If you like books that deal with grief, loss, healing, second chances, mysteries and the early 1900's, read this one. It's beautifully written and tells a captivating story.

Another winner by Rosanna M White! I think this one might be her best yet. I loved returning to the Imposters and finding out more about Gemma and Graham. The author does a wonderful job of writing about the early 1900's, giving the reader a glimpse of what it might have been like to live back then. I have learned so much about the days leading up to WWI with this series. I also really appreciated the thoughts and conversations that the characters have on grief. I highly recommend picking up this series! (read them in order to best appreciate them)

“Somewhere under the layers of pain and anger and betrayal, she was still his Gemma. The first real friend he’d ever made. The coconspirator in all his childhood dreams. The only girl he’d ever loved.”

Isn’t this cover lovely? The story inside is equally as beautiful. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I absolutely 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 this one!

Gemma and Graham have a past together, but they’re estranged after he broke her heart. As members of the Imposters (a private investigation firm ), she tries to set that aside as they covertly work together to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin. Her heart is bitter and hardened towards Graham, but he’s determined to win her back.

I really enjoyed the clever adventure as they try to track down this boy, but more than anything else I loved the themes of loss, grief, faith, healing, and forgiveness.

This truly was such a tender, beautifully written, and heartfelt story. You may want to have some tissues nearby if you read it.

A Noble Scheme is book two in The Imposter Series and can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading ‘A Beautiful Disguise’ first.

I received a review copy via NetGalley thanks to Bethany House Publishing and Austenprose.

"A Noble Scheme," the second installment in "The Imposters Series" by Roseanna White, takes readers on a riveting journey through Edwardian England, where a clandestine team of private investigators, known as The Imposters, operates in secrecy. The team infiltrates high society events under disguises to gather intelligence. This story although still action packed is much more emotional and at times heartbreaking than the first one. I don’t want to share too much because there were several surprises that I want you to experience for yourself.
As Gemma and her colleagues embark on solving the heart-wrenching case of a missing child, she finds herself reluctantly partnered with Graham Wharton, a former romantic interest with whom she shares a complicated past. If you read book one you picked up on serious conflict between the two of them. The intricacies of their relationship unfold amidst the backdrop of a captivating mystery, adding layers of suspense and emotion to the narrative.
While the central mystery keeps readers engaged with its twists and turns, the slow-burn romance between Gemma and Graham adds depth to the storyline. Their unresolved history simmers beneath the surface, gradually revealed throughout the book, contributing to the overall sense of intrigue.
The ensemble cast of characters, including members of The Imposters, showcases their camaraderie and trust amidst tensions and challenges. The author did a great job showing how each member brings their own strengths to the team.
Themes of grief, loss, forgiveness, and second chances are skillfully woven into the narrative, offering poignant reflections on human emotions and relationships. The author's exploration of these themes adds richness and depth to the story, resonating with readers on a profound level.
I recommend A Noble Scheme (I haven't read a book by Roseanna White yet that I would not recommend) with the warning it will tug at your heartstrings but has a satisfying ending. Now we wait for the next book! I cannot wait to see who she teams Yates with!!

A Noble Scheme was such an engaging read plot-wise and deeply moving theme-wise. I loved reading Gemma and Graham’s story, and honestly, it made me the most invested in this book—even over the plot.

Chapter 13 brought this book from a 4 to 5 star read for me. It hit so deep, and the author did such an amazing job of immersing the reader that they felt as if they were in the story themselves, feeling and enduring everything the characters were. 😭🤍

As far as the themes go—if you relate with books that explore family loss, wrestling with forgiveness and healing, and finding redemption and hope, then you’ll love this book.

All in all, such a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of A Noble Scheme. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

A Noble Scheme is a historical mystery set in Edwardian England featuring a secretive and elite team of private investigators.

#2 in The Imposters Series…

Gemma Parks is known in high society as G. M. Parker, a society columnist. Donning disguises, she uses her position to gain entrance into high society events and gather intelligence for The Imposters, highly secret, elite, private investigators. As they endeavor to solve the crime of a missing child, Gemma is forced to work closely with Graham Wharton with whom she had a previous romantic relationship and experienced a traumatic breakup. Graham works hard to solve the crime and win back Gemma, the love of his life.

I’m an “in order” reader, and I jumped into this not fully realizing it was #2 in a series. Consequently, I was a little lost in the beginning pages. After I became acquainted with all the characters (who had been introduced in book one), I enjoyed the story. Although I’m sure each story features a stand-alone mystery, I recommend reading this series in order for the character development and for the most reading satisfaction.

The mystery at the center of the story is compelling and well-paced with numerous twists and turns.

The romantic history between Gemma and Graham is another mystery that simmers below the surface of the action. The reader is in the dark. Their romantic history and break up is hinted at throughout the story but doesn’t resolve until the latter part of the story. I found this slow reveal to be unnecessarily drawn out. However, it does add to the overall spirit of intrigue. *If you keep reading this review, you might come across a spoiler although I tried to speak in general terms.

If you enjoy an ensemble cast, you will appreciate this tight-knit group of characters. They have their tensions, but they also work well together and trust each other. Banding together to create an elite and secretive investigative group is unique and quite fun. I can imagine quite a few future installments featuring different members of the group.

The mystery is page-turning and the characters are colorful and likable, but in my opinion the really compelling and meaningful parts of the book involve the poignant themes of a broken relationship, grief, loss, second chances, forgiveness, a crisis of faith, and friendship. Don’t miss the author’s notes about grief (in fact, it was surprising to me that the dear family she references as a resource is known to me because we were colleagues at one time).

*May include spoilers*
Content Consideration: missing child, loss of a baby, grief

I’m recommending A Noble Scheme for readers who are looking for an easy-reading and gently-written mystery series set in England with a cast of memorable characters, a generous side of slow-burn, sweet romance, and thoughtful themes. No profanity.

Thanks #netgalley @AustenProse #AustenProsePR @bethany_house @bethanyhousefiction for a complimentary e ARC of #ANobleScheme upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Gemma Parks keeps to the shadows in her capacity as newspaper columnist writing about high-society functions, which is also useful for the investigative team she's part of, the Imposters. The Imposters normally work for the wealthy, charging a lot of money for their services, but when a working man begs their help to find his kidnapped son, they can't refuse. Unfortunately, this case puts Gemma in close proximity with Graham Wharton, one of the other Imposters, with whom she used to have a relationship before something went terribly wrong, and she's been avoiding for almost a year since. Graham, for his part, hopes that this case will end both with a return of the boy to his parents and a return of Gemma to his side.

I loved this second book as much as the first, with the focus turning from Marigold and Merritt to Graham and Gemma. Marigold's brother Yates, leader of the Imposters, again provides the third POV for the book, and I was happy to continue seeing his side of things. In the first book, we're given allusions to something causing a rift between Graham and Gemma, but no details. I knew that would be brought out in this book, then, and I was a little annoyed when the "why" was danced around for over 1/4 of the book. Little hints were dropped, maybe even big ones, but I definitely missed the big picture until it was plainly stated (actually, I was spoiled by a review on Goodreads, so be careful what you read). When I did realize the full story, I understood completely why it was held back for so long. It broke my heart and made the journey for these two so much more than I imagined (I suppose what I imagined was an almost humorous tiff that just needed a quiet moment together to put to rights). The progression of their story brought tears to my eyes more than once, and I love the way their views of God were just as big a part of it as were their feelings for each other. Rather than a twisted idea that Graham's reunion with God was somehow dependent on him (re)gaining the love of a good woman, which I've sadly seen in other Christian books, I felt this book had its priorities straight. That's all the more I'll say on this subject to avoid spoilers.

Like in the previous book, the case the Imposters work on isn't a huge mystery, at least in regards to the culprit(s) involved. However, there were certainly facets to the villainy that were kept back and revealed at moments that allowed for suspense and even more emotion. The climax maybe got a little over-dramatic for my taste, but not even enough for me to lower my rating, because of how much I loved the book as a whole. I'm excited to see the next book in the series has already been announced; I love the synopsis so much, and I think that giving us little glimpses of Yates on the way to "his" book really heightens the anticipation of that third book. I highly recommend this book for fans of Christian historical mystery (this is set during the Edwardian era in London).

Roseanna White is an author that I always look forward to reading. Her books never disappoint. Book One in the Imposter’s series (A Beautiful Disguise) was one of my favorite offerings from White. This second book had more layers of sadness and threat than I might prefer and yet there was never a moment that I wanted to set the book aside.

Despite the fact that there was relational tension between Gemma and Graham (the foundation of which was seen in book one) the tension didn’t drive me from the story. I found myself wading into the awkwardness of their relationship with longing.

The theme of the threat to the young boy drove the intensity of the book and made all the stakes seem higher than I might prefer from a novel, but while the threat was real it didn’t make the novel seem dark.

All in all, A Noble Scheme was a skillfully told narrative of finding hope in loss and forgiveness in pain. It also contained a beautiful thread highlighting the awareness of the need for transformation and how revenge and/or vigilante justice can never bring about the light in the darkness that sacrifice can bring.

As always, I give Roseanna White a five star rating and recommend her series.

A beautiful cover and a beautiful story about grief, loss, forgiveness and love. This is the second book in the series with a new mystery for The Imposters to solve. It’s nearly Christmas and a child has been kidnapped. Marigold, Merritt, Gemma, Graham and Yates are all on hand for this case. This story has a heavier tone than the first, but is well written with characters and a story I won’t soon forget.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher. A positive review was not required, all opinions are my own and voluntarily given.

The Codebreakers has been my all time favorite Roseanna M. White series, but I think it is going to have to move over and make room for The Imposters. I have so enjoyed reading the first two books about the lovable, quirky characters that make up the investigation team known as The Imposters. This second book in the series has two very interesting storylines. The first is, of course, the case that they are currently investigating, a kidnapping case involving a ten-year-old boy, a case of mistaken identity. The second, a sad yet poignant story of a loving couple whom circumstances have driven apart, a story of unforgiveness, and a story of turning one's face away from God. The saddest part of the advanced reader copy I received was the page that said that the final book of this series will be available in November of this year. I will miss these characters and am sad to see the series end with the next book. I certainly hope they will make cameo appearances in some of White's future novels. As always with White's books, A Noble Scheme is well thought out. Information in this book and in its connections to the first one is carefully woven together and released at just the right moment. Much to my satisfaction, the ending was not rushed, the author was generous with the time and space she allowed for bringing the story to a meaningful conclusion. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Noble Scheme from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I liked this faith based historical mystery. It’s set in 1909 England and has a group of 5 friends/relatives that together form The Imposters, a discreet investigative group.

I felt there were two parts of this read that have an intertwining theme.

The first part is the case the Imposters are working on pro bono. It’s a kidnapped child and a case of mistaken identity. The book is set at Christmastime. The Imposters follow the trail that goes from a fancy house party in the countryside to an abandoned mill.

The second part of this book is the relationship between two of the Imposters team, Gemma and Graham. We find out why they are at odds and the sad road that got them there.

The faith based portion of this book makes for a good discussion. When tragic things happen, how do we handle that within our own faith? And how do we treat those involved as well as how do we react?

So as you can see, this is more than just a historical mystery. It’s definitely thought provoking within the parameters of spirituality. Oh, and the mystery itself it quite interesting too.

Such an amazingly sweet, yet painful story.
This book has so much going on.
There is the mystery of a young boy being kidnapped for a ransom.
There is the deep animosity between two of the main characters, Graham and Gemma. I enjoyed getting to know their backstory
I especially loved the themes of forgiveness and second chances.
Yes, Gemma and Graham had faced some amazingly difficult things in the past. Somehow, they must learn how to forgive each other, themselves, and God. And find the strength, in Him, to move on.
This lesson is relevant to all of us, in some degree or other.

The author delivers these powerful themes in a story filled with action, danger, mystery and more. It all weaves together to give us just an absolutely beautiful story.
I highly recommend this one!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I had heard amazing things about Roseanna's books from other authors and readers, but I've never read her books myself. After reading A Noble Scheme I can confidently say that Roseanna is a gifted writer.

Gifted in writing in a way that presents people as themselves. The complexity of human nature and how nothing is every as clear as we would sometimes like it to be. We all have many sides to ourselves that we navigate on a daily basis and so too do her characters.

In A Noble Scheme, Gemma and Graham are members of a special group in early 1900's London (they call themselves The Imposters) that take on special investigations for the elite class. But this investigation hits home for the team in ways that no one is quite ready for.

A young boy has been kidnapped and the team must race against the clock to not only find out who is behind the kidnapping, but return the boy to his family as well. If only they can find out why he was taken and by whom.

Gemma and Graham are two of the investigators on the team, with their own sordid history to work through. Broken hearts and estrangement are mingled with the main story of the investigation. The journey of these two characters was uplifting and another important reminder that forgiveness unburdens our hearts and minds. We are reminded throughout our experiences here that things do not happen to use haphazardly or for no reason. There is always a bigger plan at work and we must have faith and remember that.

Layering in loss and grief from multiple parties through the unfolding of this investigation, this is a story that will remind you to cherish what you have and always hold it tight. A crescendo and finale to this one I wasn't expecting at all, but provided even more depth to all of the characters in their multi-faceted world.

A Nobel Scheme
The Imposters #2
By Roseanna M. White


This is an emotionally charged read, and it answers some questions from book one - A Beautiful Disguise. In the first book, Gemma Parks and Graham Wharton have something between them, something that Gemma refuses to forgive him for or even to speak to him about. Well, we finally find out what it was that broke them.

When a young boy is mistaken for his wealthy cousin and kidnapped, the Imposters can't say no to this case. But to solve this case, Gemma and Graham must work together to gather clues and evidence with little time to do so. Can Gemma put aside her anger long enough to do what must be done? While Graham uses his architectural skills to try to find where Sidney could be hidden away, he hopes working with Gemma will soften her heart.

But the more Gemma, Graham, and the rest of the Imposters discover the more questions they are left with. What is the motivation behind the kidnapping? And can they find Sidney before time runs out and something worse happens?

This book delves into broken hearts and the powerful influence grief can play in and on a person's life. How we deal with grief is indeed unique to an individual. Everyone deals with it differently as we see played out in this excellent addition to The Imposters series. There was a particular line that stood out to me as I read this book, "Faithless is faithless," and when it was used, it was interesting as it pertained to two different instances and was true to both.

Though this is the second book in the series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone title. There are references to incidents in the previous book, but nothing that would detract from the enjoyment of this book. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of well-written, fully-developed characters, second chances, and historical fiction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

I have been anticipating this book for months. I couldn’t wait to get the backstory for Gemma and Graham. It did not disappoint! It’s a doozy of a story and it made this book so so good. The case the Imposters are working on in this book is also a fantastic mystery and I devoured this one to get all the details. I could not put this one down! What a phenomenal read with a perfect ending. Absolutely loved this one!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and also preordered my own Audible copy. I was not required to post a positive review and all thoughts are my own.

I don’t think I have the adequate words to describe how deeply inspired and emotionally touched I am by this amazing book! Roseanna M. White is without doubt one of my favorite authors, and I think this is one of her best stories yet!
Since I read the first book of “The Imposters" Series, I’ve been charmed by each one of the characters that compose this unique Detective Secret Agency. The abilities with which each member contributes to making the Agency so efficient is so creative. And the way they have each other’s back is so endearing! More than a team, they’re family! This is Gemma and Graham’s book, and since the first book I’ve been intrigued as to what important issue may have happened between them to create such a deep rift in their relationship, especially from Gemma against Graham. This is a story that has the tropes of second chance and enemies to lovers, among others. Practically at the middle of the book you get the complete idea of what really happened, and my heart was so crushed. This book deals with deeper issues than most of Roseanna’s books, and I loved the way she dealt with these heartbreaking realistic topics. I understood Gemma’s anger toward Graham and Graham’s faithlessness. How can you fix a wound so deep? Only God can. And sometimes in the least expected ways. I loved how the author managed to tie everything up, when it all seemed an unsurmountable mountain. There’s a beautiful faith inspired message of forgiveness, healing, trusting God in the most difficult circumstances, and redemption. It really inspired me and made me reflect on how God always has our back, even when to the human eyes it may seem the absolute contrary: that He has abandoned us, or doesn’t really care for our happiness. The way things unfolded until the end was deeply touching and I loved how the story ended. I shed my tears more than once, but sighed in happiness or endearment in many others. It amazes me how the author can manage to blend some light humor in a book that carries such deep emotions as are grief, pain and loss. The light humor, she infuses it mostly through Yates, a secondary character but leader of the Imposters, who I’m hoping will have his own amazing story in the next book. I absolutely love Yates! I think he is going to be my favorite of the series!
The historical detail, the scenery also fascinated me. I have to say I’m an architect and that made me relate closely to Graham: I loved his ability to see everything in form of space and architectural details. I could imagine him perfectly poring over his blueprint designs. And I loved his huge heart and loyalty to Gemma too. Gemma also was a great character and I admired her resilience, and how she grew along the story too: in compassion, understanding, and ultimately, forgiving. Both their griefs, different yet the same, felt so realistic that I felt it was my grief too. The author is a master of describing the characters emotions and I experienced them in this book deeply. Add to the mix, a mystery, a kidnapped child, some devious villains, and lots of intrigue and suspense, that I assure you won’t be able to put it down very easily! And the romance, even if at odds for a great time, was superb! Swooning!
This is one of my favorite stories of Roseanna M. White. Very highly recommend it! You won't regret it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

A Noble Scheme is, in my opinion, one of Roseanna M. White’s best & most heartfelt novels to date. The immediately-engaging writing voice, the richly woven layers, the meaningful faith discussions, and the embraceable characters – as well as the Imposters’ high-stakes case of child kidnapping – kept me completely engrossed from beginning to end.

Graham is a tragic character in many ways, at least as our story moves toward its redemptive ending. I was already drawn to him from our first meeting but I fell completely for him as the author peels back the veil on his heartbreak, his very relatable faith struggles, and his loyal heart. As for Gemma, she grew on me a lot in A Noble Scheme, especially as I began to learn more about what she’s been through and could see more of the winsome personality that explains why she and Marigold are such dear friends. Because while I liked her relationship with Marigold in A Beautiful Disguise, I couldn’t understand her harsh rudeness toward Graham. One thing I did know was that Graham and Gemma had a history and that the deep rift between them carried with it an even deeper pain. But I would have never guessed just what that history entailed, and I was unprepared for how powerful and emotional and achingly beautiful the ‘rest of their story’ would be. White doesn’t shy away from their pain or negate its validity. Instead, she wraps it up with heaping doses of grace, mercy, understanding, and a glimpse into the heart of God.

Bottom Line: A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M. White is compelling and poignant, immersing you right away in a story that will grab hold of your heart and not let go. Fair warning, your emotions will be put through the wringer as White tenderly explores the rawness of grief and loss, broken relationships, and anger at God and knits it all together into a beautiful hope-filled, grace-filled masterpiece. But she also gives her readers breathing space by skillfully placing moments of humor (particularly when Yates is involved) and intrigue, not to mention the swoony romance that simmers to perfection. I loved that we got so much great page time with Marigold, Yates, and Merritt too, and I am positively giddy for Yates’ story next! (Don’t tell the others but I think he’s my favorite lol)

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I absolutely loved this book! I have been wanting to know Gemma and Graham's story since the first book of this series and could hardly wait for this book to come out! There were so many twists and turns and surprises, and I found myself really caring about so many of the characters. Even secondary and tertiary ones were fully developed and tugged on my heartstrings! I loved how Lady Marigold, her brother, and her husband were such big parts of the story because I love them from the last book. I especially liked that some of this story was told from her brother Yates' POV, and I am so excited to read his story sometime in the future! What sets this story apart from other stories and makes it great is the richness and depth of the theme of forgiveness that is woven throughout it, not only in the main storyline but in a number of side plots as well. It is masterfully done and will stay with me for a long time to come!

🐥🐥🐥🐥/5

I always love everything @roseannamwhite writes, and some of her books just hit me in the feels more than others. The Noble Scheme being one of the more emotionally invested ones for me.

After the first book in the series, I was so intrigued by Gemma and Graham and what happened in their past to make them so unhappy and angry at each other all the time. And Miss White gave us a shocking answer to that, but also a completely sad and heartbreaking story for us to experience with them.

I related to both of these characters individually in a few ways, and while I didn’t relate to their specific story and tragedy, I hurt with them. I sobbed and ached with them throughout this whole book, in some chapters more than others. It was beautifully written and I feel like I both grieved, healed, and reconnected with God just as the characters did.

The mystery in this book was just as exciting as it always is when it comes to our lovely team of The Imposters, and I enjoyed seeing them all again in their various journeys of life. And I’m now even a bit more excited for Yates’ story next than I originally thought I would be.

If you enjoy historical fiction novels with emotionally deep romances, mystery and suspense, raw and heartfelt moments, a lovely gang of friends/family, history and architecture, strong relationships, character development and just good old fashioned sleuthing then you need to pick up this series of interconnected standalones!

*thank you @bethanyhousefiction and @roseannamwhite for my copy in exchange for an honest review*

“Words were wily things-but they were miraculous too.”

What a poignant, achingly tender second chance love story. Warning, have the tissues handy because this book will make you cry. It’s hard to put into words how much A Noble Scheme touched my heart. It has to be one of my favorite Roseanna M. White books and is a powerful story of loss, grief, forgiveness, and suspense.

After reading the first book in the series, I was intrigued by what caused the rift between Gemma and Graham. The shocking truth behind their estrangement is revealed about half way through. It was a stunning revelation, but one that had been building throughout. Suddenly, Gemma’s hatred and Graham’s lost faith in God made sense. It’s a touching story with such deep, profound emotions as two people find their way back to each other. But, there’s also a mystery to be solved, and the Imposters are on the case to find a little boy who’s been kidnapped. It’s a race against time to try to find him before it’s too late.

I loved the careful balance between the sacred emotions of grief and loss with the lighthearted, good humor provided by Yates. I’ve grown to love these characters and this book cemented those feelings even more. I especially loved the way the author captured so many emotions in such a tender way with several characters who experience loss, particularly the loss of a child.

With her characteristic wit, and soul deep characters, Ms. White shares an unforgettable story that’ll stay with me for a long time. It’s definitely a must read for historical romance fans, especially if you enjoy stories with emotional depth, mystery, faith, romance, and a touch of humor. Though part of a series, it can be read as a standalone, however, it’s much more enjoyable if you’ve read the first book in the series. Now I can’t wait for Yates’ story! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.