I have yet to read something by Tessa that I don't instantly fall in love with! I could NOT put this book down!!!!

This is the second book in the big shot series. This book follows Burgess and Tallulah. Burgess is big hockey player who needs a nanny for his daughter and while out to dinner with friends Tallulah ends up agreeing to be his live in nanny. Burgesses is mesmerized by Tallulah the minute he meets her and knows this is a bad idea but agrees anyway.

When the time comes for her to move in she is hesitant and when we found out why I was absolutely heartbroken for her. Burgesses went above and beyond to make her feel not only comfortable but save in his home. I love a man obsessed and Tessa knows exactly how to write them! Their HEA doesn't come easy and they had a lot of obstacles to overcome. Tallulah had a lot of trauma she had to work through and Burgesses was there for her in a way no one else had ever been. I cant wait to see what comes next for this series!

Tropes:
* hockey romance
* he falls first and hard
* forced proximity
* age gap (11 years)
* single dad

I personally love Tessa Bailey and I think all her books are fun and cute and sexy. Tallulah is smart and witty and Burgess is the ultimate sexy single dad (points for also being a hockey player). One of my favorite tropes is the live-in nanny trope and I knew Tessa would do it justice. Would deffo recommend if you're looking for a fun and hot read :)

First book i read by Tessa Bailey, not my kind of jam, didn't like the instant love, I felt like there was no development in the story, too much spicy. No plot. They meet, they talk and they love each other. Nothing more.
Thank Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange of an honest review.

"The Au Pair Affair" by Tessa Bailey will be out Jul 16 2024.
First of all i want to thank Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book in advance.
Tessa Bailey's books are nothing new to me, I've read quite a few of them already, some I loved, others I found boring, others I hated. This story is somewhere in between, it's the first Tessa book with the daddy-nanny trope that I've read. Obviously the spicy scenes are many and intense (classic Bailey). But other than that I didn't find the story interesting. There is the double PoV, and as a trope we can say, excluding the daddy vs nanny that there is the grumpy x sunshine and the age gap.I was hoping to have a surprise in this book, I was hoping to find a new Tessa (I haven't read her books in a while) but unfortunately there were some usual "elements" that made me turn up my nose. One of all, what I really can't stand is instant love. it's not possible that all Tessa's characters, more often than not, look at each other and boom they love and desire each other. Not for me, sorry.

I really enjoyed this full length novel by Tessa Bailey. Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced read copy of this. I enjoyed the romantic storyline and back and forth between Burgess and Tallulah. It was only a matter of time before romance sparked with the live in au pair and her hockey player boss. However I felt like the book was a bit rushed. Might have not felt so rushed if timelines were given in the book. I also felt like since there were mentions of certain things in Tallulah’s life that were just mentioned and maybe should have had more detail to them. I did really like the dynamic of Tallulah and Burgess’ daughter Lissa and how that played into the plot. Overall, a very cute romcom hockey romance I really enjoyed reading.

When you find the one that is truly meant for you, life ignites the spark, and you have to see where this is going to go. Sometimes it is so powerful, that it is beyond anything you could have imagined. Tallulah and Burgess are this couple, and it is intense, following through their journey, but I couldn't put the book down.
I received an ARC from Avon through NetGalley.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Tessa does it again! The first book in the series honestly wasn’t my cup of tea and idk if it’s cuz I don’t care for golf, and I’m not a hockey fan either so I wasn’t too sure if I wanted to even read this but HELLO if Tessa writes it I’ll read it! The single dad/he fell first troupe just hit me with this book and god I need more!

2.5 stars

I think I'm just not a person for the brooding possessive alpha man. Nor for Tessa Bailey's writing all about it. I think she's funny but I just can't do the possessive thing. It gives me the ick. Other than that, plot was interesting, I wish Tallulah would've held her ground more though. The ending was interesting. I wish it wasn't all physical attraction though. I also wished there were more scenes between Tallulah and Josephine and passed the Bechdel test. Would have enhanced the plot for sure.

Tessa Bailey is witty, funny and sweet with The Au Pair Affair.

I love a good hockey romance and mix with a single parent trope? It is always a guaranteed fun time especially with Bailey's knack of mixing quirky fun and spice that balances out well. This nanny/boss age gap romance with a hockey twist was every bit of good. I devoured it in one sitting. I could not put it down! Tallulah was such a sweet character that has overcome a lot and she's been through a lot and I loved that he's so protective and caring of her. They both have baggage and yet lean on each other and heal and grow through being in each others lives and their dynamic was so perfectly paired. It hits you right in the feels, it's emotional and heartfelt. I love how boy obsessed and he falls hard and first this was. Seeing them fall for each other and become one big found family was so sweet and fans of Tessa Bailey will eat this up! It is a must read for the summer and for fans of hockey!

Thank you, NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 
This is the second installment of Bailey's Big Shots series, and it is definitely my favorite! I thought I loved Wells' story in Fangirl Down, but this definitely takes the cake, and it's all because of Burgess (the new daddy). Burgess and Tallulah's story is one of my favorites I've read in a while. You will fall in love with them from the first page and wish you didn't finish the book as quickly as you did. Burgess is a single dad/pro hockey player and needs someone desperately to help with his tween daughter, Lissa. If you read Fangirl Down, it sets the premise that Tallulah will be the nanny, so when you open the book, you know what's expected. Tessa has this magical ability to write instant romances where the characters just have chemistry immediately while adding a ton of witty banter and humor. She's able to hook you from the first page and keep you there until the very end, and it's my favorite kind of writing. 


Read if you like:
- He falls first and harder
- Age gap
- Roommates
- Dual POV
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Single Dad

Throughly enjoyed the main male character Burgess being head over heels from the start for the single, younger au pair Tallulah. Spicy as to b3 expected from Tessa Bailey but loved the characters and story line. Great beach/lake read to just enjoy a romance story that is entertaining. Looking forward to the next installment.

Fangirl Down made me set a really high expectation that I wasn’t quite sure that Au Pair Affair would ever meet. One can never be too sure if the follow up will ever be as good as the first one but to no one’s surprise Tessa Bailey knocks it out of the park again.

Who doesn’t LOVE a good single dad x nanny book? This book follows Burgess who is a pro hockey player that is nearing the end of his career and the constant disconnect from his 12-year-old daughter isn’t helping either. So when the opportunity arrises for Burgess to hire Tallulah as a live in nanny, why wouldn’t he jump at it the first chance he gets? Tallulah forms an immediate bond with Burgess' daughter, and their easy connection and bond drives him a little insane (Especially since the feelings Burgess has for his very young nanny are anything but platonic.) *cue the tension*

I’m not one for third act break ups but the groveling in this wasn’t over the top, but it all seemed really sincere, that I appreciated that Burgess would stop at nothing to win Tallulah back.

This book will be a favorite for many! Loved the Au Pair Affair! Tessa already has me giggling and anticipating her next novel.

3 stars. This was a pretty classic Tessa Bailey book. Lots of physical attraction, spice, humor. I appreciated the deeper aspects of these characters, like Tallulah's trauma and past. I also liked how Burgess handled it. The third act breakup was of course stupid, lets have adult conversation people! Overall a simple, easy read.

The Au Pair Affair is the follow up to Fangirl Down in the Big Shots series. Tessa Bailey never disappoints me. I love the sports romances she has been giving us and I am hoping it won't stop at two. If you aren't following her on Social Media you really should be. She is delightful!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. I'm looking forward to adding this one to my shelf.

The Au Pair Affair is a sexy fun read! Burgess is in need of a live in nanny for his tween daughter Lissa so he offers the job to Tallulah. As a broke college kid Tallulah decides to take the nanny job but she has some trust issues. She needs to figure out how to trust people again and Burgess needs to learn how to date so they work together. Eventually their feelings for each other start to change and things get complicated. I really enjoyed reading about Tallulah and Burgess friendship and how it grew. This story was sexy, funny and fun.

If you are a Tessa Bailey fan or read the first book in this series and enjoyed it, I'm going to say that you'll also enjoy this one. But for me, this has cemented the fact that I'm not really into Tessa Bailey's romances and her style. The last one I read was a novella so I thought maybe it was the short format that didn't work, and the other one I read was so long ago that maybe I was in the wrong frame of mind when I picked it up. Nope. Her romances just don't work for me. The characters are fine, but there's this element of, well, discomfort around the characters and their relationship. In this one, he hires her as a nanny and she accepts. But they both go into it with interest in the other which really made me uncomfortable. Burgess should know better. And despite all she has been through, Tallulah still puts herself in really bad situations that could go badly for her.

This wasn't as bad as the last Bailey I read, an I did at least like the characters and the plot was decent if you can look past the employer-employee relationship. Lissa and the odd relationship with Sig and Chloe were actually the parts of the story that redeemed a lot of this book, although again, the next book is likely to be uncomfortable too but at least Sig and Chloe as step siblings is not awful. Maybe a weird taboo, but they can still be together romantically.

Again, if you like Bailey, ignore my review because you'll probably enjoy this one. But if you have been luke warm to her in the past, you'll likely continue to feel meh about this one.

Cute light romance read, good banter, I wish there was more depth in the relationship post-Burgess’s injury, it felt kinda superficial after the depth of the initial characterization of Burgess and Tallulah, I liked this more than the first book in the series, I’d like to see a third one with Chloe & Sig! 👀

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel!

Tessa has found her groove with these sports romance books! 🏒🥅

The Au Pair Affair is the second book in the Big Shot series and follows professional hockey player and single father, Burgess (also known as sir savage) and his newly hired live-in nanny, Tallulah. These characters were first introduced in Fangirl Down and instantly you could tell there was a connection. Tallulah reluctantly moves in and Burgess does everything possible to make her feel more comfortable. He is quite the grump to her sunshine, but is a complete teddy bear for her! Tallulah is determined to help him get his dating groove back and push him out of his comfort zone. Overall, a fun and flirty read 💕

Many thanks to Avon Books and Harper Voyager US for providing me this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Au Pair Affair will be published July 16th.

My new favorite romance?

Tessa Bailey is a must-read author for me and I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the Au Pair Affair. This age-gap hockey romance is hilarious, heartfelt, and impossible to put down. I cannot wait for the rest of this series!

Tallulah and Burgess are a perfect match - she just doesn't know it yet. In a "he falls first" love story, Burgess is the overprotective alpha male with a soft spot for the spicy au pair. I'll be honest that I didn't love Fan Girl Down, the first in the Big Shots Series, but I'm glad I gave this second book a chance. There were definitely some lighthearted moments and funny banter that kept the storyline moving. I felt like there was much more of a connection and more character development between Burgess and Tallulah than during the MCs in Fan Girl Down which made for an overall more enjoyable experience. As with most Tessa Bailey books, you know what you're getting going into it - spice, romance, and nothing too heavy. Would definitely recommend as a lighthearted (spicy!) summer read. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.