Our Little Secret

Stepping Into Trouble #1

by Alyson Archer

She’s homeless and out of options. He’s her billionaire ex-stepfather. Now she’s hiding at his penthouse and they’re secret roommates.

When a flood leaves me without a place to live, there’s only one person in the city I can turn to.

Jacob Brooks.

My former stepfather. The only man I’ve ever wanted. The banker I can never have because his life is in the public eye, and his reputation is everything.

I don’t know what to expect when I show up unannounced at his penthouse, but he welcomes me without hesitation. He tells me I can stay as long as I need. I haven’t seen Jacob in four years, but immediately I’m reminded of all the ways he took care of me when he was my stepfather. And I’m tortured by all the ways I want him to look after me now.

But we can’t happen. It doesn’t matter how good it feels to eat breakfast with him, or curl up together and watch a storm over the lake. It doesn’t matter that he’s responsible for the confident, self-assured woman I’ve become.

The scandal would destroy our lives. He's twenty-six years older than me. He used to be my stepfather.

But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to call him Daddy…

Our Little Secret is a spicy, taboo former stepfather romance featuring an obsessive billionaire hero, a heroine who's tired of hiding her feelings, plenty of forbidden tension, and a guaranteed HEA.

Genres: Forced Proximity, Romance, Erotic Romance, Age Gap Romance, Steamy, Contemporary, Erotica

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2026

About the author

Alyson Archer is a writer and romance fanatic who’s been obsessed with fictional heroes ever since crushing on Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid. Ever since, she’s been dreaming up her own heroes and romantic situations.

Alyson is a pen name for an award winning contemporary romance author, and before writing full-time, she spent over a decade working as a public librarian. Now, she spends her days writing spicy books and drinking too much coffee.

Alyson lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her husband, daughter, and stubborn-but-adorable dachshund. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, playing video games, watching figure skating, and enjoying nature.

Reviews

[QuinnReads]

Wicked, Taboo Temptation

So. Effing. HOT!

And, just a little taboo.

It's a real thigh clencher. 😘

I’m jealous. I’m possessive and protective over a girl I shouldn’t want. A girl I can’t have. I am so utterly, completely fucked.
-- Jacob Brooks

I absolutely love the buildup and tenderness as Camryn (Cam, Cammie) Fontaine and Jacob (Jake, Daddy) Brooks establish a relationship as adults, but what comes when they cross from budding friendship to intimacy is fanfreakingtastic. I love the exploration and every single explosion between them.

I can't wait for more of this series. Happy dance!

Story: 5 stars

H = 48; h = 22

TROPES & TRIGGERS:
🫦 Forbidden romance
🥵 Former stepfather
👀 Age Gap
🎁 Unprotected couplings
🧸 Nurturing MMC
🤰 Breeding kink
💥 Praise kink
🔥 Open-door steamy scenes 🌶🌶
💦 Daddy Dom
💟 V-card retired

[Ioana]

This was a fun read and just what you need to get you out of a funk. A bit taboo, a bit of a plot, but so well written and captivating. Alyson writes them really awesome so her books are an instant read for me. Thankful to have received it in order to share my view on it.

[Petra]

Our Little Secret is just as spicy as all the other books by this author. Besides being slightly taboo (he used to be her stepdad and is 26 years older) this one is also very sweet. Both Jacob and Camryn have a crush on each other, she for a bit longer than him. But when Cammy needs a place to live and Jake offers to share his house with her, they can no longer deny their feelings.

~~I should step away from the situation given the intensity of my wildly taboo attraction to her. I also know that I’m not going to do that.~~

I really loved their story, and the way Jake went all in for Cammy is so good!

This review based on an arc, this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Vitoria]

Alyson is one of my favorite authors nowadays because she is not afraid to delve into taboo-style or high-spice romance while keeping things sweet to the heart (and, sometimes, somewhat realistic).
Our Little Secret recalls a thing or two of Pretty Woman, but makes it with its own colors. I enjoyed how the couple took care of each other in different instances. Also, Jacob's enjoyment of looking after Camryn and encouraging her from the beginning was probably what hooked me on the story. I liked Camryn's personality, and how she wanted to pursue her education.
Their chemistry was over-the-top even in the sweet scenes, and the spicy scenes were everything it was supposed to be (so hot!)
I received an advanced copy from the author.

[Becky]

Our Little Secret is an age gap (26 years), spicy AF romance with a touch a taboo (she briefly was his stepdaughter 4 years ago, but nothing happens until she's a legal adult) romance--and it's exactly what we've come to expect from Ms Archer. It's not really instalove--they have known each other for quite some time--but once things start to happen, they happen fast. If all of that sounds like your cup of tea and you don't mind daddy kink, give this one a try! And don't forget to sign up for the author's newsletter to get the bonus epilogue for a little extra Camryn and Jacob time ;)

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Gongjuice]

I was given this as an ARC, all opinions are my own.

Slight taboo, Forbidden Romance with an age gap? Yum. Right up my alley 🔥

So the FMC, Camryn, got into an emergency where she ended up needing a place to stay and she ended up in the front door of her former stepfather's house, Jacob.

Camryn have always find Jacob attractive and needless to say, the attraction went both ways now that they see each other again after 4 years (FMC 22 MMC 48).

This book has:
- Age gap
- Caretaker/Protective MMC
- a bit of dd/lg dynamic
- breeding kink 🥵
- and just a whole lots of spice and chemistry 🔥

I have always lovee books written by this author! Usually read it as soon as it become available and finished it in less than 24 hours. And alwayss checking periodically if she has release a new book 🤣

And this book is also the same! And even with a longer format than usual, i actually enjoy and really glad that it's longer! It's still fast paced and not dragging at all.

This book isn't even officially released yet and I'm already waiting for her next book... 😭

[Linda]

Former step-father. Well, I knew this would be interesting!
Billionaire. That too!

To me, love is love.
It doesn't matter the years between you.
The only issue, in my humble opinion, is life-expectancy!

Camryn was lucky to have Jacob in her corner...willing to help her!

Close proximity lends itself to intimate moments!

Delicious, steamy read!
You'll want to read this in one sitting!

[Eva]

3.5 rounded up

Yes to the age gap, the angst, and the will-they-won't-they vibe! I loved how it was set up, how the MMC went downhill into his love for her to the point of not caring what people thought, and I loved how the FMC found her confidence.

Slight issue...the ambiguity. I get that the factor of him being her ex-stepfather is the taboo part, but that creates a point of 'you've been with my mom sexually' which I hated. I would have liked for this relationship to be clear-cut 'business' with different rooms or something of the sort to avoid this discomfort.

Thank you, Alyson, so much for this arc!

[Nanna]

This is other great, sexy story by Alyson, if you don’t like May-December romances then this is not the story for you. I did it find it funny as I read a lot of historical and regency romances and back then very young debutantes from age sixteen to eighteen were pushed to married much older man of society. Most were old enough to be their fathers or even their grandfathers. But in today's society age gap marriages are viewed as taboo or worse. Jacob is a well know billionaire businessman. He married Camryn’s mother, Sylvie, not for love but for what he thought would help his image. She was a social butterfly and loved the limelight while he was the sober behind the scenes. The only thing good about the marriage was the teenage daughter Sylvie brought with her. Camryn never knew her father but found her stepfather to be someone who listened to her and saw more than a large, overweight teenager trying to find herself in a world she didn’t fit in. When he finds her crying alone, after the prom and finds out the reason, he makes her a promise, he will always be there for her no matter what. He dries her tears and makes her feel loved keeping his thoughts to himself. Jump four years forward and Camryn has gone to college and is a beautiful, curvy woman whose mother her mother left her when she was eighteen and moved out of the country after she divorced Jacob. Camryn has a Hugh problem. Her small apartment is flooded, and she doesn’t have the money to go anywhere else. She goes to the only person who ever offered to help her Jacob; she hasn’t seen him in four years and is not even sure he lives in the same place. Jacob is shocked to see her and find out all that has happened. Sharing the penthouse brings out all the old feelings and desires both have never spoken of. Add in a wonderful strong lighting and thunderstorm shared by both and the rest of the story is love will always find a way. Both know what they are doing, and feelings will be seen as wrong to so many but feel so right to them. As both learn how they have desired the other for so long, they will learn what is most important and how to handle the fall out. Great read has everything one looks for in this type of book, be sure to get the epilogue too. I received an Arc from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian)]

OUR LITTLE SECRET is the first long novella in the Stepping into Trouble series. It's great to have a longer novella in my hands from this author, and only hope one day she'll do a full-length novel, so I can lose myself in her writing.

Jacob was Camryn's stepfather four years ago when she was eighteen, before her mother got bored and moved to France. He was good to her then (within boundaries), but told her he would always be there if she needed him. Now, she needs him. Her student accommodation has been flooded, and she has nowhere to go. So guess where she goes...

Okay, so it's not really a question, but still. It leads you into a Pretty Woman, taboo-style, romance where he looks after her to his heart's content, and she calls him Daddy. If this isn't your thing, move right along.

For me, it came at exactly the right time. I had just read something quite heavy, so this was just what I needed. I love a good caretaking story, and that's what this was. Plus the s3x is hot, just saying.

I can't wait to see what happens next in the series, and just hope we can catch up with Jacob and Camryn in the future. Definitely recommended by me.

** The same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian
Jul 29, 2026

[Elyse]

Book 131 of 2026

I love @AlysonArcher’s writing and she took us into some taboo that was wild with this book. Not only was this Daddy-kink to the extreme, but it’s a massive age gap with a stepfather / stepdaughter dynamic. Yup, that’s right. Daddy Jacob was her stepfather for a few years when she was in high school and now they are adults and pushing all the boundaries. Whew. It’s taboo and he’s possessive and the sweet and spicy vibe was all over the place – I love a man that’s all IN from the start. This forbidden romance pushed the boundaries for me but because of the way that @AlysonArcher writes, I completely fell into the world of Jacob and Camryn and loved seeing it all play out. This was a fun one and right in the vein of the other things @AlysonArcher, so of course I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Rating – three stars
Format – kindle unlimited

Rating of Alyson Archer books –
1. Milk (Unhinged Holidays #2), four stars
2. Her Mountain Christmas (Honey Ridge #4), three and a half stars
3. Her Mountain Boss (Honey Ridge #3), three and a half stars
4. Accidentally Marrying the Professor, three and a half stars
5. Crush (Unhinged Holidays #3), three and a half stars
6. Our Little Secret, three stars
7. Spice (Unhinged Holidays #), three stars
8. Her Mountain Rescuer (Honey Ridge #1), three stars
9. Forgive Me, Father, three stars
10. Santa’s Pretty Helper, three stars
11. Accidentally Kidnapping the Mountain Man, two stars

[Suzanne Normandeau Legault]

This is an forbidden romance with a huge age-gap (twenty-six to be exact) that definitely goes against all odds and what is morally acceptable. But love is love and you don’t find it , it finds you. When Jake Brooks marries Sylvie Fontaine it’s not a love match but a very convient one. However, she has a teenage daughter, who has a hidden crush for her stepfather only to be revealed four years later. Jake and Sylvie divorce and Camryn goes away to college and university. When an unfortunate water leakage destroys her living unit, Camryn has no where to go but back home at Jake’s place where she use to live. He’d promised her on prom night when they shared a moment of comfort that he’d always be there for her. When Camryn came home crying after being humiliated and mistreated by the other students due to her heavy curves, he’d taken care of her as a stepfather but unconsciously felt their hidden connection. When she comes ringing his doorbell, he’s not only surprised but definitely unprepared for the beauty standing in front of him and the reactions he’s experiencing both mentally and physically. This romance is filled with taboos but worth every moment. An electrifying reading with lots of un forbidden chemistry, strong and real love that will tie them together forever. A must read !

[Nina Der-Heard]

Former stepfather. Taboo relationship. Obsessive MMC. You know this is going to be a spicy one. And boy, was it!

Camryn shows up on Jacob's doorstep after four years of not seeing her former stepfather, but desperately needing his help after an incident at her apartment. She doesn't know how he'll react or if he even still lives in this same penthouse that she once lived in when he was married to her mother. Jacob always thought that Camryn was a beautiful, intelligent, and sweet girl and knew that she would one day grow into her confidence as a woman. And when he sees her at his penthouse's front door after four years, she certainly has. After all these years, it unlocks something in both of them, foregoing the taboo nature of their relationship.

Alyson is one of my FAVORITE indie authors and she has such talent for writing high spice and is totally unafraid to wade into the world of the forbidden, taboo, and surreal, which is one of the big draws for me in her as an author. This is just another example of it! Can’t wait to see her move into full-length novels one day!

[Tima]

4.25 stars. This novella is dual POV, well written and edited, and a fast-paced, sweet and spicy, ex-stepfather, large age gap, caretaking, contemporary erotic romance between Camryn, the female college student made homeless by flooding in her college accommodation, and Jacob, the male businessman and her ex-stepfather, who offered her assistance if she ever needed it. I enjoyed the mutual enjoyment of caretaking throughout the story. I enjoyed Jacob’s historical and current encouragement of Camryn’s self-esteem, and his confidence in what he wanted once he made a decision. I enjoyed Camryn’s self-awareness and her physical appreciation of Jacob, as well as her acknowledgement of what she desired. I enjoyed the spicy intimate scenes, as well as the sweet scenes. I enjoyed the enjoyment of their life together.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Lizy Frankel]

I was lucky to be chosen to be an ARC reader for Our Little Secret by Alyson Archer
This book covers a few different topics mainly being a huge age gap and forbidden love that most people would find morally unacceptable and even taboo.
Jacob Brooks was married to Sylvie Fontaine and she had a teenage daughter Camryn who lived with them, and when Camryn came home from her school formal in tears Jacob is the one to comfort her. He danced with her because they teased her as she was curvy and he told her she was beautiful. He said he would always be there for her. Her mother’s marriage ended after a few years as it was more of a convenience than anything… after 5 years she went to him as she needed somewhere to stay, Jacob couldn’t believe how beautiful she was, there was and attraction between them and he tried fight it not knowing that she felt the same, Camryn has had a crush on him since she was 16. This romance maybe taboo, but there is heaps of chemistry, fun, love and romance

[Mimi Dyer]

Camryn Fontaine, who lives with her mother and stepfather Jacob Brooks in his penthouse in Toronto, comes home from her prom distraught because her classmates made fun of her curvy body. Jacob assures her that they are all idiots and tells her to come to him with any problems. So, Camryn does just that when four years later, even after her mother divorced Jacob, she has to vacate her grad student apartment when the pipes burst.

It doesn’t take long for Camryn and Jacob to accept the undeniable sexual chemistry driving them toward consummating the relationship. What a beautiful, heartwarming age-gap novella Alyson Archer has created. I adore our couple and rooted for them all during their journey to HEA, so if you are in the mood for a passionate story, look no further than Our Little Secret. You won’t be disappointed!

I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.

[Praline 99]

age-gap romance.
Camryn is a young student whose apartment has just been damaged by water, leaving her homeless. With nowhere else to turn since her mother has moved to France she heads to the home of Jacob, her ex-stepfather; she had a massive crush on him back in the day but hasn't seen him for four years. Upon seeing him again, she falls even harder for him, and resisting that attraction proves more difficult than she expected.
Jacob is a wealthy businessman dedicated to his company. He is stunned when the stunning Camryn shows up at his door four years after his split from her mother, yet the attraction he feels for the young woman remains as strong as ever. As they share a penthouse, the pull between them intensifies.
Will Camryn and Jacob find a beautiful romance, or will scandal tear them apart…

I absolutely loved this book; I couldn't put it down.

[Kari Tidwell (karisbookstodevour)]

If you have a daddy kink you should read this, if you don’t have one you should read this and then you’ll have one, and if you hate the idea of a daddy kink, I’d just like to say this is a super quick, ultra cute, age gap romance and it’s crazy enjoyable.
Seriously though, this is spicy and cute with a genuine love at its core and I loved it. The age gap totally works, the forbidden aspect of Jacob being Camryn’s ex stepdad is a thing that fades into the background because these two are kind of magic together, though it does give it a very sexy forbidden feel at the start, and I am here for the way Jacob is so good at making Camryn feel wanted in multiple ways, when she’s never had that before. A quick read more than worth picking up!

[Alice]

If AA writes it… I will read it… usually within 24 hours!

Alyson writes the most perfect palate cleansing books that will instantly get you out of a reading slump…

This one is a delightful, age gap, taboo romance between Jacob, the smoke show, billionaire businessman ex-stepfather and Camryn, the curvaceous college girl who suddenly needs somewhere to stay… say less…

This is longer than Alyson’s other books which was so nice as we got even more depth to the story whilst still keeping it fast-paced… The spice? Ooosh seriously, the spice!! 🥵🌶️ spot on… but combined with the caregiving nature of Jacob towards Camryn (both past and present) - it was the perfect combo!

100% recommend! (…ran straight to the bonus content!!)

Thankyou so much Alyson for the advanced copy 🥰

[Kaija]

I love me a steamy quick age gap forbidden romance!!! It’s was such a fun and quick read too I loved every second of Camryn and Jacob’s story!
When she needs help she turns back to him remembering the promise he made her and the crush she had on him never went away only this time she can act on it. I loved it!!

Sometimes you need something quick and steamy to read and this was perfect!! I really did love how when Jacob caved to his feelings he didn’t hold back from her!!

So grateful to have been able to ARC read this!!

[H S]

For those who want instant chemistry along with a forbidden romance, this one is for you! Camryn was Jacob’s step-daughter but her mom and Jacob divorced 4 years ago. He told her that if she ever needed anything he would always be there for her. She now needs a place to stay after a water leak in her housing and she goes to Jacob. Their attraction is hard to resist and while they try, you can’t miss their magnetic chemistry! 🔥 Plenty of steamy times and fun to see his caring side come out with Camryn.

[Cheryl]

Our Little Secret by Alyson Archer is the story of Jacob and Camryn. He married her mother. Then, a few years later, it fell apart and they divorced. But, he said he’d be there for her if she ever needed him. Now, she needs him. Her apartment is unlivable. She has nowhere to go.

The lingering, underlying feelings between them, even all these years later. This story was a sweet age gap. Didn’t care much for their situation, but it was a pretty good read. Though, as soon as ‘Daddy’ came out, I sort of shut off. Not a fan of ‘Daddy’ stories. Overall, a pretty good read!

[Pam]

Forbidden age gap romance. Jake is many years older than Camryn. Also had been previously married to her mother years ago. Camryn is away at college, then suddenly her room is flooded. With no place to go, she reachs out to Jake when she needs help. When he opens the door he is surprised by the women she has become and his physical and mental reaction too. This is a spicy one, to say the least. With electrifying chemistry and a bond that is formed that is totally undeniable. Overall a great novella that is worth reading!

[Katherine Gisleson]

4.25 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - heavy spice, most of the story is centered around explicit content
1st person, dual POV

This book was like indulging in the fantasy of having someone to pamper and take care of you, buy you clothes and make you coffee, satisfy you in all the ways you can think of 😉 Who hasn’t dreamed of a very rich man who’s obsessed with you and just wants to make you happy in every way??

Thanks to the author for the advance copy 💝 Releases July 24th!

[laura.lovesreading]

He ones told her to always come to him, when she is troubled, needs something… So she does exactly that, even after his divorce from her mother.

What begins as living together transforms fast into a taboo relationship. The chemistry is sizzling, the spice is hot, the love undeniable.

A fun, steamy and delicious treat!

I was allowed to read this book early, but that had absolutely no influence on my review.

[Debra Soehner]

Jacob was Cammie’s stepfather briefly but has now been divorced from her mother for 4 years and they haven’t seen each other during this time. Cammie seeks Jacob out when she needs assistance and her crush on him is still full blown. Theirs is a forbidden relationship due to her mother but also the 26 years age gap but they can’t fight their intense attraction. Great sensual novel about a great couple.

[Heather]

This was such a fun spicy read. If you need just a little spicy nugget, this is the one for you. I loved the caretaking vibes this book had it was just so sweet but so hot. Once they gave in, it was chefs kiss off the charts hot, but them chemistry between the MCs was so so good.

I loved that Jacob was all in and there was no denial of feelings of trying to push Camryn away he just owned it all and it was just what I needed

4 🔥

[Melissa B]

-Taboo
-Age gap
-Former stepfather

This fast-paced, over-the-top novella is not about instant love, instant lust of course. Jacob was married to Camryn's mother until four years ago, so he was briefly her stepfather.
It's a fun, spicy read that delivers on the longing and forbidden relationship between the characters.

I was given a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elly Christmas]

I received this as an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. It has not been influenced in any way.

This was instant lust. Daddy-themed taboo smut. It is mostly all sex, which is good. Quick read and spicy. A little too much conversation about the hood and clit, but that is just me. Otherwise it was expected.

I recommend it for a steamy read.

[Kirstie Allison]

Great premise and lovely connection between the MMCs. The passion between the FMC Camryn and MMC Jacob made them inevitable. The passion was 🥵 and the sweet bits were lovely. A couple of misspellings here and there that could use some editing to make this perfect but all around a great read. I received a free copy of this book as an ARC.