i’m really disappointed that the arcs that i’ve read so far have been so bad. this one included.
and no shade to the writer, cause i personally know people who would eat this one up. i’m just not a smutty person, i care about the relationship between the main characters and this one didn’t have it.

I DON’T LIKE LISTENING TO PEOPLE HAVING SEX AND HEARING DESCRIBTIONS OF THEIR PRIVATE PARTS!

if you want to read about people having sex with no romantic connection - this one is for you!

wasn’t even a little bit interested in their lives, have no idea how the book ended because i couldn’t wait to finish it, so i didn’t listen.

only good thing about this - hockey.

I thought Astrid and Cam were super adorable! I thought from the start of this book that it was going to be a sweet second chance but boy was I wrong.

Savannah Peachwood and Robert Hatchet were perfect in this audiobook!

Astrid O'Malley is the daughter of a hockey coach. Therefore, when her childhood sweetheart, who is also in her father’s team, dumps her at the altar she swears off love and hockey.
After 5 years of one-night stands she meets a man who makes her break all her rules. Until she finds out that he is the new goalie coach in her father’s team and that he is there to train her ex.
What can possibly go wrong when she is thrown back into the hockey world and she has to face both her ex and the man she can’t stop thinking about?

What I liked:
- The narrators are both really good;
- The leading characters are both great and their chemistry is off the charts;
- I love the mix of tenderness, fun and steam. This hot rom-com made me laugh and blush in equal measures;
- Some secondary characters are awesome and contribute to the humor component of the book. For instance Astrid’s old neighbor and Cal’s sisters.

What I didn’t like:
- The last part of the book is a little rushed;
- The cover is colorful but not my cup of tea and it is not really connected to the actual story.

What to expect and tropes:
- rom-com
- workplace romance
- sports (hockey)
- forbidden love
- forced proximity
- curvy heroine
- coach's daughter
- one-night stand

** AUDIOBOOK ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **

Fun read, loved the old lady neighbor. I enjoyed the flirting and spice between the main characters. I feel there could be a little more depth to the relationships (hockey “uncles” and Astrid, Coach and Cal, Cal and Tigg, Astrid and Cal’s family) to have better understanding of each character. There was quite a jump between the end of the story and the epilogue introducing a completely new plot. I’m not sure if there will be a sequel to further explore it? But as far as I can remember there was no “hints” in the book to transition the reader and it felt a bit disconnected. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to have access to this book.

I've been a huge fan of Avery Flynn's writing for a while & her latest book, Walk of Shame, does not disappoint. Avery's writing is not for the faint of heart with language & passionate scenes that will raise your heart rate a few beats.
Thank you, #NetGalley, for the ARC, which I voluntarily & happily read as well as reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own, but hopefully, you'll put any book by Avery Flynn on your TBR list.
Little tip for the readers about Avery Flynn's books, she loves to write great characters & connect them to other characters in her series. Walk of Shame, which is set around a group of 3 hilarious girlfriends, also includes other characters from her Ice Knights & The Hartigans series. So, start at the beginning & read all of Avery Flynn's books cause the funny & genuine characters she created will possibly come around again as Easter eggs you'll connect from others of her books, which I personally love!

I received an audiobook copy of this for my honest review.

Our FMC is about to go down the aisle when her fiance FaceTimes her - from an airport because he was traded to a new team- not marrying her. After this she gives up on all things hockey, which is hard because her dad is a hockey coach. Fast forward 5 years later and our MMC moves to town, and ends up at the bar she is working at, and the chemistry is undeniable. It's just supposed to be one night - but it turns out he lives in her building, and the next day she finds out he is actually on her dad's coaching staff - coaching said ex who left her at the alter. But Everytime they see each other, they end up naked, or close to. She doesn't want to end up media fodder again, or risk another heartache, but can they stay away from each other?

Another cute, spicy romance from Avery Flynn! I love that her books are all interconnected in some way. It makes me want to go back to the beginning and re-read them all! Great narration from Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood!

Funny and cute- I really enjoyed this one! I love that they just couldn’t seem to stay away from each other no matter what. The unique characters in this one made it even more interesting too. The family aspect of it was also cute.

🌀Synopsis
Astrid O’Malley was dumped at the alter by her childhood sweetheart. From that day on there is no more hockey and no more relationships. She’s determined to live a life in a constant stream of one night stands and it works for her. That is, until she has a one night stand with the guy who lives above her.
Problem 1- he lives nearby and the sex was good. Almost irresistible.
Then her father decides to retire and asks her to come back and help the team. Which is where she sees him again, also helping the team.
Problem 2- she can’t date someone on the team and now she has to see him constantly.
It a series of run-ins for these two that make it so they just can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Once again, the choice will be between her and hockey.

Walk of Shame is a perfect and fast paced hockey romance! After being dumped on her wedding day, Astrid swears off everything and everyone hockey related….that is until she unknowingly has a steamy one night stand with a man who is on the coaching staff with her dad for the Ice Knights. To make things even more complicated, her dad begs her to return and help coach for his last year with the team and she has no clue what she got herself into.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between Cal and Astrid and their chemistry is almost too hot to handle! There were so many moments that made me laugh and smile! And let me just say that the spicy scenes are definitely SPICY and I loved all of them so much.

The audio book narration made it easy and enjoyable to listen to as well! Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood did an amazing job with the dual POV narration. I would definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone looking for a hockey romance with forced proximity and forbidden love.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Walk of Shame was a fun read/listen. Avery Flynn never lets me down when it comes to spice, and this was no exception.

Cal and Astrid were both likeable MCs and their back and forth was really enjoyable. Their story was a fun one and had pretty low stakes, so it was an easy read. I do wish they had gone a little deeper in getting to know each other, but it was a fun ride as it was.

I haven't read Avery Flynn in a fews years, but this turned out to be a fun read. Total predictable rom-com, but this one had lots of spice and I enjoyed the banter between the MC's. I didn't realize this was book 2 in a series, so I will be going back and reading/listening to book 1.

4.5 stars

I flew through this audiobook in about 10 hours (one work shift). I just couldn't stop! Between Savanna and Robert's voices just drawing me in and Avery's writing, I honestly didn't want to stop.

It's such a wonderful twist when at the end the FMC and MMC end up together but not married. Astrid "isn't the marrying kind" and after her one attempt I don't think anyone would blame her. The end goal isn't always marriage and it was refreshing to see a HEA without one. I didn't realize how much I wanted that until I realized I'd never read it.

However, even with Astrid not being the marrying kind, her and Cam are perfect! Their relationship started as a one night stand and then surprise coworkers and then an forbidden situationship (which as we all know, the forbiddances of it just makes you want it more) to full on feelings that they didn't know they were having. It seemed organic and real. Cam leaving her notes and presents. Her telling him goodnight every night. It seemed to evolve and flow really nicely. It didn't seem rushed.

Avery's internal monologue had me snickering because I've for sure had a lot of those same conversations with myself when I was younger. It was funny and cute and I really enjoyed this book probably more than I was hoping to.

Thank you, NetGalley, Avery Flynn, and RB Media, Recorded Books for the chance to review this. This is my honest opinion.

I love Avery Flynn's writing soo much!! She just knows how to hook me into her books - and it's not that I'm sucker for the Harbor Bay Ice Knights (hint: that was a lie. I am a sucker for them). I finished this audiobook in less than 24 hours and I am not ashamed of that fact.

Astrid and Cal have the best chemistry from beginning to end! I loved the "But-We-Can't-Do-This-Again" vibes and how they always failed.

The narrators nailed the characters in my opinion and just made me want to keep listening.

The 3rd act breakup was tough - and I was not expecting the twist as to the why of the 3rd act breakup. However, the breakup was not due to simple miscommunication -- which is my least favorite type of breakup.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and RB Media for an ARC of this audiobook!

This was a solid listen for me.

Astrid is against relationships after being left at the alter. One night stands though? Fair game. Will she change her rules for Cal, whom she has a one night stand with, has to work with (along side her ex-fiance), and lives in the same building as her? She doesn't think so.

This was a 3.5 star read for me. Just a very typical hockey themed rom-com. Idk why I always want more with the ex, but I felt like I wanted more interaction between them. Some sort of blow up after he came back into the picture. I also don't always love like a third act split or a miscommunication keeping a couple apart, so those were some of the things that I felt brought this read down for me.

I would recommend for those who love an adult hockey romance!

Thank you to Netgalley & RB Media for providing me the audiobook for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own & were not influenced in any way!

This was such a light and fun weekend read/listen! Starting with a one night stand, it hit the gate running in the spice department and it included one of my favorite tropes - the secret relationship no one can know about. I would have liked more jealousy from the ex though and I felt like the ending wrapped up faster than I would have liked. I would recommend this to anyone looking for their next hockey romance, from the cover and title I’m not sure you would know that is what it is at first glance.

Many thanks to NetGalley & RB Media for the audio arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A fun, sexy, sporty romance that will leave you wishing you had your own Cal!

After being left at the altar by her professional hockey goalie fiancé, Astrid swears off anything to do with the sport -- that means leaving her job with the hockey team her dad coaches (that her ex used to play for) and even installing a no hockey rule at the bar she occasionally works at to cover her bestie's shifts. But when her dad calls her in to help him get her ex's head back in the game, she winds up surrounded by all things hockey once again, including the new goalie coach who also happens to be her new neighbor. Oh and not to forget, he's the same gorgeous, protective man she went home with for what was supposed to be a one night stand. Now Astrid will have to decide if her self imposed rule of strictly no strings attached sex is really what she wants.

Walk of Shame by Avery Flynn is just a really good time. The narrators, Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood, do a fantastic job of embodying engaging, entertaining characters that exude chemistry. They really embrace the humor and the passion in Avery's book and honestly made the audio fly by. The story itself is fantastic: a perfect easy read that's sexy and fun, lighthearted but with some deeper elements. I love the inclusion of therapy because mental health is important. Since they're in the professional hockey circuit, there's a lot of secrecy to stay out of the press, especially for Astrid who had to endure the invasion of privacy when her and Tig broke up. I've been reading a lot of sports romance lately and I am here for it. The athletes, the drama, the physicality inherent in the subgenre. I love that the romance is between a former athlete and a coach's daughter, giving forbidden romance vibes. I've read/listened to some of Avery Flynn's other books and I'm never disappointed! It's a quick listen even though it's almost 11 hours, I swear I didn't even realize how much time had passed because it flew by. I was wholly engaged and didn't want to pause for anything!

If you love sports romance and lots of spice in them then check out this audiobook!!

Thank you RB Media/Recorded Books for the ALC! I absolutely loved it and all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Walk of Shame by Avery Flynn
Downside of Dating series #2. Contemporary sports romance, romantic comedy. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Astrid O’Malley was once dumped by a professional hockey goalie so has sworn off the game and won’t let the topic be discussed when she’s bartending at the family bar. Eff hockey. Eff goalies is her motto. After a hot and steamy night with a man she met at the bar, she finds out he is a goalie coach and her dad wants her to come back for his last year as coach to help. Her rule is one night only. But this gorgeous and sexy man lives in her building! And Astrid is going to be working with him! How is she going to stay away from him when their night was so very good? Puck my life.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Robert Hatchet and Savannah Peachwood. The performances were on point with humor and passion. The narrators were engaging and easy to follow. The dialog itself was often funny and they put their own spin on the recording that made the story fly. I listens to this at 1.5 which is my most comfortable based on conversational speed.

Amusing, engaging, and steamy hot. I loved the Diet Coke theme that ran consistently through the story, although I admit to preferring Diet Pepsi myself. I often pack it in suitcases when traveling exactly as Astrid does. I also admit to missing out on the experience of picking up a hot stranger from a bar. It does sound like an experience I shouldn’t have missed!
Light hearted humor with a lack of reverence that I thoroughly enjoyed.
4.5

I received a copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and RB Media.

Fun and steamy contemporary romance. This is a stand alone sequel to Anger Bang (June 2023) which I gave five stars. It is the second in the Downside of Dating series. Thea, the lead from Bang makes appearances and is the best friend of Shame’s lead Astrid. The story begins with Astrid O’Malley being stood up on her wedding day by her hometown hockey goalie boyfriend. That day she quit her job and anything else to do with hockey. Jump forward five years and she has traveled, started her own business and works occasionally at her friends family pub. She has what she thinks will be a one night stand with Cal, a guy who stands up for her at the bar. But it turns out he breaks all of her rules.

Astrid’s dad asks her to come back and help with the hockey team as this is his last year coaching. Her assignment is to help with her old boyfriend who is back and in a slump. To compound the issue her latest hookup is a goalie whisper brought in to help her ex as well. I love that the story is told from both Astrid and Cal’s POVs. I love Astrid complaining to her elderly neighbor that she can’t spend time with Cal without her panties coming off. There is humor, sweetness, good family and friends. Instead of a grand gesture there are thoughtful gifts given with a can of Diet Coke. Be still my heart. And the steamy factor is Tessa Bailey high. I received a digital ARC of the book and a copy of the audio book and alternated between the two. I can easily recommend either depending on your preference. The epilogue was more of a set up for the next book in the series and I will be anxiously waiting to read it. (4.5 Stars)

This book made me laugh all the way through, which is something I really appreciate. After all, who doesn't enjoy a good laugh combined with a beautiful love story?

Astrid, used to be a hockey fan but she left the sport due to a heartbreak caused by her ex, who turned out to be a complete idiot. Now she meets Cal, a former hockey player who has joined her dad's team as goalie coach. This complicates things because Cal is someone Astrid recently had a one-night stand with.

For Cal, hockey is his last chance to stay connected to the sport he loves after a life-threatening injury ended his career. Although both Cal and Astrid have been hurt and are unwilling to commit, things begin to change after one night together.

Astrid struggles with the idea of working closely with her ex and Cal, while trying to resist temptation and avoid complications. On the other hand, Cal is obsessed with Astrid and admires everything about her.

Despite the emotional scars Astrid carries, she realizes that she has been avoiding love and decides to face her insecurities. Cal, with his charm, manages to calm her fears. Although the situation is complicated, the chemistry between them is intense.

The story is quick to follow and the narrators were spectacular. They brought these characters to life and the way they conveyed emotions was quite a journey for me.

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received this audio ARC from @netgalley for review.
@averyflynn wrote a hockey romance that was layered with drama, injury, heartbreak, a FMC that was so heartbroken by being left on her wedding day that she turned off emotion where it relates to romance and decided to just have fun - no dates, no second nights and ABSOLUTELY NO HOCKEY talk, just one and done fun. Until she broke all her own rules and wound up falling in love with someone not only wrapped up in hockey, but intertwined with her ex and the team her father coaches. D-R-A-M-A all day! I appreciated the off-limits and the forced proximity tropes but there was also a bit of miscommunication and a 3rd act split of sorts. All in all, this HEA was a fun listen and it flew by without me even realizing how much time I had been listening to. I enjoyed it and would be open to reading more of Flynn's work. I also felt the narration was very well done, which is important for me when reading and reviewing audio books.