Historical romance novels by Matilda Lockwood
One orchard, two hearts, and a season's gamble that could bind them forever.
Herefordshire, 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 risk: 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.
Dedham Vale, England, 1758
Drowned if she is, damned if she isn’t—Gatty Carter can’t escape the curse of being called a witch.
Marked by suspicion and chased by fear, Gatty’s life shatters after a cruel prank nearly ends it. Desperate for safety, she flees the only home she’s ever known.
But escape offers no sanctuary. Arrested for vagrancy in a strange town, Gatty soon finds herself at the mercy of a mysterious family with dark secrets of their own. They claim to run a home for wayward women, but in reality, they seek out survivors of witchcraft accusations, hoping to unlock powers none of the women possess.
Among this unlikely coven, led by an overimaginative matriarch, Gatty discovers a bond she never expected. But as she grows close to these women, and even closer to a handsome librarian—her deception becomes harder to keep. Now, she must embrace the very role she’s always feared—or risk losing the only family she’s ever known.
For readers who believe the real magic is women who refuse to be silenced.
Rowley Family Romance: Book One
Annabel Barlow isn’t interested in handsome princes or fairytale weddings—all she wants is to curl up with a good book.
When unexpected events turn her world upside down, she enlists the help of new friends— a clever one-eyed woodcarver, a confident laundress, a sullen baron’s son, and a cheeky maid. A romance blossoms, and amidst the unfolding adventure, the group uncovers dark secrets lurking in the castle’s past.
But as the pages turn and the die is cast, she must decide if unraveling the mystery is worth the risk.
Author Note: This is my first book! It's a love story about a woodcarver and a bookbinder who fall in love, and they use Shakespeare quotes as their love for each other. There's suspense, riddles, family secrets, and a happily ever after. The sequel, Treasures of Castle Rowley, is available now.
Current Art Projects
Illustrated Natural Journals
My original designs are now stocked in my small town’s shop, the Indianola Country Store!
Don't wait for the right moment to start. I've learned that making art doesn't happen when everything is perfect. It happens when you begin.
Each journal has 60 blank pages and is signed by the artist on the back. Cann you find the tinny ML initials somewhere in each artwork?
Pet Portraits
I love animals so much, especially dogs! Looking into their sweet faces and trying to capture them in an artwork is one of my very favorite things.
Browse my collection of pet sketches and the original reference photos below, and please drop me a line if you have a cutie I can draw!
About the author
Matilda Lockwood is a historical romance author and illustrator living in a small town an hour from Seattle by ferryboat. She enjoys penning characters who draw strength from creativity.
When not writing or sketching, she can be found frying up eggs from her backyard chickens for her family, reading in the woods, or swimming in nearby Puget Sound.
