💙 “A Noble Scheme” (The Imposters #2) (2024) 💙 – Book Review

MY REVIEW 

Series: The Imposters (Book #2)

Paperback: 368 Pages

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (March 19, 2024)

Language: English

ISBN 10: 0764240935

ISBN-13: 978- 0764240935

⬅️ Click Photo for Order Information

 

“Gemma Parks is known throughout high society as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talent to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the elite 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 soul 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 not only to restore the missing boy, but also to win back the only woman he's ever loved. As they trace the clues laid out before them, Graham must devise a noble scheme to save the boy's life and heal their hearts.” 

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Bethany House, for providing a complimentary review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own.

 

A funny story right off about the author and her books, and how I ended up becoming a fan of hers and another author …

 

Back in December 2020, I was supposed to get one of the author’s standalone titles for a publicity tour – Dreams of Savannah. As it turned out, I got another author’s book, eventually getting the one I was supposed to. But, that accident introduced me to that other author. Interesting how that happens.

 

That said …

 

Loving the premise of the book I did get, led me to join White’s launch team for her previous series, The Secrets of the Isles.

 

Since I enjoyed those books, I jumped at the chance to read this new series, The Imposters.

 

When I read, A Beautiful Disguise, I really became invested in Gemma and Graham’s relationship, so this was on my MUST-READ list.

 

To pause for a short moment – what about that dress on the cover? Just stunning 🤩 Sort of reminds me of a peacock 🦚

 

Moving on …

 

As these books are part of a series, readers do need to read the first book prior to this one. It establishes the group, and explains some references in this one.

 

Returning to this book:

 

👒 Marigold Fairfax-Livingstone/Lady “M”

🎩 Yates Fairfax

✒️ Gemma Parks (also writes columns as G.M Parker)

✏️ Graham Warton (architecture enthusiast; knows about Alnwick, home of the Hemmings)

🔎 Sir Merritt Livingstone 

 

White also then adds the following characters to the storyline:

 

👦🏻 Horace (Whitford’s son)

👨🏻‍🦳 Lord Whitford (Horace’s father; Caro’s brother)

👩🏻 Carissa

👦🏻 Sidney (Matthew and Caro’s son; nephew of Lord Whitford)

👨🏻 Matthew (Caro’s Husband and Sidney’s father)

👩🏻 Caro (Sidney’s mother and Lord Whitford’s sister)

 

There are going to be some triggering themes in this book: infant death due to a car accident, child kidnapping (2), a child’s death due to child labor (work accident), and an attempted murder.

 

For those who read the first book, there is NO secret that there is SOMETHING going on between Gemma and Graham. Though what it is – remains a mystery … until this book.

 

Gemma is covering the wedding of Marigold and Merritt.

 

A few weeks after the wedding, as the Christmas season is approaching, Graham is contacted by a man whose son has been kidnapped. Worse – the boy was kidnapped by accident. It seems the kidnappers think the boy is the son of Lord Whitford, when it is his nephew. And, Whitford is refusing to pay the ransom. It’s no secret that he isn’t fond of his brother-in-law who he feels is beneath him.

 

It is up to The Imposters to find and save the boy. And, The Imposters are all in – even in the “scheme”. Despite the fact the money would go to good use, they are not going to charge Matthew for their services. Their goal is to get the boy back safely.

 

It’s Christmas, and they are dealing with a missing child.

 

While traveling, Gemma meets Carissa, someone who devours her articles. And, it is with Carissa that Gemma meets not only a friend – but, a trusted confidant.

 

But, all is not as it seems when it comes to investigating the disappearance. The more they uncover, the more nothing makes sense – connections to people seemingly not needing money, secrets about a child, and even more secrets of a dastardly accident that comes back to haunt Lord Whitford – especially when his own son goes missing.

 

While the team works to discover the motive and find the boys – Graham desperate wants to win Gemma back. And, he isn’t going to give up. But, Gemma is still finding it hard to trust the man who broke her heart. Yet, she wants to let go and not be this person she is.

 

Forgiveness doesn’t come easy for her, nor others in this heart-breaking, fascinating, intriguing, and stunning story. A story that is full of mystery and forbidden love.

 

White brought the truth of grieving to life with insightful reality – no two people experience a shared grief the same way, even if they are married or related. It was nice to see the resolution.

 

As far as the main story, I was honestly surprised by the real motive behind the kidnapping. It was shocking, and yet subtle. The resolution offered forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation – a theme throughout the story.

 

Like other readers, I did find the “heavy” themes a bit overwhelming, which even the author admitted. And, as a result, it did take me quite a bit to get into. It was about a little over 40% in when a shocking reveal got my attention. I honestly couldn’t put it down after that. The pacing can be a bit off, the short chapters did keep me reading a bit longer than I normally would for a book of this caliber.

 

There were times it did repeat itself with regard to Gemma and Graham’s situation, as well as the “incident” that caused their “separation”. However, their story needed to be told as it was. It was both horrifying and beautiful. I found their ways of grieving to be realistic in some respects.

 

With this being a Christian based publisher and author, there were themes of faith espoused by the characters. It is these faith themes that helped the characters heal and move forward; particularly forgiveness, second chances, and accepting God’s plan for their lives. This might be overwhelming for some readers who enjoy a lighter faith approach.

 

I’m excited to read the last installment later this year, which will be Yates’ story. And, I do hope to see Carissa back and see what she’s up to. I’m also looking forward to a “Christmas” release by the author.

 

 

 

RATING:  

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads  

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub  

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html) 

 

 

Previous Book in the Series: 

 

Series: The Imposters (Book #1) 
Paperback: 368 Pages 
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (August 22, 2023) 
Language: English 
ISBN 10: 0764240927 
ISBN-13: 978-0764240928
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information 

 

“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.” 

Final Book in the Series:

Series: The Imposters (Book #3)

Paperback: 400 Pages

Publisher: Bethany House (November 19, 2024)

Language: English

ISBN 10: 0764240943

ISBN-13: 978-0764240942

⬆️ Click Photo for Pre-Order Information

 

“As the leader of elite private investigative firm the Imposters, Lord Yates Fairfax has made an art of concealing his identity. But when his newest client, the beautiful Lady Alethia Barremore, is shot while leaving their meeting, he throws caution to the wind and rushes to her aid. Though Lady Alethia thought she was only looking for her missing former nanny, she has clearly stumbled upon dangerous secrets.

 

Lady Lavinia Hemming suspects there's more to her oldest friends than they're willing to admit, and when she stumbles upon the truth that they're the Imposters, she recruits herself into the firm. Happy as she is for the distraction of an investigation, Lavinia's own family secrets continue to haunt her. And the one thing to bring laughter back into her life--her friendship with Yates--lands her squarely on the bad side of her best friend, his sister.

 

Tormented by a past that she doesn't dare to voice aloud, Lady Alethia does what she can to help her handsome host, her new friends, and the investigators. But as clues lead them deeper into the darkest of society's secrets, Alethia, Yates, and Lavinia soon learn anew that the gentry isn't always noble . . . and truth isn't always honorable.”

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. She pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of numerous novels ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to Edwardian British series. Roseanna lives with her family in West Viriginia. Learn more at www.roseannamwhite.com.

 

 

You can also find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwhite/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite

 

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