The Solitary Envoy: Heirs of Acadia #1    by T. Davis Bunn & Isabella Bunn Order:  USA  Can Bethany, 2004 (2004) Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Melissa Parcel Erica Langston's knack for numbers allows her to handle the bookkeeping details of her father's shipping business. Her innovative ideas earn much needed income during desperate times. However, it's 1812 and Erica's mother is anxious to see her married and raising a family, rather than working in the family business. Although they lost the war with America, the British are not ready to let the Americans trade with France, England's political enemy. When the British invade Washington to attempt to force America's hand, a tragic incident leaves Erica's father dead and their business burned to the ground. Erica needs to travel to England to recover gold owed her family and restore the family's good name. While in England, Erica stays with the family of a U.S. Diplomat. She meets Gareth Powers, a former major in the British military, who now publishes pamphlets speaking out against the corrupt Prince Regent. Gareth introduces her to William Wilberforce, who helps Erica to get to know the most important person - Jesus Christ. Sparks begin to fly between Erica and Gareth. Will their mutual faith in God help them to overcome tremendous odds to be together? Can Erica triumph over evil people and reclaim her family's gold? The Solitary Envoy is rich in historical detail. The authors describe incidents as they unfold so that even non-history buffs will understand. Erica's strong, self-sufficient character makes the story enjoyable. She believes in family, and is willing to go to great lengths to preserve her own family's good name. Her headstrong nature makes it very difficult for a man to touch her heart. But Gareth is the perfect partner for Erica, and when she meets God, nothing can stand in their way. The characters (a large cast) are all well developed, making it interesting to see how they evolve in future episodes. Though this first episode in the Heirs of Acadia series does stand alone, I found its ending rushed compared to the rest of the story, with the last chapter hurried to wrap things up. Lovers of Christian historical fiction should try this series, whose introductory volume, The Solitary Envoy is loaded with history, romance, adventure, and even some humor. The second book, The Innocent Libertine, is due out in September 2004. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Historical books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews