After reading the Song of Acadia series by T. Davis Bunn and Janette Oke, I was enthused to begin the sequel series by Bunn and his wife, Isabella. Despite a slight letdown in quality of writing and story construction I did enjoy The Innocent Libertine enough to keep reading. For those that are wondering, there is very little connection between characters in both series - only a brief reference here and there to distant relatives, seemingly only to qualify the Heirs of Acadia as a sequel to the earlier Oke/Bunn series.
One of the most compelling things about historical fiction is the idea that the story COULD have taken place this way. It takes well researched historical facts combined with strong, excellent narrative story telling to make an historical fiction novel worth the read. The Innocent Libertine and accompanying books in the Heirs of Acadia series minimally qualify in this. Though entertaining enough to pass the time reading and learning a bit about history and groups of people, the Bunn/Bunn partnership as authors is no match to Oke/Bunn in the least. The first Acadia series beats this one, hands down.
One of the most compelling things about historical fiction is the idea that the story COULD have taken place this way. It takes well researched historical facts combined with strong, excellent narrative story telling to make an historical fiction novel worth the read. The Innocent Libertine and accompanying books in the Heirs of Acadia series minimally qualify in this. Though entertaining enough to pass the time reading and learning a bit about history and groups of people, the Bunn/Bunn partnership as authors is no match to Oke/Bunn in the least. The first Acadia series beats this one, hands down.
