I fear I'm just becoming a broken record when it comes to reviews for Ms. White's books. She is definitely one of my "must have" authors and I regularly (at least a couple times a year) reread one or more of her books. So when she announces a new book or series, I just wait impatiently for it to be available, no questions asked. I don’t even have to know what the storyline is - I just know I’m going to fall in love with it.
That said, I was super intrigued with the premise behind this new series. I adore anything to do with mysteries or investigations and this one was so well done! I was kept guessing throughout the story, and even by the end, I was as surprised as the characters when the plot was revealed.
Speaking of the characters, I adored Marigold Fairfax, her brother, and the others of their eclectic team/household. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that the lion was definitely a favorite addition. And I can’t wait for Graham and Gemma’s book!
Marigold has spent so long working to be seen without actually being known or noticed, so when Sir Merritt actually sees her, I couldn’t help but cheer for him. I had to smile at Sir Merritt proving Marigold wrong again, and again, and again, in her opinion of people in general, but of himself in particular.
Goodness, this review is ridiculously hard to write! I don’t want to add any spoilers, but sharing any of my favorite parts of the story would involve potentially sharing one. So I suppose I’ll surrender, before I get myself in trouble and just say - “read this book! It was amazing and beautiful and suspenseful and intriguing and . . . you might love it as much as I did. So go forth and read it!”

*My thanks to the author and publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a delightful read! This one kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

A Beautiful Disguise is book 1 in the Imposters series. I am excited to have found a new series and am looking forward to the next in the series.

I loved the characters in this book. The book centers around Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother Yates. After being left practically destitute following the death of their father, they form a very elite and unique private investigation firm called "The Imposters" to help them maintain their manor and their appearances in society.

Having been raised in a very unconventional way, among circus performers, actors and actresses and wild animals, who all stayed at their manor in the winters. Yates and Marigold have some very unique skills which make them very successful in what they do. But, also Yates and Marigold are very grounded. They have kindness for all regardless of their status in life. This makes them incredibly likeable characters. I also really enjoyed the other Imposters and supporting cast of characters.

This book is set in the early 1900's England. I find this time period fascinating. The aristocracy is still in place, but changes are starting to happen. Ordinary citizens can now find themselves in equal financial positions to Lord's and Ladies. But, they don't have a title so aren't truly accepted in society.

I loved how the authour brought these two worlds together. And how the authour used the mounting tensions with Germany at this time to make an incredible interesting mystery with a thrilling spy component.

This story also has some romance. Because of her situation and her commitment to The Imposters and saving their family legacy. Lady Marigold has resigned herself to being single. But, love just might be in the cards for after all.

This book was part cozy mystery, part spy story, part romance. It has an element for all! I definitely recommend this for any fans of this time period, who like a good mystery and some romance.

What a wonderful start to a new series! "And other people's preconceived notions had proven to be the best disguise." "The Imposters seem to be able to get in anywhere and discover anything, and no one has a clue they were there." "Did they deceive people? Now and then, perhaps. But mostly they were dedicated to discovering truth."

Roseanna M. White is a master storyteller, her charming characters encounter mysteries, intrigue, betrayal, romance, and spies. Add in circus training, unusual pets, and you won't be able to put down A Beautiful Disguise! I love her historical fiction tales that keep one turning pages far too late into the night.

I highly recommend A Beautiful Disguise. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own. I can't wait for my preordered copy to arrive.

This book was so much fun. Though in some areas it stretched the imagination to the point of being not quite believable I was still drawn into the outlandish lives of the Imposters. What a refreshing take on a historical mystery series.
Marigold disguises herself as Lady M, a fashionista dressed to draw attention to her clothing and not to her face, a necessity as a member of the Imposters a group of elite investigators. She has perfected the art of being seen but not really seen. She must with the help of her brother and a hodgepodge group of friends keep their finances and home intact.
When Sir Merritt enters her life he sees beyond the surface to the woman beneath and the more he uncovers the more he is drawn to know her without the facade. He has no idea of her connection to the Imposters when he hires them to help on a case that could change the course of history. Will knowing her change the course of his life?
This book was well written, the main characters as well as the supporting characters each unique in their own way and helping move the story forward. The romance between Marigold and Merritt was perfectly paced, sweet, and I loved watching theirs as well as other relationships grow and change.
I enjoyed stepping into the pages to visit the Tower, home to the Fairfaxes. It was entertaining on a whole new level. Who wouldn’t love a pet lion? This is a book I am happy to recommend. I received a copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

I have always love Roseanna M. White's writing. I haven't read her in a while because recently she has written more dual timeline books and I am not usually a fan of those.

But I loved this totally unique story line and the occupations of these characters. It was like nothing I've ever read. It was so clever, fun and well written.

The story began with Marigold and her brother Yates in a very precarious position. From there the book led to crazy hats, high society, detectives, circus acrobats and a lot of 'pretending to be”.
These Impostors made for a captivating read. So glad there will be more in this series. Can't wait!

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me yo read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

I couldn’t stop reading! This book was a mix of my favorite things historical, mystery, and a detective agency! Not to mention crazy hats and a circus living at your house! This book had me hooked from the first sentence! I finished the book and immediately want more. This is not your typical historical fiction novel.. it’s so much better! I would absolutely recommend this book to any friends and family!

I was really looking forward to this new book by Roseanna M. White. After reading the description, I thought it sounded a lot like her Shadows Over England series with the spies, and I was kind of right. This one actually ended feeling like a mix of her Shadows Over England series and her Ladies of the Manor series, but it was also something different. This book had a unique mix of ideas that I feel like shouldn't have worked, but for some reason it did.

The story pulled me in right from the beginning. It opens with the main character and her brother in a precarious situation, and it had me glued to the pages to see how they would get out of it. As I continued to read I did come to a point where I thought it may not work for me. For some reason I don't usually end up liking books that have a circus in them, and although this one doesn't exactly have a circus in it, it has circus-type elements to it, that in the beginning felt a bit implausible. Even so, I kept reading and this book just kept growing on me. I loved these characters, and the slow build romance paired with the mystery was right up my alley. In the end, I thought this was well worth the read and I had a hard time putting it down. This is the first book in a series and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

A Beautiful Disguise
by Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany Publishing
Series: The Imposters, Book 1
Rated: 4
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “In Edwardian London, not all that glitters is gold as a lady and an intelligence officer's secret mission take them from the city's dazzling ballrooms to its covert intelligence offices.
Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the field, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they're creating a new secret intelligence branch, he's intent on showing his worth. He suspects an aristocrat of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but he needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.
Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy after their father's death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm for the elite to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society who want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend's father as a potential traitor.
Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend's sake, and she's more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can't possibly be as noble as he seems.”

Impressions: This was a fun book to read with exciting characters. I found fault however with the setup of the characters. This is the first book in the series and the relationships between the Imposters, how they met and formed, are left unnoted for far too long into the book. I felt like I was missing something for quite a while. I did enjoy the idea of the plot and characters and look forward to the rest of the series.

Quotes: “Maybe we’d all be wiser, maybe fewer people would be hurt, if we questioned more. If we didn’t think that closing our eyes to darkness meant it didn’t exist. As if by closing them, we didn’t just create more darkness.”

“A wise man once said, ‘The truth isn’t always pretty. But I like to think it’s always beautiful.”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White whisked me away to the glittering world of Edwardian London, where Lady Marigold Fairfax's captivating journey from the circus to high society stole my heart. Her unique background and resilience made her an endearing protagonist. Paired with the steadfast intelligence officer, Sir Merritt Livingstone, their romance blossomed amidst intriguing espionage and unexpected acrobatic performances that added an enchanting touch to the story. White's cleverly crafted mysteries and surprising revelations kept me engaged until the end, making this historical romance a delightful and immersive experience. If you crave clean romance and enthralling mysteries set in an elegant era, I highly recommend diving into A Beautiful Disguise and getting lost in the allure of love and secrets.

I was entertained by this book the whole way through. Combining intriguing danger, mystery, history and romance. I really enjoyed Lady Marigold's character, I'd have to say it's my favorite, she is a unique woman. With her brother Yates, they are The Imposters.
The siblings are thinking of anyway to come up with the funds for survival, the estate they've been left by their father is about to go bankrupt. Spying on the elite brings some unexpected overheard conversations and circumstances. Unexpected twists and turns in the book including an interest in circus activities such as high wire aerialist and petting lions, Marigold will surprise us at every turn.
I loved reading about the different costumes and accents and could imagine it perfectly. Espionage, romance, and an ending full of surprises will keep you turning the pages right til the end on this one.
I enjoyed the pacing and beautiful descriptions in this book.

Pub Date 22 Aug 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed!
White is an excellent writer and I loved every minute of it.
I only kept my focus on Merrit and Marigold. I thought this pair of siblings made an excellent team. I enjoyed in getting to know them. Good work guys! You've also made me snicker in places too!
I think my favorite thing was the circus and acrobatic part of the book. I felt like I was flying right along with the characters
The mystery was what kept my interest. White did an excellent job and kept me guessing all the the way through.
I definitely didn't see the ending coming wow!
This was such a fun read! I ended up finishing it in one day. I didn't want the book to end.
5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend! My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Combine intrigue and mystery with a historical setting and romance, and I am there!

Marigold is perhaps one of the most intriguing heroines I’ve ever encountered, and I loved every second of her story. White broke the mold with A Beautiful Disguise by having a heroine who, while part of the elite, had a much different background. And by different, I mean of the circus variety. You’ll understand once you read it.

Merritt was an interesting character too as he has a strong sense of justice but a little bit of pride. Mainly because he’s used to being on the front lines instead of behind a desk and chafes at the very idea. But that’s what causes him to cross paths with Marigold time and time again, and it was wonderful.

Really the whole romance was beautiful. I loved how highly Merritt thought of Marigold and his respect for her. There is not a ton of angst (which I find tiresome after a while), so this novel was refreshing for me.

As for the mystery, White, per usual, includes many twists and turns and an ending I did not expect. I had trouble putting this novel down and for good reason.

And with so many interesting side characters, I’m excited to see what happens next in this series!

Overall, A Beautiful Disguise is an engaging historical romance with plenty of mystery and compelling characters.

Another lovely historical fiction novel by Roseanna M White! This is the beginning of a new series, that takes place prior to WWI in England and speaks to the beginnings of MI5 in the background of the story. Lady Marigold Fairfax has had a unique upbringing, filled with all manner of entertainment. Fortunately, since their father's love for entertainment left them penniless upon his death, Marigold and her brother Yates have had much training in both acting and acrobatic arts, which makes them uniquely qualified to create their detective agency, The Imposters. Filled with wonderful characters, both human and animal, this book told a delightful story and had a beautiful message of showing one's true self. Though he was not what most would consider swoon-worthy, Sir Merritt Livingstone is easily one of my favorite heroes to date. Confident in his own abilities, logical in his conclusions, and loving who Marigold was behind the mask endeared me to his character all the more. I thoroughly enjoy stories where communication is well done (when it isn't a miscommunication or misconstrued expectations that create the conflict in the plot), and this one did so well with that. I enjoyed the mystery in the story line that kept me guessing until the very end - I did NOT see that ending coming. And even though romance is generally not my favorite part of a story, I absolutely adored the romance in this particular story. This book had ALL of the things going for it - great characters, a beautiful love story, a solid faith element, and a suspenseful mystery. All in all, this was a fabulous historical novel and one I'd heartily recommend. Special thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

I read this rather quickly the first round, anxious at the suspense. Then I went back to re-read, taking the time to savor the settings of scenes, wardrobe descriptions, conversations, and development of characters.

From the very first page, I felt as though I were watching a film. I think this is due partly to the author's vivid descriptions, and partly to the premise of the story. A noble family of days past secretly being private investigators? Whether it can stand up to historical accuracy, I'm unsure. But it's plausible enough, and I found it refreshing, intriguing, and original.

The plot is well balanced and developed with action and drama, and the romance is sweet and not overbearing. Lady Marigold is charming but also intelligent, loyal, and extremely capable. Sir Merritt is steady and patient. The medley of supporting characters are lively and varied. And they're real and relatable, more evident in a setting of a prim-and-proper society.

I don't want to give anything away. So I'm just going to say that I enjoyed this immensely, and am looking forward to more adventures of The Imposters, Ltd. should there be more (Please say there'll be more!)

I received a complimentary copy of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The first in a new series set in Edwardian England, 1909, features Lady Marigold who with her brother starts a private detective enterprise to avoid bankruptcy after their father's death. They help the elite spy on high society. They're asked by British secret intelligence to investigate Marigold's best friend's father as a possible traitor, as tensions grow high with Germany. Despite uneven pacing, the witty tale kept me entranced with romance, intrigue, acrobats(!), and gorgeous Edwardian fashion. Highly recommended!

Set in 1909 Edwardian England, with tensions between England and Germany at their highest, this first installment of The Imposters series begins. A Beautiful Disguise is brimming with colorful characters, circus-loving aristocrats and a storyline like nothing you've ever read in Edwardian Fiction. Picture The Greatest Showman meets the episode of Downton Abbey where Lord Grantham loses his money to a card sharp, and they set a plot to recover it. It had some of the quirkiness of a Jen Turano story, the suspense of an Erica Vetsch novel, combined with the excellent story-telling that readers of Roseanna M White are accustomed to.

There are a lot of characters in this story as the foundations are laid for subsequent plot lines. At times I found them difficult to keep track of, I probably should have made a list. There were two characters I just kept mixing up through most of the book, but I finally had them straight in the last third of the story. A Beautiful Disguise introduces us to the Fairfax family. A sibling team comprised of a fashion icon and Earl who are also private investigators and the founding members of The Imposters. They spy on their peers as a necessary means of keeping their estate afloat and have enlisted the help of a few friends along the way. I loved that Merrit could see past Marigold's careful facade that she presented to the public, to who she really was. While she was an expert at being visibly invisible, he was an expert at finding her. The mystery was well crafted and once again, didn't solve it before the answers were revealed to me.

Read this book if you like:
clean romance
mystery
family drama/dynamics
Downton Abbey, Jen Turano or Erica Vetsch

A Beautiful Disguise was a fun story with the promise of more high-flying adventures to follow as the series continues. I'm looking forward to reading Graham and Gemma's story in the next book!

Thank you, Roseanna M White, Bethany House Fiction and Net Galley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White

An enjoyable read with fun circus elements and undercover spies.

This unique story is full of witty dialogue, romantic tension and quirky characters. The thrilling storytelling makes up for the inconsistent pacing and the engaging plot hits hard and keeps you reading for more.

Mild Christian Rep

A Beautiful Disguise is the story of Lady Marigold Fairfax who, along with her brother, find themselves facing bankruptcy following the death of their father. The solution is to begin a private deceive agency - The Imposters, Ltd. - catering to the elites of society. This was a fun read, although a little slower pace than I prefer.

I enjoyed the humor along with the acrobatic element introduced as they ferreted out information, and I found Lady Marigold and her brother interesting. The suspense, the unexpected, descriptions of the fashion of that era, coupled with an interesting mystery all combined to make this an interesting story. This is the first installment in The Imposters series. I’m looking forward to the next.

Many thanks to Bethany House and Net Galley for this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Edwardian England has its share of nefarious characters—even among the wealthiest class of people. When Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother find themselves on the brink of bankruptcy, they put their non-traditional skills to use to open a private investigation company. They open The Imposters, Ltd., with two friends, to spy on their fellow social elites.

No one in society knows the faces behind The Imposters, but they rely on discrete, thorough reports from skilled agents. Lady Marigold makes waves in London society by disguising herself as a fashionista and trendsetter. She also discovers the unsavory details most men in polite society wish to keep hidden. She has little faith in the fidelity and honesty of men.

When a new client tasks The Imposters with spying on her best friend’s father, Lady Marigold will do anything to help her best friend—even if it’s all done behind the scenes.

She doesn’t expect to meet her new client socially, nor does she believe any man can be as guileless as Lieutenant Colonel Sir Merritt Livingstone seems to be. But the more she gets to know Sir Merritt, the more she comes to trust his motives, intuition, and noble character.

Can she take the next step by revealing her true self to him?

What I Loved About This Book

Readers who long to be fully known and accepted will fall in love with Marigold and Merritt as they work together to uncover a sinister plot to share vital military information with the Germans. Fans of Downton Abbey will love the Edwardian England setting. White combines frolicking fun with lifelong friendships, hidden motives, and romantic acts of derring-do. Readers can enjoy A Beautiful Disguise, the first installment of The Imposters, as a stand-alone novel. (The protagonists find their true love within the pages of the first book.)

White masterfully blends all the elements I love (quirky protagonists, suspense, intrigue, and romance) into one satisfying package. Three cheers for A Beautiful Disguise! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

I enjoyed this book. It was a very different storyline than any I've read. Very imaginative if not too realistic. The main couple of characters were quite well developed. I enjoyed how they were fleshed out in the story. The supporting characters were well done also, but there were some gaps. I realize they were for the next books but it was hard to understand some of it.
The editing was quite well done also. Very few errors. This is important to me as poor editing can ruin a perfectly good story. I did feel that the story ended rather poorly.
In general, I would recommend this book as it is quite unique. I give it a 4-star review. I was given this book through LibraryThing and am not required to leave a review. All thoughts are totally my own.