The one thing I thought all through this book was how in the world does Roseanna White keep all these characters and storylines moving together so seamlessly. From circus animals and performers, to disguises, to kidnapping, to societal expectations, to architectural planning, to deep emotions, to a crisis of faith, to wrenching heartbreak, to healing broken relationships, to immense grief and all the while infusing the faith of God to the situations. Whew!
What seems like so so many parts all add together to make a fascinating historical tale. I truly enjoyed it!
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

"A Noble Scheme" is a beautifully-written book full of emotional depth from author Roseanna M. White! It is book 2 in "The Imposters" trilogy. The characters feel three-dimensional and like real people of that time period. It was wonderful to return to the characters we know and love! And of course to meet and get to know Carissa. The character development was done very well! This author always does such great work creating lovable and original characters who feel real. These characters are always complete with personalities, thoughts, and emotions of their own. The author expresses all of the personal, familial, and emotional difficulties the characters face with sensitivity. This book is beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, enthralling, and inspiring. The author has done amazing work weaving together the lovable characters, riveting plot, emotional depth, and the themes of love, healing, faith, and forgiveness into a book that is undeniably a must read! It was also so beautiful to see Gemma and Graham finding their way back to each other! I loved seeing how careful and gentle Graham is in winning back Gemma's heart. The speed of the plot is perfect, the author's writing style is smooth and sparkling with beauty and emotion, the characters are lovable, and the story feels original and full of heart! I cannot recommend this book and trilogy highly enough! I can't wait to follow Yates' story in book 3! "A Noble Scheme" is definitely a must read! 5 stars!

Thank you very much to the author Roseanna M. White, AustenprosePR, Bethany House, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of being a part of this book tour and for providing me with both physical and digital copies to read and review honestly.

Today marks the highly anticipated release of Roseanna M. White's second book in her The Imposters series, A Noble Scheme. Readers finally get an inside look into the tumultuous and complicated relationship between Gemma and Graham. As both members of the secretive investigative team, their icy relationship's history is slowly unveiled, and it is undeniably a tragic one.  

When the two are forced to collaborate on a kidnapping case, the architect and the reporter must put aside their personal feelings if they're going to have any chance at solving this case.  A Noble Scheme is my personal favorite, largely due to the captivating portrayal of these two central characters. The story delves into the universal experience of losing someone we hold dear. If we're not careful, bitterness and unforgiveness can consume the space in our hearts where love and faith once thrived. This is precisely where Gemma and Graham find themselves. 

White's characters are complex, flawed individuals, desperately trying to make sense of a life-altering tragedy. I believe the experiences they share will deeply resonate with many readers as it did me.The central mystery gradually unfolds, contributing to the suspense and ensuring that the audience remains captivated. The characters and plot created by the author are expertly developed, captivating readers and immersing them further into the narrative. The atmospheric and vividly descriptive setting adds a wonderful layer of depth to the story, enhancing the overall reading experience.What truly stands out is how White consistently directs the reader's attention towards a loving God who can bring good out of any situation. This timely reminder of God's faithfulness and love is something I deeply appreciate. If you're looking for a great read, I can't recommend A Noble Scheme highly enough!

Rating 4.5

"Graham had given up on insisting he wasn’t having a crisis of faith. Given up trying to explain that it wasn’t that he doubted God’s existence—it was that he doubted His goodness. It wasn’t that He questioned for a minute whether or not He was Lord—it was that he couldn’t believe the Lord loved them like James insisted He did. All evidence pointed to the contrary."

Roseanna M White always delivers unique plots with equally enjoyable unique characters.

This book was different for me to the author’s previous stories. There was still the same unique and fun mystery to solve and the intriguing banter between characters, but there was this deep emotional history between Graham and Gemma.

From book one, it was clear that there was a past between Graham and Gemma, and through the first part of the book, the author gave the reader a bit more information and clues, but I found myself impatient to see what happened and once revealed it was the last thing I expected.

The author did a brilliant job of making the reader feel Graham’s hopelessness, and Gemma’s hatred and struggle with unforgiveness.

Be prepared to be swept away on an emotional journey and keep the tissues handy.

Yates was a fun character to learn more about and I am looking forward to his story coming soon.

A Noble Scheme, the second installment of Roseanna M. White’s Edwardian-era private investigator series, The Imposters, delves into Gemma Parks and Graham Wharton’s complex love story and the force that tore them apart. As the Imposters race against the clock to find a kidnapped boy, this estranged couple must work together to succeed, but will their past jeopardize their mission?

"Perhaps their hearts could never truly be mended. But his soul was not beyond the reach of God." ~ Roseanna M. White

A Noble Scheme is an eloquently written story that beautifully explores themes of grief, forgiveness, reconciliation, and faith. While it was not as action-packed as its predecessor, A Beautiful Disguise, this poignant novel took me deeper than expected as it navigated the characters’ journeys through pain and healing, highlighting God’s steadfastness and love. The two scenes that stand out are when Gemma and Graham must confront their traumas head-on and decide whether they can forgive themselves, God, and one another.

Roseanna’s writing style drew me into the era with her vivid descriptions and heartfelt dialogues, teleporting through time. As I read Gemma and Graham’s perspectives, I could feel their emotions bounce off the pages. I also liked how Roseanna shed light on how God often puts us in situations that correlate with what we’re going through. We can’t hide from our pasts or our pain; we can only move forward, and if we do this with His guidance, then God promises to comfort and teach us while healing our wounds.

A Noble Scheme is a compelling read that will resonate with readers emotionally and spiritually. Roseanna M. White’s insightful exploration of how people heal and why we must surrender our hearts to God makes this one of her most impactful storylines. The way she wove these inspiring topics into an eloquent narrative will leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of all who pick up this book!

"She could choose to be nothing but a moth-eaten rag fit only for the rubbish bin . . . or she could let God work her into lace, the holes left by pain and sorrow every bit as beautiful as the gossamer threads of faith and love that held her together." ~ Roseanna M. White

While I’ll be sad to say goodbye to The Imposters, I’m so excited to reach the end of this trilogy and finally read Yates’ full story in An Honorable Deception! (OUT NOVEMBER 2024) I wondered why we were given his perspective when he wasn’t a main character, but Roseanna summed it up perfectly in her Author’s Note, “It’s time for Yates to move to center stage — because, let’s be honest, he’s been wanting to elbow his way into the spotlight all along.”

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a pre-release copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.*

“A Noble Scheme” is a beautiful, suspenseful, opposites attract, faith-filled, second-chance story that grabbed me quickly and didn’t let go. I loved the first book in this series and love this one even more! Tissues please! I cried at the grief as well as the beauty. Such a meaningful and memorable story.

Gemma and Graham will not be forgotten. They’ve melted their way into my heart. There are so many layers to their relationship, and so many obstacles to overcome—which is what kept me so engaged and eager for them to reconcile. Grief and anger are such strong emotions, and I felt their pain.

There are other elements to the story, such as mystery, loss, and grief, and forgiveness, but Gemma and Graham’s struggles and pained relationship are what kept me glued, surprised, and touched the deepest.

I truly can’t wait for book 3 in this series. It just gets better and better.

First Line: The wedding of the decade.
Series: The Imposters, book 2
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Author: Roseanna M. White
Page Count: 352

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

(There are spoilers at the end of the review. There will be another warning before the spoiler section.)


If you enjoy historical romance with plenty of intrigue, Roseanna M. White’s The Imposters series is for you. A Noble Scheme focuses heavily on grief, loss, and the potential of reconciliation, but is ultimately a story about hope. I’m enjoying that this series is far from typical Edwardian stories — the characters have a pet lion, to tell you just one difference. I’m excited for Yates’ story, and to see these characters again. 3.5/5 stars


SPOILERS AHEAD
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It is revealed about 40% of the way through the story that Graham and Gemma, the main characters, are already married and have been estranged for a year. The reader knows they were romantically involved and something drove a wedge between them, but I don’t think it added anything to the story to keep this kind of secret from the reader. The novel would have started off with so much more depth if we had known early on that they are married — the emotion would have been stronger, the tragedy would have struck deeper….it just would have been more impactful. I think that this choice also robbed the reader of a great deal of the characters’ backstories. By the end of the book, we still know very little about Graham and Gemma as a couple prior to their separation. Their story is based on an event that happened a year prior, which was fundamentally connected to their marriage and love story. I just don’t understand the creative choice to keep this secret from readers for so long.


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

Ms. White is one of my favorite authors as she always has intriguing plots and complex characters, and this book met my every expectation. Gemma has some very deep pain and unforgiveness towards Graham that she could not, would not let go of. The journey to healing and forgiveness was beautiful and powerful for not only Gemma but for Graham as well.

The kidnapping of a boy is the reason that brings the Imposters investigative team together; who wouldn’t want a child to be safely reunited with his parents? The case was exciting as the Imposters try to locate Sidney and complications arise. The hidden passages and dilapidated factory were perfect settings and lent an air of suspense and foreboding, making me unable to put down the book. There was no question that sleep would be missed in order to finish it.

I heartily recommend reading this book for its mystery, inspirational message, the Imposters team, and the reconciliation of several relationships. I haven’t read the first book in the series, but I wish I had. Not because of this story, which can certainly be read as a standalone, but I am extremely curious to learn the backstory of the members of the Imposters.

I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher through Austenprose, and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I think this may be my favorite book of Roseanna's. I say that about every book of hers though so I'm not too sure. This book was special though, it has so much I really liked about it.
This is the second book in the Imposters series.
Though the book may have started out slowly, it didn't stay that was for long.
As a carry-over from the first book in the series we see many of the same characters that we know and love. Though this is the second book in a series, it may be read as a standalone having its own full story.
I started out the book not liking Gemma, she can be downright rude to Graham Wharton at times. She broke his heart. Through the many ups and downs, twists and turns the story unfolds for us. There is a lot going on and the book pulls out all the stops as your heart feels so many emotions. One thing about the Imposters though is when they take on a case you know they won't back down until the case is solved. I can see why Gemma acted the way she did, the reveal surprised me. None of us know how we'll act unless presented a situation such as this. The faith element was beautiful!
The book really has a lot to absorb as you read it. Such beautiful healing and forgiveness.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this novel. There is mystery, romance, heartbreaking emotional moments, and a group of investigators, the Imposters, determined to save the lives of two children. I must admit that I was more interested in the complicated relationship between the two protagonists, Gemma and Graham, who, after a year apart, are forced to work together to solve the kidnapping of two children and must face their feelings for each other. Having not read the first book in the series, there were a couple of things that confused me, but, all in all, I really liked it!

Big questions and doubts haunt Gemma Parks and Graham Wharton since tragedy struck a year ago. What worse time to dredge up sorrow than at Christmastime. We finally see what has kept two of The Imposters at odds. A new case has them going incognito again to catch a kidnapper. The son of an influential but unscrupulous businessman is held for ransom and the team must use their expertise to find Horace before it is too late.
It was fun to see the team dress up to go undercover but Gemma hides her feelings just as sure as she dons a costume for her role and does all she can to avoid Graham. Their personal soul searching has them re-evaluating the role God plays in their lives and they learn to trust Him I liked Graham and his analytical architect brain.
The case was a complex one that was hard to figure out. The story was a bit more somber than the last book but equally as intriguing, absorbing, full of danger, forgiveness and second chances. I look forward to book three and the next case for The Imposters.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author and a NetGalley copy. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

An extraordinarily well written book! There's intrigue, a mystery, and kidnapping. There's also a second chance at love and restored relationships. The mystery really had me on the edge of my seat!

The process of restored relationships really touched my heart. Graham and Gemma are two broken people whose pain goes very deep. Their forgiveness toward each other took time, but it was romantic and sweet!

There are a lot of familiar characters from the first book in the series A Beautiful Disguise. You can read this as a stand-alone because Roseanna White does an exemplary job at explaining characters' back stories.

I love how the author weaves faith into her books! It's encouraging and inspiring! I can't wait for the next book!

I was provided a copy of the book from Bethany House via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I will read anything Roseanna M. White writes! I love the way she writes romance, I love her historical detail, and her plots have just the right amount of intrigue. This one was particularly emotional, given the backstory for both main characters. It was heart-wrenching in spots, and uplifting at the same time. I love the uniqueness of this series and can't wait for the next in line!

The quality of writing & works building was good, but this was my first book with this author and I did not realize it was a Christian fiction book, the themes are very overt, which is not my preference but it’s fine. I really struggled with the paving of the story, though, it jumps perspectives a lot and takes a while for the romantic leads to be on page together for any length of time, which made it harder for me to connect with their romance. Very emotional story, but very very slow to unfold, I found myself skipping ahead a lot because they Jory dragging their feet on telling us why these two characters were in conflict w each other.

So it was a struggle for me though I can see how readers who like very slowly u folding and very emotionally devastating faith based stories may enjoy it more.

A Noble Scheme, by Roseanna M. White, follows an unlikely group of friends who have dubbed themselves the "Circus of Imposters" as they investigate mysteries in England at the turn of the 20th century. Posing as acrobats from a traveling circus, two siblings scale buildings and eavesdrop on suspects in order to find a missing child. Two of the characters, Graham and Gemma, seem to have a past that complicates the situation and the big reveal in the middle of the book both surprises the reader and propels the plot forward. Note: a major plot point is a character's lack of faith which makes the novel very Christian in tone. It may be possible to read and enjoy this book without believing in Christianity but it may put off some readers.

I first fell in love with this team of investigators in book 1- A Beautiful Disguise - and was so excited for this new story. In the previous book, we know that Gemma was devastated by something that happened between her and Graham, but we don’t know what transpired.

A Noble Scheme picks up with a newly married Marigold and Merritt as the Imposters take on a new case. Despite their rocky history, Graham and Gemma are forced to work together when the team decides to solve the case of a missing boy. As the case unfolds, we find out more about Graham and Gemma’s painful past, as well as the tragedy and pain which led to the kidnapping of not just one, but two young boys. We see how lives are torn apart as a result of loss and bitterness. As the team comes closer to solving the case, we also see the beauty of a restored faith, love, and redemption. Roseanna does an amazing job telling a hard story.

I received an early copy for review and the opinions shared are my own.

Book 2 in the intriguing Imposters series takes a deeper turn as Graham and Gemma work on a case to find a missing child. We finally learn what caused the deep rift between them in this poignant story of loss and ultimately, forgiveness. Beautifully written, deeply moving.

Roseanna M. White has long been a master of historical fiction, but she’s reached a new level with A Noble Scheme. The emotional drama of this story will rival any Karen Kingsbury book and had me highlighting line after line as I pondered both her prose and her meaning.

In the beginning, though, while I was excited to dive into a new adventure with the Imposters, Ltd., I really wanted to find out what the big secret was between Gemma and Graham. White kept the mystery around this sky-high as the story unfolded and still I couldn’t quite pinpoint it! I love when authors keep me guessing!

And I never would have guessed it. I wouldn’t have suspected that White would sink so low as to put this pair through this kind of torment, but she does so absolutely perfectly. The descriptions, emotions, and drama – as well as the lessons journeyed and learned – couldn’t be better.

Readers who enjoy both depth and drama need A Noble Scheme on their bookshelf. This book – this series, really – is one to keep. Just be sure you have the tissues handy.

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

“Words were wily things—but they were miraculous too. They created, they shaped, they breathed life.”

Wow! This book was amazing! It’s the type of story that sticks with you long after you have finished reading the last page. The story is raw and full of emotion, the characters are vulnerable and struggling to hold onto faith and, if you read A Beautiful Disguise, we finally find out why Gemma has such a deep animosity toward Graham. If you haven’t read the first novel I highly recommend you do before reading A Noble Scheme, as the majority of the characters stories begin in book one. I also thought this book was better than the first one, so don’t discount A Noble Scheme if A Beautiful Disguise wasn’t for you. This one has a completely different vibe.

“Grief is both the most universal human experience and the most insular. It is individual. It must be individual. That’s what makes it so hard and what makes it so universal.”

I’ve never read a book where the characters go through the processes of grief as thoroughly as in A Noble Scheme. It was heartbreaking yet encouraging, a paradox to be sure, as these characters work through grief singularly yet together. Roseanna writes a message of forgiveness and learning to forgive through Jesus when circumstances are just too hard or we feel lost amidst the darkness. There is a mystery to be solved, children to be rescued, disguises donned and secret tunnels explored, but it takes a back seat to the beautifully unfolding story of second chances and finding a way to love again.

Read if you like:
Edwardian England
House parties
Mystery and Secrets
Aristocratic sleuths

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

These characters from book one were introduced and I knew something big had happened to them, but I never imagined the ‘actual’ event. Heartbreaking and compelling. It made me feel for them in a new way. Seeing God throughout this story as they went about solving a case was wonderfully done. So many good lessons and thought-provoking ideas in this story. While it had a different feel to it from the first book, and wasn’t based so much around the ‘circus’ part of their family, I liked it even more than the first one.

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