A beautiful story with amazing characters! The author's writing was spell-binding and I found myself wanting to savor this book slowly so that it'd last longer!

An unusual hero (he stutters and he writes novels in secret) – Like that! An unusual heroine (she steals – albeit for the “family”) - Not sure that I like that. The fact that she's a thief and was in the house to discredit the hero colored my enjoyment of the book.

Other than that, the author writes really well. The dialogue sounds natural to my reading ear.

I will look out for the author's other books.

Thank you Netgalley and Bethany House for a chance to read this title. Sorry for the late review. I am trying to catch up!

It's 1914 in England and loyalties are being questioned as Europe braces for war. Peter Holstein is under suspicion of being a spy due to his German heritage and his friendship with the British monarchy. This peaceful man with a stuttering tongue has done nothing to endanger his country, but he does have secrets. He's a novelist publishing under the name Branok Hollow, and he keeps to himself to have plenty of time to write letters and tinker with his current manuscript.

Rosemary Gresham grew up a London street urchin and has done what it takes to survive. Now an accomplished thief, Rosemary delights in the challenge of each new and difficult job she's hired to do. When the mysterious and well-paying Mr. V secures her services to prove Peter Holstein has ties to Germany, Rosemary sets off for his Cornwall estate to pass herself off as a librarian.

While Peter is thrilled to have help putting his family's papers in order, Rosemary is ever mindful of the information she is seeking to uncover for Mr. V. The Holstein family have been book hoarders for years, and Rosemary's task is no small one. Her curiosity grows as she observes Peter locked in his study day after day, where she can hear him using his typewriter for hours at a time. What is he typing? While Rosemary finds Peter a kind and gentle man, he comes under more suspicion every day and pressure mounts for her to produce the evidence of where his allegiance lies.

This was a fun and captivating novel! I enjoyed the glimpse into this particular time in history and the real historical figures who make appearances. Roseanna M. White's new Shadows Over England series is off to a promising start. Book 2 releases in January!

I received my copy of the book from LitFuse Publicity. All opinions in this review are my own.

I loved the different setting of world war 1 which i personally think are way to rare and should be both published and talked about more.

This is a great book in itself as well, not just because of the sadly rather unique time setting.

I loved the characters, found it very realistic and honest how they behaved and just enjoyed the overall book in all aspects.

If you are looking for a well done historical fiction especially one during world war 1 setting, this is a great one to give a try!

I recently finished reading A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White. This is the first book in the series “Shadows Over England” which is set during World War I.

Rosemary Gresham was orphaned as a young child, and was “adopted” by a “family” of street urchins who are really thieves. As Rosemary grows older, she becomes even more proficient as a thief. The book starts when Rosemary is approached by a mysterious client who wants to hire her to research out the political leanings of a man named Peter Holstein. Peter is of German descent, but was raised in Cornwall. War has not yet broken out but there are rumors of war, including rumors that men of German descent will be deported or sent to internment camps in England. Rosemary obtains a job as a librarian in Peter’s household and sets out to discover whether he is a spy or not, and if he favors Germany in any potential future war. What she doesn’t anticipate is her growing attraction to Peter, as well as her attraction to his love of the Lord.

I don’t want to spoil the plotline, but this was a great book! If you like historical romantic Christian fiction, you will definitely enjoy this novel!

There are a lot of books and book series set during World War II, but not as many set during World War I. I’ve noticed that in recent years there are increasingly more books set during WWI, so it’s nice to see the shift in writing (even though the WWII era is still my favorite for historical novels to read).

I’ve read several books by Roseanna M. White before (The Culper Ring series and Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland), and this is actually the best book of hers that I’ve read thus far. Her writing seems to have matured and evolved in a positive way. I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the books in this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Sometimes there are those books that are the perfect escape from life—and this was one of those books. I enjoyed reading Peter and Rosemary’s story. This book takes place on the brink of WWI—a time period that I’m falling more and more in love with. I liked that this wasn’t your typical “perfect guy”/”perfect girl” romance. Peter has a terrible stutter, and it was refreshing to read (and fall in love with) a hero with such an outward flaw. I love that Rosemary wasn’t your typical strong female heroine. Her feet are placed both in the good-guy and bad-guy camp (but she does ultimately choose which camp she’s going to stay in). This is the perfect weekend escape (if you’re needing one!) Super excited to read the rest of the up-coming books in Roseanna’s Shadows Over England series!

A story to get thoroughly wrapped up in without even realizing it.
Rosemary is from a world of orphans and thieves in London. Peter is from a well to do family of property, and a friend of the King of England. Rosemary isn't a simple thief, she's more of a grifter. She's quite intelligent and is hired to act as a librarian, go to Peter's home and find proof that he's a German spy. But he's not a spy. He has a personal reason for being somewhat reclusive, and his ancestors were from Germany. He’s a Gentleman, and Rosemary and her “family” have learned not to trust Gentlemen so it makes it easier for her to take the job.

Peter believes that he was born in England, but those records are not easy to find, since his family saved every bit of correspondence over the years and their manor home has a huge room full of books – many with his family in them. Rosemary has earned a reputation as being the best at what she does, and Mr. V comes to her for the job at Peter’s house. She taught herself German for another “project” and learned in a short amount of time how to act as a librarian.

It's interesting that Rosemary doesn't try to make up a story about herself, but instead talks of her "Family" by name. It's Peter who is keeping something well hidden. There's great depth to the story that while you become more endeared to the unveiling of the characters, it gives you much to ponder. A layering of mysteries, spies and danger that keeps you hooked. Also one of the best laid out lessons of becoming a Christian I’ve read in a novel. Excellent read that you will love every minute of.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Name Unknown was a delightful read that I will be sure to visit again and has caused me to wish to visit Ms. White’s other books. The characters were deeper than your typically fiction, historical or otherwise and I enjoyed getting to know them. (For instance--Rosemary Gresham may have been the implied heroine from the beginning, but I rather appreciated that White made her work to earn her real status as such. Peter Holstein never wavered in his hero status for me, despite the question of character versus name history alone.) I can only hope we get more books about the rest of Rosemary’s unlikely siblings soon.

Synopsis:

Rosemary Gresham has found her family’s ticket to a better life – at least for now – when she is hired by the mysterious Mr. V to determine where the true loyalties of Peter Holstein truly lie. Set on the eve of WWII, A Name Unknown follows Rosemary’s attempts to prove Peter’s guilt. With such a German name, there really is only one country that has his heart, surely. Peter meanwhile is frantically trying to put his library in order trying to find proof of his British Citizenship while keeping some other secrets of his own.



My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book. I read them to escape my life, be happy and find good endings. A Name Unknown fit the bill. It took me longer than I would have liked to be hooked, but I blame my busy lifestyle rather than the actual writing of the book. [I’m working 50 hour work weeks and getting my MBA so finding time to do anything besides sleep and homework really does take some doing. Thankfully I had a sick day which let me dive into this uninterrupted, to be completely honest...I finished this in class where I am even now as I write up this review. When I got into it I didn’t want to put it down. White did a wonderful job of weaving the story together, of bringing in characters that I loved and I really do want to visit Cornwall.

It also felt timely. In a year with mounting xenophobia a book with themes of hating and fearing your neighbors simply due to their last name has been come all too strong of a temptation. We never should assume to know another person’s heart, projecting our biases and fears on to those who are around us. Peter and his struggle with his neighbors demonstrated how wrong we really can be in our judgements.

Overall, it was a nice story and I’m excited to read the next installment.

This was a fun read but did take awhile to get into the story. The characters were for the most part likeable. I just thought the story was too far fetched.

I loved this newest book from Roseanna M. White. To a book lover, the setting of a library and the inclusion of an author in the story line was so much fun. I enjoyed reading about Rosemary's "family" and how they took care of each other. And I really liked Peter and his search for who he is that leads to a whole new future. With her awesome talent, this author takes you on a fun journey of discovery, faith, mystery, and love. Looking forward to reading the next book!

*Thanks to the author & publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. I was not paid or required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own.*

Having no family, Rosemary had to learn to survive as a child, with help only from the urchins that were there on the mean streets of London, surviving just like her. This group later formed a more formal group, focusing only the higher society, those who will not miss the things stolen from them. Rosemary’s life changed when she was given the challenge of a lifetime, to determine if wealthy Peter Holstein is loyal to Britain or Germany. When Rosemary hires on as a Librarian to help organize and clean out his library, she finds a whole lot more than she every imagined! And being so close to Peter Holstein gets harder because the attraction is so very strong. What will happen to these two as the War grows closer and they struggle to find answers?

Wow! I heard talk that A Name Unknown was an awesome read, and truly it is, and more! I love, love the fiesty and oh so sassy Rosemary. And Peter, with his cleft chin and stutters was simply adorable! All of the characters were so beautifully created, and I so wanted to find out who the mysterious Mr. V was! And even though I didn’t agree with what they did to put food on the table, I was impressed with Rosemary’s ‘family’ and the love and closeness they had. And Rosemary’s time at the Holstein house, well it all just tied in beautifully and ended in the most charming ending a book could have. There is so much going on in this story, so much to tell, but I just can’t mention more without ruining it for others. If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love A Name Unknown. The history in this book is amazing and Ms. White did an awesome job with research, each scene described so vividly and beautiful. I highly recommend this book to you historical fiction lovers out there as well as those just wanting a good, clean read, one that includes living for the Lord in everyday life and shows how on can find Jesus, all done in a classy way.

A Name Unknown; well now, let's think about this. What does your name say about you? Some people have very distinguishable names and you know who that person is as soon as they are mentioned. What if your name ties you to a certain family? Others hide behind the name they were born into or given. Then you have those that will assume another name seeking anonymity. What does your name say about you?

Have you ever secretly wished that you could blend into your surroundings just for curiosity sake? I would love to blend into places just to explore behind the scenes! Then again, what I have imagined in my head might leave me seriously disappoint when coming face to face with reality. Another good reason I steal away into shadows of a good story. That way I can watch the movie unfold in my mind. Sometimes the best books are history books that work along with puzzle that needs to be solved. Once you have the pieces into place, you get a whole new perspective of tale that has been passed down for generations.

In the book, A Name Unknown, you have two characters that would never have encountered one another in a normal everyday life. Ah, but this is no ordinary book. The events set here allow for a third party to step in and initiates the intermingling of these twos tales. You can never read a book just by its cover; same goes with a person. Never judge someone just with what they present to you. Sometimes you have to dig a little deeper to discover the nuances that weave that person life story. You may have had to overcome an obstacle in you life, be it big or small. Just remember though, you are not the only one.

This was an enjoyable tale of highs and lows, discovery and intrigue. I will look for more books by this author. I did receive this book to read, ponder over, and offer my true and honest opinion and that is what I have attempted here. You may read this book on your own and offer your own thoughts to whether you would recommend this to yours.

I’m always in two minds about Christian novels that have one character who, let’s say, has issues with honesty. It’s a basic tenet of the Christian faith, so an author who chooses such a character is often starting off on the wrong foot.

I’m also in two minds about novels in which one of the main characters is a novelist—it seems to break the fourth wall, as well as being a somewhat cliché application of the writing principle, to ‘write what you know’. But A Name Unknown quickly overcame both these possible issues.

Rosemary Gresham is a needs-must thief who has survived on the streets since she was orphaned at the age of eight. She’s now built up a ‘family’ of misfit orphans who rely on her to provide for them, Robin Hood-style. Her latest assignment, from the mysterious Mr V, is to infiltrate the Cornwall home of Mr Peter Holstein and prove he is not the loyal Englishman he pretends to be. This is important, as England is on the cusp of war with Germany, what we know as World War One.

Peter Holstein might be German by birth and by heritage, but he’s as English as the King when it comes to his loyalties. If only he could prove it. He knows the documents are in the library, but the library is dark and cramped, filled with the books, letters, and boxes of generations. He needs a librarian to make some sense of it. Enter Rosemary Gresham …

A Name Unknown is historical romance with suspense elements. And it’s Christian, although the author favours Peter Holstein’s brand of Christian fiction:

"He’d certainly never poured a whole sermon into his novels—that would hardly be right in an adventure story—the ideas still snuck in. The readers got the message. Those letters in the attic assured him they did."

The ideas do more than sneak in. Peter is a Christian who prays, whose faith injects everything he does. He’s an excellent hero, even if he’s not the cliché hero of the adventure novels popular with the Edwardian public.

There were a couple of factual glitches that only a non-American would notice, but these were minor and more than compensated for by the outstanding writing. Roseanna M White is a brilliant writer, and I’ll be looking forward to the sequel to A Name Unknown.

Recommended for fans of Edwardian-era Christian romance. Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

When it comes to Christian historical fiction Roseanna White is one of the best out there and this book did not disappoint! The cover alone is enough to draw one in but the content is even better! I love the painstaking research that is put into this book, it was a fascinating time during England's history and this book brings it all vividly to life.
I loved the character of Rosemary, feisty and spunky she sparkles with life and it is wonderful watching her character grow and develop. I loved Peter's character, he is so loving and amazing, the perfect gentleman!
This book is a great read and keeps you engaged until the very end!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Why This Book:

Having previously read and enjoyed Roseanna M. White‘s Ladies of the Manor series, I felt confident that I would enjoy this A Name Unknown as well. Added to my confidence in the author was the uniqueness of a heroine who is a thief and a hero who writes novels. Such a unique combination promised an interesting read.

Opening Line:

London
May 1914

Rosemary Gresham may have been a thief, but she was a thief who preferred to work in broad daylight.

First Impressions:

This novel pulled me in the from the very first line. The first scene throws the reader immediately into danger and the first chapter adeptly sets up the rest of the novel. We immediately understand what is at stake and are given strong reasons to care about the heroine and root for her despite her profession. The second chapter introduces the hero and we immediately connect with him and his plight as well. The fact that the hero and heroine are secretly (at least on her part) at cross purposes, yet you want to root for them both, makes for quite a compelling start.

Book Quotes - A Name Unknown - silence cloaks monsters

Characters:

Rosemary Gresham is a deservedly complex heroine, with a well-developed backstory that supports who she is and why she makes the choices she does. She cares for her “family” to a point of self-sacrifice and it’s this very love which causes her such internal conflict as she begins to grow and change throughout the story.

Peter Holstein is a quieter style of hero. In fact, he and the heroine do a significant amount of communicating through hand-written notes because his stress-aggravated stutter makes speech difficult for him. It could be annoying reading stuttered dialogue throughout an entire book, so when I first realized he had a stutter I was on guard. However, I am happy to report that his stutter in no way detracts from the story, and in fact is handled so well, it becomes a positive quality in this character which highlights his positive virtues. Peter is a noble yet human hero you can admire, sympathize with, and root for.

Emotional Engagement & Pacing of the Story:

From the first scene, this novel held my attention and I never wanted to put it down. While it didn’t make me laugh out loud or cry, I cared strongly for the characters and wanted to see things work out for them in the end.

Book Quotes - A Name Unknown - fiction is truth

Elements I especially liked/disliked:

I especially enjoyed seeing street life in 1914 London through Rosemary’s eyes. Her views on social injustices struck similar chords in my mind and heart and made me root for her all the more.

Peter’s unique position as a man with both German ancestry & royal friendships during a time of impending war provided a very interesting perspective on the events leading up to the first World War. Though I am unsure if it was a conscious intention of the author, I did note that several of the issues he faced were eerily similar to certain things going on in the United States currently or which have occurred here in the past. It provided solid food for thought.

Ending:

This ending came as a surprise to me – or at least, the way everything happened was surprising. The author managed to throw in some twists that I did not see coming, yet they still made complete sense in hindsight. That is certainly my favorite type of ending, but extremely difficult to pull off. If you ever read this, well done, Ms. White. Well done.

(none of the links in this review are affiliate links)

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 stars (I honestly can’t think of a single thing I would change about this novel.)

okay! and then you want, of course, a slick and sophisticated slow-burning romance set in Edwardian Cornwall featuring a thief -turned- librarian and a stammering author with royal connections who may hold secrets to the axis retaliation in the looming war? RIGHT? yes.

So then we have A Name Unknown which features not only some of Rachel's favourite tropes ( tortured reclusive misunderstood stammering author, two lost souls who connect through words and leave letters to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ) but also possibly my favourite hero of 2017. Peter Holstein is certified Rachel Catnip! I love that he is just too lovely and tweed-clad for the real world --- and the stammer in his voice is ironed out in his writing. There is a lovely Barney Snaith type twist to this set amidst a bubbling world on the brink of war against the lush tapestry of Cornwall. Rosemary Gresham, our intrepid heroine, was a tad more difficult for me to fall for --- but I think that was a conscious decision on the part of the author to show how she ---due to necessity and complicated past-- wants to keep the world at bay. And it is all "a rose by any other name.." because names and titles and connections and noms de plume are a huge motif here.

But mostly, Peter. I am in this for Peter bless his tweed and his accent and his spectacles and his awkward way with the world and you should be in it for Peter, too.

Oh my goodness! You know that moment when you finish a special book and want to immediately read it again, cover-to-cover? A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White is one of those! It’s that good. It’s a beautiful story of discovery and the importance of truth with twists and a subtle and poignant romance. I’m happily reviewing it today, so read on for the bookish talk!
This is truly a book for book lovers (and history lovers!). The added bonus is that the most bookish character is the hero (ahem, books=the way to my heart). The stacks and volumes and discussions of fiction are just one of the many things to love about this story! I have so many quotes highlighted.

It’s not all books, though. It’s the Cornish culture, the impending WWI European uproar, a thief-with-a-secret-mission, hidden identities and family secrets, absolutely delightful supporting characters, witty conversations, a spunky and fiercely independent heroine, and the steadfast, quiet hero that encourages her faith and shatters her assumptions.

As Rosemary says, Peter is just “so blasted nice”! He is an exemplary man of integrity, though he knows his goodness is not innate but is a result of Christ shining through him. He lives out these truths and shows this lifestyle to Rosemary, a person whose bitterness and skepticism is understandably deeply rooted and in need of his kind encouragement. Her journey is one of discovering the power and importance of truth — and the freely offered gift of God’s love. She’s a hoot!

Back to Peter, now. He is a very determined person. He doesn’t react to pressure or various trying situations like he could, and that’s why he’s such a likable hero. Especially when he could react to a major revelation of Rosemary’s with anger or by retreating, instead his fierce determination reveals his integrity and commitment to live out his faith.

The love story between Rosemary and Peter is wonderfully slow, subtle, and thoughtful, a realistic pace they both need. I was a little bit impatient, of course, but when their emotions and actions *finally* grew into a romance, I found it WELL WORTH THE WAIT. It’s simply beautiful.

Words play an important role in this story, both in defining identity and truth. I really loved how it illustrates the way a name can hold weight or influence, yet is ultimately a result of choices and actions. Important choices of honesty, patriotism, and extending grace are all a part of this wonderful story. I am so, SO glad this book is the start of a series (the “Shadows Over England” series)….. that means MORE of Rosemary’s ragtag “family” (plus more Peter, I hope) and more of this fascinating era in Europe.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary review copy. This is my honest review.