A Name Unknown

     BOOK REVIEW:   Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond that of the band of former urchins who helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they are no longer pickpockets---instead they focus on high value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. Rosemary is beginning to question whether she can continue in this life when she is offered the challenge of a lifetime---determining whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany. After all how does one steal a family's history, their very name?
     As Europe moves ever closer to World War I, 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 doorstep pretending to be a well-credentialed historian, Peter believes she's the right person to help him dig through his family's past.
     When danger and suspicion continue to mount, both realize they're in a race against time to discover the truth---about Peter's past and about the undeniably attraction kindling between them.

     MY REVIEW:   This book had a different storyline than most historical fictions I've read. A professional thief infiltrating the home of a solitary secret novelist in an attempt to gauge his loyalty. It peaked my curiosity, and I enjoyed reading it.
    A Name Unknown  is Roseanna White's first book in her new SHADOWS OVER ENGLAND series. Book two, A Song Unsong will be out in January 2018, and the third, An Hour Spent", will of course be sometime after that, but I couldn't find a date. Her latest completed series, LADIES OF THE MANOR, consists of The Lost Heiress, The Reluctant Duchess, and A Lady Unrivaled. This is the first and only book of Roseanna's that I have read, but I may be checking out a few others, who knows.
     One thing that I became aware of while reading this book is the utter hatred people can have of others, based only on their name in turmultous times. Peter's name was German, but his heart was British. But his enemies refused to see that---they were run by fear.
    Rosemary was surprised to find a rich and decent man, having assumed for years they were either or. As the story plays out, she sees it is because of Jesus in his life that Peter had the compassion and wisdom he did.
     It is also interesting to read a novel about a man writing a novel. I enjoyed seeing how his story came together. It was also interesting how very different his main character was from himself.
   
  I received a copy of this book from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS per their blogger program, and was only asked to write an honest review.