The Au Pair Affair was a cute story, albeit super spicy and Tallulah (main character) was pretty annoying. It was a quick read that held my interest, total fluff. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Tallulah is regretting her decision to be the au pair for Burgess, a divorced hockey player with an 11 year old daughter. She can’t believe she agreed to move in with a man she doesn’t know. Somehow he convinces her it will all be fine and from that moment forward she can’t deny her attraction to the hulking hockey player. Burgess isn’t looking for love. He had it once and feels like he blew it. But when he is around Tallulah he forgets that he doesn’t want love. Will both of them be able to fight off the mounting chemistry between them and trust one another enough to give things a shot?

I read the first book in this series and really enjoyed it. Tallulah and Burgess were introduced in that book and I was intrigued enough to want to hear their story. Boy, is it a a spicy 🌶️ one! I blushed a few times as I was reading and that doesn’t happen often! Glad I picked this one up!

I really enjoyed this adult romance--too adult for our high school library, but I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and discovering their world.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Tallulah and Burgess. Tallulah is going for her PHD in marine biology. Burgess is a hockey player and divorced dad. He needs someone to be a nanny for his daughter who is a tween. Tallulah takes the job. There is an attraction right from the beginning. Tallulah shows Burgess how to have adventures. They start dating. They fall in love.

The Au Pair Affair is the second sports romance in the Big Shots series. Tallulah is studying to be a marine biologist and needs a job and somewhere to stay while she’s going to school in Boston. Enter Burgess, a single dad who also happens to be the veteran defenseman and captain of Boston’s hockey team, who is looking for an au pair for his daughter. Both Talluah and Burgess have baggage, including the big age gap, but the chemistry between them is off the charts. Will they be able to keep their relationship professional or will lines get crossed?

I really, really wanted to love this book and thought I would from the cover and description, but I couldn’t stand it half the time. The first thing that got me were the character names. I just didn’t like them and that added to my dislike of everything else once I got into the story and couldn’t connect. The story was well laid out and if you connect with this book I think you would enjoy it, but I couldn’t get into it at all. The overprotectiveness of Burgess got to me, Tallulah’s had no depth to her and was boring and unlikeable to me. Burgess was too worried about his career ending soon and not wanting to be attracted to his daughter’s au pair to even pay attention to said daughter. There was so much unnecessary spice and a lack of real romance that it drove me crazy. There was so much potential in this book, but it never hit the mark. The age gap didn’t do it, the single dad trope didn’t do it, even the sports romance didn’t hit for me this time and it always does. This book was definitely not for me, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be for you. I’ve seen enough good reviews of it to know there are many people out there who loved it. Just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean you will, if this seems like it will be your type of book go for it, it just wasn’t for me.

Sometimes Tessa is queen, and sometimes her books fall a little flat for me, and this one fell flat. I couldn't get over some qualms with the relationship between the characters, there was something just a little icky about it for me and I DNF'ed. I loved the hockey dad idea, and I adored the book prior to this in the series, but this one just made me uncomfortable and bored.

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I LOVED the first book in this series, Fangirl Down. It was the first book of Bailey's that I'd truly loved in a long time. I had very high hopes for this one, I loved the tropes and was looking forward to reading.
Fast forward to actually reading it. I'm not sure what happened with this one but it just did not hit like the other one.
Look, I love TB and her alphas and high level of spice but this one just missed the mark for me. That's not to say that I hated it, I didn't. I still laughed and swooned and I am glad I read it.
Looking at the next book, I still want to read it and am hopeful that I'll enjoy it a bit more.

I loved this story - Tessa Bailey does it again! Another great story with spice, banter, and real characters. I loved reading about Burgess and Tallullah.

"The Au Pair Affair" by Tessa Bailey is a steamy and heartfelt romance that explores the chemistry between unlikely lovers. Bailey’s knack for writing sizzling, tension-filled scenes shines as the characters navigate their complicated emotions and undeniable attraction. The book’s blend of heat, humor, and genuine emotion makes it a delightful and satisfying read.

I enjoyed this book so much more than the first one in the series. The energy between Tallulah and Burgess was fantastic. The tropes of age gap, nanny, grumpy/sunshine are all there while still giving a fresh take. This is the Tessa Bailey I want to see.

I was excited to receive this arc back in June because lately I have been getting into reading about sports through romance novels. However, I wasn't a big fan of this one. It was more spice than cuteness when it came to the connection between our main characters, Tallulah and Burgess, which in my opinion comes down to preference. I wanted more emotional connection woven into the story, but everything felt added in as a means to intercourse between the two. What I did like about this book was the individual storylines Tallulah and Burgess were coming together with. I think career-wise their stories progressed wonderfully, which seems odd to say for a romance novel.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an arc!

The Au Pair Affair is another great story by Tessa Bailey. It is the second book in the Big Shots series. We meet Tallulah and Burgess in the previous book and the chemistry is obvious so it was great to see it play out in this book.

Thanks, Avon, for the advanced review copy via NetGalley.

This was a fun and wildly spicy romp of a story. I enjoyed the couple's sweet romance and affection for each other. My only critique was that several times, their dirty talk was cringe-worthy.

I was excited to read this book because of the reviews but fell short for me. It was too long and drug on and I felt like it was missing some of the spice I was expecting. The relationship was also very awkward and that made it not sit well. I’d pass on this one

Tessa Bailey is a romance novel queen! I loved the characters, the relationship between the two, as well as the relationship of dad and daughter. Looking forward to Bailey's next novel!

I thought that this story was a captivating and heartwarming novel that brilliantly explores the complexities of family dynamics, love, and personal growth. One of the most compelling aspects of the story is the evolving relationship between Tellulah, Burgess, and his daughter.

Tellulah, the new au pair, brings a breath of fresh air into Burgess's household. Her genuine care and affection for his daughter quickly turn what could have been a professional arrangement into something much deeper. The bond between Tellulah and the little girl is beautifully depicted, filled with tender moments that tug at the heartstrings. Their connection feels natural and authentic, showcasing Tellulah's nurturing spirit and ability to bring joy into the child's life.

Burgess's relationship with Tellulah is equally well-crafted. What starts as a tentative and cautious interaction blossoms into a profound connection as they both navigate the challenges of parenting, healing, and learning to trust again. Their growing affection is portrayed with subtlety and grace, making their journey from strangers to something more incredibly satisfying.

Overall, *The Au Pair Affair* is a delightful read, particularly for those who appreciate stories centered on the power of love and the importance of family. The relationships between Tellulah, Burgess, and his daughter are the heart of this novel, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

I mostly liked this story, but found the beginning and end to drag a little bit. I'm giving it a 3.5 rounding out to 4 because there were some really great moments. The ending could have used so much more groveling, and she took him back too easily. This dude was straight up cruel when he got injured, like bro STFU you're gonna live. It kinda felt like bad behavior was being rewarded just because he had a major ouchie. Big whoop bro that's life! I understand that your career is done but you made it into your 30s and that is good for the sports industry. I did however, enjoy all the smut throughout, so that was a positive. Overall I had a good time and I do love a hockey romance and it was an auto read because it was a Tessa Bailey book.

this was such a fun read! tessa never fails to disappoint -- both with her storytelling and the men she writes. i adore this series so much and i cannot recommend it enough!

My favorite of Tessa Bailey’s works to date. I really enjoyed the relationship between the main characters. This is an age gap but they are both adults here and it’s very good!

The way the author handled the fmc’s trauma was relatable and powerful. It is hard to let someone in when you’ve been hurt so badly.

I liked the way the characters tied into the previous story, Fangirl Down. The sports references were fun and the struggle of an older athlete was thought provoking. Something I hadn’t considered in this way before.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I recommend it. I’m excited for the third couple’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was so pleasantly surprised with Bailey's Fangirl Down that I couldn't wait to read this second book. It was such a disappointment. Character development was lacking and inconsistent. I wanted to fall in love with them, but found them just annoying. I'm still anticipating the release of #3 and hope it comes back around to the writing I've enjoyed in Bailey's other books, 2 stars