In this engaging episode, we’re joined by debut author and high school teacher Christine Hill Suntz, who shares the beautiful story behind her first historical Christian romance, The Lawyer and the Laundress. Set in 1837 Toronto during the Upper Canada Rebellion, this romance is steeped in rich historical context, faith-driven themes, and powerful character arcs. Christine opens up about her path to becoming a published author at 47, her life on a hobby farm filled with goats, and how her passion for languages and justice flows right into the pages of her novel. We talk about her heroine Sarah—who’s not quite what she seems—and James, the idealistic widowed lawyer with a heart for peace. Get ready for secret identities, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a sweet marriage of convenience twist you won’t want to miss!
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.
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 (NKJV)
Christine Hill Suntz’s New Book: The Lawyer and the Laundress
Lawyer 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.
Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Clean and wholesome, marriage-of-convenience historical romance
Filled with love, faith, and adventure
Inspirational historical fiction that’s perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, Laura Frantz, and Tamera Alexander
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!
Finding Forevermore is available for preorder today on Amazon!
Her family secrets. His guilt. One road trip that changes everything.
Raven Cunningham has built a quiet life between the shelves of a small-town bookshop, ghostwriting stories for others while hiding her own. She’s long believed her father abandoned her, until a letter from her late grandmother reveals a shocking truth.
Convinced the reclusive author J.C. Nevermore is her father, Raven sets out to uncover the real story. When her childhood friend Cole Walker, a former Army medic wrestling with his own scars, offers to help, she’s not sure if she can trust him . . . or herself.
As they chase clues and revisit old memories, what begins as a search for answers becomes a journey toward something deeper.
Finding Forevermore is a heartfelt story about faith, family, and the kind of love that’s anchored in God’s unfailing grace.
In this interview, Michelle Griep, author of Of Silver and Secrets (book two in her Of Times and Treasures series) is back to chat all things cursed Roman rings, Regency romance, and what happens when you try to control life instead of trusting God. This episode is packed with heart, humor, and history as Michelle shares the inspiration behind her treasure-hunting heroine Eva, her roguish hero Bram, and the touching themes of surrender and vulnerability woven throughout the story. Plus, we dive into her love of gardening, Roman wax tablets, and the unforgettable moment she realized her husband does think about Rome. If you love second chances, hidden secrets, and faith-filled storytelling, this one’s for you!
Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayola. She is a Christy Award–winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She’s an anglophile at heart, and you’ll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but it’s probably easier to find her at MichelleGriep.com
Michelle Griep’s New Book: Of Silver and Secrets(Time’s Lost Treasures Book 2)
Buried underneath are truths bent on keeping them apart. . . .
In 1889 Victorian England, Eva Inman is haunted by guilt over her parents’ deaths while struggling to care for her blind sister and manage her family’s crumbling estate. With the tax deadline looming, Eva’s situation looks dire until an ancient silver ring is unearthed on the property. Despite superstitions warning against disturbing the supposedly cursed acres, Eva’s need for funds ignites her curiosity about the potential of finding more buried relics.
Cambridge professor Bram Webb must prove a legendary Christian Roman settlement exists, or he’ll risk exposing his uncle’s deteriorating memory and they’ll both lose their positions. Then Eva steps into his office with the prospect of an archaeological dig that might lead to the very evidence Bram requires–provided he and Eva can set aside painful memories of a time they would rather forget. As the dig forces the two to confront their pasts, the work becomes fraught with challenges that threaten Eva’s and Bram’s hopes, as well as the growing attraction between them.
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!
If you missed out on my debut novel Finding Forevermore on Kickstarter, no worries. You’ll have a chance to get the book at a later time once it officially launches across retailers like Amazon.
I’ll share more updates by joining my free email list and you’ll get all kind of goodies! Visit my website here to sign up
In this moving episode of The Christian Romance Podcast, we’re joined by award-winning author and missionary Elizabeth Musser, whose powerful new novel, From the Valley We Rise, explores themes of faith, forgiveness, and finding beauty among the ruins. Elizabeth shares her incredible journey from writing poetry at age six to serving over 40 years in missions in France, and how God wove her love for storytelling and service together in the most unexpected ways.
We dive deep into the inspiration behind her newest historical romance, set during the lesser-known Allied invasion of Provence in WWII. With rich historical detail, complex characters, and not one, buttwo deeply moving love stories, this book is a beautiful reflection of Isaiah 61 and God’s ability to rebuild what’s been devastated.
If you’ve ever struggled with brokenness, regret, or feeling disqualified, this conversation will uplift your spirit and remind you of the redeeming power of grace.
Elizabeth Musser writes “entertainment with a soul” from her writing chalet (a toolshed) outside Lyon, France. A Carol Award winner and Christy Award and Georgia Author of the Year finalist, Elizabeth’s critically acclaimed novels have been translated into multiple languages and have been international bestsellers. The Swan House was named one of Georgia’s Top Ten Novels of the Past 100 Years. By Way of the Moonlight was a Publishers Weekly Top Ten Pick in Religion and Spirituality. Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have worked with the nonprofit One Collective for over forty years.
Isaiah 61:4 (NKJV) “And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.”
Elizabeth Musser’s New Book: From the Valley We Rise
Loyalty during Peril In the heart of war-torn France, Isabelle Seauve’s resolve is tested after her father sacrifices his life to protect her involvement in the French Resistance. Heartbroken, Isabelle becomes more dedicated to hiding Jewish children in and near the village of Sisteron despite the growing danger when she discovers a traitor within the Resistance ranks.
Truth amid Deception As the shadow of betrayal looms, Isabelle’s world collides with that of US Army Chaplain Peter Christensen, who carries emotional scars from his first position in Kentucky and his service in North Africa. Together, they face the brutal reality of war as the second D-Day–the Allied invasion of Provence–unfolds.
Bravery through Trial Fifteen-year-old René Amblard narrowly escapes a devastating German attack that claims the lives of his mother and their fellow Maquis fighters. With a Jewish orphan girl at his side, René seeks out his cousin, Isabelle, for refuge while he contemplates revenge.
When the bombs of Operation Dragoon begin to fall, this unlikely group of heroes must find freedom in their souls before they can rebuild what has been destroyed.
💞 Tropes in From the Valley We Rise
Wartime Romance
Slow Burn
Redemption Arc
Found Family
Grumpy Meets Sunshine (Peter & Isabelle)
Protector Hero (Renee’s story)
Secret Identity (Jewish orphan hidden as someone else)
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!
If you missed out on my debut novel Finding Forevermore on Kickstarter, no worries. You’ll have a chance to get the book at a later time once it officially launches across retailers like Amazon.
I’ll share more updates by joining my free email list and you’ll get all kind of goodies! Visit my website here to sign up
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