Axe-ing for Trouble

A Protector Lumberjack Romance (Maine Lumberjacks, Book 5)

By: Daphne Elliot

Narrated by: 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

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.

All 5 books pieced the story together so well.

Loved the entire series. Each book can be read as a stand alone, but they make so much more sense when read together.

All wrapped up

A good conclusion to the series! Glad everything finally got wrapped up. Mila drove me a bit nuts with her constantly wanting to do everything herself, but Jude was a perfect balance to her. Open door, 🌶️🌶️.

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.

Perfect ending!

Oh wow!! Talk about a high stakes book to end the series! This has so much content and mystery. I loved getting to know Jude more, especially after he was featured in every book so much. And Mila is amazing. She is my favorite of the FMCs in the series cause she was so strong, determined and independent while also leaning on someone for support and help.