An Unconventional Lady

Ella Wilde is no ordinary young woman. Outspoken, curious, and fiercely independent, she grew up in a world of natural philosophy, encouraged by her scientist parents to question everything. But when her mother dies mysteriously while studying phrenology in Austria, Ella is left with more questions than answers. Especially when a study is released claiming that a phrenological examination of Ella's mother prior to her death indicated mental instability, calling into question what really happened the night of her death. Years later, at a scientific symposium hosted by her father's school and focused on phrenology, Ella seizes the chance to clear her mother's name and debunk phrenology as pseudoscience.

Gabriel Rowe is a barrister with a mission of his own. Tasked with finding a runaway girl linked to the same phrenologist who will be speaking at the symposium, Gabriel's path leads him back to Keatley Hall--and to Ella, his childhood friend.

As the symposium unfolds, Ella and Gabriel join forces to expose the phrenologist's fraud. But with the audience enamored by the charlatan's charm and the stakes rising, they must navigate a web of deceit and danger. When the missing girl is found and the phrenologist vanishes with the symposium's funds, Ella and Gabriel embark on a thrilling journey to reclaim their reputations and discover the love and acceptance they've been seeking. 

Review: 

Ella Wilde has had the unique opportunity to grow up in a boys’ school. With a father as the headmaster, Ella is unlike other young women of her time. She is able to study, investigate, and attend the symposiums that the school hosts annually. Her mother died as a result of a fire, but was labeled as mentally unstable due to findings of a Regency-era science called phrenology. Ella is determined to prove that this was not true and to expose Dr. Bauer, the key speaker of the current symposium, as a fraud.

Gabriel Rowe, a former student of the school, is now a solicitor who also has questions concerning the doctor. Discovering the truth about Dr. Bauer was exciting and provides a very surprising ending. Seeing Ella and Gabriel’s relationship grow throughout the story through the investigation was done well. It wasn’t the primary focus, but yet you find yourself wanting to see what will happen next in their developing love story.

The study of phrenology was a central aspect of the book and one that I found unique to Regency romance. While I love reading about balls, I also appreciate learning about topics that I otherwise know little about through an interesting story such as this. Readers who enjoy history, mystery, and romance will enjoy this book.

I received a gifted copy from the publisher, UpLit Reads, and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review.