This was a wild ride. I loved the FMC & the MMC and loved their journey! Talullah has been through a lot and she deserves to live a life of adventure and I just she’s got that in the bag now. I’m now ready to attend a destination wedding. Can’t wait for the next in the series!

A enjoyable second book in the Big Shots series. What’s not to like about a hockey romance trope? I will say Bailey’s books are usually a 3/5 for me just bc the spice level can be a little much. However, I do enjoy the characters and their backstories.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey is a hockey romance featuring Tallulah, a grad student who gets a job as an au pair for Sir Savage (aka Burgess Abraham), the captain of the Boston Bearcats who’s known for being a fighter on the ice. Tallulah has some trauma she’s working on recovering from and is worried about taking this job, however she finds herself drawn to Burgess and feeling safe with him despite his reputation.

Overall this was a fun read. Fans of Tessa Bailey will love this one! Lots of spice and swoon-worthy moments. It was a bit spicy for me but had an entertaining story!

I'm a HUGE Tessa Bailey fan, so you can bet that I was super excited to read this one! And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Our FMC, Tallulah, is strong-willed and tenacious, as she works towards her dream career. But, alas, she needs a place to live, and a way to make some quick cash.

Enter our, MMC, Burgess, a.k.a. the almost-veteran hockey superstar who needs a live-in nanny for his adorable daughter, Lissa. Despite his seemingly grumpy demeanor, he knows a good thing when he sees it, and knows that he can't pass up Tallulah's help.

I won't lie, the blurb for this book basically gave away the entire plot, so there weren't too many surprises. However, the evolution of the dynamic between Tallulah and Burgess is something that only Tessa could so masterfully create.

We learn that their initial meeting, prior to the start of this story, inspired attraction on both sides. However, neither was ready to, or particularly interested in acting on that attraction. Even upon their first meeting in this story, it is clear that there's a form of chemistry between them.

Once Tallulah agrees to move in with Burgess and Lissa, they are both exposed to a world that neither of them would've otherwise experienced. For Tallulah, it's being on the other side and experiencing the immensity of the world of professional hockey. For Burgess, it's not having to hold it altogether on his own; having someone to share his burdens with.

Now, the only reason that this story doesn't receive the full 5 stars is because of how quickly Tallulah was ready to trust Burgess, despite what we learn about her actual trust issues with men. For someone who thought things through, the speed at which she went from moving in to experiencing her "list" with him was a tad unrealistic.

BUT. The third-act breakup of this story is probably the most realistic that I've ever read for a Single-Dad romance. We've been conditioned to expect a sweet child who will magically fall in love with the new woman (the nanny, in this case), and accept her as the new woman in his/her dad's life. Such is not the case for Lissa. She is twelve years old, and has her own trust issues, so her reaction, and Tallulah's and Burgess' response to her reaction are completely realistic and warranted.

Needless to say, what follows is yet another poignantly realistic reunion that is filled with all of the feels that we've grown to love from Tessa's stories!

4.3 ⭐️

K, this book had me feeling every emotion, lol! It took me a second to get into it (I am not a huge fan of 3rd person POV) but once I was into it, I WAS HOOKED. There was conflict, spice, and I found myself kicking my feet during some parts! 😂 We love a man who is obsessed with his woman! 👏🏼 I liked all of the characters in this book and I really enjoyed it overall! I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a spicy sports romance. 🩵🩵

I rate it 4.5 stars!!!

TBH, I’m a little shocked by the negative reviews this book has so far - because I really liked it! I was intrigued by Tallulah and Burgess after finishing Fangirl Down. I thought they had an instant spark and was excited for their story!
This had Grumpy/Sunshine (kind of), jealous MMC, big/sexy man, and slow burn with all the right sizzle! I have been dying for a slow burn that wasn’t annoyingly drawn out, after reading way too many of those lately - and this was it! I even laughed out loud more than once.
I am personally not really in to some of the other tropes in this book, like “mean daddy/call me daddy” with an age gap, but it wasn’t done in a way that made the book cringy at all.
Some of the negative reviews say that Tallulah’s position as Lissa’s au pair wasn’t really a big part of their story, but becoming the au pair was how Tallulah was brought into Burgess’ world... This book wasn’t meant to be all about Tallulah being a nanny - it’s a romcom about the two main characters… So I am not really sure what those reviewers thought was missing!
I do agree with the reviews regarding the conflict/resolution and how it almost feels toxic (without spoiling) when it comes to Tallulah’s past trauma.
BUT - having said that, I did really enjoy the book and I am completely in love with Burgess - faults and all - because TB worked her magic again with the grumpy, big, sexy MMC. She really is the queen of the grumpy MMC!
4⭐️ because for me - this was another TB book I couldn’t put down!

Also - I am guessing Chloe and Sig are next and although I am not really sure how I feel about their trope - bring it on!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback!

Tried to keep this spoiler free but proceed with caution!
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Starting out this review by saying Tessa Bailey holds a special place in my heart and therefore her books will always be an automatic read in my heart. She’s my hometown hero and I have had the opportunity to meet her in person and confess my undying love for her.
Now. With that out of the way.
Here is the TL;DR, this was a steamy book with an interesting take on the boss/nanny trope AND age gap trope AND grumpyxsunshine but more a grumpyxtraumatized fawn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

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Okay now here is the TL
“The Au Pair Affair” by Tessa Bailey was an ultra steamy book in my opinion. Everyone has different gauges for spice 🌶️ but for me, I would rate this a solid 3.5 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ out of 5 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️.
At times I was like “yes mhm okay yes they are attracted to one another GOT IT” but it’s par for the course (insert pun about the first Big Shots book here, #WellsBelle IYKYK) for any Tessa Bailey novel.

This book had the advantage of both of the main characters already having been introduced in “Fangirl Down”, so some of the story was set up from the get go. The story jumps in quickly in a rather unexpected but fun high stakes way.

What I loved:
- This book took a stab at a very serious mental health topic and I openly commend it for handling it with relatively careful hands.
- Showing the importance of the dynamic between not only Burgess and Tallulah, but Tallulah and Lissa, Burgess’ daughter.
- The romance……duh

What I didn’t love:
- I simply could not look past the name Burgess. It felt criminal. All I could picture was the Burgermeister from the Christmas claymation movie, “The Year Without a Santa Claus”. I’m sorry but I just could NOT!!!!!!
- The instalove/instaattraction. It was not bad, but it came on a bit strong! Not my cup of tea

My favorite quote that literally made me laugh out loud:

Don't look at her thighs. Distract yourself with something. Anything.
Burgess cleared his throat hard. "So.
Skinny dipping, huh?"
Perfect, man. Nailed it.


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Overall this book was light and fun and I would definitely recommend it, especially to my book friends who already love Tessa’s saucy style.

Huge thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!!

I absolutely loved the first book in this series so I was do excited to read THE AU PAIR AFFAIR. While the first book was pretty light and filled with laugh-out-loud scenes, this book was not nearly as light and covered some pretty weighty emotional topics.

I love a good nanny romance and the chemistry between Burgess and Talulah was soooo hot.

The characters in this book slowly change and grow and I loved reading it! I thought the issues still haunting the heroine from her past were handles really well by the author.

And while I really liked THE AU PAIR AFFAIR, I did take a star off my rating because towards the end the heroine manipulates the hero with sex, even when he has repeatedly made his boundaries concerning sex with her clear.

Overall THE AU PAIR AFFAIR is a really good book, with a few issues that most readers will be able to overlook.

this was my first tessa bailey book and i liked it! it felt kind of slow at the beginning but once it picked up i couldn’t put it down! the only part i didn’t love was the third act breakup. what went down was pretty awful and i felt like i would have liked to see them together more in the future

Stepping into the pages of 'The Au Pair Affair,' the second installment of Tessa Bailey's 'Big Shots' series, was an engaging experience from start to finish. Offering a delightful blend of rapid-paced storytelling and heartwarming romance, this novel is a treat for fans of the single dad/nanny trope. While some moments of dialogue may have veered into cringe-worthy territory, they didn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.

One of the highlights of the book is the satisfying dose of groveling towards the end, adding a layer of authenticity to the characters' relationships. However, the conclusion felt somewhat rushed, leaving a longing for more closure.

Yet, amidst these minor drawbacks, Bailey skillfully plants the seeds for future intrigue, particularly with the captivating dynamic between Chloe and Sig. Their chemistry practically leaps off the page, leaving readers eager to explore their story further in future installments. In many ways, it's their presence that truly steals the show, infusing the narrative with a sense of anticipation and excitement.

Overall, 'The Au Pair Affair' offers a charming and enjoyable read, leaving readers eagerly anticipating what adventures lie ahead for the characters in subsequent novels.

The Au Pair Affair is a fun, entertaining, steamy, sports romance, single father, age gap & so much more! There’s so many tropes but the one trope that got me… the slow burn of sexual desire! 😮‍💨! In true Tessa Bailey form, there’s wittiness & humor, although, I wish there was more wittiness in this book. It was still funny.

I’m a bit torn with The Au Pair Affair… I felt like the middle of the book was a little boring but it still kept me entertained. I enjoyed the growth of each character but again, I just needed a little more from them. More personality.

Let me say that Fangirl Down is THE BEST book I’ve read in 2024. I loveeee Josephine & Wells! Even in The Au Pair Affair, Wells’s character was shining through bc he has so much character. I was hoping there would be that much character for both Burgess & Tallulah, as well.

Overall, this was wonderful & entertaining, I reallllyyyy hope Sig & Chloe get a book next! 🤞🏽

✨Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher Harper Voyager, Avon & of course the author, Tessa Bailey for the ARC! ✨

3.5 ⭐️

For once, I thought the pacing of this romance novel worked fairly well and did really like Burgess. It certainly had the trademark Tessa Bailey slow burn! However, some of the dialogue got to be a bit much and kind of snapped me out of what I was reading (this also happened when I read The Spanish Love Deception, so not sure if it's just me, but it was a little over the line). However, I did really enjoy reading it, and will be picking up Fangirl Down to cure the FOMO I had reading this one without knowing the other story.

I used to love Tessa Bailey. But I think I haven't liked a book of hers in the past year at least if not longer. She has gone too far into the smut and forgets that she needs to have a plot. The little plot this book had felt like a rip off of Schitt's Creek (starting with the fmc's name). I finished this, but I'm not sure why. I never connected with the characters and I wish I could have that reading time back to read a plot instead.

Another man pathetically in love? WE WON

Burgess saw Tallulah and was gone for her immediately. It was cute to watch him fluster and blush as he tried so desperately to read Tallulah and her feelings toward him.

The au pair aspect wasn’t as major as I was expecting. Lissa was twelve, so she was relatively independent and wasn’t present </so> much. She was just present enough to be a fully-realized character but also away enough to let the main couple develop.

I loved the build-up and tension of this book, especially in the spice department. Burgess wouldn’t fully be with Tallulah until she was ready to commit to being his full-time girlfriend, but man did they both find creative ways to get their rocks off.

I was really vibing with the story until the third act hit, and I lost all momentum. It was so unnecessarily angsty and frustratingly drawn out. While I could understand the characters’ actions and feelings, it definitely felt like the romance novel version of watching a horror movie and shouting at the screen because of the dumb decisions they were making. I still enjoyed my time, but it was a bummer stall for sure.

The majority of the book was a great experience for me. Maybe if I read it at another time in my life (you know, when I’m not experiencing the worst reading month I’ve had since I started reading), I wouldn’t have been so bothered by the last ~30%. I will say, I’m looking forward to Sig and Chloe’s story and am manifesting that it’s next.

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Thank you for this arc! This book didn’t disappoint . Tess writes the best dirty talking men ever! I loved Burgess . He was a man obsessed . And this had some of the best groveling I’ve ever read ! Loved it 😍

This was such a cute (and hot) novel. It gets all the chilly peppers 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I’ve been a fan of Tessa Bailey for years, and the spice level in this one is almost as hot as Happenstance (there is no surpassing this novel folks).

I loved our MMC Burgess and FMC Talulah. They had chemistry from the moment the novel opens. There was some teasing along the way, but before you know it you’re fanning yourself.

This novel doesn’t follow the cliche trope of single dad and nanny. I like that it was more than that from the start. I also liked how our FMC stood up for herself and did what was comfortable for her (she has a tragic backstory that is also very unique).

I always feel like Tessa Bailey puts her whole heart and soul into her novels and I really felt it in this one.

If you’re looking for a steamy read that will have you turning the pages as quickly as possible, look no further.

*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I loved "Hook, Line and Sinker" and "It Happened One Summer" by Tessa Bailey. While they may not be my favorite books of all time, I'll usually always pick up a TB book.
So, the things I liked about this story was the romance. I truly feel Bailey is at the top of her game with current romantic relationships. She's able to nail down the nuances of a relationship without feeling too contrived or the need to wrap up a story in so many chapters. One of this book's tropes is the age gap and it was done fairly well and realistically. Burgess (37) is an aging hockey player and new full-time single dad to a tween. Tallulah (26) is a grad student working towards marine biology. Their relationship started with a chance meeting in the previous book, "Fangirl Down," which I did not read but it wasn't necessary to. It may have helped understand Burgess's immediate fascination with Tallulah, but again, not a game changer to for this storyline. Burgess and Talullah have excellent banter and chemistry, which made reading their growth a joy.
However, this book is full of amateur cringe and repetitive descriptions (Talullah smells like blood orange and basil, which will be mentioned EVERY time Burgess interacts with her) which took me out of the story completely and I struggled to re-engage. I also did not like how Chloe was portrayed. It was almost caricature of a dumb blonde archetype from the 50's movies; think almost every one of Marilyn Monroe's early roles. Burgess is a stereotypical overprotective alpha however his obsession with Talulah's safety bordered on overbearing a LOT. There is a 3rd act break-up that is so unnecessary that it made me upset on both of the MC's parts. There is some trauma that Talullah went through that was insinuated at the beginning of the book but its reveal felt somewhat disjointed from the story. I think it would have had more impact had it been fleshed out towards the middle to early last half of the book.
For the most part, I did enjoy the book! Tessa Bailey is always a good "palate cleanser" and even with the aforementioned items, I do still think it's worth a sit-down.
Thanks to NetGalley, Tessa Bailey, and Harper Collins for the ARC!

Everyone knows I am a Tessa Bailey STAN and this new book did not disappoint! I am not generally a huge sports fan but Fangirl Down and now The Au Pair Affair have definitely changed my mind about that. Hockey was the perfect backdrop for this captivating story that has all the qualities of a quintessential Tessa Bailey story. It’s steamy, has great character development, and most importantly (for me, at least) a well-paced story with writing that is easy to follow. If you’re a Tessa Bailey fan, this is a great one to add to your collection. If this is your first time reading her books, this is a great one to start with and will surely have you running to your nearest library or bookstore to get the rest of her bibliography! 5 out of 5 stars!

I plowed through my other book obligations the second this approval went through. I was so excited to read Tallulah and Burgess's story and stayed up until 1am to finish it. Thank you so much for the opportunity to review!!

I really enjoyed this story SO SO much!! I loved the way Burgess was so aware of Tallulah's trauma and honored her needs, especially in the beginning of the book. I loved the way he met her where she was as she faced so many fears, both with him and on her own. I also liked how open he was to her feedback when it came to Lissa, letting her be an authority figure while also teaching him to connect with his daughter. I thought all of that was well done.

I also really just liked the characters. I am itching to know what's going on with Chloe and Sig, because thats a little cringey but in a "I need to know what's going on here" way. I thought Tallulah was a fun character with a strong sense of self; while damaged, she was self aware and working towards attainable goals that I think readers will connect with. I also liked Burgess a lot and enjoyed his inner dialogue as he navigated parenthood, possible career change, dating a much younger woman, and the dynamic with his ex-wife.

I had a few icks, Burgess called Tallulah girl a few times and it just didn't flow right for me. I love a nickname, a baby girl, a good girl, etc- but this was kind of random and strange. I also didn't love the steamy dynamic in Costa Rica- it felt forced and maybe a little pushy. Just didn't fit the feel of his character for me up until that point.

Overall, I love Tessa Bailey so much. This book gave me so much joy as I was reading it and I would definitely read it again. And I will definitely get a paperback version for my trophy shelf, of course!

Tropes: single dad, grumpy hockey player x sunshine nanny, stem FMC, forced proximity
I haven’t met a Tessa Bailey book I didn’t love to my core. The Au Pair Affair was absolutely no exception!
Burgess and Tallulah were hot and sweet and perfect - I’m in DEEP with them. I ate them up and I will be doing it again and again because once was not enough.
The chemistry between Burgess and Tallulah is just off the charts. The protectiveness between the two of them is unmatched and hit hard enough to lose my own breath sometimes. Him standing up for her, taking care of her in the face of some drab is one thing but when SHE does it ??? I lost it and just fell the rest of the way in love with these two. Perfect perfect perfect.
It is worth mentioning that I loved the home they created with Lissa as well. She’s probably the most realistic twelve-year-old child of divorce I’ve ever read and she had me tearing up at the most inconvenient times. I loved her so much!!!
The character development, too!!! Where they started and where they ended was so satisfying.
Basically, I’m just in love with them and will be obsessing over Burgess and Tallulah for the rest of my life.