A Song Unheard follows after A Name Unknown, but could be read as a stand alone book.

Willa is part of an unusual family, a family of orphans who chose each other and learned what they needed to survive the streets of London. They are thieves. Good ones. So good, in fact, that they have attracted the eye of the government who has need of their skills in the war effort.

I really enjoy Roseanna White's writing. Her characters are well developed having believable motivations and weaknesses, alongside rather extraordinary skills. I enjoyed reading about Willa and Lukas and their complicated relationship. I also appreciated that fact that the author had a German officer with a multi-faceted character providing discussions on belief, ethics and assumptions and how our thoughts on those subjects send us down different paths.

All in all, A Song Unheard, is a well written story with intrigue and interesting characters that provides enjoyable and insightful entertainment. I would recommend it.

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I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lives collide in a world gone crazy...

For several years now I've been hearing about the author Roseanna M. White, many of my book buddies rave about her books, but I hadn't really had the chance to read one for myself. Enter A Song Unheard, there was just something about the book blurb that made me want to read it, even though it's actually the second book in the series and I hadn't read book one.

I was pleasantly surprised. Plenty of action, adventure, spies, prodigies, and one crazy family of thieves, kept this story from being a run-of-the-mill historical romance novel. And the characters of Willa and Lukas provided an unexpected depth that made this book a historical delight to read. They both have a lot to learn and a lot to overcome.

I learned a lot while reading A Song Unheard. Awhile back I read a book that talked about Belgium during WWI but I had no idea that there so many Belgians took refuge in England during the war. I love a story, especially a historical novel, where I learn while I'm entertained and Roseanna M. White did that very well in this book.

A Song Unheard was a very enjoyable read and I will definitely be looking for more books by this author and especially in this series.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

The continuation of the series starts right up where book one left off. Willa is given an assignment by the mysterious V. She heads to Wales and meets famous violinist Lukas de Wilde. She has to find a Key for coding. This book is so well written and the flow is done just right. The way Lukas pursues Willa is beautiful! It reminds me of how Christ pursues us. There’s danger, mystery, spying, a little romance and a whole lot of music. I loved the way the music was woven into the story. I didn’t think this series could get any better, but it has. This book is a must read! I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions here are my own.

In this tale set at the end of 1914 we follow Willa, a gifted violin player - and a top class thief. Sent by the mysterious 'Mr V' to find a cypher key held by the famous Belgian violinist Lukas De Wilde who is touring with a fund-raising orchestra in Wales, Willa doesn't expect to end up taking lessons from him. Or to find herself falling in love with him. Feelings she fights for all she's worth since she knows must steal the cypher from him. Then there's the matter of her aversion to charming men...

Lukas is stunned by the fierce young woman who picks up his violin and makes it sing, and who resists his efforts to win her. And he has huge problems of his own: his mother and sister vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, and he is desperate to find them before others searching for the key reach them first.

Lukas and Willa are both complicated yet appealing characters, and their romance is beautifully portrayed. We follow the story of Lukas's mother and his sister Margot as a parallel thread through the novel, and Margot in particular is a feisty young lady who is very well aware of her increasingly risky situation. The unfolding of what the key is, and how it is used, is nicely portrayed.

To complicate things further, it's clear very early on that Willa is being followed by two men, and they are not interested in courting her.

The book flows steadily and engagingly, with an acceleration of action in the last quarter. The English characters on the whole sound English, although there is a scattering of 'gotten's across the pages which are always a bit of a giveaway sign of an American author. Some colloquialisms/slang terms don't quite work either. 'spending the quid on one' is odd (and reference to 'every cent brought in by the orchestra' is used once, and must've crept by the author's English check reader since they wouldn't have earned any cents at all in Wales!) and 'bloke' is used often and with mixed success. The English don't talk of slapping someone 'upside the head' either. However, I'm being picky. (Please note though, a lot of British readers of American novels are FAR pickier than I!)

I loved the way the music is almost a character in itself, and the violins certainly were. Willa talks to her own shabby but much loved instrument: "It isn't your fault," she whispered to the wood. "It isn't your fault I can't ever find the right notes. It isn't your fault you're not an expensive instrument. You don't <i>need</i> to be." It was <i>hers</i>.

The two Davies sisters with whom Willa stays are based on actual people. They funded a real life orchestra of Belgium's most brilliant musicians, and who opened a canteen in France in 1917 for the soldiers there. After the war they bought Gregynog Hall and estate as a place to rehabilitate returning soldiers through art. It still stands today, a place where people can appreciate the arts and the natural surroundings.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was gripping and made me want to sit and read. The characters were really engaging and I was totally gripped by what would happen to them. The 'baddies' were nastily horrible, and there was at least one character who kept me guessing for a long time - and I'm still not sure about him.

I'm very much looking forward to the next in the series.

Just finished this marvelous book-left me speechless...but with a song in my heart.

So sad that Willa felt she was unloved- abandoned. All it took was a little girl, wiser than her years, to convince her that Jesus was right there with her all along ready to put the "pieces" together.

I was a little lost at the beginning as this was Book 2 of a series. It only took a few chapters before I got it.

So much hurt - fear - loss and HOPE of a better tomorrow wrapped up in one book.

Great story, moving....a story that will stay with me for awhile.

I received this free to review.

I admit: I spent most of my afternoon reading this instead of packing for moving house in two weeks. #guilty

But, I don't regret it. Because this story was just so good. It wasn't quite as lovely as some of the other books I've read lately, but I got totally sucked into the story and couldn't wait for the mystery to be resolved. Even if it did become fairly clear from part-way through the book (although it actually wasn't quite as predictable as the previous story, which I liked!).

I loved the history. I haven't read much about England at the beginning of World War I, and if you add some spies, and music, and secret codes to it? I'm hooked. Rather literally, apparently. It was fascinating to get a little glimpse into what people were thinking then...what they must have been feeling and how they reacted to things. Historically speaking, it was very well done. I never felt like there was anything too modern happening.

The romance, too, although not always my cup of tea, wasn't that bad. Yes, it was there. Yes, some sappiness was included, but nothing that made me cringe too much. In the end, it felt pretty sweet.

I think my favorite character, aside from the hero and heroine, of course, was Margot. I loved her spunk, and how she tried to hide her intelligence and cunning even though it screamed from every pore. I laughed out loud at what she was thinking at times, and especially remember the part where someone was asking her age:

"How old are you, anyway? Thirteen? Fourteen?"
"Two hundred and thirty. I look young for my age."

She was fourteen. Thanks, Margot.

In all, although this may not have made it onto the top books of the year list for me, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this second book in a fascinating series, and can't wait for book three to be released!

I received this book for free from the publishers, and chose to share my opinions of the book.

What I Loved: Sometimes book one of a series is so great that you almost have to expect some form of a let down in book two. This was NOT the case with A Song Unheard. White returned with the same loveable street-wise family and added to them another set of memorable, one-of-a-kind characters. One of my favorite characters, in particular, was Margot De Wilde. She seems to be autistic, although it wasn’t named. Either way, she had such a unique personality and gifting. I appreciated how White gave her, and other characters, such depth and yet it never felt like they slipped out of character.
The focus of the war was centered on the refugees and the homefront so there was little military focus. Homefront stories tend to be my favorite, so this was a treat for me.
I honestly loved every minute I spent in this book, and I can’t wait for the third in the series!

Rating and Recommendation: I’m giving A Song Unheard 5 stars and recommending it to Christian Historical Fans, musicians, and fans of WWI fiction.

~ I received a copy from Bethany House. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Roseanna White is one of those authors that I am compelled to read every book she writes. Each novel is better than the previous one. I have to say she does an awesome job creating wonderful characters involved in very interesting plots. She describes the historical settings with exquisite detail. It is apparent that Ms. White does her homework and carefully researches the time period adding a wonderful depth to her stories. A song Unheard is part of her Shadows Over England series, following a group of talented thieves from London.

I was given this book by NetGalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 02 Jan 2018


I am reviewing a copy of A Song Unheard through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:


Willa Forsythe is a violin prodigy, but she is also an experienced thief, making her the right choice for a task on the outset of the First World War, to steal a cypher from a famous violinist in Wales?

Will Willa be up to the task?


Willa had spent most of her twenty three years in London.


Lukas De Wilde enjoyed the fame he won, until having someone recognize him nearly became the death of him. Everyone wants the key to his Father's work as a Cryptologist, and his Sister and Mother who vanished as the German's invaded Belgium may end up paying with their lives.


But danger is on both sides, and Willa must protect her family just as Lukas has to protect his.


Will Willa and Lukas make it out of this alive.


I give A Song Unheard five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!!!

An absolutely FANTASTIC historical novel!

My attention was captured by two things when I chose to read this book. The first is the author. I have read some of her contemporary books and enjoyed them. The second was the phrase that Ada Lovelace was the world’s first computer programmer. I have loved computers for many years. Right out of high school I joined the Air Force and became a computer operator.

When the book began I had doubts as to whether I would like it or not. I’m not big on reading non-fiction and from the very beginning the style of writing clearly points to being written as an autobiography would be. Much to my surprise I was completely captivated by the story.

I found myself drawn in by Ada and the heartache she bore throughout her life. I kept hoping and praying that good things would come and she would find happiness. There were joys and happy instances sprinkled here and there which were like bright rays of sunshine.

I was fascinated to read about the friendships that she developed as an young woman. Their interactions were very compelling to read.

As with most stories of actual historical figures we see much of the sinful nature and dark sides of individuals.

I received a free eBook copy of this novel from the publisher and through NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

"They could be two melodies, existing in the same world but never mixing. Counterpoint, each line unique. Or they could be a harmony, blending together and making something new."

How does Roseanna White do this? Book after book, she crafts beautifully written novels with wonderfully and deeply layered characters who lodge themselves in my heart. Even the title has layers of meaning underneath and makes itself memorable long after the book is finished. The author puts twists and turns and a healthy dose of intrigue to keep the pages turning faster and faster. She creates realistic and delicious backgrounds to each novel with her thorough historical research and has me bouncing in my reading chair for the next book to be written and released..... like yesterday.

This book, A Song Unheard, is all of this and so much more. Set during the beginnings of WWI, the author paints the brutality of war and sin against the bigger and more beautiful backdrop of God's love, grace and forgiveness. The premise of the book, in which Willa must steal the key to a cypher to help the war effort, is fascinating, dangerous, and intriguing. There is quite a bit of suspense and intrigue in the plot, which keeps the story moving effortlessly.

And then there are the characters. And the romance.
Willa is an orphan, adopted into a large family of orphans, and feels responsible for the well-being of the younger ones in their "family". She is determined, tough, loyal and so so broken in feeling inadequate and unlovable. She starts out her next job feeling slightly betrayed by her "sister" Rosie, the heroine of the first novel A Name Unknown. She is a violin prodigy, untaught but naturally gifted. She is sent to find the key to a cypher, believed to be on the person of Lukas, a world-renowned Belgian violinist. Willa's faith journey is painful, desperate, yet so real and honest.
Lukas is a physically and emotionally violinist but still talented, handsome, charming, fiercely loyal to his family and so incredibly tender. Talk about a swoon-worthy hero! The dialogue between Willa and Lukas is funny, intelligent, yet sweet at the same time. Lukas' faith journey is less traumatic than Willa's but nonetheless powerful, even in its quiet way.

And the music.....yes, music is one of the unforgettable themes of the book. It is truly incredible how God gifts certain individuals a way to speak into the souls of men through music. And the author's writing is so lyrical that I could actually hear the music as I was reading the book. Indeed, "for the sake of the music."

I cannot wait for the next book in the series - An Hour Unspent! Rosie and Willa's "older brother" Barclay will meet his match!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher via Celebrate Lit Tour. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Violin virtuoso Lukas De Wilde has escaped war-torn Belgium with his life and his Stradivarius, but without his family. He has to find Mamman and Margot and get them safely to England before the Germans find them … and the valuable cypher key.

Willa Forsythe is one of London’s best thieves, and her latest assignment from the mysterious Mr V is to befriend Lukas De Wilde and find the cypher key. Which means a trip to Wales and playing best friends with the wealthy Davies sisters, benefactors to De Wilde and his fellow musicians.

It soon becomes apparent that Willa and V aren’t the only people interested in the cypher key … and that finding it isn’t going to be as easy as Willa first thought. Especially when Lukas begins to express his interest in her as a fellow musician, and romantically.

A Song Unheard is a brilliant combination of romance and suspense in a unique historical setting.
It is set in London and Aberystwyth. I lived in London for ten years, so I love reading books set there (perhaps this is why I like Regency romance, because most are set in and around central London). I haven’t read any other books set in Aberystwyth, which is where I was born (although I’ve never lived there). It was great to see the city through the eyes of Willa and Lukas.

I was especially impressed by the research. I’d never heard of the Davies sisters and their World War One Belgian orchestra, so this was a fascinating plot device (yes, they were a real thing. I wonder if any of my Welsh relatives attended their concerts?). I’ve always been fascinated by codes and cyphers, so this element intrigued me, especially the connection with mathematics. And who knew that Mozart encoded messages into his music with cyphers?

Overall, A Song Unheard was brilliant—Roseanna M White’s best book yet.
That’s saying something, because A Name Unknown, the first book in this Shadows Over England series, was excellent, as were her earlier books (especially The Culper Ring series). Recommended for fans of Edwardian romance, and romantic suspense.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Another winner from the uberly talented Roseanna M. White. I sat down to read this book, coffee in hand (singing 'the' coffee jingle.....perhaps someday you blog readers will know just what that means!) to myself, and relaxing into my recliner. I was so reading to dive into this book. It was long awaited after reading A NAME UNKNOWN and falling in love. This book couldn't come fast enough for me. Did it disappoint? Oh no. No it did not. It gripped me, sent me spinning like I was on a tiltawhirl, and left me feeling breathless by the last page.

Willa and Lukas....oh Willa and Lukas. What can I say about this tenderly created characters? They are real to me. They came alive with each page turn. Their story, their music, flowing together, each strand of their being becoming mine. I loved that feeling! Their feelings wrapped me up, making me a part of their lives.

The faith and hope that is woven among these pages is beautifully done. I could heard the strands of the music coming from Willa's violin. I could feel the harmony of the love blending perfectly. Oh what a feeling that was! God's unending grace and mercy were the cords to this fantabulously written story.

I absolutely recommend that you stop what you are doing right now, find a retailer and click on the "buy now" option. While it could be read as a stand alone, I still recommend you read book 1, A Name Unknown, to feel the depth, the fullness that these books can leave you with. This 5 stars times 50 worthy. This is two thumbs up, hats off, mountain top shouting worthy. Ms. White has once again fulfilled her duties of bringing forth a novel that her fans, old and new alike, will forever talk about. Well done, Ms. White! Well done!

I think I enjoyed this book more than that last one. The plot was strong, suspenseful and full of intrigue in which it was never certain who was safe or trustworthy, even the seemingly ‘good’ characters. The characters were also great, well-drawn and realistically flawed. One thing that makes this series and others like it so strong, is that it breaks some of the rules of the genre: its Edwardian Fiction, but breaks away from the mould of polite aristocratic settings, focusing instead on a gang of former London street kids, thieves now working for the government. Also, the protagonists are not all nice sweet Christians.
Willa’s beliefs reflected her background: the child of a single mother who never met her father and was abandoned by her mother at the age of six. She’s tough, independent, stubborn and disinclined towards romanticism or the genteel. Her understanding of God reflected her view of her own absent father who never wanted her. Lukas was a charming rake who cared for his family and was forced to rethink his priorities to find his missing mother and sister. I could believe the characterization of Lukas’ mathematical genius sister: as people with these skills often have some form of Autism or other learning disabilities.
The story wears its historical research well, without it being overwhelming or pretentious: facts about musical scores, mathematics, secret codes, and the plight of Belgium under German occupation abound in the story, as well as some interesting details about the small Welsh city of Aberystwyth at the turn of the last century. I also appreciated the nuanced portrayal of all the sides in the War: not all Germans were presented as bad, and not all Belgians or British people as good. The spiritual themes were also worked well into the story: there were no implausible instantaneous conversions or overt preachiness. The characters’ faith showed more through their lives and the example they showed to others.
As with the last book, I was able to get so caught up in this story that I was almost able to forget it was written by an American: except for a couple of lapses. At one point the British Willa referred to the ‘sidewalk’, and a few other Americanisms. I was a little annoyed by the lack of Welsh accents in a book set in Wales, but it's not an easy accent to represent on the page: and a hard language to learn. Recommended for all lovers of historical fiction.
I requested this book from a blogging/professional reading organization including Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

What an interesting and fun book to read! Intrigue, war, a thief and her family of thieves, music and oh so many secrets! What starts out as a job to steal a special key ends up with being captured by the enemy, a rescue and a sweet romance.. This was a hard to put down book. I was gifted a copy and my review is voluntary...

White does it again. A Song Unheard radiates with the beauty of a poetic melody.
I loved it. I didn't want to stop reading. I rued the fact I had a job that demanded my attention. I wished late at night my eyes would figure out a way to hold themselves open for longer. I understood Willa, identified with her. Lukas appealed to me - strong and arrogant in ways, but weak and overwhelmed in others. And the tension between them felt authentic to me.
As always, White's research was solid. That's one thing I ALWAYS appreciate from her novels. Regardless of whether or not her stories and characters fully resonate with me and my (quirky) preferences, I always admire White's research and storytelling abilities. They're always worth reading - so I always read them.
Here's what cracks me up: As I read through reviews of this book (the solid ones, but less than raving), quite a few of them mentioned this book wasn't as good as the first in White's Shadows Over London series (A Name Unknown). They mentioned that Lukas was no Peter Holstein and that Willa wasn't as great a character as Rosemary.
That's funny to me. While I enjoyed White's last book, it probably isn't one I'll read again. But it was, as hers always are, a solid and excellent work. However, A Song Unheard positively leapt from the page for me. I felt exactly OPPOSITE of those other reviewers.
So here are my suggestions:
1. Don't listen to the other reviewers as they (mildly) downplay this book.
2. Don't listen to me as I tout it wildly.
3. Read this one yourself and find your own preference.
I've talked before about preference. About how individual the reading experience is. THAT is what was screaming at me loud and clear as I read through reviews. Some of you who read her first in the series may find you enjoy this one less. Others of you who thought the first was good but nothing stellar, may (like me) be held captivated by this story. I loved the faith themes that were woven in, and even found myself highlighting certain sentence-nuggets that particularly resonated truth to me.
Read it yourself. Either way, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Willa and Lukas and Margot are delightful company. A big thanks to Roseanna M. White for sharing them with us.

I do believe I enjoyed “A Song Unheard” better than Book 1 in the series, “A Name Unknown”! Willa is an intriguing heroine in whom I saw much of myself. She returns stares with a hint (or more) of challenge, and I couldn’t help but be amused by her skepticism of Lukas’ expressions of amour (which she should rightly have been, regardless of how genuine he and the reader know them to be). Willa gives as good as she gets.

In turn, Lukas is entirely endearing, and not just because his arm gives him so much grief. His love of music and family, and ongoing quest to locate his mother and sister back on the Continent, are admirable.

The book is a good length, clocking in close to 3 hours even for me, a self-professed speed reader, and allows sufficient time for their story (and stories) to play out. Now, if only Book 3 were available...

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A Song Unheard

This book was set during war world 1 where the Germans is trying to take over. I could tell it took a lot of research to write this book. Willa was a thief and she wanted to quit but not sure how to make a living otherwise. She loves music, especially the violin and she gets to meet Lukas who is a well known musician. Loved the characters of Lukas and Willa. Then there is Lukas’s mother and sister who is very smart and trying to figure out a way to get back with her brother. I realize this was second in the series but appears to be a stand alone so didn’t matter but since I enjoyed this book I need to read the first one someday. Even though it was a long book it did keep my attention throughout the book. I did feel like I was watching a movie meaning the descriptions were very good. I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher.