An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E. Ladd | Review

I couldn’t put An Unconventional Lady one down, folks! This was my first Sarah E. Ladd book and I can’t wait to read more from her. Just fantastic.

Check out the back cover followed by my review.

Back Cover

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 than 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 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.
 

My Review

An Unconventional Lady’s story line was so original, so fascinating, and it had me on the edge of my seat. I really loved Sarah’s descriptions, bringing the regency era alive as well as her fantastic characters. A swoony hero from a blemished family, and a strong heroine branded by her mother’s reputation … and their chemistry on the page was *chefs kiss* spot on.

Mystery, suspense, secrets, historical setting, romance, adventure, and tension you just don’t know if the characters are ever going to get out of the dilemmas they face … I truly couldn’t put this novel down.

While this novel is categorized as Christian Fiction, no obvious faith thread jumped out to me. But it was clean (kisses only) and a novel I’d recommend for my own teenage niece.

Preorder your copy from amazon.ca, amazon.com, bakerbookhouse.com (there’s a preorder sale with Baker Book House currently as I post this), among other retailers. An Unconventional Lady by Sarah E. Ladd released February 10th, 2026.

5 glowing stars from me!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for my copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the Author

Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance.

You can learn more about Sarah and her books on her website: sarahladd.com.