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!
Heating it Up
Red Hot Russians
Elizabeth Harmon
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release
Date: February 27, 2017
Publisher:
Indie
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?
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.
"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.
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.
Jen, thanks for hosting Heating It Up's release week party. I hope everyone enjoys Alexei and Nora's story
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