Elizabeth Miles and Co. are always a solid 3-star for me. I pretty much forget the plot as soon as I'm done the book. I feel like this was a bid repeat of City of Scoundrels with Thornton being a main protagonist again. I just didn't care for the conning in this book and I'm still sad David Vanderslice is dead.

When reformed con woman Elizabeth moves closer to her wedding, it seems almost too good to be true. So, of course, fate will intervene and Elizabeth and Gideon must find a way to keep her safe. Along the way, Elizabeth spots what she is sure is a con being played on Gideon's friend. How can she help him while still trying to evade her past? Victoria Thompson has written another great story set in the after math of WWI, with all of the confusion caused by returning troops. This is the 4th book in the series. It can be read as a stand alone but you'd miss the developement of the core characters that make the upcoming wedding such a wonderful event.

If you take this story at face value, it is an excellent cozy mystery. The hero and heroine are unusual, to say the least; Elizabeth is a former con artist, and her father still is one. Gideon is an upright member of the Gilded Age four hundred; talk about opposites attract! I enjoyed the ruse they played to help out their friend Logan, who fell in love with a French girl during the first world war. Logan could not marry the young lady because he was engaged before leaving for Europe. Once home, he receives a letter from Noelle, pleading for help, which starts Elizabeth back into her father's world. The other problem arises when a man from her past who had tried to kill her returns! It brings much to do before Gideon and Elizabeth marry. It is an escape from daily life, a sweet read. For once, I refused to allow the politics that I picked up to let my enjoyment be ruined.
Thank you, #Netgalley #TheCityofSchemes
carolintallahassee

This was a very fun historical mystery! I was excited to read about Elizabeth’s wedding to Gideon! I really loved Elizabeth because she is a feisty and carefree protagonist! Thus, I recommend this for fans of The Lady Evelyn series!

RATING: 4.5 STARS
2021; Berkley Publishing

I am so happy that this series keeps getting better! In book four, we have Elizabeth and Gideon planning their wedding (yay!). And, even better the Great War is over so the men and women are now coming home. The consequences of the war are not the same for everyone, and Thompson does a great job in keeping that in mind when writing this book. I label this series as a "cozy" historical mystery as nothing is overly graphic in violence and sex. Yet, this is not as fluffy as "cozy" may sound. The covers for the novels are also gorgeous and give off that light series vibe. I would compare it to C.S. Harris series but with less graphic murder scenes. If you have not read this series or Sebastian St. Cyr series, oh my, you are in for such great treats. I am all caught up with the latter series and each book gets better (much like this one).

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

Elizabeth Miles is a con artist, semi-retired. She’s trying to retire fully, but well, things keep happening. Right now she’s getting ready for her wedding to Gideon Bates. She’s shocked to find news of her wedding has been leaked to all the gossip columnists in town. Her worst fear comes true when Oscar Thornton, a true enemy, who thought she was dead, reads the news.

One of Gideon’s friends, Logan, is back from the war. He’s in a jam for sure, having fallen in love with a French woman while engaged to Rosemary back home. Being the dutiful sort, he feels obligated to go through with the wedding.

When Logan receives a letter from his French sweetheart, asking for money, he’s torn. He explains the situation to Gideon, an attorney, who suggests speaking to Elizabeth. She grasps the situation at once—a Spanish Prisoner con. Since Elizabeth believes Rosemary is behind the gossip columnist’s information, she’s only too happy to help Logan find a way to marry his French love.

Enter Lord Percy, on a trip to America to buy horses for his estate. His own horses were confiscated by the English army. There’s also a bit of diplomatic work to be done.

Will Elizabeth be able to dodge Oscar, rescue Logan, get her revenge on Rosemary, plan her wedding, and keep Gideon mostly but not entirely in the dark, for his own good?

This is book four in the series and one I always look forward to. Think of the television show Leverage or the Ocean’s movies where nothing is as it seems but all is revealed in the end, to the satisfaction of everyone except the mark. The story is full of humor, some danger, twists, and turns, making the mystery a satisfying read. Start with this book but be prepared to go back to book one to see how a con woman meets a respectable attorney and falls in love.

This is a really fun series. The war is over and Elizabeth is planning her wedding to Gideon and trying to keep the wedding small and follow all the social protocols. Logan, a friend of Gideon, asks for his help with a letter he received from a woman he met in France. Gideon asks for Elizabeth's help and she immediately senses a con. This is just the first of the many cons. Once again the story follows all sorts of twists and turns with lots of surprises. I love all the wonderful characters and they are all here. The book is a quick fun easy read. This series should be read in order. Enjoy the happy ending

In this historical novel set after the “Great War,” Elizabeth Miles and Gideon Bates are planning their wedding. Men are coming back from their military service, including their friend Capt. Logan Carstens, son and heir of a wealthy family, who expect him to marry a young woman of their choosing.
While she is a nice person, Logan fell in love while in France, with a French woman named Noelle. He receives a letter from Noelle, begging for money so that she can come to America. Elizabeth and Gideon are suspicious. There is no way to be sure the letter is actually from Noelle. The soon-to-be wed couple team up to figure out a way to find Noelle.
I found this mystery quite engrossing, even though the ending is much like you might expect.

****3.5/5 stars: Your favorite female sleuth is back to save herself and a friend

Recommended readers:
If you like a female sleuth
If you are a G-rated historical romance
If you like a strong female lead who challenges society

Here's my Ranking
3.5/5 for characters
3.5/5 for plot
3.5/5 overall

Note: Steamy factor (1 of 5 ... harmless)

REVIEW FROM BOOKS FOR HER:

City of Schemes is the fourth novel in the Counterfeit Lady series - and my first. If you love a smart, female sleuth and G-rated romance, then Victoria Thompson is perfect for you. Featuring Elizabeth Miles, a reformed criminal, who's preparing for her wedding to a popular society lawyer, Gideon Bates, when a criminal who Elizabeth previously set-up returns to blackmail her and her fiancé's reputation. </p>

I have a feeling that the previous three novels may have a little more romance - but City

Available now

This is the fourth book in Victoria Thompson's Counterfeit Lady series featuring Elizabeth Miles and her family of con artists. In City of Schemes, Elizabeth is about to be married to Gideon Bates, 'perhaps the only truly honest man in New York City. Her head and her heart are full of wedding plans when she learns that a deadly character from her past is back in NYC and has plans to destroy Elizabeth and all she has worked for. Gideon's friend, Captain Logan, has just returned from the Great War with a sad tale of a Noelle, a French girl who is the love of his life. He had to leave her behind because he is engaged to the nosy and annoying Rosemary who makes a point of sticking her nose in everyone's business. Logan receives a letter from Noelle asking for money to come to America. This raises suspicions in Gideon and Elizabeth. Now Elizabeth must figure out how to help Logan and how to escape the clutches of the dastardly Oscar Thornton, all while keeping her promise to Gideon to tell the truth always and to leave the cons to her family. Thompson weaves an excellent tale of mystery and suspense in the well-crafted setting of post war New York City. I've read another in the series and plan to pick up the other two. Anyone who appreciates engaging historical fiction will enjoy this book and Thompson's fans will be delighted. I thoroughly enjoyed City of Schemes and was please to read an advanced copy through Net Galley

Elizabeth and her father end up running three cons 1) turn the tables on who is conning Logan for money, 2) con Rosemary (using her opportunistic scheming) into willingly breaking her engagement with Logan so he can marry the woman he loves, 3) con Oscar Thornton to stop him from ever coming after her again. With so much going on, the pacing is steady and kept me turning the pages.

The climax is primarily the Oscar Thornton's con conclusion, since it is the most serious for consequences. This came together in a most dramatic scene that was pleasing. The others conclude in gratifying ways as well.

This has humor and high stakes. If you like the idea of a 1918 version of Ocean's Eleven, then this is the book for you.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list

City of Schemes is reviewed in the January 2021 issue of Gumshoe Review and is exclusive to them until February 1, 2021. You can read the review at this link: <http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6703>

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

Victoria Thompson’s fourth Counterfeit Lady novel City of Schemes finds Elizabeth facing her most personal, potentially life changing, con to date in addition to helping Gideon’s friend and planning her wedding. More escapade than mystery, it is a fun multi-layered deception sure to please fans and new readers alike.

Reformed con artist Elizabeth and her fiancé Gideon are counting the days until their wedding but trying to keep the affair intimate and under-the-radar. When Gideon’s friend Logan’s fiancée Rosemary spills the beans to the society pages, a former mark learns that Elizabeth is alive and returns to blackmail her. Logan feels duty bound to marry Rosemary, but he left his heart in France with another woman, Noelle. When he receives letters from Noelle asking for money so that she can come America, Logan, along with Gideon and Elizabeth, feels that something else is afoot. What unfolds is a triple scheme where everyone gets what they deserve.

I have come to really like Elizabeth over the course of the series. She is plucky, brave, intelligent, and resourceful. Ever truthful Gideon is her perfect foil, and I love him for his upright manner. Readers get glimpses of their parents, but they do not get a lot of time this time around. Logan reminds us that even though the war is over, it is still relevant and very much part of everyday life. I appreciate his intention to fulfill his promise to marry Rosemary, but they would both be so miserable. Rosemary is unlikable even before she makes an appearance, and watching her story unfold is the highlight of the book.

It is a pleasure spending time with Elizabeth and Gideon, and I hope there are many more adventures ahead. City of Schemes can be read as a standalone but is probably best enjoyed as part of the series.

Recommended.

City of Schemes is the fourth book of Victoria Thompson's Counterfeit Lady series. This story was extremely fun and I look forward to reading the previous books that I missed. Was I confused a bit since I didn't read the other books first? I must admit, I was a little. But once I got into the meat of the story I was able to enjoy it thoroughly!

The Great War is over and (somewhat) reformed grifter Elizabeth Miles is busily planning her wedding to her beloved, successful lawyer Gideon Bates. A good friend of Gideon's, Logan Carstens, doesn't seem particularly happy to be home from the war; it seems he fell in love with a beautiful woman in France, but he was too honorable to ditch his totally unlikable betrothed back home. When Logan receives a letter from his love Noelle, she begs him for help to escape to America from the horrendous conditions in her homeland. Elizabeth is rather suspicious - do they really know Noelle wrote the letter, or is someone trying to con their friend? Meanwhile, someone tips off the newspaper about Elizabeth and Gideon's wedding, bringing Elizabeth's former nemesis Oscar Thornton to town, vowing revenge against her. Can they save both Logan's and their own futures?

This is my first Victoria Thompson book, and it certainly will not be my last. The con in this story is rather complex - I had no idea how everything would come together - yet so darn entertaining! The main characters, however, are what made the book shine. Elizabeth is absolutely charming. She is marrying into an upper-class family and is doing her best not to cause any problems for their reputation. When Gideon's friend, however, needs help, she is right there for him, willing to run just a wee scam. When Thornton threatens Elizabeth with blackmail, though, she turns to her father, the "Old Man", for assistance. Gideon, too, is a great character. He knows Elizabeth's history isn't squeaky clean, yet he loves her unconditionally and seems pleased at times with her mechanations. If Thornton's blackmail would ruin them, he'd willingly give up everything for her. The supporting characters were great, especially the Old Man, Anna and Jake. I can't wait to see what future cons Ms. Thompson comes up with for Elizabeth and Company!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

In City of Schemes, book four in the Counterfeit Lady series by Victoria Thompson, it's wedding time for our favorite con woman and her law-abiding fiancé. Elizabeth and Gideon are busy with the planning, along with welcoming back Gideon's friend Logan from war. Logan isn't as relieved to be back on American soil as one would expect but he has a lot on his shoulders. Besides attempting to fit back into civilian life, Logan reveals he fell in love with a French woman, despite being engaged to someone here at home. I've never been a fan of marrying someone out of obligation, but back during the time period this book is based, breaking an engagement was poor form. If an engagement is broken by a man, the action attached incorrect and unflattering labels to women. Therein lies Logan's problem - he doesn't want to ruin the reputation of his betrothed, Rosemary.

In the meantime, Logan receives a letter from his love in France, Noelle, indicating conditions in France have gotten considerably more terrible, and she request money from in order to aid her in fleeing Europe. Gideon immediately involves Elizabeth, who expresses her disbelief and her suspicions regarding the letter. No one can prove it's from Noelle, and if it's someone running a con, Logan will be left without the money or the presence of his love by his side. Elizabeth knows it's time to intervene and see exactly what's going on with these letters and the so-called author.

While aiding Logan, Elizabeth is put in a jam when a previous foe, Oscar Thornton, discovers she's still alive and well. Now, Oscar is on her tail, putting her mind on other things, as she should be preparing to marry Gideon, while helping Logan not become a victim of a con. It's up to Gideon and Elizabeth to protect Logan, help him find happiness, and keep Elizabeth out of harm's way before Oscar can make good on any of his threats.

City of Schemes is a wonderful book filled with realism and emotion from start to finish. The author’s world building in the book is vivid and descriptive. The author did a great job with the continued character development in City of Schemes. Elizabeth is s a strong character but you must be if the art of the long con is your way of living. She’s also compassionate especially towards Logan and his situation. It is easy to identify with Elizabeth, feel her emotions and the emotions of others, and fit right into the story. All the characters were written well, and I enjoyed each one of them.

This book is rich in emotional content and I was engaged in the story from the very beginning. There are so many twists, turns, and double-crosses and it was all wonderful. I couldn't put the book down. The story is fast paced and truly set up and executed well. I can’t wait to see what the author has instore for Elizabeth and Gideon next.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Victoria Thompson has another Counterfeit Lady historical cozy among the Four Hundred of post Great War New York. Elizabeth Miles is preparing for her wedding to Gideon when his old friend now discharged from the army pops up with relationship issues. He left a beloved French girl behind in France and feels obligated to a New York socialite to whom he was engaged before going overseas. Then an old opponent of Elizabeth pops up and threatens trouble unless he receives lots of cash. City of Schemes follows all the cons Elizabeth and her family run to get Elizabeth and Gideon's friend out of their troubles. Wonderful romp to enjoy. Relax over coffee and a fast moving story.

I’ve really enjoyed this series. I love how each of the books has a con that helps people out and I like seeing how each of the conmen seem to change a little each book to be a little better. I also love how I never know exactly how things will end until the book is done. It keeps my attention the whole time. I also love the characters. I think they are relatable and easy to love. I also love that in this book we finally see Elizabeth and Gideon get married!

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Elizabeth Miles should be enjoying the happiest time of her life, planning her wedding and future with her handsome fiancé, Gideon Bates. However, a villain from her past life as a con artist, Oscar Thornton, has surfaced and threatened to expose her past to her new society friends and family if she doesn’t pay him a large sum of money. On top of that, Gideon’s childhood friend, Logan, has returned from the war to his own fiancée, Rosemary, but isn’t particularly happy to have left Noelle, the French girl he fell in love with in Paris. Elizabeth turns to her father, a grifter as well, to handle Thornton, but decides she needs to help Logan along in choosing between his two women.

City of Schemes is the fourth in the Counterfeit Lady series, but I’ve not read the others and did not feel at all lost or confused. The author did a great job of filling in any needed backstory. Historical mystery is a new genre for me and one I’ve decided I like and could read more. This was easy to read, entertaining, and amusing. I loved the quirky characters and the detail in the schemes. Definitely recommend this novel!

This was a fun book to read. The cons came and kept on coming. You weren't sure what was a con and what wasn't until the very end when we got to see how they tied together. Elizabeth, a reforming grifter, is engaged to scrupulously honest Gideon is learning how to deal with New York society ladies. The characters are fun and funny. The cons are involved and equally fun. You have characters that you root for and those that you cheer when they've been conned. A really good romp!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

I finished this book with a sigh-it was such a lovely entertaining read.

"City of Schemes" is the 4th book in the Counterfeit Lady Novel but the first I've read. The author does a great job of filling in the backstory so I had no challenges starting with this book. But I enjoyed this book so much I plan on reading the first 3!

Elizabeth, our protagonist, has a history of being a grifter-a skilled con artist from a family of skilled con artists. She is shortly going to be married to Gideon and has given up doing cons.

Gideon calls on Elizabeth's experience when his good friend Logan received a letter from the girl he loved but left behind in France asking for financial assistance. Is it a con? Does Noelle really need help?

There is also a threat from Elizabeth's past that surfaces and could threaten her future with Gideon.

So, there are two situations that going on and how they are addressed are ingenuous and fun and make this a very entertaining book.

Wonderful characters, entertaining story, highly recommend.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.