Well, hopefully not. Scheming would imply underhanded tactics. But Roseanna M. White's latest would certainly be worth going to extra lengths to read. I liked A Beautiful Disguise so much that I actually vacillated between four and five stars for A Noble Scheme. But Roseanna's handling of this story surprised and uplifted me so much, I can't justify anything less than a five.
First off, Roseanna should be commended for basically having two full stories going in the same book, yet keeping both well-developed and interesting. Throughout the first half or so, the mystery of the kidnapping doesn't seem to mesh with Gemma and Graham's relationship troubles (which might have knocked my rating down). But as Gemma and Graham reconcile, they move ever closer to the truth. And as the truth gets closer, so does our lead couple. It's a deftly choreographed plot I could only try to pull off.
Besides that, the themes Roseanna weaves into that plot are heart-rending without being sappy. They have the underpinnings of happy endings and fairytale love, but are grounded in reality, a reality that hits hard for every character involved. Discussions of the more spiritual threads especially, such as forgiveness and love vs. hate, are the perfect mix of subtle and overt. Plus, major kudos to Roseanna for showing how both Graham and Gemma were sinned against and sinning in their current states, without being obvious about it.
Additionally, I loved how the setup and settings of the mystery pulled me into the book and worked so well for who these characters were. I've been on several historical tours and love places like Derwent Hall and Wyvent, especially with a unique backdrop like Christmas. And while A Noble Scheme is not extremely mysterious or "thrilling," I do appreciate an intriguing "Christmas chiller," even in early spring. Gemma had me shivering in empathy with her, and I usually love cold weather. (Besides which, emerald green is my favorite color)!
As for Roseanna's characters, despair not if you worried I forgot. They are all as well-developed and enjoyable as they were in the first Imposters novel, and even though the main four often act as couples, they show multifaceted traits on their own. I found myself fascinated by Graham's interest in buildings, for instance, and loved how that brought him to a spiritual epiphany. I loved Gemma's empathy, and identified a thousand percent with her love of words. I agree with her--words are gifts, and invaluable ones at that.
Even A Noble Scheme's villains surprised me. They aren't quite as three-dimensional as our heroes, but I applaud Roseanna for giving them depth, and more reasons for their deeds than a typical or thin excuse (e.g., "hurt people, hurt people." Yes, that's true, but some authors just leave it there, and I've been guilty. Roseanna really delved into what that hurt, what that grief, can cost a person, and did it in a piercing but tender way). I actually experienced depth of pity for at least one, meaning, not just "I feel sorry for this person because they ruined their life," but more, "Yes, I understand that pain. I feel awful that they chose to handle it as they did." That's fairly rare for me, so kudos again.
A Noble Scheme does have a few "popping" scenes, often tied to its probing themes. Look for:
-Both Graham and Gemma's revelations about where they have come from and are going
-Several characters' epiphanies and lessons about grief and how to cope (a theme not often found in romance, especially Christian, but needed and handled beautifully here)
-The amazing, if only briefly touched on, friendship between Sidney and Horace (I personally found a small reference to A Tale of Two Cities as well as The Prince and the Pauper, though the former might not have been intentional)
-Graham taking care of Gemma's feet (again, perhaps unintentional but I caught a Biblical reference in there of sorts)
There are more, but I want to wrap up and give you one last exhortation to experience A Noble Scheme for yourself. I am already salivating for An Honorable Deception this winter and hope Roseanna M. White has many more books like the Imposters novels up her sleeve.
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From the Publisher
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| A Beautiful Disguise | Yesterday's Tides | The Nature of a Lady | To Treasure an Heiress | Worthy of Legend | A Portrait of Loyalty | |
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| Price | $16.33 | $10.89 | $10.59 | $13.59 | $11.59 | $10.59 |
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Reviews with images
Deep, heart-tugging, emotional and very inspiring Historical Romance!
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 and was under no obligation to post a review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
