A Name Unknown

May 22, 2017
White (the Ladies of the Manor series) opens her Shadows Over England series with a rollicking tale of thieves on the eve of World War I. Rosemary Gresham, a London thief, is hired to find evidence that Peter Holstein, who is close to the king, has German sympathies. She poses as a librarian to organize his messy library at Kensey Manor, planning to find the evidence and collect a hefty payment that will feed her “family” of thieves and homeless children back in London. Holstein has secrets, but Rosemary finds his stuttering speech hides a deeply spiritual and caring heart. Love slowly blossoms, but will enemies from all sides ruin it as each reveals secrets about who they really are? The book has many moments of charm, but the plot is overburdened with frivolous asides. Regardless, White’s fans will no doubt enjoy this beginning of a new historical adventure. Agent: Karen Ball, the Steve Laube Agency

May 15, 2017

In Edwardian England, loyalty to the Crown is of utmost importance; anyone with a German name is suspect. Rosemary Gresham, a professional thief for hire, is asked to investigate wealthy Peter Holstein's background. She discovers the real Peter may not be the man she believed him to be. Fans of Roseanna M. White seeking a summer historical romance will be delighted.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017

Rosemary Gresham's unusual skills, learned from a life on London's rough streets, land her an assignment to investigate the background of author Peter Holstein, who writes under a non-German pen name. For the Crown, loyalty is of utmost importance. As tensions escalate between England and Germany, anyone with a German name is suspect. As Rosemary observes Peter's gracious interactions with his scornful neighbors, she sees a very different man than his dossier would indicate. By helping the Crown, she could be indicting an innocent man solely on the basis of his surname. VERDICT White (A Lady Unrivaled) once again demonstrates her mastery of historical detail with polished prose and thorough research. Fans of Edwardian romances will be adding this to their summer reading lists.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.