A Noble Scheme book review

Few books entangle my emotions and keep me digging into the story with every breath. Yet, Roseanna M. White manages with almost all of her Edwardian novels. “A Noble Scheme,” the newest novel in “The Imposters” series, challenges the characters within to trust the Lord even when everything seems lost.

What makes “A Noble Scheme” impact me?

While I’ve not faced a great amount of tragedy in my life, I imagine it every day, and in nearly every situation. Do you ever sit and wonder how you would react in one situation or another? Yes, me too.

In “A Noble Scheme,” two characters face a horrendous tragedy that’s been eating away at them for a year. Gemma and Graham can’t move on because they are both holding a grudge against someone else. The pain of their loss can’t heal because neither of them can forgive.

This is something I’ve faced. When someone hurts me, if I continue to harp on it, the pain eats at my soul. If I don’t forgive that person, I withhold forgiveness from myself too.

What’s the Story?

In Edwardian England, Gemma Parks and Graham Wharton are vital members of a secret investigative team, but the team struggles to function together because Gemma and Graham can’t be in the same room. Their feud risks the team’s chance to find a missing boy.

To save this child, Gemma and Graham must put aside their differences. Instead, their problems come to the surface and drive them farther apart. The only hope for salvaging themselves and the team is for Gemma and Graham to trust God to heal and forgive.

While this story focuses on this team’s ability to blend in anywhere and acquire knowledge in unconventional ways, Roseanna White weaves the heaviness of grief throughout it. In fact, everyone here carries some type of grief, and each one is dealing with it differently. Only those surrendering their grief to the Lord are healing, and those who are not relying on Him can’t seem to change, even when they realize they should. Roseanna weaves a powerful story about redemption through this Christmas tale of healing.

Sensitivity Warning

This story revolves around four children: two who died young and two who were abducted. The team saves the kidnapped children, but if you’ve faced something akin to these situations in your past, this might affect you.

Is “A Noble Scheme” Worth Reading?

A resounding, Yes! Even walking through the grief that these characters face, this novel reverberated within me. I’ve actually read it three times now. I guess that tells you something of what I think, perhaps even more than the description above. If you’ve read “A Noble Scheme,” I’d love to hear what you think.