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The Imposters #3
An Honorable Deception
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.
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.
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2024
91 people are currently reading
4914 people want to read
About the author
Roseanna M. White
62 books3,867 followersRoseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
see also Roseanna White
see also Roseanna White
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
December 28, 2024
This book was a wonderful conclusion to the Imposters. The romance is richly layered and real. And the mystery and history so well written. I love the characters in this series. Yates, Lavinia, and Alethia must confront troubled paths filled with pain and evil to step into hope today. Highly recommended!
December 9, 2024
This is book 3 in the series and I recommend reading the previous books first so that you will know all the characters well. This is a great story! I was happy to learn about what happened with Yates and Lavinia. And to see them give love a chance again. Alethia’s story is so sad with her father and uncle. I felt so bad for her and her former nanny. I enjoyed seeing other characters from previous books again. This story tackles some tough subjects but does it well. It has great Christian content as well. Overall, a great story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content: murder, attempted murder, sexual abuse(brothels and sex trafficking), child abuse
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content: murder, attempted murder, sexual abuse(brothels and sex trafficking), child abuse
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
November 27, 2024
I've been looking forward to Yates' story from the beginning and it was a treat! This book is definitely action-packed and has a more serious tone than the first book in the series, at least in the central mystery. All the old cast of characters from this series are present and even characters from a previous series (Shadows Over England) have cameos, which I thought was brilliant! It was actually my favorite part because I am a sucker for authors creating fictional worlds that are consistent and populated by their own characters.
October 13, 2024
FINALLY. I’ve been looking forward to Yates’ story since we first met him in A Beautiful Disguise, and this did not disappoint.
Lavinia is a beautiful character who you can see continues to grow throughout the series. One thing I really appreciate about Roseanna is that she never allows her characters to stay in a “victim” mindset. While Lavinia had every opportunity to err towards that, bury herself away, and be forgotten about, that’s not what she truly wanted. She needed the love and encouragement to navigate through the horrors she had to face in book 1, and she didn’t want to remain with her heart locked away. She wanted to believe in the best Jesus still had to offer her, even though she had encountered immeasurably hard circumstances. And that’s what I truly appreciate about her.
Yates is a loveable character. He’s witty, he’s funny, his perception and care is unmatched, AND he is strong and chiseled like a Greek statue. It’s hard NOT to love this guy. Naturally, though, he had to have his flaws, and he needed some time to come to his senses. But overall, wow, what a loveable character.
ANDDDDDD we had some amazing appearances from loveable characters from other series (I’ll not say who so I don’t ruin the surprise) but I was exclaiming every time and at the end I was like STOP!!! This is TOO GOOD!!! I love how Roseanna weaves in her book worlds and makes us feel like we’re a part of it and I just have so much genuine joy 🥲 ah, the pleasures of life God gave us — like these stories.
I just loved this book probably the most out of the entire series!
Lavinia is a beautiful character who you can see continues to grow throughout the series. One thing I really appreciate about Roseanna is that she never allows her characters to stay in a “victim” mindset. While Lavinia had every opportunity to err towards that, bury herself away, and be forgotten about, that’s not what she truly wanted. She needed the love and encouragement to navigate through the horrors she had to face in book 1, and she didn’t want to remain with her heart locked away. She wanted to believe in the best Jesus still had to offer her, even though she had encountered immeasurably hard circumstances. And that’s what I truly appreciate about her.
Yates is a loveable character. He’s witty, he’s funny, his perception and care is unmatched, AND he is strong and chiseled like a Greek statue. It’s hard NOT to love this guy. Naturally, though, he had to have his flaws, and he needed some time to come to his senses. But overall, wow, what a loveable character.
ANDDDDDD we had some amazing appearances from loveable characters from other series (I’ll not say who so I don’t ruin the surprise) but I was exclaiming every time and at the end I was like STOP!!! This is TOO GOOD!!! I love how Roseanna weaves in her book worlds and makes us feel like we’re a part of it and I just have so much genuine joy 🥲 ah, the pleasures of life God gave us — like these stories.
I just loved this book probably the most out of the entire series!
November 15, 2024
Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I've always known I would like Yates's story, whatever it was, but I was not prepared for how much I would *love* the other characters in this book. Both Lavinia and Alethia are just excellent, and I enjoyed getting to know both of them so much. The romance (and romantic tension) is nicely done, too; it felt realistic and I sympathized with everyone. The plot/premise itself, like this whole trilogy, runs a little heavier than some of White's other novels, grappling with some dark elements, but it's well done and the resolutions are rewarding. Overall, this was a triumphant conclusion to a fabulous trilogy. Easiest five stars I've given in a while.
February 10, 2025
Story Enjoyment Rating: 8.5/10 Christian Faith Rating 2.5/3
I recently finished reading "An Honorable Deception" by Roseanna M. White, the third book in the Imposter series. The series is historical Christian fiction that revolves around a brother and sister who inherit a title and land but no money. To solve this, they create a private detective/spy agency called "The Imposters", keeping their identities secret. I'd recommend reading the series in the correct order to avoid missing key information and to prevent spoilers — as the overarching story develops throughout the books. This book centres on Lavinia, a side character from book one, and Yates. They are investigating the disappearance of Lady Alethea’s Ayah from when she lived in India. Their search takes them into the darker parts of London, and the book deals with some gritty and disturbing topics.
Generally, I enjoyed White's writing style, which combines mystery, suspense, romance, character development, and Christian faith elements. I particularly liked the characters. However, I'm not a fan of love triangles, and there is one in this book which detracted from my enjoyment a little. The Christian faith elements were occasional but impactful. Book two in this series was my favourite, but I still really enjoyed this one.
I recently finished reading "An Honorable Deception" by Roseanna M. White, the third book in the Imposter series. The series is historical Christian fiction that revolves around a brother and sister who inherit a title and land but no money. To solve this, they create a private detective/spy agency called "The Imposters", keeping their identities secret. I'd recommend reading the series in the correct order to avoid missing key information and to prevent spoilers — as the overarching story develops throughout the books. This book centres on Lavinia, a side character from book one, and Yates. They are investigating the disappearance of Lady Alethea’s Ayah from when she lived in India. Their search takes them into the darker parts of London, and the book deals with some gritty and disturbing topics.
Generally, I enjoyed White's writing style, which combines mystery, suspense, romance, character development, and Christian faith elements. I particularly liked the characters. However, I'm not a fan of love triangles, and there is one in this book which detracted from my enjoyment a little. The Christian faith elements were occasional but impactful. Book two in this series was my favourite, but I still really enjoyed this one.
January 21, 2025
I loved getting back into the Tower with the Imposters and friends. Marigold's story was my favourite of all (in A Beautiful Disguise), and Yates was an intriguing character since the very first. However, of the entire series, this one held my interest the least. I think it was the love triangle, which felt forced. It was clear Lavinia and Yates were meant to be, so trying to put Alethia across Yates's path felt forced and unnecessarily added to the plot - or took away from, depending on how you look at it. I just wanted them together asap and was frustrated it took ages (and Marigold's interference as a loving sister most definitely caused the separation to last longer). I loved seeing characters from other RMW books pop up, and now I'm curious where she'll go next.
It's also worth noting this book tackles the heavy subject of abuse and trafficking. While talked about carefully and handled very sensitively, it may not be suitable for some of RMW's audience.
3.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads.
It's also worth noting this book tackles the heavy subject of abuse and trafficking. While talked about carefully and handled very sensitively, it may not be suitable for some of RMW's audience.
3.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads.
February 10, 2025
A great ending to a really good series.
I was so looking forward to Yates story, the brother was my favorite character throughout the entire series and he did not disappoint. Although I would have loved even more of his point of view. I loved the sweet romance and the mystery throughout. The mixture of historical romance and espionage is the perfect *chef's kiss* for me in any book.
*Thank you to Bathany House for a complimentary copy of this book to read. All thoughts are my own.
I was so looking forward to Yates story, the brother was my favorite character throughout the entire series and he did not disappoint. Although I would have loved even more of his point of view. I loved the sweet romance and the mystery throughout. The mixture of historical romance and espionage is the perfect *chef's kiss* for me in any book.
*Thank you to Bathany House for a complimentary copy of this book to read. All thoughts are my own.
December 18, 2024
Utterly satisfying conclusion, and my favorite novel of the series!
When the Imposters are hired by a young woman to find her missing ayah, it is quickly revealed that they have stumbled on something bigger and more sinister than they imagined.
I loved how this book follows multiple characters, running a gambit of emotions, delving into society's dark underside with gravity, with complex characters overcoming trauma, faith, romance, laced with witty banter, and Yate's wry musings. Lavinia is ready to heal, and I admired her bravery and selfless heart putting others before herself, as well as how she reached out in befriending Alethia, recognizing a hearting heart.
An excellent novel from beginning to end, I'm still processing everything, and I can't pick a favorite character because I loved them all! I loved the themes of overcoming the past and forgiving with God's help. And it was great to see another side of Xavier. Well worth the read and an all time favorite of mine from Roseanna M. White!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
When the Imposters are hired by a young woman to find her missing ayah, it is quickly revealed that they have stumbled on something bigger and more sinister than they imagined.
I loved how this book follows multiple characters, running a gambit of emotions, delving into society's dark underside with gravity, with complex characters overcoming trauma, faith, romance, laced with witty banter, and Yate's wry musings. Lavinia is ready to heal, and I admired her bravery and selfless heart putting others before herself, as well as how she reached out in befriending Alethia, recognizing a hearting heart.
An excellent novel from beginning to end, I'm still processing everything, and I can't pick a favorite character because I loved them all! I loved the themes of overcoming the past and forgiving with God's help. And it was great to see another side of Xavier. Well worth the read and an all time favorite of mine from Roseanna M. White!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 10, 2024
Another brilliant historical novel by Roseanna M. White! Though this author has never shied away from the difficult subjects, this one felt a bit heavier than usual, but was still offset by light-hearted characters and witty banter. This is the third book in The Imposters series and though the story would stand alone, I would recommend reading this series in order in order to better understand the character relationship dynamics. The Imposters are a set of elite investigators, well known among the wealthy members of English society. When Alethia Barremore comes to them to find her missing Ayah, Yates is uncertain whether they should take her case. But when Alethia is attacked immediately following their meeting, he knows they have to. When their old family friend, Lavinia Hemming gets involved in the case as well, it complicates the matters of Yates's heart.
Since the beginning of this series, I have been impatiently waiting for Yates's story as he's been my favorite side character in the other 2 books and I've been anxiously awaiting his happily ever after. And I was not disappointed! Though this story showed the lowest dregs of a sinful human heart and therefore felt heavier than the author's other works, she used the heavy subject matter with the most light-hearted of her characters, so that helped with the heaviness. And as Lavinia says, "sheltering us from the world doesn't spare our eyes from seeing the evil - it spares evil from the light that would reveal it.... it's only when we tear down those walls and look at the truth straight on that we can hope to change things". It's important to talk about the ugliness of sin so that the light of Grace can shine through more brightly. And that was what this story did. In addition to the main mystery of figuring out what happened to Alethia's nanny, there was a deeper darker secret needing to be uncovered. At the same time, Yates finds himself drawn to 2 different women and The Imposters team grows more members. The romance in this one felt more like a sub-plot, which suited me just fine. Probably because there were 2 leading ladies, it added some extra oomph to the plot, but kept the actual romance from moving along too quickly. As I learned more about each of the ladies, I found myself rooting for whichever one whose chapter I was reading as the both needed a little Yates in their life. In the end, I was thrilled with the outcome and both women (and Yates) got a happy ending. The other thing I loved about this book was a cross-over in some characters from the author's other books, and it made me so happy to see some "old friends" again. All in all, though this was hard to read in some parts, it was a necessary message and a beautiful story with the best of conclusions. With a solid faith thread, a masterful plot, and a couple of great romances, this is one I would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction. Special thanks to the author and publisher for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
Since the beginning of this series, I have been impatiently waiting for Yates's story as he's been my favorite side character in the other 2 books and I've been anxiously awaiting his happily ever after. And I was not disappointed! Though this story showed the lowest dregs of a sinful human heart and therefore felt heavier than the author's other works, she used the heavy subject matter with the most light-hearted of her characters, so that helped with the heaviness. And as Lavinia says, "sheltering us from the world doesn't spare our eyes from seeing the evil - it spares evil from the light that would reveal it.... it's only when we tear down those walls and look at the truth straight on that we can hope to change things". It's important to talk about the ugliness of sin so that the light of Grace can shine through more brightly. And that was what this story did. In addition to the main mystery of figuring out what happened to Alethia's nanny, there was a deeper darker secret needing to be uncovered. At the same time, Yates finds himself drawn to 2 different women and The Imposters team grows more members. The romance in this one felt more like a sub-plot, which suited me just fine. Probably because there were 2 leading ladies, it added some extra oomph to the plot, but kept the actual romance from moving along too quickly. As I learned more about each of the ladies, I found myself rooting for whichever one whose chapter I was reading as the both needed a little Yates in their life. In the end, I was thrilled with the outcome and both women (and Yates) got a happy ending. The other thing I loved about this book was a cross-over in some characters from the author's other books, and it made me so happy to see some "old friends" again. All in all, though this was hard to read in some parts, it was a necessary message and a beautiful story with the best of conclusions. With a solid faith thread, a masterful plot, and a couple of great romances, this is one I would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction. Special thanks to the author and publisher for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
January 12, 2025
This was, by far, my favorite in the trilogy. I was not only invested in the romance of this story, but the gripping plot and themes of not closing our eyes to evil. This story took turns I wasn’t expecting, but loved every moment of. Highly recommend reading this series, just for this book alone!
October 9, 2024
An Honorable Deception is the third book in The Imposters series. While I would recommend reading the previous books so you will have a better understanding of who The Imposters are and their history, I do believe this could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.
Roseanna M. White has created such an intriguing world in this series. She beautifully weaves history with unique characters and adventure that I cannot help but be drawn into this world each time. This one was no exception--- though admittedly it was a bit of a harder one to read, just because of the subject matter. While I don't want to give too much away, do be aware that this story does deal with human trafficking, though it does so with sensitivity and without explicit detail. Still, that again just made it an emotionally tougher one... but an important story to be told for sure. If you love historical romance that doesn't shy away from the tougher topics, this is absolutely one you'll want to add to you TBR.
**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Roseanna M. White has created such an intriguing world in this series. She beautifully weaves history with unique characters and adventure that I cannot help but be drawn into this world each time. This one was no exception--- though admittedly it was a bit of a harder one to read, just because of the subject matter. While I don't want to give too much away, do be aware that this story does deal with human trafficking, though it does so with sensitivity and without explicit detail. Still, that again just made it an emotionally tougher one... but an important story to be told for sure. If you love historical romance that doesn't shy away from the tougher topics, this is absolutely one you'll want to add to you TBR.
**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2026
I don’t always read full series all in the same year (book budgets and all that), but with The Imposters, it was a necessity because of how much I was loving it. This series has dealt with some heavier topics, but as always, Roseanna skillfully handles it with much grace.
This third book follows Yates, the elder brother of the Imposters, Lavinia, their neighbor and innocent daughter of the antagonist from book one, and Alethia, who has hired the Imposters to find her missing ayah.
The mystery had so many twists and turns here, with someone getting shot early on in the book, and then things going far deeper than I had expected. Even though the subject matter of this one was tough, it was balanced so well with delightful characters whom you know are going to fight with all that is in them for truth and justice. I was especially delighted when some favorite characters from one of Roseanna’s previous series showed up to help out! (When I say delighted, I mean full on squealing and kicking my feet. XD) I won’t say who, but I was just so happy they were there, and it really help bring up the mood knowing that everyone was going to work as a team to bring about justice.
As for the romance, I was so looking forward to finding out who Yates would end up with, as he is such a lovely and kind gentleman, but also funny, and an acrobat who cares for retired circus animals. So, you know, what’s not to like? :) I was surprised to find myself genuinely unsure which of two heroines he was going to end up with. (It’s usually a dead giveaway when one of them has perspective chapters and the other doesn’t, but in this case, both women did.) Yes, this was *technically* a love triangle, but not an annoying one at all, and there was no forced melodrama. It made logical sense why Yates would be unsure of his feelings, and the women had their own personal issues to deal with as well. It helps a lot that Roseanna lets her characters be people and will roll with it when, personality-wise, she realizes they would naturally do something other than what she originally planned. (She explains what her original plans were in her author’s note, and why the characters simply refused to go along with it.) The ultimate conclusion was so satisfying and, again, made sense.
The conclusion to the mystery was so satisfying as well. After facing such evil and wanting to see it destroyed, I loved the way the Imposters decided to confront it, and put some fear of God into some people who very much needed to know that the evil they were doing was going to be brought to light. I won’t spoil how this was done, but good job with that performance, Lavinia. *slow claps of appreciation*
Overall, I adored this book and this series. I will definitely read it again someday, and it makes me want to reread the series that our guest characters came from! (I realized it was the first series I ever read from Roseanna White. The one that made me fall in love with her writing in the first place, so it holds a special place in my heart!)
Content Advisory:
This is adult historical romance. While Roseanna’s works are generally safe for teens who are reading up, parents of historical fiction loving teens may wish to be aware of the heavier topics that this one (tastefully) addresses.
TW for the topics of child abuse, sexual abuse, and prostitution.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
Language:
Only made-up exclamations like, “lion feathers” and “leopard stripes.”
Violence/Scariness:
References to an incident from book one where Lavinia and multiple other people were held at gunpoint by her own mother, as well as reference to the fact that her mother was ultimately shot and killed to protect the people her mother was going to kill otherwise. (Not described.)
Someone gets shot three times early on. The wounds are only barely described with brief mentions of blood and pain, and the person recovers.
The main characters are told that a woman is in a coma after being nearly beaten to death by a male attacker. The main characters never see the woman for any wounds to be described, but they are later told that she has died.
Yates pretends to get in a fight with a friend so he can steal an important item off the person they’re investigating. He ends up crashing into a table.
Yates sees some women with bruises that are implied to have been given to them by men.
We discover well into the book that Alethia’s uncle threatened and physically abused her as a child, and she remembers being bruised from him grabbing her arms. None of the abuse is described, but she does have some described memories of hiding from him in a wardrobe, and she constantly fights memories of the threatening and belittling things he would say to her. (None of which are graphic.)
We learn that a man had some people murdered via shooting, and one person died when their house was set on fire. (None of this is described.) It’s stated as fact that this same man committed suicide after his evil was revealed (not described at all), though there is some question over whether or not a family member may have been enraged enough about the evil to take revenge.
Sexual/Romance:
Yates and Lavinia were childhood friends and attracted to each other since their teens. Mention of a time when they were seventeen and they kissed (barely described) but Lavinia was pressured by her mother to then reject Yates and break his heart. They flirt a lot as adults, including Yates jokingly carrying Lavinia over his shoulder in imitation of a circus act they enjoyed as kids, which he knows will make her laugh. One kiss they share as adults is moderately described, more in emotional terms than physical. Another kiss is more described, but still nothing “below the belt” so to speak.
Yates’s muscles get described a bit sometimes when he’s in his acrobatics clothing that exposes his arms, but it’s not lingered upon excessively.
Two men compete a bit over Alethia. She notes that they tend to jokingly race each other to decide who gets to support her on their arm when she needs to move around. (She’s injured, so she does need help.) The men are friends, so this competition is respectful of each other and never melodramatic.
BIG SPOILERS: During the course of the investigation to figure out where Alethia’s ayah, Samira, disappeared to, the Imposters discover that a supposed charity for women and children is actually a cover for a brothel for rich men. It’s implied that both women AND children (most of them people of color) are being held there. Yates goes inside, pretending to be a new client, in order to find Samira and get her out of there. No sexual activity is seen, but he sees both unmarried and married men there, including a member of the police, with women in dresses hanging off their arms. (He notes that the women’s smiles are forced and a lot of them have bruises on their arms or necks.)
The people running the brothel talk about the women like they’re products instead of people. One person even refers to them as “stock,” and says some of them are a “private reserve” for certain clientele. When Yates does find Samira, he’s put in a room with her and reveals to her that he’s there to help her escape. She reveals in turn that she’s hiding a young girl in the closet, whom the establishment kidnapped off the streets earlier in the day with the intent of prostituting her, too. (They establish that Samira successfully hid her in time to keep her from being touched.) Yates rescues the young girl, but Samira refuses to leave because the man who put her there has been using her to threaten and control Alethia since Alethia was only six, and Samira a mere teenager hired as Alethia’s ayah. The Imposters successfully rescue Samira later, though.
It is revealed over time that it’s Alethia’s uncle who abused Alethia and raped and prostituted Samira. Alethia’s abuse remained physical instead of sexual, ONLY because Samira offered herself in Alethia’s place for years. The threat that he could shift to Alethia was always there. Alethia states that her uncle forced himself on Samira multiple times (Never described at all) and he’s the one who kidnapped Samira and put her in the “private reserve” in the brothel.
We learn that Alethia’s father was aware of his brother’s treatment of Samira and did nothing. (It’s made clear later on that he didn’t know his brother was threatening his daughter and was livid when he found out.) It seemed her mother was also aware that the uncle was having relations with her daughter’s ayah and turned a blind eye because she believed nearly every wealthy English household in India had men keeping Indian mistresses and she thought she couldn’t do anything about it. But she didn’t know he was abusing and threatening her daughter until Samira finally got the courage to tell her later on. After that, the mother intentionally sent Alethia away to boarding school and repeatedly lied to her husband and husband’s brother about Alethia’s whereabouts to protect her from them.
(Note that the Imposters successfully shut the brothel down and, with some theatrics and blackmail, put the fear of God, and the Crown, into the people who were running it.)
Spiritual:
This is Christian fiction, and while it deals with some heavy topics, it does so while staying rooted in faith and the knowledge that we are meant to follow God, and that means showing evil for what it is and putting a stop to it. Many of the characters have a personal relationship with Jesus. Yates, his family, and Lavinia pray multiple times. We learn about Lavinia’s struggle with her faith during her time of illness, but that reading books by fellow believers helped her get through.
Samira, Alethia’s ayah taught her about Jesus’s love by living it out. The reason she was willing to go through hell to protect her young charge was because of the love that Jesus showed her, and she knew that her suffering ultimately had purpose, just like Jesus’s did.
Other:
Passing mentions of drinking and smoking as was accurate to the time.
This third book follows Yates, the elder brother of the Imposters, Lavinia, their neighbor and innocent daughter of the antagonist from book one, and Alethia, who has hired the Imposters to find her missing ayah.
The mystery had so many twists and turns here, with someone getting shot early on in the book, and then things going far deeper than I had expected. Even though the subject matter of this one was tough, it was balanced so well with delightful characters whom you know are going to fight with all that is in them for truth and justice. I was especially delighted when some favorite characters from one of Roseanna’s previous series showed up to help out! (When I say delighted, I mean full on squealing and kicking my feet. XD) I won’t say who, but I was just so happy they were there, and it really help bring up the mood knowing that everyone was going to work as a team to bring about justice.
As for the romance, I was so looking forward to finding out who Yates would end up with, as he is such a lovely and kind gentleman, but also funny, and an acrobat who cares for retired circus animals. So, you know, what’s not to like? :) I was surprised to find myself genuinely unsure which of two heroines he was going to end up with. (It’s usually a dead giveaway when one of them has perspective chapters and the other doesn’t, but in this case, both women did.) Yes, this was *technically* a love triangle, but not an annoying one at all, and there was no forced melodrama. It made logical sense why Yates would be unsure of his feelings, and the women had their own personal issues to deal with as well. It helps a lot that Roseanna lets her characters be people and will roll with it when, personality-wise, she realizes they would naturally do something other than what she originally planned. (She explains what her original plans were in her author’s note, and why the characters simply refused to go along with it.) The ultimate conclusion was so satisfying and, again, made sense.
The conclusion to the mystery was so satisfying as well. After facing such evil and wanting to see it destroyed, I loved the way the Imposters decided to confront it, and put some fear of God into some people who very much needed to know that the evil they were doing was going to be brought to light. I won’t spoil how this was done, but good job with that performance, Lavinia. *slow claps of appreciation*
Overall, I adored this book and this series. I will definitely read it again someday, and it makes me want to reread the series that our guest characters came from! (I realized it was the first series I ever read from Roseanna White. The one that made me fall in love with her writing in the first place, so it holds a special place in my heart!)
Content Advisory:
This is adult historical romance. While Roseanna’s works are generally safe for teens who are reading up, parents of historical fiction loving teens may wish to be aware of the heavier topics that this one (tastefully) addresses.
TW for the topics of child abuse, sexual abuse, and prostitution.
SPOILERS AHEAD.
Language:
Only made-up exclamations like, “lion feathers” and “leopard stripes.”
Violence/Scariness:
References to an incident from book one where Lavinia and multiple other people were held at gunpoint by her own mother, as well as reference to the fact that her mother was ultimately shot and killed to protect the people her mother was going to kill otherwise. (Not described.)
Someone gets shot three times early on. The wounds are only barely described with brief mentions of blood and pain, and the person recovers.
The main characters are told that a woman is in a coma after being nearly beaten to death by a male attacker. The main characters never see the woman for any wounds to be described, but they are later told that she has died.
Yates pretends to get in a fight with a friend so he can steal an important item off the person they’re investigating. He ends up crashing into a table.
Yates sees some women with bruises that are implied to have been given to them by men.
We discover well into the book that Alethia’s uncle threatened and physically abused her as a child, and she remembers being bruised from him grabbing her arms. None of the abuse is described, but she does have some described memories of hiding from him in a wardrobe, and she constantly fights memories of the threatening and belittling things he would say to her. (None of which are graphic.)
We learn that a man had some people murdered via shooting, and one person died when their house was set on fire. (None of this is described.) It’s stated as fact that this same man committed suicide after his evil was revealed (not described at all), though there is some question over whether or not a family member may have been enraged enough about the evil to take revenge.
Sexual/Romance:
Yates and Lavinia were childhood friends and attracted to each other since their teens. Mention of a time when they were seventeen and they kissed (barely described) but Lavinia was pressured by her mother to then reject Yates and break his heart. They flirt a lot as adults, including Yates jokingly carrying Lavinia over his shoulder in imitation of a circus act they enjoyed as kids, which he knows will make her laugh. One kiss they share as adults is moderately described, more in emotional terms than physical. Another kiss is more described, but still nothing “below the belt” so to speak.
Yates’s muscles get described a bit sometimes when he’s in his acrobatics clothing that exposes his arms, but it’s not lingered upon excessively.
Two men compete a bit over Alethia. She notes that they tend to jokingly race each other to decide who gets to support her on their arm when she needs to move around. (She’s injured, so she does need help.) The men are friends, so this competition is respectful of each other and never melodramatic.
BIG SPOILERS: During the course of the investigation to figure out where Alethia’s ayah, Samira, disappeared to, the Imposters discover that a supposed charity for women and children is actually a cover for a brothel for rich men. It’s implied that both women AND children (most of them people of color) are being held there. Yates goes inside, pretending to be a new client, in order to find Samira and get her out of there. No sexual activity is seen, but he sees both unmarried and married men there, including a member of the police, with women in dresses hanging off their arms. (He notes that the women’s smiles are forced and a lot of them have bruises on their arms or necks.)
The people running the brothel talk about the women like they’re products instead of people. One person even refers to them as “stock,” and says some of them are a “private reserve” for certain clientele. When Yates does find Samira, he’s put in a room with her and reveals to her that he’s there to help her escape. She reveals in turn that she’s hiding a young girl in the closet, whom the establishment kidnapped off the streets earlier in the day with the intent of prostituting her, too. (They establish that Samira successfully hid her in time to keep her from being touched.) Yates rescues the young girl, but Samira refuses to leave because the man who put her there has been using her to threaten and control Alethia since Alethia was only six, and Samira a mere teenager hired as Alethia’s ayah. The Imposters successfully rescue Samira later, though.
It is revealed over time that it’s Alethia’s uncle who abused Alethia and raped and prostituted Samira. Alethia’s abuse remained physical instead of sexual, ONLY because Samira offered herself in Alethia’s place for years. The threat that he could shift to Alethia was always there. Alethia states that her uncle forced himself on Samira multiple times (Never described at all) and he’s the one who kidnapped Samira and put her in the “private reserve” in the brothel.
We learn that Alethia’s father was aware of his brother’s treatment of Samira and did nothing. (It’s made clear later on that he didn’t know his brother was threatening his daughter and was livid when he found out.) It seemed her mother was also aware that the uncle was having relations with her daughter’s ayah and turned a blind eye because she believed nearly every wealthy English household in India had men keeping Indian mistresses and she thought she couldn’t do anything about it. But she didn’t know he was abusing and threatening her daughter until Samira finally got the courage to tell her later on. After that, the mother intentionally sent Alethia away to boarding school and repeatedly lied to her husband and husband’s brother about Alethia’s whereabouts to protect her from them.
(Note that the Imposters successfully shut the brothel down and, with some theatrics and blackmail, put the fear of God, and the Crown, into the people who were running it.)
Spiritual:
This is Christian fiction, and while it deals with some heavy topics, it does so while staying rooted in faith and the knowledge that we are meant to follow God, and that means showing evil for what it is and putting a stop to it. Many of the characters have a personal relationship with Jesus. Yates, his family, and Lavinia pray multiple times. We learn about Lavinia’s struggle with her faith during her time of illness, but that reading books by fellow believers helped her get through.
Samira, Alethia’s ayah taught her about Jesus’s love by living it out. The reason she was willing to go through hell to protect her young charge was because of the love that Jesus showed her, and she knew that her suffering ultimately had purpose, just like Jesus’s did.
Other:
Passing mentions of drinking and smoking as was accurate to the time.
November 25, 2024
Roseanna White has raised the bar with the final addition to the Imposters series. I think the series started out strong and just kept getting better and better.
Ms. White's skillful pen spun a story that brought new clients to the doorstep of the Imposters. With an ever-growing circle of family and friends to work the case, the Imposters find a web of dangerous secrets that threaten to topple the leading members of London society. As they find themselves drawn into London's underworld, the Imposters seek justice, hoping to provide light to some of the most vulnerable members of society. With a host of circus tricks up their sleeves, the Imposters fabricate one of the most creative unveilings that will hold readers captive to the very last page.
While I was enthralled by their exploits in seeking justice, I was most drawn by the theme of finding one's value, seeking to be worthy. Ms. White continues to pen fictional families that I would love to meet. With a romantic triangle that kept me guessing, I found it was not what I had predicted in the earlier books in the series. I think that can be attributed to the author's skill in creating multi-layered characters that continue to surprise the reader. Looking forward to discover what her pen has in store in future books.
Ms. White's skillful pen spun a story that brought new clients to the doorstep of the Imposters. With an ever-growing circle of family and friends to work the case, the Imposters find a web of dangerous secrets that threaten to topple the leading members of London society. As they find themselves drawn into London's underworld, the Imposters seek justice, hoping to provide light to some of the most vulnerable members of society. With a host of circus tricks up their sleeves, the Imposters fabricate one of the most creative unveilings that will hold readers captive to the very last page.
While I was enthralled by their exploits in seeking justice, I was most drawn by the theme of finding one's value, seeking to be worthy. Ms. White continues to pen fictional families that I would love to meet. With a romantic triangle that kept me guessing, I found it was not what I had predicted in the earlier books in the series. I think that can be attributed to the author's skill in creating multi-layered characters that continue to surprise the reader. Looking forward to discover what her pen has in store in future books.
January 22, 2025
This book concludes the Imposters trilogy, wrapping it up with Yates' story. I enjoyed all of the main characters, but it was nice to return to another book featuring Yates. He just has an endearing and lively personality that will capture anyone's heart. The financial circumstances facing Marigold and Yates Fairfax upon the death of their father led them to form this unique group of investigators. The storyline drawing the service of the Imposters in this book was rather dark, making it difficult for me to read at times. Nevertheless, Roseanna did a good job of tying up lose ends in the main characters storylines. I am sorry to see this series come to an end.
December 15, 2024
"...𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡...𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙩. 𝙄𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨. 𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨."
I'm so sad that this beloved series has come to an end, but it couldn't have ended any more perfect. 🩷
I couldn't put this one down, never stopped thinking about it, held tears back the entire time, was moved by it probably 100 times...it takes a lot for a book to mess me up emotionally like this. 😅 I think it was because I related to soooo much in it, it almost hurt. Lavinia fought a lot through life, feeling like 6 years of her life were wasted and she couldn't even find her place in life, and I understand that.
This is a love triangle trope that I wasn't expecting, so for most of the book, I was pretty stumped who was going to end up with who. 😅 But for once, it didn't even bother me, it was done so well and I adored every single one of these characters. I wanted Lavinia and Alethia both to find true happiness, love, and life so much, it made the romance even sweeter. 🩷
I could talk about this book for hours, it meant so much to me, so I hope I've convinced you to read this wonderful series! You won't regret it. 🥰
❕This was a very clean romance, but there was talk throughout it of brothels and women being taken against their will. No details or open doors, just mentions due to the story.
*I received an e-ARC copy, all opinions are my own
✨"...𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡."✨
I'm so sad that this beloved series has come to an end, but it couldn't have ended any more perfect. 🩷
I couldn't put this one down, never stopped thinking about it, held tears back the entire time, was moved by it probably 100 times...it takes a lot for a book to mess me up emotionally like this. 😅 I think it was because I related to soooo much in it, it almost hurt. Lavinia fought a lot through life, feeling like 6 years of her life were wasted and she couldn't even find her place in life, and I understand that.
This is a love triangle trope that I wasn't expecting, so for most of the book, I was pretty stumped who was going to end up with who. 😅 But for once, it didn't even bother me, it was done so well and I adored every single one of these characters. I wanted Lavinia and Alethia both to find true happiness, love, and life so much, it made the romance even sweeter. 🩷
I could talk about this book for hours, it meant so much to me, so I hope I've convinced you to read this wonderful series! You won't regret it. 🥰
❕This was a very clean romance, but there was talk throughout it of brothels and women being taken against their will. No details or open doors, just mentions due to the story.
*I received an e-ARC copy, all opinions are my own
✨"...𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡."✨
November 17, 2024
The author dealt with a very difficult and sensitive subject in a world where women and children had little rights in a way true to the history.
Though this book was heavier due to the subject, Yates with his charming teasing personality brought a bit of light to the story.
I loved that Lavinia was one of the main female characters and how readers could see her inner strength and fighting spirit from her past struggles.
I really enjoyed the paths crossed between two of the author’s fiction world and the promise of a partnership for hopeful future stories.
Everyone got their happy ending in a way which will leave readers with a satisfied sigh and smile.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
Though this book was heavier due to the subject, Yates with his charming teasing personality brought a bit of light to the story.
I loved that Lavinia was one of the main female characters and how readers could see her inner strength and fighting spirit from her past struggles.
I really enjoyed the paths crossed between two of the author’s fiction world and the promise of a partnership for hopeful future stories.
Everyone got their happy ending in a way which will leave readers with a satisfied sigh and smile.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
February 13, 2025
This one was really good. My favorite in the series, and I love how things turned out (especially after reading the author’s note and realizing it might not have ;) I’ll miss these characters and their antics!
December 3, 2024
"We all let fears, even borrowed fears, hold us back from time to time. But that doesn't mean we can't break free."
Roseanna M White always saves the best characters for the final book of her series. Don't get me wrong - I loved Marigold and Merritt and Graham and Gemma from previous books in this series. But I adored, adored Yates and Lavinia. And who'll argue with me - were Barclay and Evelina from Shadows Over England, Zivon and Lily from The Codebreakers, and Bram and Emily from The Secrets of the Isles not the best characters from those series? I had high hopes going into this third book of The Imposters and it delightfully exceeded my expectations.
There was more romance in this one - Yates and Lavinia have a bit of a past though it was a long time ago. Merritt's friend Xavier and another eligible young lady muddy up the waters a bit so I was never sure where the love story was going until more than halfway through the book. The amazing banter, puzzling intrigue, and faith lessons that the author is known for provide the backbone of the story while uniquely beautiful and memorable characters provide the frosting on the delicious cake of a tale. There are some sensitive topics involving social dichotomy and trafficking in Edwardian England; the author approaches these issues with care and sense of justice. Yates, Lavinia, and Alethia reminded me of the phoenix - rising from the ashes of destruction and others' transgression to shed light and beauty to the world around them. And there are plenty of cameo appearances that will thrill the author's long-time fans!
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House via JustRead Tours through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
Roseanna M White always saves the best characters for the final book of her series. Don't get me wrong - I loved Marigold and Merritt and Graham and Gemma from previous books in this series. But I adored, adored Yates and Lavinia. And who'll argue with me - were Barclay and Evelina from Shadows Over England, Zivon and Lily from The Codebreakers, and Bram and Emily from The Secrets of the Isles not the best characters from those series? I had high hopes going into this third book of The Imposters and it delightfully exceeded my expectations.
There was more romance in this one - Yates and Lavinia have a bit of a past though it was a long time ago. Merritt's friend Xavier and another eligible young lady muddy up the waters a bit so I was never sure where the love story was going until more than halfway through the book. The amazing banter, puzzling intrigue, and faith lessons that the author is known for provide the backbone of the story while uniquely beautiful and memorable characters provide the frosting on the delicious cake of a tale. There are some sensitive topics involving social dichotomy and trafficking in Edwardian England; the author approaches these issues with care and sense of justice. Yates, Lavinia, and Alethia reminded me of the phoenix - rising from the ashes of destruction and others' transgression to shed light and beauty to the world around them. And there are plenty of cameo appearances that will thrill the author's long-time fans!
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House via JustRead Tours through NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
March 1, 2025
I have so many thoughts and feelings about this book, it's difficult to know where to begin. Since reading A Beautiful Disguise (the first book in The Imposters series), I knew that I wanted to read Yates' story, so I was so excited when my husband got me a copy for my birthday.
• When I initially read the blurb last year, I was worried it would be a love triangle, a trope that I am not a fan of. Though there is an element of thid, it's also resolved in a timely manner rather than dragging on.
• The depth to which we get to know Yates as a character is brilliant, especially building on what was shared in the first two books.
• I related greatly to the character of Lavinia regarding her health struggles and beginning her journey of strengthening her body, it is a position that I am in myself. I loved that we got to learn more of Lavinia's story and character.
• As with her other novels, the author does a wonderful job of threading the gospel throughout the story with hope, love and grace.
• Similar to the previous book in this series (A Noble Scheme) I wish that the book came with a note at the beginning to explain there were some difficult themes.
• This book focuses on two very difficult subjects: forced prostitution and child abuse. Initially, I struggled to accept that these were heavy themes in the book as it felt much darker than the two previous books in the serious. However, the author approached it with a sense of justice, and her notes at the end helped me to understand the importance of not turning a blind eye to the difficulties of the world just because they make us uncomfortable.
"Closing our eyes to evil, protecting ourselves from even the knowledge of it, doesn't mean it isn't there. It just means it can operate freely. Because only when we see it and shine the light of God upon it can we change it."
- Author's Note, An Honorable Deception, Roseanna M. White -
• When I initially read the blurb last year, I was worried it would be a love triangle, a trope that I am not a fan of. Though there is an element of thid, it's also resolved in a timely manner rather than dragging on.
• The depth to which we get to know Yates as a character is brilliant, especially building on what was shared in the first two books.
• I related greatly to the character of Lavinia regarding her health struggles and beginning her journey of strengthening her body, it is a position that I am in myself. I loved that we got to learn more of Lavinia's story and character.
• As with her other novels, the author does a wonderful job of threading the gospel throughout the story with hope, love and grace.
• Similar to the previous book in this series (A Noble Scheme) I wish that the book came with a note at the beginning to explain there were some difficult themes.
• This book focuses on two very difficult subjects: forced prostitution and child abuse. Initially, I struggled to accept that these were heavy themes in the book as it felt much darker than the two previous books in the serious. However, the author approached it with a sense of justice, and her notes at the end helped me to understand the importance of not turning a blind eye to the difficulties of the world just because they make us uncomfortable.
"Closing our eyes to evil, protecting ourselves from even the knowledge of it, doesn't mean it isn't there. It just means it can operate freely. Because only when we see it and shine the light of God upon it can we change it."
- Author's Note, An Honorable Deception, Roseanna M. White -
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2025
An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White is not the typical historical romance set in England. With a brilliantly concocted cast of characters and the peculiarity of circus animals on an ancestral estate, the novel held a unique and fresh feel. The fierce determination of the characters made the story’s events move steadily forward and prevented the plot from slowing as it tackled heavy topics (prolonged illness, parental neglect, sexual assault, etc). I appreciated the character development and the spiritual growth of the main characters.
When I realized that An Honorable Deception included a love triangle, I questioned if I would enjoy the novel. In a rare move, I flipped to the back of the book to see which woman Yates ended up with. Happily, it was the one I preferred for him. I continued reading and found that the love triangle was relatively mild as it lacked nastiness and true heartbreak.
An Honorable Deception concludes The Imposters series by Roseanna M. White. I recommend reading the series in order as it includes characters from the previous novels. Recommended for fans of historical fiction who enjoy stories with suspense, depth, and romance.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
When I realized that An Honorable Deception included a love triangle, I questioned if I would enjoy the novel. In a rare move, I flipped to the back of the book to see which woman Yates ended up with. Happily, it was the one I preferred for him. I continued reading and found that the love triangle was relatively mild as it lacked nastiness and true heartbreak.
An Honorable Deception concludes The Imposters series by Roseanna M. White. I recommend reading the series in order as it includes characters from the previous novels. Recommended for fans of historical fiction who enjoy stories with suspense, depth, and romance.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
July 20, 2025
Hold the freaking phone babes!
This book was so amazing. I cried a few tears of joy. And by the way, THAT NEVER HAPPENS! I’ve only cried over a book once, almost two years ago and I’ve read more intense books since then. And I also just never cry out of happiness… until now.
The love triangle had me so stressed out from the very beginning. I was rooting for one of the girls from the start and I was almost convinced that she wouldn’t end up with Yates.
HA! FOOLISH PAST SELF!
SHE DID!
AND IT WAS SO PERFECT!!!!!!!
And of course I LOVED seeing AND hearing about characters from Shadows Over England, Ladies of the Manor, and Codebreakers. It’s always so good to see characters that I love and adore again. (*cough* especially Barclay *cough cough*)
I love how there is so much healing in this book. And the chemistry between Yates and the girl he ends up with is INSANE!!! Good chemistry in books is like serving me gold on a silver platter.
And of course, the tension is always unmatched. RMW’s books know how keep me on my toes!!!
FIVE STARS
GO READ
OR YOU’LL REGRET IT FOR YOUR LIFE
AND I RECOMMEND READING LADIES OF THE MANOR, SHADOWS OVER ENGLAND, AND CODEBREAKERS AFTER OR BEFORE YOU READ THIS TRILOGY
ROSEANNA M WHITE IS GENIUS AND HER WRITING NEVER GETS OLD!!!!
This book was so amazing. I cried a few tears of joy. And by the way, THAT NEVER HAPPENS! I’ve only cried over a book once, almost two years ago and I’ve read more intense books since then. And I also just never cry out of happiness… until now.
The love triangle had me so stressed out from the very beginning. I was rooting for one of the girls from the start and I was almost convinced that she wouldn’t end up with Yates.
HA! FOOLISH PAST SELF!
SHE DID!
AND IT WAS SO PERFECT!!!!!!!
And of course I LOVED seeing AND hearing about characters from Shadows Over England, Ladies of the Manor, and Codebreakers. It’s always so good to see characters that I love and adore again. (*cough* especially Barclay *cough cough*)
I love how there is so much healing in this book. And the chemistry between Yates and the girl he ends up with is INSANE!!! Good chemistry in books is like serving me gold on a silver platter.
And of course, the tension is always unmatched. RMW’s books know how keep me on my toes!!!
FIVE STARS
GO READ
OR YOU’LL REGRET IT FOR YOUR LIFE
AND I RECOMMEND READING LADIES OF THE MANOR, SHADOWS OVER ENGLAND, AND CODEBREAKERS AFTER OR BEFORE YOU READ THIS TRILOGY
ROSEANNA M WHITE IS GENIUS AND HER WRITING NEVER GETS OLD!!!!
January 3, 2025
Love the final installment in the Imposter's series. The characters are so loveable and brought to life, they feel like my friends and I'm sad their stories are complete.
While there were some dark themes in the book, Roseanna writes and does them so amazingly. This was one I highly recommend and gave me the best book hangover.
While there were some dark themes in the book, Roseanna writes and does them so amazingly. This was one I highly recommend and gave me the best book hangover.
November 13, 2024
I really loved this book. This is the last in The Imposters series and I think it is my favorite. I loved how there were two women vying for the heart of the male main character. And both were worthy contenders but I knew which one I was pulling for and happily mine won the guy. Yates was the guy and what a guy he was. He was witty and strong and an all around lovable guy.
The entire book pointed the characters and the reader to God.
A favorite quote:
“She speaks of the ‘little way.’ Of dedicating each moment, each pain, each everything to God. Relying on Him. Trusting Him in it and through it and for it, seeking what He would teach us and drawing closer to Christ through the suffering,”
Highly recommend! A brilliant book!
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.
The entire book pointed the characters and the reader to God.
A favorite quote:
“She speaks of the ‘little way.’ Of dedicating each moment, each pain, each everything to God. Relying on Him. Trusting Him in it and through it and for it, seeking what He would teach us and drawing closer to Christ through the suffering,”
Highly recommend! A brilliant book!
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.
November 4, 2025
Aww
The favorite of the series or one of them haha
Triggers:
Brothel/prostitution
Abuse
The favorite of the series or one of them haha
Triggers:
Brothel/prostitution
Abuse
December 14, 2024
An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White is the third and final book in The Imposters series. The characters in this story have many secrets from each other, making it intriguing. There are so many great characters in both this book and the series as a whole.
Set in England in 1910, the story revolves around private investigators known as The Imposters. It’s exciting to finally get the full story of Lord Yates Fairfax. He finds himself in a love triangle with two women, Lady Lavinia Hemming and Lady Alethia Barremore. I enjoyed reading from the perspectives of all three of them. Although I figured out who Yates would choose, it was still a captivating journey to see how it all unfolded.
The plot is original, intricate, and keeps you guessing from the first page to the last. What starts as a missing person investigation grows into a much larger and darker problem. This book addresses serious issues like human trafficking and different forms of abuse, but White approaches these topics with care and sensitivity.
Overall, this Christian Historical Romance is excellent, featuring a compelling friends-to-lovers storyline filled with suspense and a mystery that tackles tough subjects. An Honorable Deception serves as a captivating ending to a distinctive series rich in faith, trust, charm, and love.
Set in England in 1910, the story revolves around private investigators known as The Imposters. It’s exciting to finally get the full story of Lord Yates Fairfax. He finds himself in a love triangle with two women, Lady Lavinia Hemming and Lady Alethia Barremore. I enjoyed reading from the perspectives of all three of them. Although I figured out who Yates would choose, it was still a captivating journey to see how it all unfolded.
The plot is original, intricate, and keeps you guessing from the first page to the last. What starts as a missing person investigation grows into a much larger and darker problem. This book addresses serious issues like human trafficking and different forms of abuse, but White approaches these topics with care and sensitivity.
Overall, this Christian Historical Romance is excellent, featuring a compelling friends-to-lovers storyline filled with suspense and a mystery that tackles tough subjects. An Honorable Deception serves as a captivating ending to a distinctive series rich in faith, trust, charm, and love.
October 20, 2024
Excellent! The talented pen of author Roseanna M White drew me into this completely captivating story of dangerous secrets and new clients, with the Imposters run by Yates (Lord Yates Fairfax), his sister Lady Marigold Fairfax Livingstone, her husband Sir Merritt Livingstone, and Gemma & Graham Wharton. I loved every minute of it!
What a fantastic end of the series, I could not put it down. An Honorable Deception has a compelling mix of historical fiction, danger, mystery, (loved the research that led to more clues), women and children in terrible situations, people with a heart to help, good friends, humor, romance, and depth. I enjoyed seeing the circus friends who have been with the Fairfax family since the beginning. I loved the plot twist with bringing in key characters from a different series in such a perfect way!
Yates meets with their newest client, Lady Alethia Barremore, who is shot while leaving their meeting. He wisks Lady Alethia to his country estate where Lady Lavinia Hemming is keeping his sister Marigold company. It was fun to have two women leads (Lady Alethia & Lady Lavinia), who have many similarities, and to watch their journeys unfold, to watch them find their path and purpose. Yates is such a handsome and loveable character and it was great to see his character growth.
I highly recommend binge reading this entire Imposters series in order, you will not be able to put them down! Each story has mystery, danger, and good friends who help each other overcome past hurts and find healing in placing their trust in God.
What a fantastic end of the series, I could not put it down. An Honorable Deception has a compelling mix of historical fiction, danger, mystery, (loved the research that led to more clues), women and children in terrible situations, people with a heart to help, good friends, humor, romance, and depth. I enjoyed seeing the circus friends who have been with the Fairfax family since the beginning. I loved the plot twist with bringing in key characters from a different series in such a perfect way!
Yates meets with their newest client, Lady Alethia Barremore, who is shot while leaving their meeting. He wisks Lady Alethia to his country estate where Lady Lavinia Hemming is keeping his sister Marigold company. It was fun to have two women leads (Lady Alethia & Lady Lavinia), who have many similarities, and to watch their journeys unfold, to watch them find their path and purpose. Yates is such a handsome and loveable character and it was great to see his character growth.
I highly recommend binge reading this entire Imposters series in order, you will not be able to put them down! Each story has mystery, danger, and good friends who help each other overcome past hurts and find healing in placing their trust in God.
December 17, 2024
4.5 stars
Y’all!!!!!!!!! YATES’ STORY IS HERE!!!!! I have been dyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiiing for Yates’ story ever since he charmed his way into my heart in the first book with his humor, kindness, brains and, yes, brawn. Speaking of the latter… I also confess to drooling over him more than a little bit as he practices his gymnast skills throughout the whole series but especially in An Honorable Deception. Whew! Keep a fan handy, dear readers. Or just read his training scenes from the comfort of your freezer. In defense of my blatant shallowness, he’s part ‘incorrigible flirt’ (like Becky Wade’s Ty Porter or Carla Laureano’s James MacDonald), part ‘tortured showman with untapped depths’ (like Joanne Bischof’s Charlie Lionheart), and part The Scarlet Pimpernel… so can you blame me for being besotted? Roseanna M. White has been building our infatuation for Yates since book one, and she’s done a marvelous job of creating the kind of hero with whom we all fall helplessly in love.
Okay, on to more noble discussions (if we must). An Honorable Deception is more than just a swoony romance with intrigue. The Imposters’ latest investigation also shines a spotlight on an evil that is unfortunately both timeless and timely, and the author does so with sensitivity and grace – and multidimensional characters who touched my heart. Never mind that this story is set in Edwardian England; the vile behavior of society’s upper crust men toward marginalized women on these pages is as current as tomorrow morning’s headlines, abhorrently so. Enter The Imposters who are not only brilliant investigators but bighearted rescuers too. While there are moments in this book that will break your heart, to be sure, there are many more that will have you standing and applauding and cheering for light to triumph over darkness.
You will also discover that, while An Honorable Deception deals with some sobering topics, it is not a heavy read. On the contrary, I frequently chuckled over the delightful banter between Yates and Lavinia (whose character just blossomed in this book – and I loved it) or grinned like a smitten fool over some delicious kissing scenes (maybe between Yates & Alethia, maybe between Yates & Lavinia, you’ll have to read to find out for sure). I also clapped giddily at the appearance of characters from one of White’s previous series and the nod to another one, my fangirl heart turning all warm and glowy at the unexpected visit with those dear fictional friends. Needless to say, even as we wrestle with the fallout of grievous sin and its victims, the joys in this story hold fast.
Bottom Line: An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White treats readers to warmly-layered characters whose stories evoke a wide range of emotions. Intrigue, suspense, humor, faith, and a handful of hard-fought happily-ever-afters blend together seamlessly to keep your attention riveted and your engagement high… and I appreciated every minute of the roller coaster White took me on during this novel. Having Yates as the hero was well worth the wait (whew. still fanning. have mercy), and seeing him deeply loved at last – for all that he is – made me immensely happy. This might be my favorite series of White’s to date, though a full and thorough re-read of the others is needed to be sure (oh the sacrifices I make for accuracy), but I need no further research to say this: Put The Imposters – and An Honorable Deception – on your must-read list without delay!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Y’all!!!!!!!!! YATES’ STORY IS HERE!!!!! I have been dyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiiing for Yates’ story ever since he charmed his way into my heart in the first book with his humor, kindness, brains and, yes, brawn. Speaking of the latter… I also confess to drooling over him more than a little bit as he practices his gymnast skills throughout the whole series but especially in An Honorable Deception. Whew! Keep a fan handy, dear readers. Or just read his training scenes from the comfort of your freezer. In defense of my blatant shallowness, he’s part ‘incorrigible flirt’ (like Becky Wade’s Ty Porter or Carla Laureano’s James MacDonald), part ‘tortured showman with untapped depths’ (like Joanne Bischof’s Charlie Lionheart), and part The Scarlet Pimpernel… so can you blame me for being besotted? Roseanna M. White has been building our infatuation for Yates since book one, and she’s done a marvelous job of creating the kind of hero with whom we all fall helplessly in love.
Okay, on to more noble discussions (if we must). An Honorable Deception is more than just a swoony romance with intrigue. The Imposters’ latest investigation also shines a spotlight on an evil that is unfortunately both timeless and timely, and the author does so with sensitivity and grace – and multidimensional characters who touched my heart. Never mind that this story is set in Edwardian England; the vile behavior of society’s upper crust men toward marginalized women on these pages is as current as tomorrow morning’s headlines, abhorrently so. Enter The Imposters who are not only brilliant investigators but bighearted rescuers too. While there are moments in this book that will break your heart, to be sure, there are many more that will have you standing and applauding and cheering for light to triumph over darkness.
You will also discover that, while An Honorable Deception deals with some sobering topics, it is not a heavy read. On the contrary, I frequently chuckled over the delightful banter between Yates and Lavinia (whose character just blossomed in this book – and I loved it) or grinned like a smitten fool over some delicious kissing scenes (maybe between Yates & Alethia, maybe between Yates & Lavinia, you’ll have to read to find out for sure). I also clapped giddily at the appearance of characters from one of White’s previous series and the nod to another one, my fangirl heart turning all warm and glowy at the unexpected visit with those dear fictional friends. Needless to say, even as we wrestle with the fallout of grievous sin and its victims, the joys in this story hold fast.
Bottom Line: An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White treats readers to warmly-layered characters whose stories evoke a wide range of emotions. Intrigue, suspense, humor, faith, and a handful of hard-fought happily-ever-afters blend together seamlessly to keep your attention riveted and your engagement high… and I appreciated every minute of the roller coaster White took me on during this novel. Having Yates as the hero was well worth the wait (whew. still fanning. have mercy), and seeing him deeply loved at last – for all that he is – made me immensely happy. This might be my favorite series of White’s to date, though a full and thorough re-read of the others is needed to be sure (oh the sacrifices I make for accuracy), but I need no further research to say this: Put The Imposters – and An Honorable Deception – on your must-read list without delay!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
November 6, 2024
Yates! I was so happy that Yates got his own story. I’ve loved him in the previous two books. He’s such a witty, intelligent, strong, caring man. Lavinia, is still fighting to overcome things that happened in previous books. I loved watching her relationship with God grow. The banter and flirting between Yates and Lavina was spectacular.
Lady Alethia has a hard past. Seeing her trust her new friends and lean into God was touching. I loved all the faith elements in this story, the reminders of trusting God, relying on Him, and drawing closer to Him were beautiful.
I enjoyed having all the Imposters and Xavier back. I smiled SO BIG when a certain character from other book series showed up! So much fun!! And then another in the Epilogue. 😍
Favorite quote: “Whoever made you think you’re not worth it— they’re wrong. So very wrong. And you let them win when you keep thinking those thoughts. You are precious, Lavinia. And you are needed. By all of us. You must not take any unnecessary risks. Your life matters.”
This ARC was provided through NetGalley by the author and publisher. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.
Lady Alethia has a hard past. Seeing her trust her new friends and lean into God was touching. I loved all the faith elements in this story, the reminders of trusting God, relying on Him, and drawing closer to Him were beautiful.
I enjoyed having all the Imposters and Xavier back. I smiled SO BIG when a certain character from other book series showed up! So much fun!! And then another in the Epilogue. 😍
Favorite quote: “Whoever made you think you’re not worth it— they’re wrong. So very wrong. And you let them win when you keep thinking those thoughts. You are precious, Lavinia. And you are needed. By all of us. You must not take any unnecessary risks. Your life matters.”
This ARC was provided through NetGalley by the author and publisher. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.
November 25, 2024
If you know anything about me, you know that I absolutely despise love triangles. Imagine my surprise then, to discover that I was reading about one and actually not hating it. Actually, I was loving it. I think the difference is that I could see Yates ending up with either lady, and would have been happy with it. Now don't get me wrong; it ended exactly as it should have. But I wouldn't have been mad either way, though I did get mildly stressed about things.
This is a book with HARD topics. This is one where I found myself fervently praying for the characters. Humans do ugly things sometimes, you know? Thankfully, there is always hope.
This one had a slower start, but it was a wonderful book. And I highly recommend reading the author's note. Maybe that's why that love triangle would have been fine either way.
~I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
This is a book with HARD topics. This is one where I found myself fervently praying for the characters. Humans do ugly things sometimes, you know? Thankfully, there is always hope.
This one had a slower start, but it was a wonderful book. And I highly recommend reading the author's note. Maybe that's why that love triangle would have been fine either way.
~I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~
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