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Maine Lumberjacks #3
Axe-identally Married
I used to be a good girl.
That is until I woke up in Vegas married to a former hockey player who also happens to be my best friend’s ex.
Cole Hebert and I are opposites. I’m the new town doctor, a rule follower, and five-five on a good day. He’s the six-seven bad boy currently doing court-ordered community service.
I’m struggling to earn the respect of the people in our hometown, and he’s doing some soul searching after an injury ended his hockey career. We’ve already drunkenly said I do, so we agree to a marriage of convenience.
Forced to live together, we slowly become friends. I see a side of Cole I never knew existed. He coaches kids’ hockey, knits for the entire town, and loves snuggling while watching Jeopardy.
Soon, we’re growing closer, and the way the hockey-playing lumberjack worships my plus-size body and obsessively calls me his wifey has me embracing my inner bad girl and tearing down all my carefully constructed walls.
Our feelings eventually burn as bright as our passion, but the small town we both love is harboring dark secrets. After a shocking discovery, we learn there are those who want us silenced forever, and we’re forced to risk it all to protect our happily ever after.
Author’s Note: Axe-identally Married is a marriage of convenience romance featuring a sassy plus-size doctor and a cinnamon roll hockey player with a heart of gold. If you enjoy opposites attract, flirty banter, possessive heroes, wood-chopping, meddling moose, and small-town hijinks, you will not be disappointed.
Welcome to Lovewell, Maine, where the moose outnumber the people and you can’t swing an axe without hitting a hot, grumpy lumberjack. The books of the Maine Lumberjacks Series are ALL standalones but are most fun when read in order!
That is until I woke up in Vegas married to a former hockey player who also happens to be my best friend’s ex.
Cole Hebert and I are opposites. I’m the new town doctor, a rule follower, and five-five on a good day. He’s the six-seven bad boy currently doing court-ordered community service.
I’m struggling to earn the respect of the people in our hometown, and he’s doing some soul searching after an injury ended his hockey career. We’ve already drunkenly said I do, so we agree to a marriage of convenience.
Forced to live together, we slowly become friends. I see a side of Cole I never knew existed. He coaches kids’ hockey, knits for the entire town, and loves snuggling while watching Jeopardy.
Soon, we’re growing closer, and the way the hockey-playing lumberjack worships my plus-size body and obsessively calls me his wifey has me embracing my inner bad girl and tearing down all my carefully constructed walls.
Our feelings eventually burn as bright as our passion, but the small town we both love is harboring dark secrets. After a shocking discovery, we learn there are those who want us silenced forever, and we’re forced to risk it all to protect our happily ever after.
Author’s Note: Axe-identally Married is a marriage of convenience romance featuring a sassy plus-size doctor and a cinnamon roll hockey player with a heart of gold. If you enjoy opposites attract, flirty banter, possessive heroes, wood-chopping, meddling moose, and small-town hijinks, you will not be disappointed.
Welcome to Lovewell, Maine, where the moose outnumber the people and you can’t swing an axe without hitting a hot, grumpy lumberjack. The books of the Maine Lumberjacks Series are ALL standalones but are most fun when read in order!
Audiobook
First published June 11, 2024
1637 people are currently reading
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About the author
Daphne Elliot
27 books1,228 followersIn High School, Daphne Elliot was voted “most likely to become a romance novelist.” After spending the last decade as a corporate lawyer, she has finally embraced her destiny. Her small town steamy novels are filled with flirty banter, sexy hijinks, and lots and lots of heart.
Daphne is a coffee-drinking, hot-sauce loving introvert who spends all her free time in her garden. She lives on a small farm in New England with her husband, two kids, two dogs, twelve backyard chickens and a hive of Italian honeybees.
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Daphne is a coffee-drinking, hot-sauce loving introvert who spends all her free time in her garden. She lives on a small farm in New England with her husband, two kids, two dogs, twelve backyard chickens and a hive of Italian honeybees.
VISIT MY AMAZON PAGE:
https://www.amazon.com/Daphne-Elliot/...
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/daphneellio...
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/DaphneElliot...
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER:
http://daphneelliot.com/join-newsletter/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 753 reviews
January 20, 2025
3.5/5 stars! I'm glad I tried this series because as I was mopping my kitchen floors and listening to it - while also reading before bed in the physical copy I snagged - the pacing was super fast and made it easy to follow along while doing other things.
- Not a ton of character development - which I think works well for this style of story.
- The writing sometimes seemed clunky, but it was cute overall, so it was easy to overlook.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (Slow burn until about halfway through, and then it was A LOT)
**I'm not reading others in the series but I'm glad I tried this one!
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
- Not a ton of character development - which I think works well for this style of story.
- The writing sometimes seemed clunky, but it was cute overall, so it was easy to overlook.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (Slow burn until about halfway through, and then it was A LOT)
**I'm not reading others in the series but I'm glad I tried this one!
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
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October 31, 2024I'm trying but I think this is a dnf for me....
This seems to start off from the beginning of another book because I have no idea who all these characters are who are being thrown my way and no idea of the backstories either. Usually, good authors give a little background as to what happened in a previous book if a scenario or character is being continued, but we don't see none of that here 🙄🙄🙄😐
The main reason I'm dnfing is the H. Good gawd, what a fucking pussy. He's the most negative, woe is me little bitch I've ever read. Cuz apparently he's seen as a bastard kid that no one in his family likes and he's the ex boyfriend of his brothers now fiance after 8 years. and I already hate when family members fuck the same person and you're saying in another book, the same girl fucked both brothers?! And the h in this book is the brothers new finances best friend?! So the h is fucking her best friend's ex boyfriend? Ew. No thanks
I'm bored. Thank you, next.
This seems to start off from the beginning of another book because I have no idea who all these characters are who are being thrown my way and no idea of the backstories either. Usually, good authors give a little background as to what happened in a previous book if a scenario or character is being continued, but we don't see none of that here 🙄🙄🙄😐
The main reason I'm dnfing is the H. Good gawd, what a fucking pussy. He's the most negative, woe is me little bitch I've ever read. Cuz apparently he's seen as a bastard kid that no one in his family likes and he's the ex boyfriend of his brothers now fiance after 8 years. and I already hate when family members fuck the same person and you're saying in another book, the same girl fucked both brothers?! And the h in this book is the brothers new finances best friend?! So the h is fucking her best friend's ex boyfriend? Ew. No thanks
I'm bored. Thank you, next.
November 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this one!
The plot, characters development, the chemistry, everything was in perfect proportions like wow!
Willa and Cole have a beautiful love story!
(however, i disliked Owen and Lila so much here, they were the worst)
Hopes: Jude and Magnolia 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 please be together and please be good
The plot, characters development, the chemistry, everything was in perfect proportions like wow!
Willa and Cole have a beautiful love story!
(however, i disliked Owen and Lila so much here, they were the worst)
Hopes: Jude and Magnolia 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 please be together and please be good
August 12, 2025
Cole’s story
Cole finally gets his story and while the first 2 books for me were ok (being honest) I loved this one! Finally a little more closure on the underline FBI case and this one has a plus size FMC that gives some honest dealings with how relationships are viewed. No not bitter, writer was speaking the full truth. Loved!
Cole finally gets his story and while the first 2 books for me were ok (being honest) I loved this one! Finally a little more closure on the underline FBI case and this one has a plus size FMC that gives some honest dealings with how relationships are viewed. No not bitter, writer was speaking the full truth. Loved!
October 28, 2024
axe-identally married | an arc review 🪓
4.25⭐️ | 4.5🌶
I really liked this one. It was wholesome, sweet and mysterious. willa and cole, seemingly incompatible bYt yet so perfect together. they were so precious. I do have some questions though... what happened to mila? or will we find out in the next book? while I sympathise somewhat with owen's trauma, he was a complete ass and i'm still not over that. I did love the girls on cole's team though. they were adorable. as always I loved the found family aspect. thank you to the author agency for the arc
4.25⭐️ | 4.5🌶
I really liked this one. It was wholesome, sweet and mysterious. willa and cole, seemingly incompatible bYt yet so perfect together. they were so precious. I do have some questions though... what happened to mila? or will we find out in the next book? while I sympathise somewhat with owen's trauma, he was a complete ass and i'm still not over that. I did love the girls on cole's team though. they were adorable. as always I loved the found family aspect. thank you to the author agency for the arc
January 8, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
November 9, 2024
Made for me in a lab. A former hockey pro/amateur lumberjack who is great with kids? Fake marriage that turns real because he falls first and hard for his competent professional curvy wife? Top-of-head kisses and realistically hot dirty talk? AND the author is a former lawyer who thanked Taylor Swift in her acknowledgements?! Spectacular, gimme 14 of them.
July 14, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️.5
Axe-identally Married is the 3rd book in the Maine Lumberjack series, and it was another cute romance set in the small town of Lovewell, Maine. This is only my 2nd book by Daphne Elliot, and I am really loving this series.
Cole is an ex hockey player and seen as the screw up of the Hebert brothers. He has gotten himself into trouble and is trying to find his way again after the loss of his hockey career. Willa has taken over for her father as the new small town doctor. They end up getting drunk together in Vegas during his brother's wedding celebration and accidentally get married. Willa freaks out because of her reputation, and she is not the biggest fan of Cole since he was her best friends ex. He was not the best boyfriend to her friend, but he wanted to be better for Willa. They decided to stay married, and they started to build a sweet friendship. Willa started to see how badly he was treated by his family and that Cole was a decent guy. I really enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship, and they had amazing chemistry.
I loved how sweet and supportive Cole was. I just wanted him to have more love for himself. I also appreciated that Willa was a curvy heroine who didn't obsess over her body, and Cole loved all her curves. This was another sweet book in this series.
🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
This audiobook had duet narration by Stephen Dexter and Ava Lucas. Stephen Dexter is one of my favorite male narrators, and I loved his performance of the sweet and misunderstood Cole. Ava also did a great job showing Willa's strong and independent nature. I love the audiobooks for this series.
Thank you to Homecooked Books for providing the ALC.
🌶️🌶️.5
Axe-identally Married is the 3rd book in the Maine Lumberjack series, and it was another cute romance set in the small town of Lovewell, Maine. This is only my 2nd book by Daphne Elliot, and I am really loving this series.
Cole is an ex hockey player and seen as the screw up of the Hebert brothers. He has gotten himself into trouble and is trying to find his way again after the loss of his hockey career. Willa has taken over for her father as the new small town doctor. They end up getting drunk together in Vegas during his brother's wedding celebration and accidentally get married. Willa freaks out because of her reputation, and she is not the biggest fan of Cole since he was her best friends ex. He was not the best boyfriend to her friend, but he wanted to be better for Willa. They decided to stay married, and they started to build a sweet friendship. Willa started to see how badly he was treated by his family and that Cole was a decent guy. I really enjoyed the slow burn of their relationship, and they had amazing chemistry.
I loved how sweet and supportive Cole was. I just wanted him to have more love for himself. I also appreciated that Willa was a curvy heroine who didn't obsess over her body, and Cole loved all her curves. This was another sweet book in this series.
🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
This audiobook had duet narration by Stephen Dexter and Ava Lucas. Stephen Dexter is one of my favorite male narrators, and I loved his performance of the sweet and misunderstood Cole. Ava also did a great job showing Willa's strong and independent nature. I love the audiobooks for this series.
Thank you to Homecooked Books for providing the ALC.
October 21, 2024
Overwhelmed by taking over the responsibilities of her father’s family practice due to his sudden deterioration in health, Willa is in Las Vegas on a coed long weekend to celebrate the engagement of her best friend to said bestie’s ex’s half brother. Willa has always been dependable, diligent, and nurturing, so while she’s pigeonholed as the chubby friend with the heart of gold, she finds herself in close proximity to the only other singleton in the group: the bride to be’s ex longtime boyfriend and resident failson. In typical Willa fashion, she connects with him as a human being who happened to make some poor choices after dealing with scandal and disappointment. On an uncharacteristically wild night, the intoxicated pair paint the town red and end up bound to each other at least for the immediate near future.
Having never felt equal to his five half siblings since his parentage was revealed in a traumatic way, Cole is trying to figure out his place in the world after his career ended. He’s proven himself a wonderful coach in his small Maine town, but many of its denizens still expect nothing good out of him. When voluptuous and incredibly kind Willa is left with him on the fringes of events around the engagement party, the duo decide to have a big night on the town experiencing as much of Sin City’s enticements they can stand.
The next morning, however, brings a sobering consequence to light. What happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas, their misdeed broadcast via social media for their entire hometown to see. To navigate the minefields ahead, they decide to keep up the charade upon their return, living together for a finite period of time. As they work together towards a solution, they begin to bring out the best in each other, and it’s not long before they realize their charade might mean something more.
This was a fun, messy, emotional journey for Willa and Cole. She’s been chronically underestimated by everyone except Cole, and he isn’t at all the screw up he seems. What might’ve been trite and too preciously written by a different author is endearing and a satisfying read.
I was fortunate to have been furnished an advance reader copy from The Author Agency and bookfunnel, and I’m happy to share my honest review.
Having never felt equal to his five half siblings since his parentage was revealed in a traumatic way, Cole is trying to figure out his place in the world after his career ended. He’s proven himself a wonderful coach in his small Maine town, but many of its denizens still expect nothing good out of him. When voluptuous and incredibly kind Willa is left with him on the fringes of events around the engagement party, the duo decide to have a big night on the town experiencing as much of Sin City’s enticements they can stand.
The next morning, however, brings a sobering consequence to light. What happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas, their misdeed broadcast via social media for their entire hometown to see. To navigate the minefields ahead, they decide to keep up the charade upon their return, living together for a finite period of time. As they work together towards a solution, they begin to bring out the best in each other, and it’s not long before they realize their charade might mean something more.
This was a fun, messy, emotional journey for Willa and Cole. She’s been chronically underestimated by everyone except Cole, and he isn’t at all the screw up he seems. What might’ve been trite and too preciously written by a different author is endearing and a satisfying read.
I was fortunate to have been furnished an advance reader copy from The Author Agency and bookfunnel, and I’m happy to share my honest review.
October 24, 2024
This was so much fun! I loved the unlikely story between Willa and Cole. They were true opposites in so many ways, but I loved how deep down they were connected in being a bit lost. I loved how they found themselves while also finding their way with each other.
Cole was such a 'my wife' guy and I'm here for it! I loved how he was all in but not in an overly obvious way from the beginning. I loved how he was working towards bettering himself for his own gratification as well as to show Willa the kind of man he really was on the inside. I thought his journey was so sweet and he definitely redeemed himself from his actions in previous books.
I also liked how Willa wanted more for herself without having a dismal and crazy backstory. Wanting to meet your parents expectations happens for all kinds of people, even those who look like they have it all. I loved how she learned so much from her dad about what she did and did not want and how she made that work in her every day life. She was a great MFC and I loved her!!
Overall, these stories are a blast to read and go by too quickly!! Daphne's writing style is wonderful and fun. It's the perfect amount of casual with a fast pace that keeps the story moving well. I love her characters and the setting of Lovewell, Maine so much!
Cole was such a 'my wife' guy and I'm here for it! I loved how he was all in but not in an overly obvious way from the beginning. I loved how he was working towards bettering himself for his own gratification as well as to show Willa the kind of man he really was on the inside. I thought his journey was so sweet and he definitely redeemed himself from his actions in previous books.
I also liked how Willa wanted more for herself without having a dismal and crazy backstory. Wanting to meet your parents expectations happens for all kinds of people, even those who look like they have it all. I loved how she learned so much from her dad about what she did and did not want and how she made that work in her every day life. She was a great MFC and I loved her!!
Overall, these stories are a blast to read and go by too quickly!! Daphne's writing style is wonderful and fun. It's the perfect amount of casual with a fast pace that keeps the story moving well. I love her characters and the setting of Lovewell, Maine so much!
October 15, 2024
Wow! Cole is 100% the “My Wife” guy and I absolutely loved it! I’m pretty sure everytime I read a Daphne Elliot book I say I love it so much and it’s my new favourite, I swear she’s putting something magical in these books because I’m obsessed!
We get more mystery in the complicated revelations of the Hebert’s father! But we got so much more of Cole and god I love him so much! We don’t get to see the side that we did in this book in any of the previous books and I loved being able to see his gooey side alongside Willa!
Willa is a badass and I loved seeing how fierce she is with protecting her husband! Like from like Chapter 4 she’s full blown in protective mode over Cole and it’s just amazing to see! She’s also a badass doc who is just trying her best not to overwork and prioritise her health and well being!
Cole and Willa bring out the best in each other and I am so glad I got to read about them both growing as a couple but also as individuals! And I just want more and more snippets of them! I loved that we got more Jude brotherly talks and the fact he was rooting for Cole is just amazing! I cannot wait for more snippets and for Noah’s book next! I cannot wait to see what Daphne Elliot has up her sleeve for us next!!
We get more mystery in the complicated revelations of the Hebert’s father! But we got so much more of Cole and god I love him so much! We don’t get to see the side that we did in this book in any of the previous books and I loved being able to see his gooey side alongside Willa!
Willa is a badass and I loved seeing how fierce she is with protecting her husband! Like from like Chapter 4 she’s full blown in protective mode over Cole and it’s just amazing to see! She’s also a badass doc who is just trying her best not to overwork and prioritise her health and well being!
Cole and Willa bring out the best in each other and I am so glad I got to read about them both growing as a couple but also as individuals! And I just want more and more snippets of them! I loved that we got more Jude brotherly talks and the fact he was rooting for Cole is just amazing! I cannot wait for more snippets and for Noah’s book next! I cannot wait to see what Daphne Elliot has up her sleeve for us next!!
October 29, 2024
This is my new favorite of the Maine Lumberjacks! Each book gets better and better (which is something since books 1 and 2 were lovely).
Cole is a man lost. He is a former hockey player who only knows hockey and making huge mistakes. He's in the middle of completing some community service and living with his dads ex-wife. He's honestly kinda lost. He's also always felt like he was on the outside looking in when it comes to his brothers. And now he's married. To his ex's best friend. Married in Vegas while on vacation to celebrate the engagement of said ex.
Willa is feeling a little lost, too. Her dad's recovery has made her plans change. She's back in her hometown, a doctor. A doctor who's not getting everyone's respect. Too young.
When these get married, they decide to run with it. Instead of a mistake.... they decide to tell everyone that is not a mistake but intentional. Willa can help Cole in his next steps, and Cole can give Willa some more legitimacy with the town.
I loved this slow burn! They both build each other up in so many ways. Willa has some feels about her looks that Cole helps her with. Sometimes, we need someone else to point out that what we see is not the truth.
And Willa helps Cole on the next path forward after being so lost.
I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed Cole. He's had some weight on his shoulders from his dad and the distance with his brothers. I wanted to protect him too. I loved the way they supported each other and how close they got.
And that ending!!
Cole is a man lost. He is a former hockey player who only knows hockey and making huge mistakes. He's in the middle of completing some community service and living with his dads ex-wife. He's honestly kinda lost. He's also always felt like he was on the outside looking in when it comes to his brothers. And now he's married. To his ex's best friend. Married in Vegas while on vacation to celebrate the engagement of said ex.
Willa is feeling a little lost, too. Her dad's recovery has made her plans change. She's back in her hometown, a doctor. A doctor who's not getting everyone's respect. Too young.
When these get married, they decide to run with it. Instead of a mistake.... they decide to tell everyone that is not a mistake but intentional. Willa can help Cole in his next steps, and Cole can give Willa some more legitimacy with the town.
I loved this slow burn! They both build each other up in so many ways. Willa has some feels about her looks that Cole helps her with. Sometimes, we need someone else to point out that what we see is not the truth.
And Willa helps Cole on the next path forward after being so lost.
I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed Cole. He's had some weight on his shoulders from his dad and the distance with his brothers. I wanted to protect him too. I loved the way they supported each other and how close they got.
And that ending!!
October 17, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Ok these two are my favorite couple of the series so far!
Was it because Cole was a giant hockey player?
Or because this was his redemption book?
Or because the sad boy knits and chops firewood?
Probably all above.
Willa, the curvy doctor
The body struggles she talked about in this book were so real life.
And the way she stuck up for Cole 😭
Throw in the drunken Vegas wedding & marriage of convenience “my wife” trope 🫠
Small town Maine. Love it.
Arc review ✨
Ok these two are my favorite couple of the series so far!
Was it because Cole was a giant hockey player?
Or because this was his redemption book?
Or because the sad boy knits and chops firewood?
Probably all above.
Willa, the curvy doctor
The body struggles she talked about in this book were so real life.
And the way she stuck up for Cole 😭
Throw in the drunken Vegas wedding & marriage of convenience “my wife” trope 🫠
Small town Maine. Love it.
Arc review ✨
December 1, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
This was actually soo cute and now I need to go back and read the first two. 🥰
This was actually soo cute and now I need to go back and read the first two. 🥰
August 14, 2025
4.5 Stars ⭐️
September 17, 2025
This one was not for me. These characters just didn’t seem to fit right. I wish Cole had had more development in the background before getting his book.
October 29, 2024
ARC Review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 Stars! I loved this book and couldn't get enough of Cole and Willa. This is my first by Daphne Elliot and I love her style of writing so much. I wish I found her sooner and cannot wait to continue with this series to learn more about the other characters.
💍Marriage of Convenience
💋 Plus size FMC
👀 Best Friend's Ex
🖤 Good girl X Bad boy
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 Stars! I loved this book and couldn't get enough of Cole and Willa. This is my first by Daphne Elliot and I love her style of writing so much. I wish I found her sooner and cannot wait to continue with this series to learn more about the other characters.
💍Marriage of Convenience
💋 Plus size FMC
👀 Best Friend's Ex
🖤 Good girl X Bad boy
November 14, 2024
i tried
November 1, 2024
Title: Axe-identally Married (The Maine Lumberjacks Book 3)
Author: Daphne Elliot
Hero/Heroine: Cole & Willa
What to Expect: Vegas Wedding, Marriage of Convenience, He Falls First, Opposites Attract, Spice Lessons, Ex Hockey Player MMC, Doctor FMC,
tw/cw: body image issues, side character who suffered a stroke, mention of drugging, mention of parental abuse,
✨what I liked ✨
You know someone is a fantastic writer when they can take a character who you thought was a bit of a twat initially, and make you fall completely in love with them. Daphne Elliot did this with Cole. In the previous books, I thought he was a layabout who constantly felt sorry for himself, however I saw a whole other side to his character in Axe-identally Married and I was shooketh. My favourite hero by far that this author has written.
I adored both of the main characters in this book; Cole and Willa seemed to work so well together right from the off, despite their somewhat questionable beginning. I couldn’t get enough of them, both as separate characters and as a couple. Willa was fierce, smart and unbelievably loyal; Cole was loving, supportive and so emotionally mature, I just wanted to give him the biggest hug… and also climb that 6 foot 7 lumberjack like a tree, no pun intended.
These two characters constantly went to battle for each other, especially Willa when she goes toe to toe with Owen. Absolute queen. I also loved the fact that Cole was on a journey of growth and healing, determined to mend his relationship with his brothers and be a good enough husband to Willa.
I could go on for days about this book, however I’ll save some time and say head to your nearest retailer and purchase/download this whole series, you won’t regret it.
✨ what I didn’t like ✨
Chief Souza. Massive dickhead.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this to read. This is my honest review.
✨overall thoughts: straight up one of my favourites from this author
✨ 3rd act break up: no
✨ heat level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨ star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Daphne Elliot
Hero/Heroine: Cole & Willa
What to Expect: Vegas Wedding, Marriage of Convenience, He Falls First, Opposites Attract, Spice Lessons, Ex Hockey Player MMC, Doctor FMC,
tw/cw: body image issues, side character who suffered a stroke, mention of drugging, mention of parental abuse,
✨what I liked ✨
You know someone is a fantastic writer when they can take a character who you thought was a bit of a twat initially, and make you fall completely in love with them. Daphne Elliot did this with Cole. In the previous books, I thought he was a layabout who constantly felt sorry for himself, however I saw a whole other side to his character in Axe-identally Married and I was shooketh. My favourite hero by far that this author has written.
I adored both of the main characters in this book; Cole and Willa seemed to work so well together right from the off, despite their somewhat questionable beginning. I couldn’t get enough of them, both as separate characters and as a couple. Willa was fierce, smart and unbelievably loyal; Cole was loving, supportive and so emotionally mature, I just wanted to give him the biggest hug… and also climb that 6 foot 7 lumberjack like a tree, no pun intended.
These two characters constantly went to battle for each other, especially Willa when she goes toe to toe with Owen. Absolute queen. I also loved the fact that Cole was on a journey of growth and healing, determined to mend his relationship with his brothers and be a good enough husband to Willa.
I could go on for days about this book, however I’ll save some time and say head to your nearest retailer and purchase/download this whole series, you won’t regret it.
✨ what I didn’t like ✨
Chief Souza. Massive dickhead.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this to read. This is my honest review.
✨overall thoughts: straight up one of my favourites from this author
✨ 3rd act break up: no
✨ heat level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨ star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 14, 2025
Axe-Identally Married written by Daphne Elliot
Format: Audiobook
Narrators: Ava Lucas and Stephen Dexter
Genre: Contemporary Romance
📖- 4.5
🎙️- 5
🌶️- 2
Tropes:
•Marriage of Convenience
•Friends to Lovers
•Best-friends Ex
•Plus Size FMC
•Professional Athlete x Doctor FMC
ALC Audiobook Review 🎧 (No Spoilers)
RADICAL TRUTH…! I am so in love with Cole and Willa. Their relationship was created by a fake marriage but grew into something adorable and real. They watched/played Jeopardy every night together, for heaven sakes.
Performed in duet, Stephen Dexter and Ava Lucas were amazing. Both narrators were new to me, and I absolutely loved their performances. Ava had such a strong yet feminine voice that had a warm feel to it matching perfectly to Willa’s personality. Stephen’s voice deep but soft, exactly how I imagined Cole to sound.
We witnessed their friendship blossom into the cutest marriage that you just can’t help but smile at. The towns strait-laced doctor and the black-sheep, retired hockey player most people gave up on, shows us that opposites do attract. Willa isn’t like the super models she has seen Cole photographed with. She is a plus sized woman who doesn’t have time for nonsense. She is intelligent and independent, making sacrifices for the people she loves. One of the amazing things about Cole is, he makes her feel beautiful and special and seen. He prepares her healthy meals every day and night, takes care of all the little things and supports her ideas for a better future in her medical practice.
Axe-Identally Married was cute, funny and exactly what I needed to listened to. I can’t wait to start the next book in the series.
Do I recommend? Absolutely
Format: Audiobook
Narrators: Ava Lucas and Stephen Dexter
Genre: Contemporary Romance
📖- 4.5
🎙️- 5
🌶️- 2
Tropes:
•Marriage of Convenience
•Friends to Lovers
•Best-friends Ex
•Plus Size FMC
•Professional Athlete x Doctor FMC
ALC Audiobook Review 🎧 (No Spoilers)
RADICAL TRUTH…! I am so in love with Cole and Willa. Their relationship was created by a fake marriage but grew into something adorable and real. They watched/played Jeopardy every night together, for heaven sakes.
Performed in duet, Stephen Dexter and Ava Lucas were amazing. Both narrators were new to me, and I absolutely loved their performances. Ava had such a strong yet feminine voice that had a warm feel to it matching perfectly to Willa’s personality. Stephen’s voice deep but soft, exactly how I imagined Cole to sound.
We witnessed their friendship blossom into the cutest marriage that you just can’t help but smile at. The towns strait-laced doctor and the black-sheep, retired hockey player most people gave up on, shows us that opposites do attract. Willa isn’t like the super models she has seen Cole photographed with. She is a plus sized woman who doesn’t have time for nonsense. She is intelligent and independent, making sacrifices for the people she loves. One of the amazing things about Cole is, he makes her feel beautiful and special and seen. He prepares her healthy meals every day and night, takes care of all the little things and supports her ideas for a better future in her medical practice.
Axe-Identally Married was cute, funny and exactly what I needed to listened to. I can’t wait to start the next book in the series.
Do I recommend? Absolutely
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2025
I think Cole and Willa's story is my new favourite in the Maine Lumberjacks series. On the surface this is an accidental Vegas marriage of convenience, dual POV sports romance, between a former pro hockey player and a doctor but on a deeper level it is about two people who have always felt less-than bonding as friends and developing deeper feelings as they fake a relationship to help both of their reputations in a small town.
Throw in a bit of suspense, lots of body positivity and TONS of spicy open door moments and this just made my day. It was also excellent on audio narrated by Stephen Dexter and Ava Lucas. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Mary Warren or Kayla Grosse. Many thanks to @homecookedbooks for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Throw in a bit of suspense, lots of body positivity and TONS of spicy open door moments and this just made my day. It was also excellent on audio narrated by Stephen Dexter and Ava Lucas. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Mary Warren or Kayla Grosse. Many thanks to @homecookedbooks for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
March 9, 2025
Redemption arc incoming...
Ku Read 370 Pages
Small Town Romance
Vegas Wedding
Marriage of Convenience
Forbidden love (Ex's best friend)
Curvy FMC
Cole and Willas story started at the end of the last book. We find out how their surprise Vegas wedding came about and why they continued with their marriage once they got home.
The pair strike up an I expected friendship when living together that obviously blooms into something more as they both develop a real deep friendship and then a true relationship. Cole has never had someone believe in him like Willa does and in turn she has never had anyone take care of her like Cole has.
Ku Read 370 Pages
Small Town Romance
Vegas Wedding
Marriage of Convenience
Forbidden love (Ex's best friend)
Curvy FMC
Cole and Willas story started at the end of the last book. We find out how their surprise Vegas wedding came about and why they continued with their marriage once they got home.
The pair strike up an I expected friendship when living together that obviously blooms into something more as they both develop a real deep friendship and then a true relationship. Cole has never had someone believe in him like Willa does and in turn she has never had anyone take care of her like Cole has.
October 27, 2024
I loved this book, Cole and Willa! These 2 characters balanced each other so well. Cole brought the comfort, care & calm Willa needed and she brought the confidence and encouragement he needed. My only complaint was that his fathers arrest was mentioned several times but it never said what it was for, even though it’s still have an affect on the town, Cole and his brothers. I get this was probably part of the story in an earlier book but it would have been nice to know for us new readers.
Overall loved!
Overall loved!
October 18, 2024
cole was such a surprise to me and seeing his character growth and finally getting to his story through his eyes instead of the eyes of his half brothers (who i love dearly—especially gus my hands down fav lumberjack and he does no wrong to me 🤭 but seriously- cole get behind me rn 🤺🤺) was such a breath of fresh air.
the storyline
Willa (h) has always been on the path of success. A good girl through and through, so when she wakes up after a celebration in Vegas married to her best friend’s ex boyfriend she does what any normal person does. she panics. Cole Hebert has been lost for awhile now. After a career ending injury and a family of half-brothers who—for most of them—he’s never felt “in” with, he’s pretty much on a path of recovery alone. But when he finds himself married to Willa he slowly begins to recognize that it might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to him..
this book was a fun read! not too long but not too short so it makes for some perfect light reading with some mystery to go along with it.
more detailed RTC because i have many things to say ahaha 🪓
some tropes
🪓 marriage of convenience
🪓 best friend’s ex boyfriend (she’s long moved on and married)
🪓 small town
🪓 he falls first
thank you so much daphne for personally sending me your ARC today after i didn’t sign up for it cause i thought my midterms would interfere <3 😭😭
the storyline
Willa (h) has always been on the path of success. A good girl through and through, so when she wakes up after a celebration in Vegas married to her best friend’s ex boyfriend she does what any normal person does. she panics. Cole Hebert has been lost for awhile now. After a career ending injury and a family of half-brothers who—for most of them—he’s never felt “in” with, he’s pretty much on a path of recovery alone. But when he finds himself married to Willa he slowly begins to recognize that it might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to him..
this book was a fun read! not too long but not too short so it makes for some perfect light reading with some mystery to go along with it.
more detailed RTC because i have many things to say ahaha 🪓
some tropes
🪓 marriage of convenience
🪓 best friend’s ex boyfriend (she’s long moved on and married)
🪓 small town
🪓 he falls first
thank you so much daphne for personally sending me your ARC today after i didn’t sign up for it cause i thought my midterms would interfere <3 😭😭
July 14, 2025
4⭐, 2.75🌶️
This was a cute marriage of convenience romance! I enjoyed how Cole grows throughout the book to stand up for himself and repair his damaged relationships with his family. Willa is just sweet and the hometown girl and was just so lovable. Both characters youre rooting for! I wasn't OBSESSED with this book, but enjoyed it more than the previous two books.
💙Marriage of Convenience
🌲Small Town
💍God Girl x Bad Boy
💙Retired Hockey Pro MMC
Thank you Home Cooked Books for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
This was a cute marriage of convenience romance! I enjoyed how Cole grows throughout the book to stand up for himself and repair his damaged relationships with his family. Willa is just sweet and the hometown girl and was just so lovable. Both characters youre rooting for! I wasn't OBSESSED with this book, but enjoyed it more than the previous two books.
💙Marriage of Convenience
🌲Small Town
💍God Girl x Bad Boy
💙Retired Hockey Pro MMC
Thank you Home Cooked Books for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
October 28, 2024
This was a good redemption ARC for Cole Hebert. He was rough in the prior books but being with Willa really changed him and her. I loved how their love story developed and how they truly did balance each other out. Both Cole and Willa had insecurities about themselves but they were there for each other. It was a different kind of love story but I throughly enjoyed it. Willa was badass and took no shit and defended Cole to anyone who treated him poorly for his past mistakes, I admired that about her. Cole did the same and made sure she knew she was sexy as hell despite being plus sized because Willa was also insecure about her body. Cole made damn sure she knew she was beautiful inside and out. The spice was spicing and I also liked the little thriller aspect to this book. Overall I enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next book in the series!
November 13, 2024
This is my first Daphne Elliot book and like I’ve been very pleased to say about a number of new to me authors lately, it’s not going to be my last. It’s the third book in the series and I gather at least one couple were in a previous series so I was a bit lost at times but that didn’t keep me from enjoying the story.
If I were given only one word to describe this book it would be sweet. Now for me sweet is not always a positive thing. If I read an overly sweet book it’s not something I enjoy. But this is the perfect sweet.
Cole is our hero. Apparently he is the youngest son of a real nasty guy and he was the product of an affair his father had with his secretary. So he was never really accepted by his older brothers. On top of that his mother abandoned him with his vile father. Early on Cole showed an aptitude for hockey, however his father for years sucked all the joy out of the game for Cole. He did make it to the NHL but he had a career ending injury. Much of this is told at the beginning of the story and some throughout. But because of the life he lived, Cole never really experienced love and his life was pretty sad and lonely. All of this is to say Cole had my heart from the veery beginning. He reminded me of one of my all time favourite heroes from one of my all time favourite books, Will Parker from Morning Glory by Lavryle Spencer.
I also completely adored Willa, the heroine. She is a country doctor who unexpectedly took over her physician father’s practice when he suffered a stroke. She is a plus sized heroine. I don’t usually read romance books with plus sized heroines, I think it’s too close to home. I read a few in my earlier days of romance reading and the authors just never ‘got’ and I ended up getting very angry. But with this book Daphne Elliot does a wonderful job with Willa. She is successful and beautiful but struggles with her self perception. I can so relate to this. I struggle between thinking positively about myself and at others a huge helping of self loathing.
After giving my thoughts on the hero and heroine, it might help if I say a bit about the storyline. Cole and Willa are in Las Vegas with the same group. Her best friend is marrying Cole oldest brother. What makes this a bit different is her best friend and Cole were a couple themselves through most of high school and Cole was NOT one of her favourite people because of the way he treated her bestie. The brother and the besties story is told in a previous book I haven’t read, (this one being my first). But despite this Cole and Willa find themselves going off together as both were feeling a bit lost. Much to their surprise, they had a good time, drank way too much and ended up getting married. After some discussion the next morning, they decided to stay married for six months ago before quietly going for an annulment.
What I truly loved about this story is they TALKED to each other and became dear friends. And Cole found Willa gorgeous and was very attracted to her. But because of her own body positivity and previous experience, she couldn’t see it. For her part, because they talk and Cole is very honest about his past, what she sees is someone who’s basically good but up until now hasn’t really had it easy but really wants to become a better person. Besides becoming friends, they both have a great deal of admiration for the other.
Like previous recent books I’ve read, I got this one on KU but plan to buy my own copy cause even though I just finished this book, I want to reread it again. But before I do I think I’ll at least read the first two books just to get a clearer picture of Cole and Willa before getting back to them. It almost pose without saying that this book gets a string recommendation.
If I were given only one word to describe this book it would be sweet. Now for me sweet is not always a positive thing. If I read an overly sweet book it’s not something I enjoy. But this is the perfect sweet.
Cole is our hero. Apparently he is the youngest son of a real nasty guy and he was the product of an affair his father had with his secretary. So he was never really accepted by his older brothers. On top of that his mother abandoned him with his vile father. Early on Cole showed an aptitude for hockey, however his father for years sucked all the joy out of the game for Cole. He did make it to the NHL but he had a career ending injury. Much of this is told at the beginning of the story and some throughout. But because of the life he lived, Cole never really experienced love and his life was pretty sad and lonely. All of this is to say Cole had my heart from the veery beginning. He reminded me of one of my all time favourite heroes from one of my all time favourite books, Will Parker from Morning Glory by Lavryle Spencer.
I also completely adored Willa, the heroine. She is a country doctor who unexpectedly took over her physician father’s practice when he suffered a stroke. She is a plus sized heroine. I don’t usually read romance books with plus sized heroines, I think it’s too close to home. I read a few in my earlier days of romance reading and the authors just never ‘got’ and I ended up getting very angry. But with this book Daphne Elliot does a wonderful job with Willa. She is successful and beautiful but struggles with her self perception. I can so relate to this. I struggle between thinking positively about myself and at others a huge helping of self loathing.
After giving my thoughts on the hero and heroine, it might help if I say a bit about the storyline. Cole and Willa are in Las Vegas with the same group. Her best friend is marrying Cole oldest brother. What makes this a bit different is her best friend and Cole were a couple themselves through most of high school and Cole was NOT one of her favourite people because of the way he treated her bestie. The brother and the besties story is told in a previous book I haven’t read, (this one being my first). But despite this Cole and Willa find themselves going off together as both were feeling a bit lost. Much to their surprise, they had a good time, drank way too much and ended up getting married. After some discussion the next morning, they decided to stay married for six months ago before quietly going for an annulment.
What I truly loved about this story is they TALKED to each other and became dear friends. And Cole found Willa gorgeous and was very attracted to her. But because of her own body positivity and previous experience, she couldn’t see it. For her part, because they talk and Cole is very honest about his past, what she sees is someone who’s basically good but up until now hasn’t really had it easy but really wants to become a better person. Besides becoming friends, they both have a great deal of admiration for the other.
Like previous recent books I’ve read, I got this one on KU but plan to buy my own copy cause even though I just finished this book, I want to reread it again. But before I do I think I’ll at least read the first two books just to get a clearer picture of Cole and Willa before getting back to them. It almost pose without saying that this book gets a string recommendation.
July 10, 2025
I’ve wanted to read this series for awhile. If you know me, you know I love a good punny title, and these have some of my favorites so far. I got the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this before it came out thanks to Home Cooked Audiobook tours and definitely feel I will need to go back to get the other two to read at some point as well after listening to this one.
Cole and Lila were a great couple. Both had their own issues, but the other stood up for them and helped them to realize that those issues could be and should be put behind them so they could move on. I got so mad at how Cole’s brothers treated him! Especially Owen. I haven’t read his book, which I think is the first in the series, but right now I’m not a fan of him. Maybe I’d feel differently if I’d already read his story first. Willa had a lot to deal with as well, although hers was from exes and not her family as it seemed it might be at first.
She’d been dealing with her father’s health and having to come back to run the medical practice while he was getting better. So that totally put a damper on how she’d seen her career going. Yes she’d planned to eventually take over his practice, but she’d thought she would get experience in other types of medical fields, less being the ONLY doctor. While occasionally people would allude to her being the “good girl” that didn’t necessarily show up to me as a big part of her personality, other than she herself feeling she needed to do everything right.
Cole had so many issues with his family. He was the bastard son of the father of all these other brothers. What I loved is how the mother of his brothers was such a kind and caring woman, taking him into her family. How she knew it wasn’t his fault what his father had done to her and her family. That is the kind of person you have to love. So because of how his brothers treated him though, he had a lot of self-confidence issues. But I loved how Willa came to bat and got angry for him every time his brothers said anything to him that way.
Obviously the two characters had a connection and ended up being perfect for each other. This was almost a sports romance as Cole was a former pro-hockey player. There was a mystery that seems to probably flow through the whole series with Cole’s family, and I like that the ending of this had the drama from that instead of a third act break up. I’m definitely interested in reading more of the series for that, as well as for other couples that we are meeting or have met before.
I did have a little issue with some of the steamy bits. At times some of the things they said or the way it was phrased made me cringe a little.
The narration was good though, I liked both of the narrators and thought they did a great job bringing the characters to life. I’m scheduled to review an audiobook next month of another one in the series, I think maybe #5? But I look forward to coming back to this world!
Cole and Lila were a great couple. Both had their own issues, but the other stood up for them and helped them to realize that those issues could be and should be put behind them so they could move on. I got so mad at how Cole’s brothers treated him! Especially Owen. I haven’t read his book, which I think is the first in the series, but right now I’m not a fan of him. Maybe I’d feel differently if I’d already read his story first. Willa had a lot to deal with as well, although hers was from exes and not her family as it seemed it might be at first.
She’d been dealing with her father’s health and having to come back to run the medical practice while he was getting better. So that totally put a damper on how she’d seen her career going. Yes she’d planned to eventually take over his practice, but she’d thought she would get experience in other types of medical fields, less being the ONLY doctor. While occasionally people would allude to her being the “good girl” that didn’t necessarily show up to me as a big part of her personality, other than she herself feeling she needed to do everything right.
Cole had so many issues with his family. He was the bastard son of the father of all these other brothers. What I loved is how the mother of his brothers was such a kind and caring woman, taking him into her family. How she knew it wasn’t his fault what his father had done to her and her family. That is the kind of person you have to love. So because of how his brothers treated him though, he had a lot of self-confidence issues. But I loved how Willa came to bat and got angry for him every time his brothers said anything to him that way.
Obviously the two characters had a connection and ended up being perfect for each other. This was almost a sports romance as Cole was a former pro-hockey player. There was a mystery that seems to probably flow through the whole series with Cole’s family, and I like that the ending of this had the drama from that instead of a third act break up. I’m definitely interested in reading more of the series for that, as well as for other couples that we are meeting or have met before.
I did have a little issue with some of the steamy bits. At times some of the things they said or the way it was phrased made me cringe a little.
The narration was good though, I liked both of the narrators and thought they did a great job bringing the characters to life. I’m scheduled to review an audiobook next month of another one in the series, I think maybe #5? But I look forward to coming back to this world!
November 9, 2024
The larger crime plot didn’t really make sense bc I didn’t read the first two books but let’s bffr. I was not reading this book for the mystery. Cole was to die for and was OBSESSED
January 28, 2025
DNF at 278 of 390. I couldn’t force myself to finish this book bc I simply love myself too much
holy shit it was so bad. It should be illegal to use the word wifey as much as this author does. GIVE THE GROWN ASS MAN THE ABILITY TO CALL HIS WIFE SOMETHING OTHER THAN WIFEY
also cannot be read as a standalone bc author gives no clues or quick backstory to catch the reader up to speed from first two books
1. who tf was Debbie
2. Riverfest???
3. Wtf did their dad do?
holy shit it was so bad. It should be illegal to use the word wifey as much as this author does. GIVE THE GROWN ASS MAN THE ABILITY TO CALL HIS WIFE SOMETHING OTHER THAN WIFEY
also cannot be read as a standalone bc author gives no clues or quick backstory to catch the reader up to speed from first two books
1. who tf was Debbie
2. Riverfest???
3. Wtf did their dad do?
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