Tessa Bailey's books are really hit or miss for me. This one was a miss. I don't mind an age gap romance, but I did get sick of being constantly reminded of it. Also, the MMC in this book *really* has weird self-esteem issues. And I didn't particularly care for the ex plotline. IDK - I always read her books, but this one just wasn't my favorite.

What I love bout The Au Pair Affair is how Bailey builds out her characters. They are so relatable. You find yourself rooting for the couple and invested in their ending to a higher degree than normal. Filled with laugh our loud moments and witty banter- it's a light hearted read for the summer!

The single dad trope added another dimension to the story. The relationship between Tullulqh and Burgess’ daughter added to my level of investment in the story. The family dynamic was fun to watch unfold.

To be honest it’s a little too steamy for me, but that says more about my preferences than the author. Be aware if you prefer closed door romance you’re going to be flipping a lot of pages, but I felt it was worth skipping some sections for the story itself!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tallulah is trying to find herself in grad school after a traumatic event that occurred in undergrad. She has been burying herself in research studies in isolated places where she has felt safe. She meets Burgess, one of her best friends' fiancé's best friends and agrees to be an au pair for his 12 year old daughter Lissa. Burgess is a professional gruff hockey player who is trying to find his confidence and swagger since his divorce. He is also worried about losing hockey, the one thing he feels like he is successful at.

Burgess is immediately drawn to Tallulah and wants to help her be brave and feel safe in the world again. Tallulah is trying to be brave, but is also finding it hard to resist this giant man and the tenderness he shows for her. Will Tallulah be able to set aside her past and open her heart to Burgess? Will Burgess be able to be the stable, safe partner Tallulah is falling in love with?

This book was sweet and a heartwarming read! I really enjoyed Tallulah and Burgess' character and romance development. I felt like the conflict seemed mild for the consequences, but overall would definitely recommend this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I seemed to enjoy this book more than Fangirl Down. I can only hope that the next book in the Hot Shots series is about Sig and Chloe! Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

Tessa Bailey's latest sports rom-com features Burgess, a gruff single dad and hockey veteran, and Tallulah, his vivacious, broke, live-in nanny studying marine biology. As Tallulah helps Burgess re-enter the dating scene, their chemistry grows, causing tension with his daughter, Lissa, who hopes for her parents' reunion. When Tallulah steps away to do the "right" thing, Burgess must overcome his baggage to win her back. This novel is a charming, heartfelt blend of humor and romance, perfect for fans of contemporary love stories.

Grumpy/sunshine, age gap, single dad – I love all of these tropes, and The Au Pair Affair provides a solid pairing in grad student Tallulah and professional hockey player Burgess. Boss/nanny is usually a little troublesome for me, but it’s clear from the beginning that they were interested in each other long before the work relationship was established.

This was a fun book that checked all the boxes. The road to happiness gets about as painful as a Stanley Cup playoff game, but in the end, you know that Burgess and Tallulah are going to come out winners.

Note: Although I personally didn’t find it bothersome, there should be a trigger warning about a previous relationship.

Tessa Bailey is always fantastic at crafting sweet yet steamy romances! "The Au Pair Affair" is the second book in Bailey's "Big Shots" series. Tallulah, a marine biology students, needs a break and some extra cash. So when the opportunity arises for her to become an au pair for Burgess, a hockey star and single dad, she is excited at the opportunity. It doesn't hurt that he's hot and sparks fly between them. However, Tallulah has some PTSD from some scary events that have happened in her past, and seeing Burgess beating others up on the ice doesn't help with her fears. Burgess has to convince her that his on-ice persona is only a small part of who he is, and Tallulah has to be willing to want more than just a physical relationship with him.

I wish more time had been spent on Tallulah's backstory. We were only given a page or two about it, and I wish it would have been delved into more. I really enjoyed Tallulah and Burgess together, and I enjoyed reading about Burgess' daughter as well. Some of the obstacles between them were a little overplayed and repetitive, but I enjoyed this book overall. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Burgess is a single parent and pro hockey player who is nearing the end of his career. Tallulah is the new nanny who moves in and has an immediate bond with Burgess' daughter, which is hard for him to see, since he has a less than perfect relationship with his daughter and wants more.  Burgess has been dreaming of a woman like Tallulah, but the two are so different from one another. With their 11 year age gap, they are in different paths in their lives. Will their attraction become more and will the age difference be one that they can set aside?  

I did not read Fangirl, but I enjoyed this just the same. It is a grumpy single dad/age gap hockey romance, but it is so much more. I would definitely recommend this one!I liked it so much that I am now reading Fangirl!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this delightful book!

I mean Burgess Abraham IS the swooniest book boyfriend! I absolutely couldn’t get enough of this story. Emotional and entertaining storytelling. I didn’t want to put it down.

Burgess loves hockey and his daughter. He decides he needs a little help with the new hockey season starting. So he offers an au pair job to Tallulah. But Tallulah has some walls up and Burgess wants to tear them down. We follow along as he falls first and will do anything to have Tallulah in his life.

I loved everything about this story. The perfect romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I went into this book with high expectation since I LOVED Fangirl Down. And let me tell you- it did not disappoint. The characters were witty and funny right from the start. These types of romances are a whirlwind and happen quick and the book goes by way too fast! Tallulah and Burgess CLEARLY have an instant connection, but both have serious denial. I mean- how could it ever work? He's older than her with a kid and ex-wife and she's scared to even show interest in a man because of a past experience. But the connection and clear chemistry is put to the ultimate test when Tallulah moves in to Burgess' home has his au pair. Quickly Burgess realizes it's not just chemistry, but something more. This book had me hooked from the start and I was absolutely cackling at their banter. There's a lot I'd like to highlight regarding tropes: hockey romance, there is an age gap, he falls first, and it is definitely grumpy/sunshine. If you liked any of Tessa Bailey's books you are sure to like this one. I also forgot the Tessa Bailey specialty- spice. I'd say it's similar to other books that I've read by Tessa, so if you're familiar, you won't be caught unaware. Happy reading! #NetGalley #NetGalleyARC #ARC #TheAuPairAffair #TessaBailey

I loved Fangirl Down! This is a follow up with Burgess and Tallaluh’s story. Burgess is Boston’s star hockey player and has been for years. Tallaluh is returning from multiple research trips and started her master’s program. She signs up to be Burgess’ aupair for his 12 year old daughter (all characters readers meet in Fangirl Down). There is quite an age gap, a grumpy/ sunshine dynamic, and some past trauma to work through.

They help each other, learn from each other, and fall in love. There’s bumps and obstacles to their story that comes to a head when Burgess is injured in a game.

There’s a fun return of Wes and Josephine. The final scenes take place at their destination wedding. Having read the epilogue to Fangirl Down it was fun getting a peek into their big day. However I really didn’t understand Burgess’ motivation and end game plan that wraps up the story.

Tessa Bailey is one of my most favorite authors!! I really enjoyed The Au Pair Affair, even though age-gap romances are not my thing - sports romances definitely are. Burgess was a great MMC, super swoon-worthy. Tallulah was relatable enough with her past traumas. But the biggest thing for me was the crumbs we got about Chloe and Sig. I need that book in my hands RIGHT NOW.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

🌶️🌶️🌶️
💙 This book was so good and I'm so grateful to have gotten a chance to read it early through Netgalley!
💙 The relationship between Burgess & Tallulah was so good! Their dynamic just worked so well and I loved it so much! I'm always a sucker for a single dad plot line, and having Tallulah help him with his daughter was so sweet to see. Even though Burgess is 11 years older than her, Tallulah keeps him young and inspires him. They bring out the best in each other.
💙 The spice? 🔥 Burgess was so down bad for Tallulah and I always love that about Tessa Bailey men 😍
💙 This book also had me laughing out loud so much! The way she writes the characters and how they interact is just so perfect and work so well!
💙 There were even parts of this book that had me tearing up and shedding some tears! Tessa knows how to get to my emotions through these characters that feel so real.
💙 I loved getting to see Josephine and Wells again, I can never get enough of their relationship 😍
💙 I'm so looking forward to the couple in the next book. I can already tell I'm going to love it and I can't wait!
💙 Thank you to Avon books and Harper Collins for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was so excited to be approved to read this Tessa Bailey story, as I have really enjoyed some of her books in the past (Bellinger Sisters series). This book was only mediocre though.

I just didn’t find the characters to be very believable. Tallulah has some major trauma in her past that she is trying to overcome, which makes her nervous to even be around men, but she is also supposed to be a super spontaneous and social person. She has a plan to do all these risky things to get her out of her comfort zone, but it just doesn’t seem to me like a logical plan for someone trying to heal after her past.

A lot of things in the story are skimmed over and never fully developed. I wish there had been more scenes of Tallulah bonding with Lissa and she and Burgess spending time with Lissa. Burgess and Tallulah’s relationship was a little too instalove for me…it felt rushed. There was some good tension and spicy scenes, but I felt like something was missing. The resolution at the end was pretty unbelievable too.

I found this book to be a quick read, and I did enjoy it, but it wasn’t a favorite. Just don’t go into it with really high expectations. I am intrigued by the set up for the next book in the series, but I can also see it being too cringy with the characters soon to be step-siblings. I guess I will judge that when it comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the chance to read and review this ARC.

The feelings we’re feeling, the spice was spicing, and we love a grumpy he falls first! This book had me giggling, laughing, and also tearing up little bit at times. I enjoyed this book overall as I can’t pass up a good hockey romance. I enjoyed Burgess and Tallulah during this book. I felt Tallulahs’ history was a little strong, but it did ultimately work out in the story. There is a third-act breakup, but that is to be expected in a majority of romance books.

Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC.

Okay that was an easy 5 stars! Best ARC ever. I can’t say everything I want to without spoiling anything but goshhh I loved this book! Idk why but I kept picturing Burgess as Miles Wood with all his teeth 😂 which is nothing like the character is described but I think hockey playoffs and watching the avalanche has my brain messed up. I kept trying to picture Sidney Crosby instead, but it wasn’t sticking.

I had to whip out my mini fan during the pancake/kitchen scene. Tessa knows how to write tension and this book was turned up to 100.

I loved the plot line of Tallulah trying to recover from her past. When something traumatic happens, recovery comes in all shapes and sizes. Burgess growing into a better father and human was nice to read too.

The orgasm donor twins were freaking hystericalllll. I loved the rookie camaraderie. The two of them walking into the room and Burgess saying oh Jesus Christ had me cackling.

My favorite quote of the book was “put those words on his grave, because they were going to bury him.” That had so many layers ❤️

My only beef with this book is to the publishers: for the love of GOD let Tessa write about Sig and Chloe! I’m feening for that story like a dog waiting for scrap of bacon.

Steamy, sexy, fun, but also… eh. I liked it and didn’t like it. The roughness, the language.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It fell flat for me. The level of spice is great, but I just wasn’t feeling the wordplay when they were intimate- didn’t seem natural. Tallulah was very wishy-washy…. She seems so smart and self-aware, but couldn’t digest her own feelings. Tessa’s earlier books had more meat to it.

Hot! Great banter, excellent leadup to the “main event”, super hot self-pleasure scene. Detailed descriptions of the characters’ physical appearance. Loved Burgess and his growly alpha personality but that he’s respectful and protective. Tallulah had some past trauma that affected her perception of men and relationships and I appreciated that she didn’t ignore bad behaviors or forgive quickly.

Fans of Fangirl Down will recognize Tallulah and Burgess from Book 1 (although not a prerequisite to read before Au Pair Affair), and will enjoy some cameos by Josephine & Wells. Per haps a little longer than necessary, I overall enjoyed this book, and would recommend to fans of Tessa Bailey and similar authors.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for this free advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I can’t believe this is the same author that gave us it happened one summer. That book was soo good and since then I feel like her books have been going down.

This one felt so long but then I also feel like nothing even happened. It had all the potential with the tropes ( age-gap, nanny, living together) but it fell very short.

My main problem has to be our MMC. Instead of coming off as a big manly man he just came off and over bearing and controlling and not in the good way.

Thank you to Net Galley for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I read every Tessa Bailey basically as soon as they come out so I was super excited to read the Tallulah and Burgess' story! Tallulah is trying to play it safe in life after experiencing an incident regarding a previous stalker. She wants to make it on her own and doesn't want to take handouts from her best friend's fiance's best friend. However, she needs to make money in a new town while attending grad school so she takes Burgess up on his offer to be a live in nanny for his daughter Lissa. Burgess fell immediately in love with Tallulah when he met her months ago, but he doesn't say anything. Their attraction grows and pretty soon it's too hard for Tallulah to ignore. She doesn't want to be tied down, but she can't help how she feels. When Burgess gets injured and pushes her away, it reminds her too much of how much someone can hurt her and she tries to put him behind her. She realizes quickly that love doesn't work that way and finds herself giving into his apologies when they fly to Costa Rica for her best friend's wedding.

I liked this story and thought it was pretty good overall. Sometimes the MMC can be a little too good to be true which gives me the ick sometimes, but I still enjoyed the read!