Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been excited for Tallulah and Burgess' story since their meet cute in Fangirl Down. This book did not disappoint! Their chemistry is undeniable and the sexual tension is crazy. The dates they went on were so cute and I enjoyed the way they both honestly express themselves (until the third act breakup, of course and the communication seems to go right out the window). I appreciated Burgess' protective nature over Tallulah but also being okay with giving her the space she needs. I love Tallulah's take no shit attitude and how she's ready to dish it right back if she needs to. It was cute to watch Burgess be so completely enamored with Tallulah right from the start and to watch him bluster and blush as he tried to win her over.

I enjoyed watching Tallulah just ease into Burgess and Lissa's life like she's been there all along. You could really see the relationship improve with Burgess and his daughter.

The epilogue is really cute. From the start, we've watched Burgess be completely and only interested in Tallulah. And it was just a sweet HEA moment to watch that declaration.

I love the way Tessa introduces side characters and then gives them their own story in the following book. I cannot wait or Sig and Chloe's story. They already have an interesting dynamic.

Marine biology student Tallulah takes a job as a nanny for Burgess, a single dad and hockey star. As she helps him navigate dating and his daughter’s desire for her parents to reunite, Tallulah finds herself falling for him. However, their growing feelings are complicated by Burgess’s past and Tallulah’s fear of getting hurt.

This is a fun and steamy rom com with a strong family feel. I love Tallulah and Burgess—they’re perfect together. The characters are well developed and the story emotional.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This was my first Tessa Bailey book and although I enjoyed some aspects, I’m not sure she’s for me. The pacing was good, the characters were entertaining if not believable, the banter (other than the “sexy” talk – just no) was fun, I just wanted more depth. I was hoping for more backstory, more build-up of a relationship rather than just insta-love/lust.

I am also still a little bothered by the age, but even more the experience gap between the main characters. You’ve got a mid-20’s woman who’s suffering some serious PTSD and has been pretty sheltered because of it. Then, you’ve got a jaded, mid-30's, single, divorced father who we find out pretty quickly is SUPER horny and rather aggressive about it. The combo just doesn’t make sense without a bunch of chapters building up their relationship, which we don’t get.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Contemporary romance between a seasoned hockey player and the woman he hires to be his daughter’s Au Pair. This couple met briefly in Fangirl Down and are featured here. I enjoyed Burgess’ relationship with his daughter, Lissa; and while I initially enjoyed his relationship with Tallulah, I found him to be overprotective to the extreme. 3.5 stars.

I had a few, I don’t know, icks, about this book, but overall, it wasn’t too bad compared to some of Tessa’s other books that I have read. Her books are so hit or miss for me, a few are some of my fave romcoms and then some others are truly terrible. I liked the tropes of this, both of the characters were interesting and they had a good amount of chemistry even though it was fairly insta love.

The third act breakup was brutal and the mmc did not grovel nearly enough. She let him off the hook way too easily after he said what he said.

*I received this book in exchange of an host review.

How is is that Tessa Bailey writes such great MMCs? I loved Burgess and how much he cared for his daughter and Tallulah. The way that Bailey can write such humorous quips between all of the characters really makes them three dimensional. I loved the growth between the main characters and the book seemed to fly by. I couldn't believe how fast the story went by. My main complaint is the third act breakup. I always feel that they come out of nowhere and are unrealistic to where the relationship has grown to, but I guess that's just my opinion.

A hockey romance rom-com with lots of banter, slow burn, age gap, spice... need I say more?!

The Au Pair Affair is now my favorite book to date by Tessa Bailey. You have a grumpy, single dad and his quirky live-in nanny. This story had me hooked from the start. I really felt connected to Tallulah and Burgess and wanted to see that happened next. I live for her male leads, and this one was perfect! The grumpy x sunshine trope is one of my favorites, and Burgess did not disappoint. I was SWOONING! The 3rd act breakup was difficult to read and made me cry but I feel like it was the perfect continuation to the series after Wells and Josephine's story and can't wait to read Chole and Sigs story next!

Releases July 16th!!

Thank you so much netgally and the publisher for the arc of this book!

This was such a cute sports romance! There are lots of great tropes in it, too: single dad, forced proximity, age gap, grumpy/sunshine, and opposites attract. Mix in some great banter and a fair amount of spice, and you get a fun summer read! Tallulah and Burgess first appeared in Fangirl Down, and I was excited to read their story. It did not disappoint!

This one is full of heart that spills off the page as Burgess falls first and falls hardest for Tallulah. These two are opposites who complement each other well. Tallulah has been through something truly awful and terrifying, and Burgess works hard to make her feel safe around him. Burgess has his own set of issues, too. He's an aging hockey star who knows his best playing days are probably behind him, and his daughter wants her parents back together. The way the two have navigated their lives comes to the fore, and they both have some growth that needs to occur before they can be together and seeing them do that was very satisfying. A few funny scenes keep things lighthearted, and I loved the build-up of romantic tension between these two. The pacing in the beginning was a tad slow for me, but it picked up quickly, and from there, I ended up binging the majority of this book!

I loved Wells and Josephine from Fangirl Down making a delightful cameo. And even though this is the second book in the series, it works as a stand-alone. We also meet Sig and Chloe in this one, and I cannot wait to read their book when it comes out next year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the free book!

*4.5 rounded up

4.5 stars!

I adore Tessa Bailey’s characters and Burgess is a new favorite MMC. He is grumpy, broody and short-tempered but he is a marshmallow for our main girl, Tallulah, as well as his daughter, Lissa.

Tallulah is hired to be the au pair for Burgess’ tween daughter, Lissa. Tallulah has been working to overcome some past trauma from a previous relationship and is weary of men and Burgess is a hockey player with a reputation for being aggressive on the ice. Despite Tessa’s weariness of men and Burgess’ gruff reputation, the two find themselves drawn to one another and the cutest love story follows. I adored the way Burgess took Tallulah’s comfort into account in everything he did—DREAM GUY!!!

Hockey romance
Nanny romance
Single dad
He falls first

He falls first and fights for her love. Hocky Star Burgess hires Tallulah to be the au pair for his pre teen daughter. Sparks fly quickly and a majority of the book is spent waiting for these two to come together. There are many times it almost happens but something goes wrong. It was a very typical love story and it was enjoyable to read. I wish we got to see them together more. I think they were a couple for maybe 10% of the book. But overall I would recommend and look forward to the next book in the series!

*Thank you Harper Collin’s and netgalley for the arc.

I’ve read almost every book Tessa Bailey has written and she always entertains. I love that the couple, Josephine and Wells from Fangirl Down are also part of this story and how Tallulah and Burgess originally met.

I was surprised to learn of Tallulah’s secret trauma and how it has affected her for years. She hasn’t worked through how to move forward. Meeting Burgess and his daughter, Lissa and the offer to be the au pair for her since Burgess is a single dad, is a great offer so Tallulah can continue her master’s and earn money. Even though Burgess is kind and a protective gentleman, seeing him on the ice is very different since there’s a lot of roughness in hockey. I’ve been to hockey games and loved when the players hit the glass and fight, but I didn’t know anyone personally.

Burgess and Tallulah are like magnets to each other and it’s not long before their chemistry ignites. Burgess is the boss so has qualms about being involved with his employee plus a large age difference, but they are definitely explosive. Unfortunately, there are some issues that arise which is heart-breaking.

Traveling to the wedding of Josephine and Wells in Costa Rica shows Burgess that he’s not so set in his ways, and I loved seeing him try new things.

This is a sweet romance with Burgess falling first and hard and so supportive of Tallulah. The HEA was perfection!

I can’t wait to see which couple will be part of the next book in the series but have a good idea – can’t wait for that!

I highly recommend this book for any romance fans but especially sport romance.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this new book.

This was SO GOOD. I loved her first in this series so I was eager to get my hands on this one, and it was even better than the first! If you love Tessa, you'll love this book!

Tallulah is 26 years old starting a graduate program in marine biology. When the opportunity arises to be a live-in nanny for Burgess, a charming hockey player and single dad, she doesn't hesitate to say yes. Who wouldn't want to live in a fancy neighborhood and hang out with a cool tween girl? To top it off, Tallulah even agrees to help Burgess navigate the tricky world of dating again. But when lines start to blur and emotions run high, they both find themselves skating on thin ice.

While the premise of the story was promising, the execution fell short for me. I wanted more development in both the relationship between Tallulah and Burgess, as well as their individual growth throughout the story. The focus on the steamy scenes took away from the emotional connection I usually feel with Bailey's characters. Additionally, I found some of the dialogue to be unrealistic and forced, which took me out of the story. Overall, I was left wanting more depth and substance from this book. I would recommend this book for those looking for a light read with plenty of steam, but for readers looking for a more emotionally engaging story, this may not be the best choice.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. Tessa Bailey did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! And of course there was some fun spice ;) I would highly recommend it!

This was such a cute story. I absolutely loved Tallulah with Lissa. She had such a good way with her. But I also loved all the ways she taught Burgess to be an even better dad.

Obviously with this being a Bailey book this was full of steam but she also included some heartfelt communication between Tallulah and Burgess that gave the book more depth.

I hadn't read book one but this story still worked just fine as a standalone. I just preferred a hockey playing hero and Burgess did not disappoint. Nor did Tallulah at her first game.

If you like forced proximity, hockey, and steam you'll love this book.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

3.5*
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*


Overall I really liked Tallulah and Burgess separate and together as a couple. I liked how he was always there for her when she needed him. I loved his protective side. About half way through is where I lost interest somehow. I really wanted more with Lissa too. I can't wait for the next one tho!

The Au Pair Affair: A Novel (Big Shots Book 2
By: Tessa Bailey

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Oh my heart!

In yet another great read from author Tessa Bailey we get book 2 in the Big shots series. I really like this book a lot. Tallulah has a few contradictions to her personality I truly enjoyed. She was careful and caring but not Star struck which I liked. Burgess was not only a good guy but a loving dad, sometimes clueless but I’m mean he’s a guy. The authors writing is flawless and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.

Authors Blurb: 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. 

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in single POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

I liked the story line in this book and it kept my attention the whole way through. I do not like third person writing style so that was the only con in my opinion. 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read!

As a huge fan of Fangirl Down and almost all Tessa books, I had high hopes for this one! It did not disappoint. Burgess was the perfect single dad and everything you want in a protective, sensitive man. I loved their relationship and the Banter was on point!

I’m not sure what it is about Tessa Bailey’s MMCs that get me, but Burgess checked off every one of my boxes for a growly, big, protective, male that will stop at nothing for his girl. I swear Bailey puts crack in her books because they are that addictive to me. I knew while reading Fangirl Down and briefly meeting Burgess and Tallulah that I was going to love them, and I absolutely did, maybe even more than I expected. Take an easy to love heroine that’s good with kids and is forced to be within proximity of a stubborn scary on the ice alpha hockey player eleven years older than her and you have the makings of a hit.

Bailey isn’t reinventing the wheel here, but she is so good at writing these types of characters that have unmistakable chemistry that you know you are reading romance gold when you visit her world. And this time her world is full of lots of dirty talk, lots of “we’re super into each other but shouldn’t be” energy, lots of touch her and die, I only have eyes for you, lots of dry humping because we “shouldn’t”, and lots and lots of protective I see you and will take care of you vibes. This book got so hot that I actually had to take a break because it was so steamy (and I am NOT complaining). But there is also a level of protectiveness that we get from Burgess that is so sweet and so tender that just melts his gruff Sir Savage personality. Bailey loves her heroes and knows how to write the type of male that is flawed, but will do anything for the woman he loves (in Burgess’s case that means seeking help for his back, doing rehab, going on wild adventures for her), and that makes readers keep coming back to her books again and again. I loved every minute of The Au Pair Affair and am DYING for a Sig and Chloe book, pretty please Tessa? Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for my early copy. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭🪭🌡️
Number of times Burgess growls: 2️⃣5️⃣