WHERE TO BEGIN? This was a funny and sweet read! Astrid O'Malley gets left at the alter by her hockey goalie fiancée and embarks on a journey to heal from the embarrassment. Fast forward five years later, she is all about one night stands and NO HOCKEY! One night working at the bar changes everything when she meets Cal Mateson. He is trying to return to the game he loves by taking a job with her father's hockey team as the goalie whisperer. His client? Astrid's ex-fiancée!

Sparks fly between these two and it is HOT! The literally cannot take their hands off each other. There was a lot of little moments between Cal and Astrid that were TOO CUTE! I really wanted more scenes to develop their relationship a bit more. The way Flynn handles the ex-fiancée plotline is very mature and wasn't a hinderance on the plot whatsoever. He was made to be human and not a one note jerk. There was a conversation to work through the issues and find a path to heal. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a sweet romcom!

I love Avery Flynn's books. You get romance sprinkled with moments that leave you giggling. A Walk of Shame did not disappoint. I got a kick out of her older neighbor!

Five years ago, Astrid O'Malley was left at the altar by her childhood sweetheart. What made it worse? Her fiance was a professional hockey player and her dad was his coach. It was all anyone in sports could talk about.

Now Astrid lives a hockey-free life for the most part. She's free to pursue whomever she wants with no shame in her game. Like her latest hook-up. He's got the lumberjack aesthetic, stamina, and creativity to back it up.

Her rule is one night only. Him living in the same apartment building might be a problem.

And he works with her dad, and he's coaching her ex!

And her dad wants her back to help get the team back in shape.

Thanks so much to the author, Entangled and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

I think I will always be in my Hockey Romance era. This book was hilarious and also healing? I feel like both the MMC and FMC were growing through serious moments of growth in their lives and it showed in the writing up until the end. The character development was pretty on point on all fronts, not just the main characters. Also, this book was smutty smutty and some more smutty. I absolutely loved all the spice, especially with a sexy ass hockey player like that. Ugh, what a man.

First thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for this book.

When I saw a sports theme I thought ugh. I am so not a sports person, but this book is super great. Contains a lot of passion and romance. It was a super hot fast read for me.

The book is the second book in the series but is easily read as a stand alone book.

Don't let the hockey theme throw you off. This is a steamy romance.

Recommend.

WALK OF SHAME
Aᴠᴇʀʏ Fʟʏɴɴ
3/15/24

Thank you @valentine_pr and @entangled_publishing for my early review copy.
These are my thoughts.

This is my first hockey romance and Avery Flynn was the PERFECT way to be introduced to the genre. This is a standalone but is the second in a series. I will definitely be going back now and reading ANGER BANG!! (And after this ending I’ll be impatiently waiting for book three).

WALK OF SHAME was sweet, spicy, thoughtful, and funny. I adored our two MCs, Astrid and Cal. I must say I was just a little excited (and slightly confused) when a hockey book opened in New Orleans. (We’re not a hockey town.) But it switched right up to Minnesota so that made a little more sense 😅 Astrid is carrying a lot of hurt and pain and when Cal arrives she doesn’t even care to give him the time of day, but does give him her Cheetos… and that makes all the difference. These two could burn down an igloo they have so much heat! 🥵

🥅RIYL:
Touch her and die
He falls first
Workplace romance
Nosy neighbors
CLOSE proximity
Besties for the resties
Doors? What doors?

I was so excited to return to Avery Flynn's Harbor City/hockey world with this book!

Astrid hates hockey and won't even discuss it with her dad who is the coach of a pro team. She was left at the altar five years ago by her hockey player ex and she has moved on with her life. She and Cal have instant chemistry and good batter from their first meeting, but she doesn't know he used to play hockey and is about to be a coach for her ex.

Avery's writing was engaging and entertaining with parts that made me smile and literally laugh out loud. I always love the humor and heart she brings to her characters and stories. I loved Astrid and Cal together and how they found their HEA.

This is my favorite book in the series so far, and if you have read Avery's other books you'll see some familiar characters here. The cross over was fun, but you won't be lost if this is your first book of hers.

🩷ARC Review🩷
Walk of Shame by AveryFlynn

Tropes:
•one night stand
•work romance
•sport romance
•rom-com

Get ready to dive into a whirlwind of laughs, steam, and hockey drama with the sizzling new release, "Walk of Shame"! Astrid, the spunky protagonist, has sworn off commitment and hockey after a heartbreak by a star goalie years ago. But when her dad ropes her into helping out her ex-fiancé, little does she know she'll be working alongside Cal, her hot fling from the night before!

Astrid and Cal's chemistry is off the charts, and their banter will have you giggling uncontrollably. Watching Astrid struggle to maintain her emotional walls while Cal chips away at them is both hilarious and heartwarming. Plus, who wouldn't swoon over a guy who brings Diet Coke and PB cups? *Sigh*

With every page turn, you'll find yourself rooting for Astrid and Cal to overcome their obstacles and find their happily ever after.

So grab your copy of "Walk of Shamw" and get ready for a wild ride filled with love, laughter, and a whole lot of puck action! This rom-com is the perfect escape for any hockey-loving romance enthusiast!

Due to her past Astrid wants nothing to do with hockey and when it comes to men fun with no feelings. That was working well until she shares a steamy evening with Cal and finds out that not only is he her neighbor, but he has been hired by the hockey team her father coaches and that he will be working with her ex as well.

Even though Cal can no longer play hockey it was what he was born to do. That is how he finds himself working for the team that employs not only her father but her ex and now he needs to convince her that not all things hockey is bad starting with him.

Cal is not only charming, but he also puts Astrid first which is exactly what she needs after what she has been through. The romance between them was enchanting, the interactions between them were humorous and it still has all the feels that we have come to know from this author.

The second book in this series, which can be read as a stand alone, brings everything you would expect from an Avery Flynn book. I liked the fact that the lead female character had the traits of so many men, no relationship but in for a night of fun. When Astrid goes home with Cal the night they meet, she is changing her rules but doesn’t know why. Cal isn’t in town to start a relationship, but something keeps drawing him to Astrid.

When they realize she is the daughter of his boss, they determine to stay away, unfortunately her dad has them working together to help the goalie. I honestly didn’t understand why her dad would do this to his daughter. Throughout working together they get closer and can’t deny they want to be together. Their good night to each other was always sweet and ended up holding so much more than those words.

Astrid and Cal were truly perfect together and I can’t wait for more in this series. I wish we could have had more about his relationship with her ex and more of her talking about therapy because I would have loved to see her aha moment. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

I love this story. It was so witty and fun! The sexual chemistry between Astrid and Cal is intoxicating. It was such a fun read. It had me giggling and smiling and rooting for them. Great fun rom com! I loved having both points of views from the characters.

I love this book! Astrid is one tough women, after being left at the alter but who she thought was the love of her life, she makes a vow to herself that day that she would never go through this again. She goes on pick up the pieces of her life and becomes stronger. But since her broken heart is surrounded by hockey she becomes the anti-hockey girl. Then Cal enters the scene looks hot as ever and defends her and her honor. Astrid wants him and that is so unusual for her. But her breaks down all her barriers unitl she find out he is there to help her ex with his hockey game. So once again she is sucked back into the hockey scene. However, she tries to keep Cal at a distance but they have this chemistry that neither one can deny. So will this relationship end in heartbreak like her last one or can this one go the distance? Grab a copy and check out this romcom and you will fall in love with all the charaacters too.

Loved the story and how the author developed the characters. Astrid had her heart absolutely crushed and lives her life with self established rules to protect it. Things like not seeing a guy again, not spending the night, and no way coming back to her house. Then Cal shows up. I was totally rooting for him to break those walls down. He is so thoughtful and really listens. Great banter between characters. Thanks to NetGalley I received an ARC. Maybe because it was an ARC but I really struggled through typos and a need for editing. The three years later epilogue came out of no where. Perhaps it was supposed to reference a different book? Overall I say give it a chance. Heads up it gets a little spicy but totally fits the story.

This is book 2 in the series, but I haven’t read the first book and had no problem jumping in here. I was initially worried that this was a second chance romance, and after the prologue, I knew I wasn’t going to forgive the man who left her at the altar no matter how much he groveled. Thankfully, that wasn’t expected. I liked the meet cute and the secondary characters were great. I enjoyed the relationship development, and I really liked how the two main characters became better and healthier people because of the relationship. The only thing that didn’t work for me was the epilogue.

This is the second book in the series. This book is so gooood! I couldn't put it down. My heart went out to Astrid for the the wedding that wasn't. At the time it was devastating, but maybe it puts her on the path she is meant to be. Now years later her dad wants to pull her back into the hockey world. You can see how much her hockey family means to her and she needs to see that that one moment doesn't define her. Did I mention a one night stand turns out to be the new goalie coach she has to work with to help ex, oh yeah let the fun begin. I loved Cal so much. His life is also not going as planned due to an injury, but he has his shot to be back in the world of hockey. I love him for Astrid because he notices the small things and he loves to help others as much as Astrid does. It's nice to see someone be that person for her. I loved all the cameos!! I may have squealed a bit when I saw them. One of my favorite scenes it with Cal, Blackburn, Blackburn's brother-in-laws, and a tea party. The humor in this one is one of the best parts. I laughed a lot through out this book. It has the winning combo of heat, heart, and humor. This book just reinforces why I love Avery Flynn's writing. a must read!

4 ⭐️
2 🔥
Left at the Alter Bride
Office Romance
Breaking All the Rules
Forbidden
Secret Relationship
Gift Giving
He Falls First
Neighbors to Lovers
Hockey Coach
Romcom
Great on Audio! 🎧
I’m not a huge fan of romcoms, but this one was good! It was funny, sweet, spicy and even a bit emotional. Astrid gets left at the alter by her first love, childhood sweetheart and hockey star. In which after she creates rules that she abides by for 5 years, hating everything hockey. That all changes when Cal, the pink sweater wearer, knight in shining armor, sticks up for her in the bar she works at. They have an amazing night together, only to realize they are going to have to work together when Astrid’s dad convinces her to go back and work with him, get this, to help her ex fiancé get his groove back!! Cal makes things easy for her, leaving thoughtful gifts on her desk to make her smile, while she runs and hides because they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. She’s breaking all her rules for another man with a life that revolves around hockey, but she doesn’t want to be another scandal.

Thank you Avery Flynn, Valentine PR & NetGalley for the ARC!

Walk of Shame
Avery Flynn
Spicy rom-com 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (very spicy)
Released today
2024-28❤️❤️❤️❤️
📚📚📚 Astrid is over hockey players. Five years ago, her highschook boyfriend turned hockey pro left her at the altar, very publicly humiliating her in the process. Astrid took off for a world tour to forget hockey, hockey players, and find herself. She’s reinvented herself in the process, and has no interest in anything but one night stands. Too bad her dad—a famous hockey coach—needs her to return to the rink with him one last season. Way too bad that her new coworker is a hockey player and her last one night stand. Except—it doesn’t seem like just one night will be enough.
Here’s what pushed this one passed the normal rom-com, spicy hockey romance (yes, this is a whole genre): Astrid wasn’t a character who would change herself and her world for someone else. In other words, it didn’t become a woman submitting to the authority of a man, or a rich man saving the woman trope. At the end, it’s a love story between two people figuring out their baggage and how to be in love with each remaining themselves. Now, that’s a story I can get behind.
❤️❤️❤️JJ’s last words. Leave the Tay-Tay alone, Astrid.
Disclaimer: Entangled publishing gave me access to this advanced readers copy on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked Cal and Astrid's story. Five years after Astrid is left at the altar, her hockey coach dad convinces her to come back to work with him again, trying to cure her ex-fiance of the yips. And Cal, her one night stand, is the new special goalie coach. How many times can someone say it's the last time? Astrid and Cal make that "promise" a lot, but they can't stay away from each other. The sweet things he does for her are really special.
Lots of Thea (from book 1) and Nola, and they have a great friend trio. Many other fun side characters and Ice Knights. I loved Cal's sisters and their group video call. I am so excited for book 3, especially after the epilogue.

I enjoyed the first book in this series and I'm a long-time Avery Flynn fan, so I was excited to get this ARC. This was a fun, quick read with some familiar characters from other Avery Flynn series. The book opens with Astrid O'Malley being left not exactly at the altar but like, five minutes before she's supposed to be there. Her long-term boyfriend, hockey goalie Tig Jones, breaks up with her via FaceTime as he makes his way to Harbor City to join the Ice Knights squad (very recognizable to any other Flynn readers). Skip ahead five years and Astrid is now in Harbor City as well, working as a "personal organizer" (which I'm assuming is like, a personal assistant?), moonlighting at a bar that her friend Nola's family owns, and trying to keep herself as far away from hockey as possible, which is harder than it would be for most people because her father is now the coach of the Ice Knights. Astrid has spent years traveling the world, forgetting about her wedding that wasn't, and setting up some pretty careful rules about romantic relationships - she never hooks up with anyone more than once, never tells anyone where she lives, and very definitely doesn't hook up with hockey players/fans. Of course she accidentally breaks all of those rules with a one-night stand who ends up being a retired hockey goalie who has been hired by her father to help - who else - Tig Jones - with a case of the yips. The Coach also talks Astrid into helping out, and of course things get complicated. Astrid and Cal had good chemistry and banter and I really enjoyed getting to see Zach and Fallon and a few other returning characters.

4/5 Stars

Walk of Shame is a fun and entertaining rom-com hockey romance when a one night stand turns into more than just one night. Neither Astrid nor Cal was looking for love, but from the moment they met, their attraction and connection were so strong that they couldn’t fight it, even if he was now the new goalie coach under her head coach/Dad and she swore off anything to do with love and hockey. I loved the chemistry between Cal and Astrid, and their banter kept me laughing along with the side characters from Cal’s sisters to Nora to the grumpy old neighbor (and even the surprise appearances of characters from the Ice Knights series) made the story easy to read. Like the other books I’ve read by Avery Flynn, they are fast-paced, humorous, steamy, and easy to read, and Walk of Shame didn’t disappoint. While this is book 2 in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but I would suggest reading the other books as they are just as fun as Walk of Shame. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a good hockey romcom story.

This was a fun and spicy romance! When I say spicy, there was so many spicy scenes! It was also a sports romance which is one of my favourite tropes! The story of Cal and Astrid was so enjoyable to read with plenty of banter. It was a quick and easy romance to get into and it picked up right from the start! It has the perfect length chapters.