Enter to win and ebook of Pairing Off and $10 Amazon e-gift card
Turning It On
Red Hot Russians #2
Red Hot Russians #2
By: Elizabeth Harmon
Releasing June 29, 2015
Carina Press
Book editor Hannah Levinson couldn’t be happier. This “Nice Jewish
Girl” is ready to marry the man she’s longed after for half her life. When her
fiancé suggests they audition for Last Fling, a steamy new reality show for
engaged couples, she lets herself be swayed. Maybe she’ll learn a thing or two.
Vlad Shustov’s
fall from a once-bright career as a competitive figure skater was swift. Now
trapped by a shameful past and an uncertain future, “Vlad the Bad” strips for
cash. Joining the cast of Last Fling could earn him a fortune—or at least
enough to finally leave stripping. But to win the show’s prize, he must seduce
an engaged woman, something he can't even bear the thought of.
Hannah's not like
any woman Vlad's met before. Betrayed by the man she thought she loved and
relegated to the ugly-duckling role she’d worked so hard to shed, can she trust
there’s more to Vlad than meets the eye? With sleazy TV tactics shattering the
last shreds of the contestants' confidence, they'll have to believe true
happiness is not only possible...it may be looking right at them.
Hannah sighed and
shook her head. “I’m not usually such an emotional mess. It’s just this show.
This whole situation! Back there…” she flung her arm wide, in the direction of
the mainland. “I’m successful. Accomplished. I have a great job. I live in New
York City. Here, all anyone cares about is how hot I am. Or more to the point,
how hot I’m not!”
Vlad nodded sympathetically. “It’s TV.
Unfortunately, sex sells better than other good qualities.”
“Exactly! I can’t compete. I’m not
like those other women, and I don’t even want to be. But I have no choice. Not
unless I want to lose my fiancé to a scheming bimbo and have the entire nation
talking about what a pathetic loser I am. It’s humiliating.”
“You can always learn to be sexy.”
Vlad looked her over. “You’ve got the right equipment. All you need is to learn
to use it. I am around sexy women all the time. I could coach you. You
know…sexy lessons.”
“Sexy lessons?” She had to laugh at
that. “I’ve never thought of sexy as a learned skill.”
“It is, though. All about how you
carry yourself.” He adjusted his posture and the set of his broad shoulders conveyed
a confidence that was undeniably hot.
“And who better to teach me than a
guy named Vlad the Bad who takes off his clothes for a living?”
“As Uncle Ivan used to say, it pays
to work with best coach you can find.”
She laughed again, but didn’t
entirely dismiss the idea. Putting a little strut in her stuff held surprising
appeal. Yet what was the catch? A guy who willingly signed on for a trashy show
like Last Fling must want something. “And
in return?”
He thought a moment and Hannah
tensed, afraid of what he might ask. Then he gave a decisive nod. “I want you
to read my book. Not just query, synopsis, “sorry not right for us,” but the
whole thing. You don’t have to buy, but I want honest, professional critique of
how to make it better.”
Honest and professional? Yikes. What
would she say if the book was god-awful, which it likely was? He’d pinned so
much hope to it, she couldn’t bear to be the one to discourage him. On the
other hand, at least she would be gentle and constructive. And if it was good,
this was a chance to help him achieve his dream. She imagined taking the book
to her boss. Sales and Marketing would drool over this hot Russian male
stripper–turned-literary sensation. As would everyone else. And if it kept Jack from Robynne’s clutches,
it was worth the risk.
Vlad narrowed his eyes. “So do we
have a deal?”
A bit more certain,
Hannah laughed and stuck out her hand. “Deal.”
I love stories that give a fresh take on classic
themes, and feature characters and locations not often seen in romance. Give me
a lovable, if less-than-perfect heroine, a gorgeous hero with a heart of gold,
take them a little off the beaten path and I'm a happy girl.
I read a variety of genres-- romance to horror and
just about everything in between. I am a member of Romance Writers of America.
I have worked as a freelance journalist for a number of local publications and
am a contributing writer to Romance Writers Report.
When I'm not writing, I love to ice skate, bike
ride, hang out at the beach or on my front porch. I love vintage homes,
adventurous cooking, spending time with my family and traveling.
Thanks for hosting my TURNING IT ON blog tour! This book was a blast to write and I loved researching reality TV and incorporating behind the scenes details into the story. Because nothing on "Last Fling" is quite what it seems, I'll also share what I consider to be the book's theme song, "Life of Illusion" by Joe Walsh. I listened to it often as I was writing the book and thought about how going on Last Fling is the "pow-right between the eyes" moment that changes everything for Hannah and Vlad. Enjoy the song, and I hope you enjoy the book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tiOMu_Bf8Q
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting TURNING IT ON
ReplyDelete