This Secret Between Us

by Harper Rae James

April-
When a man emotionally wrecks your best friend, you don’t forget it.
When he follows that up by ruining the best night of her life, you don’t forgive it.
So when Cash Easton shows up, smirking, smug, and somehow still devastatingly hot, I know exactly who he is.
Or I thought I did.
Every instinct I have is screaming no…
My heart, that's a different story.

Cash-
She arrived like a storm at my door, eyes blazing with fire, heart heavy with pain I couldn’t turn away from.
A week in Jamaica, pretending we’re more than strangers.
One bed between us, no space to hide.
She doesn’t know me. She sees only the man who broke her best friend’s heart.
But standing near her feels like the only truth I want to know.

This is an interconnected standalone romace. While it can be read alone, readers may enjoy starting with This Can't Be The End.

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

I write spicy, emotion-forward romance for readers who crave longing, second chances, and love that refuses to stay buried.

My stories live in the quiet space between almost and always, where feelings simmer, restraint fractures, and intimacy is earned. Expect mutual pining, he-falls-first energy, and heat that hits harder becasue it means something.

If you love slow burns with real payoff, characters who ache before they heal, and stories that linger long after the last page, you're in the right place.

New here?

Start with This Can’t Be The End— the book readers fall into first.

Readeing Order: This Can't Be the End-- This Time Around--This Christmas-- This Secret Between Us

Reviews

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love fake dating stories, and this one nailed it! April and Cash had that perfect mix of banter, tension, and sweetness that kept me hooked from the very first page. Their chemistry jumped off the page, giving me all the swoony, heart-melty moments I crave in a romance.

This book is the perfect balance of fun, flirty, and emotional it had me smiling one moment and clutching my chest the next. The fake dating trope was done so well, and it reminded me exactly why it’s one of my favorites.

If you’re looking for a romance that’s equal parts spicy and heartfelt, with vibes that will leave you grinning long after you finish, this one’s a must-read. Thanks to the author for the gifted arc.

[Harper James]

Dear Readers,

When I wrote April and Cash I wanted two misunderstood characters to come together, what I got were two characters who hold such a special plane in my heart!

If you love fake dating gone wrong, in all the best ways, Cash and April’s story is for you. What started as an impulsive decision to quiet the rumors turns into a sun-soaked, slow-burn romance set against the backdrop of a destination wedding in Jamaica.

This book is messy, flirty, and filled with banter, family drama, and one very real moment of danger that shifts everything. It’s about second chances with people you never expected to deserve one, and how sometimes, the love that surprises you the most is the one that sticks.

Think: one bed, enemies-to-lovers vibes, fake dating with a real spark, and a wedding no one will forget.

[Sierra James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was perfect, I didn’t want to put it down!

April asking Cash to go to Jamaica with her set the whole story in motion. April sharing her problems and leaning on Cash when she didn’t even feel comfortable telling her family made my heart melt! This was a great read!

Very well written very realistic and definitely spicyyyyy!



To the Author, Harper Rae James
Thank you again for the opportunity to read as an ARC reader! I can’t wait to see what the future holds and what happens in future books!

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS SECRET BETWEEN US AS AN ARC IN AGREEMENT FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
I honestly don’t know where to start with this review. The unfolding of April and Cash’s love story was something I wish I could re-reread again for the very first time. It is so well written and is done in such a way that you feel every single emotion April and Cash’s character ride on this hate to lovers roller coaster.
Aprils rep in the first 2 books of the series is definitely redeemed in this storyline. Learning more about her was incredibly impactful.
Cash’s character arc continued throughout this story and his character development was unimaginable. He is filled with some one-liners that will make you laugh until you cry or pull your heart out of your chest and put it back in such a perfect gentle way.
The Secret Between Us is filled with banter, unapologetic feeling, touching on subjects that aren’t touched on enough and the freedom to choose how your fate ends.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ and a half
Emotion: 10
Overall rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Fran Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg, I lived this book. I had the opportunity to read it prior to everyone else and I couldn’t wait until I was able to talk about the details with my friends. This book was wonderfully written, easy to read and contains one of my favorite tropes; fake dating. I felt that Cash and April were very relatable characters. The banter and spice gave it just what it needed to give. I love this book!

[Brittany Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for this ARC read. Cash and April were the perfect misunderstood characters and fit together perfectly. There were so many twists and kept me on my toes, and the ending, pure bliss! 🩷

[Swiftiequeen420 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper has done it again this book was SO good April and Cash were such a great match! I love that we got to learn the backstory about events from the second book. The two of them are very misunderstood and poor April has never had an "O" and he helps her to finally have that experience. Learning April's backstory and her health issues i loved the representation. She was upset because she thought she would never get to have kids. But she learns there is more than one way to be a mother. This book was filled with all the things and all the emotions as Harper's books usually are. I loved the little twists that kept me guessing and her spicy scenes are always HOT! 😍😍

[Cherie (Sassy Gigi) Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

eARC Review. Thank you Harper Rae James for giving me this opportunity to read this wonderful book!

I just love April and Cash's story! Cash isn't a bad guy, he's a beautiful golden retriever!! I love the way the story revealed the misunderstanding about Cash and how it changed everyone's feelings about him, especially April.

This book really made me love fake dating tropes. April asked Cash to go with her to their friends wedding in Jamaica and pretend to be her boyfriend. Of course they had to stay in the same room at the resort. I enjoyed the way their romance blossomed and how close they became. They started sharing some secrets. There was some pretty big ones that April had, and Cash was there with so much support. I loved the banter between them and the sweet moments and of course...the spice!!

"what I want is a chance with you. you get to decide what life you have. what your future holds. I don't hold that decision for you tulip. I just want a chance with you. not a checklist, not a maybe someday. you."

I highly recommend this book especially for anyone who enjoys the following tropes:

~fake dating
~forced proximity
~one bed
~hate to lovers
~he falls first and hard

Please check out the other two books in this Twist of Fate series! You wont regret it.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Fake dating trope with 2 characters that no one seems to listen to, except each other. I really enjoyed both characters and they both had depth to them that you don’t expect. The romance was great and there was enough spice in there for those that enjoy spice. There were also some emotional issues with April that help connect you to her and make her more realistic. I loved that April felt like she could open up to Cash and trust him with things she hadn’t even told her mom. I did not read the first 2 books but that didn’t seem to matter, I caught up quickly with who was who and what happened in the past.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, well, well...Cash got his redemption after all. With him being seen as the asshole for almost the entirety of the last book and a bit of book 1, we got to see this whole new side of him. Professional baseball player who makes good on his promise to treat the woman he’s with like she walks on water, and boy does he ever. April is obviously unsure of him, given what everyone assumed he did to Blake. Once it was revealed that it was just one giant misunderstanding, that’s when things started to lighten up. Seeing how April dealt with her anxiety and self-loathing was so real...I feel like almost everyone can relate to that in some way. The discussion of her medical issues was done so well that while it can still be triggering for some who experience it, I think it could also be a bit liberating because you can see a character deal with it and figure out how to navigate it as well, even if journeys look different.
This whole series was so fun, and watching how these three girl friends got to blossom into fantastic people and partners shows that no matter what life throws at you, you can still take life by the balls and do with it what you want. I appreciated that none of the characters were ever perfect, and they were able to help each other with the mistakes they learned from. Seeing growth and using that growth to help friends is truly a beautiful thing to see take place.

[Bonice Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you Harper Rae James for this arc!

What I want is a chance with you.
You get to decide what life you have.
What your future holds. I don't hold that decision for you, tulip.
I just want a chance with you. Not a checklist, not a maybe someday.
You.

This book touches on heavier themes, so it is important to check the trigger warnings first. Your mental health matters ❤️

This Secret Between Us is the third book in the Twist of Fate series. I haven’t read the first two books, but this one was perfectly fine to read as a standalone!

In this story you follow the perspectives of April, who owns her own bakery, and professional baseball player Cash.

I devoured This Secret Between Us in one evening.I absolutely love the fake dating tropeand this time it was beautifully done. The blossoming romance between April and Cash is so cute to follow and the story is full of sweet moments. Despite not being very long, the character development is done really well.

This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys the following tropes:

🧁 One Bed
🧁 Forced Proximity
🧁 Fake Dating
🧁 Hate to Lovers
🧁 He Falls First and Hard

[book_queen_forever · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fake dating, hate to love, holiday in the sun romance and so much more! I absolutely loved the banter and flirtatious moments between Cash & April.
I also thought the chemistry between them was spot on.

These two characters were kind of misunderstood, they had their own unique personalities and flaws but they fit so perfectly together.

I loved the storyline, I loved how it flowed really easy , but how it had real and genuine moments and issues. Especially with April’s condition, I thought that was written so well and the emotion that came with it. And how it shaped her character.

Honestly this book was great, I loved April and cash as main characters, but I enjoyed the side characters popping back up from the other books.

It was again so well written and perfectly balanced just like the rest of the series. Absolutely fantastic.

[Brooke-Lynn Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Harper James, for the opportunity to read an ARC of your This Secret Between Us. This is an honest review.

My first book by Harper Rae James... my first impression was that I loved the idea behind the fake dating. I had definitely never read a book with this storyline, and it was rather refreshing.

Cash and April meet by chance at an opening for her brother's finance, and her family thinks they are dating, when in reality they don't know anything about each other. April's family won't let go of the idea that they need to meet Cash, and he needs to be at the wedding.

A speedy read about two people who have the hots for each other and plan to fake date for a getaway wedding.

I was on the edge of my seat reading this and excited to read what would happen next. I laughed. I cried while my heart broke for April and the secret she is keeping from her family. I wanted to hold her hand and tell her it would be okay—definitely a worthwhile read and the happiest ending any character ever deserved.

[Chrissie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh, Fun and full of emotion

I for one had been waiting to devour Cash’s story!!!!

“Proof that even the smallest spark can light the way to something extraordinary.”~ Cash

This man went into the fake dating arrangement knowing he was never faking and determined as hell to thaw April.

I loved Aprils character. For many, she is very relatable. There were moments that utterly broke my heart for her.
That moment where you learn something awful and all you want is your person is so real.

“All I wanted was you, but you were so fucking far away”~ April

This is a book I could read again and again. Harper draws you into these characters lives and you really do become invested. Love Love Love 💕

[Isa | bookishandantisocial · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun, flirty, spicy but also really emotional. I really loved the relationship Cash and April built from their fake one. April has a secret nobody knows and Cash is the first person she trust with it. There was some heavy scenes so please check the content warnings! Cash is so good to her. He refuses to let April cave into herself and helps her work through things. There’s also great banter and I loved all the nicknames he tried out with her. The spice was also yummy and I appreciated that it didn’t take over the book since it wasn’t that long. Overall great read, I will be going back to read the first two books in the series.

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

[Angelica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to Harper Rae James for the ARC of this amazing book 💕

I was completely swept away by This Secret Between Us—from the beautiful writing, to the characters, to the heartfelt storyline. Even without reading the other books in the series, this one stands strong as a captivating standalone.

This is an emotional fake-dating romance between Cash and April. April’s walls are high, guarded by the struggles she’s carrying, but Cash makes it clear in every way that he’s there for her—even if their relationship starts out as pretend. The chemistry, the emotion, and the tenderness in this story had me hooked from the very first page!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good fake boyfriend romance!

I really liked this book. I sometimes got frustrated with April and her inability to get out of her own way but overall felt real empathy for the character. What can I say about Cash? The man is pure gold. He is a great book boyfriend. He steps up for April at every turn and refuses to let her turn in on herself instead of talking things through. He makes sure to have her back at every turn. Theending was a bit rushed, I felt, but overall a really fun book!!

[Cheryl Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars 🌟

Thank you to Harper Rae James for the ARC of this book!

This was such a cute and quick read with just a little bit of spice, definitely the least spicy of all three books in the series. The pacing felt a little off in some spots, but overall I really enjoyed the story, and really wanted more of it! April’s journey is heartbreaking, but her strength and the path she ends up on made me love her even more. And Cash? Total sap in this one, and I loved seeing that side of him! 🥹 The book releases on 9/23, so definitely check it out!

[Deanna DeCesare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good. Fake dating is my favorite. The way the end up falling for each other and when April shares her secret with him before any of her closest friends or family melts my heart. I loved the nicknames he kept trying out until he found one that fit, and when she said her mom picked her name to mean Tulips and was joking with Cash was so funny. I didn't want this book to end it was so good.

[Heather Newsome · Rating 5 out of 5]

DO NOT SKIP THIS BOOK. Cash and April are so misunderstood. Give them the chance they deserve. Cash comes off as a rude Ahole but truly he is a sweet, loving, kind person who deserves all the happiness. April comes off as such a brat. But once you learn her truth you forgive the BS and just want to hug her. This “fake dating” couple is life goals. Cannot recommend this book enough. Best way to end this series.

[Ashley Glovas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. I absolutely loved the story line, I loved the characters. The sleeping scene...talk about a dream! LOL Without giving too much away April is quiet and dealing with internal struggles that she hasn’t told her family about, and Cash is a baseball player who she thought hurt her friend...and because of a misunderstanding they are thrust together....what will happen? You will have to read and find out!

[Kar Wils · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love how this book started with enemies to lovers to miscommunication between the fmc and her family and fake dating, which ends up becoming a real relationship with infertility issues. This book had me bawling. I give this a 5 stars. Harper did a phenomenal job on the story. The plot, the spice overall. This was a phenomenal book. I'm still torn about it. This book wrecked me at the end. But I loved it.

[Samantha Bosnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A wedding no one will ever forget."

Welcome to April and Cash's story, Cash is April's BF's ex, who he emotionally crushed her when he called off their wedding. April is not very happy with him; he hurt her boyfriend and ruined what was supposed to be her best night ever.

These two have fire in their eyes and when they clash you feel the heat. Cash isn't about to walk away from her, he sees the fire in her eyes, she doesn't know him, just of him. And now these two are off to Jamica and in a fake relationship, oh my here we go!

This story hit on topics that are so sensitive, and Harper approached it very well in her writing. April has health issues, feeling less of a woman as she was told she would never be able to have children. The growth she goes through, being able to discuss it, opening up with the pain with Cash was priceless and he just listened.

Thank you, harper, for allowing us to see a different side of Cash, the total ass of the group, but with April he shows her kindness, he worships her and will do anything for her, but will she allow that? She has to get over her BF's hatred of Cash!

I love the family these characters have, blood isn’t always the only family you need. Harper shows that with her writing she is very passionate, and it comes from her heart which I feel in her books I have read. Thank you, Harper, for sharing your stories and heart.

[Tammie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

April and Cash were made for each other. I read this as an arc and honestly I couldn’t put it down! April is tough as nails and doesn’t want anyone to know what she’s actually going through. I want someone as loving as Cash to be as involved with my needs as he was April’s. I loved this book from start to finish. Great read!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a story about misunderstandings and secrets then this is the one.

Cash the MMC has been misunderstood and not very well liked. April the FMC has a secret that she has not shared with her family and close friends for 4 years. She absolutely disliked Cash but do to a misunderstanding from an event has forced April and Cash pretend to be a couple.

Eventually April tells Cash her secret and not only she let him in on her secret but she also tells him about something she has never experienced. This extra information provided, Cash is happy to help April with.

Something happens in Chapter 23 and I can't wrap my mind how this happens. :)

If this has capture your attention I highly recommend reading This Secret Between Us.

[April Conkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was short and sweet!

Grumpy sunshine(except she’s grumpy), fake dating, he falls first, golden retriever book boyfriend, all your favorite tropes in a spicy, quick read!

More than one secret is uncovered, and one will rip your heart right out! Plus, who doesn’t love a tall, dark, and handsome baseball star who’s obsessed with you?!?

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as an arc. I really enjoyed the story and I loved the fact it was an enemies to lovers fake dating story. April and cash were misunderstood and yet melded perfectly together. Cash understood what was important to April and April trusted cash. It was a wonderful story and I truly enjoyed every minute reading it.

[ShelvedWithShell · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This Secret Between Us is the kind of romance that pulls you in quietly and refuses to let go. Cash and April’s story, built on a pretend relationship, unravels into something deep, emotional, and impossible to ignore.

Soft moments. Heavy feelings. A love that was never meant to be fake for long.

[Alisa Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much! It did take me a few chapters to get hooked but once I was in I was so invested!! These two main characters had me frustrated and loving them all at the same time!! Definitely recommend!!

[Rileyreads11_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book in one sitting! I really liked the story line and how Cash and April had both been through something but watching them find love was so cute! I loved the fake dating aspect in this one! Also a who doesn’t love a meddling family!!

Such a good read!