The Au Pair Affair

April 1, 2024

Bailey offers a compelling addition to her "Big Shots" series (following the series opener, Fangirl Down). The plot of this second installment revolves around the unlikely relationship between 26-yearold marine biology grad student, Tallulah Aydin, and a seasoned hockey player and newly single dad, Burgess "Sir Savage" Abraham, who is 11 years Tallulah's senior. They meet when a broke Tallulah takes a side gig as live-in nanny at Burgess's house, caring for his tween daughter (who wants her parents back together). Tallulah tries to help Burgess start dating again, but they start to develop feelings for one another. Then an injury tangles them in a web of emotions, causing heartbreak and misunderstandings. Burgess decides to win over the love he never knew he needed. One of the novel's strengths is its sensitive portrayal of Tallulah's traumatic past after moving from Istanbul at a young age. Bailey addresses this aspect with grace, adding depth to Tallulah's character and making her journey towards healing a significant part of the narrative. The steamy novel also emphasizes the importance of respect and consent in relationships. VERDICT Bailey wonderfully portrays the chemistry between Tallulah and Burgess, creating a tension-filled narrative that keeps readers captivated from beginning to end.--Michelle Mistalski

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May 15, 2024
Accepting a job working as au pair for divorced dad Burgess Abraham's tween daughter, Lissa, seemed like a good idea at the time. Then Tallulah Aydin comes across a video of hockey player Burgess--aka Sir Savage--busting up an opposing team member on the ice. Now Tallulah is having second--and to be honest, third and fourth--thoughts about going to work for the team captain of the Boston Bearcats. However, with a bit of work, Burgess manages to quell whatever initial fears Tallulah might have, and she agrees to a trial period working for Burgess and Lissa. But spending so much time around Burgess soon raises a different concern--can she keep things strictly profession with her gruff, tough, and way-too-buff new boss? With the latest entry in her Big Shots series, Bailey (Fangirl Down, 2024) shoots and scores with another effortlessly entertaining sports romance that not only perfectly encapsulates her naughty and nice brand of love stories but is also richly imbued with her puckish sense of humor.

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May 13, 2024
Bestseller Bailey brings her signature blend of heat and sweet to her delightful second Big Shots romance (after Fangirl Down). Graduate student Tallulah Aydin is having second thoughts about agreeing to be a live-in nanny for the tween daughter of Boston Bearcats hockey player Burgess Abraham, aka Sir Savage, after seeing some scary YouTube clips of him facing off against opponents on the ice. Tallulah, 11 years Burgess’s junior and traumatized by a past relationship, is trying to hide away from the world and, despite having accepted the job, feels a frisson of fear about living under the same roof as the formidable hockey player. She soon learns, however, that, underneath his intimidating appearance, Burgess is as gentle as a kitten with the people he cares about. Through bonding with him and his daughter, Lissa, she finds the courage to face the world. But when Burgess lashes out after a devastating injury, his outbursts cut Tallulah to the core—and may doom their relationship. Bailey creates flawed but endearing characters that readers will fall head over heels for. Her nimble plotting captivates from the first page, and a strong supporting cast—especially precocious Lissa and Tallulah’s friend Chloe, who seems poised to be the heroine of book three—add dimension to the romance. This is another winner from Bailey.

June 15, 2024
A professional hockey player falls in love with his tween daughter's nanny. Burgess Abraham is 37 and can feel himself aging out of hockey--everything hurts. He refuses to let the team doctors know the extent of his pain, worried it will force him into early retirement. Complicating his life, he's recently divorced and has shared custody of his daughter, Lissa. Burgess' punishing travel schedule means he needs help at home, so he hires 26-year-old graduate student Tallulah Aydin to be his daughter's nanny. Tallulah just moved to Boston for a graduate program in marine biology. She's flat broke and landing this gig is a financial lifesaver, but she worries that her incendiary chemistry with Burgess will make it hard to keep things professional. Burgess' feelings of protectiveness toward Tallulah are amplified after she tells him about a traumatic incident from her past. Her move to Boston showed her that she's been letting fear rule her life, that she's reluctant to trust people and afraid to live. Burgess offers to help Tallulah check items off her bucket list of adventures, promising to accompany her and keep her safe. In return, Burgess wants to be her boyfriend, not just a casual fling. Unfortunately, Lissa is convinced her parents will get back together and sees Tallulah as an interloper. Bailey fans will find all the classic hallmarks of her style: a plucky heroine matched with a possessive, dirty-talking hero in a high-heat romance. Although the novel engages with deeper themes, its exploration of these difficult topics feels simplistic and superficial. Huge problems are introduced late in the story and then fixed offstage, without readers seeing the work and effort involved. Engaging characters with thorny problems have a pat, easy love story.

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