book! counting down to an unknown date is difficult work..
ReplyDeletewow I got to read this!
ReplyDelete