Axe-ing for Trouble

A Protector Lumberjack Romance (Maine Lumberjacks, Book 5)

De: Daphne Elliot

Narrado por: Gideon Frost, Victoria Connolly

On the run, injured, and out of options, I had no choice but to go back to him.

Back to the one place I swore I wouldn’t—because staying away was the only way to keep him safe.

Jude Hebert.

My one-night stand turned unexpected protector.

A rugged, guitar-playing lumberjack with broad shoulders and blue eyes that could light up the darkest Maine night.

And the man determined to keep me safe.

When we’re forced to hide out in his cozy cabin, we make the best of it by playing Scrabble and sharing stolen laughter, pretending the world outside isn’t closing in. He carries me like I weigh nothing, cleans my wounds with gentle hands, serenades me with his guitar and makes heat bloom beneath my skin with every stolen glance.

He insists I take the bed every night. Eventually, I ask him to stay.

The way Jude looks at me—like I’m worth protecting—breaks down my defenses. Soon, he’s my protector and confidant, and in these stolen moments, I begin to imagine a life I’d long ago given up on having.

But the danger I’m running from is catching up. Though the answers I’ve been chasing are within reach, so is the threat that could destroy us both.

In the depths of the Maine wilderness, love can be wild, unexpected, and terrifying.

And sometimes it takes a burly, stubborn lumberjack to help a woman find her way home.

Author’s Note: Axe-ing For Trouble is a standalone small-town romance featuring a protective lumberjack and a daredevil heroine fighting their attraction while seeking justice. If you enjoy swoony banter, found family, an awesome dog and forced proximity, you will not be disappointed. Don’t worry, Clive makes an appearance!

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

A tale of Trouble and her Lumbersnack…

“…[S]ometimes the bravest thing you can do is be honest…”

💖📚 Story: 4.5 ⭐️s
🎧🎤 Narration: 5 ⭐️s

While the final book in Daphne Elliot’s Maine Lumberjack wasn’t the series best (for me, those first three are tops) there is still quite a bit here I very much enjoyed. Between the forced proximity of it all, some top notch nicknaming game, and the adorable animal moments there were several genre conventions I found to be very well-deployed. There was effective external conflict and more than appropriate spice. Plus the MCs had wonderful connection and chemistry. Overall, this was an entertaining end to a wonderful series.

Jude is the Hebert I had been most excited about and Elliot’s full presentation of him doesn’t disappoint. He’s genuine, caring, and though fiercely protective, he also listens and respects the perspective and needs of others. Mila Barrett is another well-drawn FMC and a great match for Jude; she is committed to her family and determined to get justice. She also has a great sense of humor (both MCs do really!). And though she can be somewhat closed off at times, she learns to open up and accept help and support as the story progresses. Together with Ripley, she and Jude make a sweet and strong unit.

I think my slight let down with this final installment comes with how the mystery wraps up. Not the details of the mystery, but rather how the build up to resolution played out. This mystery has been building and something all of the Heberts have been working to solve. Because the problems impacted the entire family, I guess I just wanted more moments of the family acting together to solve it - more big family discussion type moments. It often felt more like a pass the baton scenario than a full group effort. Because one of my favorite aspects of the whole series have been moments when the Heberts are interacting together, and there seemed to be less of those moments in this book, the rest of the family felt less involved. Elliot did a fine job with the choices she made for her story, it’s just my particular reader hopes that wished for other choices because more scenes of the Heberts working together and riffing off each other would have been so very entertaining.

This final audio duet is another top production. I really enjoyed the performances by Gideon Frost and Victoria Connolly. Both narrators were a great match for their characters and for each other. Connolly brought a lovely nuance to Mila, striking balance between the tense moments of legitimate danger (that prologue!) and the lighter moments of falling in love. While the Hebert brothers are connected by the lumberjack of it all, each as a MMC has had their own unique appeal and Frost really delivered on Jude’s soulful gruffness. His performance ably walked the line between the musician/poet/lumberjack who could woo you softly with his song or protect you with his axe.

I’m grateful to have received an ALC copy of the audiobook via Home Cooked Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

Suspenseful and Captivating!

This is the fifth book in the Maine Lumberjacks series, a small town romance. I love this series! Jude and Mila's story is suspenseful, captivating, and entertaining, filled with action, danger, and twists and turns. Jude is handsome, protective, and supportive. Mila is strong, smart, and determined. They are perfect together. It's a rollercoaster journey to love. The supporting characters are great. Gideon Frost and Victoria Connolly did a great job bringing this story to life. I enjoyed it.

Great ending to an AMAZING SERIES!!

I have been OBSESSED with this series and I'm so sad that it's over but I will say this series went out with an AMAZING ending!! I loved these characters and Riley the dog! There were so many good moments in this book that had me smiling like crazy!

Jude and Mila had a one night stand a year ago and now she is at his door after running for her life. She tells him everything that she knows about criminal activities that have been going on. Jude is a recluse so they have the perfect place to lay low. He may be a little grumpy but this man knows how to take care of Mila. He is always making sure she is safe, her wounds are taken care of and she's fed. He will definitely have you swooning!

Mila is a kick butt woman! This girl has some massive girl power and she won't let anything stop her from bringing justice to her brother. Mila and Jude had me falling in love with them! I felt these two characters were the perfect ones to end this series and bring everything to a close!

You will laugh, swoon, smile like crazy, be on the edge of your seat and you will be left with a happily ever after ending! I HIGHLY recommend this book and this series!!

A Lumberjack and a Journalist

Yes! I absolutely love this book and had to listen to it one go. The narrators performance is perfection. Gideon Frost and Victoria Connolly truly brought Jude and Mila to life for me. Jude and Mila have amazing chemistry and even though they are complete opposites they just click. Jude is a musician and lumbersnack who is very stuck in his way. Mila is a very strong, nomadic journalist who is determined to get justice. They forge a bond and build a relationship while in the height of danger. We finally get the outcome of the illegal operations and avery satisfying ending. Also, love Clive the moose and his antics and the whole Hebert family. Definitely a 5 star must listen.

I was sent an advanced copy audiobook from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

LOVED!!

This entire series was so good! I loved every single book. And all the brothers involved!

Great ending for this family! ❤️

Read this series! You will love all of the books. Great story with drama, love and friendship.

Great Ending to a Wionderful Series.

In this final installment of the Maine Lumberjacks series, Daphne Elliott delivers a sensational conclusion with Axe-ing for Trouble. It's the story fans have been waiting for: quiet Jude Hebert’s tale.


On the run, injured, and out of options, Mila has no choice but to go back to the one man she swore to stay away from. Jude, her one-night stand, is a rugged, guitar-playing lumberjack with a heart of gold. When he finds Mila on his doorstep, his protective instincts kick in, and he insists she stay at his cozy cabin to recover.

As they are forced into close quarters, their chemistry reignites. Mila, who trusts no one, finds her defenses breaking down as Jude looks at her like she's worth protecting. He cleans her wounds with gentle hands, serenades her with his guitar, and carries her like she weighs nothing. While Mila sees him as her "danger bang," Jude has real feelings for her and wants to prove he's worthy of a future with her. He's supportive and attentive, and when the danger Mila is running from catches up, he doesn't try to stop her—he joins her to keep her safe.

Mila is a fantastic and inspiring heroine with a sassy, spitfire personality. Her determination to get justice for her brother is a testament to her loyalty. Jude, on the other hand, is one of the best heroes in the series. He is all-in with helping Mila, and his swoon-worthy qualities—from his love for his dog, Ripley, to his sexy glasses and guitar-playing—make him an unforgettable character.

The suspenseful mystery that has been woven throughout the series comes to a satisfying conclusion in this book, connecting all the dots. The romance between Jude and Mila is undeniable; their connection is apparent from their very first brief encounter. This fantastic couple and story are a perfect way to end the series.

The audiobook narration, performed in duet by Gideon Frost and Victoria Connolly, is next-level good, bringing the characters to life with emotion and depth. This is a must-read book and series from a truly talented author.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Trouble and Lumbersnack stole this series for me!

Story - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Spice - 🌶🌶
Narration - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Axe-ing for Trouble is book #5 in the Maine Lumberjacks series. This is Jude's story and it is exactly what I was hoping for! Jude is the quiet, elusive Hebert brother who doesn't feel like he "fits in" with his siblings. Mila/Amy is a former ONS who suddenly reappears into his life bringing chaos and trouble with her. She's never forgotten him and he's never forgotten her, but he is sure feeling super protective over her. I loved these two! She's a journalist on a mission of vengeance for her brother and is a fierce force of nature, but realizes she has brought danger to Jude's door. And their text nicknames: Trouble and Lumbersnack...😂! This is a slow-burn, small-town, second chance, forced proximity romance with an ongoing suspense (Hebert family) that finally is solved! Loved this story. The whole series is not to be missed.

The duet narration was fantastic. Gideon Frost and Victoria Connelly were perfect as Jude and Mila. These two really gave us the emotion from the suspense and the passion from the incredible chemistry these two have between them. Loved, loved, loved their performance. 5/5 stars!!

A Convoluted Mystery

I was as entertained by this book as I was with the other ones in the series. I have been waiting a long time for Jude's story as he has been a favorite character of mine since I started this series. I admired his dependable strength and lowkey personality, and I was happy to sigh over his romance with Mila. I liked Mila as she was intelligent, determined and fearless. I thought this story was more intensely suspenseful as Mila struggled to find out who was behind her brother's injuries and worked to try and unravel the mystery that wove throughout this series. I enjoyed the dual narrations provided by Gideon Frost and Victoria Connolly, and I felt their performances enhanced the story's entertainment. I was given an advanced listener's copy of the audiobook through Home Cooked Books. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

One-night-stand turns runaway from danger--in DUET

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧(0-5)
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥(0-5) I bump up for outdoor spaces.

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Main Lumberjacks series of standalones—love it! (They do have a common suspense plot.)
🤩 LOL hilarious and so cute! The chemistry and banter between Mila and Jude are fantastic–especially in DUET.
🤩 Victoria Connolly & Gideon Frost are perfectly cast for these characters’ personalities! Victoria Connolly does a fabulous strong, sassy, and outgoing Mila. Gideon Frost brings out the best of our introverted and caring musician, Jude Hebert.
🤩One-night-stand turns runaway from danger.
🤩 Forced proximity–roommates.
🤩Jude cares for Mila when she’s injured.
🤩Oooooo, I love a good massage with so much pining and tension (but Jude is trying to be respectful).
🤩 And then he chops some wood to release some of the tension. 🪵
🤩 Note to self: listen to chapter 22 again, the anger bang.
🤩 When Jude gives Mila a private concert because she can’t go to the bar for his band’s show. 🎸🎤
🤩 I love a suspense plot, especially when they have to hide in the woods for safety. And need a distraction. 🌲🥵
🤩 All the feels, but I’m totally feeling the added danger.

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Absolutely nothing. I just loved them and their story.