A Name Unknown (Shadows Over England)

I seriously think that Roseanna has a time machine. She must travel back to each year and place that she writes about to give it such authenticity. A Name Unknown is beautifully crafted with raw and organic characters that will capture any historical fiction fan's heart.

Books like this book are a once in a lifetime read, you will be transported in the time machine to the streets of London,with a charming Rosemary. I loved that she was a "librarian" as that is a profession I have held and loved dearly. She is strong opinionated character that at some points probably drove the author to talking out loud. I mean this as she flies off the pages into your mind,and certainly into Peter's home and heart.One aspect this author always does perfectly is her research, I swear I could smell the streets, and the fog of London. I really loved the conflict for Peter of England v. Germany, his heritage and ultimately the outcome of Rosemary's mission. The details were great and made me more curious for the time period. I was blown away, knowing that the book would amazing but didn't know it would be so mind blowing that I would be speechless. Another highly successful new series for Roseanna M. White.

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).