In this episode, Christine Hill Suntz discusses The Heiress and the Woodsman, a historical fiction novel set in 1830s Canada. She shares what inspired the story, why she chose this era and setting. She even talks about her life on her hobby farm!
** Affiliate links used **
About Christine
History has always captured Christine’s imagination. When she first read about Canadian pioneers and sisters Catharine Parr Traill and Susanna Moodie, she was hooked. Their fascinating accounts of early life in colonial Canada inspired her to create stories that focus on the talents and courage of women in nineteenth-century Canada.
Christine is represented by agent Rachel McMillan, and her debut, The Lawyer and the Laundress, was published June 10, 2025. Her next release, The Heiress and the Woodsman, released in Summer 2026.
When she isn’t writing, Christine teaches high school French and brings her research in 19th-century skills and recipes to life on her hobby farm.
Subscribe to her newsletter to witness her adventures firsthand!
Connect with Christine:
Website
The Heiress and the Woodsman
The Heiress and the Woodsman Author Christine Hill Suntz
Published by Tyndale House Publishers
on August 4, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Romance / Historical, Fiction / Romance / Clean & Wholesome
Pages: 368
AmazonCharlotte Carruthers must find her brother. Joshua Robertson needs the funds to free his. On the road into the Canadian wilderness, they become reluctant allies in a race to save their siblings before brewing rebellion tears the colony apart.
Canada, 1837. Charlotte is determined to hold onto her family's crumbling estate—the last vestige of their former place in Toronto society before her mother's death and her father's financial ruin. But when her missing brother Simon is suspected of aiding a political rebellion, Charlotte heads north to find him before his impulsive decisions ruin what's left of their family's standing and break her ailing father's heart.
Joshua has worked tirelessly to carve a home from the wilderness for the younger brother he was forced to leave behind, only to learn his first harvest is nearly worthless and his brother has been sold into an indenture Joshua can't afford to redeem. When a stranger offers him work tracking down a settler in the bush, he's desperate enough to agree.
Nothing has prepared Charlotte for the challenges of surviving the wilderness. When Joshua comes to her aid, she offers to pay him for guidance through the bush. Though he knows a spoiled city girl will slow him down, he can't refuse the money. As Charlotte and Joshua face the dangers of travel through rough terrain, admiration and friendship grow, even as class divides and hidden truths complicate their bond. But when they are caught in the crossfire of rebellion, they must decide if the futures they've fought for are truly their hearts' desire—or if something unexpected awaits.
- Clean and wholesome historical romance with reluctant allies and secret identities tropes
- Filled with love, faith, and adventure
- Perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Laura Frantz, and Tamera Alexander
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Thank you to today’s sponsor!
Thank you to our sponsor for this week – Charity Henico! If you’re looking for a professional, amazing narrator for your next audiobook, I highly recommend Charity! I am not a fan of audiobooks at all, but I could listen to hers all day long!
What was your favorite part of the podcast!?
