I'm really into engaging light-hearted romances lately, especially when they have a bit of spice. Tessa Bailey nailed it with this one! I was completely absorbed and now I'm excited to dive into the series. This hockey romance with Tallulah and Burgess was a fun read. Their rapid connection, coupled with the reluctant Au Pair dynamic, made for an enjoyable story. Despite their emotional baggage, the way they worked through it felt genuine and devoid of any cringiness. Definitely a recommendation for those seeking a quick, enjoyable read! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Ohhhh this book was so good! Absolutely devoured it! Can't wait for more from this author. Thanks to the author and Netgalley

Okay unfortunately, I did not realize this was book 2 in Tessa’s Big Shots series. I will be updating this review after I have had a chance to read book one, I’d like to make sure I give this book a fair shot. I already know I’ll love it, because it’s Tessa, and I’m so excited to dive in!

Will post to Instagram on 6/6/24
Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun book with comedy, banter, family, love, and crazy wild chemistry. Tallulah the FMC is studying marine biology and Burgess is an older hockey player who is divorced with a tween daughter Lissa. When Tallulah agrees to be Lissa’s au pair, the adventure begins. Tallulah and Lissa get along well if Tallulah is nothing more than her au pair and stays away from her dad. Lissa has her fingers crossed that her parents get back together even though her mom is engaged. In the meantime, Tallulah and Burgess spend a lot of one-on-one time together where they realize their chemistry cannot be ignored.
There were laugh-out-loud moments, as well as sad and frustrating times between Lissa, Burgess, and Tallulah. Then there was hope. All in all, a great summer read. I would recommend this for a light and fun story. Highly recommended reading this outside with a cool adult beverage.

I was totally blown away by Fangirl Down so you better believe that I was going to grab The Au Pair Affair hoping it was going to be another sports romance romcom to adore this year.

Baily already wrote the BEST scene in Fangirl Down where Burgess and Tallulah meet for the first time and he extends the offer for her to move in and become his au pair and the tension between those two already was off-the-charts so yeah…no brainer I was clamoring to read this!

First off – I love these two characters. With SO MANY books under her belt already, I don’t know how Tessa Bailey keeps creating new characters with unique personalities and life experiences but I’m here for it.

Burgess was a great juxtaposition. A huge bruiser of a man known as Sir Savage on the ice because he was the enforcer of his NHL hockey team and yet with Tallulah he was so gentle, empathetic and caring. He immediately became her safe space when on paper and at first glance he should have been someone who terrified her.

He is top book boyfriend material because he never pushed Tallulah. He instantly became her protector and “bodyguard” for her adventures and only wanted the best for her. He was a total goner when it came to her from the very start.

His hang-up about their age gap really didn’t gain steam and I’m glad because it just didn’t seem to be an issue because both were just mature adults. I also liked that there wasn’t any drama with the ex which can happen in single parent and nanny romance books.

I loved the scenes with him and his teammates, especially the rookies. Hilarious. I loved how he took Tallulah’s suggestions for how to understand and communicate with his daughter and teammates because they were spot on.

And don’t get me started on this guy and his dirty talk. Holy moly….Tessa Bailey should honestly teach a course on writing dirty talk because she is AMAZING at it.

I mean it didn’t take much for me to fall for the man so I couldn’t blame Tallulah. How he could say exactly what he wanted in such a hot and filthy way was fire. And the date he planned….Genius. Thank you Tessa for this amazing hero.

Tallulah was a gem too. While you understand that she’s a grad student and loves marine biology, this story really just focused on her trying to overcome her fear from a past event that occurred in her life.

God my heart bled for this woman when she confessed the incident to Burgess and yet it makes you cheer her on in her bravery throughout the rest of the book.

This book also sets up another book in the series which is going to be a taboo romance between one of Burgess’ teammates and his soon-to-be stepsister. I love Sid not sure how I feel about Chloe who’s a bit ditzy but of course I’m going to read it!

As someone who lived in Boston for over twenty years it was really cool to have the city as the setting for this novel. I have been to the Aquarium and could totally picture their place in Beacon Hill!

I honestly will read anything by Tessa Bailey at this point and I’m so enjoying her sports romance series. I definitely recommend this one if you love hot hockey players, dirty talkers and strong heroines. Now to wait for the next one…

Tessa Bailey is a must read, one click author for me! Her books are always heartfelt and full of laughter!

Tallulah and Burgess were first introduced in Fangirl Down, book 1 in the Big Shots series. You do not need to read book 1 in order to enjoy this book!

These two opposites do not make sense! He is a storm cloud and she’s sunshine! Yet something about her calls to Burgess and he will stop at nothing to show her the many he truly is, the man that he can be for her. She softens his sharp edges and he gives her strength when she feels she is about to fall. Together they are whole, until Burgess has to face the toughest battle in his career!

This book had me hooked and in love! I loved to see how both helped the other out and to experience not only their love but their growth as individuals and as a couple had my heart in a vise. The last 10% of this book had me laughing, crying and laughing again. A very beautiful story!

First off, if you are averse of spicy romances, why are you here at a Tessa Bailey book and second, you really won't like this one. Just saying. But that being said, "The Au Pair Affair" brings together Bailey's usual compelling language, intriguing love story, indulgent tropes (this time it's age gap, sports romance, celebrity romance, and forced proximity) and toe-curling spice. "The Au Pair Affair" is told in dual points of view, and yes brings back the lovable couple of Wells and Josephine from Bailey's "Fangirl Down" for a sweet post-HEA check-in. This book, true to Bailey's style, is well-written and so intriguing that has me so curious to keep reading even though I've never really vibed with an age gap romance. But "The Au Pair Affair" is a Tessa Bailey romance, so where she leads, I will follow as a reader.

So, this is my first ever Tessa Bailey book…and to the person who gave this book just 3/5 spice…were we reading the same thing!?! This is probably the most explicit book I’ve ever read (and to think I used my work email to get the ARC). I thought the premise might be a bit Jane Eyre—slow build due to proximity—but nope! insta-hots. Both characters use book-character logic at several points and both characters are simply just Hot. I didn’t buy the whole relationship with Lissa, but it’s not like I wanted long sections dedicated to her, so I get it. This was fun in a totally indulgent, outlandish, don’t-think-about-it-too-hard way. But, I wouldn't say it was all that well-written or remotely realistic.

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.