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The Culper Ring #1
Ring of Secrets
This exciting romantic spy novel from Roseanna M. White combines fascinating cloak-and-dagger secrets with a tale of love and intrigue during the Revolutionary War.
Winter Reeves is an aristocratic Patriot forced to hide her heart amid the Loyalists of the City of New York. She has learned to keep her ears open so she can pass information on British movements to Robbie Townsend, her childhood friend, and his spy ring. If she's caught, if she's hung for espionage...well, she won't be. Robbie has taught her the tools of the trade: the wonders of invisible ink, drop locations and, most importantly, a good cover.
Bennet Lane returns to New York from his Yale professorship with one goal: to find General Washington's spy hidden among the ranks of the elite. Searching for a wife was supposed to be nothing more than a convenient cover story for his mission, but when he meets Winter, with her too-intelligent eyes in her too-blank face, he finds a mystery that can't be ignored.
Both believers...and both committed to a separate cause. Will their faith in God lead them to a shared destiny or lives lived apart?
Winter Reeves is an aristocratic Patriot forced to hide her heart amid the Loyalists of the City of New York. She has learned to keep her ears open so she can pass information on British movements to Robbie Townsend, her childhood friend, and his spy ring. If she's caught, if she's hung for espionage...well, she won't be. Robbie has taught her the tools of the trade: the wonders of invisible ink, drop locations and, most importantly, a good cover.
Bennet Lane returns to New York from his Yale professorship with one goal: to find General Washington's spy hidden among the ranks of the elite. Searching for a wife was supposed to be nothing more than a convenient cover story for his mission, but when he meets Winter, with her too-intelligent eyes in her too-blank face, he finds a mystery that can't be ignored.
Both believers...and both committed to a separate cause. Will their faith in God lead them to a shared destiny or lives lived apart?
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2013
143 people are currently reading
2644 people want to read
About the author
Roseanna M. White
56 books3,700 followersRoseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
see also Roseanna White
see also Roseanna White
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
March 15, 2018
A unique approach for a novel set during the Revolutionary War. Main character Winter is a conduit of information for the Patriots that pretends to be dense and shallow. It was comical and masterful to read how well she played her role. I especially enjoyed the symbols used to share information with her counterpart such as a necklace with three strands indicating the message was left in the third hiding place.
The secondary characters were fabulous. To avoid spoilers I won't share anything beyond that.
Solid historical fiction novel.
The secondary characters were fabulous. To avoid spoilers I won't share anything beyond that.
Solid historical fiction novel.
April 24, 2020
Review date: 10/22/13
Rating: 5 stars
Time: 1779
Place: New York City
Event: Revolutionary War
Key Players: Winter Reeves, Patriot among aristocratic Loyalists; Bennet Lane, Yale professor whose goal is to root out George Washington’s spy among the city’s elite; Robert Townsend, long-time friend of Winter’s who got her involved in the Culper spy ring to begin with.
If you lived during the Revolutionary War, would you have sided with the Patriots or the Loyalists? The Patriots wanted America to be their own country, free from England’s reign. The Loyalists felt tied to England and loyal to the royal leaders.
Bennet Lane struggles to converse with women. This problem plagues him as he attends high society’s balls and parties. He summed up his troubles when he told his friend, in chapter one, “Women are baffling, George. Baffling. They complain if you treat them as pets but grow bored if you treat them as equals.” It’s a fine line he must dance, but dance he must if he wants to find a wife among the eligible young ladies of society.
Not only is Bennet searching for a wife, but he also searches for the spy George Washington has placed among the aristocratic elite of New York City. There are times when he feels on the verge of uncovering many secrets. Other times, he seems to be at a complete loss, like the spies are just beyond his grasp. Will Bennet find his tongue a help or hindrance in his search for a wife? Will he discover the spy ring before major secrets leak out of the city and into Washington’s camp? Will he choose to rely on God for guidance on both counts? When the truth comes out, will he like what he hears?
Ring of Secrets is the first book in Roseanna M. White’s Culper Ring series. This book is chock full of surprises, mysteries and secrets. Although the cover isn’t as stunning as the others in the series, the story beneath the cover is breathtaking in its intricacies and startling in its link to reality. The Culper Ring was a real spy group in the late 1700s, and several of the characters in Ring of Secrets were real figures in society, including George Washington, Robert Townsend and Benedict Arnold.
This is the first book by Roseanna White that I’ve read, and it hooked me. I’m coming back for more, starting with the novella, Fairchild’s Lady, that fits between books one and two of this series. I’m eager to see what twists and turns Roseanna has in store for me next time. Her style of writing easily took me back in time, planting me right alongside Winter Reeves and Bennet Lane. It reminded me of my childhood when I was so into my books that I was disappointed when I looked around my room and realized I wasn’t really in the time and place in which the story took place.
Do you like parties and mysteries? Espionage and spy catchers? Then Ring of Secrets is the book for you! Snatch up a copy today and see how the Culper Ring series begins.
***
Review date: 4/23/20
Rating: 5 stars
The second reading of this novel was just as enjoyable as the first. I especially loved the comical play on words. I don't think I fully appreciated that last time. It was neat to see the way the author incorporated the various "masks" we wear around people, whether we're courageous and vulnerable or hidden and cautious. Of course, the featured spies, codes, and conspiracies were brilliant fun and perfectly placed in the Revolutionary War era. The characters were quite memorable. They had plenty of flaws and unique personalities that made them pop off the pages.
Trigger: domestic abuse
Rating: 5 stars
Time: 1779
Place: New York City
Event: Revolutionary War
Key Players: Winter Reeves, Patriot among aristocratic Loyalists; Bennet Lane, Yale professor whose goal is to root out George Washington’s spy among the city’s elite; Robert Townsend, long-time friend of Winter’s who got her involved in the Culper spy ring to begin with.
If you lived during the Revolutionary War, would you have sided with the Patriots or the Loyalists? The Patriots wanted America to be their own country, free from England’s reign. The Loyalists felt tied to England and loyal to the royal leaders.
Bennet Lane struggles to converse with women. This problem plagues him as he attends high society’s balls and parties. He summed up his troubles when he told his friend, in chapter one, “Women are baffling, George. Baffling. They complain if you treat them as pets but grow bored if you treat them as equals.” It’s a fine line he must dance, but dance he must if he wants to find a wife among the eligible young ladies of society.
Not only is Bennet searching for a wife, but he also searches for the spy George Washington has placed among the aristocratic elite of New York City. There are times when he feels on the verge of uncovering many secrets. Other times, he seems to be at a complete loss, like the spies are just beyond his grasp. Will Bennet find his tongue a help or hindrance in his search for a wife? Will he discover the spy ring before major secrets leak out of the city and into Washington’s camp? Will he choose to rely on God for guidance on both counts? When the truth comes out, will he like what he hears?
Ring of Secrets is the first book in Roseanna M. White’s Culper Ring series. This book is chock full of surprises, mysteries and secrets. Although the cover isn’t as stunning as the others in the series, the story beneath the cover is breathtaking in its intricacies and startling in its link to reality. The Culper Ring was a real spy group in the late 1700s, and several of the characters in Ring of Secrets were real figures in society, including George Washington, Robert Townsend and Benedict Arnold.
This is the first book by Roseanna White that I’ve read, and it hooked me. I’m coming back for more, starting with the novella, Fairchild’s Lady, that fits between books one and two of this series. I’m eager to see what twists and turns Roseanna has in store for me next time. Her style of writing easily took me back in time, planting me right alongside Winter Reeves and Bennet Lane. It reminded me of my childhood when I was so into my books that I was disappointed when I looked around my room and realized I wasn’t really in the time and place in which the story took place.
Do you like parties and mysteries? Espionage and spy catchers? Then Ring of Secrets is the book for you! Snatch up a copy today and see how the Culper Ring series begins.
***
Review date: 4/23/20
Rating: 5 stars
The second reading of this novel was just as enjoyable as the first. I especially loved the comical play on words. I don't think I fully appreciated that last time. It was neat to see the way the author incorporated the various "masks" we wear around people, whether we're courageous and vulnerable or hidden and cautious. Of course, the featured spies, codes, and conspiracies were brilliant fun and perfectly placed in the Revolutionary War era. The characters were quite memorable. They had plenty of flaws and unique personalities that made them pop off the pages.
Trigger: domestic abuse
March 16, 2016
This was really good! I'm excited to read more of the series, but I wish there were some sort of sequel specifically with these two characters...too bad they didn't need to spy on anything shortly after the end of this book. I am looking forward to reading their son's adventure in the next book.
The suspense and action is great. I especially enjoyed the plucky heroine; no matter how she felt, she didn't let people walk all over her.
The suspense and action is great. I especially enjoyed the plucky heroine; no matter how she felt, she didn't let people walk all over her.
December 6, 2017
I can't really say this was my favorite Roseanna M White book (A Name Unknown still holds first place) but it was still pretty good, and I enjoyed it! The characters were great, and the storyline fascinating. I loved the Revolutionary War setting. The romance was a bit much for me personally, so maybe that's why I didn't enjoy it as much.
Overall, an enjoyable read!
CONTENT NOTE: A character calls the MC derogatory names, as well as insinuates that she is illegitimate. There is also mentions of mistresses and infidelity. Recommended for ages 16+.
Overall, an enjoyable read!
CONTENT NOTE: A character calls the MC derogatory names, as well as insinuates that she is illegitimate. There is also mentions of mistresses and infidelity. Recommended for ages 16+.
March 11, 2018
The beginning of this historical Revolutionary War series starts with a bang and was interesting from start to finish. Winter Reeves, the daughter of a Patriot, is living with her Tory grandparents since the death of her mother whom her grandparents had labeled as "no good" due to her marrying beneath her class. They are determined that Winter will make a good marriage. But Winter is a Patriot at heart and soon finds herself playing a double role as a Tory witless debutante and a Patriot spy gathering information to be passed on to General Washington. Bennet Lane, a Yale professor, has returned to New York with plans to discover all the spies who are feeding Washington Tory war plans. But he doesn't count on falling in love with the witless Winter Reeves when he sees sparks of depth to her that she doesn't completely hide.
With great historical accuracy, a feel of The Scarlet Pimpernel, some real historical characters (ie: Benedict Arnold, Nathan Hale, George Washington), and a wonderful hero and heroine, this was a riveting read. I loved the dual roles that Winter played and her witty play on words or substitution of a similar word was delightful. Yet as a spy she was sharp as a tack. Her deep faith was evident throughout the story. Bennet was a complicated hero. His bumbling stumbles with the opposite sex were endearing, yet he was an educated man and very knowledgeable in his field. He was faithful to his friends and family. His past had led him to believe that God wasn't someone he needed to have a personal relationship with, and I loved when he realized the varied events that had been a path God wanted him to follow. The ending really caught me by surprise with its twist between Bennet, Winter, and his brother, Archie.
Looking forward to continuing this series and seeing who is highlighted in the next book.
With great historical accuracy, a feel of The Scarlet Pimpernel, some real historical characters (ie: Benedict Arnold, Nathan Hale, George Washington), and a wonderful hero and heroine, this was a riveting read. I loved the dual roles that Winter played and her witty play on words or substitution of a similar word was delightful. Yet as a spy she was sharp as a tack. Her deep faith was evident throughout the story. Bennet was a complicated hero. His bumbling stumbles with the opposite sex were endearing, yet he was an educated man and very knowledgeable in his field. He was faithful to his friends and family. His past had led him to believe that God wasn't someone he needed to have a personal relationship with, and I loved when he realized the varied events that had been a path God wanted him to follow. The ending really caught me by surprise with its twist between Bennet, Winter, and his brother, Archie.
Looking forward to continuing this series and seeing who is highlighted in the next book.
July 4, 2017
Another of Ms White's well executed novels of intrigue. Suspense and twists kept me reading long after I should have been sleeping!
October 11, 2016
Not a bad book to read when you're out of power! It can't quite replace my favorite by this author's, but it's excellent all the same. And this heroine is very funny, she says the stupidest things, but her stupidity hides her wit and her loyalties.
March 26, 2018
The beginning of this book drove me crazy, with all the family drama, and the protagonist debating about who to marry. Towards the end, it got better...but, I'm not sure if it was worth sitting through all that mess for the conclusion.
February 2, 2019
I recently watched all four seasons of TURN: Washington's Spies and, when I found out that one of my favorite authors had written a series about the Culper Ring, I knew I had to read it. (After finding out the second and third books don't take place during the American Revolution, I'm not sure I'll be picking those up, but whatever.) And Roseanna M. White didn't let me down!
WHAT I LIKED:
-All the references to dear characters from TURN. (Mainly 'Tal-boy' and Caleb Brewster. Woodhull can go rot for all I care.)
-Winter was AMAZING. Practically a female Scarlet Pimpernel. Though some of the things she said were too ridiculous, even for her purposes (how on earth could Fairchild love her?) she was amazing. One of my favorite historical fiction heroines.
-Loved Fairchild.
-All the intrigue.
-Robert Townsend. He was an admirable character.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
-Basically the only thing I didn't like, besides differences between this book and TURN, is that Bennet had a touch of 'guy character obviously written by a woman'. Definitely not as bad as other Christian fiction I've read, but still.
Overall, a fascinating read well worth any historical fiction fan's time.
WHAT I LIKED:
-All the references to dear characters from TURN. (Mainly 'Tal-boy' and Caleb Brewster. Woodhull can go rot for all I care.)
-Winter was AMAZING. Practically a female Scarlet Pimpernel. Though some of the things she said were too ridiculous, even for her purposes (how on earth could Fairchild love her?) she was amazing. One of my favorite historical fiction heroines.
-Loved Fairchild.
-All the intrigue.
-Robert Townsend. He was an admirable character.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
-Basically the only thing I didn't like, besides differences between this book and TURN, is that Bennet had a touch of 'guy character obviously written by a woman'. Definitely not as bad as other Christian fiction I've read, but still.
Overall, a fascinating read well worth any historical fiction fan's time.
March 4, 2023
"She could not give him what he wanted; he could not offer her what she most needed… why waste any more time on each other?"
Ring of Secrets (2013, Harvest House Publishers) is first in The Culper Ring series by Roseanna M. White. It's a historical romantic suspense set in the city of New York in 1779, in the middle of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
Rating: 5 stars
Is it clean/chaste? Yes, very!
Other content issues:
Christian elements:
" 'You have recited prayers, I am certain. But unless they came from your heart, my love, 'tis like pouring two elements into beakers beside each other and then claiming they had no reaction when mixed. How could you possibly judge such a thing if not done properly? Just so, prayers mean nothing unless they are meant.' "
*This story features a main character who leans on God. Ms. White's writing falls in the middle ground between preachy and merely nominally Christian. Just right for me, in fact.
The heroine:"Let your innocence be your mask."
Winter Reeves presents herself as the "pretty, brainless granddaughter of the Hamptons," who are Loyalists. But Winnie is actually an intelligent young lady who gives Robbie Townsend, her childhood friend, intelligence about the Loyalists. Robbie passes it along through the Culper Ring, which eventually leads to General Washington, at great risk to both Winnie and Robbie.
The hero: "His [mission] may have to become twofold…. Find the Patriot spy in New York…. And unravel the mystery that was Winter Reeves."
Mr. Bennet Lane, a Yale professor, is now in line to be the heir of a great estate in England. He is confident that Winter is NOT empty-headed, and finds her to be the most beautiful woman in the room. "Ben… wanted to know who she truly was, not who she appeared to be."
What I liked:
*The banter between Lane and Winnie is quite fun. This is for me, the key ingredient of a good romance novel.
*All the characters are excellent. They feel real.
*On wealth... "...if that were in her mind, she would have obeyed those prods he'd seen her grandmother make toward him rather than avoiding him so adroitly. No, Miss Reeves was not interested in his fortune. Though any observer would argue she wasn't interested in any of his other qualities either..."
*On cancel culture… "They had in fact known each other back in the days when one could confess one's politics without being beaten and dragged from one's house for them, or forced into the city with a blanket over one's head."
*The story is beautifully copy-edited. I found only one error of any kind. (On page 234 of the paperback, "inherit" should have been "inherent.")
What I didn’t like:
*I found this book difficult to start, as a person who falls asleep and forgets character names easily. For those like me, I'd recommend making a list of characters and important information to refer back to as needed. Once I got past a few chapters, I was on a roll and no longer needed the lists.
Historical background from Wikipedia:
The following is a bit long. I'm engaging in some Deaf nerdiness here. To shelter those of you who really could care less, I'm putting the sign language history in a spoiler tag.
Two of the characters in this book occasionally sign to each other, with a sign system influenced by the writings of L'Epee.
The bottom line: Ring of Secrets is a very well written historical Christian fiction with a great romance and an enjoyable plot. I recommend it to teens and adults that enjoy historical Christian fiction, romance, or the Revolutionary War.
I look forward to reading more by Roseanna M. White!.
Ring of Secrets (2013, Harvest House Publishers) is first in The Culper Ring series by Roseanna M. White. It's a historical romantic suspense set in the city of New York in 1779, in the middle of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
Rating: 5 stars
Is it clean/chaste? Yes, very!
Other content issues:
Christian elements:
" 'You have recited prayers, I am certain. But unless they came from your heart, my love, 'tis like pouring two elements into beakers beside each other and then claiming they had no reaction when mixed. How could you possibly judge such a thing if not done properly? Just so, prayers mean nothing unless they are meant.' "
*This story features a main character who leans on God. Ms. White's writing falls in the middle ground between preachy and merely nominally Christian. Just right for me, in fact.
The heroine:"Let your innocence be your mask."
Winter Reeves presents herself as the "pretty, brainless granddaughter of the Hamptons," who are Loyalists. But Winnie is actually an intelligent young lady who gives Robbie Townsend, her childhood friend, intelligence about the Loyalists. Robbie passes it along through the Culper Ring, which eventually leads to General Washington, at great risk to both Winnie and Robbie.
The hero: "His [mission] may have to become twofold…. Find the Patriot spy in New York…. And unravel the mystery that was Winter Reeves."
Mr. Bennet Lane, a Yale professor, is now in line to be the heir of a great estate in England. He is confident that Winter is NOT empty-headed, and finds her to be the most beautiful woman in the room. "Ben… wanted to know who she truly was, not who she appeared to be."
What I liked:
*The banter between Lane and Winnie is quite fun. This is for me, the key ingredient of a good romance novel.
*All the characters are excellent. They feel real.
*On wealth... "...if that were in her mind, she would have obeyed those prods he'd seen her grandmother make toward him rather than avoiding him so adroitly. No, Miss Reeves was not interested in his fortune. Though any observer would argue she wasn't interested in any of his other qualities either..."
*On cancel culture… "They had in fact known each other back in the days when one could confess one's politics without being beaten and dragged from one's house for them, or forced into the city with a blanket over one's head."
*The story is beautifully copy-edited. I found only one error of any kind. (On page 234 of the paperback, "inherit" should have been "inherent.")
What I didn’t like:
*I found this book difficult to start, as a person who falls asleep and forgets character names easily. For those like me, I'd recommend making a list of characters and important information to refer back to as needed. Once I got past a few chapters, I was on a roll and no longer needed the lists.
Historical background from Wikipedia:
The following is a bit long. I'm engaging in some Deaf nerdiness here. To shelter those of you who really could care less, I'm putting the sign language history in a spoiler tag.
Two of the characters in this book occasionally sign to each other, with a sign system influenced by the writings of L'Epee.
The bottom line: Ring of Secrets is a very well written historical Christian fiction with a great romance and an enjoyable plot. I recommend it to teens and adults that enjoy historical Christian fiction, romance, or the Revolutionary War.
I look forward to reading more by Roseanna M. White!.
February 6, 2018
4.75 Stars
This was really, really wonderful! I've been wanting to read it ever since it came out. I was thinking about how I wanted to do the review last night, and I decided I needed a new reviewing system. (Yes, I know, most of you are groaning right now, but it's just not working out.) So here my new system is:
~wonderfuls~
characters
Mrs. White did a wonderful job developing her characters, while still keeping the reader in suspense. Such as . I was not expecting that at all. I though Winter might "reform" him or something. And then, I didn't know what Winter was doing . But some of that may just be where I'm oblivious, and all the rest of you guys picked up on it way sooner.
George Knight was one of my favorites, even towards the beginning. I sympathized with Bennet, and felt for Winter. Viney was also really sweet.
the prayers
All the prayers throughout Winter's thoughts were really cool. I especially liked some of the ones taken from her father's book. But my favorite prayers were the ones that Winter came up with, particularly the ones beginning with "God of my end." I have officially adopted that as my own.
~not-so-wonderfuls~
the ending
I felt like Mrs. White wrapped it up pretty quick. It would have been fine, other than the epilogue being 31 years later. Another chapter to kind of bridge the gap would have been nice. But it wasn't very bad at all.
~personal thoughts~
This was really, really good, and I'm looking forward to reading the others in the series (not to mention the others by the author).
This was really, really wonderful! I've been wanting to read it ever since it came out. I was thinking about how I wanted to do the review last night, and I decided I needed a new reviewing system. (Yes, I know, most of you are groaning right now, but it's just not working out.) So here my new system is:
~wonderfuls~
characters
Mrs. White did a wonderful job developing her characters, while still keeping the reader in suspense. Such as . I was not expecting that at all. I though Winter might "reform" him or something. And then, I didn't know what Winter was doing . But some of that may just be where I'm oblivious, and all the rest of you guys picked up on it way sooner.
George Knight was one of my favorites, even towards the beginning. I sympathized with Bennet, and felt for Winter. Viney was also really sweet.
the prayers
All the prayers throughout Winter's thoughts were really cool. I especially liked some of the ones taken from her father's book. But my favorite prayers were the ones that Winter came up with, particularly the ones beginning with "God of my end." I have officially adopted that as my own.
~not-so-wonderfuls~
the ending
I felt like Mrs. White wrapped it up pretty quick. It would have been fine, other than the epilogue being 31 years later. Another chapter to kind of bridge the gap would have been nice. But it wasn't very bad at all.
~personal thoughts~
This was really, really good, and I'm looking forward to reading the others in the series (not to mention the others by the author).
February 1, 2016
A bit hard to get into at first, but it was very well worth reading! I loved this story! It was a perfect blend of faith, love, espionage and history. It was fun and had a lot of meaning at the same time.
The characters had me laughing and smiling and my heart pounding! Wonderful characters, both a mix of real historical figures and fictional ones, they made me care about them all.
The subtle, yet extremely clever wit put into a lot of the dialogue, especially in the first half of the book, was very entertaining.
I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, but now I'll be reading the rest of the series soon :)
The characters had me laughing and smiling and my heart pounding! Wonderful characters, both a mix of real historical figures and fictional ones, they made me care about them all.
The subtle, yet extremely clever wit put into a lot of the dialogue, especially in the first half of the book, was very entertaining.
I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, but now I'll be reading the rest of the series soon :)
July 26, 2014
Age Appropriate For: 13 and up for romance, mild violence and some subject matter
Best for Ages: 13 and up
When I got the email from Roseanna White saying I had won her Culper Ring series, I was ecstatic! I love books, history, and mystery, and free things, so it couldn’t get much better. I waited for the books to come in the mail and started reading the first one as soon as I opened the package.
Winter was a fascinating character. I don’t think I have read a book about a very smart girl pretending to be stupid all the time, to get information from the enemy. The uniqueness of the plot and characters made me fall in love instantly with this book. Even in the couple of rough spots of the book, Winter kept me reading. She is one of those characters that gets stuck in your head and stays.
Bennet wasn’t as well developed as Winter, I felt. Don’t get me wrong, he made an excellent hero. His way of pursuing Winter was not only charming, it was heartwarming. My main issue with Bennet is that I really didn’t understand why he felt the way he did about things both personally or politically. I won’t say anything else about that, because I don’t want to give away any of the book.
The story itself was so fascinating that I didn’t want to stop reading. Winter’s political and personal struggles made sure that there was never a dull moment. There were several times I ignored my siblings, because I had to find out what happened next.
The historical setting of this book was captured wonderfully. White obviously did a lot of research for this story (I loved the prayers). The details painted a rich picture of the times and the people who lived in them.
I highly recommend this book for history lovers, Revolutionary War buffs, those who love spy stories, or those looking for an entertaining read.
Best for Ages: 13 and up
When I got the email from Roseanna White saying I had won her Culper Ring series, I was ecstatic! I love books, history, and mystery, and free things, so it couldn’t get much better. I waited for the books to come in the mail and started reading the first one as soon as I opened the package.
Winter was a fascinating character. I don’t think I have read a book about a very smart girl pretending to be stupid all the time, to get information from the enemy. The uniqueness of the plot and characters made me fall in love instantly with this book. Even in the couple of rough spots of the book, Winter kept me reading. She is one of those characters that gets stuck in your head and stays.
Bennet wasn’t as well developed as Winter, I felt. Don’t get me wrong, he made an excellent hero. His way of pursuing Winter was not only charming, it was heartwarming. My main issue with Bennet is that I really didn’t understand why he felt the way he did about things both personally or politically. I won’t say anything else about that, because I don’t want to give away any of the book.
The story itself was so fascinating that I didn’t want to stop reading. Winter’s political and personal struggles made sure that there was never a dull moment. There were several times I ignored my siblings, because I had to find out what happened next.
The historical setting of this book was captured wonderfully. White obviously did a lot of research for this story (I loved the prayers). The details painted a rich picture of the times and the people who lived in them.
I highly recommend this book for history lovers, Revolutionary War buffs, those who love spy stories, or those looking for an entertaining read.
February 27, 2013
What a wonderful opening to a new series by Roseanna M. White! I haven’t read just a whole lot of books set in the Revolutionary War, so I was looking forward immensely to the this book and to the upcoming ones. While I did end up preferring Roseanna’s Biblical fiction (the only one I’ve read is Jewel of Persia, and I loved it!), this book was very enjoyable as well. It’s a spy story through and through, with suspense and mystery blended seamlessly. The heroine, a girl named Winter, was someone easy to identify and empathize with, and the story felt very real and accurate. It was clear the Roseanna must have done some serious research for this book, and no doubt, series! However, just because a book is historically accurate doesn’t mean it’s boring, right? Avid readers know this. The historical accuracy and realistic characters didn’t detract from the story in the least. There were even a few real historical characters too! Always a good thing. This is a delightful story that will make the Culper Ring (the spy ring the story centers on and is named after) ever memorable.
**I received this book from Harvest House Publishers in return for an honest review. I was not obligated to post a positive review, nor was I recompensed for this review in any way. All opinions and thoughts are my own.**
**I received this book from Harvest House Publishers in return for an honest review. I was not obligated to post a positive review, nor was I recompensed for this review in any way. All opinions and thoughts are my own.**
February 10, 2016
This is one of those moments where I have to remind myself to not always judge a book by it's cover. This cover does very little justice to a heartwarming, quick-witted, faith-filled spy!! I never would have read this had I not got a small introduction to Roseanna White's writing in a novella. I find her style very engaging and loaded with witty dialogue that is not silly but quite humorous. Many names to keep up with in this read and I loved that; many faces and many twists and turns without lagging on the romance side for too long. I will certainly read the rest in this series.
February 6, 2020
I loved this book! This set has been on my TBR for a LONG time ever since I first discovered Roseanna's books. This one did not disappoint in the least. Romance, intrigue, danger, mystery, humor-it has it all. I will be devouring the rest of the series asap!
April 26, 2017
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. I guess I had high expectations because I enjoyed the author’s previous book, Love Finds you in Annapolis, Maryland. Towards the end I just wanted to be finished, maybe part of that was because it took me a few days to get through it when I usually can finish a book in a few hours. I felt like I had been with the story and characters for a long time and was loosing interest. I did like the setting, I don’t know too much about the revolutionary war so it was fun to learn more about that time in our history. I also liked the characters and plot, the secret spy ring of Washington’s was a great setting for a story. I think, for me, if it had been edited and maybe taken place in a shorter time period I would have enjoyed it better. Not to mention if a bigger focus had been made on the relationship of Winter and Bennet.
The way the story unfolds, their courtship takes a backseat to everything else going on. At a certain point we’re suppose to believe they are in love, but I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry. Maybe because the book jumps ahead so many times we end up missing big parts of them actually getting to know one another and falling in love. Winter reminded me a bit of the Scarlet Pimpernel, in that she acts like a ditzy society girl, but underneath is intelligent and has a pretty big secret. Bennet was just okay for me, he is confident around Winter, but when he gets around any other female he stammers and loses his ability to think. It also isn’t explained until the very end why he has come to New York. I mean, we know he is there to find the Culper Ring, but I wasn’t sure of his motivations until the very end. I also wasn’t sure of his loyalties, so that was a tad confusing.
The spy elements were also a little disappointing. Maybe since there were so many other things going on, I didn’t feel the excitement that I think could have been there. Again, maybe since it covers such a long period of time the sense of urgency was missing. There also wasn’t a whole lot of spying. I was surprised that Winter’s “source” would be telling her so much confidential information. First, he should know that the things he was saying shouldn’t be repeated. Second, he thought Winter was a complete ditz, so why would he bore her with military talk or trust her with the information? She didn’t really have to do much spying, she just hung out with a blabbermouth who hand-fed her military secrets.
And lastly, I hate to say it, but I think I would have like the book more if the preaching elements had been left out. I thought Winter praying and Bennets conversion were distracting from the rest of the story and really slowed things down. I know Ms. White writes Christian Fiction, but I was still hoping those elements would have been a little more subtle. I ended up skimming those parts to get back to the story.
So, overall, I did like it and plan on reading the rest of the series. I just wish a few things had been tweaked and a bit of editing to make it a little smoother read.
Content: Clean.
The way the story unfolds, their courtship takes a backseat to everything else going on. At a certain point we’re suppose to believe they are in love, but I wasn’t really feeling the chemistry. Maybe because the book jumps ahead so many times we end up missing big parts of them actually getting to know one another and falling in love. Winter reminded me a bit of the Scarlet Pimpernel, in that she acts like a ditzy society girl, but underneath is intelligent and has a pretty big secret. Bennet was just okay for me, he is confident around Winter, but when he gets around any other female he stammers and loses his ability to think. It also isn’t explained until the very end why he has come to New York. I mean, we know he is there to find the Culper Ring, but I wasn’t sure of his motivations until the very end. I also wasn’t sure of his loyalties, so that was a tad confusing.
The spy elements were also a little disappointing. Maybe since there were so many other things going on, I didn’t feel the excitement that I think could have been there. Again, maybe since it covers such a long period of time the sense of urgency was missing. There also wasn’t a whole lot of spying. I was surprised that Winter’s “source” would be telling her so much confidential information. First, he should know that the things he was saying shouldn’t be repeated. Second, he thought Winter was a complete ditz, so why would he bore her with military talk or trust her with the information? She didn’t really have to do much spying, she just hung out with a blabbermouth who hand-fed her military secrets.
And lastly, I hate to say it, but I think I would have like the book more if the preaching elements had been left out. I thought Winter praying and Bennets conversion were distracting from the rest of the story and really slowed things down. I know Ms. White writes Christian Fiction, but I was still hoping those elements would have been a little more subtle. I ended up skimming those parts to get back to the story.
So, overall, I did like it and plan on reading the rest of the series. I just wish a few things had been tweaked and a bit of editing to make it a little smoother read.
Content: Clean.
June 13, 2013
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R30H6J9Z...
Review on my blog (to be posted 6/24): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Ring of Secrets was so good! It had pretty much everything I look for in a historical novel - great characters, interesting story, history, good message, and a little suspense! An added bonus was the whole spy aspect - coded messages with invisible ink, secret ring of spies, etc. - loved that!
Ring of Secrets did start a tad bit slow (at least in my opinion), but it wasn't long before my attention was captured and I had a hard time putting the book down.
I loved the history in Ring of Secrets. It was so interesting to learn about the Culper Ring and I loved how there were historical figures in the novel in addition to the fictional ones.
I also loved the twists in Ring of Secrets and the romance was sweet. I was a little surprised by the time jump in the epilogue, but it definitely makes me want to read the free novella as well as book two, Whispers From The Shadows, as soon as possible.
If you enjoy historical romance novels with some intrigue, I definitely recommend Ring of Secrets! It was such a wonderful book! :)
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Review on my blog (to be posted 6/24): http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
Ring of Secrets was so good! It had pretty much everything I look for in a historical novel - great characters, interesting story, history, good message, and a little suspense! An added bonus was the whole spy aspect - coded messages with invisible ink, secret ring of spies, etc. - loved that!
Ring of Secrets did start a tad bit slow (at least in my opinion), but it wasn't long before my attention was captured and I had a hard time putting the book down.
I loved the history in Ring of Secrets. It was so interesting to learn about the Culper Ring and I loved how there were historical figures in the novel in addition to the fictional ones.
I also loved the twists in Ring of Secrets and the romance was sweet. I was a little surprised by the time jump in the epilogue, but it definitely makes me want to read the free novella as well as book two, Whispers From The Shadows, as soon as possible.
If you enjoy historical romance novels with some intrigue, I definitely recommend Ring of Secrets! It was such a wonderful book! :)
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
March 10, 2013
An excellent Revolutionary adventure!
Ms. White did an excellent job of bringing the Colonial Era to life with all of it's spies and dangers, fraught with political tension.
The characters were well built, and never boring. I especially loved Winter, because she was a strong, yet vulnerable character, and very quick witted, who was far more than what met the eye, and more than even Bennett saw at first. She was a character made complex by her many layers, and she was the kind of heroine that I aspire to be like.
To be honest about a third of the way into the book I wasn't sure of this would all get resolved in one book, or if the sequels would be about Winter too! I wouldn't have minded at all if they were!
This book had a great plot, that was engaging from the very first til the last page was turned down. It was well researched, and I immensely enjoyed it. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a Revolutionary War Era novel so much! I could not put this book down! I stayed up way too late finishing this one, because I just had to know what would happen next.
Overall, a book that I would definitely recommend, as I am dying to read the next book in the series already :) A great plot, with truly intriguing characters, that will capture your heart.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Ms. White did an excellent job of bringing the Colonial Era to life with all of it's spies and dangers, fraught with political tension.
The characters were well built, and never boring. I especially loved Winter, because she was a strong, yet vulnerable character, and very quick witted, who was far more than what met the eye, and more than even Bennett saw at first. She was a character made complex by her many layers, and she was the kind of heroine that I aspire to be like.
To be honest about a third of the way into the book I wasn't sure of this would all get resolved in one book, or if the sequels would be about Winter too! I wouldn't have minded at all if they were!
This book had a great plot, that was engaging from the very first til the last page was turned down. It was well researched, and I immensely enjoyed it. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a Revolutionary War Era novel so much! I could not put this book down! I stayed up way too late finishing this one, because I just had to know what would happen next.
Overall, a book that I would definitely recommend, as I am dying to read the next book in the series already :) A great plot, with truly intriguing characters, that will capture your heart.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
August 1, 2022
Wow. What a very good book! I’m surprised there aren’t more reviews and it hasn’t been read by more people!
The Spirtual aspect to the book was so strong and encouraging. It was refreshing to see the main character, Winter, really be led by the Lord throughout the book and prayerfully consider every step and decision she made.
I loved reading about this very real, secret Culper spy ring! This whole book was a perfect blend of espionage, romance and history.
I don’t know how to better say this, but the book was so ‘smartly’ written. It had many layers to it and the character development was soo good. I really enjoyed reading about the points of view of a handful of characters, not just the two main ones, Winter and Ben. Everyone played an important role in the story and made it what it was!
I also appreciated how unpredictable this plot ended up being! There were secrets, especially within the romance between Winter and Ben, but that was not the main focus of the romantic relationship. Normally, when a romance has secrets it becomes the stressor and main storyline; this was not the case and I So loved and appreciated that!—No stress!
It’s always so satisfying when characters communicate and work through their problems like normal, mature people who claim to love each other! Such an exciting and satisfying read!
…On to the next one!
The Spirtual aspect to the book was so strong and encouraging. It was refreshing to see the main character, Winter, really be led by the Lord throughout the book and prayerfully consider every step and decision she made.
I loved reading about this very real, secret Culper spy ring! This whole book was a perfect blend of espionage, romance and history.
I don’t know how to better say this, but the book was so ‘smartly’ written. It had many layers to it and the character development was soo good. I really enjoyed reading about the points of view of a handful of characters, not just the two main ones, Winter and Ben. Everyone played an important role in the story and made it what it was!
I also appreciated how unpredictable this plot ended up being! There were secrets, especially within the romance between Winter and Ben, but that was not the main focus of the romantic relationship. Normally, when a romance has secrets it becomes the stressor and main storyline; this was not the case and I So loved and appreciated that!—No stress!
It’s always so satisfying when characters communicate and work through their problems like normal, mature people who claim to love each other! Such an exciting and satisfying read!
…On to the next one!
June 22, 2024
Reread in June 2024 and so enjoyed revisiting this story!
Original Review April 2013:
I enjoyed this book so much. What I loved first was that I was plunged immediately into Winter's story. I knew right away she was keeping up a masquerade for a very important reason, that there's danger and intrigue and an important cause...and there's so much I didn't know. So I kept reading.
In fact, I read the opening scene twice just to relish in the beauty of it. Not kidding.
Winter's mask is a complicated one, but one she carries off so well. She has the entire city of New York believing her head is empty, when really she's spun such a web of secrecy that everyone is being caught up in it and furthering her cause (spying for Washington) without their even knowing it.
I really admired Winter from the first. She's experienced at pain and sorrow, but she doesn't let anything stop her. She knows why she's doing what she's doing, and she's not about to let anyone dissuade her.
Enter Bennet Lane.
May I say that the romance between these two is so very sweet? Bennet realizes as soon as he meets Winter that something's up. The fact that he doesn't see past her mask for a second is so romantic. Even better is the fact that Winter soon realizes he's partly chasing her because she's an intriguing mystery to him--which was a concern of mine at first, but, never fear, his affection for her soon finds much more solid ground.
The whispers of danger throughout the book are never overdone. The espionage is always very straightforward and believable. I think that's what did me in and made me fall so hard for this book in the end. Everything seems like it really happened.
The back-and-forth between the characters is great. White's writing style is simply superb and perfectly fits her genre. The story never sags. Winter's tenacity kept me turning pages. Bennet's pursuit of her is pristine and so well-developed...I especially enjoyed that he and his rival suitor became friends.
(I'm going through facets of the book in my mind, but the only thing I remember rolling my eyes over was that one point Winter has three men vying for her. Love triangles don't bother me a mite, but three different men falling for one woman is a little much. But that's more whining personal preference than anything else, so I'll move on.)
White has created a cast of characters I'm going to very much enjoy following through the rest of the series. A spy ring that continues for generations? Perfect historical fiction.
My favorite part of the book was when Bennet had a secret of his own to share. That scene was so well-done!!
This book is going on my favorite's list. I highly recommend it.
Original Review April 2013:
I enjoyed this book so much. What I loved first was that I was plunged immediately into Winter's story. I knew right away she was keeping up a masquerade for a very important reason, that there's danger and intrigue and an important cause...and there's so much I didn't know. So I kept reading.
In fact, I read the opening scene twice just to relish in the beauty of it. Not kidding.
Winter's mask is a complicated one, but one she carries off so well. She has the entire city of New York believing her head is empty, when really she's spun such a web of secrecy that everyone is being caught up in it and furthering her cause (spying for Washington) without their even knowing it.
I really admired Winter from the first. She's experienced at pain and sorrow, but she doesn't let anything stop her. She knows why she's doing what she's doing, and she's not about to let anyone dissuade her.
Enter Bennet Lane.
May I say that the romance between these two is so very sweet? Bennet realizes as soon as he meets Winter that something's up. The fact that he doesn't see past her mask for a second is so romantic. Even better is the fact that Winter soon realizes he's partly chasing her because she's an intriguing mystery to him--which was a concern of mine at first, but, never fear, his affection for her soon finds much more solid ground.
The whispers of danger throughout the book are never overdone. The espionage is always very straightforward and believable. I think that's what did me in and made me fall so hard for this book in the end. Everything seems like it really happened.
The back-and-forth between the characters is great. White's writing style is simply superb and perfectly fits her genre. The story never sags. Winter's tenacity kept me turning pages. Bennet's pursuit of her is pristine and so well-developed...I especially enjoyed that he and his rival suitor became friends.
(I'm going through facets of the book in my mind, but the only thing I remember rolling my eyes over was that one point Winter has three men vying for her. Love triangles don't bother me a mite, but three different men falling for one woman is a little much. But that's more whining personal preference than anything else, so I'll move on.)
White has created a cast of characters I'm going to very much enjoy following through the rest of the series. A spy ring that continues for generations? Perfect historical fiction.
My favorite part of the book was when Bennet had a secret of his own to share. That scene was so well-done!!
This book is going on my favorite's list. I highly recommend it.
June 10, 2020
There's so much to unpack here... I might as well get it out of the way, so here's my overall thoughts on this book:
I feel like an explanation is in order. I stumbled across this gem when I was on hoopla looking for a nonfiction book on the Culper Spy Ring. But of course, when I discovered that this was a historical fiction, Christian romance book that involved the members of the spy ring, the concept was so absurd that I just had to read it!
The blurb on hoopla was so poorly written that I went into this book thinking it was going to be a romance involving Robert Townsend and an original character (???)
Little did I know that Townsend (and the other members of the ring) are pretty much not involved in the story. Instead it follows some boring ass lady named Winter who (i guess) is supposed to be Agent 355 (even though they never really talk about it). And it follows her as she becomes involved in a romance with an original male character (who is in no way based on a historical figure - trust me, I checked!) who is a redcoat searching for spies in New York.
After I got over my initial disappointment, I discovered that this book is nothing more than an info dump of random historical facts and boring ass conversations. For having such a weird setup, there's like no suspense in this story. And the "Christian romance" angle is the most half ass-ed thing I've ever seen. My biggest critique is that the spy ring itself is so poorly explained. I feel bad for anyone trying to read this book without any previous knowledge of the history.
Also, when the author refers to the characters' backstories, she says "when they were tots" and if that doesn't turn you off, idk what will.
I feel like an explanation is in order. I stumbled across this gem when I was on hoopla looking for a nonfiction book on the Culper Spy Ring. But of course, when I discovered that this was a historical fiction, Christian romance book that involved the members of the spy ring, the concept was so absurd that I just had to read it!
The blurb on hoopla was so poorly written that I went into this book thinking it was going to be a romance involving Robert Townsend and an original character (???)
Little did I know that Townsend (and the other members of the ring) are pretty much not involved in the story. Instead it follows some boring ass lady named Winter who (i guess) is supposed to be Agent 355 (even though they never really talk about it). And it follows her as she becomes involved in a romance with an original male character (who is in no way based on a historical figure - trust me, I checked!) who is a redcoat searching for spies in New York.
After I got over my initial disappointment, I discovered that this book is nothing more than an info dump of random historical facts and boring ass conversations. For having such a weird setup, there's like no suspense in this story. And the "Christian romance" angle is the most half ass-ed thing I've ever seen. My biggest critique is that the spy ring itself is so poorly explained. I feel bad for anyone trying to read this book without any previous knowledge of the history.
Also, when the author refers to the characters' backstories, she says "when they were tots" and if that doesn't turn you off, idk what will.
September 18, 2024
(4½ stars, rounded up to 5)
Just give me a minute to get my thoughts together... Like, wow! That was exhilarating!
It was just all amazing! The characters, the story, the plot twist. My goodness, that plot twist, y'all! I would have never ever ever guessed it! That person had me completely fooled the whole time!
Also, if a movie on this book was ever made, I could absolutely play the role of Winter. I mean, I definitely don't look exactly like her, and some of the things she likes I'm not super fond of, but personality wise, I feel like we're pretty similar. I definitely can, and have, pulled off a certain side of her that is quite amusing, so I believe I'm capable. 😁
But anyways... I loved the whole spy factor in this book! The Culper Spy Ring has intrigued me for the past few years, and spies in general even longer than that, so I was pretty excited to finally read this book. And it didn't disappoint.
Just give me a minute to get my thoughts together... Like, wow! That was exhilarating!
It was just all amazing! The characters, the story, the plot twist. My goodness, that plot twist, y'all! I would have never ever ever guessed it! That person had me completely fooled the whole time!
Also, if a movie on this book was ever made, I could absolutely play the role of Winter. I mean, I definitely don't look exactly like her, and some of the things she likes I'm not super fond of, but personality wise, I feel like we're pretty similar. I definitely can, and have, pulled off a certain side of her that is quite amusing, so I believe I'm capable. 😁
But anyways... I loved the whole spy factor in this book! The Culper Spy Ring has intrigued me for the past few years, and spies in general even longer than that, so I was pretty excited to finally read this book. And it didn't disappoint.
August 21, 2022
I knew once I read my first Roseanna M. White book, I would enjoy her writing.
Ring of Secrets is the first book I have read by her, and it exceeded my expectations.
He must hope if one fought for the light it could hold the darkness at bay.
I adored the story. Winter is such a fascinating character, and I enjoyed her feigned innocence and misinterpretation of words. It added a depth of humor to the story. I have not read much from this time period (Revolutionary War) and enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of this story.
Bennet was also an interesting character. I loved that while he couldn't quite figure her out, he knew there was more to Winter than what she portrayed. I enjoyed his bumbling and stuttering around females, which also added humor to the story.
There was so much to this story, a spy ring, coding, secrets, a beautiful slow-burn romance, well-developed characters, and an excellent plot, all very well-written. There was nothing to dislike about this story. I immediately went into book two of the series because I wanted more!
Ring of Secrets is the first book I have read by her, and it exceeded my expectations.
He must hope if one fought for the light it could hold the darkness at bay.
I adored the story. Winter is such a fascinating character, and I enjoyed her feigned innocence and misinterpretation of words. It added a depth of humor to the story. I have not read much from this time period (Revolutionary War) and enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of this story.
Bennet was also an interesting character. I loved that while he couldn't quite figure her out, he knew there was more to Winter than what she portrayed. I enjoyed his bumbling and stuttering around females, which also added humor to the story.
There was so much to this story, a spy ring, coding, secrets, a beautiful slow-burn romance, well-developed characters, and an excellent plot, all very well-written. There was nothing to dislike about this story. I immediately went into book two of the series because I wanted more!
April 23, 2022
Basically The Scarlet Pimpernel, but a different war and with a woman acting the part of an idiot, this was so much fun to read! Loved all hidden messages and intrigue, and kept me turning the pages.
September 5, 2024
This was a great look at a part of Independence History that many people don't know about. And I loved Winter's strong faith.
March 7, 2018
Oh, wow!
This book had me from the get-go, with Winter hiding her secrets behind her 'unintelligent girl' routine. I loved how we got to see her true heart through her interactions with Freeman, Townsend, in her memories, and especially in her relationship with God. I also enjoyed getting to know Ben through his thoughts, and wondered what he would think when all was brought to light, or even if it would be at all!
There was plenty of action, a little flirtation of romance, and at least one moment that left me staring in utter stupefaction at the words I'd just read.
4.5 stars
This book had me from the get-go, with Winter hiding her secrets behind her 'unintelligent girl' routine. I loved how we got to see her true heart through her interactions with Freeman, Townsend, in her memories, and especially in her relationship with God. I also enjoyed getting to know Ben through his thoughts, and wondered what he would think when all was brought to light, or even if it would be at all!
There was plenty of action, a little flirtation of romance, and at least one moment that left me staring in utter stupefaction at the words I'd just read.
4.5 stars
March 7, 2013
WOW!!! this book totally blew me away!! So so so good! Romance, strong heroine, danger, secrets, all the good stuff.
This story pulled me on from the beginning and did not let go... Find my complete VIDEO review here...
http://jojosutiscorner.wordpress.com/...
This story pulled me on from the beginning and did not let go... Find my complete VIDEO review here...
http://jojosutiscorner.wordpress.com/...
August 12, 2015
This book is great! I really enjoyed it!
April 16, 2017
Good mystery...nice twists and intrigue!
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