I can’t even.
Hockey ✔️
Age gap ✔️
He falls first and is incredibly protective ✔️
And the spice, sweet jeezus 🥵🌶️ ✔️

I’m so obsessed with Burgess it’s not even funny. His and Tallulah’s story might be one of my favorite from Tessa. These characters had the most growth I’ve seen in a romance in a while and it was wonderful to witness. Especially the strength of Tallulah.
I enjoy this one much more than Fangirl Down and I can’t really put my finger on it. I think I just like Burgess better than Wells. Either way, it’s helpful to read Fangirl Down first because it does set the story for this. Additionally Wells and Josephine do pop up occasionally.
I saw a lot of potential for additional stories for this series in Sig and Chloe and even the 2 rookies would be fun to learn more about.

But seriously, just tell me what I have to do to get a man like Burgess and I’ll do it.

I can usually depend on Tessa bailey to not let me down, and I am glad this was another well-written book by TB! This book the AU Pair centers on the relationship between hockey captain Burgess Abraham and nanny Tallulah Aydin. This is the second book in the Big Shots series. I did enjoy the first book in this series, and this book was even spicier than the 1st one! Definitely approve of that! I also enjoyed the dual POV of this book. Definitely would recommend!

really cute and really fun romance. not QUITE as strong as the other Bailey work I've read but still very well written and a great new voice on the romance novel scene. tysm for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC of The Au Pair Affair. I have read other books by Tessa Bailey and I enjoyed this one as much as the others I have read. I have not read the first book in the series but will read it as soon as I can get a copy through my public library. This was a fast-paced adult read with a lot of spice.

I love love love this book and I am so happy I got to read this book I loved everything about it and I can't wait for the next book assuming there will be

This was my first Tessa Bailey book, and it was so good! It was a fun and sweet story and I can't wait to pick up more by her!

Honestly.. I wanted to love this one but was a bit frustrated with it. The age difference really didn't make an impact in the storyline, but was a major focus of the dialog. The characters were pretty flat, but the scenes were hot and enjoyable - overall a good read, but not one of my Tessa Bailey faves.

How I got an ARC for the Au Pair Affair, I will never know. But dammit if I’m not thankful as fck! Something about this one just scratched an itch that I didn’t know I had. I love a grumpy x sunshine, man falls first (and HARD) trope, and this checked both of those boxes. Tallulah is a lil baddie to the max and for that, I am in love with her. Like that woman is smart, hot, and fucking resilient. WE STAN 😤 And Burgess, u big, angry, hunky oaf. I love u, even if ur a lil mean (idk maybe that’s why I love him). These two had tension out the wazoo, and I for one gobbled it tf UP. I was turning the pages at lightning speed to see what would happen next. and then I would get there and suddenly I was sweating 🥵 I also love the found family adjacent trope 🥰 Lissa was my personality to a T when I was a kid, so hopefully she grows out of it.

Tessa, I beg of you, write more of these.

Finally, a hockey romance where the author did their homework! I love how Tessa Bailey dove in and made her main character an actual hockey player where the sport majorly affects him as a character. The romance was great, the spice was mostly great. The ending felt a little rushed and kind of cringe, but overall I had a great time with this one!

There were parts I really liked and parts that were just ok. Tallulah moves to Boston for grad school and plans to be the au pair for the pro hockey player nicknamed Sir Savage. Both characters have personal challenges they are overcoming while also navigating feelings for one another. I liked the personal growth for both characters. There were some cringy parts but, overall, I enjoyed this book.

This was my very first Tessa Bailey book and what a cute fun little spicy read! I know the whole trope of Nanny/boss is not everyone's cup of tea but I love how Ms. Bailey made this story where you were rooting for them!

Tallulah is a spunky, smart, guarded 26 year old broke college student. Always running and on the move from her past demons she decides to take an au pair job for the hot headed newly single hockey player Burgess. What is supposed to be strictly a business deal turns electric when both Tallulah and Burgess can't help but gravitate toward each other at first sexually but then emotionally. But that all comes to a screeching halt when Burgess' daughter Lissa catches them kissing with her mom and screams that Tallulah has ruined all chances of her mom and dad getting back together!

I absolutely loved this book it was a little spicy but I'd give it 🌶️ 🌶️ on the spice meter!
Such a fun quick read and I am definitely going to have to go back and read the first book in the series!

The Au Pair Affair is the much anticipated follow up to Bailey's Fangirl Down. We got hints of this pairing at the end of Fangirl and then got lots of peeks at Josephine and Welles in this book. Tallulah has been hired to be the au pair for hockey beast, Burgess's 12 year old daughter. Tallulah has some very suprising and deep fears about this situation but can't pass up helping this family who clearly needs her. While he builds her trust and works through his own struggles, their connection is so good. It's a little slower of a burn than we get from Tessa which makes it feel slower than it truly is. But the payoff, as always, is worth it.

Most readers understand that the plot is usually not the primary factor in determining whether one enjoys a romance novel. It's about the feelings and the characters and all that. Sometimes a handy plot device is just the thing that moves us all toward that Happily Ever After, most romance fans will just roll with it. Sometimes, however, the plot device strains credulity just a little too much, especially when the backstory just doesn't match with the character's contemporary actions. Such is the case here, unfortunately, which is really the only reason this book gets only 4 stars. Other than that, it's a delightful read, with characters you'll root for, and, yes, all the feelings.

Phenomenal and steamy. Another zinger by Tessa Bailey! Treated a serious subject and trauma with grace.

I loved the hockey angle of this book but i wish there was more of it. I think a lot of her books are coming out too fast and the care she once put in is nolonger there or at least felt

4.5 stars - I need the next book asap!!!

So far the Big Shots series is my favorite by Tessa Bailey and I can't get enough of the characters in each book, so I'm especially grateful they still appear from time to time. Sports romance combined with the single dad/nanny trope is my ultimate happy place for reading and I've been chomping at the bit for this one as soon as I finished Fangirl Down.

Burgess is a giant teddy bear, and the amount of patience he had with her anxiety/PTSD makes him a forever book boyfriend on my list. I also love how the relationship with his daughter grows the more Tallulah is around them together. Her ease around Lissa is so tender to witness and I didn't want this story to end.

Both main characters have their own struggles, past and present, causing me to be glued to the page for every heart breaking moment. Don't get me wrong, Burgess knows how to dirty talk, and I was almost afraid my Kindle was going to catch on fire with the heat between them.

I devoured this book in one day, but I can't wait for Chloe and Sig's story, so I hope that one's next!!!

I love Tessa Bailey. She is an immediate read for me, every time. And I love hockey! So you'd think I'd be over the moon for this book. But... I just felt like there were some misses.

This man has a daughter and he's more protective of this 20 something year old he just met? I get it, but he needs to be protective all the way around. Otherwise it feels a little too daddy/daughter for me. (It's been weeks and I still think about this. This man was so "protective" he made it impossible for the guides to do their jobs. That's not charming, that's being an a-hole.)

In his head he is very shy and unsure, but out loud in her POV he is a totally different person. Consistency is the key to making a character believable. Their make-up was messy as well, because they both wavered so much! Maybe they should make up their own minds before dragging each other around.

Her trauma is glossed over so quickly! No wonder this poor girl is dealing with so much. I know this is meant to be a cute romcom but I do feel like this level of trauma should be addressed more. Get my girl some therapy!

"I'm hungry and your body is the only thing that feeds me." "Devour me, then." Just... bad. It's bad. I know we all like dirty talk but this is next level.

All this to say I did enjoy the plot and I always have faith in Tessa. This one just feels half finished.

As a hockey fan, I loved that this book actually included hockey on the page and dealt with the very real issue of injury and rehab in the sport. I also thought the way the stakes ramped up was absolutely masterful. And for readers who love a grovel, this one goes all in. Burgess has to work for it, and Tessa makes him HURT.

I literally ate this books up. I loved burgess so much. That man….swoon. I also love Tallulah. Her growth and watching her come back out of her shell was chefs kiss. This is probably my favorite book by Tessa to date(I said the same thing about Fangirl Down) I thought it was cute and fun but could still be serious. If you’re a contemporary romance person, just do yourself a favor and read it.

This book started off very strong for me. The first 60% had me locked in. I liked both main characters. Burgess, despite his name, seemed like a good mix of protective but also a big teddy bear. Tallulah, despite her name, seemed to have a good head on her shoulders and was resilient. Not sure if these two had anything other than physical chemistry but I was into it. Until the third act break up. Burgess was giving huge red flags and Tallulah folded super easy after one dinky apology.

I enjoy a good single dad trope but this one had me feeling a lil bad for the child involved. I liked the age gap between these two (37 and 26) but wasn’t a huge fan of the boss/employee vibe, especially when neither of them never even tried to keep things professional lol.

All in all the spice was pretty good but the plot was lacking for me. Looking forward to find out wtf is going on with Sig and Chloe!

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