A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

*AS ALWAYS WE ADVISE OUR READERS THAT IF THEY DO NOT WISH TO SEE SPOILERS THAT THEY SKIP THE NOTES SECTION AND GO DIRECTLY TO THE OVERALL REVIEW PORTION OF THE PIECE*

Provided Summary by Book:
"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 concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered. 

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?"

First Impressions:
The paperback copy of the book sports a very matte and rather lackluster color cover but this is what draws me to the book so intently. The embossed letters and minute details of border add class as well as intricacy to the book. Photographed into the cover is also a woman wearing early 20th century garments in front of some very old encyclopedias, which make her appear as if she is a librarian with many secrets to hide.

Notes:
Pg 7 - This introduction leads you to question many things such as what a thief is and when they strike. It draws the image of a small, meek pick-pocketer that has confidence issues. The fear of the dark makes her seem very young.
Pg 8 - The giving of the name and address makes the whole thing seem more like an assassination than a theft
Pg 10 - The average of the wage was 50 pounds per year. She was just offered a chance to make 1000 in a fort night. Would you accept the offer even if it meant possibly committing treason???
Pg 13 - Had she awoken one morning to find her parents murdered?!?!
Pg 18 - While it is such a pity of the struggles, I much prefer their celebrations over our drunken ones.
Pg 26 - I think they mentioned it already but how exactly is he related to the royal family??? Didn't someone mention they are all of German decent??
Pg 28 - WHEN IT COMES TO BOOKS THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HAVING ENOUGH NOR TOO MANY!!!!
Pg 30 - The author does a phantasmal job describing/depicting nature.
Pg 38 - Could Gryff 'the lawyer friend' ruin R's plans and reveal her true 'identity'??? he is extremely suspicious of her...
Pg 44 - It's funny to think that they don't see women as fit to be librarians but in this age I see men in the same light......
Pg 47 - This whole thing of her being amazed by his collection makes me think of Belle and the Beast when he tries to win her affection.
Pg 57 - It is very convenient that she is to find information pertaining to the same genre for both tasks.... his heritage
Pg 68 - I'll be completely honest, I got completely confused when he started talking about his series,,,, he said he hasn't traveled right??
Pg 71 - It's funny that in his thoughts he continues to make notes of her appearance and behavior
Pg 88 - Made me think of Alice's words from the TNT original series Will
Pg 101 - It is great that R gets along with kids so well (although it is expected when one has 12 siblings), it will ultimately make her more likable.
Pg 103 - He is the only writer who has not signed his copies of books... hint hint ... He has a pseudo-name
Pg 106 - woah, wait, pause; first Gryff distrusts R and now he is telling P to go out with her???
Pg 109 - It's funny how the experiences that toughen the less fortunate are ultimately what plagues the more wealthy...
Pg 112 - It's funny to me that P keeps noticing R holding back opinions and expressions but I was raised on the notion that women and children should be seen and not heard
Pg 114 - oops... she slipped up using her right hand
Pg 119 - It's kinda ironic that she keeps mentioning 'if I was the mistress of an estate like this' if she becomes the mistress in the end lol
 - *knock knock knock* Penny *knock knock knock* lol
Pg 134 - This is the letter R could use to ruin him!!!!
Pg 138 - I wonder if R will think that P is onto her because he moved the letters...
Pg 149 - I'm really curious how P will react to R's sob letter. If he will insist on her visiting or by volunteering himself to send extra money
Pg 155 - It is amazing how he sees women as equals and that he takes the time to help others
Pg 156 - I despise Mrs.T
 - A telegram came that fast?? It must not be good news...
Pg 158 - His class/social standings obviously leaves him oblivious to the real world... I'm surprised he didn't take the 'rich bloke' remark more personally...
Pg 159 - What in the heck does he think he can do?!?!
Pg 161 - Does this lackey smoke? Maybe the one smoking and throwing rocks is him...
Pg 164 - THIS CAN ONLY LEAD TO MORE TROUBLE IF THEY FIND OUT THE TRUTH
Pg 166 - The symbol only recently popped up and now a calling card??
Pg 169 - WOAH WOAH WOAH IT HAS BEEN A WEEKS TIME?!?!
Pg 174 - What she says of God makes perfect sense. We love him when all is well but are full of hatred when he is nowhere to be found.
Pg 179 - I love R's quick wit and how she is already unknowingly doing what Gryff wants
Pg 180 - That last hip lean part and the correction of her own speech after made me think of high school mean girls
Pg 183 - The rain could explain the lack of butts as well as their removal preventing further accumulation
 - Jasper is DEFINITELY is working against P ... Could it be because J is the real spy and needs a cover up?
Pg 191 - SELL THE CARRIAGES?!?!?! But why?? I would LOVE to have one!!!!
Pg 192 - So the investigator has the right house... they are in more then one place but now he has to start his search over...
Pg 195 - I wonder if these author friends (especially the English ones) know P is German and how they feel about that... Would they support him if need be??
Pg 197 - If having family and property would make Mr V happy ... and the letter is a bit old ... why wouldn't she use that as proof??
Pg 201 - I love tree tunnels ... more so branch tunnels ...
Pg 204 - Is she not giving everything away in this moment?!?!
Pg 211 - You know, I just thought; does nobody question his wealth?? Maybe that's why they think him a spy?
Pg 213 - Who the heck could have started a fire, unnoticed, in the stables?? They just got back!!
Pg 219 - Okay now that a majority of the excitement is over and I can break away... Wow ...
 - The memories R has of her first jobs and flat are just WOW, especially the chimney sweep
 - Definitely expected Gryff to get there sooner...
 - The personification of fire
 - It took her a moment to realize darkness fell...
Pg 224 - Wow ... those people are so concerned about P that they forgot about the hired help
Pg 225 - DAMN I couldn't recall Mr. V wearing a bowler at first but now I remember ... Is Jasper's lackey Mr. V or are they in the same organization???
Pg 228 - How are so many weeks going by with no declaration of war?!?!
Pg 231 - Rich stuck up traitorous spies don't seem the kind to take advice from servants
Pg 234 - The way P looks at R, studies her expressions and movements, the way he smirks at her quirks... they are what I want in a boyfriend/husband
Pg 236 - Most definitely made me smile, very flirtatious
Pg 242 - Major de ja vu ... Not quite low life villager nor rich man ...
Pg 244 - So I've been thinking ... what if Barclay or R read this book with the Rosita character and figure out it is her ? ...
Pg 259 - More excitement!! He helped her catch and tackle a thief while also care for the sick ...
 - What if bowler hat is Mr. V and he just saw R kiss P ... that also raises the question of how close have they really gotten since she started working there???
 - Also now would be the time for P to say "as friends who are clearly helping one another in more than they should, I would like to give you a bonus to help with Olivia"
Pg 260 - okay, hold up; the only logical thing I can think up is that to get to R's family Gryff went through her references which were done by V which would explain how he got hold of the money
Pg 269 - I get that people get flustered during assassinations but what is the extreme connection to P???
Pg 277 - How do you aim for a tree and hit a person?!?!?! YOU IDIOT!!! Stick it further down the path and avoid making a commotion
Pg 278 - She isn't injured because of her work, she is because she went on the walk and tried to be tough...
Pg 284 - Woah wait, this is one of the few times we get a REAL description of P ...
Pg 289 - So are they now very open about his relationships about royalty???
Pg 293 - It is in this moment that I think of how every choice we make has lead us to where we are and we wouldn't have ended up in this exact moment otherwise and thus the pain and suffering wasn't futile but rather necessary
Pg 295 - WOAH WOAH WOAH why have we never heard of these endeavors before now???!?? When the heck did she become so involved in his life??
Pg 296 - How much of the shares does he actually own??? It must be at least 40 percent because then the other party would already have majority....
Pg 298 - Oh that's a book.... I thought it was a metaphor for the letter she swiped ...
Pg 299 - HA YEAH RIGHT!!!
Pg 300 - Are these organizations in England? Do other know? Have they attacked other places because of him funding them???
Pg 305 - GOOD QUESTION GRYFF!! What if she goes back to her old life and he is not taken an not imprisoned but rather seeks her out and finds out her whole truth?
Pg 306 - ... He also needed her to reach his deadlines XD
Pg 309 - I am not sure how i feel that his story reflects his life but I am also curious how many books he has written.
Pg 312 - Okay but if he make the librarian position permanent, what will she do!? She cant very well reorganize the books...
Pg 314 - Almost like he is being interviewed by parents. XD
Pg 319 - She made fun of his stutter! Like a sister teasing her about a crush. lol
Pg 321 - What is Mr. V going to do when he get no proper evidence?
Pg 325 - Because 90% of the rich are dicks. its just how they've grown, always having everything.
Pg 326 - Why wouldn't Willa want to help her?!?!?
Pg 327 - I really hope that is not true...
Pg 331 - THIS MAKES MY HEART HURT! But it's 98% how i would act too...in both positions..
Pg 337 - SO HE ISN'T A SPY FOR GERMANY! RATHER FOR ENGLAND!!
Pg 342 - It's great she was able to help but what will they think now?
Pg 344 - Obviously about R.... does he dislike her now??
Pg 349 - Terribly over used maybe but heart fluttering none-the-less.
Pg 355 - The first real flash back/ recap.
Pg 358 - Why does Mr. V care so much if P writes books??
Pg 359 - ...I'm curios about the tree with the heart...
Pg 363 - Woah Woah Woah How can it keep saying 'these past two weeks' as if each set is its own additional two weeks and only equal two months?
Pg 365 - Now would be the time for her to grab the evidence and run. Meet Mr. V instead... But what of P and his manuscript.
Pg 367 - I get that people can pick locks but can they re-lock them to cover their tracks?
Pg 368 - It's funny how every thing seems so blatantly obvious when you know the answer...
Pg 372 - I just can't with how easy and extremely friendly ( over friendly if you ask me) they are being.
Pg 377 - I like that..."delicate when it suits you. strong always" like a rose covered in thorns
Pg 380 - She cant run and cry in front of Mrs. T!!!!!
Pg 381 - What if it is god???
Pg 382 - WHAT?!?!?! MRS.T??
Pg 385 - I don't like the nice Mrs.T
Pg 393 - WOAH WOAH WOAH! Another plot twist!! Why the heck does the king care if he is Hollow????
Pg 394 - Are they going to get him to write propaganda perhaps??
Pg 395 - NO! There are other still against them!!
Pg 415 - He's glowering at her with storm filled eyes and now they SHIMMER?!?!?
Pg 423 - YES! Biggest foreshadow ever. finally coming to a close

Overall Review:
A Name Unknown by author Roseanna M. White is a very well pieced together historical fiction novel. Or, at least the first 400 odd pages are. The book seems to take a very drastic turn after the dangers have seemingly been resolved and becomes very 'mushy' in lack of better terms. This very low quality 'action packed' novel continues to keep you on your toes nonetheless. The constant flip from one point of view to another has become a very largely used theme among writers today and allows the readers to classify both main personas as both villainous and heroic toward each other all at once. Another major critic of the writing style includes the time shifts, toward the climax of the tale the characters begin to reference periods of time mainly as ' the past two weeks' and each time they say thus it seems as though it is a whole new set of two weeks making it seem rather unusual that only a whole two months have gone by in the novel. The use of existing novels and authors is very enjoyable as the readers relate to the characters responses however one questions is ALL of them are in the correct time period to be used. Other great ploys in the book include the authors use of her styles to depict a sub plot in a secondary tale within the bigger picture and the relation of her tale to the one deeper inside is extraordinary. While I myself did enjoy the book and recommend it for other advt readers of historic fiction, this first novel is largely directed toward the female persuasion; the males may ultimately like the stories to come later in the series as the rest of the sub characters become more 'mainstream'.