Walk of Shame by Avery Flynn

 💖💖💖💖💖/5

Walk of Shame by Avery Flynn, book two in the Downside of Dating series, Walk of Shame is a steamy, emotional, and fun sports romantic comedy with a lot of heat and sizzle, as a one-night stand becomes much more complicated than planned. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Avery Flynn's hockey romances and her Ice Knights universe; this story was a lovely reminder.

 

Astrid O’Malley’s longtime professional hockey goalie boyfriend, Tig Jones, disappointed her one time too many when he stood her up on their wedding day, causing a breakup. From that moment, she decides that she wants nothing to do with hockey. Five years later, she is helping out a friend working in a pub, when the most handsome man she has ever seen arrives at the bar; their attraction is instant, the sparks are flying, tension is sizzling. After the hurt she felt from her ex, she comes with her own set of rules; one night only. Those rules are immediately broken when she has the hottest one-night stand in her life. Astrid’s rule might be one night only, except this gorgeous man lives in her building, in the apartment above hers. Cal isn’t much more stable than Astrid. He’s just lost the one thing that was most important in his life: his career as a hockey player, after a serious injury. This job as a coach, or goalie whisperer, for Tig Jones, is his one chance at staying relevant. He has no idea what to do with a life without hockey; until he realizes there are things more important than hockey. Then Astrid’s dad wants her to return to help him with the Ice Knights during his last year as coach which means she is going to be working with Cal. She is going to have figure out how to stay away from him.

 

Cal and Astrid have struggled with stopping after only one night because that night sizzled, their kisses are so sweet, and they can’t keep their hands off of each other or keep from thinking about the other. It was so much fun watching them evade and flirt with each other. I loved the small gifts attached to the diet cokes and the things that Cal did to let Astrid know that he was thinking of her. It was so sweet and melted my heart. Most of all, it is their relationship that helps them heal and move forward from all the pain and hurt of their pasts. Cal figuring out what he really wanted in life and the lengths he went to obtain it; definitely a turning point in their relationship.

Ms. Flynn wrote another wonderful, fun, humorous, unexpected insta-love story filled with shenanigans, sizzling chemistry, clever banter, and entertaining secondary characters that should definitely not be missed. It was so fun to see some of Ms Flynn's characters previous books living their happily ever afters. Getting to see Zach and Fallon, Frankie and Lucy, Ford, and Finn and the numerous children and pets was wonderful. I hope we get to see stories for Cal’s sisters as well as a follow up on the surprising match referred to in the epilogue.

# Netgalley #Entangled Publishing #WalkofShame