Playing for Keeps

Murphy Brothers #4

by Joanne Rock

In the competitive world of professional hockey, Axel Rankin hides a dangerous past. When filmmaker Jennifer Hunter arrives at the rink to go behind the scenes with the players, he has nowhere to hide his secrets - or an attraction he can't deny.

The pressure is on Jennifer to make a commercial documentary, her last obstacle to making the film she really wants to craft. So Jennifer throws herself into the new project, determined it will be a success. So why is the team's star defenseman constantly standing in her way? And why is she so incredibly attracted to the domineering Finn?

Axel Rankin knows he's been living on borrowed time during his NHL career. He sought a reprieve from the old motorcycle club back in Helsinki, and so far his former gang has let him build a new life in peace. But when a sexy filmmaker turns her spotlight on him, Axel knows he can't fly under the radar anymore. Jennifer's docudrama draws attention to him. Worse, it draws attention to her. Soon, he's forced to use all his defensive skills to protect her, battling old enemies to keep her safe.

It’s a red-hot situation that’s skating out of control, but Axel can’t think of a better way to go down in flames!

*an earlier draft of this story previously published by Harlequin as Her Man Advantage

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, Contemporary Romance, Hockey, Hockey Romance, Audiobook

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2012

About the author

Joanne Rock is a USA Today bestselling author of over one hundred works of popular fiction, including domestic suspense and romantic suspense. A frequent speaker at regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree in Literature from the University of Louisville and has taught fiction, film, and writing at the college level. When she's not writing, Joanne enjoys travel to gather new ideas.

Reviews

[Charlotte Mcfall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her man advantage centred around the ice hockey team 'philadelphia phantoms' our heroine jennifer reluctantly agrees to make a documentary about them. In order her boss Colin will allow her to make a documentary on cyber bullying a subject close to her heart. After her sister suffers bullying at school. Jennifer sees it as a means to an end and reluctantly agrees. Once on location she meets ex Finn biker bad boy Alex Rankin. They try to keep their relationship away from the documentary after being filmed kissing. Jennifer is warned that her documentary will be buried if the footage does not appear in the finished product.

The leader of Axel's biker gang trys to blackmail him as he wants out of the gang, threatening not only his safety but Jennifer's also. After following Axel and capturing the blackmail on live feed Axel is free for good.

The story is well written and the sex scenes were just enough for me. I was concerned that not knowing anything about ice hockey would take me out of the story, but i needed have worried.

It was Chelsea's story although she is a secondary character which peeked my interest and I feel there is a story in itself.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This pair had so much chemistry from the first moment we saw them on the page together. It wasn’t quite “hate at first sight”, but the antagonism was certainly there. Neither Axel nor Jennifer wanted to be a part of the documentary she was making, but neither could they refuse. These two were so cute together, but not as adorable as the secondary featured couple. Sigh! I give the author lots of credit for keeping me engaged when in the eleventh hour Axel and Jennifer went and did a couple of the things that drive me the most batty in romantic suspense. Axel made decisions for her “for her own good,” and Jennifer got herself into a very sticky situation through some “too stupid to live” actions. In the end, I loved watching the two couples in this novel come together and I can’t wait to see what it takes to bring the final unattached Murphy brother to his Happy Ever After.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Carol Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific romance! Axe is the most amazing hero, a Viking-type from Finland who happens to be a professional hockey player. And filmmaker Jen gets to tame him on the road, with all kinds of steamy encounters in the fevered sports atmosphere!

What really makes Joanne Rock special is that her secondary romances are always just as touching as the main couple. I thought Vincent and Chelsea were so original and real and I really wanted them to get together.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves sports romances, or steamy contemporaries!

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel and Jennifer’s Story . . .

Professional hockey player, Axel Rankin, had a rough beginning back in Finland that he tries to keep hidden. That becomes impossible when filmmaker Jennifer Hunter shows up to do a documentary that could reveal far more than he wants known. The two of them become very attracted to each other, but that may only add complications to an already difficult situation. His former motorcycle club back in Helsinki has not bothered him here in the U.S. But that is about to change. Can he keep her safe? Will his career be compromised?

[Sheryl C. Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yeah, i really LOVED this series!! Axel is HOT (well he is a hockey player) and y'all know i love me some studtastic hockey players! :)

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Double Overtime
Category: Passion
Audio Sample

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great job, Joanne! Proud to call you my buddy:-)

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in "Game On" box set.

Two-haiku review:

He's a hockey jock
She makes documentaries
How can they work out?

Major subplot, too
Almost like two novellas
Neither very deep

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't have cared less for Jennifer and Axel. The writing and plot felt like a pre-teen had written it, and some of the language used was downright odd.

The saving grace in this book was the Vincent and Chelsea storyline. I would have preferred an entire book dedicated to this sweet couple.

[Amy (amysbooksnthings) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was an easy read but kind of boring. I read this as part of a box set from the library/Overdrive catalog. I don't think this author is for me and probably should have skipped it as the summary was not that appealing. Lesson learned.

[Beverly Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very short book.

[Lisa Filipe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sexy men of the Phantoms Hockey Team are at it again. This time, Axel Rankin is having a hard time keeping his eyes and hands off of the fiery, red-head director, Jennifer Hunter, who is supposed to be documenting the team as they enter the playoffs. He needs to keep her camera's out of his past and out of his business, but her in his bed.

I really enjoyed Axel and Jennifer's story, not more than One Man Rush, but just as much. I really hope Joanne plans to write more of the Phantoms Hockey Team, I know I would enjoy reading about more Hockey Hunks.

Axel was the type of her that you can't help but fall in love with. He knows what he wants and works hard to get there. He had a rough childhood but overcame with the help of the Murphy family who took him in as a teen. I can't help but feel for a little boy who got mixed-up with some very dangerous people and now has the need to protect his "family" from any harm that can be done to them now.

I think some of my favorite heroines are Fiery Red-heads, Annabelle Granger from Match Me If You Can and Samantha Holland from Fatal Affair, just like Jennifer, they fight for what's right and are sometimes bull-headed when it comes to getting what they want, they will stop at nothing to get it. Jennifer has all those qualities and more, but she uses them for good or to help the underdog, even when they haven't asked for her help. She is a riot and with her and Axel together, you can only get sparks that FLY!!!

The small secondary romance between Chelsea and Vinny was freaking adorable and I wished we got just a bit more of them, but it was still enough to have me wishing I had a Vinny all for my own.

Joanne gives us another kick-ass romance with Her Man Advantage and I definitely recommend this to all of my Hockey-Lovin Readers. I just hope Joanne will give us more of the Phantoms in the future!!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book four in The Murphy Brother’s series and it is Axel and Jennifer’s story. Axel plays hockey for The Philadelphia Phantoms but there are things in his past that he is not proud of but he also doesn’t want them to be revealed because he had put the past behind him so when the head coach told them all that a film crew will be following them to make a documentary series Axel didn’t want any part of it but if he didn’t do it he would be in breach of his contract so now he will have to find a way to protect his foster family from the backlash that this will definitely cause and he would never forgive himself if anything happened to them after everything that they had done for him. Jennifer is a filmmaker and she had been forced into this assignment and wanted to do a good job so that she could make the film that she wanted to after that was close to her heart so she knew this one wouldn’t be easy because of celebrities and their egos. When Axel and Jennifer meet the attraction and chemistry between them was instant and strong but they both had a job to do and Axel had to try and keep his past from getting in the way of his career but in the end they were unable to deny how they feel about each other so they decided to be together behind close doors but the danger that Axel was concerned about has already arrived and Jennifer is now on their radar and it will take everything that he has to protect and keep her and his family safe regardless of what Axel had to do or the consequences that follow. This was a really great book that kept you on your toes while turning the pages to see what would happen next and what the outcome would be for Axel and Jennifer and I look forward to reading the next book in this amazing series.

[Romancing the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by Desere
Review Copy Provided by the Author


Joanne Rock has done it again in this nail biting read. A sexy as sin hockey player with a very rocky past is thrown together with a take no nonsense girl made this a fantastic read. The book had secrets and red hot passionate love scenes.

The overwhelming chemistry between Jennifer and Axel was like a burst of fresh and sexy off screen romance. I loved how the author did not shy away from sharing anything and everything with us. Joanne Rock brought together two unique people each with a different unique background that when brought together made for a explosive read with some truly mind blowing delicious situations and a whole lot of fun!

Joanne Rock has a fabulous manner of writing which I for one cannot get enough of as she incorporates little interesting sport facts that you do not learn by just watching the game. She goes behind the scenes and what I really loved about the book was that the author reminded me that those sexy sport stars we see on screen and on the field have lives and troubled pasts of their own and living in the spotlight is a whole lot of a heck more difficult than any us mere sport fans can imagine, and also that when they find true love it is not always ideal in matching up.

I recommend anyone who is a lover of sport and reading to grab a Joanne Rock book today!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Hunter is a documentary film maker who wants to make her mark with a powerful statement on a subject that is near and dear to her heart, but in order to make that she has to do a documentary on a hockey team and sports is something she know nothing about. It puts her in the path of intrigue and danger when she starts getting involved with one of her subject, star defenseman Axel Rankin, who does not want to be in the documentary. He has things in his past that brought him to the US when he was fostered by the Murphey family. And this will let people he does not want to know where he is back in his life and put him and those he loves in danger. And there was another danger he did not see, falling for Jennifer and keeping her safe. Would he have to give her up in order to do that...
This was a great story line. Jennifer and Axel were made for each other, even thought their lives and backgrounds would never have brought them together. The book was fast paced and keeps the reader turning the pages to find out what would happen next with these two. You also go a secondary couple in this book with Chelsea and Vinny, who's attraction plays out through out the book. You get two stories for the price of one. These Murphy Brother books just keep giving us more passion and romance with each story.
A must read for Joanne Rock fans.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Madison ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as part of the Game On Box Set: Time Out\Her Man Advantage\Face-Off\Body Check.

This was the second book in the set and it was good, not great. An NHL hockey team decides to let a producer make a tv series documentary giving an inside look into the hockey players lives. This little documentary throws a wrench into Axel's life since he has a past in Finland as a kid/teenager in a motorcycle gang and he thinks the added publicity will put him back onto the gangs radar. Already this was a bit weird...a superstar sports player with lots of endorsement deals which, duh, means he's already in the public's eye will have added publicity? I don't totally buy that. Anyways, things get more complicated when he becomes involved with the producer and thinks that them shown together as a couple in the documentary will make her a target to his old gang. It ends in a pretty quickly wrapped up showdown with the gang and after only a few weeks of knowing each other they're in love and picturing happily ever afters. It wasn't a bad story but I'm hoping the next one in this box set is better.

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing for Keeps is the fourth book in Joanne Rock's series, The Murphy Brothers. This works fine as a standalone book and will definitely be enjoyed by those that like ice hockey romances, and also like a hero with a shady past.

Axel Rankin is an ice hockey player and is one of the Murphy brothers, he is a foster brother but a brother all the same. He is enjoying his enjoy and wants more than anything to keep his past well behind him. He made some questionable choices as a younger man and getting too much attention in his sporting career could lead to danger, of him and those that he holds dear. His world is turned upside down by documentarian, Jennifer, who poses a danger to his carefully constructed life.

Axel and Jennifer make a great couple. A man like Axel needs a strong woman who knows what she wants, what she needs and what she has to do. Their personalities compliment each other, this made them both relatable and also clear that these two belong together. What I also love about this series, and Playing for Keeps is no exception, is the emphasis placed on family and the bond between the Murphy brothers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Liz M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooh - I knew Axel's story was going to be good, and this did not disappoint!
Axel, originally from Helsinki, Finland, was adopted by the Murphy family. He now plays hockey with his adoptive brother, Kyle, in Philadelphia.
Jennifer is a documentary filmmaker. Usually she does films about social issues, but right now she's working on a story about the hockey team.
Axel knows that this exposure will draw the attention of the biker gang he escaped back in Finland. He figures that he'll show Jennifer around and keep himself off camera as much as possible. That plan backfires, though, when he develops a strong attraction to her, both because of her spitfire personality, and her social crusader filmmaking style. Unfortunately, that will make her a target when the gang comes for him, and he doesn't want to risk that.
Axel is a fierce protector, willing to give up everything for the people that matter to him. His story was so satisfying! And we got a little bonus romance, too, with his teammate Vinny's story, which was really sweet!
I was sorry to see this one end, but I can't wait to read the last book in the series with Danny's story!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable story about the Murphy brothers. This time the focus was on foster brother (and hockey player) Axel. When a documentary was being filmed about his hockey team, Axel wanted to avoid catching the attention of past associates who could spell a lot of trouble for him. But avoiding the filming was challenging with the intense attraction sparking between Axel and Jen, the documentary director. And the more their feelings grew, the higher the stakes if trouble showed up. This story included a little more action to it, which was a fun addition. There was also a sweet secondary romance between another player and a super fan/arena employee. In the series I have liked this book and the previous one the best because I have enjoyed the secondary romances in the books. They gave the books a little more story. I liked all the characters, but I was quite engaged by the secondary romance. Overall, the whole book was a good read. The story includes elements of illegal and gang activity, violence, homelessness, and threatened assault. This is an open door romance with innuendo and a moderate amount of moderate harsh language.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[S d V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, enjoyable read.

This book follows two couples throughout the book. One couple as the 'main' couple, and the other as a 'side' couple. At least, that is how I perceived it.

It is an enjoyable book. I just liked the story of the 'side' couple more. There was real potential to work that story out to the max. I really want to read that story and could be a tearjerker. I couldn't really connect with the 'main' couple. The story of the MMC was a bit too far fetched for this kind of story and the FMC annoyed me a bit. Also, when things were heating up story wise, it was all pretty quickly resolved. This was too bad, because you were thinking of settling in for a long, interesting read and then it was 'poof' over.

I did need to put the book down for quite some time because life got in the way (how rude of life!). To be honest, I didn't have much inclination to pick it up again, but that could be because the time in between was too long. I was interested in reading more about the 'side' couple, but not the 'main' couple.

So the overarching thing is that the book was a nice and enjoyable read, but needed some more elaborate plot and less easy resolve.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Man Advantage by Joanne Rock
This Murphy Family Saga is about Axel Rankin. He grew up in the Murphy household as a foster child. Everybody treats him like a true family member.
He is also a hockey superstar, best friend with Kyle and they have a stipulation in the hockey organization that they play together on the same team. He was born in Finland and does not want to be filmed for a documentary because of his past.
Jennifer Hunter is the camera lady who wants more in depth info about the players. He wants out because he's already too hot for her, he can't say no but he's going to try.
There is love in the air as Jen also films the groupies that travel from game to game and their romantic interests.
Hot steamy sex mixed in with travel make this an excellent read.
Have loved the whole series and was glad the foster child was also included as he's one of them.
I read these out of order and I never felt like I was missing something. You can pick them up, in my opinion and just read for the pleasure of reading and be right in the book.

[Vilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel Rankin, the adopted Murphy brother, and documentary Director, Jennifer Hunter clash from their first meeting. Axel is trying to avoid the spotlight and it’s Jen’s job to put all the hockey players in the spotlight.

As Axel’s motorcycle club youth encroaches on his world, he and Jennifer are throwing sparks off each other. Eventually, the sparks strike a flame that neither can deny, but Axel pushes Jen away to save her form his motorcycle ‘family’, yet she is too stubborn to obey him and ultimately makes the call that saves them both and frees Axel from his past and any perceived indebtedness to the club.

Vincent Girard, also a hockey player and Chelsea Durant, a Phantoms hockey fanatic with a troubled past also have a romance blossom in this fourth installment of the Murphy brother’s romances. Chelsea almost lets her harsh youth put a barrier between her and Vinny, but her best friend, Misty, helps her see that she is worthy of being with someone like Vinny.

Two happy endings in one story, who could ask for more when reading romance!!!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the dual points of view as Axel, a hockey player from Finland with a tough childhood (and a connection with a dangerous motorcycle club), is attracted to the woman producing a docudrama film about their hockey team. He’s unhappy to be on film, and protective of his team and adopted family. Axel expects his former motorcycle club to show up with threats and demands at any time. Jennifer is strong, independent and motivated to make the world a better place. She’s strongly attracted to Axel, while worrying about her career goals and her producer. Their romance moves quickly with heat, sweetness and some bumps in the road. At the same time, a romantic story is unfolding between Vinnie, a rookie on the team and Chelsea, one of the team’s fans. Chelsea is a sweet young woman with a heart-breaking back-story. Readers get four very engaging characters and two HEAs in this book! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel and Jen's story is the fourth book in the Murphy brothers series. You can read it as a standalone but it is connected to the other books in the series. Axel had a rough childhood but hockey and the Murphy's saved him. He plays hockey on the same team as Kyle (book 3) and is considered the sixth Murphy brother. Axel's sole focus has been on hockey until he meets Jen the fiery redhead film director that is following his team around to film a documentary on his hockey team. Jen doesn't want to do the series but her boss won't green light her for the film she really wants to do until she directs the hockey series. The attraction between Axel and Jen is hot but she's worried they're too different and Axel's worried his past could ruin everything for them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their insta-attraction will heat up the ice!
I’ve loved Axel’s character in the other Murphy Brothers books, but I truly love how he shines in his own book! I feel for Axel as he tries to stay on the down low of Jen’s documentary on his hockey team, but from the get-go that blows up in his face. I love how Jen makes the most of the documentary with her eye on the prize afterwards to do the film she wants about online bullying after experiencing it personally with her sister. Yet as the two heat up the sheets, Axel’s past becomes his present. Will Axel be able to get from under the grip of his old gang? You have to read to find out and will love Jen’s and his family’s role in it all!

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Axel doesn’t want Jennifer to film his team because he’s worried it will draw in bad guys from his past but he can’t help falling for her. She doesn’t want to do this documentary especially after she gets closer to Axel and but she continues because of the promise of how it can help her career. Vinny has been interested in team groupie Chelsea for a while but she treats the players like brothers and puts up emotional walls. They get close but she thinks her past makes her too flawed. When Axel’s past catches up with him he worries about what could happen to Jennifer in this steamy hockey romance.

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

If ice hockey is one of your favorite sports, you'll immediately realize that Her Man Advantage was inspired by HBO's 24/7: Road to the NHL Winter Classic. The sport is primarily a backdrop for the characters, Jennifer and Axel. I thought the story was fun and sexy.

I did find Jennifer amusing and I liked Axel's explanation for sexual chemistry. I also thought that the secondary characters were interesting. I didn't think the storyline about the Destroyers was necessary, but Her Man Advantage was likeable.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love hockey romances and this book was no exception either. It is written in third person, it has some spice too. Although I didn’t really liked that it had two storylines and four povs because as much as I loved Vinnie and Chelsea, I would’ve loved to get a whole book for their story too, separated from Jen and Ax. Overall, I really loved it, the characters were lovable and relatable, the story was amazing, it was sweet but also exciting. I would very much recommend!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5; 3 stars; B-
Narrator: Gabra Zackman

I didn't enjoy this book as much as book 1 of this hockey series. Two reason; I really dislike the 'break up with your lover to protect them' trope. And the second was, the narrator on this audiobook was not as enjoyable as on the first book. Her tone and pacing were good, as well as distinction between characters. However, she had an intrusive vocal habit which basically amounted to raising her tone at the end of many words and sentences.

[LaFleurBleue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite similar to the previous books, in the sense there are also 2 love stories in parallel, the overall length is the same, a short book, and the whole story takes place over about 10 days in this case.
The characters also were easy to like. However the conflicts and difficulties the characters manage to overcome are much bigger than in the previous book and their rather easy resolution did not completely convince me.