Welcome! Roseanna M. White is a Christian author who has written Ladies of the Manor series, Culper Ring series, and Giver of Wonders. Ms. White can be found on Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon.
A Name Unknown is the first book
in Shadows over England series by Roseanna M. White. We are taken back to 1914 when tensions are
on the rise throughout Europe (war has yet to break out). Rosemary Gresham is a thief in London who
helps support her “family”. The group
consists of twelve orphans who have banded together and become a family. Rosemary has done two previous jobs for Mr. V
and now he is offering her a third with a handsome payout. Mr. V wants Rosemary to find documented proof
of Peter Holstein’s loyalties. He is
loyal to England or Germany? Peter is of German descent and has the ear of the
King of England, George V. War is sure to be declared soon and time is of
the essence. Peter has just returned
home to Kensey Manor from London. He is
happy to be away from the crowds and return to his writing. Peter needs important documents to be found
in his library or what his friend, Gryffyn calls the cave. With troubling times coming, he needs the
documents that prove his nationality (his loyalty). Rosemary arrives as a librarian to apply for
the position Peter has available (to sort the items in the cave). As time passes, Peter’s character is revealed
to Rosemary. He is a kind, Christian
man, but few people get to know Peter because of his stutter. Will Rosemary find the documentation she
needs to complete the job? Or will she
find a far greater prize in Cornwall?
A Name Unknown is set in
beautiful Cornwall. I thought the story
idea was interesting (and the cover is just lovely), but the execution (for me)
was lacking. The book starts out with a
good pace, but then it slows down to a crawl.
The story gets bogged down (too much detail), and I felt like I was
sinking in quicksand (I kept looking to see if I was any closer to the end). A little rewriting and editing would have
made a significant difference. My rating
for A Name Unknown is 3 out of 5 stars.
The Christian element is moderate (just the right amount). Peter is a Christian man who prays and leads
by example (many people look up to him and correspond with him). I particularly enjoyed Rosemary finding
comfort in the Bible and God (becoming a Christian). It was the best part of the book. The mystery element was not complicated, and
I easily identified the culprit. The mysterious Mr. V was an intriguing figure,
and I believe people will be surprised by his motives. The romance plays out slowly over the course
of book and had an expected outcome. A Name Unknown does have a charming ending.
A Name Unknown has some good
elements, but I was not wowed. It needs
some reworking to improve the flow and eliminate the extraneous (it is too
long).
I wanted to let you know that Tamera Alexander's To Wager Her Heart will be published on August 8. It is the third A Belle Meade Plantation Novel. May you have a very special day. I will return on Friday to review The House of Memory by Carolyn Haines. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
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