Touch of Enchantment
Grade : B+

Teresa Medeiros is best known for her historical novels that span the time from Dark-Ages Ireland to Regency England. Her style is elegant and graceful and she can skillfully combine whimsy and angst in a way that few writers can. Try her Scottish novel A Whisper of Roses to see what I'm talking about.

Teresa Medeiros switched genres and gave time-travel a try in two wonderfully funny and charming novels; Breath of Magic, where a witch from the past came to modern times and Touch of Enchantment where the daughter of the characters from the first novel traveled back in time. While I enjoyed both of books, I found myself liking Touch of Enchantment the best.

Tabitha Lennox (yes, she is named after the character from Bewitched) is the daughter of a millionaire and a time-displaced witch. She has inherited her mother's magical abilities, but she hates them, denies her gift and has dedicated her life to science and rationality. One day, she comes across her mother's magical amulet and while trying to analyze it - boom - she's back in thirteenth century Scotland and a knight on a charging steed is pounding toward her.

The Knight is Colin of Ravenshaw, who is being pursued by the villain Brisbane. Poor Tabitha is soon locked in a dungeon with Colin, but she still has the amulet which she uses to conjure up a few things to make the dungeon a little more comfortable. Colin is not a noble knight for nothing, and he manages to escape and take Tabitha to his castle. Alas for Colin, Brisbane has already been to his castle and left the place a ruin, but remember Colin is a noble knight and he soon takes charge to rebuild the castle and take care of his people. Seeing how noble, strong, and just plain stalwart he is, Tabitha begins to fall in love with him.

Tabitha is a wonderful character. She is funny, endearing and intelligent without being cute (I hate cute). Colin is a bit stolid, but is still the epitome of a brave, strong and noble knight. There is a scene where Tabitha lets it slip that she is a witch. The people who live around Colin's castle insist she must be burned at the stake. Poor Colin is torn between his duty to see that the sentence is carried out, and his growing love for Tabitha. The dilemma is resolved in a scene of wonderful sensuality and suspense.

Although it might be fun to imagine ourselves in medieval times, I think the reality would be a bit too much for our modern sensibilities. The ending of Touch of Enchantment allows Tabitha to have the best of both worlds. She gets to live in medieval Scotland with a handsome, brave, noble, honorable knight without having to give up conveniences like disposable diapers, soap, tampons, toothbrushes and other little things we would miss if we didn't have them. How? Read the book - you'll be glad you did.

Reviewed by Ellen Micheletti
Grade : B+

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : February 22, 1999

Publication Date: 1997

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Ellen Micheletti

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