The Changeling Bride [Paperback]

Lisa Cach describes Elle's adventures and struggles with delightful humor and creativity. Elle is a modern woman, willing to change somewhat to fit into her new life in the 1790s, but who will not compromise when it comes to speaking up her mind. The environment will have to adapt to her also! And so we join the heroine as she ever so imaginatively introduces modern concepts such as pizza and birth control to 18th Century England.

"The Changeling Bride" is highly entertaining and a most enjoyable read. Elle's adventures traveling across time have transported me along in a journey of my own, out of the very limiting reality we all live in into a world of endless possibility, where anything can happen. What a joy! It was as if I also traveled in time, back to my younger years when believing in magic, fairies and wishes come true was simply the way life worked itself out. How refreshing!

The story starts off with Wihelmina, or Elle as she likes to be called, given a note by a homeless person in modern times. She doesn't even look at the paper until she is out with her dog on a walk. The note reads "Coupon Good for: one free husband. Redeem at will". She looks up into the sky and waves the coupon states the she wants to redeem her coupon. She thinks its just a joke when all of the sudden she is surrounded by fairies and they transport her back in time to be the wife of Henry. Henry's bride to be Eleanor is who she is replacing. Henry has no idea anything is different because they apparently look the same. She decides to go along with it so that she can at least get the wedding. I mean every girl dreams of a big wedding with all the trimmings. Then she will go back to her time. Only that doesn't happen. She seems stuck in 1790 with a husband who she doesn't know but is very attracted to. Henry doesn't quite know what to make of his bride. She doesn't seem like the person he met before but he likes this person better. He is puzzled by her lack of knowledge about running a household and her ideas about birth control but can't help but fall for her. Elle fights her feelings for Henry and when she finally lets him into her heart she thinks that she must leave him and go back to her time.

This tale is wonderfully written and it made for a very enjoyable read. I look forward to other books by this author.

Ms. Cach also addresses several things in the plot that are conspicuously absent from other historical romance novels I have read, yet have always wondered about in the back of my mind. Namely, the issue of birth control, type of food available, and those embarrassing but necessary bodily functions. She attacks each subject with a touch of humor as well as practicality that makes for an interesting and entertaining tale.

The best thing about the book, however, is the heroine herself. Because she is from our day and age, one can relate to her with ease. She is not a tiny-waisted and naive virgin, but a robust, healthy and somewhat cynical woman of modern America. We all dream about another day and age, but what would we do if we were truly given the `opportunity' to experience it? "The Changeling Bride" offers us a glimpse into what the realities of the 1700's were, while maintaining the romantic aura necessary for a truly good read.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to other titles by Ms. Cach.