Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 29th, 2015
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.
For more Red Hot Russians, don’t miss Pairing Off—available now!
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.
When
Hannah arrived at The Smiling Shark just before midnight, Vlad was
waiting on the love seat, his arm resting along the back; a glass of
wine was on the table. For a long moment, their gazes locked and
Hannah drank in the sight of him.
“Is
this what I’m doing to thank you?” she asked.
“Nyet,”
he said. “That, I’m still deciding. This is because seeing you
only this afternoon with your boys was not enough. Not after how we
left things last time.”
“I
didn’t like how we left things either. Especially since you might
go home after talent night.”
He
lifted his hand, inviting her to sit beside him. She settled into the
circle of his arm, the brush of his fingertips against her bare
shoulder making her skin tingle. Across the room, the bartender
smiled.
“Getting
eliminated wouldn’t be the worst thing,” Vlad said softly.
“Except for leaving you.”
“What
about the money?”
“Maybe
I’ve changed my mind about how important it is to win.”
Did
that mean he had changed his mind about trying to start a new life?
Though she was disappointed, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. He
hadn’t had a clear picture of what that new life might be, and it
was hard to walk away from what one knew. Without an education, it
would be hard for him to earn the sort of money he earned from
stripping. She wouldn’t demean him by suggesting that he ought to
“better” himself. Instead, she smiled and took his hand. “This
show has changed my mind about a lot of things, too.”
“Jack?”
Her
smile felt strained. “Once we’re back in New York, things between
us will sort themselves out. Being here has made me see that so much
of what I always believed wasn’t necessarily true. I mean, in
twenty-four hours, I’ll be tap-dancing on live TV!”
“Feel
ready for it?”
“I
think so. You saw me rehearse. What do you think?”
“I
think you move very well.”
“For
a big girl, you mean.”
“Not
at all. But you’re still not confident enough to look your audience
in the eye.”
“Can
you blame me?”
“You
have no reason to doubt yourself, and showing confidence matters. In
skating, the judges wanted to see we were not afraid to look right at
them. It is even more important for me now. Ever seen a stripper
afraid to make eye contact?”
“I’ve
never seen a stripper at all.”
He
blinked in surprise. “Really? Not even a fake cop dropping in on a
bachelorette party?”
“My
friends aren’t like that. We don’t get enjoyment out of degrading
people.”
Vlad
raised his brow. “Degrading them?”
She
winced. “No, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Sometimes,
it does feel like I’m a piece of meat, and nothing else.” His
voice was resigned.
“Vlad,
I’m sorry.”
His
touch reassured her that he didn’t take her comment personally. “No
harm done. Still, the fact you have never seen an exotic dancer
troubles me. I think we should remedy that right now.”
It
took a moment to grasp his meaning. “You’re going to strip for
me, here? Now?”
“If
you’re only going to see one, might as well be the best.” He
turned to the bartender. “Miguel, you don’t mind, right?”
The
bartended laughed. “Oh, no, senor, I don’t mind at all.”
“First
we need some music.” Vlad took her hand and led her across the room
to the jukebox, where he perused the selections.
She
was conscious of his strong hand still clasping hers. “What do you
usually strip to? Disco?”
“Depends
on the character I’m playing. I just did a routine to Lady Gaga’s
‘Applause,’ where I played a movie star. I’ve done construction
workers, cops, the usual. You won’t get the full effect though,
because I’m not wearing tear-off pants.”
This
sounded intriguing. “There is such a thing? Where do you get them,
Stripper Supply?”
He
laughed. “It’s just normal pants cut up and held together with
fasteners. Can’t be too tight though, or I’ll break out of them
too early.”
Hannah
shook her head. “The things you learn.”
“This
song’s good.” He fed money into the slot and punched a number,
then gestured at a nearby chair. “You sit here. And take out some
money. I don’t do this for free, you know.”
His
teasing wink made her laugh. “I didn’t bring any.”
He
grabbed a cocktail napkin and folded it in half. “We’ll pretend.”
She
took the napkin and settled back, imagining she was a customer at the
club where he danced. As she sipped her wine, he braced his hands on
the arms of the chair and whispered in her ear. “A private dance,
just for you.”
A
rush of heat spread through Hannah’s cheeks and her heart thrummed
wildly as she gazed up into his chiseled features and warm,
gold-flecked eyes. Deep within, the muscles below her belly tightened
and quivered. Her mouth felt dry, despite the wine. This was
unquestionably erotic, yet at the same time…safe. An experience
enjoyed by millions of women, though never her. Until now. The
sexiest man she had ever met was about to perform, and she didn’t
have to share this moment with anyone else.
Turning It On (Book 2 in the Red Hot Russians Series)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Hui3o5
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Ff5igR
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/1Ff5mNJ
Other books in the series:
Pairing Off (Book 1 in the Red Hot Russians Series)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1yCJiV0
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1DjBvjl
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Jvt6fy
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/1K5SklB
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.
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