Hockey romance for the win! This was so so good and so so hot. He was super cute with his overwhelming crush and so anxious not to be a creeper on his younger nanny. She was damaged just the right amount and his respect for her and care with her issues was fucking great. The twist of his injury at the end was emotional and a great third act break up. Loved how patient he was. Also really liked how much Wells and Josephine from the previous book were in this one, it worked really well. Nicely set up the next book too. Love love loved it

Tessa Bailey does it again, hitting the mark with "The Au Pair Affair" in a way that's sure to impress even the most discerning hockey enthusiasts!

I'll admit, I wasn't initially thrilled about diving into yet another hockey romance, being not much of a fan myself. But boy, did this book change my perspective! "The Au Pair Affair" had me hooked from the start.

Enter Tallulah, a graduate student in marine biology, who's struggling to make ends meet. When she lands a job as a live-in au pair, she's thrilled for the opportunity.

Meanwhile, Burgess, a single dad and veteran hockey player, is in need of some assistance with his pre-teen daughter. Upon meeting Tallulah through mutual connections, he offers her the job.

As Tallulah settles into her new role, she proves to be a perfect fit for Burgess's family, providing much-needed support for his daughter while unexpectedly finding herself helping Burgess too. Sparks fly between Tallulah and Burgess, but their budding romance is complicated by his daughter's lingering hope for her parents to reconcile.

When tragedy strikes and Burgess is injured, their relationship blows up, leaving Tallulah no other choice than to walk away. But can their fractured hearts find a way back to each other amidst the chaos or is the damage too deep?

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for granting me early access to this novel before its official release in exchange for my honest review.

3.75/5 ⭐️
Another quick, cute read by Tessa Bailey. The banter was next level, and I love when the guy is so down for the woman. He was constantly reminding the reader that he would do anything for Tallulah.

One thing even Tessa Bailey couldn't redeem was a single dad trope... Something about it is always uncomfortable in writing. However, this was the best written single dad story I have read thus far.

It's cute! I would recommend.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I loved the first book in this series so much that I couldn't wait until July to read Tallulah's story. This book was just as steamy as the last and I enjoyed it almost as much. Hockey is my favorite sport, so I thought I would enjoy that side of it more than golf, but there wasn't a ton of sport here. There was a ton of steam though! I'm also glad that we're being set up for a third book in this series. Can't wait!

I already auto-buy everything Tessa touches, but I’m REALLY enjoying this new series far more than I expected. There is just something about the way she writes these big burly sports men with their big emotions. While I didn’t love The Au Pair affair quite as much as I loved Fangirl Down, I DID love Burgess, Lissa and Tallulah so much. I loved the tie ins to all the past and future characters and can’t wait to see where else this series will take us.

I think I’m just a Tessa Bailey stan. I’ll eat up anything she writes at this point. This was cute, steamy and laugh out loud funny. I devoured Fan Girl Down and was hoping book 2 would live up to that and it did. This was an age gap, close proximity, sports romance with lots of scandalously yummy moments.

I am a little biased since Tallulah is a marine biologist and Burgess is a hockey player. I am a sucker for a sports romance but there is just something about hockey players that just fits the criteria perfectly. I related to Tallulah in many ways, and I just adored her as an FMC. The relationship between her and Burgess was honest and sweet. I loved that Burgess was very straightforward with his feelings. Gotta love a protective mean daddy (iykyk).

There was a genuine build to their connection, tension with their close proximity and the dirty talk was out of this world. But that is always the case when it comes to any Tessa Bailey novel.

It was such a fun read, and I can’t wait for the next book. I am basically salivating at the mouth to get my hands on it. The introduction to the next couple has me dripping with curiosity and I’m hoping there are more cameos with Wells, Josephine, Burgess and Tallulah. I almost don’t want to let them go.

Tessa Bailey hits it out of the park again! I was so excited to read this after Fangirl Down, which I also loved. Burgess... can I get an amen?! Tessa Bailey knows how to write a man, woof! I'm also not usually into the divorced parent trope but I really liked that aspect of the book. His relationship with Lissa was adorable. Something I didn't like... the break up. That was rough and honestly a little too harsh for me. But I understand the point, and enjoyed the groveling. Still loved it even though the last 20% was hard to read. Side note: In fan girl down Tallulah talked about how she wanted children and I would have LOVED to see the subject discussed between the two of them in the epilogue. Please do a bonus epilogue!

Coming off of the high that I felt with Fangirl Down, I was so excited to get my hands on this arc!

Sadly this wasn't my favorite. While I usually love Tessa's dirty talking MMCs and quirky writing style, I wasn't super connected with this one. I did love Tallulah and Burgess as a whole; however, I felt that their relationship wasn't entirely believable. Especially with Tallulah's past and her experience with men; it didn't make sense that she felt comfortable in that form of forced proximity that quickly.

Some of the dialogue between the two and their inner monologues took me out of the story and I felt that the plot was lacking at times. I was wanting more of the nanny aspects throughout the story and we didn't get to see Tallulah working that much.

I did love getting to see Wells and Josephine make a re-entry into this world! The moments with them truly made my heart so happy. I also loved getting to meet the new characters like Sig, Chloe, and the two rookies. I am excited to see where she takes this series!

Overall, I wished that I liked this more, but I still can't wait to read the rest of the series when it comes out!

Thank you Tessa Bailey, Avon, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

(3.5 stars)
I didn’t know if I was going to like this book and I did like it a lot more than I thought I would. Tessa Bailey’s banter rarely misses and this was definitely full of fun banter but some of the other scenes aren’t my favorite. I did really like the 2 main characters and their chemistry overall. A fun read and I will definitely be reading the next book.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey has become an auto-buy author for me! This book is the second in a series, and while you could read it as a stand alone, I wouldn't because Fangirl Down is a great introduction to Tallulah and Burgess.

Tallulah is studying to be a marine biologist but she's broke. When her best friends boyfriends best friend offers her a job as a live-in nanny, she jumps at the opportunity. Only after accepting does she question if living with a burley hockey player stranger is the best option for her.

Tallulah is a natural with Burgess's tween daughter who is angsty and angry! But when the undeniable attraction between Tallulah and Burgess blurs the boundaries, Tallulah knows she needs to walk away.

Tallulah and Burgess have baggage to unpack! And you already know I'm ready for the next in this series!

Thank you to Avon Books, NetGalley and Tessa Bailey for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A solid followup to Fangirl Down. This one deals with much heavier issues in the characters' backstories, so it felt less fun than book one, with good reason. I wanted a little more from it, but I haven't pinpointed what that detail is yet.

Loved getting to see a glimpse of Wells and Josephine's wedding. Definely looking forward to Chloe and Sig's story whenever that rolls around.

This was my first hockey romance and leave it to Tessa Bailey to make me a fan of all of the sports. First golf, now hockey...she sure knows what she is doing. If you thought Fangirl Down was hot and spicy, you are not prepared for The Au Pair Affair. We met Tallulah and Burgess in Fangirl Down and I was so excited for their story. This DID NOT disappoint! Single dad, age gap, he falls first, touch her and die, boss/nanny, grrumpy/sunshine... Tessa really went all out on this one. I was blushing and giggling through out this book. This is a top tier romance for me, I would even dare to say my favorite Tessa Bailey book. It was a bit of a slow burn but the build up and banter make it 100% worth it. I wanted so much more of their story but I was catching some hints that we might be getting another story in this series, so hopefully we get to see more of these two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book gave me the ick. I wanted to like it, but I also want romance books where boundaries are respected.

The Au Pair Affair was another quick, romantic read by Tessa Bailey. Tallulah was a great FMMC and while Burgess could be a bit clueless, he was fun to read as well. I think their relationships and problems developed well.

I didn't enjoy this one as much as Fangirl Down (I don't think the single Dad trope is fo me) but will definitely hit the spot for the right audience.

Rated 4 stars. That you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

This was such a fun read! I loved the Au Pair Affair. It was full of great banter and forbidden tension, and was one of this author’s spiciest books yet! However, it also delved into some deeper issues as both of our characters struggled to overcome things to be together.

We first meet Burgess and Tallulah in Fangirl Down where Tallulah agrees to be a nanny for Burgess’s preteen daughter after the two meet and connect at a golf event. Burgess (aka Mean Daddy/Sir Savage) is a grumpy professional hockey player, who is known for his rough game play, is struggling to connect with his daughter. Before deciding to nanny, Tallulah spent time as a researcher in some of the most remote places on the planet. Now, she is returning to Boston for graduate school, but she has some serious reservations about working for the seemingly aggressive hockey player. She is not comfortable around most men, but Burgess’s off ice persona is so different and he keeps surprising her.

I loved how gone for her Burgess was immediately. His love language was definitely acts of service, and he was looking out for and protecting Tallulah long before she ever noticed. It was actually hilarious to see her rebel against his protective nature. Tallulah wanted to save herself. She wasn’t looking for Burgess to come in and save the day. I also really loved Tallulah’s relationship with his daughter. They were very sweet together.

I loved the banter between these two! There was so much tension and was so explosive when these two finally gave into each other. There was a ton of spice in this book!

The Au Pair Affair is the second book in the Big Shots series. I’m not sure who the next book in the series will be, but I am really hoping that it is Tallulah’s friend Chloe & her future stepbrother (and Burgess’s teammate), Sig. I am dying for their story!

This was another hit from Tessa. I think this series is really bringing back the Tessa Bailey I loved from “It Happened One Summer.” Take my 5 stars with a grain of salt because I have a soft spot for hockey romances. Doesn’t matter how good or bad they are I eat them up. But seriously, this book was fun. And I’m bias because my dogs name is Tallulah but….love the name.

STEAMMMMMMMYYYY! Tallulah and Burgess have never ending chemistry. It is a complete tug of war relationship that at times is LOL. Can't wait for Chlo and Sig story.

Burgess is the captain and gigantic defenseman of the Boston Bearcats hockey team, and he needs help watching his daughter when he's at practice or away for games. Tallulah is the au pair he hires to help him out. He's hot, she's hot, they had an instant connection. But she it's hesitant to jump into living with him because of past abuse that she has PTSD about. She can't trust men. But he's gentle with her and, as I said, very hot. A hockey romance ensues.

First, Burgess and Tallulah are word names. I had a hard time with them. But that's a nitpick. The book is CLASSIC Tessa Bailey. Steamy, hot, and heavy. It was a fun hockey romance. We all know I love a hockey romance.

I will say that it's a LITTLE frustrating that his career is talked about CONSTANTLY, but her grad program, where she has a pushy lab partner, is only discussed up until she has a confrontation with the creeper, and then it's almost never mentioned again until the epilogue. Yeah, he's got issues that are pretty major, but aren't grad programs fairly difficult and stressful too?

It's cute, guys, and if you like Tessa Bailey, you'll like this.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

I was so excited for a Tessa bailey Hockey romance because I mean I knew she’d do the genre justice, and she did. I am a big lover of hockey romances and I did love Sir Savage in this one. He’s so intense but also such a freaking softie inside.
Tallulah was such a unique FMC I felt like and I really enjoyed her. I loved the hockey team, that family vibe is just sooo good, and Burgess’ daughter was another great side character.
I love a kind of grumpy/sunshine trope with a guy who’s actually just a protective misunderstood teddy bear. I also was totally onboard with their age gap, and after a few ick age gap romances recently this one redeemed them for me. They acknowledged it, but at the same time Tallulah was mature and Burgess was able to accept that year he was older, so freaking what, and move on. Also single dad for the win (mean daddy haha)
I enjoyed this book a lot but after how much I freaking adored Fangirl Down I didn’t love it quite as much. Which again is a surprise because I love hockey, not so much golf, yet somehow the golf romance really got me good.
I am definitely looking forward to the next book and the next hockey player! It better be Sig!

Tallulah just landed a job as a live in nanny for NHL star Burgess, which is great because she is finally starting grad school and needs the money and a place to crash. Pulled into the world of her 12 year charge, Tallulah builds a relationship with the young girl and her father, all while healing from a traumatic assault. As Burgess begins to have feelings for Tallulah, he offers to act as her watchman as she takes news risks (like skinny dipping) to try to take back control of her life and win back her free spirit. As Burgess watches Tallulah come back to herself, he finds that he and his daughter might just be coming alive themselves.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

Tropes:
Single Dad
He Falls First
Grumpy x Sunshine
Age Gap (26-37)

Triggers:
Divorce
Assault (not from MMC)
PTSD

My thoughts:
I don't know how Tessa Bailey does it, but this book is sweet and laugh out loud funny, all while the FMC has to heal from assault and learn to trust a single father who has issues of his own. Tallulah and Burgess really compliment one another and the reader is rooting for them from the get go. I personally feel that Burgess sometimes comes on a little strong, but that is also in line for his character, who is a take charge hockey defenseman. I can already tell which couple will be next in this series and am excited to see how Tessa Bailey flushes out their relationship.