Friday, August 18, 2017

Review + GIVEAWAY: A Name Unknown


A Name Unknown
By Roseanna M. White
Shadows Over England #1
Bethany House, 2017


Summary

She's out to steal his name. Will he steal her heart instead?

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 are no longer pickpockets-now they focus on high value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. Rosemary's challenge of a lifetime comes when she's assigned to determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Rumors swirl around Peter Holstein. Awkward and solitary, but with access to the king, many fear his influence. But Peter can't help his German last name and wants to prove his loyalty to the crown-so he can go back to anonymously writing a series of popular adventure novels. When Rosemary arrives on his doorstop pretending to be a well- credentialed historian, Peter believes she's the right person to help him dig through his family's past.

Anger and danger continue to mount, though, and both realize they're in a race against time to discover the truth-about Peter's past and about the undeniable attraction kindling between them.

Learn more and purchase a copy.


My thoughts

I have enjoyed several of Roseanna M. White’s excellent novels, but there is that intangible “something” that sets A Name Unknown apart for me. Sometimes a story simply resonates in a special way … maybe it has something to do with how the setting (Cornwall), characters (fascinating and complex), storyline, and spiritual theme all blend together. Whatever the reason, I loved A Name Unknown and am excited about the whole Shadows Over England series. I believe these stories wonderfully reflect the author’s God-given creativity.

Cornwall Coast
For someone who loves British settings as much as I do, it doesn’t get much better than the rugged, majestic coast of Cornwall, which is vividly conveyed. And then there’s the hero and heroine, Peter and Rosemary – so real, sympathetic and endearing. Honestly, could there be two more opposite characters? Peter is kind, good, with a great sense of humor, and he stutters! Rosemary is a Cockney girl who became a thief in order to survive, and acquired a unique “family” in the process (I’m already in love with Willa and look forward to her story). Peter, with German family connections, faces doubts as to where his loyalty lies – and Rosemary is out to steal that name. Peter is a believer, and applies those beliefs to his daily life. Rosemary believes in a God who doesn’t hear.

Avid readers will love that Peter is a writer, with a totally messed up home library that Rosemary is hired to organize. Just imagine this … “Shelves lined the walls, floor to towering ceiling. Lined with books, all of them. Then with books stacked in front of them. Books stacked on the floor. Books stacked on the chairs, the tables, lining the windowsills. Boxes of them. Random cases of them at odd places.”

Rich in historical detail and accuracy, the pre-World War I years make a fascinating backdrop for this story. Peter and Rosemary are compelling characters with great chemistry between them. Best of all is how Peter shares his faith and the growth we see in Rosemary. I enjoyed A Name Unknown so much and hated to reach the last page.

Highly recommended.

I was provided a free copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

http://litfusegroup.com/author/RWhite

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Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself.

Roseanna is the author of over a dozen historical novels and novellas, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her British series. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to make their way into her novels . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly boring. She passes said boring life with her husband and kids in the beautiful mountains of eastern West Virginia.

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GIVEAWAY

A special thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Bethany House for making this giveaway possible.

To enter the drawing, please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here. If you’ve enjoyed any of Roseanna’s books and maybe have a favorite, please share. (It was the first Culper Ring novel, Ring of Secrets, that drew me to Roseanna’s writing.)

BE SURE to leave your name and your email address in a safe format - [at] and [dot] - for the drawing. E-mail required for entry. Contest ends at midnight PST on August 27, 2017. Winner will be chosen by random.org and contacted by e-mail.

Eligibility: US residents

 

34 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing, Kim. That really helps get the word out. Did you want to enter the giveaway? I wasn't sure because you didn't leave your e-mail. Thanks!

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  2. I shared on Facebook. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
    bettimace [at] gmail [dot] com

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    1. Thanks so much for sharing, Betti. And I hope you get to enjoy this book as much as I did.

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  3. I've not read any of her books, but I've been dying to!
    Elly -Indiana-
    jcservantslaveATicloudDOTcom

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    1. If you enjoy historical romance, you should enjoy this series, Elly. Her previous series is excellent also. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. I shared on Facebook. I have read The Reluctant Duchess. This new release sounds very interesting with the added layer of WWI intrigue. Thanks! dixiedobie at yahoo dot com

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    1. I enjoyed the WW1 background, Cathy. And from all the characters introduced in this first book, there's a lot to look forward to in the series. Thanks so much for sharing. That really helps get the word out.

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  5. I'd love to win!
    Allofakindmom at gmail dot com

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    1. Best wishes, Rosalyn. I'm sure you will enjoy this story.

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  7. I haven't read any of her books yet, but I hope to get to The Lost Heiress next month! Her books have always caught my eye, but for some reason I just haven't read any yet, sigh!

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    1. I have the same problem with getting to certain books, Beth. In fact, you'd be surprised at who I haven't found time to read yet! You should try "Ring of Secrets" from Roseanna's Culper Ring series, still one of my very favorites. But all her books are good.

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  8. Oh, whoops! Forgot my email bharbin07{at}gmail{dot}com.

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  9. I shared on facebook. I haven't read any of her books yet but have seen some great reviews of some of them. Thanks for the review and giveaway. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. Those reviews are well deserved, Donna. If you enjoy historical romance, do try Roseanna's books, any of them. Thanks for sharing ... and best wishes in the giveaway.

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  11. Shared on Facebook and appreciate the giveaway for a new to me author.
    perrianne(dot)askew(at)me(dot)com

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    1. Perrianne, if you enjoy historical romance, you'll love Roseanna's writing. Thanks so much for sharing on Facebook. Best wishes in the giveaway!

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  12. I shared on Facebook. Swdrea[at]yahoo[dot]com
    I loved her Ladies of the Manor series. I have also read A Ring of Secrets and A Name Unknown, but I checked it out from the library and would like to have a copy of my very own. :) thank you.

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    1. I can certainly understand you wanting a copy of your own, Swdrea. A Ring of Secrets is still one of my favorite books. Best wishes in the drawing!

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  13. I shared on facebook. I love the giveaway. I haven't read any of her books but I would love to read them. mommystuck1(at)optonline(dot)net

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    1. I appreciate you sharing, Tammy. If you enjoy historical fiction, I'm sure you will like this story. Best wishes in the drawing.

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  14. I would love to enter the giveaway (if I can). I have read this wonderful book, but I know some people I would love to share it with if I win. :-) I shared it on facebook, Google, Pinterest, Twitter.
    amylsmith AT bledsoe DOT net

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    1. Amy, thank you so much for going out of your way to share. I wanted to do all I could in promotion and was thrilled that Litfuse allowed me to do a giveaway. This first story really captured my heart.

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    2. And of course you can enter! That goes without saying. I promote through shared copies at my ladies' Bible study, so I always want as many paper copies as I can get.

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    3. Thanks Carole. Sometimes you read a good book and kind of want to hold onto it, but then you think there are really alot of people out there that could use the message in the book. Torn.... That is how I feel about this book. So it would be fun to win one to give to someone else and not have to part with mine. :-)

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  15. I haven't had a chance to read this author but I have heard great things about her.

    Rjdeedrick at gmail dot com

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  16. I shared on Face book. I really think I've read something by this author but can't find it! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  17. I'm not sure, but I do not believe I've ever read anything by Roseanna M White. This does sound like an intriguing read. I know that having a German name at that time (before & time of WW1) caused one to be under suspicion.

    BTW, did share post.

    donna (dot) durnell (at) sbcglobal (dot) net

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  18. I shared on Facebook! Thank you so much for the chance to win! I am new to Roseanna White's books and I would love to read this one.

    jcrea(at)comcast (dot) net

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  19. Thanks for your WONDERFUL review, Carol! I have wanted to read this book since I first saw it, and your review made me want to read it all the more!!! Thanks for the opportunity of this giveaway! ~ Alison Boss

    I also shared on Facebook :)

    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. This is a new author to me, and I would love to win a copy of her book. It sounds like a great read. Thanks! 😊
    gobersATembarqmailDOTcom

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  21. Shared on Facebook. New author to me, I really want to read. Thanks for the chance.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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