Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by kfriend
Pain in the Axe by Daphne Elliot
5.0
CLIVE HIVE! We’re back in Lovewell, Maine! Let’s just deck me out in flannel, because I am still in my lumberjack era. I am so here for all of these deliciously growly and grumpy Hebert men. And I adore the drama and heart we find in Lovewell. Daphne always delivers heartwarming stories that lift the spirits and leave me smiling…and that are also a lot of fun.
The tropes on this one had me hooked from page one. Divorced exes reuniting 20 years later with Chloe set on exacting her revenge on the company that destroyed her marriage to Gus…his family’s much scandalized lumber business. Chloe is basically an epic boss bitch, so now she OWNs, and nothing gives her more glee than her ex-husband who chose his family’s business over their marriage now being her employee. But there are LONG buried and unresolved feelings that quickly bubble to the surface…and soon a moment of one night “f it” spice results in something neither of them saw coming….an unexpected pregnancy.
I just loved the premise- a second chance between a divorced couple who are in radically different phases of life and might actually be ready for what they couldn’t achieve before, main characters in their 40’s (hello my age bracket!), the deliciously soapey she bought out his company set up, the Lovewell drama, and two people both bitter and still in love coming to terms with their failed marriage AND a pregnancy in not the most ideal of contexts. The dynamic is SO much fun- the ex’s “now I’m your boss” tension is explosive and sexy and adds so much romantic and dramatic tension (let’s just say, you could cut the tension with an AXE…yes, I went there). There is plenty of banter, all of that hate sexing volcanic energy, and it also generates a lot of emotion. These two have a lot to work through- but despite the divorce long ago tension, there is so much heart and tenderness between them. Chloe’s vitriolic feelings stem from a place of true hurt and loss, and both need to find a way to pivot their relationship from their younger mistakes and hurt to their current more mature, evolved adult selves now…but that’s not easy when there are so many pent up feelings. Their chemistry is just magnetic- we are saturated in their intense push and pull, and i just loved them together. And I found their connection to be so authentic and also resonant.
Chloe is just lods of fun- she’s sassy and sharp and fierce and snark…and paired with Guy’s grumpy, growly persona, we have a lot of they both like to poke the bear fun. They sure can get under each other’s skin- but I loved how we get to the heart of them both underneath the visage they portray to try to cope with the hurt of their past. Theirs is a journey of courageous vulnerability, forgiveness, and true second chances. Of commitment and reconciliation. And Gus- oh my. I adored getting in his mind to see the feelings he harbored, his regret, and his love. I floured him, and I love the way he loves Chloe, even if he makes mistakes. Watching them fall back in love (or in their case, realizing they never fell out of love) was so beautiful and fun and HOT. I was enamored with them- and with this unique and compelling storyline. And omg-the teaser for what’s next! I’ve got my flannel ready for my next visit to Lovewell.
The tropes on this one had me hooked from page one. Divorced exes reuniting 20 years later with Chloe set on exacting her revenge on the company that destroyed her marriage to Gus…his family’s much scandalized lumber business. Chloe is basically an epic boss bitch, so now she OWNs, and nothing gives her more glee than her ex-husband who chose his family’s business over their marriage now being her employee. But there are LONG buried and unresolved feelings that quickly bubble to the surface…and soon a moment of one night “f it” spice results in something neither of them saw coming….an unexpected pregnancy.
I just loved the premise- a second chance between a divorced couple who are in radically different phases of life and might actually be ready for what they couldn’t achieve before, main characters in their 40’s (hello my age bracket!), the deliciously soapey she bought out his company set up, the Lovewell drama, and two people both bitter and still in love coming to terms with their failed marriage AND a pregnancy in not the most ideal of contexts. The dynamic is SO much fun- the ex’s “now I’m your boss” tension is explosive and sexy and adds so much romantic and dramatic tension (let’s just say, you could cut the tension with an AXE…yes, I went there). There is plenty of banter, all of that hate sexing volcanic energy, and it also generates a lot of emotion. These two have a lot to work through- but despite the divorce long ago tension, there is so much heart and tenderness between them. Chloe’s vitriolic feelings stem from a place of true hurt and loss, and both need to find a way to pivot their relationship from their younger mistakes and hurt to their current more mature, evolved adult selves now…but that’s not easy when there are so many pent up feelings. Their chemistry is just magnetic- we are saturated in their intense push and pull, and i just loved them together. And I found their connection to be so authentic and also resonant.
Chloe is just lods of fun- she’s sassy and sharp and fierce and snark…and paired with Guy’s grumpy, growly persona, we have a lot of they both like to poke the bear fun. They sure can get under each other’s skin- but I loved how we get to the heart of them both underneath the visage they portray to try to cope with the hurt of their past. Theirs is a journey of courageous vulnerability, forgiveness, and true second chances. Of commitment and reconciliation. And Gus- oh my. I adored getting in his mind to see the feelings he harbored, his regret, and his love. I floured him, and I love the way he loves Chloe, even if he makes mistakes. Watching them fall back in love (or in their case, realizing they never fell out of love) was so beautiful and fun and HOT. I was enamored with them- and with this unique and compelling storyline. And omg-the teaser for what’s next! I’ve got my flannel ready for my next visit to Lovewell.