Roseanna M. White: An Hour Unspent

By Kelly Bridgewater

Once London's top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker's daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can't help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.

As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge--and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina's father soon finds his whole family in danger--and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed spending time with Roseanna M. White's family of thieves. An Hour Unspent is a wonderful addition to the series. I have read all three books in this series and have enjoyed them all. London is one of my favorite settings, so I couldn't wait to dive into another book in that setting. Plus, I really couldn't wait to see Barclay's story and why he became a thief. White does a marvelous job at inviting me into the historical world and allowing me to be swept up into the story.

I love how White brought the world of the early twentieth century to life for me. I didn't have a hard time imagining the setting from the clock tower to the watch shop. I love Barclay's family. All of the orphans struck a chord in me. I remember reading books by Charles Dickens and learning about all the horrible conditions of the work houses and the orphanages during earlier times. I'm glad the children did not have to endure such horrible surroundings.

The plot moved quickly and captured my interest. Of course, the romantic ending was predictable, but I still enjoyed watching Barclay and Evelina as they fell in love and learned how to move through their worlds together. I enjoyed learning more about the Rolex's and the world of watch making. It was interesting and taught me something new.

With An Hour Unspent, I finally got to see Barclay's story and see the humble and adoring heart he carries for the troubled orphans in London. He definitely has the heart of a true hero. I really enjoyed him and the transformation he endured from the first book.

Overall, An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White is a fascinating tale of a family of thieves. I loved the concept of a family, which doesn't have to be by blood. I loved the ability to be swept up into London and watch these old thieves change for the better. I really enjoyed White's writing style, and I eagerly await what else she plans to write. Fans of Rachel McMillan, Julie Lessman, and Lorna Seilstad would, I believe, enjoy this series.

I received a complimentary copy of An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

You can purchase the book here.

About the Author:

From Amazon

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books...to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com. (Taken from Amazon.)

 GIVEAWAY

 

To celebrate her tour, Roseanna is giving away a grand prize of a signed book, a London mug, and a 48-pack Twinings tea sampler!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d570/an-hour-unspent-celebration-tour-giveaway

Roseanna M. White: A Song Unheard

By Kelly Bridgewater

Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I--to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won--until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't--that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White combines my love of England, history, and mystery all in one novel. What is better, honestly? With White's novel, I expected to be thrilled with the amount of details in the story, which brings her character to life. I knew the setting was a little off in the first book in this series A Name Unknown, but I hoped that was fixed when I dived into this novel.

With the writing, I am impressed at White's ability to create a setting that really dives off the page. From the first page, I had no problem visualizing the setting, enjoying myself as I traveled around with Willa and Lukas. White does a fabulous job at entering Willa's train of thoughts and allowing me to experience it with her especially toward the end when something bad happens. The setting again occurs during World War I, but some of the things that happen to Lukas's family remind me of World War II. Honestly, I don't read a lot of World War I novels, so it could have happen. White is the one who has done the research, not me. But what happened to them occurred a lot during World War II.

The plot was unique. I really enjoyed seeing Willa who originally was sent to retrieve something from Lukas but instead found a deeper love of her violin and music. I enjoyed how honestly White shows that a natural gift like music or writing, in my case, takes over a person. It becomes their every thought and guides their movements. The plot is very dense, and I had a hard time getting started. It dragged for the first twenty percent of the book.

Willa, the heroine, is a wonderful thief and is admired by many for her talents. I love how White created a relatable background and hurt for her. I felt bad for her when Willa told me her past. It hurt me too. Her transformation story was rich and full of depth. Made me enjoy her as a character. As for Lukas, I found him shallow. He proposes to Willa at their first meeting, and then spends the rest of the story trying to woo her. Then he has the nerve to be mad at her when he learns the truth about her. What a shallow man. Willa is too good for him, in my humble opinion. 

Overall, A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White is much better than the first book. I felt more connection with Willa and the story line. I recommend A Song Unheard to fans of historical mysteries with a touch of romance. 

I received a complimentary copy of A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Roseanna M. White: A Name Unknown

By Kelly Bridgewater

Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

Roseanna M. White weaves together a tale with a thief and a novelist who wants to keep his families good name. Novels that are set in London capture my attention right away. The time period is also an important part of world history. The synopsis for this novel sounded very interesting, and I couldn't wait to dive in. While the majority of the novels was well-written, I had some issues with the plot.

The writing was clear and concise. As for the descriptive language making the setting, I had no problem visualizing the messy library with stacks and stacks of books and papers piled everywhere. White does a good job at allowing me to see the house and the property and getting lost in the chaos. 

As for the time period, the novel says it is written during World War I, but to me, it felt like a Regency era novel. Peter only owned a carriage and still lived on an estate in the outskirts of town. It didn't feel much like the World War I novels that I have read. This might be why the novel didn't feel right to me.

The plot is unique and different. I enjoy watching a thief try to figure out she was going to complete her job as she fell in love with her employer. The plot moved pretty normal for a historical romance. There is romance and the building of characters while the plot progresses to its climactic moment, which is usually the show down in the last ten percent of the novel. This is typical of this time of novel.

Rosemary is a brave woman who is willing to go into a house and do whatever it takes to support her family. She is an orphan who steals to support her fellow orphans, not for selfish gain, which makes her admirable in my book. On the other hand, Peter is hoping to clear his family name by searching for documents to his families' estate. He is scatterbrain man who needs to settle down in his life.

Overall, A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White is a luxury read for those who enjoy Regency novels, even though the novel is labeled World War I, which I disagree with. The plot is original and different with strong characters. A great addition to any historical fans bookshelf. 

I received a complimentary copy of A Name Unknown from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars