Cherished Lands by Lauren Kiser

A fake marriage. A real spark. A love as forbidden as cider in wine country.

ELLIOT
I’ve got one shot at saving my family’s orchard: opening a cidery before money runs out. The last person I need investing is Tessa Belmonte—my lifelong rival and the biggest thorn in my side. But when her father threatens legal action that could destroy everything, there’s only one solution. Marriage. To Tessa. For one year.
It’s supposed to be just business. I’m supposed to hate the spoiled princess of Vintage Point Vineyards who’s been driving me crazy for years. Instead, I’m discovering a fierce, passionate woman who works harder than anyone I know and fits into my life like she was always meant to be there. And the way she melts under my touch? That’s definitely not part of our business arrangement.

TESSA
I thought investing in Ever Eden Orchard would finally give me the independence I craved. I didn’t expect my father to sue me, and I definitely didn’t expect marriage to Elliot Everton to be the solution. He’s infuriating, commanding, and has a protective streak that sets my blood on fire.
But as we race to open the cidery before my father can stop us, our fake marriage starts feeling dangerously real. Between small town gossip, family betrayals, and our own stubborn hearts, we’re both risking everything. Now I have to decide: do I protect my family’s legacy, or fight for the future I never knew I wanted—with the man I never knew I needed?

Cherished Lands is the second interconnected standalone in the Sable Point series with a guaranteed HEA. This book is intended for mature readers, as it includes explicit sexual content, strong language, and adult situations.