This is the second book in Roseanna M White’s The Imposters series, following A Beautiful Disguise. I do suggest reading that first, because it is the better book (well, I preferred A Beautiful Disguise), and because it introduces The Imposters, Inc so well.

A Noble Scheme has The Imposters undertaking a pro bono case to rescue a boy kidnapped in a case of mistaken identity. The story focusses on Gemma, a gossip columnist, and Graham, an architect. A Beautiful Disguise made it apparent that there was a history between the two, and hints at a romance gone wrong. A Noble Scheme explores the origins of their enmity.

Gemma kept thinking back to the event a year earlier where Graham broke her trust and her heart. It was obvious she knew what had happened, but her recollections were frustratingly vague, and the reader doesn’t find out what actually happened until close to the halfway point. I could understand her not wanting to think about what had happened … but she was thinking about it, and she was making that clear in her viewpoint scenes, so it felt unnatural for her to not reveal the secret of the event. Keeping the secret was probably intended to increase the tension, but it just increased my frustration.

Graham is also suffering. He lost Gemma, and he lost his faith. He still believes in God, but he doubts God’s love and doubts God’s ability or perhaps His willingness to care for us. I was initially impressed, because I’m always keen to read Christian fiction that tackles life’s hard questions.

And “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?” is a hard question. But my curiosity about how Gemma and Graham would discover the answer to the hard question was overshadowed by the fact I didn’t know what had happened to cause them to feel this way. When the secret was finally revealed, it did make sense in the context of the story, and it was a sufficiently important event that I could see it causing the rift between them. However, it also fundamentally changed the tone of the story.

It also makes this review hard to write. Reviews shouldn’t contain spoilers, yet the big secret twists the second-chance romance plot into a related trope that not all readers like (marriage reconciliation), and it also introduces an event that some readers may feel needs a trigger warning (no, it’s not sexual assault or similar act of violence). But because the big reveal didn’t happen until around the halfway point and isn’t even hinted at in the book description, would sharing that information be considered a spoiler? I think so … but I also think readers should know what they are getting.

Aside from that, A Noble Scheme was excellent. I enjoyed seeing more of Lady Meredith and her brother (although I would have liked some scenes set in their ancestral home, and I would have liked to see Sir Merritt a little more). The plot was excellent, and I loved the way Gemma was able to use the example of God and Jesus to bring Graham back to God.

Overall, A Noble Scheme is a solid story, but I did prefer A Beautiful Disguise.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Leopard stripes. Just when I was saying Roseanna M. White hadn't written enough romance in The Imposters: A Beautiful Disguise, she makes A Noble Scheme her most complex romance yet!

By complex, I do not mean confusing. I mean deep. Intricate. Detailed. Delicate. Meaningful. Thought-out. Fragile. The main characters weren't likable simply for each having an individual hobby and little quirk, but multi-layered personalities and intertwined backstories. Every character had an interesting background, there were great metaphors and symbols, the plot was one of those mysteries where it looks simple but thickens, and again... there was the eye-popping, heart-tripping, and eye-stinging romance!

Christian romances--or romances in general--have a stereotype of the female love interest being almost perfect while the male love interest is an immoral wreck, but Roseanna M. White made the main characters' struggles equal here. I was almost hearing the dialogue of the climax as the characters shouted across the room, and the messages on frustration, anger, bitterness, resentment, and feelings toward--or against--God were not pasted on but part of the story. This should be one of those books where you remember the message, and it sticks with you for months.

Was it perfect? Well, there was some plot convenience, along with a few unrealistic, almost silly, parts. So no... but the rest makes up for it.

Lionfeathers, Roseanna M. White has spoiled me. For months, I'll be complaining about characters' poor motivations, a flat romance, or an anti-climactic ending in other novels as I try to find one as good as this. Although not necessarily her best mystery, this is by far White's best romance. If you haven't read her before, please do now, and if you have, please do again! 6/5 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone!

I really enjoyed this one. You really HAVE to read book one first, though. So if you haven't, absolutely stop and read that one first.

But this was great. It was at times very difficult to read. I cried, several times. I loved the redemption present in the story. It was absolutely beautiful.

This was a great book. All opinions are my own. I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is one of those series that you get lost in, because they're so real you know them. I wanted to read it slowly to hang onto it, but I just couldn't put it down. Love and loss. The Imposters go in disguise to solve a kidnapping. I wasn't sure how it would end - it's so well told. Great lessons of faith.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ANobleScheme #RoseannaMWhite #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalRomance #BethanyHousePublishers

This book was an excellent continuation of Roseanna M. White latest Georgian series, The Imposters. A mystery involving a missing child and an obnoxious nobleman and the fledgling detective agency.

This book though really spoke to me in my situation now. I have not of course, suffered the loss of a child, as the characters have. Yet people who are close can hurt each other in ways that nobody else can: and that’s something which I can identify with. Along with the pain, the doubts and the loss or lapsing of faith.

Some people make bad choices after loss, and that is the most raw, human part of this book. Villains are not always villains because they are evil. They are people. Flawed, hurting- and hurt people hurt people. Sometimes it only needs someone to reach out to them in their pain and pull them back from the edge.

God can find us in our hurting places, but so can others. There’s no easy solution and no platitudes but it’s possible to start healing. Just like the journey the characters go round.

Thaks to Bathany House for approving my request for this title on Netgalley. Recommended.

Thus far, I have read each and every Roseanna M. White novel. Every single book is written beautifully and usually has some mysterious flair thrown in. A Noble Scheme however, was something else entirely and...dare I say...upped the bar for other authors. Her "usual" elements are present. Characters that are breathtaking in their scope, all of them unique and fleshed out. Plot lines that move at a steady pace and weave together a perfect story. This book however, had an element of grief to it that I did not see coming. I usually run from the first sign of grief in a novel, but since I knew this author, I wished to trust the process as they say. While I admit to shedding some tears and keeping tissue nearby (and stress cookies...don't forget the stress cookies), it worked so perfectly into the story that it felt like a background note rather than the entire composition.

A definite recommend! You will love it.

ACK! My heart!!! 😭🤩🥰

This book was simply perfection. I thought the first book was amazing but this one topped it by far. It was glorious!!!

The themes, the characters, the fun, the villain, the anguish, and the message!!!! ACK!!! I loved it all. 😭🥰 I can't wait to reread this series. 🥰

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book 2 of THE IMPOSTERS: A NOBLE SCHEME ROSEANNA M. WHITE
December 1909 Fairfax Tower Northumberland, England
Graham, the Architect, and Gemma, the Society writer, will have to put aside their looming differences and work together to save a kidnapped boy. But, it will take the entire team of Imposters to find who stole him and why.
As discoveries are made, hurts are worked through.

QUOTABLE:
"Words were wily things— but they were miraculous too. They created, they shaped, they breathed life."

While Yates, the young, acrobatic strong-man, is not the primary focus, I found him quite interesting.
"I have the list of likely buildings for this new job. I thought we could go over it while you offer me tea.”
..."[Graham] couldn’t help but chuckle. “How is it that you are always hungry?”

This story is well-rounded, but best read following book 1.
Five Stars

I received an eVersion from the publisher and NetGalley without expectation or compensation. All opinions are mine alone.

A lovely addition to the Impostor series; A Noble Scheme is heartfelt, healing, and faith-building.

The plot of this book was interesting, but it is the characters that Ms. White creates that will keep you engaged and excited about the story.

Gemma and Graham have such an incredible love story, and by the end, I was absolutely rooting for them. While Gemma seemed unlikeable at the beginning, once you understand her story and you understand why she is the way she is, you can't help but love her.

Roseanna has done it again, and I will definitely be reading the next book.

General Notes:
Author: Roseanna M. White
Format: Kindle
Genre: Historical Romance with a hint of suspense
Language: None
Romance: Kisses
Violence: None
Trigger/content warnings: Death of a child, grief

I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of this novel. I did not read the first book in the series but this one was a great read. It has all you are looking for in a nice and easy to read book. Mystery, sleuthing, likeable characters, clean Christian fiction that is well written. I will recommend to others.
Thanks to the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 4 strong stars!

A Noble Scheme is the second book in The Imposters' series and it was an amazing read! I reread A Beautiful Disguise (book one) before starting this one, so the characters were fresh in my mind...and I could hardly wait to find out more about Gemma and Graham's story!

A Noble Scheme grabbed my attention right away and I loved the characters so much. Getting little nuggets of Gemma and Graham's history in the beginning and THEN the big reveal was SO good. I did not guess it and loved the twist! The mystery was good, but also kind of sad...I really felt for everyone involved.

All in all, A Noble Scheme was a wonderful read and I recommend it...but definitely read book one first. I'm eagerly awaiting book three, as the sneak peek has me intrigued.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it. 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 and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

"A Noble Scheme" could also have the title. 'A Noble Love', because truly, at its heart, this wonderful novel shows us the kind of love and romance we all truly wish to experience. I enjoyed every page and these characters will always have a special place in my heart. This book is now one of my "top shelf" books - a place of honor - and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-written historical fiction with a heartwarming romance!

A Noble Scheme is another dynamic historical fiction from the pen of Roseanna M. White. I will confess that it took me a bit to get 'into' the story. But as things began to unfold with the mystery of the kidnapping, the broken, yet perhaps mendable, relationship of a couple of the characters, and the ultimate satisfying ending, I enjoyed the book. Had I read the first book in the series (A Beautiful Disguise), perhaps I would not have been so ho-hum about the beginning of this book. I love the name of the private investigation firm, The Imposters, LTD. The struggles of the characters are portrayed realistically and are relatable as well. The book is a beautiful story of forgiveness and restoration, filled with intrigue, grief, and healing. Readers who enjoy historical mystery and romance will not want to miss this book. I read a complimentary copy of the book through Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

The synopsis for A Noble Scheme had me very much looking forward to diving into the book, and in some ways, the book delivered on what I was expecting. There is a strong faith element to the story, and it dealt with important themes, such as forgiveness and coping with grief. In other ways, the book didn’t live up to what the description promised. The cast of characters is such a strange mix that it was difficult to understand how they all came together to spy/right wrongs as a group. By the end, I didn’t feel as if I knew the characters much better than I did at the beginning. Overall, a great story idea with an okay execution.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful, moving, all the feels.

What a wonderful second book this this series. In the first book, we really are wondering what happened and WHY between Gemma and Graham. I felt like clearly they loved each other so why couldn't or wouldn't they be together?

I love the why Roseanna White writes - it's ethereal in a way. I loved getting back into this story and characters (and really cannot wait for Yates' book).

This book was more melancholy than the first and so the mood was different, which is fine. But it did take me longer to get into.

I did not expect this book to hit me like it did. I was literally crying. A Noble Scheme not only had a beautiful romance but also a deeper look into grief.

White has plenty of mystery and suspense that kept me turning pages to find out what was going to happen. The stakes kept rising, and I had no idea how the characters were going to succeed. But White did a great job of wrapping everything up.

I had kind of hard time with Gemma at certain points in the story, even after the big event that drove them apart was revealed. But she was still someone I could root for, even when I didn’t like her responses to Graham. To me, though, that’s a sign of great characterization when an author makes you care about a character even when you don’t agree with what the character does.

Overall, A Noble Scheme is a sweet romance with suspense and a powerful message.

I was excited to learn more about the backstory of Gemma and Graham and it didn't disappoint. Though their story was full of tragedy, it was wonderful seeing them learn and grow and heal. I enjoy all the relationships amongst the imposters. I wish there had been more of their unique circus backgrounds coming into play. I hope it will be more of a focus in Yates' story.

I enjoyed seeing more of the imposters' process and how they worked the case. It was a solid mystery with some interesting twists. I would highly recommend this series.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Imposters are back to solve a mystery when a child disappears. This story of loss and forgiveness is deeply moving. I enjoyed the circus trapeze element in this story and the many twists and turns. Focuses on God's love through the grief process. Recommended.

A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M. White is the second book in her The Imposters series. The Imposters are given the task of finding a kidnapped boy. But the job isn’t as simple as it seems. It’s a story of love and grief and pain. Filled with twists and turns, you’ll be enthralled till the very end.


I received this book from the author for my honest review.

Absolutely loved A Noble Scheme! Heartbreaking yet a beautiful story. Gemma and Graham are fabulous characters, and I was so happy to read their story. Highly recommend! Looking forward to book 3 in this series "An Honorable Deception" which will be about their friend Yates.

I also listened to the audiobook. Susan Lyons did a wonderful job narrating as usual!

I received a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 19 March 2024