This book is full of adventure and twist and turns, more so than the other books in this series.
I am so happy that Barclay finally got to have his own story. I think this might be my favorite book of the series. Getting to see Barclay grow and change for the better, and falling in love, made for a satisfying ending to the series.

I loved this story! The whole series has been amazing, but I may of loved Barclay's story the most. I enjoyed the depth that Roseanna adds to history and to the message of the Cross. Highly recommend this one!

So much HEART! This is how I can define this book... the entire series, in fact!
I've been very much looking forward to writing this review. But I'm feeling SO MUCH I don't know how to put it into words!

Barclay Pearce is a figure! Still finding his steps in this new called faith but with a heart as big as the family he's grown. Steadfast and loyal, he's having a blast seeing his sister find happiness and welcoming new brothers into the family. And as this said patched family grows and find their own footing in the world, the question remaining is who will take care of Barclay?
One who loves so well and fiercely needs some as determined and passionate as him.

Evelina Manning knows what it means to march for a cause, to have to shout, to tackle every nuance life throws her way and win. But, along the way, she has forgotten that she's a mear human BEing and has conformed to a human DOing - not meeting the expectations of those around her.
If her fiancé leaving her isn't a surprise enough to have her pondering than the honesty and openness of one Barclay Pearce is sure to unbalance her out of the fastidious environment she's used to be in, though always leaving her smiling.

I love how their interaction started organically, without an agenda. With Lina's fire bringing out the protectiveness inside Barclay and his compassion challenging and breaking down the walls around her. These two have many valleys to get through, but there is one thing that ties all the different layers of the story together; something precious grown inside us by the Greatest Clockmaker who doesn't see us as mere tools, but seen and known, good workers with a vocation, redeemed. And this secret is something no treasure or merit can gain, but only grace. This secret that twines it all together is love.

An Hour Unspent is the third and final book in the Shadows Over England series.
It's pretty evident with Roseanna's very detailed descriptions and obviously many hours of research she loves what she does. By this I mean she loves to research her books and writing them for us and her quality of work really reflects this. You better believe I felt as if I was there in the early 1910's in England. Barclay, it's so exciting to see him get his own story now, it was everything I had hoped it would be and more! Of the siblings he is my favorite. As you read this book you an just feel it humming with energy through the well developed story line,the many twists and turns. I really enjoyed seeing the character development as well. Barclay is a sweetie in this book, older protective brother but yet keeps his siblings in line as well. I am really hoping to see some of the siblings have their own story, maybe even a novella would be great. I enjoyed all the action happening in this story and the suspense. I kept me reading but I am sad now that it is over. Isn't that how great books work, you want to race to the end devouring the great book but are sad it's ending. I highly recommend the whole series!
Pub Date 04 Sep 2018
I was given a complimentary copy by Bethany House through NetGalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is quite possibly my favorite book of this series! It has unforgettable characters, and such an amazing story. The setting was beautifully done as usual, and the twists in this story kept me turning the pages.
I loved getting to hear more of Barclay's past. He is one of my favorite main characters from all of my Roseanna White books. And it was also easy for me to relate to Evelina. She had to face some big challenges and hard decisions. But watching her try to work through them was quite something.
And I really enjoyed getting to learn more about who Mr. V really was. It was just the perfect touch to the story. Some puzzles only get more interesting as you learn the details!


I received this book free through NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. The opinions are my own.

This third and final book in the Shadows Over England companion series was just as entertaining as the previous two books. Roseanna M. White has become one of my favorite Christian romance authors. I love the historical settings of her books and the added mystery involved in each of them. This series involved spies during World War I. She makes sure to include little bits of history in each of her books, including real people from history who make appearances.

My one problem with this book, just like most historical romance, is that there is a silly thing that breaks the couple up for a while. It's always either a lie or a misunderstanding. This time around it was a lie that was believed way too easily. I began to dislike the character Evelina to an extent at this point, and it took until the end of the book for me to really like her again. I do wish that authors would come up with some other way to create drama in their romance stories. On the other hand I loved Barclay throughout the book. It was really nice to get to read his story this time around.

Other than that I thought this was a good ending to the series. All three books included themes that I found interesting. The first book was about books -so that was a given- and the second one was about music. This time around it's clocks and mechanical inventions. I liked the clock-maker aspect of the book and all of the toys and things he invented, and the invention of the synchronization gear for the bi-planes during the war was a good plot devise. This time around, the historical figure we meet is the inventor of the Rolex watch. We see the beginnings of the use and popularity of the wristwatch, an idea that was embraced by the military because of its ease of use during wartime.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This book was a great ending to the Shadows Over England series. I didn’t love it as much as I loved A Name Unknown, but I did think that it was a smart and well-written novel that was enjoyable. I love the setting of the book and thought the clockmaker theme was clever.

But of course, the characters are what made the book. Barclay was a great hero. He is selfless and would do anything for the ones that he loves. And I love the theme of this series; how these people who think they’ve been forgotten have learned that God has never forsaken them; that He loves them unconditionally. Such a great message. Evelina was a good heroine, also. I felt sorry for her and the way her mother and aunt treated her, but I love that she learned to stick up for herself, despite her circumstances.

Overall, An Hour Unspent is a good conclusion to a great series. If you love historical inspirational fiction, you will definitely want to read the Shadows Over England series.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this lovely tale of grace and mercy in WWI.

An Hour Unspent is the third installment from Roseanna M. White exciting series, Shadows Over England. I have loved series and this one did not disappoint me at all. I loved Evelina and Barclay’s story. To me, they had instant chemistry that made me enjoy their scenes together and, also, the best parts of the book. In addition to the romance, there was an element of mystery and suspense that they were thrown into that made me want to find out how they were going to solve. The historical details were so vivid, I felt like I was right there among the characters.

An Hour Unspent is my favorite book from the Shadows Over England. I am giving it a well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend this book, as well as, the other books in the series. Great job, Roseanna! I recommend this book for readers who love a good, clean, suspenseful and romantic historical.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Join Barclay and Evelina in a whirlwind adventure. Here we find ourselves in a London on the brink of war. Barclay and his family are only trying to survive, by any means necessary. Although Barclay has turned over a new leaf and has turned away from thievery, it seems that the past is not ready to let go of Barclay. Evelina's father is a clockmaker, tinkerer, and - it would seem - an inventer. He has something in mind that could change the war. As his family continues to grow, Barclay finds himself on Evelina's doorstep with orders to help her father if he can, and steal the plans if he must.
The last thing Barclay expected was to find himself thrust into Evelina's world. He is nothing but a street rat, and she is most definitely high society. Any other time, Evelina would not give Barclay a second glance, but when he comes to her rescue, she is forced to acknowledge that there is more to Barclay Pearce than meets the eye.
The entire theme of the book centers around clocks. White did a wonderful job weaving everything together as God is referenced as the great clockmaker. People's actions, their dance with one another, and how it all works together become the gears that God turns. Thinking of God in this fashion gave me an entirely new perspective on how our lives are connected to one another. When one gear turns, it affects the one next to it, and so on, and so on down the line. Everything that we do has a reaction to someone else. What we do affects others, and that fact was showcased to a wonderful degree in An Hour Unspent.
Barclay's family is delightful, and there are so many of them I still don't think I have them all sorted out. They might not be related by blood, but they are family nonetheless, and this is a great reminder that family is about how you treat others, not who gave birth to whom. Barclay himself was almost too good to be true. He is a true hero, always thinking of others before himself, and willing to sacrifice his own life for those he loves.
Evelina is strong and determined. Once she is set on the true path, she does not falter, no matter what might stand in her way. Although she struggles to overcome Barclay's past, she cannot doubt his love for his family. When her own family is threatened, she refuses to sit back and let Barclay take care of the problem for her.
I thought the characters were entirely relatable, and I enjoyed this journey into London. It was a different perspective to see London on the brink of war, and White did a marvelous job of capturing both the fear of war and the heroism that came from it. I would gladly read more books about the many other members of Barclay's family.

An Hour Unspent was written by Roseanna White, and is the third book in the Shadows Over England series.
This book follows Barclay Pearce, a reformed thief now working for the English government during World War I. Although he still struggles with regret for his past actions, he is determined to maintain the fresh start he has made for not only himself, but also his large adopted family of brothers and sisters.
When Barclay receives a new mission to get close to a clockmaker and discover the secrets behind his latest invention, the last thing he expects is to be intrigued by the clockmaker’s daughter Evelina.
As Evelina and Barclay become closer, they have no idea that they will soon be confronted with more danger than either of them have ever known. Spies, kidnappings, a daring rescue plan, old enemies, and a sudden confrontation with the demons in Barclay’s own family’s past await.
Will the clockmaker’s invention be able to give England an edge in the war efforts? Will Eveline and Barclay survive the dangers of war that are beginning to close in around them?
My Thoughts: I loved this book. It is very well-written, filled with action and drama, has a riveting storyline, and contains a wonderful message of hope for the future, and redemption for one’s past.
Although I tend to love historical fiction of all kinds, I was especially drawn in by the interesting characters, and well-developed relationships within the story. Even though this is a book three, it is not necessary to have read the previous two books. I did not read them, but after being so thoroughly impressed and fascinated with this one, I intend to go back and read them as soon as I can.
I also really enjoyed that the author took time at the end of the story to point out facts from the story that really did occur, ones that had been altered slightly, or ones that she had added to enhance the story-so interesting!
This is a truly wonderful book, and if you enjoy historical fiction, especially that which is set during the World Wars, then this one is a great choice. It is definitely a keeper book!
As always, I thank Bethany House for providing me with a copy of this book for my unbiased review-thank you!

It’s almost unfair, really, how good this book is. And how devastating that it’s over. Roseanna White has perfected the balance of history, intrigue, and romance, with just more than a hint of Christianity. If that’s it’s own niche sub genre, White reigns supreme.

This can be read as a stand-alone, but Barclay has such a extensive family that you may want to familiarize yourself with them first (besides, the previous books are awesome). And I’d really like to see the series continued with stories for Elinor and Retta and Lucy and Georgie and all the rest!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really love this series! I love the author's writing style, and the character development. They are all endearing, and pretty much anyone can find someone to identify with. I love that this book focuses on a different member of the family, and we continue to get to know them. So good! I love the interaction of the family members, their loyalty and love for one another.

Barclay is a wonderful character, and it is great to see him front and centre in his story. He's just so loveable.

The way the author reveals spiritual truth to the characters is also great. Their awakening doesn't just happen one day with no reasoning. We see the progression and growth as they are challenged through circumstances and people. I thought the story line was very good, and compelling.

I also love the historical details, as the author uses them well, without letting descriptions or detail weigh down the story, as some can. This is just an overall wonderful book.

If the author writes more books in this series, I would read them all!

This is the third in the series, Shadows over England. I would recommended reading the first two books to get the full story. Barclay soon became my favorite character. His love for his family and others really shone. His family and Lina's family were so notably different. I felt sorry for Lina's father and was glad he had his clock making and tinkering. I enjoyed the author's note explaining some of the history during WWI and loved the Rolex story. Highly recommended!

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

This is, perhaps, Roseanna White’s best book to date. The incredible amount of twists and turns, thorough character development, immersive historical accuracy, analogies and turns of phrase that pull directly from the main characters' jobs and personalities, and familial ties ensure that this story will be not only remembered well but also reread multiple times. We might as well all invest in multiple copies of it, for I fear we’ll be wearing out our first one by sheer love and overuse.

The only things that held this book back from being five stars for me: replacement expletives and a few slips in Evelina’s high-class character when she used a few low-class terms.

This book would be incredibly quotable… if all those quotes wouldn’t give so many things away! Watch out for Alice. You’re going to love her. I really think she and her honey deserve a full-length (okay, I’ll settle for a novella, if I must) story of their own. Please, Roseanna??? I also want a story on Lucy, Georgie, Clover, and Patch (and all the rest of Barclay’s siblings who don’t already have one).

Ever since I read the first book in this series (and definitely read them in order, y’all!), I have been eagerly anticipating Barclay’s story. He’s been my favorite of the siblings from day one, and I must say, this story was even more than I could have imagined for him. It’s my favorite of the trilogy. I’ll be revisiting it often over the coming decades.

The faith thread was well thought out and thorough. I enjoyed that aspect very much. It wasn’t just about discovering faith for the first time, as both characters already have at least a bit of belief in God in the beginning of the story. It’s more of a growth of faith as well as sorting out how to hear God, how to follow His call, how to make significant changes in our lives to be the best we can be to bring joy and great glory to God. I loved the lessons learned and the practicality of the faith thread. I think bringing such depth to that aspect of a story is a huge challenge for any Christian writer, and it’s clear in this book that Mrs. White has mastered that art.

Barclay Pearce has given up stealing, except when it’s for his job as a secret agent for the British government. His current project is to infiltrate the household of a clockmaker, ensure that he finishes his plan to upgrade the guns on England’s World War I aircraft, and then turn that plan over to the British government. But when Barclay meets the clockmaker’s daughter, Evelina Manning, his job becomes more intriguing…and more difficult.

Evelina’s fiance Basil has just called off the engagement. As much as he admires Evelina’s determination to fight for women’s suffrage and better conditions for factory workers, he finds her incapable of any real romantic feeling. Horrified to be thought an automaton, Evelina throws herself at Barclay Pearce, the new neighbor who has been befriending her father. But as she learns more about Barclay’s criminal past, she begins to doubt his intentions as much as she doubts her own capabilities for love. When a mysterious foreign agent steals something they both need, Barclay and Evelina must band together to get it back.

This book concludes the Shadows over England series and tells the much-anticipated story of Barclay. As the head of the family of street orphans, Barclay has always sacrificed to take care of the others. Now, he must struggle to find his own happiness with a girl who might not fit into his world. Along the way, the story of Barclay’s long lost family emerges, and Barclay must learn to trust Jesus enough to wholly abandon his old ways.

This book was a satisfying finale to a great series. Barclay has always been my favorite character of the bunch, and it was delightful to see more of his protective and honorable heart. I loved the historical details, such as the zeppelin bomb run over London, the rationing of sugar, and the trench warfare in France. The heroine, who is new to the reader, takes a little getting to used to, but her lameness from childhood polio helps one develop a sympathy for her, and her determination ends up impressing the reader as much as it does her admirers. Recommended.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M White is a timeless wholesome tale of hope and courage during difficulty, loyalty to family both of blood and choice, faith in God, and courage even when the world is in chaos.  An Hour Unspent lands smack dab in the middle of World War I in London, England giving this book a great depth of background and context for the characters.  Barclay Pearce is the protagonist of this story and as the leader of his patchwork family (See the first two books in this series for some of their stories) is struggling with the new changes in the family.  Not only have there been additions to the family through marriage, but there also has been a change in faith leading to a change of occupation.

What exactly does this family of orphans that banded together to form a family do to earn their bread?  Well...let's just say that they are experts at acquiring things....actually....point blank....they are some of the best thieves in England! While this might not set up the description of a great family, it is the truth of their past and their changed hearts of faith that helps them to see the true nature in others and to do the right things.  Barclay and his family are working for a mysterious man only known as "V", whom they believe is truly a man working for the British government....but can they be sure?  Are they truly helping their nation and doing good, or is there anything more sinister going on?  What does Barclay's new assignment to befriend and work with Mr. Manning, a man who repairs clocks have to do with helping the allied powers?

One of the clear themes of this book is time. As Barclay fulfills his assignment, he realizes that Mr. Manning tinkers with more than clocks.  Barclay also seems to keep running into Mr. Manning's daughter, Evelina Manning, a sweet and shy young woman whose engagement is broken just as Barclay walks into the scene....yes, as he actually is coming to visit Mr. Manning.  I thought it was interesting to see the different approaches to time throughout the book, especially that of the past.  Barclay had never relieved himself of the guilt from not finding his younger brother when they were separated in their early childhood.  Yet, he looks at his recent past, his thievery, as not as important as recent developments that allow him and his family to help the British cause in some gray/shadowy areas.  Time is relative and throughout this book, many of the characters have some interesting perspectives on time and history.

Ms. White's plots are never simple or boring and this book is no exception. I love Ms. White's expertise in keeping the plot moving, the mystery and suspense active and the characters real and relatable. I have enjoyed all of Ms. White's books in her series Shadows Over England, yet I have to say that this third book wins my vote of favorite in this series.  I absolutely enjoyed getting to know Barclay and gain a deeper understanding of his character, insights, and history. The sweet love story between the main characters was an added bonus to this intriguing, fast-paced adventure.  I would highly recommend this book....but you might want to start from the beginning of this series to get the best enjoyment!

Disclaimer: Bethany House Publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased honest review.

What an end to this Shadows Over England series! Barclay Pearce is officially my favorite member of this patchwork family of thieves and orphans, y’all.

An Hour Unspent is a fascinating mix of romance, espionage, and self-discovery. And the characters! Barclay is just this subtly brilliant, ordinary man with such skill at his profession and the softest heart. It’s no wonder he’s been able to “adopt” so many orphans and create a family, from Willa and Rosemary to Clover and baby Patch. And it’s heartbreaking to realize he started this after his own family was ripped apart.

This story really shows you the impact of the family’s changes. Rosemary’s and Willa’s stories took them elsewhere for much of the action, but Barclay’s story is centered around his family. You see the struggle to go straight and leave thievery behind (except for their jobs for Mr. V), the shift towards a stable home life, the adjustment to the girls’ marriages and Georgie’s enlistment in the Great War. They’re still them, but life looks different now.

That contrast is especially stark in the scenes between Barclay’s family and Evelina. They challenge her definition of family. Their history is so different from hers, but she’s nevertheless drawn to them. Much of this story centers around the theme of family and what those ties really mean, and Evelina ends up discovering more than she ever imagined.

I love these characters. Barclay is brother, father, and protector to them, and his interactions with the little ones will melt you. Seriously, I needed tissues when he met Clover at Pauly’s pub. And for his reunion with Georgie. And at the end of the book when – sorry, you’ll have to read it yourself to find out. Yet he’s also this spy whose skills and ability to blend in wherever a job takes him reminds me of Neal Caffrey in White Collar. I just wanted to keep reading and reading!

Sadly, however, as they all do, the book ended. But it’s DEFINITELY worth the read – and the re-read.

Barclay Pearce is all grown up, once the leader of a gang of orphaned thieves, now he puts his skills to work for the government during a time when the nation is at war. Barclay is sent to work with a clockmaker, who is working on synchronized gears to help planes shoot through the propellers. He sees a woman being attacked on the streets, and comes to her aide. The woman happens to be Eveline Manning, the daughter of the clockmaker.



Eveline's fiance breaks up with her to join the army, and she strikes up a relationship with Barclay to irritate her disapproving mother. She is fiercely independent.



As England plunges deeper into war, and danger draws near, is a reformed thief the man that they need to escape the coming horrors?



Barclay has changed alot since becoming a Christian, he knows what Eveline is up to, but lets her know that he doesn't play around. He earnestly lives what he believes, and he holds high standards for his family as well.



Eveline meets Barclay's family and quickly befriends many of the girls, she has a passion for helping working women. Eveline and Barclay grow into an unlikely friendship.



Well written, with great characters, I really liked Mr. Manning's friendship with another clockmaker, Hans, and their friendly arguments about the future of timepieces. I really admired Barclay, and how he has grown through this series. This book has a great story, and relationship between Eveline and Barclay, with an action-packed ending that brought everything together. A fantastic addition to this well written historical series!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."

An Hour Spent is the third book in the series, but it could also be read as a stand alone novel. I loved this book, it was well worth reading. Lina has a strong personality, in a time when women were trying to find their place. Lina is close to her father, who is a clockmaker. When Lina meets Barclay, she doesn't like him, because he tries to save her from a thug on the street, but as Lina gets to know him and his family, she finds her view of him changing.
I loved Barclay and his siblings. What a great book!

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction.

My Rating: 5 Stars. Recommendation: 15 up.

My favorite character/s: Barclay is the big brother, I loved finding out more about him and I really enjoyed getting to see who made all of the "family" into who they were. Barclay was an awesome character. I now think he is my favorite of all of the characters in the series. I liked how he treated his siblings and was always kind!!

My Verse for Barclay is James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (English Standard Version.)

I also loved every other character, but I don't want to give any spoilers, so that's all for my favorite characters!

My thoughts: I loved the other books in the series, but this one topped them all so far! I loved this book even more because it had more about the rest of the "family" and I really liked the new and old characters! This book seemed even more realistic than the first two, and I am eagerly waiting for Roseanna M. White's next book!
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. (And I am thrilled to provide it! :-) )