. unfortunately.. I didn't care for this, I didn't know that it was the the second book in a series, I think I might have enjoyed this more if I had read the first book, It was very steamy and very badly written..

Astrid O'Malley is a hockey girl, having been raised at the rink by her hockey coach father and was once engaged to superstar hockey goalie, Tig Jones. When Tig abandons her at the alter on the day of their wedding five years ago, Astrid swears off all things hockey, and all serious romantic commitments. Her strict policy of love 'em and leave 'em comes to an screeching halt when she has an exhilarating best-sex-ever one night stand with a stranger from a bar. But despite the great time, Astrid has rules to stick to: no sharing numbers, never share your address, and definitely don't spend the night! When her father announces that he's retiring from coaching hockey after this season, he begs her to come help him coach one last time. The assignment? Help her ex-fiance Tig get out of his losing funk so the Ice Knights can get back in the win column. Only problem, other than the close proximity to her once fiance-turned-enemy? She won't be doing it alone. She'll have the help of former hockey goalie pro and man-from-the-bar, Cal Matson. So much for those rules!

Avery Flynn is a new author for me, and the premise of the story enticed me enough to pick this one up. I love a good rom com with witty banter, but I'm more of a closed door romance reader. The Walk of Shame is sexual tension filled and the sex scenes are quite graphic. Be warned if open door romance is not your usual choice, or if you don't want a running commentary of what is going on in Astrid's panties throughout the entire story.

The beginning of the novel piqued my interest-- it begins as Astrid is jilted at the alter and then jumps ahead five years to present day. Once the sexual chemistry between Astrid and Cal was established, it became the forefront of the remaining story development, and the remaining storyline felt stagnant from that point on. Aside from the sexual chemistry, I didn't feel a lot of development in the rest of their relationship.

The audiobook production checked one of my favourite boxes-- multiple narrators for the multiple POVs. Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood do a fabulous job delivering this performance. They created a cohesive narration that felt like true banter between two love interests. The audiobook presentation was truly the bright spot of this story.

Oh, how I adore Avery Flynn books, especially when they are in Harbor City, have something to do with the Ice Knights (hockey team), and the Hartigan family… this book has all of these, and more!!

I didn’t realize this one took place after Anger Bang so I’m going back to that straight away (I’ve only put it off because of other arcs getting in the way), but I’m a sucker for all of Flynn’s books that have anything to do with this whole world. I love the ice Knights hockey boys, and the fact that Astrid, daughter of the head coach, has sworn off the game and everything to do with it after being stood up at the altar when her fiancé (her love since age 12) is traded and the wedding day is the only day he can fly out… runs into a guy in the bar she works at and decides to throw her no guys rule out the window and have a one night fling - to find out he’s her ex’s new goalie coach and her dad is trying to get her to come back to hockey… and work with her ex and the new fling, Cal.

Such a fantastic story to bring me back to the Harbor City and Ice Knights (and Hartigan family) world, which I’ve missed so much! Listening to this one was the very best way to do it - narrated by a long-time favorite Savannah Peachwood, who was perfect as Astrid, and Robert Hatchet, who is a name I don’t recognize but sounded smooth as silk and like I’ve always has his voice in my ears (I could listen to him forever!). Perfect pair!

I received an advance listen copy from NetGalley and RB Media (Recorded Books), and this is my honest feedback.

Rating: 5✨
Spice: 4/5 🌶️

Tropes:
✨ Sport Romance
✨ Dual POV
✨ Neighbors to Lovers
✨Workplace Romance
✨Banter
✨Spice
✨Forbidden love
✨Independ Sassy FMC


I was excited to listen to Walk of Shame and the author exceed my expectations. The narrators skillfully managed the pacing and vividly bought the characters to life.

Avery's portrayal of Astrid's transformative journey, focusing on mental health and self-care, resonated deeply with me. Additionally, I admired Cal's ability to overcome past trauma and embark on a new career as a coach. When these two characters came together, their chemistry was palpable and truly exceptional.

The supporting characters contributed significantly to the narrative; Mrs. Duffy and Cal's sister had me laughing out loud.


If you're looking for great audio book/ book with the above tropes, I suggest you check this book out.

Thanks to the author, to the publisher (RB Media, Recorded Books), and to NetGalley for granting access to an audio ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Walk of Shame lives up to the Ice Knights' legacy and Avery Flynn continues to show us why she is one of the best when it comes to hot hockey romance.
Left at the alter by the upandcoming goaltender on her father's team, Astrid O'Malley has sworn off all things hockey. Even her hockey coach dad knows not to bring it up around her.
As any avid romance reader could predict, Astrid's avoidance is going just fine until her amazing one night stand turns out to be Cal Matson, her father's new goalie coach. On top of all that her father needs her to help Cal get thei team's goalie (the man who left her at the alter five years ago) out of his current slump before he gets himself traded. .
This "it was only supposed to be a one night stand" forced proximity hot romcom is fast-paced, with a great story, incredibly likeable charactors (including some familiar ones), and is brimming with sexual tension. Astrid and Cal have the kind of rip eachother's clothes off chemistry that Flynn's books are known for..
Savannah Peachwood and Robert Hatchet were great as Astrid and Cal for the audiobooks's dual. POV narration. I'm definitely looking forward to more of this series in the future.

Thanks Netgalley and RB Media Recorded Books for the advanced copy of this audiobook..

Astrid's life had always revolved around hockey. Her dad coached and she always had such a love for the game. Until her fiance, a hockey goalie, dumps her at the alter by FaceTime. Humiliated and broken, she walks away from hockey and doesn't look back.

Astrid becomes a one night stand girl. One night. A little fun. And walk away. No feelings. No attachments. She travels around the world and tries not to think of hockey.

Until her dad begs her to return and work with him one last season. He lets her know he's retiring and this is his final season. She cannot say no.

Upon returning to town, she has a steamy one night stand with a stranger.

Astrid shows up to work with her dad to find not one, but two surprises - her former fiance is the new goalie, and her most recent one night stand is a new goalie coach.

Astrid's road to romance was bumpy, but this was a fun listen! The audio was fun and added to the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

AUDIO ARC REVIEW: 4.5/5 ⭐️ 4/5 Narration🎙️ 5/5 Spicy 🌶️ 5/5 Romance 💘
*****************************************
Savannah Peachwood & Robert Hatchet narrate Avery Flynn’s book, Walk of Shame, in audiobook format. I have listened to both narrators before & enjoy both their reading styles, narration pacing & character depictions.

I really enjoyed the chapters where Hatchet was in control of the narration. He provides an excellent voice portrayal of Cal especially during the (very) steamy scenes. He provides the perfect deep, in control & in command voice for Cal. It is immediately clear in Flynn’s story that this is very essential for Cal’s personality. Hatchet also infuses softness/concern when needed during other critical moments for both characters. I really liked how he was able to bring these contrasts together.

Peachwood’s narration’s are some of my favorites. Her voice portrayal of Astrid was spot on; I could easily hear & imagine Astrid with this voice. I did not find the voice portrayal of Cal as strong, but it is still solid. The steamiest scenes need Cal having a very deep commanding voice that just did not match up. However, all the rest of the narration for both Cal & Astrid is nicely handled. Nothing about the narration felt too fast or too slow.

Hockey romances are one of my favorite tropes & while hockey does not take over this story it is the foundation for everything that happens moving forward. I enjoyed the characters who both find themselves in positions of love that they were not expecting & I like how Flynn brings them together. Personally, I found it debatable on who falls the fastest & hardest; it appears to hit both at the same time. Overall, I found myself enjoying the story a great deal & listening to it within a span of two days.

I recommend this book in audio simply because Peachwood & Hatchet bring Flynn’s delightful story to life in the best way. They work well together & make it is a good listen.

4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐🎧

I received an ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) of this audiobook from NetGalley & RB Media, Recorded Books.

Don't let the cover fool you. It honestly doesn't have anything to do with the story.

Astrid was dumped by her childhood sweetheart in the most humiliating of ways. So she has chosen to forsake anything to do with hockey or goalies because screw them.

A few years later, she has mastered the art of a one-night stand; this way, she can never have her heart broken again.
This one night is beyond anything she has had, but her rule one night has to stand.

She takes a job for her father on his team because he wants her there for his last year. Only to find out that the one night that rocked her world was the goalie coach… training her ex… and he lives upstairs.

Oh, holy does, the sparks fly. These two can not keep their hands off each other no matter how many times she tells herself one night.

I really enjoyed the narration. Robert & Savannah really do give this story legs. I loved it.

I loved this book. The spice was just perfect. It was a fun fast paced hockey romance. I’m new to this author but will definitely read her again. Thank you RB Media Recorded Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy of the audiobook

Super cute and delightfully steamy rom-com. Lots of moments of “we shouldn’t but we continue to” and sweet gestures between the two leads. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

"Walk of Shame" is a delightful rom-com that blends humor, romance, and self-discovery in a refreshing narrative. While the coworker trope with a hockey backdrop might not be groundbreaking, Avery Flynn infuses the story with enough charm and wit to keep readers thoroughly entertained.

At the heart of the story is Astrid, a relatable and endearing protagonist who undergoes a journey of healing and rediscovery after being left at the altar. What sets Astrid apart is her strength and resilience; she's a strong female character who isn't defined by her search for love but rather by her own sense of self-worth and confidence. Flynn beautifully captures Astrid's humor and vulnerability, making her a character readers can't help but root for.

Opposite Astrid is Cal, the quintessential "Spicey Golden Retriever" man who adds a dash of sweetness and warmth to the story. His unwavering support and affection for Astrid make him an irresistible love interest, and readers will find themselves cheering for their budding romance.

While the plot may not offer groundbreaking twists, Flynn's execution and character development elevate the story, making it a joy to read. Astrid and Cal's dynamic is both heartwarming and hilarious, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.

"Walk of Shame" may be my first foray into Avery Flynn's work, but it certainly won't be my last. With its lovable characters, witty dialogue, and feel-good romance, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. I look forward to adding more of Flynn's books to my TBR pile.

While I was fully prepared for a steamy read based on the title alone, I must admit this book jumped to the sex scenes too quickly for my liking. The plot starts strong with a wronged bride left at the altar by her hockey star fiancée, but instantly jumps to her hooking up with the main character. Personally I would’ve loved a little more context or back story maybe “character foreplay” ? Before things got too hot and heavy,

Walk of Shame is a one night stand to more romance between the head coaches daughter and the new goalie coach for the hockey team. Astrid was left on her wedding day five years ago, and now she tasked to help her ex-fiancee to become the goalie he once was while working with Cal whom she met at a bar and had a one night stand with. Cal had his hockey career cut short (no pun intended) when he had leg slashed open, nearly killing him during a championship game. His new coaching job is his last chance to get back into the sport that he loves — into a career he knows. However, he has to works work with Astrid, the head coach’s daughter that he can’t keep his hands off of. What could go wrong?

Cal is a great hero. There isn’t a lot of world building here, because she’s already built hockey team and city in previous books. There are couples from previous books that we got see to see again. The romance between Cal and Astrid was okay. I felt like I was more from Cal than Astrid, which after what she went through was understandable. There is a difference between strength and angry stubbornness, and Astrid leaned more towards angry stubbornness for the first part of the book when I needed to connect with her character and their romance. When everything happened, instead of talking to Cal, she hid and then got angry and hurt as she assumed he would take a coaching job in another state. She realized her mistake, but luckily for her Cal wasn’t going to go anywhere!

Avery Flynn is really good a writing banter and writing rom-coms Walk of Shame is just shows off her writing skills, but this story is more about female empowerment and growth more so than Cal and Astrid’s story. I didn’t feel their love story, because there wasn’t enough emphasis or time spent on page together that was spent together where they communicated instead of having sex. Those scenes were written well, and the banter was written well. I just wanted more emotional connection between Cal and Astrid, and Astrid to let Cal in much earlier.

Savannah Peachwood and Robert Hatchett did an excellent job at narrating the audiobook. Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC. All thought are my own. 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 for the banter.

Thank you Net Galley and RB Media for this audiobook ARC.

This was my second experience with an audiobook and it was pretty decent. Both narrators did a great job and expressed the characters and scenes well so that the plot was easy to follow. Initially I was put off by how both narrators would adjust their voices when speaking other's lines however it grew on me and wasn't as annoying as I thought it would be.

Overall there wasn't too much of a plot, it was a quick and fun experience. The main conflict was clear from the start and I felt at the climax, it was breezed over too quickly. Even the epilogue gave me whiplash.

Interesting premise that kept me engaged - finished the book in basically one sitting. I loved the small moments the main leads had together but would have appreciated more relationship building because the chemistry was definitely there. I enjoyed the personal growth the main leads had and how strong the main female lead was despite everything.

Would not read/listen again.

Overall rating: 3/5

4.25/5

this was such a fun story and i flew through it! the main characters were easy to root for and the secondary characters were an absolute blast. (ms. duffy supremacy!!) i think one of the reasons i enjoyed this so much was the narrators. robert hatchet and savannah peachwood were incredible and they truly brought this story to life in a new way.

i hadn't read the first book in the series before jumping into this one, but i didn't feel like i'd missed anything or had any major plot holes. i'll definitely be catching up on avery flynn's books!

Great story! Sweet fwb to lovers. I wasn’t a huge fan of the POV that was used. But it didn’t take away from the story enough.

Narrators were great.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were perfect for this book. I loved it! Cute, sexy and funny, what more can you ask for in a romcom! I loved the chemistry between Cal and Astrid but even more, I loved all the secondary characters too. Great writing, it feels authentic and the banter is hilarious. I will definitely be reading more by this author and I highly recommend this one to those looking for a spicy romcom!

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media, Recorded Books for the audiobook version of this book. I am not compensated or affiliated in any way with any entities for my review.
I was in a reading slump I could not get out of it. I tried 7 books before I found this one. I loved this book! It was a book that grabs you from the first word and you just can not put it down! I do have to say it does have several spicy scenes so do not listen to it if there's younger ears around- it is definitely not something you want little ones to hear.

This book goes from jilted bride left at the alter to hot and steamy to finding her one. it has it all!

Quick Summary: A super cute, hot and bothered, sports romance

My Review: Walk of Shame by Avery Flynn is associated with Downside of Dating series. It is book two.

About the Book: Astrid O'Malley has a love-hate relationship with hockey. On the one hand, it connects her with her beloved father. On the other hand, it reminds her of the selfish man-child who left her at the altar. Because of the grief and shame she has had to endure, she has chosen to exist with a love 'em and leave 'em lifestyle. When she has a one night stand to remember with a stranger, she soon finds herself back in her old haunts.

About the Narration: Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood did a great job as narrators. They had a nice flow, which made the listening experience easy to follow. They certainly brought the characters to life in a memorable way.

My Final Say: This fast paced romance was really funny. It was so entertaining. It checked all the boxes for the one night to forever storyline. Both leads had a lot to work through as individuals. Together, they were explosive.

Other: Readers who enjoy naughty and nice reads with a hockey theme should like this novel.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Series: Yes
Status/Level: 🌶🍬
Narration: 👍

Thanks to the author, to the publisher (RB Media, Recorded Books), and to NetGalley for granting access to an audio ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own. I am appreciative for the opportunity.

So a guy walks into a bar….
No but really, Cal walks into a bar where Astrid is bartending. They hit it off and spend the night together. The next time they see each other is when they will both be working for her father’s hockey team, specifically coaching her ex-fiancé out of his hockey funk.

Avery wrote amazing chemistry between Cal & Astrid. They can go toe to toe with their words and then meet each other perfectly in the bedroom. They are so funny (The bingo scene had me howling!!) and sweet (diet cokes 🥹) and I couldn’t get enough of them. There is a 3rd act breakup, but I appreciated how it was done because Astrid had a lot to work through in order to fight for their relationship.

This is 3rd person POV and dual narrated by Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood. I LOVED the narration. Savannah has a great male voice for dual, and she gave Astrid the sassiness and vulnerability that she needed. This was my first Robert narration and I will definitely search out for more! I love his voice and his ability to give all the different characters their own personalities. Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the author, RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.