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 for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist 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.
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My Perspective
I was so happy to finally read Barclay’s story, and what a story it was! White had me sold on this series in the very first chapter of book one, so I already knew I was in for an adventure. But Barclay and Evelina’s story just might be my favorite! Barclay is the kind of man everyone wants in their family – strong, loyal, and always tries to put family first. In this story we also learn about his faith walk, and ever growing interest in what the Lord has to say. That was a whole other story in itself, and one I enjoyed reading. I found it fascinating how one particular verse kept coming to his mind, and I have to admit it’s not one I’ve really thought of, until now. Isn’t it lovely when a book can point something biblically out to you?
White also weaves a story of time, war, and places tidbits of historical facts throughout the book in perfect form. Yes, I learned some things while reading this, the whole series actually. White has managed to teach, inspire, and make a girl swoon all in one sitting! My favorite scene in the whole book was probably Barclay and Evelina’s first kiss. It isn’t your typical first kiss, and that is what made it so wonderful. Evelina’s mother and aunt are characters to laugh over, actually mostly roll your eyes over. You wonder how Evelina turned out like she did, and then her father spits something out that makes you literally laugh out loud, and then you understand. She is completely and utterly her father’s daughter. I loved him too by the way.
With romance, mystery and faith themes that will speak right to your heart, you can’t help but love the latest in this wonderful series. I encourage you to visit 1915 England. Be sure to make room in your schedule too. I did not want to put this down once I started. To be honest, it’s been like that with every book in this series. But be prepared for the emotions that will come as you read the last words. It’s like saying goodbye to family. Thank goodness it’s a book that can be read over and over again!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the Author
Guest Post from Roseanna
Last year, as I finished up the writing of An Hour Unspent, my great-grandmother passed away at the age of 103. As I sat at her funeral service and listened to the heartfelt memorial raised up to her by her kids and grandkids, I realized anew that this woman had been a matriarch in the truest sense of the word. She’d taught my family for generations how to love the Lord and each other, how to serve the Lord and each other, and how to trust the Lord and each other. Grandma Seward was, in so many ways, the one who instilled in me my idea of what family really is.
That idea—that it’s those knit together by love more than blood, and that faith is the strongest foundation—is what I built my unusual family of thieves upon in the Shadows Over England series. And strange as it is to liken my twenty-something reformed-thief hero to my 103-year-old-grandmother, Barclay Pearce is very much to his family what Maxine Seward was to mine.
The founder. The caregiver. The leader.
I knew as I began the series that I would write about Barclay in book three, and as I got to know him better throughout the series, I grew so excited to share his story! This is a man who led his family first into and then out of a life a crime, always for the right reasons—so he could provide for the children under his care. All he ever wanted to do was give them what he himself had lost. To show them love. To prove to them that they were worth any sacrifice.
It was truly a blessing for me to get to write the story in which Barclay found someone to come alongside him, to appreciate and learn to understand him. To finally share what started him down this path. I loved the idea that only a reformed thief could steal the time another family needed to overcome their own trials.
There are many historical items in the book that were such fun to explore—watchmaking of the era, the suffrage movement in England, technological advancements of the war—but at the heart, this isn’t a story about any of those.
It’s a story about how far people should go for love. I hope you enjoy Barclay’s story as much as I did!
Blog Stops
The Avid Reader, October 30
The Power of Words, October 30
Back Porch Reads, October 30
Kat’s Corner Books, October 30
Janice’s Book Reviews, October 30
Where Faith and Books Meet, October 31
Reading Is My SuperPower, October 31
Faithfully Bookish, October 31
Genesis 5020, October 31
Fiction Aficionado, November 1
Among the Reads, November 1
The Lit Addict, November 1
Just the Write Escape, November 1
Multifarious, November 2
Godly Book Reviews, November 2
Real World Bible Study, November 2
Madeline Clark, November 2
Reflections From My Bookshelves, November 3
Christian Bookaholic, November 3
Inspirationally Ever After, November 3
Bookworm Mama, November 3
Bigreadersite, November 3
Blogging With Carol , November 4
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 4
Life with the Tribe, November 4
The Becca Files, November 4
Kathleen Denly, November 5
Cordially Barbara, November 5
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 5
Simple Harvest Reads, November 5 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
God’s Little Bookworm, November 6
All-of-a-kind Mom, November 6
Faery Tales Are Real, November 6
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, November 6
Carpe Diem, November 6
Margaret Kazmierczak, November 7
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 7
Christian Author, J.E.Grace, November 7
Blossoms and Blessings , November 7
Maureen’s Musings , November 8
Connie’s History Classroom , November 8
Book by Book, November 8
Just Commonly, November 8
cherylbbookblog, November 9
The Christian Fiction Girl, November 9
Have A Wonderful Day , November 9
With a Joyful Noise, November 9
KarenSueHadley , November 10
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 10
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 10
Baker kella, November 10
Bibliophile Reviews, November 10
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, November 11
Inklings and Notions , November 11
Two Points of Interest, November 11
Inspiration Clothesline, November 11
A Baker’s Perspective, November 11
Henry Happens, November 12
Texas Book-aholic, November 12
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 12
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Roseanna is giving away a grand prize of a signed book, a London mug, and a 48-pack Twinings tea sampler!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d570/an-hour-unspent-celebration-tour-giveaway
Thank you for your wonderful review on “An Hour Unspent” and for being part of the book tour.
I’ve had this book on my TBR for a while, but the more I read about it through reviews and guest post, the desire to read it deepens. I’d love the opportunity to read it – SOON. 🙂
Thanks for the review and interview. I loved this whole series. The family is just so interesting. You can’t go wrong with a book written by Roseanna White. If you haven’t tried one of her books… do so soon!
Great review! I would certainly want to read the book if I hadn’t just finished it!!
Wonderful review! Roseanan White’s books are a must read!
I have loved this series and was sad to see it end, until I heard that the first book Roseanna White’s upcoming new series will star Margot from A Song Unheard! So there will be continuation (of a sort) after all!
This book sounds great. Ty for the cool giveaway.
Thanks for the review & giveaway! It sounds like a really good book.