The Au Pair Affair

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. (July)