Hostile Territory

She's the family shark. He's the enemy at the gate. When a blizzard traps them together, the only thing hotter than their hatred is the fire they can't put out.Lila Sterling is the weapon of the Iron Ridge dynasty. As the family's ruthless corporate attorney, she wears designer stilettos in the dirt and shreds anyone who threatens her legacy. Her current target? The Alpine Summit Group, the developers trying to turn her ancestral home into a ski resort. And specifically, their lead consultant, who seems determined to condemn the ranch one environmental regulation at a time.Nate Wilder is a man of science, not corporate greed. He took the job to ensure the development was sustainable, but the Sterling family treats him like a eco-terrorist. His biggest headache is Lila: a stunning, terrifying ice queen who fights dirty and looks good doing it. He knows she's hiding something about the land's water rights, and he's determined to find the truth.When a dispute over a property line survey forces them to ride out to the most remote corner of the Tetons, a sudden catastrophic blizzard strikes. Stranded in a dilapidated line shack with no cell service and freezing temperatures, the courtroom brawling stops, and survival begins. Stripped of their suits and defenses, Lila and Nate discover that the line between love and hate is dangerously thin. But when the snow melts, they have to return to a war where they are on opposite sides. Shari Malin writes with the deep understanding that every moment counts. A stroke and quadruple bypass survivor, she channels her resilience and gratitude into crafting heartfelt love stories that celebrate happy endings. With a Master's Degree in English Education, Shari combines her literary background with a passion for emotional connection. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and the world's quietest Chihuahua-a dog who, miraculously, never barks. One Ranch. Four Siblings. A Billion Reasons to Fight.If you love the cutthroat family drama of Succession but wish it had the grit, steam, and stunning scenery of Yellowstone, welcome to Iron Ridge.For six generations, the Sterling family has ruled the Grand Tetons from the saddle of the Iron Ridge Ranch. To the outside world, they are Wyoming royalty. But behind the gates, the dynasty is crumbling. When the family patriarch suffers a sudden, debilitating stroke, the sharks smell blood in the water. A ruthless development firm is poised to turn their legacy into a playground for the elite, and the family is millions in debt.Now, four estranged siblings must return to the home they left behind to defend the land that raised them.The Prodigal Son: Beau, the country music star who traded his roots for fame.The Shark: Lila, the ruthless attorney with ice in her veins.The Enforcer: Rhett, the livestock agent who prefers silence to conversation.The Gambler: Ford, the black sheep willing to bet it all on one last hand.They were raised to fight each other, but now they must fight for each other. Amidst corporate sabotage, family secrets, and high-stakes betrayals, the Sterlings will find something they never expected: love.From the dust of the rodeo arena to the gleaming boardrooms of the enemy, the battle for the West begins now."Blood is thicker than water, but land is the only thing that lasts."