An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E. Ladd

An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E. Ladd

One woman works to expose a scientific fraud while also finding love in the latest sweet Regency romance by Sarah Ladd. Perfect for fans of Julie Klassen, An Unconventional Lady delivers what Publishers Weekly calls Ladd’s “pitch-perfect blend of suspense and sweetness” (The Cloverton Charade).

Cover image of Sarah E. Ladd's An Unconventional Lady

She faces the worst ultimatum possible for a woman–marry a man she detests or lose the future she’s always imagined.

Charming and headstrong, Ella Wilde always knew she was different from other women. Thanks to her unorthodox upbringing as the daughter of Keatley Hall School for Young Men’s headmaster, Ella has long dreamed of opening a school for girls that would meet the needs of inquisitive, brilliant, unconventional young women just like her–girls who longed for the education exclusively reserved for boys. But there’s just one catch: Unless she marries before her father dies, Keatley Hall will pass into the hands of a distant cousin. In that case, Ella will be left destitute, and at this point her only option appears to be an undesirable marriage.

Ella’s family had long been proponents of phrenology, the belief that an individual’s personality and dispositions were predetermined by the shape of their head. Shortly before her death, however, Ella’s mother’s views on phrenology changed, and she endeavored to expose phrenology as nothing more than a fraudulent parlor trick. Consequently, she earned the wrath of the phrenologist community, who called her “unstable,” “bizarre,” even “dangerous”–and branded her daughter the same.

Now, renowned phrenologist Thomas Bauer is about to arrive at Keatley Hall to speak at the Natural Philosophers’ Society gathering, and Ella embraces the opportunity to clear her mother’s name–and her own–once and for all. And her partner in crime? None other than her childhood friend Gabriel Rowe, who’s grown into an ambitious, handsome London solicitor.

Gabriel has his own scores to settle, and when he learns that Thomas Bauer is visiting Keatley Hall, he jumps at the chance to prove himself and right past wrongs. As he is drawn deeper into the unusual happenings, it’s clear that he and Ella must work together if they want to unmask the truth. Over time, Gabriel’s attraction to Ella’s beauty and wit becomes impossible to ignore, and as the lines between professionalism and passion blur, they both must decide what they’re willing to risk for happiness.

An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E. Ladd is a beautifully written story. It’s a low spice regency era novel. There is enough mystery to keep you focused on what is going on. You are trying to figure out the mystery right along with the characters. I found myself going “ohhhhh” when certain things were revealed. It was a fun book to read. I don’t think of this book as a quick read. You really want to pay attention to what is going on and who the different characters are in the story. It is definitely a meatier read for the historical genre. But I feel like most of Sarah’s books are like that. She puts a lot of information and background to the places and characters. It really helps you to fully be immersed into the world of the story.

It was an engaging read from beginning to end. If you enjoy historical fiction then I think you will like this book. It has all your favorite elements. A little romance, some mystery and a strong female character that questions the norms of her era.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

You can purchase a copy of An Unconventional Lady wherever books are sold.

You can read my review of Digital Detox Devotions here.

You can read my last Sarah E. Ladd review here.