An Unconventional Lady - Book Review

Phrenology probably isn't a word you hear everyday. It was a scientific practice where people would read their patients' beliefs, personalities, and faults based on their head bumps. (Weird, right?) But in the Regency era, it was accepted as factual.

Sarah E. Ladd's newest novel, An Unconventional Lady, is a Regency romance that exposes this unusual practice and points out the fallacies. If you enjoyed Ladd's The Cloverton Charade, you will love An Unconventional Lady.

Plot Summary

When renowned phrenologist Thomas Bauer comes to lecture at the annual conference hosted by her father's school, Ella Wilde is subjected to old memories surrounding her mother's mysterious death and actions. Skeptical of the speaker's credibility, she agrees to sneak her old friend Gabriel Rowe in so he can conduct his investigation of Bauer. But she isn't prepared for the boy she knew to be the handsome, determined solicitor he is now.

Gabriel at first acts out of interest for his client, but he soon digs deeper so he can help his old friend. As he probes into Bauer's claims and life, he finds more questions than answers. Can he discover what is really going on behind all the talk about head bumps, or will he and Ella be outwitted by a man who is willing to do anything to keep the truth hidden?

Personal Thoughts

I was not familiar with phrenology and while it is a very niche subject, it fit with the story. It was interesting to read about what people believed about it and why others started to doubt the practice. 

I loved Ella's independent, determined spirit and how she was willing to do anything to find the truth. Gabriel was also a likable character. The romance was light, but I loved how Gabriel and Ella worked together. The plot twist caught me off guard and I couldn't wait to see what would happen in the end.

Notes

Steam Level: 💋

For those of you who have read An Unconventional Lady, what did you think of it? For those of you who have not read it, would you? Tell me in the comments below!