I thought this book was a super fun, quick read. However, everything moved really fast and seemed HIGHLY unlikely.

Tessa Bailey sklays again! She killed it with this one. I have loved all her other book and this was no excpetion! Overall I'd definitely read this book again and I would recommend this book for fans of other romance books.I have received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/ opinions above are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the E-Arc exchange for an honest review.

I tried reading this one but I barely got to the 10% mark and realized this is not for me. The characters and the plot just didn't hold my interest at all. It started promising but for some reason I wasn't connecting with the characters or the plot.

3.5 stars

"When she’s on, Tessa Bailey is unbeatable. The Au Pair Affair starts out so fun and flirty, and Bailey had me enthralled until almost the three-quarters mark… but then it goes rapidly downhill with the Crisis Moment ... Sad to say, The Au Pair Affair falls into the penalty box, although I’m sure Bailey’s creative mind will put out a new story that’ll blow my socks off any day now."

*Read the full review at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/the-au-pair-affair-by-tessa-bailey/

This book was really interesting. It had all of the steam and funny situations that I’ve come to love about Tessa Bailey’s books, but it was also one of her most serious. Both Tallulah and Burgess (but especially Tallulah) had a lot that they needed to work through before they could be in a relationship. I really liked watching the relationship grow, but I also liked how the third act conflict forced them to grow by themselves before they could try again to be in a partnership.

Somehow I managed to love Talulah and Burgess’ story so much more than Wells and Josephine… and I LOVED Wells and Josephine! There was the perfect amount of drama, tensions, and whew the SPICE! It was all top tier.

I gave this book a 4.5/5 stars solely because I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the characters names (this one’s for you Burgess and Sig) and it kinda pulled me out of the story a bit.

The Au Pair Affair was a short and sweet romance with a smidge of sports and heavily centered around family. I appreciated Tallulah’s background and thought the way her trauma was framed was well executed. Burgress is your typical brooding love interest who’s actually a big softie and I loved his willingness to emotionally grow. I thought that Tallulah’s biggest hang up regarding her relationship with Burgress being that he didn’t seem as adventurous as her was a little shallow - especially since he already expressed his willingness to join her and happily do so. This wasn’t as good as Fangirl Down, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this read. Fangirl Down holds a special place in my heart, so I didn’t expect The Au Pair Affair to come out at the top. This story just felt a tad flat to me. It was missing something that would’ve taken it to the next level, I just can’t put my finger on what.

Thank you to Avon Books, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

I loved Fangirl Down and couldn’t wait to read this book!! It was cute and fun. Binged it in a day. I loved that Burgess fell first and was patient but flirty and so protective of Tallulah. Which she needed because of her past. I also loved how Burgess helps her with overcoming how her past has changed her life and she helps him learn to talk to his teenage daughter and how to be social (even date) after a bad marriage. However it gets knocked down a whole star for two reasons. One because Tallulah was freaking annoying. She denied her feelings soo many times and then twice she chose to ignore him (calls, texts, in person) rather than have a conversation. I hate that miscommunication trope so nope! And two because she writes Burgess saying really mean things during his time of suffering and hurting Tallulah and he even while frustrated had never done that and I don’t believe his character even then would have intentionally used her past to hurt her as much as he was hurting. He’d already had plenty of chances.

I still will impatiently await the next book in the series!

I literally believe that every single books Tessa has written, has been written specifically for me!! Every single one hits! And of course, since this is the newest one, its not my new favorite! The characters, the heat, the plot, it had me crying, giggling, and fanning my face! Tallulah and Mr Savage forever!!! <3

Dang. I can't think of a third-act breakup that has killed so much progress and connection.

"The Au Pair Affair" is easy to jump into and moves well. Lots of action and dialogue paired with tons of pining and protectiveness. I was SO into it! If it were real life, I would be concerned about the power dynamic between a boss and a live-in employee with a big income difference and a sizeable age gap. But as fiction, it's fab.

I loved the idea of hockey defender Burgess stepping in to help Tallulah regain her sense of adventure and confidence. I also enjoyed how this was balanced with his self-doubts about aging and losing his ability to play hockey and be a provider. As far as the plot, it tries to take on some tough topics but doesn't make it very far. Heat and sexual tension are primary, and self-growth is secondary.

One thing I could have absolutely done without is the "five fingers through his hair" line repeated over and over. Just like the first book and it still feels like such an unnatural line!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Tallulah is a fun loving and smart marine biologist student who has an opportunity to work as an au pair for Hockey captain Burgess. She has seen him with his daughter and interacting with his friends. She notices how much the single dad wants to connect with his daughter and is introduced to him by her best friend's husband she thinks maybe she trusts him. To live in his house and work with him she needs to trust him but she watches a hockey game clip where he breaks someone's nose and realizes maybe she doesn't know him at all. Her past has made her fearful of trusting and Burgess recognizes this and wants to help her get past it. Tallulah longs to live in the moment again.
Burgess longs to be able to have a comfortable conversation with his daughter, help her with homework, hairstyles and protect her. He finds himself wanting to help Tallulah too. I loved Burgess and Tallulah navigating their relationship and growing within themselves.

This new addition to this series was a great read. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading it but was not disappointed with this story in the end.

Tallulah is a broke college student in need of a job. She agreed to being an Au Pair after meeting Burgess at a golf event and hitting it off with him but she then later has second thoughts about living with his due to a trauma she experienced years prior. Since her bad experience she had been living in a shell of existence and avoiding living her life again until she goes and eventually agrees to being Burgess's Au Pair with some conditions.

Burgess, a single Dad of a tween is struggling with the day to day of parenting a young girl while juggling his successful hockey career. He is drawn to Tallulah despite fighting against it but also wanting to keep her safe. The pair give into their desires and keep it a secret from his daughter and we all know how things like that turn out.

Overall, this was a good read although a little predictable at times. I enjoyed the return of the characters from the first book of the series and I liked the lead up to the possible characters of the next book in this series. I thought the chemistry between Burgess and Tallulah was off the charts and I found both characters relatable. Overall, this was a good book that I enjoyed from start to finish.

What a perfect follow-up story to Well’s and Josephine’s, featuring their best friends, Burgess and Tallulah. A perfect blend of spice, romance and comedy! The masculinity that presents itself in this book through hockey really packs the punch, and then a gruff single dad vibe on top of it? A must read.

I have been enjoying this sports series and this is no exception. A fun romance read with some interesting side characters and a good follow-up to book 1 in the series that can also be read as a stand alone.

i loved fan girl down and could not wait for this one and it did not disappoint! Grumpy hockey players are my FAVORITE and Burgess was exactly that! He was so possessive and i absolutely loved these two together! I loved how patient he was with Tallulah and im so thankful these two got the HEA that they so truly deserved

So, this was actually my first Tessa Bailey book, believe it or not (which is funny, considering this is the second in a series—a fact of which I was unaware when I submitted my request for an ARC, but here we are). I have to say, I totally get the hype. Her writing is fun, engaging, relatable, and so, so funny. (And SPICY. Oh my gosh.) I loved both of our MCs. I usually don't care much for third person writing, but I found it perfect for getting both POVs. The insight to both of their perspectives felt thorough and well thought out, and despite the insta-lust we were thrown into from the start, I found it all to be believable. (Granted, again, I didn't read the first book, so I probably missed something vital to their beginning.) (I'll definitely be going back to read the first book.) I also really loved the way the Big Conflict was handled. After Tallulah's trauma, I would have been really put off had there not been a sufficient amount of groveling. I kept getting worried she was going to forgive and forget too easily, but Tessa really planned the pacing and timing perfectly. I loved this book, and I'll definitely be recommending to everyone I know. Now, excuse me while I get caught up on literally all of Tessa's other books.

✔️ Nanny
✔️ Hockey
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️ Single Dad

I knew I would love Burgess after meeting him in Fangirl Down. He's a perfect grump - that weathered "I've seen it all vibe" in his late 30s 😂

Can I also mention how I love a veteran athlete read?? So many hockey romances are about rookies, but there is something really fun about a guy who is a reluctant mentor. Some of my favorite scenes are with him and the rookie hockey players.

The chemistry between Burgess and Tallulah was off the charts hot. Their banter, their inner monologue which has so much horny pining, and then the grand gestures that both of them do in order to win over the other - perfection.

I loved that Tallulah wanted to bring that Mary Poppins/Ted Lasso energy to make a difference in Burgess' professional and personal life. She is the perfect sunshine.

Highly recommend! This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it's a 5⭐️ read.

Steam 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕💕

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Burgess Abraham, aka ‘Sir Savage’, needs help. A single, divorced father of a twelve year old, he’s trying to figure out how to connect with his daughter while maintaining his career as the captain for Boston’s hockey team, the Bearcats. Enter Tallulah, the woman he has been obsessing over and hoping will agree to be his nanny.

Tallulah Aydin has been ‘on the run’ for a while. After a traumatic experience with someone she trusted, she hasn’t been able to put down solid roots nor let anyone get too close. Agreeing to nanny for Burgess seemed like the perfect solution: free housing while she finished her masters, a paycheck and getting to nanny for Burgess’ daughter.

What starts out as an innocent job quickly turns into a blossoming friendship between Burgess and Tallulah, both of them learning to trust one another and grow from situations in their past. But their forced proximity and crackling attraction threatens to throw everything out of balance, especially taking Burgess’ daughter into account. Will Tallulah and Burgess come to an understanding of what the other wants in a relationship?

This was such an entertaining and spicy read. I always love Tessa Bailey’s writing, and this was no different. Her MMCs are always my insta-crushes, and Burgess was no different. I usually hate a curmudgeony MMC… but this just WORKED. I also loved Tallulah and was so eager to see someone teach her to trust and love again. The plight of their relationship had me in all my feels - I definitely was shedding some tears both in sadness and joy! As per usual, Tessa’s spice was EXCEPTIONAL. I cannot wait to see where our side characters go from here… the next story’s tropes are right up my alley. Also… can we get a book about the rookies? 🤭🤭🤭

Tropes in this story:
✨Age gap (he’s 37, she’s 26)
✨Divorced single dad / nanny
✨She’s teaching him how to date… and definitely not getting jealous 👀
✨Hockey romance
✨Soft only for her
✨All the yearnin’ and burnin’, leading to explosive spice

I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book via NetGalley, but my review is all my own.

I love this author and I loved this book. This is a nanny/ daddy romance. Very well done. But no surprise there! The author is Tessa Bailey!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So outside of me not liking the FMC’s name. I enjoyed this book. Idk, the name made me think of a dairy cow.

I liked this one more than I thought I would though.