Avery Flynn

Walk of Shame
Downside of Dating, Book 2

I Picked Up This Book Because: Sounded good at the time.

Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Netgalley
Dates Read: 2/23/24 - 2/25/24
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Robert Hatchet, Savannah Peachwood

The Characters:

Astrid O’Malley
Cal Matson
Tig (Astrid’s Ex), Astrid’s Dad, Nola and Thea (Astrid’s BFFs), Cal’s sisters

The Story:

I had forgotten how much I enjoy this author’s writing. I was a bit jarred going from my slow burn last read into this one-night stand, but I recovered quickly. I love the back and forth between Astrid and Cal. Even when they were just texting their chemistry was off the charts.
I need the next book in this series STAT cause I need many explanations about this epilogue.… (meer)

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.… (meer)

Gina is a wedding planner, and Ford is a detective - pretty standard rom-com fare. Her family is involved with the Mafia, and Ford is investigating. He becomes involved with Gina when she finds a body in her attic. It really is a pretty typical romance, so I should like it more, right?
Wrong. First of all, I found out the meaning of Butterface (I had no idea). Gina has a big nose, but the author repeatedly points out how ugly Gina is. I found that distasteful. I get it. But Ford didn't seem to see it as an issue, so while keep hammering on it.
My bigger issue was that Gina seemed a bit desperate and dumb. Ford tells her he must move in with her to protect her from possible murderers, even though the body in her attic died over ten years before. There were other examples where Gina just seems to accept improbable events, even though she's smart enough to run her own successful business. So, this was mostly a fail for me.… (meer)