An Unconventional Lady: A sweet Regency romance featuring a strong mystery thread and friends-to-more love story

· Thomas Nelson · Narrated by Fiona Hardingham
2 reviews
Audiobook
9 hr 18 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook

Mystery, romance, and a forgotten piece of history combine in the latest Regency novel from Sarah E. Ladd. Perfect for fans of The Other Bennet Sister and Miss Scarlet and the Duke, An Unconventional Lady delivers what Publishers Weekly calls Ladd's "pitch-perfect blend of suspense and sweetness" (The Cloverton Charade).

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.

But there's just one catch: Unless she marries before her father dies, Keatley Hall will pass into the hands of a distant cousin.

As Ella works to solve her future, she must also resolve her past: Determined to clear her mother's name, who was branded "unstable" for daring to challenge a man's scientific theories, she starts to ask questions no one wants to answer. 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 a certain scientist is visiting Keatley Hall, he jumps at the chance to prove himself and right past wrongs. As he uncovers secrets from the past that bleed into the present, 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 wit, alongside her beauty, 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.

Mystery, romance, and a forgotten piece of history combine in the latest Regency novel from Sarah E. Ladd. Perfect for fans of The Other Bennet Sister and Miss Scarlet and the Duke, An Unconventional Lady delivers what Publishers Weekly calls Ladd's "pitch-perfect blend of suspense and sweetness"...

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Ratings and reviews

2 reviews
Andrea Romance
February 21, 2026
After her mother dies mysteriously, Ella is determined to uncover the truth and debunk the pseudoscience of phrenology. At a scientific symposium, she joins forces with Gabriel, a barrister searching for a runaway girl, to expose a charlatan. Fun and intriguing, this heartfelt mystery romance is full of twists. The setting and well-developed characters immersed me in the story. I enjoyed the audiobook narration. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
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MelissasBookshelf
February 15, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed An Unconventional Lady! Sarah Ladd is always a must read author who brilliantly weaves together a cleaver whodunit with a sweet romance & fascinating historical details. In this Regency novel, she explores phrenology, the once-popular pseudoscience claiming a person’s character could be determined by the bumps on their head. With engaging characters, a twist-filled mystery, & delightful childhood-friends-to-more romance, I was hooked from start to finish. Loved the audiobook!
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About the author

Sarah E. Ladd is an award-winning, bestselling author who 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 she began seriously writing in 2010. Since then, she has released several novels set during the Regency era. Sarah is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. She lives in Indiana with her family. Visit Sarah online at SarahLadd.com; Instagram: @sarahladdauthor; Facebook: @SarahLaddAuthor; X: @SarahLaddAuthor; Pinterest: @SarahLaddAuthor.

Sarah E. Ladd is an award-winning, bestselling author who 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 she began seriously writing in 2010. Since then, she has releas...

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