Mr. Broody

The Nest #2

by Piper Rayne

I’ve loved Henry Hensley since I was seven years old. We’ve gone from best friends to lovers to nothing.

To most people, he’s the Chicago Falcons starting right winger and hot single dad, but to me, he’s my first boyfriend, my first kiss, my first love.

Eight years ago, that all changed when our lives took us in two different directions. Our break-up almost broke me, so I kept my distance until our hometown called me back to where our story began.

I promised myself a quick visit to help my family out, and then I’d leave town before he even knew I was back, which should have been easy. He’s way too busy being a professional hockey player and raising his son to ever find out.

Of course, I’m only in town for a week before I run into him, and one thing is clear from our brief encounter—Henry wants to hash out our past, whereas I’d rather forget it.

But my plan really goes up in flames when I take a temporary substitute teaching job, and on day one, his son walks into my classroom. Boom.

Genres: Sports Romance, Audiobook, Romance, Second Chance, Hockey, Sports, Hockey Romance

Audiobook

First published December 31, 2024

About the author

Piper Rayne is a USA Today Bestselling author duo. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us... We both have kindle’s full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too.

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Our Books: We do things in 3’s. Three best friends. Three hot heroes. Three HEA’s.

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Reviews

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was absolutely adorable! I’m not usually a fan of second-chance romances, but this one totally won me over.

Henry and Jade’s story had me hooked, especially with those little flashbacks to their past. And then there’s Bodhi—Henry’s son who basically stole my heart. Not only is he the most adorable thing ever, but his sneaky matchmaking schemes to get Henry and Jade back together was the cutest! Plus, getting some of Bodhi’s POV made me love him more. I also loved the dynamic between Henry and his teammates.

This book made me laugh, tear up, and even blush a little, but that ending? WOW. I did not see that coming, and now I’m desperate for book three.

Read this if you like:
❤️‍🔥 Hockey Romance
❤️‍🔥 Single Dad
❤️‍🔥 Second Chance
❤️‍🔥 Childhood Sweethearts

[Piper Rayne]

Available now!

Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and Kobo!
https://books2read.com/MR-B

Audio with Duet Narration by: JF Harding & Brooke Bloomingdale
Also featuring: Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton & CJ Bloom

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/473feeG

Here are some of the tropes you can expect to find inside:

Single Dad
Slow Burn
Hockey Romance
Second Chance Romance
Childhood Sweethearts
Close Proximity
Found Family

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
Genre ~ sports romance
Series ~ The Nest #2
Others in the series ~ Mr. Heartbreaker
Setting ~ Chicago
Publication date ~ December 26, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 428 (62 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 13 minutes
Narrators ~ JF Harding, Brooke Bloomingdale, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, CJ Bloom
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ childhood bf/gf, teacher/photographer, hockey player, single dad, slow burn, second chance, flashbacks, some steamage

Jade & Henry were together when they were younger, but split due to giving each other the opportunity to grow and follow their own dreams on their own. Now it's 8 years later and they're back living in the same town and inevitably run into each other.

Henry was a really sweet character. I'm not super big on single dad romances, however Henry, and all of this teammates, are so great and protective of Bodhi. He even gets his own chapters...adorable. It's a little more special that he adopted him when he was three, too. This is a me issue, but his teammates call him Daddy, which gives me the ick.

Jade was sweet as well. Her passion is photography, but she takes on a teaching job to make ends meet, which is how she sees Henry again because Bodhi is in her class. These two bond right away, which was so cute.

It's a bit of a slow burn, which suits me just fine when kids are involved. I hate when they jump into something and then they break up and end up hurting the kid. Luckily here we don't have a 3rd act breakup....woo hooo!!

Overall, this was a really cute second chance romance.

Narration notes:
Duet narration with 7 narrators!!! 💃🕺🥳

Series notes:
I think it's best to read in order because the whole crew is involved in each installment.

[joni ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ 4/5 ⭐️

“that’s life. it’s who you travel the road with, not the smoothness of the ride.”

⤿ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 2024.12.22
⤿ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 2024.12.24

arc review 💌
pub date: dec 31

꒰ 💖 ꒱ - this book follows our main characters jade and henry, exes who ended things 8 years ago. henry's a hockey players and jade was a photographer. she's in chicago for a while and runs into henry. she's teaching at their old catholic school for a bit, and trying to figure out her life. photography isn't what it used to be for her and neither is traveling. this is childhood best friends to lovers to strangers to lovers. they did hook up a few times after the original breakup but haven't for 3 years. henry adopted a son after that breakup, bodhi who's in first grade. this book was so warm and I love second chance so I really enjoyed this book. this book does has smut.

────୨ৎ────

꒰ 📷 ꒱ 𝐉𝐀𝐃𝐄 - photographer x athlete never gets old. jade is a very relatable character and i loved the way she was written. she was unsure of her future and kept making mistakes, but it felt authentic and wasn’t done in a silly way.

꒰ 🏒 ꒱ 𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐘 - blond hockey guys? pls 🙏 this guy was amazing. literally amazing. so sweet and the kindest dad!! he went through a lot after the original breakup and i could feel for him, him questioning himself and the choices he’s made. so happy with the ending!

꒰ ⭐️ ꒱ 𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐇𝐈 - he was so cute like omg. we even get a few chapters from his pov!! him shipping henry and jade without even realizing they were exes was literally the best thing ever. he was so well behaved and henry raised him so well. probs my fav character in the book lol!

────୨ৎ────

꒰ 🎀 ꒱ - some overall thoughts was that this book was super easy and fun to read, definitely recommend if you love hockey romances, second chance, and single parent tropes!! comes out this week so check it out!! i eat up every single parent romance book i read, like all of them are over 3 stars.


ೃ⁀➷pre-review
this was actually good
dec 24

ೃ⁀➷pre-read
2024.12.10
got the arc!!
me 🤝 hockey romance


thank you so much to the author and valentine pr for an arc in exchange for my honest review!!

[Anila · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so messy. I never understood the characters’ motivations and the author didn’t do a good job of explaining their thought processes. I mean I was confused about the journey the female lead Jade was supposed to go on. From the flashbacks, I thought it was pretty clear that Henry and Jade’s split was mutual, just a case of right person wrong time. They had things pulling them in different directions and needed to go their separate ways. However, once they reunite, people around Jade were saying she didn’t love herself enough and that was the reason they never got back together. It sort of came out of nowhere imo. It just felt like these two were creating unnecessary problems for themselves all throughout the story.

The romance was not hitting for me either. It felt like they were having the same conversations over and over and I eventually got bored. And don’t even get me started on Henry’s nickname of “Daddy”. Jade and Henry’s relationship lacked depth as well. Whenever they talked, there would just be dirty jokes all the time. It honestly became uncomfortable. They rarely had any meaningful conversations.

Bodhi’s chapters were a nice surprise though and the found family aspect was just as good as in the first book. But overall, this was a disappointment and I’m hoping the next book is better.

[Kealyn *Just came home, slowly catching up.* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Broody (The Nest #2) by Piper Rayne

3.5/5 stars

Gosh this is such a difficult book to rate. I am so utterly confused. Confused if I am having a me-problem or if the book was less addictive than the first one in this series. I'll try to organize my thoughts as best I can. 

First things first. In this book we follow the beautiful story of Henry, his beautiful son Bodhi and Jade. Henry and Jade were childhood friends who found love in each other's arms as teens and early in their adulthood. And then lost each other and neither of them ever reached out after that. 

But Jade is finally returning home and after a week they meet each other again. Instantly feeling a connection to the other person and both are feeling pain and loss and regret of not seeing each other the last few years. But the more they see each other the more they are drawn to the other person.

But the problems that separated them in the first place are still a factor and that is what this beautiful book is about. It's not just a love story. It's a story about personal growth, healing and discovering who you truly are and what you truly need. It's about finding what your own soul needs before you can become one with the other one. And I loved that. That was such a strong point in this book. 

I also loved Bodhi. Though he did feel differently in this book compared to the first one. And I kinda missed the Bodhi from the first book. But nonetheless he was still by far my favorite character in this book. I LOVED that he had his own chapters. And I just adored his soul and how brightly it shines in this book. He truly carried this book with his pure and precious heart. 

The side characters and characters from the first book make an appearance as well and they truly enriched this story so much. I love the camaraderie and the portrayal of true friendship and having each other's back. 

I also loved Henry's patience, love and acceptance towards Jade. His heart is just as pure as his sons and I just loved that. 

So yeah, this book has so much going for it and I did enjoy it a lot. Jade vulnerability was admirable as well. 

But my biggest issue is that I didn't feel it. I did not feel all the love, reminiscence, pain, loss and hope. I did not feel the chemistry between Jade and  Henry. It was all very subdued. And that was such a shame. I love feeling the characters' pain like it is my own pain. I want to feel their love coursing through my own veins. And like I mentioned earlier even Bodhi had less sparkle compared to the first book. The words were there and written down. But the words didn't invoke the feelings they were describing within me. And I was chasing that feeling throughout the entire book. And maybe 60% in that loss only increased. And while I loved the overall story. I just missed the deepening emotions that would make this story shine. 

So I'll rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. I did enjoy it and I am glad I read it.

Plus the ending sets up the next book perfectly and I cannot wait to read the next one! 

[* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading it overnight. I randomly picked it up from the few ARCs I had received and couldn't put it down.

I absolutely devoured this book. It was such a wholesome and delightful read. It didn't rely on heavy backstories or shocking plot twists, yet it was incredibly enjoyable from start to finish. Made me tear up, laugh and giggle. The simplicity of the story, combined with the yearning and longing was a perfect blend. There wasn't a single dull moment, the pacing was perfect, with short, engaging chapters that kept the story moving without any unnecessary stretches.

The side characters were the absolute stars of the show! Their antics, heartfelt bonds, and humor and sarcasm made the book so much more enjoyable. It never felt like they were imposing or boring even for a moment. Their cozy bond built a sense of belonging that made the story feel like home.

Bodhi, the kid truly stole the show for me. His innocence and determination of playing matchmaker for his Daddy and Jade was so adorable and endearing, his little schemes had me laughing and melting. It’s rare to see a child character written with so much authenticity, kudos to the author.

Also I'm very curious to know Tweetie's story 🤭.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but I loved this one even more! Henry and Jade had such an epic second-chance romance, and those Bohdi chapters made the book for me! It was so fun and sweet. A fantastic hockey romance! I’m looking forward to reading more in this series and from Piper Rayne.

Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: J.F. Harding & Brooke Bloomingdale
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 9h 13m

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the sweetest yet slightly angsty Second Chances that I've read in awhile. I truly understood why these two were forced apart by circumstance yet I believed they could make it work. It also appears like everyone who loves them thinks that too.

They were surrounded by a community that won't let them get away with ignoring their destiny. It was heartwarming to see. The guys of The Nest all come together again. I loved to see it.

Henry and Jade are back in the same town and they've never stopped thinking about each other. They have their own dreams and ambitions but nothing has satisfied them since they went their separate ways. Henry is now a single dad, as he adopted a young boy, so the stakes are even higher now.

But the pull is just so strong and I loved that they can't deny their feelings. I loved the whole journey. It was romantic, sweet, funny, and endearing. I had a great time!

This is my favorite book from Piper Rayne thus far. I can't wait for what comes next. Looks like maybe a Runaway Bride?

This was narrated by JF Harding and Brooke Bloomingdale. This audio book also includes a full cast of other narrators who portray previous and future leads. Just a really great listening experience.

5 Stars
3 on the spice scale

CW: child injury due to play, grief, loss of a grandparent

*Thank you to Valentine PR and the authors for an ALC of this title.*

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was super excited for Henry's story and it did not disappoint! Single dad is one of my favorite tropes lately and I just adored Bodhi. He was the most adorable kid and I loved his scheming to constantly get Jade and Henry in the same place and make them spend time together. I was squealing at his adorable chapters! It was so unique and hasn't been in any other books I've read. It added another layer to the story and it was just adorable. I say this a lot, but Jade and Henry are perfect for each other and they make the perfect little family of three with Bodhi. They are truly just what the other needs and have been since they were kids. I don't think I've ever rooted so hard for a second chance reconnection. The whole story was so enjoyable and the full cast narration really put it over the top. I love that all the friends play such big roles in each others lives and I love seeing how the group grows and with each new book. Jade and Henry will be hard to beat as my favorite couple from this series.

[Savanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 2.5 — I was initially looking forward to reading another hockey romance, but this just fell flat for me in the end. I don’t think I connected to either characters since I didn’t care for their banter much or how they were around each other. Even after all they went through I still don’t think it’s a very well balanced relationship. Everyone seemed to either blame Jade for their breakup or act like it was mutual when it wasn’t. Henry did all of the breaking up without giving her any kind of choice and people don’t acknowledge that.

There was parts throughout the book that made me disconnect and I just found not very fitting. Something would get brought up early in the book and be described (like how Jade and Henry learned darts) and then when it played out later, the whole thing was re-explained. Random tidbits of information would be added in that didn’t really need to be there. Some of the behaviors displayed by the MC’s also just didn’t seem to fit with the characters themselves. Like Jade and Henry would be talking and suddenly she would cry and he would hug her and then they continued as normal. It was just pretty abrupt and kept me from really connecting to the story altogether.

Usually I love kids in books (and not that I didn’t like Bodhi in this one) but it felt like his only personality we got was that he wanted a mom and bonded to any single women there. It also annoyed me how Henry would pursue Jade and then start to think about his kid which made him reconsider. Which to me didn’t make sense since he’s known her his whole life and the type of person she is. And I think that’s something to figure out before trying to reconnect with a past love interest.

Also, her family just didn’t seem all that great. Her mom always had to throw in judgy comments about her relationship (or lack thereof) to Henry and was never truly supportive or helpful. Her brothers were made out to be more important than they were to the story, and same goes for the stepdad. We also get nothing from her actual father. I expected to see Henry’s grandparents who raised him at some point but they stayed uninvolved. And RUBY, I couldn’t stand her. She was basically a bodyguard to “protecting” Henry and the hockey boys but clearly had no clue of their history and if it was okay with Henry idk why she had such an issue with Jade.

I think some of the writing needed some improvement with how much she threw in the plot at times, and how things jumped from one to the next without great transitions. Some conversations didn’t seem real to me. They kept bringing up the past (because I feel like it never got fully discussed/resolved) and then all the sudden they were over it and talked about something else. I really wanted to love this book but it ended up being not for me. I think some edits could’ve been done better to make it more seamless but it wasn’t bad necessarily, just not the most fitting book for my taste.

I received a digital copy from Valentine PR & the author of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Leslie Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️

Should have DNFed, but I forced myself to hate read the entire book. Total garbage. There is no character development and no actual storyline.

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy swoon! I don't think I have ever swooned so hard in a single dad romance before in my life and that is fully contributed to a little boy named Bodhi. He literally stole the show and made this book a 5 star banger! Piper Rayne, that you for making the decision to make him such a large part of this story. I melted every time I got to his chapters in his POV. I NEVER read a book where the child in the story has their own POV, which was really refreshing. It also made me fall in love with him and the story even more!

I also loved that this was a second chance romance. I am such a sucker for a second chance romance, specifically when they were together in highschool. There is just something about the reunion of two people who were high school sweethearts and first loves. It makes my little heart so happy. And this was exactly Jade and Henry's story. In fact their story is rather complex. And their love for one another was strong. Even after everything they have been through, their love was still there when they were reunited.

I also want to mention, I loved the humor in this book. I love everyone's nicknames and Henry's is the best. They call him Daddy, which is really fitting for his demeanor and the fact that he is fact a daddy. But the humor around his nickname and then when Jade insinuates calling him daddy was so funny! I also really loved Jade's personality. Yes, she is still finding herself which makes her a little bit of a wanderer in life but it was complimentary to Henry's more rigid self. Not to mentioned I loved the banter and then Henry's dirty mouth. Perfect combination!

At the end of the day, this is another smashing 5 star banger by Piper Rayne. I am absolutely loving this series can NOT wait for the next book! That epilogue has me NEEDING that book immediately!

You should most definitely read this book if you like:
- Hockey Romance
- Second Chance Romance
- Single Dad
- Childhood Sweethearts
- Close Proximity

* I would like to say thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for allowing me the pleasure to read Mr. Broody as an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.

[ItaPixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Broody is a beautiful second chance at love story, where the soulmates only took a detour before to find each other again.

Henry and Jade met when they were really young, they practically lived together, they were high school sweethearts, and they also went to the same college, but their love didn’t survive the beginning of their grown up lives. So while Henry followed his dream becoming an NHL player, Jade travelled the World finding out she was a great photographer. Now after a lot of years they are in the same city again, will they keep away from each other? Or are they ready to clear the air between them after so long?

I loved Jade and Henry, they are made for each other, they are selfless and caring, but at times to care too much for everyone else could blur what truly matters to us. That’s what happened to them. They tried for so long to be the perfect fit for each other that they lost sight of their complicity, understanding, and love, but I was so glad to see them accepting each other back in their lives, making some adjustments in order to not make the same mistakes again.
Henry is also a good father to Bodhi, they are so sweet and lovely together that I swooned a little. I've also appreciated how Jade started to bond with Bodhi regardless of her attachment to his father, creating a wonderful relationship.

This story is delightfully crafted by Piper Rayne, the best part of it is the found family feel that oozes from the pages.

It was a pleasure to follow these characters’ journey.
I’m already looking forward to next book in the series, because the end of this one surprised and shocked me.

Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.

[Liz | Bookslizreads90 · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC Review

TROPES-
Hockey Romance
Single Dad
Second Chance
Childhood Friends to lovers
Found Family

✨️This series is becoming a favorite of mine! I knew I was going to love Henry and Bodhi's story when I was introduced to them in Mr. Heartbreaker! This was such a sweet read. I love that Bodhi got his own chapters and they were one of my favorite parts of the book! I loved all the characters. I felt like Jade's character was super relatable with some of the struggles she went through. The found family in this series with all the hockey players is so good! I love their friend group so much, and I'm looking forward to the next book! ❤️ If you love a good hockey romance, I definitely recommend this series, and listen to the audiobooks because the ensemble cast is amazing!

[Olga 🌺 · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 beautiful 🌟

I am relishing the happy place this book has put me in. Bear with me..... 🧘‍♀️

Ok done!...... No wait! Still basking... 🏖

Ok now I am ready. 👏

📝 I hereby confidently declare this book as one of my favourite books that is gonna be hard to top in 2025. 👩‍💼

I am starting off this review by saying that if Henry, Jade and Bodhi weren't already living rent free in my head I'd pay them to take permanent residence there. Yep! That's how much I adored this book! 🥰

You see, theirs is an Epic kind of love, a once in a lifetime love that ignited in their childhood and despite of the obstacles and bumps they encountered in their lives they kept coming back to each other like a moth to the light.

Henry and Jade met when they were 8 years old. They became best friends nurturing a love that came to fruition at the age of 16. They loved each other so much that they got lost in each other and swayed from their own dominion. For Henry, it was hockey. He craved it, he lived for it and Jade supported him all the way but she didn't realise that living as a side character in her own life was dimming her aura little by little. But Henry knew. He realised that when push came to shove Jade would forsake her dreams for his sake and he didn't want that for her. He loved her so much that he sacrificed his happiness so that she can follow her dreams. Dreams that she didn't even think she wanted to explore yet.

But, lost as she was, she took too damn long to realise what she wanted. 8 whole years to finally realise that although she enjoyed her world adventures but what she wanted more is to go back to her soul mate and that's what this book is about.

Ughhhh this is so beautiful!

First 1️⃣, it had the angst at the beginning, the banter in the middle and the sweet sweet flirtation at the end.

2️⃣ It has the found family, his hockey friends and the role they played in bringing them together was absolutely adorable; and they have the support of their own family who always cheered and rooted for them.

3️⃣ And then comes Bodhi, a boy that Henry adopted when he was 3 years old. The sunshine of the story who gets to have his own POVs *squeal* and they are ADORABLE!!!

Bodhi's POV - scheming with his dad's friends to get his dad and Jade together ❤️
"Okay, let's all put our thinking caps on over the next couple
days and try to arrange some dates." Kyleigh turns around to look at.my daddy and Jade. "And if you hear Miss Jade say anything in class, you let us know." She winks at me.
Kyleigh is so cool. I really like her, but Daddy said she's not
meant to be my mommy. We can't share her with Rowan
"Okay, I will."
"Bodhi, come here," Micha says.
I run over to Micha, excited to tell him we have people to help
with our plan.

Henry's POV - declaring her his girl after all this time 🩷

"Henry, you forget, I was in your orbit a long time ago when you were the hot jock on campus. I'm used to being your.." She stops and turns her head toward the assembly line across the glass.
"Finish what you were saying," I practically beg, closing my eyes for a moment, wanting to hear her say it.
"Don't, Henry." She shakes her head.
"My girl," I say in a soft voice. You will always be my girl."
🥹🥹🥹🥹

More of Henry's POV 🩵

The fact that she thinks I’m a good dad only makes my heart want to leap into her hands and say own me.

‐-----‐---------------------------------------------------------

The stars must've aligned. I must've been in a good mood. The Book God was probably smiling down on me. I don't know what it was but this book, THIS BOOK, is EVERYTHING.
It hit all the damn spots.

Henry, you've gone and situated yourself right there next to my book boyfriend Xaden Riorson. Yep, it's a tie and it's official, now I have two book boyfriends. Wooooo what? 😳 Never expected this to ever happen, like ever 🤯

This has been another BBR with my lovely, sweetest, Daragaya Lori. Third in a row Lori!!! Wow 🩷🩷🩷

📝 ticking another Bingo square
74) "I loved you since childhood"

25┃🔴┃87┃13┃68┃40┃32┃59┃76┃44
10┃86┃04┃45┃47┃98┃50┃14┃85┃75
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[Mysti]

First. Seriously, the full-cast audio is wasted on these meh books. Who on earth thought this series was worth the $ spent on this stellar cast? Boggles my mind.

First #2. I’m not rating this because I knew there was a high probability that I would hate it. I was right. The ONLY reason I went with it was because of the audio. The book itself was very predictable.

First #3. This is the kind of book swoony girls with hearts in their eyes will like. I’m going to trash this but PLEASE don’t just read my review. Look at others who liked it before deciding.

I have no doubt we’re on our way to that happily ever after people talk about, but I’m also sure there will be some roadblocks or speed bumps along the way. Hey, that’s life. It’s who you travel the road with, not the smoothness of the ride.

Henry Hensley (29-ish, hockey star) met the love of his life when he was 7. They became best friends, which grew to young love by age 16. Life was perfect until they approached their college graduation. Henry has been drafted to the NHL and makes a unilateral decision to end things because he thinks she would be better off without him.

“I love you too much to let you come to Chicago..... It’s not where you want to be. Not where you need to be. You’d only be going back for me and.......I can’t do it...... I want to give you everything… but that wouldn’t be fair… to you....I’m afraid if you don’t, you’ll resent me someday, and I can’t handle that....”

Jade Keebler (29, photographer) has returned to her hometown to help her mom recover from surgery, as well as help her BFF shop for a wedding dress. The last thing she wants to do is run into the boy who broke her heart, yet that's exactly what happens during an evening out with the girls.

“It’s too late. He’s made his life, and he’s happy. I don’t want to disturb that.”

Jade and Henry run into each other, and even though they still love each other, reconciliation isn't on the horizon. Jade plans to leave again and Henry has a son to worry about.

“I just missed you. Plain and simple. I lost the love of my life. Actually… I gave her up willingly, which somehow felt worse because I was the one who sent her packing.”

Well, Jade's circumstances change, Henry realizes there are other single parents who date, and now they agree to see where things go.....

“I came here tonight because I made the wrong decision eight years ago......I was a shit boyfriend to let you go and tell you that you couldn’t find yourself when we were together.....I should’ve made sure you did, not pushed you away to do it on your own.”

Bodhi wants a mom, Jade doesn't know if she'd be a good mom, Henry doesn't want to push Jade too quickly, they both doubt themselves, an accident involving lava, some head slapping, very predictable stuff, and then an HFN.

I’ve been genuinely happy these last three years with Bodhi, but adding Jade to our mix, I find myself finally believing that maybe I can have everything.

SEX: Second-chance romances are always a slow burn, and that's one of the reasons I hate them! They have some mediocre oral at 57%, and he fingers her at 70%. They FINALLY get penetration at 74% and the only good thing about it was knowing they don’t use a condom. They have a stupid masturbation scene, which is unnecessary and they don’t count as sex!! You know why?!? BECAUSE YOU CAN DO IT BY YOURSELF!!! It only requires one person so why they fuck do I want to read about something that I can do at home by myself?!?! Anyway, it’s obvious I’m not impressed by the “sex scenes” Piper Rayne writes.

MOM: Another reason I hate books with kids/single parents. Jade doubts everything she does and is so critical of herself. In this instance, I thought some of the shit she worried about was dumb. She acted like she’d never been around kids before, but she was around 15-yo when her twin brothers were born. She knows what it’s like to have babies and young children around. Sure, some fears are normal, but most of hers were trivial.

Her mom did give her some advice that I thought was good....

No one wakes up one day and is a fully capable mom. Plus, just so you know, when you have a baby, the maternal instincts don’t just click on like they’ve been dormant until the moment the baby comes out……Motherhood isn’t about planning and making sure they eat their vegetables. It’s about protection and strength and love. You need to protect the child from harm, have the strength to let them fail and learn the lessons, and love them unconditionally. Trust that they’ll fall but help them pick themselves up.

BODHI: Y’all know I hate kids in books. They’re typically little cockblockers. Truthfully, Bodhi wasn't as annoying as a lot of kids are, but I'd still prefer him not to be there. What’s worse in this book is the Bodhi actually has his own POV!!! I know everyone else liked those, but you know I hated that shit.

HATE: The hate that Jade receives from other women was a little extreme and ridiculous. I get that there would be people that are jealous, and I can believe that if she were at a hockey game, some girls might make snide remarks, but the hate that she received by other moms at the school was silly. Other parents might talk about her behind her back, but they wouldn't confront her to her face.

AUDIO: There's a full cast of all my favorites. The primaries for this book are JF Harding and Brooke Bloomingdale. Holy shit JF Harding can make my panties disintegrate! The other players are Sean Masters, Teddy Hamilton, Connor Crais, CJ Bloom, and Troy Duran. Now do you see why I listened to a book I knew I would hate???

TWINS: Jade has 14-yo twin brothers and they’re the funniest thing in the whole book. They kept me laughing.

TWEETIE: He’s funny as hell, but I feel bad for whatever girl he ends up with. He’s such a WHORE.

3RD ACT: There isn't one.

EPILOGUE: It's a few months in the future.

SECOND CHANCE: You might ask yourself, Mysti, why do you have second-chance romances? I'll tell you. Aside from the fact that they're always a slow burn, they always involve some heartache. The whole thing about being in love and breaking up just hurts my heart. I especially hate it when they're with other people while they're separated! So, that's why.

[ᴀᴅᴇʟᴀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t fuck with her family and henry constantly projecting the “your dad’s flaky and therefore so are you” narrative onto Jade the entire book. Her mom saying a bunch of bs to her, her step-dad having chats w henry, and henry not being sure if she could handle the relationship.

I think I was expecting more of a found family vibe and while it does kind of show that through Jade’s relationship with Bodhi, I felt like her relationship with her family was disconnected. Her brothers hardly acknowledge her, her step-dad was too busy with his job which is ironic given that Jade’s mom split up with her father because he would prioritize work, and her mom was very judgy.

The reason why Jade went home was to help her mom with her half-brothers because she had eye surgery and her stepdad was going to be too busy to at work to help out. Jade comes home and is hardly acknowledged or at home, we don’t really get to see her bonding with her family and by the time her mom was cleared by the doctor to resume her life as normal, she didn’t know what to do or where to go because she said she wasn’t needed anymore.

“Next on my list is to find somewhere to live since Mom is back to work, and no one in the family home really needs me there.” - Jade.

I don’t know, it didn’t seem like she was hurt but it wasn’t fun to read about.

I also didn’t like that everyone was blaming her for breakup when Henry was literally the one who broke up with her and gave her no choice. Jade never wanted to leave him and the way everyone was treating her bc of her dad was wild to me.

There is also no closure with her relationship with her dad, “not a fuck you, what do you need, or nothing” quite literally. I would’ve liked for the author to have gone into that more instead of just skimming over the topic.

Pls excuse my french 💋

Plot: 3/5 ✨
two ✨for Bodhi, one ✨for the plot.
(could’ve been executed better, i was bored at 50%)
Smut: 2/5 🌶️
Cheating: No ✨
OW/OM Drama: No ✨
Separation: They were separated for eight years at the start, were both with other ppl during that time. H would casually hook up with women, never a serious relationship. h had a bf before reuniting with H.
(^Neither are a big part of the plot or an issue)
Tropes: Second chance romance, friends to lovers, adoptive son, H is a hockey player…

[𝘪𝘷 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 🧸 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
i just don’t think i love second chance romances anymore

[all.the.smut.things · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🔥🔥

I love this series! Andwhen you give me a single dad, a whole bunch of found family and a second chance romance all rolled into one, I’m going to fall in love!

Ans fall in love I did. Not only with Henry and Jade, but with Bodhi as well! Actually I fell in love with Bodhi first, and just absolutely melted for this kid, Henry and Jade were just a bonus 😂

This story has some of the best “always been you” vibes I’ve read in a while and second chances just hit so much harder when it’s crystal clear that neither of them have moved on.

🩷 Hockey Romance
🩷 Single Dad
🩷 It’s always been you
🩷 Close Proximity
🩷 Second Chance

Jade and Henry were childhood sweethearts who never really got over each other. When Jade moved back to town and becomes Henry’s son’s teacher, they are forced to face their past and the very real feelings they ah e for each other.

Henry’s the best dad and I loved him so much. I also love how easily Jade fits into their life. This one is cute and quick and has some amazing spicy moments! definitely read this one!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good second chance romance book! Add hockey in and you’ve got yourself a winner. This book was a fun read that also tore your heart out and put it back together. I felt every emotion that Jade and Henry felt towards each other especially during the moments when it was hard. You could tell how much these two loved one another and how much they were each other’s end game.

I think my favorite part of this book was getting Bodhi’s POV. It was so cute to read his thoughts and how badly he wanted the two of them together. I wish we would’ve gotten one more of his POV’s at the end, but I’ve never seen this in a book and I thought it was the perfect touch.

I’m not gonna lie, there were some things that I felt were missing and others felt a little brushed over, but overall I did enjoy this book and Henry and Jade’s second chance.

Thank you Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the ARC!

[Just A Girl With Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was EVERYTHING! Grown folks working out their sh*t and getting a second chance. So many delicious complexities in this story. The hero was life! Such a Daddy. And hockey - who knew! I don’t read HocRom, but I need more like this!!

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore a good hockey romance and Mr Broody truly didn’t disappoint. We meet Henry and his son Bodhi in Mr Heart-Breaker and was so glad to read his story. There is nothing better than a good second chance romance and throw in a fabulous cast of side characters you have a brilliant book. Honestly the friendship group of these hockey players really makes this series. I liked how we learnt about Henry and Jades past however the star of the story is Bodhi and his POV chapters was so cute to read. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and can’t wait for the next story in this series. I received a complementary copy from the author.

[ellora · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

WOW WOW WOW I LOVED THIS!!!

there was pining, yearning, found family, second chance!!! plus scheming friends to get them back together??? and the son was part of that too??? (and got his own little chapters!) i freaking LOVED this and loved henry and jade they were too cute

[Jess (GetbookedwithJessica) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Broody is out now and it was amazing! A triple threat with a single dad, hockey romance and a second chance at love!!!

And Bodhi…this kid is adorable and gets his own POV. He goes on a mission to play matchmaker with his dad and Jade. Just adds so much cuteness to this already fun and charming plot!

A cast led by J. F Harding and Brooke Bloomingdale in the two lead roles and with Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Troy Duran and C.J. Bloom jumping in as the side/support cast and characters, with each perfect in their roles delivering an effortless performance, a treat for your ears and a joy to listen to that provided all the wittiness we all know and love from this duo.

You could tell from moment one how much Henry and Jade meant to each other. I loved watching the journey of these two find their way back to each other. Highly recommend 🫶

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️~4🌶️

Mr. Broody is the second book in Piper Rayne's hockey romance series, The Nest. I adore this book!

I love the single dad and second chance romance! Not only do we get the dual POV, but we also get an insight into Bodhi's point of view in a few chapters. It was just the sweetest!

Henry, nicknamed Daddy, and his first love, Jade, had undeniable chemistry. They had too much history to forget or ignore. Their banter was so good and the slow burn of their rekindled romance made sense. I enjoyed the character development and the help from the other supporting characters. They meddled in a great way.

The audiobook is really amazing! JF Harding and Brooke Bloomingdale provided the voices to Henry and Jade. In addition, you have this incredible all-star cast who bring the other characters to life. They worked together to make this story come to fruition. Very well done. 👏

The full cast: JF Harding, Brooke Bloomingdale, Sean Masters, Connor Crais, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, and CJ Bloom ♥️

What to expect:
👨 Single Dad
💞 Childhood Sweethearts
🫂 Close Proximity
🎯 Second Chance
🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Found Family
🗣️ Multi POV

Thank you @authorpiperrayne and
@valentine_pr_ for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a second chance romance, and this one delivered! Henry is a single dad to Bodie. Bodie is in first grade, and his new substitute teacher is none other than Henry's former girlfriend. Jade and Henry are childhood friends to lovers, and broke up 8 years prior. They now have to navigate rebuilding their relationship together, and becoming a family. This story has great communication between the main characters, and I loved that Bodie had a POV.

Tropes:
Single dad
Childhood friends to lovers
Second chance
Hockey Romance

[Giota (the reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, everybody knows I love hockey romances, but make it second chance and I go FERAL 🥹😱🩷.
I read Mr. Broody in literally one sitting, I inhaled every word of this book!
Henry Hensley is a closed off, broody single dad to Bodhi, who he adopted when he was three.
Henry and Jade were best friends since they were 7, first love and first everything when they were 16, all through college when Jade was there for him, supporting him every step of the way until he got drafted. But after college and when Henry saw that Jade was unsure of her own goals in life, he makes a decision that completely changed the trajectory of their relationship… 8 years later, Jade is in the bar he frequents under his apartment condo and he knows, this is the only chance he’ll ever get to win her back.
I cannot tell you how much I loved the vibes of true love in this book. Henry and Jade were the definition of soulmates, and they both hurt each other so much with their choices, it was hard to read at points. But they both fought, tooth and nail to get back together. They had glimpses of happiness in the 8 years they were apart, Henry more so because of Bodhi, but other than that, they were miserable.
Henry’s decision 8 years ago and Jade’s acceptance made me sick to my stomach, it was clear as day that it was wrong and I wanted to scream at them 😭.
This was such a beautiful, emotional read that also had its funny moments, but it was also hopeful and gave you the feeling that, no matter how long it takes, what belongs together, finds its way back together😍.

Thank you to the authors and ValentinePR for the eARC🫶🏻🩷

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second chance at love was charming and touching, yet playful with plenty of heat.

Shut up, I'm not crying, you're crying. Everything about this book was beyond adorable. Henry and Jade's reunion was charged with remembered feelings and the attraction that never went away. That connection was palpable throughout and had me with my heart in my throat, wanting and hoping right alongside them.

Henry had his life together, but he and Bodhi were missing a crucial piece. And Jade seamlessly slot into that position, even when they all needed time to catch up to what we (the readers) already realized, that they were perfect for each other.

Bodhi was so sweet and loveable, and he was the glue that held them together while Henry and Jade reconnected. Henry was gentle and patient and so ready to have Jade in his life again. Jade had to learn to accept herself and how to be herself in Henry's world. This was a very emotional read and I might've had some shiny eyes while reading it.

The epilogue was definitely worth it and now I can't wait for the next book. I can highly recommend this book and this series if you like fun, steamy hockey romance. Each book stands well on its own.

Thank you to the authors and the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review is also on Hooked By That Book.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars - What kind of second chance was this? I have so many questions after reading this book. Why did he adopt a kid exactly? Why did he break up with her? How were things different for them to get back together? Because she had a 5min epiphany and all had changed?