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.

Good series

Out of the five books book 3 and 54 were my favorite. Really liked the way the brothers cared for each other. The children were hilarious. But the main character(in my view) was Clive the bull moose. Although i thought Finn the third brothers story was not in this series. Looking forward to listening to it. Narrators were great.

What a fun series

So satisfying to come to the end of the series and have all our Herbert’s all settled with their perfect mates. To have the bad guys taken care and make Lovell safe again.

I love Daphne Elliott!

The perfect final book in the series!


📚⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶
🎧⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jude and Mila

• Small Town • Romance • Suspenseful adventure • Forced proximity

This book is the 5th and last book in the Maine Lumberjacks Series. They can be read as a standalone, however are very interconnected stories. It gives our view into the last of the brothers, plus wraps up the mystery of all the weird happenings in the small town.

Jude and Mila aka: Amy had a hot one night a year ago. Now, she drops back into his life in the most dramatic of ways. While much of this book was them figuring out the mystery of what dangers have been going on in their small community - and who all is involved the slow burn of them coming back together is worth it!

The narrators are fabulous in these characters! The quiet musician / lumberjack was done so well by Gideon Frost. And Victoria took on the confident, adventure seeking Mila beautifully.



I received a copy of the audio from Home Cooked Books and listened to it through BookFunnel. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.


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.

Danger sex and adventure

I think Mila is crazy with a set of brass balls! Underneath it all was misplaced guilt, ptsd and a need to avenge her brother. I loved that both Mila and Jude had a burning desire to protect each other and although she didn’t recognize her love in the beginning the reader could easily come to that conclusion. There were some nail-biting moments that had me sitting on the edge of my seat and then there were swoony moments that made me wish they both would just give in to their feelings for each other. Either way, their sexual tension was intense and the moments they gave in were hot. Spice level was good but didn’t take over the story line🌶️🌶️ Gideon Frost was an excellent Jude as Victoria Connely had the perfect voice for Mila. They did an amazing job narrating

Loved this series! A new favorite!

Cute romance series with characters that develop throughout the whole series. Love that each book is a from different perspective and love story within the same family.

10 out of 10. No notes.

This was a great ending to the series. Sexy, exciting, fun and funny. The narrators were great. The story was interesting. I can’t say enough. This is a great series.

Perfect series ending

I seriously just got lost in this story listening to these Gideon Frost and Victoria Connolly. I love their voices, and especially together in duet. I have had so much fun with each of these audiobooks in this series. And I thought this one wrapped it all up perfectly. The mystery had me hooked, and I loved how Mila was involved with it. She fit in with the Herbert’s perfectly, and the found family vibes are top notch. Jude and Mila may be my favorite - she is strong and protective (even being significantly injured couldn’t hold her down), and he is so sweet, a bit nerdy and quiet, and he sings and plays guitar, what’s not to love?! He was the perfect balance for Mila. I am going to miss all of these characters! I definitely recommend!!

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!!