The Cider Maker’s Secret

by Matilda Lockwood

One orchard, two hearts, and a season’s gamble that could bind them forever.

Herefordshire, England, 1763: the year Parliament’s new cider tax threatens to crush England’s orchard keepers.

Elizabeth Whitcombe has weathered frost, debt, and the quiet condescension of men who think a widow should sell her orchard and fade away. But when a Crown assessor arrives to enforce the hated tax, she must outwit the law itself, armed only with a stillroom’s craft and a ledger’s worth of stubborn resolve.

Nathaniel Carter has crossed the Atlantic carrying secrets and scars he swore he’d never confess. Drawn not only to the Whitcombe orchard’s wild beauty, but to the woman who keeps it alive, he finds himself risking far more than coin or reputation. When a single forged folio buys them only three days’ grace, their fates entwine in a dangerous wager of trust and desire.

As winter grafts turn bare branches toward spring, Elizabeth and Nathaniel must decide what they are willing to the orchard they’ve fought to save, the fragile family they are building, or the love that could root them both.

The Cider Maker’s Secret is a slow-burn historical romance of resilience and redemption, where hope takes root in wounded ground and the sweetest harvest is love itself.

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2025

Reviews

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 1763; the place is Herefordshire, England. Elizabeth Whitcomb, widow, is struggling to keep her cider orchard profitable. She has battled frost, debt, and the condescension of men who believe a woman cannot run an orchard. The newest hurdle is one that threatens to unseat her. The Crown, in order to pay for the expensive Seven Years’ War, has levied a tax on cider. All records must be made available to the men who come to the orchard and report back to the magistrate, and all must be in order with the correct stamps. To fail at this means a hefty penalty. Nathaniel Carter has come from the colonies seeking new stock for his own orchard. These two meet and begin working together in the orchard. Bonding over a desire to save the orchard and make cider, a romance between the two seems inevitable. This marvelous work of historical fiction is fascinating from the very beginning. Elizabeth is a strong and forceful character, as is her twelve-year-old niece. Nathaniel, too, holds his own, not against her but with Elizabeth. However helpful he is, he never disputes the fact that it is Elizabeth’s orchard and she is in charge. He defends her right to own and operate it, no matter how many men believe she should just sell out. The novel may be slow moving at first, but that is because there is much to tell the reader about the cider-making process. You cannot empathize with Elizabeth’s struggles without knowing just how difficult her life is. The author does an excellent job of drawing the reader into the story. The descriptions of the people and their actions are vivid, setting the scene of the countryside and the time period. The romance develops slowly and is secondary to the main point of the novel. This story is more about the courage and strength of a strong female character, not about her needing a man to save her. This atmospheric novel was enlightening to read.
I was given an advance copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Denver Juilliard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matilda Lockwood’s “The Cider Maker’s Secret” is a tender, beautifully written historical romance that blooms with the quiet strength of its heroine and the bittersweetness of forbidden love. Set in Herefordshire, England, in 1763—a time when the cider tax threatened to destroy the livelihood of orchard keepers—the novel immerses readers in a world of struggle, survival, and second chances.

Elizabeth Whitcombe, a widowed orchard owner, refuses to surrender her land or her independence. When Nathaniel Carter, a mysterious newcomer from across the Atlantic, enters her life under the shadow of a government crackdown, their shared determination sparks something neither expected—hope. Their connection unfolds as delicately as the first blossoms of spring, tested by secrecy, sacrifice, and the heavy hand of the Crown.

Lockwood’s prose is lush and evocative, rich with sensory detail—the tang of cider apples, the chill of frost, the slow thaw of guarded hearts. She captures the rhythms of rural life and the emotional complexity of two souls learning to trust again. Beneath the romance lies a powerful meditation on resilience: how love, like an orchard, can survive even the harshest winter if tended with faith and care.

[Books Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

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🌈Post Description: Matilda Lockwood’s The Cider Maker’s Secret is a sweeping historical romance that captures both the hardship and hope of rural England in 1763. With the cider tax threatening to ruin orchard keepers, Elizabeth Whitcombe’s fight to preserve her land becomes an inspiring testament to strength and ingenuity. Enter Nathaniel Carter, a mysterious Crown assessor carrying his own burdens, whose growing affection for Elizabeth adds irresistible tension to the tale. Lockwood’s storytelling is both intimate and cinematic—each scene alive with sensory beauty, from the rustle of apple leaves to the warmth of a shared glance. The novel’s themes of survival, sacrifice, and love’s resilience are handled with grace and emotional honesty. Lockwood masterfully balances historical accuracy with romantic tension, crafting a narrative that feels timeless and deeply human.

The Cider Maker’s Secret is not merely a romance—it’s a portrait of two souls learning to heal and hope again. Readers will savor every page of this tender, evocative journey.
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[Daniele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt and atmospheric, ‘The Cider Maker’s Secret’ is a slow-burn historical romance that brims with quiet defiance and hope. Set against the backdrop of the 1763 cider tax crisis, Matilda Lockwood weaves a tale where love, survival, and justice intertwine amid England’s misty orchards.

Elizabeth Whitcombe is a heroine to remember—fierce, intelligent, and unyielding in a world that underestimates her. Her battle to protect her late husband’s orchard mirrors the internal struggle of Nathaniel Carter, a man haunted by the past but drawn to her courage. Together, they stand against both the law and their own fears, discovering that redemption sometimes grows from the most unlikely soil.

Lockwood’s storytelling is immersive and emotionally resonant. She paints history not as distant or dusty but alive with passion, danger, and tenderness. The pacing is patient and rewarding, allowing readers to savor each stolen glance, each act of defiance, and the growing bond between two people determined to save not just a livelihood, but a way of life.

[Amy Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, for the most part. It was an interesting glimpse into the life of an orchard owner and cider maker and exposed the difficulties widows (and women in general) had in a time period when men did not think them capable of running a business. I enjoyed the way the two main characters slowly developed trust and love. Things that were confusing for me were the timeline and some of the double-meanings in many of the conversations. It was hard to follow the progression of time in this story. At times it seemed that only a short time had passed, but then it seemed like it had been weeks or months. I'm still not sure how much time the whole story spans. The characters seem to often be using cider-making and/or orchard terms to describe things other than the literal meaning. Since the terms and concepts were new to me, I could not always be sure I understood either their literal or figurative meaning. Content consideration: several uses of damn and hell; one sensual scene (but not explicit).

[Angelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful story of the redeeming and healing powers of love. The story is beautifully written with characters who are very human. There is no perfect hero or heroine in this book. Elizabeth is stubborn and readily jumps to conclusions. Nathanial is keeping secrets about his life and has a hard time opening up to her.

When he works with her to save her orchard from the tax collectors, something sparks within the two of them and they start to fall in love. It’s a slow burn romance that is heartwarming and sweet.

Matilda Lockwood has written a lovely book. Her historical research is impeccable. Her descriptions of the orchards are so realistic you can almost smell the apples. All in all, this is a beautiful book. I loved it!

I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style of this is not my cup of tea. For me it was too long and boring. Most of the book is a description of the different parts of making apple cider, which contained words I do and processes I am not familiar with, so I didn't understand much of the book. Also the conversation between the two main characters seems strange to me. I think some people will find this beautiful writing. It is a sweet love story, but even some of their relationship wasn't quite what I had hoped for.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shuvai · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cider Maker’s Secret by Matilda Lockwood is a beautifully written historical romance that lingers long after the last page. Set in 1760s England amid the cider tax crisis, it tells the tender, slow-burn love story of Elizabeth and Nathaniel—two flawed, resilient souls whose connection grows alongside the orchard they fight to protect. Lockwood’s elegant prose, vivid historical.

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

[Becky Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did a very nice job of building a story of determination, love, and perseverance, all woven into a slow burn romance based on trust and redemption. This story only gets better the farther you read and stays with you long after you're done reading.

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

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a tender, beautifully written slow burn historical romance set in Hertferdshire, England, in 1763, that immersed me into a world of struggle, survival, and second chance. I enjoyed the characters and the emotional complexity of how they learn to trust again. I highly recommend reading!