Protected by the Earl: A Secret Identity Historical Regency Romance

by Elsie Sinclair

She’s a runaway with a secret identity. He’s a reclusive earl with a dangerous past. Forced together, their forbidden love could save them—or ruin everything.

Fleeing a ruthless pursuer, Miss Ellen Norcliffe has spent weeks looking over her shoulder. When she stumbles into Lord Jacob Bouverie’s garden, saving the brooding earl from a deadly attack wasn’t part of her plan—nor was falling ill and taking refuge in his castle.

To stay hidden, Ellen adopts a false identity—even from him.

Jacob, a reformed rake turned reclusive earl, has spent five years locked away, haunted by his father’s death and a scandal that could ruin him. Ellen’s courage and quiet beauty stir feelings he thought buried, breaking through the shadows of his isolated world.

Every glance, every touch fans the tension between them—dangerous, unspoken, and impossible to resist.

When Jacob gathers his suspects to uncover the truth about his father’s death, Ellen is pulled deeper into his dangerous world. As secrets unravel and their connection deepens, Jacob must protect her at all costs—even if it means risking everything.

This clean Regency novel is filled with swoon-worthy romance, gripping intrigue, and heart-pounding suspense. With unforgettable characters and a sweet, satisfying happily-ever-after, it’s a story you won’t want to miss!

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 14, 2024

Reviews

[Lifelongreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-crafted plot

This well-written book had a complex plot with two unrelated conflicts to be resolved. Meeting accidentally, Ellen and Jacob pooled their resources to solve both. This story had a large group of assorted secondary characters who brought different facets to the story.

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exceptional who dunit. Has so much of everything that you need to enjoy- mystery, love, family, villains, secrets, romance and twists. A young lady arrives at an Inn and gets a room under the name of Mrs. Margaret Porter. She is hiding from her brother , who wants to marry her off for money. She feels that someone is following her so she runs after hiding her belongings. She finds her way to a castle, where she helps Jacob , when someone tries to kill him. He offers her his home to recover. Both have so many secrets that they don't want the other to know. As the attacks continue to happen, they both join forces to figure out who is the person or persons that are trying to kill them both. Will keep you turning the pages while you are on the edge of your seat. Enjoy this story as you will be surprised who really is responsible. All these characters have so much personal growth that they are remarkable. Can't wait to read more from this exciting author. Would recommend to everyone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Patti Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book! This is the first book that I have read by Elsie Sinclair and it was great. She is fantastic author she draws you in from the first page. I really enjoyed how each chapter started with an exert from a letter Ellen wrote her grandfather or a letter written to Ellen from her grandfather. This allowed you to get pieces of Ellen's history with her family. Ellen is running from someone and stumbles across Lord Jacob the Earl of Radnor and winds up saving his life. This leads to the two of them sharing bits and pieces of their past and falling in love. The story has many twists and turns that leave you reading and wanting to find out more. If you enjoy historical romance with a bit of mystery and redemption then this is the book for you.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escaping from abuse and a proposed arranged marriage that would benefit Ellen's brother financially and an attempted murder bring Ellen Norcliffe and Jacob Bouverie, the Earl of Radnor, together in this fast-paced historical romance/mystery.
The setting of Radnor Castle is described in such detail that you can imagine yourself walking with Ellen along the dimly lit corridors.
As Ellen and Jacob try to solve the five year old mystery of Jacob's father's murder while trying to keep Jacob safe from his own assassination, their attraction to each other blossoms and tension builds between brothers.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more stories by Elsie Sinclair.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had me engaged from the beginning especially reading those letters that were sent. I found it to be sweet and unique with the beginning of the letters that had so much to do with the story line.

It’s a different kind of love. The way Jacob and Ellen find each other and fall in love had me waiting for them to finally declare their love.

You will get tension, drama, turns, and most of all, romance. I was here for the romance, and romance I received. I really enjoyed the book especially because it was historical and I was able to picture the scenes.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written book with two conflicts to resolve that are unrelated. Ellen and Jacob met accidentally when she was running from her brother and she arrived at his home just in time to keep him from being shot. They both have so many secrets that they don't want the other one to know about. The story has danger, secrets, mystery, love, family, romance, twists and villains. I was surprised when it was revealed who the main culprits were. The main characters are well developed, interesting and complex. I was rooting for them throughout the story.

[Nancy T Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Runaway/A Castle/An Earl to Love..

Running from family leads Ellen to trust no one ..but sooner or later it
Had to happen. She is weak & ever watchful but taken by surprise she falls at the Earl’s Castle. Surprising visitors are set to dispose of Ellen as she is under the Earl’s protection but the Earl has his secrets of his own. Together they try to sort the task out and in time love begins to sink in.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do these two even have a chance to be together?

This is a wonderful story full of danger and not knowing who can or cannot be trusted. I felt fear and anger and shock too when certain facts were revealed. The letters from Ellen’s grandfather were a beautiful touch to this story as well. This story embodies everything I love about sweet Regencies and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Well done, Elsie Sinclair!

[Karen Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book by reading the pages that are shown on the buy page, and it quickly drew me in. It is one of the better Regency romance books I have read in a while. I love it when suspense is added, so the whole book isn't just the angst between two lovers. This one had that, but so much more. I think this is my first book by this author, but I will definitely look for more. Highly Recommend.

[Doreen Farrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was much more interesting than I expected. Instead of being the typical Regency Romance I'd expected, it was a deep mystery, set in an unspecified period of the 19th century, in the Salisbury area of England. Ellen is in hiding from her evil brother, and Jacob is hiding, as well, trying to figure out if his father's death was an accident or not. They meet, join forces, and, in the process, take part in an extremely well-written adventure. I loved it, and I hope you do, too.

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written secret identity historical romance. It was full of action, drama, intrigue, mystery, suspense, murder, kidnapping, attempted murder, and other exciting conflicts and twists that kept me entertained. The main characters were complex and interesting. I enjoyed the delightful and surprising love that overcame everything. I highly recommend reading!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and hopefully it won't be my last! Not only was it romantically swoon worthy but also filled with mysteries, secrets and coded letters to solve. I can usually figure out the "who done it" but I was totally aghast when the truth was revealed. I highly recommend this book.

[Reann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was full of suspense & twist & turns. I enjoyed the slow growth of c9nnecti9n between the 2 main characters. To me this was more of a mystery than a romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, romance, murder and a HEA in this sweet clean historical fictional. I love the witty banter and all the characters are so well developed that I absolutely devoured this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a novel to be missed. This author knows her Regency and history. Love the way the people express themselves. Very intense. I neglected sleep to read this several late nights/early mornings. There are ups and downs,, but I loved reading every page

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who are they after

Ellen sees someone about to shoot a man in the door of the Castle, while running for her own life. All though the book things keep threatening them. You will be surprised WHO

[Shaylin Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was entertaining to read.
I enjoyed that there wasn’t just a sappy romance- there was mystery involved.
The characters were likable.
This story had some great dialogue and a few surprises in the plot.
This was a quick and easy read with a satisfying ending.

[January Cameron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great story but there were too many obvious uses of AI. There would be sentences that were too detailed because of AI words. And too much telling. I hate that authors are using AI now. None of the book felt natural.

[Barb Hegreberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you are willing to risk it all… that’s when healing can begin!

I received this book free from the author, publisher, or other source. My only obligation is to provide a fair and honest review.