Historical Bookworm

From Farm to Fiction: The Path of Christine Hill Suntz
Christine knew she wanted to write the day she finished Anne of Green Gables and she’s been lost in her imagination ever since. Winner of the ACFW 2022 Genesis contest for Historical Romance, she also won the 2021 West Coast Christian Writers Golden Goldie Best-in-Conference award. She lives in Ontario on a hobby farm with her family and a herd of entitled goats. When she’s not writing, she teaches high school French and tries out historical recipes on her (mostly) willing family. Follow her for more adventures in 19th-century life.
Farm Life Ideals to Farm Life RealityFrom a childhood in rural Canada, Christine eventually made her way to the big city of Toronto where she lived for several years before the country called her back. She shares how she and her family found a farming style that works for them — and the trials along the way.
French Literature BackgroundA student of German and French, with a graduate degree in comparative literature, Christine shares some classic French writers she enjoys — and learns from — as she continues her writing and teaching careers.
Hands-On ResearchEver wondered what it was really like to wash clothes the old-fashioned way? Christine did — so she researched it and gave it a try. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at what being a laundress was like.
Canada’s Early FormationChristine takes us on a tour of the political upheaval her characters face in The Lawyer and the Laundress. For Canadian school children, this is a well-known story. American readers may discover a new-to-them piece of history about how our neighbor to the north became the nation it is today.
About the Book The Lawyer and the LaundressLawyer James Kinney isn’t looking for love, and laundress Sara O’Connor doesn’t want to be found. When their paths cross in a British colony on the brink of rebellion, a marriage of convenience may be their best hope of survival.
Canada, 1837. Widower James Kinney knows his precocious daughter, Evie, needs more than his lessons on law and logic, but Toronto offers few options. Classes with the neighbor children seem ideal until James discovers Evie is secretly spending her time with Sara O’Connor, a kind and mysteriously educated servant. For propriety’s sake, James forbids their friendship. But then Evie falls victim to the illness ravaging the city, and James must call upon Sara’s medical knowledge and her special bond with Evie to save his daughter’s life.
When Sara’s presence in his household threatens scandal, however, James offers an unexpected solution: become his wife, in name only, and help him raise Evie to be a proper young lady.
If Sara can ignore the sparks she feels when they’re together, his logical proposal could keep her secret secure forever. But soon, the forces of rebellion unravel their tidy arrangement. When James is accused of treason, Sara must find the courage to face a past that could save her husband’s life.
Connect with Christine Hill Suntz on her website, where you can sign up for her newsletter, and on Instagram, Facebook, and Amazon.
Bookworm Review All My Secrets by Gabrielle Meyer“Masterfully crafted and beautifully executed, “In This Moment” is a book you simultaneously want to binge read and linger in forever!
Gabrielle Meyer is a pioneer in the world of historical fiction, and she’s breaking new ground with the Timeless series. Her attention to historical detail is astounding, immersing the reader in all three time periods. Her heroine Maggie is at once remarkable and relatable, experiencing a fantastical journey we can only imagine while exploring tender emotions and questions of faith we know all too well.
In conclusion, I’d hereby like to bestow all the stars I’ve denied to other books on “In This Moment” because five stars just isn’t enough for this mind-blowing novel!
If you’re looking for an un-put-down-able story, In This Moment is a must read!”
~ Angela Bell, author of A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure
THE AUTHOR
Gabrielle Meyer has worked for state and local historical societies and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides along the banks of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. By day, she’s a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and nonfiction filled with hope.
Read more about Gabrielle at her website. (www.gabriellemeyer.com)