Book Review: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M White

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Synopsis of 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, including keeping an eye on a talented engineer working as a clockmaker. But not until he rescues the man’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly dreamed and worked for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end their engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clock 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 deeper into war, the race is on for any technological edge, and Evelina’s father’s ideas have captured the attention of many—perhaps too many. As danger seems to encroach from every side, it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape.

My review: 

I was really looking forward to reading Barclay’s story and I was not disappointed. I absolutely loved Barclay—from his fiercely loyal nature to his desire to turn toward the life that God wanted him to lead. What a great story of redemption just in one man.

Barclay needed just the right woman to be his partner in life and Evelina was that woman. She was fiercely independent but determined to see that others gained their independence as well. She was naïve to the darker side of human nature but compassionate in meeting those less fortunate than herself.

The mystery surrounding Evelina’s father kept me turning the pages. I must admit that I was more in tuned to her father’s true nature than she was, but I rooted for her to find the truth.

I loved the comparison of God to a clockmaker, who is interested in ALL of the gears and springs no matter how insignificant they may seem. What a great inspirational thread.

What I enjoyed most about this book:

I wish I could pick one thing but, alas, I cannot. I will just say that I enjoyed the whole story.

What I didn’t like about this book:

Evelina’s lack of confidence, particularly when it came to her father’s true nature.

Would I recommend this book to others? Definitely. Great characters and a lovely inspirational thread. This read kept me turning the pages. This is the third book in the series. It can be read as a standalone but I encourage reading the whole series.

Note: I received this book complimentary from a book giveaway. I was not required to give a review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are my own.

Where can I learn more about this author and their books?

Roseanna M White, author website

-Loraine Nunley