A Noble Scheme

Author: Roseanna M. White
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The Imposters #2
Pages: 352
Release Date: March 19, 2024
Publisher: Bethany House

In the opulent and perilous world of high society's most elite--and most dangerous--families, two investigators must set aside their broken hearts to uncover the truth.

Gemma Parks is known to the London elite as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talents to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the firm's members through her columns. Yet her clandestine work would be more exhilarating if it weren't for the constant presence of the gentleman who broke her heart.

Graham Wharton has never had eyes for anyone but Gemma, and she left his heart in tatters when she walked away from him. When the Imposters take on a new job to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin, Graham is determined to use the time with Gemma to not only restore the missing boy, but to also win back the only woman he's ever loved. As they trace the clues laid out before them, Graham and Gemma must devise a noble scheme to save the boy's life and heal their hearts.

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Reviewer: Nikita Wells

"Weight settled on Gemma’s chest, heavy but familiar. 'Death is the only sure thing in life.' “No—death and the love of God.' Marigold reached over and squeezed Gemma’s hand. Ms. Thomas dipped her head. 'That was what I’d been learning. That even when I embraced sin, God loved me. Even when I chose my own desires over Him, God loved me. Even when I was hungry and sick and lost the only person in the world who mattered, God loved me.'"

This story was so good, I could hardly put it down! This is only my second read of Roseanna's books, and it is part of a great series!

Things I liked and loved:

The frosty winter scene on the cover is so cold but lovely!

The dual point of view (POV) that we get with this book. I love when stories are set up in this style!

Getting to see a tidbit of Marigold and Merritt's wedding party and Gem writing an article on it.

That scene where Graham "happens" to find Gem in disguise on a train. Hilarious, yet so sweet in how he tries to woo her. 

How brainy Gem and Graham both are—she with her writing, and he with his love and devotion to studying the past and its architecture for their investigations.

I liked how their personalities differ, like fire and ice, but they still work together beautifully.

Things that could be a bit better:

There's not a lot here, just a few things to mention.

Language: hellish is used once, fool and fools is spoken or thought maybe five times at most.

There's a mention of someone in extreme grief wanting to scream and demand answers from God. The person had been through a terrible time, to be sure, but that's a really dangerous and disrespectful way to think and speak of God, and not at all advisable.

I seriously enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to reading its sequel, "An Honorable Deception," available in November 2024!

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy I received through Interviews and Reviews to review. A positive review was not required of me, but it was my pleasure, and the thoughts above are my own. 

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Reviewer: Charity Henico

I have been carried away to Edwardian England and the tragedy that has taken hold of a couple with the loss of their infant son. This couple is also part of a group of private investigators who have been called upon to find another couple's ten-year-old son.

My grandma once told me that there's a fine line between love and hate. She was talking about a boy she knew, named Bud Moody, and how she had despised him. Funny that when those two grew up, they ended up having the baby who would eventually become my dad.

I brought that story up because A Noble Scheme made me think of my grandparents. Gemma loved Graham so much, and that love turned to hate. That is a fine line.

This book had my emotions all over the place. I cried so many tears, and my heart broke over and over. But there's always hope, and this story points us to that.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. No positive review was required, and all opinions were my own. 

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Reviewer: Anna Bottoms

In A Noble Scheme, the Imposters are on a pro bono case to find a missing boy. With few clues, can they find him before time runs out?

The quirkiness of the Imposters wasn’t as pronounced as in the first book, which I loved, but the emotional elements of the story stirred me in ways I hadn’t expected.

The author has a gift for writing honestly about loss and crises of faith. Gemma and Graham’s healing journey throughout the story was written with empathy while not distracting from the mystery surrounding the missing boy or the rest of the Imposters.

The descriptive elements in the story added another layer of interest, placing me right alongside the characters. I would highly recommend this book to romance and mystery lovers alike. You can’t go wrong.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. This is my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Ewurabena Wilson

A beautiful historical masterpiece.

Roseanna M. White’s second book in the Imposters Series gives meaning to the saying that good things come to those who wait. Having read the first book, A Beautiful Disguise, I perceived a Gemma and Graham story on the horizon. A Noble Scheme, the second book in the Imposters series, has brought an end to my anticipation.

Set in the United Kingdom like its predecessor, A Noble Scheme continues the story of the Imposters. Gemma Parks and Graham Wharton are two people with a past. An incident had torn these two lovebirds apart, leaving two beating hearts too frozen to reconcile. Will a new case for the Imposters, which involves child kidnapping, be the needed heat to thaw these two hearts?

I have never read a Roseanna M. White novel that I have never liked or struggled to read, and this novel is no exception. Her character development and the strong Christian messages in her novels have always been motivating factors for reading her books. The themes of forgiveness, grief, anger, and faith were very well articulated in this novel. The beginning of the novel was a bit slower than expected, but it picked up so quickly in the middle of the novel that I finished reading it earlier than projected.

Fans of Roseanna M. White, grab this sequel. You will not be disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Katie Slocum

Book two in The Imposters trilogy is a stunning follow-up to book one. I did not think anything could top A Beautiful Disguise, but White has delicately balanced the thrill of a gripping case with a complex story of deep hurt, forgiveness, and restoration that is impossible to put down. White is a talented wordsmith, painting pictures that feed the imagination and placing the reader in the midst of the action.

The case itself is worth reading on its own. Full of twists and turns, it left me on the edge of my seat until the very end. But the parallel history of Graham and Gemma was much more complex than I was ever expecting.

The two stories intertwine as Graham and Gemma have a unique understanding of what their clients are going through, and then God uses their client’s circumstances to demonstrate what He has been trying to show each of them all along. He is present, ready to heal our hurts and put the broken pieces back together if we let Him. Not leaving us the same, but renewed. It is a heavy story, but it is covered genuinely and realistically in an easy-to-follow way without the story getting bogged down. Several parts brought me to tears, as I felt heartbroken and personally invested in the outcome. It is storytelling and character development at its finest.

I am loving The Imposters! It will be a long wait until November for book three. But for anyone who has not discovered these exceptional reads yet, you have time to catch up. This is my favorite new series, and I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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