The Au Pair Affair 🏒

By Tessa Bailey.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I think we'll be better as friends"

"Guess you need to be proven wrong”.

The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey is the second instalment in the Big Shots series and after finishing it, I can safely say I am completely hooked on this world.

This sports rom com centres on Tallulah, a vibrant and determined marine biology student who has moved to Boston to continue her studies. Like many students trying to make ends meet, she is also completely broke.

When professional hockey player Burgess offers her a job as a live in nanny for his daughter, it feels like the perfect solution. She gets a place to stay in a beautiful neighbourhood, a steady income, and the chance to focus on her studies.

Of course, things become far more complicated than that.

Burgess is a veteran hockey player who has been through his fair share of battles both on and off the ice. Now a single dad to his introverted tween daughter Lissa, he is trying to balance fatherhood with the demanding pace of professional sport. His tough exterior and intimidating presence on the ice contrast strongly with the softer, protective side he shows at home.

The chemistry between Tallulah and Burgess is obvious from the very beginning, but this story takes a slower path when it comes to their relationship. Tallulah carries emotional baggage from past experiences and is understandably cautious when it comes to trusting men. Burgess recognises this immediately and makes a real effort to respect her boundaries, doing everything he can to make sure she feels safe and comfortable.

That dynamic works beautifully throughout the book. Burgess may be gruff and intimidating to everyone else, but around Tallulah and his daughter he reveals a much gentler side. Watching him navigate fatherhood while slowly falling for Tallulah adds warmth and emotional depth to the story.

I also appreciated how the book handled the realities of co-parenting and family dynamics. Lissa’s hope that her parents might reunite adds a layer of tension that makes the relationship between Burgess and Tallulah even more complicated.

For me, the tropes in this story were an absolute win. The grumpy-sunshine dynamic works perfectly between these two characters, and the combination of single dad and forced proximity adds even more emotional intensity to their developing relationship.

Like many sports romances, this book offers the perfect escape from reality. It is funny, romantic, and full of heart, making it incredibly easy to lose yourself in the story for a few hours. Tessa Bailey has a real talent for creating characters who feel larger than life while still remaining relatable and emotionally grounded.

If you already enjoy Tessa Bailey’s writing, this book delivers exactly what you would hope for. It has humour, chemistry, emotional growth, and plenty of swoon worthy moments. For me, it was another thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series.

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