title: The Au Pair Affair
author: Tessa Bailey
publisher: Avon
publication date: July 16, 2024
pages: 384
peppers: 3 (on this scale)
warnings: broken nose and other hockey violence; traumatic past/stalker
summary: Tallulah is moving to Boston to work on her MA in Marine Biology. To be able to afford to live there, she takes a job as the Au Pair to Lissa, the twelve-year-old daughter of Burgess, better known as the rough defensemen of the Boston Bearcats (*Yes, I love that the team's mascot is the same as my school's!) pro hockey team. Despite her rough past and desire for fearlessness and adventure and his gruff exterior and homebody lifestyle, their chemistry and compatibility is undeniable.
tropes:
- professional sports hero
- age-gap
- she works for him
- traumatic past
- grumpy-sunshine
- moody tween
- destination wedding (not theirs)
- doesn't care about anything except hockey
- might not be able to come back from his injury
what I liked:
- he's alpha-protective of her
- she's got more going on in her life than just pining for him
- she gives good advice about communication
- Bailey made the age-gap work
what I didn’t like: NA
overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)