Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

August's Book of the Month is A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White!

GR Summary: Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which make her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.

Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is in meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.

But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.

Feel free to chime in below if you plan to join in on the read! :)

I just started the book :)

I just started this book and will be jumping in for Loraine this month to lead the discussion . Please keep Loraine in your prayers as she has a broken pelvis - please pray for quick recovery and for minimal pain! Thanks all.

Also, just as a reminder, discussion questions will be posted on the 15th which gives folks a chance to read the book, so a gentle reminder to please not post spoilers until then.

But for now, have you read anything by Roseanna M. White before? And if so, do you have a favorite?

I'm hoping to join.

I have read and loved the whole series.

I'm looking forward to this one. I think my favourite Roseanna M. White book was the first book in the Culper Ring series: . TBH, though, I've not read a book by her that I didn't enjoy! 😊

So far, I have read and , and I loved both of them. I'm looking forward to this one.

Also just to let you all know I’m listening to the audiobook version and the narrator/actress that reads it does a great job in case anyone is interested in going that route.

Cheryl wrote: "Also just to let you all know I’m listening to the audiobook version and the narrator/actress that reads it does a great job in case anyone is interested in going that route."

Great to know. I listened to the Ladies of Manor on audio and loved the narrator and was planning to go that route with this series as well. (even though I do have the kindle books).

I'm planning on joining this month! Sending lots of prayers for Loraine!

I have read The Lost Heiress, all of her Culper Ring series and A Name Unknown. I think A Name Unknown is my favorite so far, but I enjoyed all of them.

I'll try to join, too! Loved the first book and I'm very curious to read book 2 and 3!

Roseanna M. White is such a solid author! The Culper Ring series led me down a rabbit hole for her books and none have disappointed me.

For those who have completed Shadows Over England, the Codebreaker series come next. Heroine is Margot who first appeared in this A Song Unheard :)

I finished this book and the 3rd in the series last week. I loved them. This series was wonderful, and I will definitely be looking for the Codebreakers series also.

Ok all it's time to post some discussion questions as it is already the 15th- wow August is speeding by!

This book did not come with it's own discussion questions so we are going to punt here, meaning I'll post some general ones, and some specific one's that I think of on my own-if you have a burning question, by all means, go ahead and ask it! And now that it's the middle of the month, spoilers are ok, but you just might give folks a heads up for those that haven't finished yet. :)

Also, I encourage you to watch the book trailer if you have a chance- there is a female violinist(Jessica Brand) who composed a song for this book called "Willa's song" - fun to listen to!

1. What were your initial thoughts on the following characters( you can comment on as many or few as you like) and how did they change by the end of the story?

a) Willa
b) Lukas
c) Barclay
d) Gottlieb
e) Margot

2) Share a favorite quote from the book, why did this stand out?

3) What theme(s) seemed to jump out at you from this book?

4) Have you ever known someone like Willa who could hear a melody once or twice and then just play it on their instrument?

5) There were several things done here with the thought that "the end justifies the means"- eg- Willa stealing from the rich to help feed the poor and Margo's constant lies to Gottleib about the whereabouts of Lukas, what are your thoughts on this?


There are a few to get us started- you are free to answer any and all questions and I will post more in a couple of days and/or feel free to post some of your own questions and/or comments.

I am going to jump in on #4. People who can hear a melody and then play it on an instrument are said to be "playing by ear." It is a natural talent or gift that not many have. It's more common on piano then other instruments. My dad never had a piano lesson in his life, but he could sit down and play a song that he had heard a couple of times. We were traveling through Utah at one time, and we stopped to visit the Mormon Tabernacle. My dad was friends with the current organist. He told my dad to sit down and play something. Dad was scared to death to touch this incredible instrument, but he played a couple of songs. It was the thrill of a lifetime for him.

Recently, while staying at a rehab hospital, we had a gentleman who came and played for almost an hour with no music. I asked him afterwards if he had memorized all of it, and he said no "I play by ear."

Loraine wrote: "I am going to jump in on #4. People who can hear a melody and then play it on an instrument are said to be "playing by ear." It is a natural talent or gift that not many have. It's more common on p..."

That is cool. My ex boyfriend could also listen to a song and play it after hearing it on the piano.

Barclay is my favorite character of the whole series. He is so level-headed and grounded that he is perfect in his role as head of the family.

3 ~ I think the theme that stood out for me most was never being truly alone. The scene where Willa finally reaches out to God and understands that the music in her head and heart were His way of telling her He was with her all along . . . that resonated so much with me!
4 ~ I knew a young man when we were in high school who could play by ear like that. I know for sure he did it on the piano, but now that I'm thinking of it, I think he played bass like that as well until he learned how to read music after being in our orchestra for a bit. Very talented guy. I have lost track of him, but hope he's been able to use his gift for music professionally.
And, Betsy . . . I have to agree with you about Barclay. I didn't get a good 'feel' for him in the first book of the series, but this one gave me a really good feeling about him, and I look forward to seeing what will happen with his story.

a) Willa - I liked her since I've met her in A Name Unknown - she seemed like a strong independent lady and getting to know why was great. I think she did have a stubborn streak in her (set in her ways) which was changed with her meeting with God. She also didn't believe in her own talent until God revealed Himself to her.

b) Lukas - he was such a charmer. I liked him. But liked that he got more serious and turned around from his wild ways.

c) Barclay - totally loved him - he is like the glue of the family and it was nice how he challenged Willa to be more and not just be stuck in the comfort of being a thief.

d) Gottlieb - at first I thought he was just a general german soldier - cold and ruthless. But by the end I think he really cared about Margot and her mom and has a softer side which he is hiding. Hoping he would make an appearance again in the new series.

e) Margot - I adored her! She was smart and spunky and the parts with her was some of my favourites. Really looking forward to her story in The Number of Love

3) What theme(s) seemed to jump out at you from this book?

For me it was also realising your potential and aiming to be more and not get stuck in your comfort zone. God made us all for a purpose but sometimes we miss the talents He gave us to grow our full potential because we are happy in our comfort zone.

And also God always chooses us, even though we might feel isolated/rejected in the world, we are always His first choice.


5) There were several things done here with the thought that "the end justifies the means"- eg- Willa stealing from the rich to help feed the poor and Margo's constant lies to Gottleib about the whereabouts of Lukas, what are your thoughts on this?

This is difficult. Both has a good purpose even though the means are wrong. This is always difficult because God clearly tells us what is right and wrong. Maybe God looks at the intentions/our heart as well. For example, Margot had to lie for safety of Lukas.

Like currently, with my 2 year old, I sometimes have to stretch the truth because the honest answer won't work right now - for example if he wants to watch tennis (jip) but it is not TV time, I tell him there is no tennis/everyone is sleeping because that works...

I just finished reading the book and I really loved it.

A) Willa - we didn’t get to know a lot about her in the first book but in this book we really found out that she was strong, independent and quite stubborn. She doesn’t really like change and just prefers things to stay the way they are. It was really fun to read her finding out that God was always with her through her music.

B) Lukas - he really was a charmer and I loved practicing my French with him constantly speaking in French. I really enjoyed reading about how he started to get more serious and how he left his old life behind him.

C) Barclay - loved him and can’t wait to read the next book.

D) Gottlieb - I really liked reading about how he wasn’t just some cold blooded German general but how he truly did care for Margot and her mother.

E) Margot - I absolutely loved her! She’s super smart and her character just draws you in. I found it funny how she prays to God in numbers and that just made me like her even more.

1. What were your initial thoughts on the following characters (you can comment on as many or few as you like) and how did they change by the end of the story?

a) Willa--I liked her smart remarks in A Name Unknown, but in this book, I loved her. I liked learning her history and how it made her build those walls around her heart. Then, watching her slowly accept Lukas and God along with the changes in her life that she had dreaded was beautiful.

b) Lukas--I loved his personality, so witty and winsome, and persistence in winning Willa. His realization that his mom was right about his treatment of women making it difficult for him to win the right woman later was rather funny to me, and I greatly admired his love for his family.

c) Barclay--I liked Barclay a lot. His love for his sisters was great, and I was amused by his reactions to his oldest sisters finding husbands.

d) Gottlieb--As is often the case, we discovered that the German officer is a complex character and not just a villain. I rather liked him.

e) Margot--I loved her. She is obviously autistic, high functioning of course, and is apparently also a savant in mathematics. Her awkwardness in social situations, especially with peers her age, is sweet and relatable as is her desire to be treated as an equal by adults. I love her logical mind and intelligence as well as her strong faith in God. The fact that she prayed in numbers was just adorable as well; as she said, God understands my native language. 🙂 I look forward to reading her story, which is waiting in my library bag.

3. What theme(s) seemed to jump out at you from this book?

Redemption.
The importance of believing in yourself (talents, gifts) and of trusting God and others (you can't do everything on your own).
Accepting change in life and growing as a person.