A Name Unknown (Shadows Over England Book #1)

A Name Unknown is the first book in Shadows over England series by Roseanna M. White. We are taken back to 1914 when tensions are on the rise throughout Europe (war has yet to break out). Rosemary Gresham is a thief in London who helps support her “family”. The group consists of twelve orphans who have banded together and become a family. Rosemary has done two previous jobs for Mr. V and now he is offering her a third with a handsome payout. Mr. V wants Rosemary to find documented proof of Peter Holstein’s loyalties. He is loyal to England or Germany? Peter is of German descent and has the ear of the King of England, George V. War is sure to be declared soon and time is of the essence. Peter has just returned home to Kensey Manor from London. He is happy to be away from the crowds and return to his writing. Peter needs important documents to be found in his library or what his friend, Gryffyn calls the cave. With troubling times coming, he needs the documents that prove his nationality (his loyalty). Rosemary arrives as a librarian to apply for the position Peter has available (to sort the items in the cave). As time passes, Peter’s character is revealed to Rosemary. He is a kind, Christian man, but few people get to know Peter because of his stutter. Will Rosemary find the documentation she needs to complete the job? Or will she find a far greater prize in Cornwall? A Name Unknown is set in beautiful Cornwall. I thought the story idea was interesting (and the cover is just lovely), but the execution (for me) was lacking. The book starts out with a good pace, but then it slows down to a crawl. The story gets bogged down (too much detail), and I felt like I was sinking in quicksand (I kept looking to see if I was any closer to the end). A little rewriting and editing would have made a significant difference. My rating for A Name Unknown is 3 out of 5 stars. The Christian element is moderate (just the right amount). Peter is a Christian man who prays and leads by example (many people look up to him and correspond with him). I particularly enjoyed Rosemary finding comfort in the Bible and God (becoming a Christian). It was the best part of the book. The mystery element was not complicated, and I easily identified the culprit. The mysterious Mr. V was an intriguing figure, and I believe people will be surprised by his motives. The romance plays out slowly over the course of book and had an expected outcome. A Name Unknown does have a charming ending. A Name Unknown has some good elements, but I was not wowed. It needs some reworking to improve the flow and eliminate the extraneous (it is too long).

Every time I read a book by this author, I think Oh this is my favorite. To say I enjoyed this book would be putting it mildly. I love everything about the way Roseanna M. White writes. This is the first of her new series, Shadows Over England. I won't go into the plot of the story, you can read that from the publishers description above. Roseanna has written a page turner. You will not want to put this one down. It contains spy's, traitors, a beautiful and talented thief, along with her unusual street family. Not to mention a recluse of a mystery writer. As with her other books, Roseanna weaves her faith and moral lessons into the story so naturally. I found myself laughing at parts and tearing up at others. I highly recommend this wonderful book. I can't wait to read the others and learn more about this usually family.

Great inspirational and historical novel by Roseanna M. White! A Name Unknown is the first book in her new series Shadows Over England. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more stories in this series. Rosemary Gresham has no family to claim except for the mismatched bunch of street urchins that have helped her survive since she was child. They've left the petty theft behind and have moved on to bigger and better crimes that target the upper-class society, but Rosemary is questioning staying in this lifestyle when she takes on the task of of stealing Peter Holstein's family history and name. I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.