Axe-Identally Married

Maine Lumberjacks, Book 3

De: Daphne Elliot

Narrado por: Stephen Dexter, Ava Lucas

I used to be a good girl.

That is until I woke up in Vegas married to a former hockey player who also happens to be my best friend’s ex.

Cole Hebert and I are opposites. I’m the new town doctor, a rule follower, and five-five on a good day. He’s the six-seven bad boy currently doing court-ordered community service.

I’m struggling to earn the respect of the people in our hometown, and he’s doing some soul searching after an injury ended his hockey career. We’ve already drunkenly said I do, so we agree to a marriage of convenience.

Forced to live together, we slowly become friends. I see a side of Cole I never knew existed. He coaches kids’ hockey, knits for the entire town, and loves snuggling while watching Jeopardy.

Soon, we’re growing closer, and the way the hockey-playing lumberjack worships my plus-size body and obsessively calls me his wifey has me embracing my inner bad girl and tearing down all my carefully constructed walls.

Our feelings eventually burn as bright as our passion, but the small town we both love is harboring dark secrets. After a shocking discovery, we learn there are those who want us silenced forever, and we’re forced to risk it all to protect our happily ever after.

Author’s Note: Axe-Identally Married is a marriage of convenience romance featuring a sassy plus-size doctor and a cinnamon roll hockey player with a heart of gold. If you enjoy opposites attract, flirty banter, possessive heroes, wood-chopping, meddling moose, and small-town hijinks, you will not be disappointed.

Welcome to Lovewell, Maine, where the moose outnumber the people and you can’t swing an axe without hitting a hot, grumpy lumberjack. The books of the Maine Lumberjacks Series are ALL standalones but are most fun when listened to in order!

©2024 Melody Publishing, LLC (P)2025 Melody Publishing, LLC

Cinnamon Roll!

I have read this entire series and it’s great to see Cole’s story, and for him to actually be a cinnamon roll!!! So great.

Update Research

Good storyline. Character development on par. Please when talking about professions make sure your research is up to date. Nothing more grinding than hearing a medical reference that’s almost a decade outdated. That’s my pet peeve. But, do not let that deter you. Great book. Audio voices matched the characters well.

My favorite so far!

This is by far my favorite in the series so far! I loved it, you remained engaged the entire book and the storyline continued on from the other books seamlessly. New fan!

Eloping with Best Friend’s Ex

This series just keeps getting better—and this book might be my absolute favorite so far!

Willa and Cole’s story had everything I love: unexpected romance, emotional depth, and character growth that felt so real. Both are in Vegas for Owen and Lila’s engagement—Willa as Lila’s best friend and Cole as Owen’s half-brother (and Lila’s ex… hello drama 👀). Cole, who’s been the troubled, distant figure in the background of the last two books, finally gets the spotlight—and wow, did he shine in it.

Cole hasn’t had it easy. Burdened by a toxic, powerful father, hurt which forced an ending hockey career- he’s been lost. But when he sees Willa in the pool, something shifts. Willa, the kind-hearted, curvy girl who always puts others first, is feeling overwhelmed herself—especially after stepping up to run her dad’s practice post-stroke.

Their connection starts with a simple conversation at the fountain and quickly escalates into a wild Vegas night: gambling, dancing, drinking… and then a surprise wedding! The next morning, shock sets in, and they plan to annul the marriage—until Willa hears Owen belittle Cole and instinctively defends him, claiming they’re happily married. From there, their relationship evolves into a marriage of convenience… that turns into so much more.

The character growth in this book? Top-tier. Watching Willa come into her own and Cole finally see his worth was so satisfying. They were exactly what the other needed, and together, they were magic.

🎧 Audiobook Note: Stephen Dexter’s deep, gravelly voice was perfect for Cole—equal parts vulnerable and protective. And Ava Lucas brought Willa to life with the perfect balance of sass and softness. You could feel her insecurities and strength all in one breath.

Tropes:
Vegas Elopement
Marriage of Convenience
Best Friend’s Ex
Cinnamon Roll giant
Reformed Bad Boy
Opposites Attract
My Wife
Retired Hockey player
Town’s doctor
Small town Suspense

Great story

Okay first when or where do I get the next book love the town and the family great story can’t wait to meet Noah

All 3 books so far

I love how it is written, each book tells a new story but including the whole family and how they are doing.

Great Story, Intriguing Plot Twists and Really Good Narrators.

Book 3 of The Maine Lumberjack Series was a really good sequel. The story was intriguing, the characters were interesting and the plots twists created a sense of anticipation. Both narrators did a great job acting their many characters, creating a strong connection for listeners. Looking forward to Book 4.

Cole & Willa

This accidental marriage turned marriage of convenience is so cute. Cole and Willa are so adorable together. The flirty banter is top notch and the HEA was perfect.

Stephen Dexter and Ava Lucas were the perfect choices for these characters.

We feel Willa & Cole's connection in DUET

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall: 4.75/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (0-5) I bump up for public places/outdoor spaces

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Stephen Dexter and Ava Lucas are everything as Cole and Willa. They have gorgeous voices, fit their personalities so well, and bring out the whole mix of emotions fabulously!
🤩 The DUET narration allows us to feel the sweet and sensual connection between Willa & Cole so much.
🤩 A vegas marriage to a marriage of convenience.
🤩 LOL hilarious and great characterization.
🤩 Open and honest communication.
🤩 I adore how they become sweet, caring, supportive friends.
🤩 Forced proximity. The little looks and touches. And hanging out.
🤩 PDA in the pretending.
🤩 Slow burn to so worth it!
🤩 We like a big guy. “It’s so I can carry my wife home and then ravage her.”
🤩 I love a steamy light switch scene! “I need to see you when you’re riding my c*.”
🤩 Dirty talking Cole gets his wifey to talk dirty too!
🤩 C* blocking moose. LOL hilarious.
🤩 The blizzard.
🤩 The suspense plot kept us captivated without a third act breakup.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 I would have like a little bit more feeling the sexual chemistry and tension in general, but especially some from Willa instead of just Cole.

4.5stars!!

The audiobook for this was so good to listen to! Narrated in duet by Ava Lucas and Stephen Dexter. They both brought Willa and Cole to life and I devoured this audio!

While their story starts out with an unexpected Vegas wedding, I absolutely love seeing these two together. And their radical honesty policy is literally one of my favorite things about them. The way Cole continues to show up and always make Willa feel seen and respected is just so swoon-worthy!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
-sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
-ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴɪᴇɴᴄᴇ
-ᴠᴇɢᴀs ᴡᴇᴅᴅɪɴɢ
-ᴏᴘᴘᴏsɪᴛᴇs ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ
-ʜᴇ ғᴀʟʟs ғɪʀsᴛ
-ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ
-ᴘʟᴜs sɪᴢᴇ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ ғᴍᴄ
-ʜᴏᴄᴋᴇʏ ᴘʟᴀʏᴇʀ/ʟᴜᴍʙᴇʀᴊᴀᴄᴋ ᴍᴍᴄ