Review: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

An Hour Unspent

by Roseanna M. White

About the Book

Once London’s top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence but she certainly never meant to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and list in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can’t help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems. As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge–and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina’s father soon finds his whole family in danger–and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape it.

My Thoughts

This book was a great ending to the Shadows Over England series. I didn’t love it as much as I loved A Name Unknown, but I did think that it was a smart and well-written novel that was enjoyable. I love the setting of the book and thought the clockmaker theme was clever.

But of course, the characters are what made the book. Barclay was a great hero. He is selfless and would do anything for the ones that he loves. And I love the theme of this series; how these people who think they’ve been forgotten have learned that God has never forsaken them; that He loves them unconditionally. Such a great message. Evelina was a good heroine, also. I felt sorry for her and the way her mother and aunt treated her, but I love that she learned to stick up for herself, despite her circumstances.

Overall, An Hour Unspent is a good conclusion to a great series. If you love historical inspirational fiction, you will definitely want to read the Shadows Over England series.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this lovely tale of grace and mercy in WWI.