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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
funny
Chloe is a strong, successful woman in her forties who takes the ultimate revenge by buying her ex-husband’s family lumber company. Gus, her grumpy ex with a soft side, is unexpectedly charming and impossible to resist.
Their chemistry is off the charts, the banter had me smiling the whole way through, and I really liked that both characters are in their forties. It felt refreshing and real, with just the right mix of spice and sweetness.
The narrators were excellent. CJ Bloom gives Chloe all the sass and strength she needs, and Aaron Shedlock brings Gus to life with a perfect mix of gruff and warm. They made it so easy to get pulled into the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Pain in the Axe is book two in the Maine Lumberjacks series and follows Chloe and Gus. Their second-chance romance was filled with delicious tension and undeniable chemistry. Chloe returns to Lovewell, Maine, with a revenge plan in mind, but when she and Gus are forced to work together, they are forced to confront deep feelings that never quite went away. Although it was a bit slow, I did enjoy the development of Chloe and Gus' relationship. They had a good connection, and I loved their banter. Chloe was closed off and had a thick wall around her heart, but Gus never gave up. He was determined to get her back and fix what was broken. It is always satisfying to witness characters learn, grow, and change for the better.
Unfortunately, though, this wasn't my favorite story. I felt it took way too long for Chloe to embrace her feelings for Gus. I understand she had trust issues and was really hurt by how their relationship ended in the past, but at some point, one, especially one in their 40s, has to move on. I didn't expect the level of immaturity displayed by characters in their age group. The book was also too long, rushed at the end, and had some plot holes. I did, however, enjoy the side characters and the dose of suspense. I love the second chance romance trope, and this story was certainly one with a well-deserved happy ending.
Narration:
The audiobook is performed in duet by CJ Bloom and Aaron Shedlock. They did a great job with this story and really brought Chloe and Gus to life. CJ and Aaron fully embodied the characters and made their complicated second chance romance feel real. They put a lot of personality into the characters and exponentially enhanced my experience with the story.
Unfortunately, though, this wasn't my favorite story. I felt it took way too long for Chloe to embrace her feelings for Gus. I understand she had trust issues and was really hurt by how their relationship ended in the past, but at some point, one, especially one in their 40s, has to move on. I didn't expect the level of immaturity displayed by characters in their age group. The book was also too long, rushed at the end, and had some plot holes. I did, however, enjoy the side characters and the dose of suspense. I love the second chance romance trope, and this story was certainly one with a well-deserved happy ending.
Narration:
The audiobook is performed in duet by CJ Bloom and Aaron Shedlock. They did a great job with this story and really brought Chloe and Gus to life. CJ and Aaron fully embodied the characters and made their complicated second chance romance feel real. They put a lot of personality into the characters and exponentially enhanced my experience with the story.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Chloe LeBlanc is not a very happy woman. Driven, intense, resentful, grouchy, always feeling the need to prove herself, always feeling she won’t be enough. The only thing that might make her happy, if only for a little while, is exacting revenge upon her ex-husband Gus Hebert. Ruining his life like he did hers twenty years ago, when they were young, newly married – and then divorced. Buying his family’s lumber company, becoming his boss, making him miserable is too good to pass up.
Both Gus and Chloe grew up in the lumber business in nearby towns, Lovewell and Hartsboro. Both with fathers that turned out to be not very good guys. Gus thought he would follow in his father’s footsteps and finally make his father proud of him. Surprise - that didn’t work out and his criminal father is now in prison. And all Gus’s hard work can’t save the family business. Chloe’s father and grandfather were clear that women didn’t belong in the lumber business and there was no place for her; off to college she had to go. Chloe proved them wrong, becoming very successful in the business, but she wants more. And what she wants right now is to take Gus’s company away from him and make him stick around for a year to rub it in.
Funny, though, how things don’t always work out like we think they will. How maybe that revenge doesn’t taste as sweet as we thought it would. Gus is happy to help, makes it clear he wants to be around her – and why, oh why, does he have to be even more irresistibly handsome and hot than when they were 20? She hates him, right? She has to hate him. Neither has remarried or even been in serious relationships. Chloe’s memory is that Gus chose his father and the business over her. The way Gus remembers it, Chloe left and he was presented with divorce papers. Author Daphne Elliot skillfully, frustratingly keeps up the suspense about what really happened between them until near the end of the book. Just when we think they are finally going to compare memories, author Elliot moves Gus and Chloe to a new scene and we still don’t know the rest of the story. It’s wonderful torture for the reader.
Chloe’s father effectively withdrew from fatherhood when her mother died. They were never close and their relationship is strained now. Gus never felt he was enough for his father and was blindsided when he learned of his father’s illegal activities. And the divorce has left both of them stirred up or closed off or angry – and never talking about what happened.
As we knew they would, things heat up rapidly as Chloe and Gus spend more and more time together. He’s a big, handsome, grumpy lumberjack but he’s thoughtful and sweet and sincere in his desire to prove himself worthy of her. She can’t believe she still feels that pull, that attraction, but it’s there all right. And then, what else is going to be there is a baby!
Pain in the Axe is fast-paced, well-plotted, hot, sexy, funny. You want to see these two back together the first time they see each other again. They are surrounded by interesting, complex friends, family and coworkers, irritating law enforcement members and unknown entities out to do harm – whether to the lumber company or to Chloe or Gus directly. The forest is beautiful, Lovewell is a great place to live – if they can just resolve the ‘Chloe vs. Gus’ problem to a ‘Chloe & Gus’ solution.
The icing on the cake is the two experienced, talented narrators who are perfect for the characters they voice. Chloe is whiny, sharp, sarcastic, nervous, afraid, uncertain and yearning. Her volume goes up and down. Always having second thoughts, dragging her feet, afraid to let go, dramatic, outspoken. Chloe is a mess and that comes across very clearly in C. J. Bloom’s excellent-as-always performance. Gus is in fact often grumpy; he doesn’t like to “people” very much, but he’s devoted to his family and Aaron Shedlock’s performance of Gus is a tantalizing g mix of slow, sexy, intense, protective, possessive, matter of fact, patient – and a man very much in love with this woman.
What an amazing, entertaining, satisfying audiobook Pain in the Axe was. This is the first book in the series I’ve listened to; the first book I’ve experienced by author Elliot. It will not be the last. I am definitely going back to read and listen to the first book in the series, and I cannot wait to listen to the next and the next and the next. I received an advance listening copy of Pain in the Axe from Home Cooked Books. I loved it and recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
Experiencing Chloe & Gus in audio, performed in duet by CJ Bloom & Aaron Shedlock was absolutely incredible. CJ Bloom brought Chloe to life as the bada$$ girl boss she is, with all the hidden vulnerability she was scared to voice. She hit the mark for everything that is Gus' firefly - her sass, the revengeful still heartbroken ex, all the emotions that came with their little surprise and so much more. It's no surprise that Aaron Shedlock brought our golden retriever lumberjack, Gus to life exactly how I pictured him while reading the book. He voiced the big, burly teddybear with all the emotions and love he still had for the one that got away to perfection. I was absolutely giddy experiencing Pain in the Axe in audio. Chloe & Gus were one of my favorite lumberjack couples, so I had very high expectations for their story being brought to audio, and CJ Bloom & Aaron Shedlock took those high expectations and blew me away with the phenominal performance.
I'm in love with a lumberjack and his name is Gus Hebert. *swoon* This man was pure lumberjack perfection. The way he loved Chloe and would climb mountains to win her back was nothing short of magic. I read this book in one day because it was THAT GOOD!
Daphne Elliot has created this magnificent world of lumberjacks and their leading ladies, and I fall more in love with every book. She really gave us everything with Chloe and Gus - divorced exes, surprise pregnancy, revenge turned best decision ever, it was always her, and so much more.
Chole and Gus have taken the top spot for me with their grumpy/grumpy hate love. Gus was already trying to win Chloe back but when they both got the surprise of their lives, he turned into this burley, sweet lumberjack daddy that will make your heart skip a beat.
These two were always meant to be, even if their HEA came 20 years late. I can't wait to see what Daphne Elliot has in store for us with these hot lumberjacks.
I'm in love with a lumberjack and his name is Gus Hebert. *swoon* This man was pure lumberjack perfection. The way he loved Chloe and would climb mountains to win her back was nothing short of magic. I read this book in one day because it was THAT GOOD!
Daphne Elliot has created this magnificent world of lumberjacks and their leading ladies, and I fall more in love with every book. She really gave us everything with Chloe and Gus - divorced exes, surprise pregnancy, revenge turned best decision ever, it was always her, and so much more.
Chole and Gus have taken the top spot for me with their grumpy/grumpy hate love. Gus was already trying to win Chloe back but when they both got the surprise of their lives, he turned into this burley, sweet lumberjack daddy that will make your heart skip a beat.
These two were always meant to be, even if their HEA came 20 years late. I can't wait to see what Daphne Elliot has in store for us with these hot lumberjacks.
📚 ᴘᴀɪɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀxᴇ
📝 ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ʙʏ: ᴅᴀᴘʜɴᴇ ᴇʟʟɪᴏᴛ
🌲 ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ: ᴍᴀɪɴᴇ ʟᴜᴍʙᴇʀᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱ, ʙᴏᴏᴋ 2
🎧 ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ: ᴀᴀʀᴏɴ ꜱʜᴇᴅʟᴏᴄᴋ & ᴄᴊ ʙʟᴏᴏᴍ
👄 ᴘᴏᴠ: ᴅᴜᴇᴛ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ (ɢᴜꜱ & ᴄʜʟᴏᴇ)
⏱️ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʟᴇɴɢᴛʜ: 9ʜ 10ᴍ
📖 ᴘᴀɢᴇꜱ: 428
Audiobook Review (ALC) 💗
I just finished Pain in the Axe by Daphne Elliot and… I need a moment.
This second-chance romance totally wrecked me (in the best way).
I mean exes-turned-enemies-turned-lovers???
SIGN. ME. UP. 🙌
Gus + Chloe are 🔥🔥🔥 together. The tension, the banter, the history. Their story had me laughing, wincing, swooning, and full-on gasping.
Aaron Shedlock and CJ Bloom KILLED it on narration. Their voices brought every emotion to life, the sarcasm, the longing, the heart. I seriously could not stop listening.
And a huge thank you to Daphne Elliot and Home Cooked Books for the early audio copy — I feel so lucky I got to fall in love with Gus & Chloe before release day. 💗
This book has all the feels. Add it to your audio TBR immediately!
Tropes:
✔️ Second chance romance
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Accidental pregnancy
✔️ Divorcees reunited
✔️ Small town drama
✔️ Big lumberjack energy 😏
#PainInTheAxe #DaphneElliot #AudiobookRomance #MaineLumberjacks #RomanceReview #RomanceAudiobooks #BookRecs #SecondChanceRomance #EnemiesToLovers #NowListening #RomanceAddict #Bookstagram
📝 ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ʙʏ: ᴅᴀᴘʜɴᴇ ᴇʟʟɪᴏᴛ
🌲 ꜱᴇʀɪᴇꜱ: ᴍᴀɪɴᴇ ʟᴜᴍʙᴇʀᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱ, ʙᴏᴏᴋ 2
🎧 ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ: ᴀᴀʀᴏɴ ꜱʜᴇᴅʟᴏᴄᴋ & ᴄᴊ ʙʟᴏᴏᴍ
👄 ᴘᴏᴠ: ᴅᴜᴇᴛ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ (ɢᴜꜱ & ᴄʜʟᴏᴇ)
⏱️ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ʟᴇɴɢᴛʜ: 9ʜ 10ᴍ
📖 ᴘᴀɢᴇꜱ: 428
Audiobook Review (ALC) 💗
I just finished Pain in the Axe by Daphne Elliot and… I need a moment.
This second-chance romance totally wrecked me (in the best way).
I mean exes-turned-enemies-turned-lovers???
SIGN. ME. UP. 🙌
Gus + Chloe are 🔥🔥🔥 together. The tension, the banter, the history. Their story had me laughing, wincing, swooning, and full-on gasping.
Aaron Shedlock and CJ Bloom KILLED it on narration. Their voices brought every emotion to life, the sarcasm, the longing, the heart. I seriously could not stop listening.
And a huge thank you to Daphne Elliot and Home Cooked Books for the early audio copy — I feel so lucky I got to fall in love with Gus & Chloe before release day. 💗
This book has all the feels. Add it to your audio TBR immediately!
Tropes:
✔️ Second chance romance
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Forced proximity
✔️ Accidental pregnancy
✔️ Divorcees reunited
✔️ Small town drama
✔️ Big lumberjack energy 😏
#PainInTheAxe #DaphneElliot #AudiobookRomance #MaineLumberjacks #RomanceReview #RomanceAudiobooks #BookRecs #SecondChanceRomance #EnemiesToLovers #NowListening #RomanceAddict #Bookstagram
I read this when it came out and loved it then but then the audiobook was announced and I knew I NEEDED to read it again. Then you find out that @aaronshedlock and @carlyrobinsnarrator were the narrators and I was SOLD!!!!! this was perfection
Oh Gus, you swoony, swoony lumbersnack! This man is living the quiet life in his hometown in Maine, working for his family company when his ex-wife shows up as the new owner of the family business. Chloe exudes boss-babe energy and set out for revenge, but what she finds is much sweeter as Gus goes on a mission to show Chloe that she has always been and still is the only woman for him.
These two have such a tragic story and I just hated how their marriage ended, but their second chance was beautiful. They had incredible tension and hot chemistry and I loved that they finally got the chance to make things right for each other and themselves. Gus was all in right from the start and his filthy and sweet words really brought Chloe back to him.
The audiobook narrated by Aaron Shedlock and CJ Bloom was such an incredible listen. I love Aaron Shedlock and could listen to his narrations every day and CJ has the perfect voice compliment to his to make these two such an auditory gem. They did such a great job bringing out lightheartedness and fun in this story as well as deep emotions and of course hot AF spice.
These two have such a tragic story and I just hated how their marriage ended, but their second chance was beautiful. They had incredible tension and hot chemistry and I loved that they finally got the chance to make things right for each other and themselves. Gus was all in right from the start and his filthy and sweet words really brought Chloe back to him.
The audiobook narrated by Aaron Shedlock and CJ Bloom was such an incredible listen. I love Aaron Shedlock and could listen to his narrations every day and CJ has the perfect voice compliment to his to make these two such an auditory gem. They did such a great job bringing out lightheartedness and fun in this story as well as deep emotions and of course hot AF spice.
Aaron Shedlock and CJ Bloom’s wonderful narration made this a fun listen. Gus and Chloe’s second chance love story starts out with some strong enemies to lovers vibes and thoughts of revenge, but we all know there is a fine line between love and hate. Chloe is strong, independent, and feisty and Gus is a swoony lumberjack that’s protective of those he loves. His relationship building with Clem made me smile and who doesn’t love a good showdown with a moody moose?! The rant had me laughing hysterically.
The audiobook for this was so fabulous to listen to! Narrated in dual by CJ Bloom and Aaron Shedlock. They both brought Chloe and Gus to life! And the banter between these two was so perfect to listen to!
I loved how strong Chloe is and how fiercely she will protect those she cares for. A true mama bear at heart and I adore her for this! I also loved how Gus was so open in letting her know how he felt. While they both struggle with their past, he truly has learned from it and will do whatever he needs to in order to gain Chloe’s trust back. And I’m here for all the sexy lumberjack energy he’s giving us!
What to expect:
-Small town romance
-Grumpy x grumpy
-Workplace
-Ex husband/wife
-Second chance
-Forced proximity
-Accidental pregnancy
Thank you so much to Daphne Elliot and Home Cooked Books for letting me listen and review an ALC of this book!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated