I am hit or miss with Tessa Bailey. I also didn't realize that this was a second book in a companion series, but I really enjoyed this. I loved Burgess and Tallulah. Her trauma is not something that gets talked about very often, but it does happen to women and I really liked her as a character. I loved meeting the characters from the first book. I may go back and read it. It was just such an easy read and I really liked the fact that it was a single dad romance. I love a good single parent romance. Plus, this one is with an older child which I feel is also rare.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 rounded up)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and Tessa Bailey for a free copy of The Au Pair Affair in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now!

This was a cute, fun read that kept me turning the page! I particularly liked the different take on trauma, trust, and facing fears. I think romance authors fall into a bit of a cliche’d approach when facing difficulties of the past, but here Tessa Bailey explores a different kind of trauma and how someone moves forward with their life after. Regardless of how rare it is to go through what Tallulah did, it touches on something all women can relate to — the fear of how a man will react when rejected.

My main complaint with the book was that once the scenes got spicy, they felt out of character and a little forced, almost like they existed for the sake of being able to market the book with quotes/tropes that will draw readers in. It felt disingenuous for these particular MCs, especially considering Tallulah's past and the lack of conversation between the two regarding how she wanted to be talked to in bed lol, but maybe that was just me and it won't bother you!

You might really like this book if you’re a fan of hockey romances, single dad, millionaire, grumpy-sunshine, age gap, boss/employee, and forced proximity tropes. Ultimately, this book is VERY Tessa Bailey-esque. Before this book, I’ve read It Happened One Summer, Hook Line and Sinker, Happenstance, and Fix Her Up. I liked the Bellinger Sisters Duet but not the other two. So, I’m starting to think maybe Tessa Bailey isn’t my vibe like I once thought she was. But if you like most of her books, don’t hesitate to pick this one up!!

For 2024, I’ll be using this rating scale:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I mourned the ending of this journey 🥹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really enjoyed and would recommend
⭐️⭐️⭐️ it was fine
⭐️⭐️ I didn’t enjoy this journey
⭐️ I dnf’d or wish I’d dnf’d
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ this is smutty smutty erotica 🥵
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ a lot of spice
🌶️🌶️🌶️ some spice
🌶️🌶️ romantic b plot / closed door / YA romance
🌶️ no romance / nonfiction

Diving back into a Tessa Bailey novel is like welcoming a hug from a long missed friend. You know you’re in for laughter, love, two people who will make mistakes but will love harder than any two people you’ve met and side of ridiculousness that will leave you feeling completed by the end. No surprise here that I absolutely adored Burgess and Tallulah after getting sneak peeks of them in the first book. The grumpy single dad goalie and our much younger au pair who has trust issues with men. I love seeing a vulnerable side of both of these and how from page one Burgess was down bad for her. I love the way Burgess was protective and wanted to keep Tallulah safe but also wanted to watch her grow into a woman who no longer needed someone to protect her. We see Tallulah and both Burgess blossom into people who are confident, sure of themselves and open to love as this stories goes on. I love a good grovel and everything that burgess delivered in this story made me fall deeper for them. This book comes with the Tessa Bailey spice but in a way that the tension couldn’t be denied from the very beginning. This book felt different than her others and I love watching her explore as an author and ultimately making such a beautiful story of complex characters with real emotions you can feel bleed from every page.

This book was really cute. Far from a realistic love story, so if you are looking for something believable, skip it. However, if you just want something fun that you can escape in, definitely pick it up! The characters were fun, their relationship impossible to turn away from. The chemistry was incredible. I liked that they grew personally and as a couple. It moved quickly, making for a perfect "beach read." I liked all the characters and found myself cheering for them as individuals and as a couple. I also liked the supporting cast and look forward to the next book in the series. 
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I just read The Au Pair Affair and it was such a cute hockey romance. It is the story of an au pair and the hockey player she works for. Totally formulaic and predictable but there is something cute and comforting to me with these kind of books. Just a little escapism. As a warning, don’t let that cute little cover fool you, this one was quite spicy. Very.

The sequel to Fangirl Down, starring Tallulah and Burgess. Overall 3.5/5 - spoiler free likes and dislikes include:

Likes -
Covers real issues (emotional abuse awareness, rejection)
Shows healthy relationships (amicable divorced parents, stepmother / stepdaughter, friendships)

Dislikes -
Written in third person
Doesn’t have a lot of actual hockey content

I’ve been so looking forward to Talullah and Burgess’ story and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed this more than Fan Girl down - I’m a sucker for single dad’s and Talullah’s journey was so compelling. I also think that Tessa Bailey’s writing has matured in a very pleasing way. I’m super stoked for Sigi and Chloe’s book - a pseudo step sibling romance? Yes please!

A sports rom-com about a burly, surly, single dad who falls head-over-hockey-stick for his quirky live-in nanny...

Tallulah is smart, vivacious, and studying to be a marine biologist. She’s also twenty-six and broke. So when Burgess, a battle-scarred hockey veteran and newly single dad, offers her a job as his live-in nanny, she jumps at the opportunity to get paid while living in a super fancy neighborhood and being around Lissa, his cool but introverted tween.

Her tween charge isn’t the only one who could use some help fitting in, though. According to…well, everyone except Burgess, he needs to get back on the dating scene, and adventurous Tallulah is just the girl to show him how. But as boundaries are slowly crossed and Burgess finds himself pulled between his daughter, who wants her parents back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah, a huge rift is formed, and Tallulah does the “right” thing—breaks her own heart and walks away.

Though Burgess knows it’s for the best—he’s too jaded, with too much baggage—a chance meeting, and a new push from his daughter, forces him to put everything on the line and fight to prove he learned his lessons well and is worthy of a happily ever after with Tallulah.

Tessa Bailey is so, so good at nailing the rom-com. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters. Tallulah helps Burgess to become a more relaxed and open person, while making sure he fits in with his daughter and teammates. This story includes sports romance, forced proximity and an age gap.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for an eARC in exhange for an honest review.

Tessa + Hockey = an unmatched duo

There was angst, an age gap, the single hot dad x nanny trope, hockey, groveling, and banter. And there’s so much more to add but those right there made this an immediate yes. I can talk about this book all day!!

"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐞."
"𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞. 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞."

I was swooning hard for Burgess, or as they call him Sir Savage. The tension in this book had me on the floor same with their chemistry. Burgess was everything I needed and I fear he may take the lead as my favorite Tessa Bailey man.

Everything about this book, I loved! Tallulah and Burgess forever 🥹 Also, the character development was top notch! I loved seeing them both let down their guards and lean on each other!!!

I feel like every time I finish a Tessa Bailey book, I'm not really sure what to think of it. Typically I either love it or hate it, sometimes, it's in-between. I feel like this one was more of an in-between type of story for me. I smiled and laughed; my co-worker saw me grinning while reading and questioned what was going on. I also stayed up way too late one night to finish this because I didn't want to put it down. Then there is the other side where I didn't love how the MMC acted at times. I liked the characters well enough, but it's almost like he had some personality switch and started pressuring the FMC to be in a relationship with him when it was clear that she wanted to work on herself first before she got into a serious relationship. He really needed to respect her more on that end for 80% of the book. He did redeem himself at the end, but still, I wish he wouldn't have pressured her so much with things. Other than that and the fact that it seemed like the couple just wanted to have sex instead of actually get to know one another, I did enjoy this book. If I was being realistic, I'd give this 3.5 stars, but it made me smile enough to keep it at a 4 star read.

The Au Pair Affair is book 2 of Tessa Bailey’s sports romance standalone series, Bigshots. I have been anxiously awaiting this book ever since devouring the first one, and it did not disappoint!

Burgess is a rugged and determined defenseman in hockey, who embodies the role of protector in all aspects of his life. His gruff exterior hides a heart of gold, especially when it comes to his daughter and Talulah. He is the quintessential growly hero with swoony charm.

Talulah, a smart and resilient grad student, moves in with Burgess as his daughter’s au pair. She is a strong and inspiring character, determined to carve out her own path despite past traumas.

The chemistry between Burgess and Talulah is palpable from the start, and their relationship quickly evolves beyond professional boundaries, providing Talulah with the support and encouragement she needs to seek new adventures and step out of her shell. Burgess' support helps her to rediscover herself.

I am thoroughly enjoying Tessa Bailey’s take on sports romance so far! Her ability to blend humor, spice passion, and emotional depth keeps me eagerly turning the pages. I look forward to what she has in store for us next in the Bigshots series!

Tessa is really at the top of her romance game with the last several novels! This age gap, single dad/nanny, forced proximity, forbidden romance was simply smoldering. Burgess had mean daddy energy from their first meeting, and when he learned that Talluah's past included an ex-boyfriend stalker, his protective nature was oozing off the pages. While this rom-com includes somewhat heavier back stories including stalking and divorce, Tessa approaches those topics with care and infuses the narrative with her signature humor and heart. A couple I rooted for from page 1 to the end with an incredible spicy pay-off, this is another 5 star romance read that ended a slump!

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰'𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒕," 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅𝒍𝒚. “𝑨𝒔𝒌 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒈𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The first 70% of this book was absolutely perfect. I loved the building tension between Tallulah and Burgess, the bond forming between Tallulah and Lissa, and all of the adorable family moments in between.

But that is exactly what was missing from the last 30% of the book.
There was tension, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t the kind that had me swooning like the first 70%. It was the kind that made me anxious and sad. It was a beautiful ending with so many life lessons and character development - but the vibe switch threw me for a loop. I wasn’t expecting to feel like I just walked out of a therapy session after reading a Tessa Bailey book.

I was also sad that Lissa wasn’t as involved in the ending. I was happy we had reappearances of Wells and Josephine from Fangirl Down, but with so much of the book focused on Tallulah being an Au Pair and her friendship forming with Lissa, I was sad we didn’t see more of her in the end.

Even after being disappointed in the ending, this book is still nearly a five star read for me, and it is all because of Burgess.
I loved how protective he was. It was a different type of protectiveness than what I had anticipated from a giant hockey player. It wasn’t all about him being domineering and throwing his weight around for the girls physical safety, but more of his concern about Tallulah and Lissa’s emotional well being, and making sure they were always comfortable and happy. The second he realized Tallulah was hesitant to be alone in a room with him, he was doing everything he could to make her feel safe. It was refreshing and so thoughtful, I forgave him immediately for his lapse in judgment later in the book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for:
💙 Hockey Romance
💛 Nanny/Au Pair Romance
💙 Age Gap
💛 Protective MMC
💙 Family Dynamics


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Queen Tessa does it again and this series is quickly becoming one of my favorites from her! The tension and spice had me giggling and squealing the whole time. I’m excited for what’s to come!

Don’t ask me why, but I loved this. I enjoyed the characters and found them flawed but sweet. I wanted to go back and keep reading to be immersed in their world.

Tessa Bailey is still one of my all-time favorites. I will sing her praises until I die. The Au Pair Affair is the second book in her sports romance series, and it's a single dad romance, which just happens to be my kryptonite. It has hockey. It has an age gap. It has a tween daughter who reminds me of myself at that age. It has a hot nanny (I mean, au pair). It has cameos from Wells and Josephine. It has everything you could ask for and more.

There's just something about Tessa's writing that makes me smile. The smut is A+. The characters are charming. The sports are just the right amount of sporty. I genuinely have no complaints or criticisms--only praise from this gal. When I need a book that will give me just the right dose of dopamine, I always pick up a Tessa Bailey book. She hasn't let me down yet.

"The Au Pair Affair" revolves around Tallulah, a marine biology student who is financially struggling. She takes a job as a live-in nanny for Burgess, a hockey player and newly single dad, to care for his tween daughter. Burgess is suggested by everyone except himself to re-enter the dating scene. Tallulah, with her adventurous spirit, is seen as the perfect person to help him with this transition. However, as they spend more time together, boundaries are crossed, and a strong chemistry develops between them.

I was very excited to read "The Au Pair Affair" after surprisingly enjoying Fangirl Down. I mean if Tessa could write a golf romance I enjoyed, how could you go wrong with a hockey romance? But, "The Au Pair Affair" fell a little flat for me which is surprising since I read the whole thing in just about one day-ish. I think there were good things sprinkled throughout this book but all together it just wasn't my favorite. Most of the time I was thinking that I'm more excited to read Chloe's story than the one currently in front of me. However, that isn't to say this was a completely horrible book. Here is what I liked and didn't like.

What I liked:
- Burgess falls first
- Addressing concerns of aging and growing older
- Overcoming fears
- grumpy/sunshine
- Sig and Chloe

What I didn't like:
- Tallulah is not an Au Pair (misleading title), she is a live in nanny
- 3rd act breakup
- Not enough time spent on the relationship with the daughter. With this book having the single dad and nanny trope, why didn't get more time with Lissa and Tallulah or even Lissa and Burgess?
- Too much spice and insta-lust
- Tallulah pushing Burgess at other people
- Wish there was more slow-burn

3/5 stars for me but excited for the next book to come out.

I am here for the sports romances, especially from Tessa Bailey!
This was such a fun read, especially after Fan Girl Down. I usually don't love when one of the characters is instantly attracted to the other with no explanation, but it didn't bother me this time around. Maybe because Burgess is so likable. He's mature, smart, caring, thoughtful, and honest. He lets her know what he wants without being creepy or too pushy. Bailey built the tension well and every time Tallulah backed away, I just had to read the next chapter to see their next interaction. The third act breakup wasn't the best, but the apologizing/groveling/winning her back was pretty epic. Also, the spice level is exactly what I expect from Tessa Bailey.
I knocked this down to 4 stars instead of five because it felt like his daughter was second fiddle the whole time and it probably shouldn't be that way. It felt like Tallulah was the nanny for one day and then her focus totally changed, and again, the daughter becomes background. If I'm being picky, I also don't like the name Tallulah and I felt like her family backstory was odd.
Overall, I still loved this installment in the Big Shots series and can't wait for Sig's and Chloe's story!

Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey, book two in her Big Shots series, is heartwarming, humorous, flirty and sizzling; with wonderful but troubled characters; a nanny/boss, age gap romance with a sprinkle of grumpy/sunshine. Burgess was a divorced, grumpy hockey player who traveled with his job, and in need of an au pair to help take care of his 12-year-old daughter, Lissa. Based on the recommendation from his best friend, Burgess hires Tallulah, a marine biology grad student who was broken, nervous to be around any man because of her past and in need of a a place to live. Despite their eleven year age gap his heart was falling fast for Tallulah. Overall, this is a sweet, high-chemistry sports romance, with likable characters that made me laugh, cry and blush.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley, #Avon

I don't read a lot of romance, but I loved Fangirl Down so I knew I had to read this too. The Au Pair Affair just ignited something unexplainable inside of me. I need more. I need every Tessa Bailey book she has to offer. I was a promise, or legally binding contract where she vows to write 20 more novels.
I loved this so much. The characters. The close proximity. The humor. The last half was especially romcom gold, and I truly enjoyed it so much.