I loved Roseanna's previous series, was amazed by it so I hoped this new one could live up to my expectations.

No worries.

This book is every bit as wonderful as her others, yet so different.

She's very good at having a mystery involved in her books yet also keeping the balance between the romance, and faith.

She did a great job of weaving faith into the book as Rosemary struggles with a God she believes doesn't listen to people like her.

Peter struggles with talking to others and therefore other people think he is stand-offish. I have had that same struggle, not because of any speech impairments, but just that I am a quieter person and therefore people can think I am stuck up.

I had no idea how Roseanna was going to work out Peter and Rosemary's relationship once it came to light that Rosemary was a thief? How could they ever overcome that? How could the people she's become friends with every forgive her? And would she ever be able to leave her family if she fell in love?

The significance of a name was woven throughout this book as well and I loved that. A reminder that God knows us, He knows who we really are regardless of what others see. As a teacher I have to learn many names and I realize the importance of calling a student by name, they get very testy if you call them by the wrong name too :)

If you love historical romance I highly recommend this latest book by Roseanna.


A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.

A Name Unknown will completely sweep you off your feet. If you are even the slightest bit bookish, you will simply fall head over heels for Peter! A man of incredible character, high standards, genuine compassion, a deep relationship with Jesus, and a serious TALENT with words! Rosemary, is just...AHHHH! A woman who I want to meet. A woman who I wish was a real life person so that I can interview her, have lunch with her, and go for walks together along the cliffs in Cornwall. Also, Roseanna talks about Cornish Pasties...Um...those are perhaps my very favorite meal EVER! (Here is a recipe, Jody Hedlund also talks about them in Undaunted Hope...I use butter and not margarine and I do not put rutabaga in them.)

Throughout the story both Peter and Rosemary struggle with secrets that lay in their past. Some known, some unknown, (even to themselves) some discovered along the way. As they grow closer they come to understand that they can not have these barriers between them."With the greatest risks come the greatest rewards", but is it worth it to risk everything that they have built their lives on? Will they be able to confide in one another before all is revealed? And will the past stand between them and keep them apart? Or draw them closer together?

There is SO MUCH we can learn from this story. And ONE of the biggest points is that God is able and willing to forgive us...NO MATTER our past, no matter what we have done, what we have been through. The question is, do we want Him to? Do we want Him to change us for the better? The other message that stands out SO.STRONGLY...Is that God hears us. He may not always give us the answers we WANT...But He HEARS us...Even if it doesn't feel like He does.

Set at the very beginning of WWI, this book begins an incredible adventure for Rosemary's family. I am SO looking forward to the next books.

I received a complimentary copy of A Name Unknown from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

4 Stars!
I loved Roseanna M. White's Culper Ring series, but hadn't had the pleasure of reading any of her books since finishing that series. When I read the description of this one, something about it drew me in! So needless to say I have been looking forward to A Name Unknown for several months, and I was not disappointed! I liked Rosemary from the very beginning and loved watching her journey. And Peter, oh my goodness, I fell in love with him instantly, he was just so amazing (definitely one of my favorite heroes of 2017!) Plus, the writer in me could totally relate to Peter's "writer's brain" moments, loved that!
I loved that the romance developed a bit more slowly than some romance novels, I felt the pace fit the story perfectly!
Like I've come to expect from this author's novels A Name Unknown had a fabulous cast of supporting characters, I very much look forward to the next book in the Shadows Over England series!
I loved this book, and had a great time reading it!
Such a wonderful novel that I highly recommend!


I received an ebook copy of this book from Netgalley. No review required. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

In this Edwardian romance and history with a twist of suspense, Rosemary Gresham has no family other than the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the rough streets of London. As grown ups, they have learned how to blend into upper-class society and how to steal high-value items. Rosemary is given the challenge of a lifetime when she must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany.. Peter Holstein writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name because of his family's German blood.. When European politics begin boiling and his own neighbors are suspicious of him, Peter debates if he should change his name for good. Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a librarian and offering to help him trace his family history.. as they work together, . Rosemary sees him for the true gentleman he is. Can she help him prove that he's more than his name?

Thoughts:

Rumors? Deception? History? War? Danger? Family ties? Suspense? Romance? Oh, yes! A NAME UNKNOWN (Shadows Over England Series) by Roseanna M. White halts us with lies formed in the dark of night to unmask a German in England.

The secret societies hire the best and the one needing the money most, but the ever-present danger pulls us in deep with the turn of each page.

Rosemary Gresham knows the pitfalls of the London streets all too well, but Mr. V is a loyal customer who pays very well. More important, she has a family to feed. In the nighttime shadows, plans are in motion and documents arrive, but the job will not be too hard. In fact, for a short time, she’ll live a lifestyle that she will never own. To be surrounded by wealth and easy pickings for once the job is done. What could go wrong?

Rosemary makes the mistake of being seen talking positively about Peter. Will this compromise her assignment?

Britain borders on a war with Germany, and Peter Holstein must prove he is loyal to the Crown. His friend, the King, confirms this, but he has a problem. Family history is buried under mountains of books and assumptions. He knows his parents purchased their land and could not have if his parents were not English subjects. However, he can not find the documentation.

Meanwhile, the answer to his problems just shows up unannounced. She’s a librarian, historian referred to his direction by a member of esteemed acquaintance, and her references are in order, at first glance, according to his best friend, a Solicitor. He will continue to check her background.

In this Edwardian, word of mouth can be as lethal as the pen when gossip becomes another’s reality.

Peter has a deadline to meet, and his circles of people dwindle by the day. What if he loses his home for lack of British evidence? Could he be put on an expulsion and be forced to live elsewhere? Will he have to give up his livelihood?

Once Rosemary Gresham’s sister is devastatingly injured, Peter is determined to pay the medical bills, anonymously, but this attempt isn’t easy, as the detectives are now unable to find her family!

Can anything else go so very wrong?

***This opinion is my own.***

Preview:

Inside A NAME UNKNOWN (Shadows Over England Series) by Roseanna M. White, Rosemary Gresham is used to lifting objects and things. In her line of work, it is expected. However, this well-paying customer wants her to steal someone’s name and heritage.

Mr. V needs to find out if this target is an enemy as he is of German descent, and Britain is nearer to war. While Rosemary has dressed the part of the upper class to lift, this would be different. To snoop through one’s private papers, documents, and pictures, closeness would need to be in place on the mark. Not an easy job, but this will pay more than ever before once the job is completed.

In the meanwhile, for Peter Holstein, to change his family name from German to English will hurt. It will not be due to allegiance, as he is British, but the pain will be in losing his name, as he would be cutting the only binding between him and his loving, deceased parents. However, he may have to do just that as his livelihood will be put in jeopardy.

What will become of his writing career? Will he need to give up the only home he has ever known?

As Peter and Rosemary come to work in close quarters, they begin to get to know each other, and the unthinkable happens. These two begin not only to acquire a connection, but they begin to develop sparks of romance. What else can go wrong?

Working together but moving in different directions, each has a different goal, are they able to stay their course or will they join forces and move in tandem with love?

This has to be one of the prettiest book covers I've seen!! I don't fangirl over that many bookcovers, but folks this one is GORGEOUS!

But the story itself will blow you away. It's unique and held my attention on every page. I loved both Peter and Rosemary, but Peter...*sighs happily* One of the best hero's I've read ;) There were several twists at the end that I didn't expect, and added to the excitement in the last couple chapters.

Spiritual content was great...not very much at the beginning, but very profound as the book went along, especially one particular scene with Rosemary...no spoilers, I promise ;)

The sweetest of all was the romance! It moved at just the right speed, and there was really only one kissing scene that was slightly-detailed. I expected much more, so it was a nice relief from the normal fiction out there.

This author has raised herself to my possible favorite author list! I CAN'T wait for book 2!!

A Name Unknown by Roseanna M White is a marvellous Christian historical romance which I loved. It is the first book in the Shadows Over England series and I really cannot wait for the rest.
Set in 1914 with England on the brink of war, the reader glimpses some of the fear and suspicion people have regarding the future.
Names featured highly. Those with German sounding names suffered from persecution and their loyalty to England questioned. Even the crown didn't escape. Prejudice was rife.
Names were important but character is more so. A name can say so much - nicknames signify comfort, 'Mr' or 'Miss' signifies status and formality. The reader is reminded that God gives us new names when we say 'yes' to Him. He calls us beloved. This contrasts with the names we often give ourselves of 'unworthy', 'unloved', 'lowlife' etc. These are lies whispered to us from the enemy. We need to take every thought captive and listen to the voice of God.
Faith in God is an important theme. Some characters seem more comfortable with God than others. A hard life often separates characters from God, as trusting anyone seems difficult. Having faith in an unseen God seems impossible. "Perhaps God heard people like Peter Holstein - perhaps - but He certainly didn't show any indication of hearing people like her." Life can be hard, but God does see us, even when it doesn't feel like He does.
"God do you see that little girl? Do you care?" Anger at God bubbles up at injustice. We live in a fallen world but God cares.
Prayer is important. At times it can feel like "praying to a deaf God." For others "He never doubted God heard him."
Britain in 1914 was a society built on class. For those in the lower classes, they sometimes excluded themselves from God, believing He neither saw nor heard them. They may employ someone from a higher class to intercede for them. The fact that God answers prayer came as an epiphany. "Maybe God did care... He listened to the prayers of the rich, even when they prayed for the poor." Prayer can draw us closer to God. "He breathed out a prayer and breathed in peace."
The novel is about secrets. We all have them. Some are to protect. Others are a matter of national security.
Identity is a major theme. We all need to know who we are and whose we are.
Family is another theme. Family may not necessarily be blood ties, it is the people who love us and who have our backs.
There is the theme of healing - literal and healing of the soul.
I really enjoyed A Name Unknown. It had an unusual hero with a stutter who was endearing. The heroine was lovable - a mixture of vulnerable and strong with a great sense of justice and loyalty. The plotline was intricate and kept my attention throughout.
Living in England, it was refreshing to read of places and events that I knew. Roseanna White wove history into fiction with a marvellous result. I am looking forward to the subsequent books in the series.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Not having read a novel by Roseanna White previously, and not generally being a reader of historical fiction, I didn't know what to expect from this novel. I suspected I would struggle through this novel. Quite the opposite was true

From the beginning, the author drew me in and easily kept me engaged throughout the novel. My biggest struggle was the length of the novel. I suspect some of the middle of it could have easily been condensed.

The characters and the scenery were both described with such richness and realism. The thief posing as a librarian. An author who stutters when he is stressed and often has to write what he wants to say. A plotline that was interesting and multifaceted.

The author writes with strength, empathy, humor, realism and skill. She also sticks to the general time period in her writing, for the most part. Her references to the roles that authors played during war time were quite accurate, as are a few other aspects of this novel.

Ms White has written an interesting, enjoyable, and wonderful read. Go ahead and get lost in "A Name Unknown". It is worth it.

Rating: 4.3
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really liked the characters in the book. Even if I wasn't sure that I liked them to start with, I did by the end. The characters seemed to grow with the story. I also liked the intrigue about the war.

Roseanna M White is a talented author without a nom de plume, but she certainly does her name no shame. This newest offering by her outranks her previous novels by a mile.

Rosemary is part of a "family" of thieves who live by their wits and practiced abilities just to put food on the table. Barclay is the head of the group, and with Rosemary, there are twelve of them in age from twenty down to about six.

There is a man called V who hires Rosemary to steal some information about Peter Holstein, a recluse who is thought to have the ear of the king. Peter owns a manor house and needs some help organizing his library. Rosemary applies for the job, and Peter likes her on sight. Peter has some things he needs to hold onto his lands and mansion and he feels that Rosemary is just the person to find the documents. Peter holds a couple of secrets--that he writes novels under a pen name, and that he still has holdings in Germany.

The political world is in a set of upheaval with Germany making noises of taking over Europe, feelings of distrust among some of the other European nations, and Britain trying to decide what to do about the whole situation. People on the whole were not enamored with folks of German descent, even though they may be loyal to the crown. All of this plays into the plot of Roseanna's novel. Learning some about the history of World War I was quite interesting. Learning to learn faith was inspiring.

This is a five star, two thumbs up novel with a nom de plume for your most secret writings.

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.

A Name Unknown is the first book in The Shadows over England series by Roseanna White, and it is set in the months leading up to WWI. In England. Thief Rosemary Gresham is sent by a mysterious Mr. V to discover the loyalty and allegiance of Peter Holstein, an Englishman with German ties. By posing as a librarian. Rosemary discover the true nature of her employer, but secrets threaten both their lives and reputations. Get ready for a page turning book filled with suspense, love, and forgiveness. I eagerly await the forthcoming books in the series.

A Name Unknown

by Roseanna M. White

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers



Christian

Pub Date 04 Jul 2017

I am reviewing A Name Unknown through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

1914 London Rosemary Gresham has no family besides the street urchins who helped her survive the mean streets of London, but she is grown now.

Peter Holstein writes his popular adventure novels under a pen name. Given his families German blood he feels he must.

But soon Rosemary finds herself working together with Peter and sees his gracious response to the neighbors scornful attacks.

Can she help him see that he is more than his name?

I give A Name Unknown five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

This is the first Roseanna White book I have read and I think I have found a new author to follow. I really enjoyed this book and thought the characters were especially intriguing. I thought Rosemary was unusual as a heroine. She is a thief and a street urchin but so committed to her "family" that she is willing to do just about anything for them. She lives a dishonest life but all for the cause of her loved adopted family. She steps into the life of Peter Holstein in order to "do a job" but finds that she can't live the life she had known anymore because Peter turns her "beliefs" upside down. I loved that they seemed to complement and help one another. Peter helps her see the good and find faith, she helps him by being a bit more approachable and of course much more organized.

This book is a sweet slow romance. I loved that they started as friends and moved on to more. I would have enjoyed getting a bit more of glimpse into their budding relationship that they share through letters and conversations at meals. These are only hinted at and left me wanting a little more.
This is certainly a faith filled book and I thought the change of heart Rosemary goes through would be a little stronger and convincing had I the reader been a bit more privy to the actually conversations Peter and Rosemary had through the letters they wrote. I guess I just wanted a bit more of their interactions actually depicted and not just implied.

Overall, a lovely read and I look forward to reading more of this series as they come out.

This book is the first in the Shadows Over England series about orphans and street kids who have grown up pick pocketing and stealing from England's finest. They have formed a family and take care of each other. Rosemary is one of the oldest sisters who is away on a job, and Peter Holstein is her "mark". She is hired to steal information about him that could very well harm him as the country is on the verge of war with Germany. If she can prove him a traitor to the crown, she will earn more money than her family generally sees. Will she complete her mission, provide for her family, and satisfy her intimidating boss even if it means ruin to a man who is good?
Rosemary is a character that is hard not to like, since she steals to provide for her family. Not just for the sake of stealing. She is smart and caring towards those less fortunate. When it comes to the upper crust of England though she is weary and has judged them all to be rude and self serving. When she first meets Peter he is rude in some ways, which only confirms Rosemary's prejudices.
Peter is a very private gentleman who's family roots are German. He is so private that his some of his neighbors mistake this as rudeness, and looking down upon them. However Peter is kind, maybe secretly so as he lives out his faith and life as a write of popular adventure novels. He is often thinking of story lines and is distracted because of it, which people see as rudeness.
I really liked this book! It was fun to read and the story moved at a great pace. It has some suspense and twists. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Would I read it again? Yes.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
This is a clean read.
4.5 stars! I really liked this book!
1 star – didn’t like it
2 stars – it was OK
3 stars – liked it
4 stars – really liked it
5 stars – it was amazing
Find more book reviews here under Peasreads.
Amazon reviews Katereviews.

I received this book from NetGalley. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions 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.”

I loved this book and I cheered when I learned Rosemary’s family would be featured in future books.
Rosemary Gresham and Peter Holstein couldn’t be more different. Peter is a rich gentleman with a speech impediment. He’s a good man but not many people know that as he keeps to himself. Rosemary is a thief…an excellent thief at that. She is poor, opinionated, calculating and feisty. Their characters are developed and rich. As they get to know each other, they force the other to reconsider their own prejudices and boxes that they place people in. Things aren’t always black and white. People are complex.
The story line intrigued me from the start and kept my attention throughout. It was interesting to think of what it might have been like for someone of German ancestry in England as the world was on the brink of war. There are mysteries to be solved, a story within a story, and twists a plenty. The writing style was wonderful. “She took a drink of blessedly cool water and then a bite of fresh greens while the silence took its own seat at the table” (location 1507). I enjoyed it immensely.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Cornwall. We could just stop right there, and I'd pick up this book. One of the most beautiful counties in England, found at the tip of the South West Peninsula, Cornwall is a mix of rich and mysterious history. It's Daphne du Maurier country after all. Though you won't find any smugglers in this story, you will be richly blessed with an abundance of stunning cliffs, and a landscape that is like nothing Rosemary Gresham, a career thief, has ever seen before. Orphaned at 8, and forced to survive on the streets of London, she is a self proclaimed street rat. Discovered by a kind hearted pub landlord at 9, she with 'Uncle' Pauly, gradually discover more like her and they quickly become a family. Not by blood, but bound together in a desperate need to survive. She's been recruited by the mysterious Mr V. Promised a pay out the likes of which they have never received before. All she has to do is travel to Cornwall, to the estate of Kensey, home of Peter Holstein and find the evidence to prove him a German traitor.

Posing as a career librarian, she is given the job of organizing his library. His lawyer Gryff Penrose is suspicious, and certainly should be. Peter however is far more trusting, distracted by worries of his own. With the onset of World War 1 looming, he knows he must find the documentation to prove him a British Citizen. But with a rich and powerful German legacy, he is afraid that his future is doomed. There may be nothing he can do.

"He needed towering trunks and limbs today, to remind him that there was Someone always over and above him" Peter has strong faith, and I loved how often he looked to his beautiful surroundings in his efforts to connect with God, to find his peace. I can relate to that. There's something about being surrounded by His creations that grounds me.

Heavily disliked by the villagers, it's interesting to me at what a powerful link Rosemary had the potential to become. Is it really necessary to be liked by all those in your circle, no, but in this case, Peter needs every single person to support him as possible. He may be a Gentleman, but his status was irrelevant with war knocking on the door. Peter is un hurried in his grasp of this, and I loved this line - "A clear conscience before the Lord was more important than the respect of his neighbors."

"No matter our name, our title—we cannot be but who we are. Underneath.” Considering the secrets both of the main characters hide behind their names, and one quite literally, the title of this book is perfect.

I love this cover, in fact, it's rare that you get a cover that so personifies the story within. This is Rosemary, hands down!

I found it interesting as I read about Peter's thought process as he approached his writing, and I did wonder if the author, Roseanna White was giving us a glimpse into her own writing world. Take a look at the acknowledgements!

Fantastic fresh start to a brand new series that is so very different from her last (and thoroughly enjoyed by me), but set to give us a whole collection of characters to fall in love with and become addicted to!! I'll admit I wasn't sure the author could give us yet more amazing, but she certainly has. Her research is impeccable, and as an English lass, I can't tell you how appreciative I am when American authors correctly use our language, dialect & slang.

Thank you to Bethany House & Netgalley for the eARC. This is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was historically interesting without feeling bombarded by facts. The characters were great. I kept wondering if the heroine would be caught, and how her employer would react when/if it happened. I felt the character development was great, and the the relationships didn't escalate too quickly as with some books. It had a very believable feel. The twist at the end was a surprise. I enjoyed the resolution and would definitely read more books in this series.

Rosemary Gresham has skills that draw the attention of the mysterious Mr. V—a man who wants her to research Mr. Peter Holstein and find evidence of his disloyalty to England. Rosemary accepts the job because the pay will keep her large family from destitution. Although her expertise involves theft, her gift for languages and study of the upper classes allows her to pose as a librarian looking for work.

Peter Holstein, a loyal English subject with German parents and grandparents has no idea that the librarian he just hired has a plan to research his identity and find evidence of his German loyalties in his own library—he’s just overjoyed that someone will take on the daunting task of organizing his library. A reclusive man, Peter struggles to gain the trust of the villagers in the months leading up to the first World War.

Both Peter and Rosemary have something to hide, and their blooming friendship surprises them both. Can they learn to trust each other with their darkest secrets? If they do, what will their future hold?

White weaves together historical details, delightful characters, and enough red herrings to keep the reader turning pages late into the night.

I couldn't put it down. From the first page to the last I was intrigued by both plot and characters. There were several interesting twists and turns to the story and I found myself feeling quite attached to the characters all the while hoping for a happy resolution to their varied dilemmas. My only regret is that I read it too quickly.

I would fully recommend A Name Unknown. I thought it was a delightful novel and I hope there will be more to follow.

Having grown up as an orphan on the streets of London, Rosemary Gresham and her "family" of fellow orphans have become some of the best thieves in England. When the mysterious Mr. V offers her more money than she has ever had to investigate the loyalties of a reclusive gentleman of German descent, she embarks on an adventure that will change her life and the way she views the world around her.

Due to his stuttering speech and German heritage, Peter Holstein spends most of his days writing adventure novels under a pen name, rather than interacting with his neighbors. With Europe seemingly hurtling toward war, Holstein must find a way to prove to his neighbors, his friends, and his country that he is a trustworthy and loyal Englishman.

When Rosemary appears at Peter's door claiming to be a librarian willing to organize his mess of a library, he quickly agrees. Peter soon finds himself drawn to his new employee, despite her tendency to disrupt his quiet life, and the small untruths he frequently catches her telling. As she learns more and more about Peter, Rosemary similarly catches herself beginning to enjoy Peter's company, even though her family's future security depends on proving that he isn't a loyal British citizen. When they each discover the truth about each other, will their newly formed friendship have the opportunity to turn into something more?

Roseanna M. White takes readers back to the intriguing world of Edwardian England in A Name Unknown. After finishing White's "Ladies of the Manor" series last year, I've been anxiously awaiting a new series, and was far from disappointed. Delving into the politics of pre-WWI was fascinating, wading through London's underbelly was thrilling, and exploring the county of Cornwall was truly lovely. White's addition of a bit of mystery amid the engaging love story and historical detail was also masterfully done. I absolutely loved Rosemary and her colorful family, as well as Peter and his accompanying cast of Cornish characters. I couldn't put this one down, and look forward to more installments in this new series!