What do you think?
Rate this book
Secrets of the Harper Sisters #3
The Fear
I’m all for second chances, everyone makes mistakes, but Brandon destroyed my life when he left, and I’ll be dammed if I let him do it again.
I’m Cassandra Harper. This year was supposed to be my fresh start. The change I needed to repair all the damage after my dreams were shattered and actually make something worthwhile of my life. That was until I found out he was back.
Brandon Lewis. When he left me, he was a nobody, with nothing to his name. He's returned a smug, cocky, ex-professional football player, loved and adored by all. I would just stay the hell away from him, but as luck would have it, he’s now the new football coach at Palm Springs High. The very same school where I have just started teaching dance, making him impossible to avoid.
He makes his intentions obvious right from the start. He’s not going anywhere, and this time he knows what he wants—me.
Having him around makes me crazy, and my well-practiced act starts to slip. I’m not the girl I was back then. I have secrets because of him, deep dark secrets that I have hidden so well until now, and I would do just about anything to keep them that way. And that means keeping him away as well.
Am I right to be scared? Will Brandon destroy me again? Or could this be the second chance I need to really live my life free from all the fear?
I’m Cassandra Harper. This year was supposed to be my fresh start. The change I needed to repair all the damage after my dreams were shattered and actually make something worthwhile of my life. That was until I found out he was back.
Brandon Lewis. When he left me, he was a nobody, with nothing to his name. He's returned a smug, cocky, ex-professional football player, loved and adored by all. I would just stay the hell away from him, but as luck would have it, he’s now the new football coach at Palm Springs High. The very same school where I have just started teaching dance, making him impossible to avoid.
He makes his intentions obvious right from the start. He’s not going anywhere, and this time he knows what he wants—me.
Having him around makes me crazy, and my well-practiced act starts to slip. I’m not the girl I was back then. I have secrets because of him, deep dark secrets that I have hidden so well until now, and I would do just about anything to keep them that way. And that means keeping him away as well.
Am I right to be scared? Will Brandon destroy me again? Or could this be the second chance I need to really live my life free from all the fear?
- GenresSecond Chance
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2022
46 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
A.K. Steel
17 books159 followersA. K. Steel is a steamy romance and romantic suspense author. She lives on the beautiful South Coast of NSW, Australia, with her partner and three pre-teens, a Cocker Spaniel, and a Lovebird. When she's not writing or daydreaming about new story ideas, you can find her playing with flowers at the local flower shop or kicking a soccer ball around with her team.
A. K. takes readers on thrilling escapes from reality into her captivating world. With an intoxicating blend of danger and desire, her stories plunge readers into unforgettable journeys where they surrender to the dangerous charms of irresistible heroes and the fierce heroines they love. Lose yourself in fiery chemistry, delectable plot twists, and edge-of-your-seat adventures that culminate in satisfying happily ever afters.
A. K. takes readers on thrilling escapes from reality into her captivating world. With an intoxicating blend of danger and desire, her stories plunge readers into unforgettable journeys where they surrender to the dangerous charms of irresistible heroes and the fierce heroines they love. Lose yourself in fiery chemistry, delectable plot twists, and edge-of-your-seat adventures that culminate in satisfying happily ever afters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 17, 2022
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5)
Trope: Second chance
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
Overall, The Fear was a decent read and I'll definitely give this author another go. This is my first book by this author and I went in blind, so I had no idea what to expect except except to know it was a second chance romance. The storyline was really good. I thought it was just going to be a small town romance second chance, but about halfway through it kinda turned into a romantic suspense with tons of action and I was totally feeling it. I just had a REALLY hard time with the heroine. Cassandra had been through a lot, but I just found her to be a super whiny drama queen and had a hard time ever warming up to her. Add to that the angst in every interaction between them was cranked to 10 in the beginning 🙈, it was just too much for me. Like I said, I did really enjoy the storyline. I felt I would have had a little more of the back story if I had read the first two books first, but it wasn't too bad. Lots of super interesting side characters and a series cliffy that definitely left me wanting to check out the next book. I'll definitely be checking it out!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes contain spoilers
Trope: Second chance
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
Overall, The Fear was a decent read and I'll definitely give this author another go. This is my first book by this author and I went in blind, so I had no idea what to expect except except to know it was a second chance romance. The storyline was really good. I thought it was just going to be a small town romance second chance, but about halfway through it kinda turned into a romantic suspense with tons of action and I was totally feeling it. I just had a REALLY hard time with the heroine. Cassandra had been through a lot, but I just found her to be a super whiny drama queen and had a hard time ever warming up to her. Add to that the angst in every interaction between them was cranked to 10 in the beginning 🙈, it was just too much for me. Like I said, I did really enjoy the storyline. I felt I would have had a little more of the back story if I had read the first two books first, but it wasn't too bad. Lots of super interesting side characters and a series cliffy that definitely left me wanting to check out the next book. I'll definitely be checking it out!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes contain spoilers
October 18, 2022
I had to go back and read the end of THE ESCAPE to remember exactly what happened right before I started THE FEAR. I remember there being some sort of cliffhanger and by golly, was it ever. So when this one started out the way it did I was a bit confused. But not for long. When it all came together I was more impressed with the author and how she had it all play out in this one.
One thing I always seem to notice, when you read Steel’s books, she is going to make these characters work for their happily ever after and their love life. There will also be some kind of suspense that keeps your heart lodged in your throat as you work through it. It’s the absolute best.
Fantastic and suspenseful the whole way through, THE FEAR was a nonstop read for me. I devoured it. This author penned something so powerful it grabbed my attention from the start and held on up until the very end. I eagerly read it, needing to know what secrets Brandon and Cassie held. I needed to know that what happened in the past wouldn’t happen again. I wanted them to find their happily ever after.
Loved everything about this book and everything that transpired between Brandon and Cassie. Their story even had me dying to know what other stories these amazing secondary characters were eager to tell. In the end she wrote this story to perfection with a romance that never stopped once. It was right there in every turn, no matter how much they both denied it at first. I. Was. Consumed. 5 Stars!
One thing I always seem to notice, when you read Steel’s books, she is going to make these characters work for their happily ever after and their love life. There will also be some kind of suspense that keeps your heart lodged in your throat as you work through it. It’s the absolute best.
Fantastic and suspenseful the whole way through, THE FEAR was a nonstop read for me. I devoured it. This author penned something so powerful it grabbed my attention from the start and held on up until the very end. I eagerly read it, needing to know what secrets Brandon and Cassie held. I needed to know that what happened in the past wouldn’t happen again. I wanted them to find their happily ever after.
Loved everything about this book and everything that transpired between Brandon and Cassie. Their story even had me dying to know what other stories these amazing secondary characters were eager to tell. In the end she wrote this story to perfection with a romance that never stopped once. It was right there in every turn, no matter how much they both denied it at first. I. Was. Consumed. 5 Stars!
October 19, 2022
Cassandra & Brandon were together before he took off & destroyed her heart, and her life has been terrible in the aftermath. She finally feels like she's on the right path with a new job at her old high school as the new dance teacher, but Brandon has come home after playing in the NFL to be the new high school football coach, and she's reeling. Yes, Brandon has come home, and he's definitely come home for more than just to give back as the coach, he's determined to get his girl back, but he didn't account for the deep hatred she felt towards him, not to mention, he can't figure out why she hasn't achieved her dreams. Their second chance at love was definitely filled with a ton of angst that really messed with my heart because this author took forever to reveal why Cassandra's dreams weren't achieved, but the sparks were definitely flying from the jump. If that wasn't crazy enough, suspense crept in & the story went to crazy in a very short period of time never to slow down again as the twists came in hot & the action amped up. I LOVED every minute of this story, and I certainly CANNOT WAIT for the next sister's story as I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
October 20, 2022
Wowzers, there's so much going on in this story. You will get romance, sizzle, angst, suspense and it will keep you eagerly turning the pages. This is way more than a second chance romance. The chemistry is hot hot hot with Cass and Brandon and they have so secrets to unravel. Totally entertaining.
October 19, 2022
I bloody devoured this book! I just love everything Steel writes with Cassandra and Brandon’s story being no different and one hell of a story it was, let’s just say they had to work hard for their happy ending but I’m sure they’d have it no other way.
The book will have you on the edge of your seat with all the truths that are revealed, the deception, the lies, the contracts, it all!!
Cassandra is definitely one of my favourite of the sisters. She is so determined and strong, Her life wasn’t in her control and she was being who people wanted her to be but throughout this book she takes back her life and becomes the person she wants the persons she is happy to be and I loved seeing that achievement.
Brandon is mine like sorry he is, he’s obsessive, possessive, dominant, determined and everything else you want in a bit boyfriend with A touch of a dark side. I love his passion and his drive thought this book with it being getting Cassandra back or protecting the people that he loves. You can’t not love him!
I am not the biggest fan of second chance romance but I love this one because you really felt their strive and struggle to be together, they both made mistakes they both realise that and they both worked through it together, it wasn’t necessarily easy (what is) but they came out stronger than ever and I love that.
Steel never ceases to surprise me with where her plots go I’ve never gone into one of her books expecting what’s going to happen and I love that it’s truly an experience in its own. I love these sisters so much and I am adoring this series all I can say is is I’m so excited for the fourth and final book but I will be very sad when it’s over (but the teaser of the new series excites me a lot)!🩰📚
November 17, 2022
Another brilliant book
October 18, 2022
Fear is an intense read with not only a lot of emotions, but with suspense that keeps on the edge waiting to see how it all plays out. Cassandra and Brandon have a past that was all consuming love and teenage dreams of planning futures together, yet fate and other obstacles step in their way destroying all they had planned. Cassandra went through a lot and still blames Brandon because his quick departure left her not only heartbroken but struggling. When life throws these two back in the same path the tension bleeds through the pages and you know the attraction is still there but so many secrets, questions, and lies are still this obstacle between them. Can Cassandra ever learn to forgive herself let alone Brandon for the things they have weighed her down all these years? Once all the secrets come to light will it be the ultimate thing that wrecks any semblance, they have a anything more? This book will have you feeling the pain of their past, hurting for what could have been, wanting them to find happiness, but knowing it will be a work in progress to get there.
October 19, 2022
This is the third book in this incredible series, and this is Brandon and Cassandra’s journey. These two were high school sweethearts, until Brandon broke things off with her via text, and then disappeared without a work, leaving Cassie heartbroken and struggling. Now Cassie is trying to repair the damage after her dreams were shattered, and she is now teaching dance at the local high school. Brandon is now cocky, and a profession football player, who has returned to town as the new football coach at the local high school, the same school as Cassie, making him impossible to avoid. This is a well written story which has secrets, lies, challenges, angst, forgiveness, emotions, suspense, romance, tension, intrigue, 2nd chances, and love, which leads to a steamy and compelling page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
October 20, 2022
𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝑜 𝐼 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃.
My journey with the Harper sisters began with the first book, The Coach, and I've loved every book since. Each sister is struggling with some different, and I was so excited to read Cassie's story finally.
𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒷𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒹𝑜 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒾𝓍 𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓊𝓅 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓁𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒.
Cassie is back in her hometown, teaching at her old high school as a dance teacher. She is shocked to learn that her high school ex-boyfriend is also the football coach, and all she wants to do is avoid him since he broke her heart. Brandon is here to stay, and he wants Cassie, but she isn't going to give in that easily. Can she put the past behind her and forgive him so they can have a second chance?
I'm looking forward to reading Amelia's story, The Reunion.
My journey with the Harper sisters began with the first book, The Coach, and I've loved every book since. Each sister is struggling with some different, and I was so excited to read Cassie's story finally.
𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒷𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒹𝑜 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒾𝓍 𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓊𝓅 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓁𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒.
Cassie is back in her hometown, teaching at her old high school as a dance teacher. She is shocked to learn that her high school ex-boyfriend is also the football coach, and all she wants to do is avoid him since he broke her heart. Brandon is here to stay, and he wants Cassie, but she isn't going to give in that easily. Can she put the past behind her and forgive him so they can have a second chance?
I'm looking forward to reading Amelia's story, The Reunion.
October 14, 2022
“The Fear” is a suspenseful and steamy second chance romance that pulled me in immediately with the tension between Cassandra and Brandon and kept me reading until the end to figure out who was coming after Brandon.
Cassandra and Brandon were teenage sweethearts and were planning their future together. But when Brando breaks up with her via a text message and disappears for six years. Finally moved on, Cassie has a new job at her old high school as a dance teacher. There is also a new football coach starting and it’s Brandon. Brandon is back for good and wants Cassie back.
I loved the tension and angst between Cassie and Brandon that we got from the very beginning. Cassie was truly hurt by Brandon and wasn’t going to let him back in so easily, he had to work for it. I admired her strength in picking herself after he left. I was mad at Brandon for leaving but when the reason why he did was revealed, I couldn’t be upset anymore. He’s a good guy and more than makes up for it. I loved their chemistry and their steamy scenes were delicious. I loved the added suspense to the story and the plot twists were great. I’m looking forward to the next Harper Sisters book.
Cassandra and Brandon were teenage sweethearts and were planning their future together. But when Brando breaks up with her via a text message and disappears for six years. Finally moved on, Cassie has a new job at her old high school as a dance teacher. There is also a new football coach starting and it’s Brandon. Brandon is back for good and wants Cassie back.
I loved the tension and angst between Cassie and Brandon that we got from the very beginning. Cassie was truly hurt by Brandon and wasn’t going to let him back in so easily, he had to work for it. I admired her strength in picking herself after he left. I was mad at Brandon for leaving but when the reason why he did was revealed, I couldn’t be upset anymore. He’s a good guy and more than makes up for it. I loved their chemistry and their steamy scenes were delicious. I loved the added suspense to the story and the plot twists were great. I’m looking forward to the next Harper Sisters book.
October 20, 2022
Cassie and Brandon are just hot. That's one way to describe them and their story. This is why I love second-chance romance. It always will give me all the feels! And this story did it for me. My heart broke and ached for Cassie but continuously rooted for her throughout. And of course, waiting for Brandon to redeem himself. All I can say is, he did redeem himself by the end of it. I absolutely loved the ending. It's so wonderful!
October 13, 2022
Well Alicia, you've done it again!
Cassie and Brandon are everything.... despite what happened.
It was so good to be back with the girls.
Some of the scenes 🥵🥵🥵
And that ending! I have no words. Im excited for the next book.
And that twist. I didn't see that coming at all. I thought it was a set up! (You know what I mean)
And the boys....I can't wait!
Cassie and Brandon are everything.... despite what happened.
It was so good to be back with the girls.
Some of the scenes 🥵🥵🥵
And that ending! I have no words. Im excited for the next book.
And that twist. I didn't see that coming at all. I thought it was a set up! (You know what I mean)
And the boys....I can't wait!
October 11, 2022
Cassandra is back in her home town and gets a teaching job at her old high school. Problem, the new football coach is Brandon, the boy who broke her heart. Six years have passed but they both still feel the pull for each other. Cassie tries to fight it, but she’s just hurting herself.
A story of love, forgiveness, following your dreams, and fighting for what you want.
A story of love, forgiveness, following your dreams, and fighting for what you want.
November 16, 2022
While I found this second-chance story to be a good read, I struggled to get into it, which almost put me off from continuing. Although I am glad, I did continue.
I really liked the chemistry between Brandon and Cassandra – even when she hated him at first. While I understood that Cassandra had been through a lot, I found her to be a bit too much sometimes.
I love a good angsty story, and this is delivered along with the suspense, romance, side characters, and cliffhanger. I will definitely be reading more from this author for sure! ❤
I really liked the chemistry between Brandon and Cassandra – even when she hated him at first. While I understood that Cassandra had been through a lot, I found her to be a bit too much sometimes.
I love a good angsty story, and this is delivered along with the suspense, romance, side characters, and cliffhanger. I will definitely be reading more from this author for sure! ❤
February 19, 2023
Review to come
November 27, 2023
Great book, the characters from previous books in this series make guest appearances. Cannot wait to read more from this author
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews