HEATING IT UP
Download a new Red Hot Russians novella from RITA finalist Elizabeth Harmon!
In HEATING IT UP, a heart-warming novel of mistaken identity and forced proximity, widow Nora Bradford and Russian adventurer Alexei Zaikov must work together to save their small Antarctic town from being shut down—but will the truth about Nora’s role in Amity Bay’s demise, doom their romance?
Keep reading to get a sneak peek at HEATING IT UP!
Synopsis:
Red Hot Russian Alexei is king of the Ice…Antarctic style
Alexei Zaikov loves his life in remote Amity Bay, Antarctica, until a new luxury guesthouse threatens the small town’s future. As head of Amity Bay, he’s driven to save it, but first must discover who is hiding out in the supposedly deserted lodge…and why.
Nora Bradford has lost everything; a promising career and the man she loved. Glacier Ridge Lodge, the architectural masterpiece she designed but was denied credit for, seems like the perfect place to grieve her loss, until a ruggedly handsome Russian arrives on her doorstep, determined to bring her in from the cold.
Desire sparks, leaving them hungry for more. But will the truth about Nora’s role in Amity Bay’s demise, doom their romance?
Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords | Goodreads
Exclusive Guest Post:
Love On Ice
By Elizabeth Harmon
Readers love sports romance, and since Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Chicago Stars series kicked off the subgenre in the early 2000s, we have sports romances about all the major ball-chasing sports (yes, I know how that sounds., 😉 ) and just about everything in between. MMA, pro wrestling, cycling?
There’s a book for that.
Figure skating…not so much. Which in my book, was a shame. One of my all-time favorite movies is The Cutting Edge, and during the Winter Olympics, I watch every figure skating competition I can. I know I’m not alone in this. So that inspired me to write a contemporary romance set in this beautiful, exceedingly difficult and often dangerous sport. And while books and movies about figure skating focus almost exclusively on female skaters, I also wanted my heroes to be figure skaters. The real kind, not hockey players recruited at the last minute. (Sorry, Cutting Edge!) Because Russia has more than its share of talented (and handsome) male figure skaters, and I think Russian accents are seriously sexy, the Red Hot Russians series was born.
But I also wanted to venture outside the rink, and put my red hot couples in a completely new setting. Since my books are stand alone stories with recurring characters they can be enjoyed in any order, so if a reader is interested in something not-so-sportsy, like say, a sexy reality TV show or an Antarctica adventure… well, there’s a book for that, too.
I’ve discovered some great series reads because one story’s trope was my personal cat-nip. Since my series is designed for readers to jump in wherever they like, here’s a trope-tastic run down of the Red Hot Russians series.
Pairing Off– Disgraced American pairs figure skater Carrie Parker moves to Moscow, to pair up with smokin’ hot Russian pairs champion Anton Belikov. Together, they set their sights on the Winter Olympics, in a partnership that tests their loyalty to family, country and each other. Tropes: friends to lovers, fish out of water, disguise, forbidden love, tortured heroine, workplace romance, marriage of convenience, athlete hero and heroine.
Turning It On– When shy book editor Hannah Levinson becomes a contestant on a sexy reality TV show, she discovers that the man she thought she loved isn’t what he seemed, and that the show’s villain, former ice dancer turned stripper Vladimir Shustov, could be the one to help her believe in love again. Tropes: wallflower/bad boy, opposites attract, sex worker with a heart of gold, friends to lovers, tortured hero, fish out of water, show business, workplace romance.
Getting It Back-Athletic trainer Amy Shepherd agrees to help her ex-boyfriend and former Olympic medalist figure skater Misha Zaikov return to competition after a catastrophic injury. Can she help Misha reach for his dream, even though a new injury could not only jeopardize his career and their future, but also his life? Tropes: athlete hero, second chance romance, redemption, tortured hero, workplace romance, protector.
Heating It Up: A Red Hot Russians Novella– Widowed American artist Nora Bradford and Russian adventurer Alexei Zaikov must work together to save their close-knit Antarctic community, from being shut down. But with the truth about Nora’s role in Amity Bay’s demise doom their romance? Tropes: small-town, fish out of water, workplace, stranded, disguise, friends to lovers, opposites attract.
Enjoy an excerpt from my new release!
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Exclusive sneak peek at HEATING IT UP!
Copyright © 2016 Elizabeth Harmon
The first thing she noticed was that yesterday’s sad vulnerability was gone. Now his ice-blue eyes were flinty and determined as he strode inside. She remained by the door, hand on the knob, ready to show him the way out. Yet she sensed that sending him away wasn’t going to be so easy this time.
“You’re too late,” he said.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Fifteen years ago some New Zealander became first woman to winter-over solo. Maybe you already know that. Or maybe you don’t care, because we both know that’s not the real reason you’re holed up in here.”
She winced. He knew she wasn’t being honest, but not to what extent. Burdened by guilt and too deflated for battle, she sighed and leaned against the door. “You’re right it isn’t.”
“Nora..,” the gentleness in his voice felt like a caress. “Staying here alone doesn’t hurt Herbert Quinn, it only hurts you. And it hurts me too.”
“How’s that?”
“Because to keep you secret, I have to lie, not just to IFAR, but to the people who work for me. People whose trust I don’t take lightly. Staying up here not only puts you in danger, but also them. This what your brilliant boss forgot. Down here, people survive because they depend on each other. If one of the systems failed in bad weather, or you had an accident, computers and Vancouver would be useless. Someone would have to put themselves at risk, and come to help.”
Most likely, that someone would be him. Even with blizz lines strung, making such a trip could be life-threatening. Fear tightened her throat as she considered how it would feel to mourn another man she cared about.
“I know you’ve lost much,” he said. “And while I know losing a fiancé is different, I understand the hurt of missing a person I loved dearly.”
“That woman who lied to you?” she demanded, shocked and angry.
“No,” he said. “Not Natalia. I’m talking about my mother. For a long time, I felt like she was the only person who understood me. But when I came here to Antarctica, I found others like me and a place to belong. In time, the pain was not so bad. Up here all alone, you don’t have that.”
“No,” she whispered.
“Ask yourself if this is what he’d want for you. I don’t think it is. I know that if I was gone… and the woman I loved was left behind, this isn’t what I’d want for her.”
Her fingers twitched on the doorknob, and she thought of ordering him out, but didn’t. In her heart, she knew he was right. Even if she weren’t drifting through darkened rooms in a ruined wedding gown, she was teetering dangerously close to Miss Havisham territory. In the process, she was putting others in danger. The weather was turning, and soon the months of darkness would come. It was time to decide where she would spend them.
Praise for the Red Hot Russians Series
Pairing Off: A 2016 RITA Award Finalist
Pairing Off: “Very Enjoyable Book by a knowledgeable author about my favorite sport”—Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Turning It On: 2015 Favorites—Nelle’s Nightstand
Getting It Back: “Truly Magical”—Top Pick-Harlequin Junkie
Getting It Back: 4 Stars—Romantic Times
Getting It Back: Heats Up the Ice—Library Journal
Other Books in the Red Hot Russians Series
PAIRING OFF (2016 RITA nominated Best First Book!)
Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Books | Kobo
TURNING IT ON (Red Hot Russians #2)
Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo | iBooks
GETTING IT BACK (Red Hot Russians #3)
Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play
Author Bio:
Elizabeth Harmon loves to read and write romances with a dash of different.
A graduate of the University of Illinois, she has worked in advertising, community journalism and as a freelance magazine writer. She feels incredibly blessed to have a career that allows her to spend her days imagining “what if?” and a loving family that keeps her grounded in the real world. Her debut novel, Pairing Off is a 2016 RITA Award Finalist.
An adventurous cook, vintage home enthusiast, occasional actress, and entry-level figure skater, Elizabeth makes her home in the Midwest, where life is good, but the sports teams aren’t. She loves to hang out on her front porch, or at her favorite local establishments, enjoy good food and wine, and talk writing with anyone who will listen.
Follow Elizabeth: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | BookBub | BookLikes | Google+
Dear Agony,
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.
Ryder Rodgers had a plan.
New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines, and damaged heroes who we love to hate and hate to love.
About Lauren Blakely:
