REVIEW: Axe Backwards by May Archer (Axford Brothers #3)

- September 15, 2026

AXE BACKWARDS

Axford Brothers - Book Three

by May Archer

Release Date: September 15, 2026

Review

An adorably hilarious and also touching story between the Sheriff and the son of master criminals. What could go wrong? Especially when you throw in a friendly game of ‘heist’ with a neighbouring crime family, and a slightly unhinged ex.

I love Holden. The kind but stern Sheriff and Axford brother. He spends his whole life being helpful and respectable.

Now he’s pretending to be engaged, training for a ‘heist’, and finding himself enamoured with a family who are holding a big secret.

Merritt is likable and a bit messy. Struggling to create a life outside the family business, but also loves the chaotic bunch. Still wanting someone to have his back, to support him in what he wants from his life.

What may seem like an unlikely pairing makes perfect sense in the end.

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Synopsis

A fake engagement to the hot sheriff who escorted me to family camp? Weirdly delightful.
Failing to tell him that my family is a bunch of professional thieves? Small oversight.

I left the Callahan family business years ago. These days I’m a law-abiding citizen. A photographer who takes nothing but pictures. A man who’s learned not to get greedy for anything… or anyone.

But my family hasn’t gotten that memo, so I expect my week at family camp to be filled with guilt-trippy attempts to lure me back into the fold.

Until Holden Axford comes along… and everything goes axe backwards.

Winsome’s gorgeous sheriff was supposed to be nothing more than a one-night-stand. He doesn’t have a clue why I’m dreading this week, but he takes his protection game seriously. So when he thinks I need a rescue, he steps in and declares himself my fiancé… and I’m too busy swooning to argue.

Now Holden’s sharing my bed, stealing kisses like Callahans steal Rembrandts, planning a camp heist (for fun, obvs!), and charming my family of criminals.

Our motto is ‘Callahans don’t get caught’ but nobody warned me about catching feelings.

Unfortunately, secrets don’t stay buried forever. And when someone forces the Callahans toward one last impossible job, protecting the family I love means becoming the man I swore I’d never be again.

But if Holden learns the truth about my past, it’ll be goodbye fake engagement, goodbye sheriff… goodbye heart.

About May Archer

May is an M/M author who lives in Boston. She spends her days raising three incredibly sarcastic children, finding inventive ways to drive her husband crazy, planning beach vacations, avoiding the gym, reading M/M romance, and occasionally writing it.

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