I don't really have a reading goal for 2021. I did read 33 books during 2020. Maybe I will read more this year. I do have a non-fiction goal of reading 4 books and I have a Bible reading goal. I'm off to a good start. I finished this Sunday although I started it over my Christmas vacation.
STORY SUMMARY
Rosemary Gresham is an orphan. Her "family" is a group of other poor children and young adults who are also orphaned. To get by in London, they steal from the rich as "pickpockets". But as they get older, they turn to other methods of stealing by blending into "high society".
One day, when Rosemary is wondering if she can keep doing this, she is offered a challenge that could change her life and the lives of her "siblings": to figure out if a certain rich gentleman is loyal to their country (England) or to Germany. The year is 1914. Her job is to steal his family history...and his name!
Europe is getting closer to World War I and there are rumors swirling around Cornwall about Mr Peter Holstein. He's a bit ackward and keeps to himself in his home which is called Kensey Manor. He's also friends with the King! Many of the townsfolk fear his influence. But Peter cannot help his German last name. He does want to prove his loyalty to England and the Crown.....mainly because he wants to go back and continue writing his popular adventure series under an assumed name (Branock Hollow).
When Rosemary arrives at the manor pretending to be a librarian with good credentials, he believe she just might be the right person to help him dig through the hundreds of books and journals in his family library...and find out about his family's past.
Danger and suspicion begin to build and Rosemary, along with Peter, start to realize they're in a race against time to learn the truth about Peter and his family. And at the same time...they are becoming attracted to each other! Will Rosemary confess her secrets to Peter? Will Peter learn about his true family history? And why does Prince Edward show up at the manor??
MY THOUGHTS
This book was riveting from the start until the very end. I don't usually choose this type of fiction book but because it was first listed under historical fiction I thought I'd check it out since a fellow blogger I enjoy also recommended it. I'm so glad I read this first book in the "Shadows Over England" series.
The author included Peter's fictional tale of Locryn James into the plot and at first it was annoying to me but then I started to see the parallels between Peter and Locryn and between Rosita and Rosemary. That was cute and well done without being sappy.
This book's setting is exquisite. The author does a fantastic job with the description as well as the character development. I like the plot within a plot type of thing, too.
I also loved the mysterious air and drama to this book and the ending is so good.....she wraps up the story so well, and ties in all of the characters, both major and minor.
Rosemary becomes so likable and there's even some humor in a few of the characters, particularly the townsfolk of Cornwall.
I like how the author weaves into the story the truths of God without being preachy. She keeps things real.I totally fell in love with Peter.
There were a couple of quotes that jumped out at me:
"They are like our prayers, ja? We send them out, and we cannot see, always, what they do. Once in a while we see their ripples. But more often we cannot. Still we pray. Because just like our logic tells us these rocks fall and gather and join the other rocks below, so our faith tells us our prayers whisper into God's ears and gather and join the prayers of the other faithful. And His Word says the prayers of the faithful avail much." (pg 66 A Name Unknown by Roseanna M White, c 2017)
"May you never forget that with the greatest risks come the greatest rewards...." (pg 426 A Name Unknown by Roseanna M White c.2917)
The last quote is used throughout the story.
The main themes in this book appear to be forgiveness, redemption, salvation, and friendship/family relationships.
In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older.
On a scale of 1-10, I rate this a 10.
3 comments:
So glad you loved it! I did, too, so much. I was glad the rest of the series had already been written so I didn’t have to wait a year or two between books.
It sounds like a good read. I feel the same way about Christian fiction and Christian rock music. It’s usually just terrible. I like authors who can describe landscape well. John Steinbeck is so good at that. He’s one of my favourite classical authors..but they can’t all be him.
I love that first quote. This series and another one by this author are on my TBR lists. The covers on all of them are gorgeous!
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