Walk of Shame

Loved this book! While I wasn’t too crazy about the first book in this series, this installment really saved things for me, and I was on the edge of my seat reading this. Astrid is the daughter of a hockey coach, and years ago she was engaged to marry her father’s star player, only for him to stand her up at the altar for his career. Determined to leave the hockey world and never look back, Astrid has kept that side of her life gone until one night she hooks up with a stranger, Cal, that stands up for her at the bar she’s working at. What is supposed to be one night together turns into more when they find out they live in the same building and then when they find out that Cal is the new hockey coach for her ex-fiancé and on her father’s team. While they both try to fight their feelings for each other because of how messy it is – with Astrid trying to stay firm in her no hockey rule and Cal not planning on staying in town or with the team past the season, they break all the rules they have to be together. I loved these two together and that it healed both of them in regard to the sport. I’m very interested to see what happens next and if we get the story of Astrid’s friend and her ex-fiancé based on the end of the book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel, narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Robert Hatchet. If I could award more than five stars for their work, I would! Their interpretation of the dialogue between Astrid and Cal was outstanding. I really felt like I was inside the head of whichever character was voicing their thoughts, and when they were trading snarky comments in conversation there was wonderful energy.

Of course, a big chunk of the credit for this amazing read also goes to Ms. Flynn. She wrote characters I wish I could meet in real life - Astrid, Cal, and the whole "backup" cast of coaches, friends and relatives. Throughout the story I felt like I was right there, experiencing all the feels, laughing at all the inside jokes, and kept in just enough suspense to wonder how it was all going to work out. The chemistry between Astrid and Cal was incredible - rather more than either of them could believe at times, and it made for really great reading/listening.

Walk of Shame is the second book set within the Downside of Dating series, but reads well as a stand alone. Astrid has some very strict rules about male company ever since she was publicly left at the alter, but she’s finding that she’s willing to break all of her rules for Cal. When the worst case scenario strikes, they need to decide if this is just a shameful fling, or could it be something so much more?

Oh my, this book was absolutely fabulous and I completely devoured it. Astrid and Cal captured my attention right from the very beginning, and I adored their chemistry, their connection, and their humor. Astrid had something truly awful and heartbreaking happen to her, but I loved watching her overcome some of those emotions and slowly open back up emotionally to love and hurt. She was all business, until she wasn’t, and I thought it was great to see how many people were on her side, fighting for her, when she was such a giver. Cal was just as anti-relationship as Astrid, but he was dreamy and swoon-worthy once he decided to go all in with her. I loved the effort he put in to knowing who Astrid was and what made her tick, and even through the ending, I thought he was the best man that Astrid needed. I loved them together, loved their steamy chemistry that was so daring and didn’t fool anyone, but I also adored their connection that just didn’t quit. There’s some drama, there’s some growth, and I thought this was a pretty fabulous book from beginning to end!