I was impressed and enjoyed Christine Hill Sunz's debut The Laundress and the Lawyer, I had high expectations for her second standalone novel The Heiress and the Woodsman.
The slow pacing of this novel made it hard for me to get into. Each time I'd pick up the book it felt like a chore to continue reading which was disappointing because I liked this author's debut novel so well. I kept hoping the story would eventually pull me in, but I never found myself as invested as I wanted to be.
Set in 1830's Canada, Christine's latest story follows Charlotte Carruthers and Joshua Robertson as they search for their missing siblings. There were some interesting moments between the characters and readers who prefer a slower more character driven historical romance may enjoy this read.
For me, the pacing ultimately overshadowed parts of the story I liked. I think my expectations coming off The Laundress and the Lawyer may have also played a part. I went into this story hoping for the same feeling of being completely drawn into the story and connect with the characters. Sadly, this didn't happen for me.
While The Heiress and the Woodsman wasn't a great fit for me, I wouldn't hesitate to give future Christine Hill Sunz books a try. Her writing has a beautiful lyrical cadence. One book not working for me doesn't erase how much I enjoyed her debut.
I'd rate this story as 3 1/2 out of 5 stars because of the slow pacing. It is a clean and wholesome historical romance for readers who enjoy a gentle love story.
