These are cute stories. None of them are spicy and this one seemed to lack a bit of chemistry between the two characters. While I find it interesting having all the MMCs Russian, I am not sure how popular they would be now with what's happening in Ukraine.

"Heating It Up" is a sweet romantic novella set in Antarctica. Both main characters have been in pain, a different kind for each one, but they are certainly very hesitant. He is Russian and she is American and they weren't out looking for someone, but somehow, they ended up liking each other. Lonely places, cut off the rest of the world tend to bring people together.
It wasn't steamy and there were no sex scenes whatsoever, but the reader could understand the chemistry between those two.
Overall, it's a nice and sweat novella with potential.

Sweet and Steamy
This was my first time reading author Elizabeth Harmon and I will be reading more. I dipped my toes in the water with this read as it is not in my got to genre. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a short read but still steamy enough to warm you up on a chilly night and emotional enough to leave you breathless at times. The characters are well developed the setting was vivid and beautiful. I need the next book in this series.

I really enjoyed this story, it was a whole new experience for me since I've never read anything about Antarctica before. Elizabeth Harmon's words made me feel like I was there.

A fun & quick read with a very in-depth feel, wonderful characters and some saucy romance. A story I'd definitely recommend. ^_^

A short and sweet novella about starting over complicated by a mistaken identity, Heating It Up was an entertaining read. Alexei and Nora are sympathetic characters, and though I think this story could definitely have been expanded into a longer book that would have allowed us to get to know them even better, it was still easy to root for them to both get together and resolve their work problems. I did miss the ice skating theme (Alexei is the brother of another series character, though) but found the setting of Antarctica to be a fascinating one. Reading this novella has almost made me want to visit the continent.

Almost. Ask me again if we have another record-setting summer like the last one…

Rating: 4 stars / B+

A lovely little novella based in Antarctica. This is a quick and fun read that will keep you interested and really hoping for more but trust me, you will be satisfied with what you read. Hot Russian, Alexei Zaikov runs a small community called Amity Bay. He loves the cold weather and solitude living in Antarctica offers him. He's suffered a loss and likes his new simple life. When a development threatens to disrupt his sheltered life, he takes action.

Nora Bradford has also suffered a devastating loss. As she moves on with her life she becomes architect for a wonderful self-sustaining lodge, called Glacier Ridge Lodge. Nora's bosses refuse to give her credit for the design. Nora, being sweet, kind and quiet doesn't make any waves and allows others to get the credit for the magnificent structure being built.

It's not until Alexei decides to fight the development that Nora finds her voice. Both are attracted to each other and try to fight not only their attraction but the powers that be that want to destroy the quaint little village. Together can they fight a big corporation set on destroying their utopia? As each realize they can not fight their attraction will their past losses destroy what could be a happy future? You will want to read this to find out for yourself.

Four out of Five Stars! I would definitely recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys an interesting setting. I know that sounds "lame"... (do the kids still say that?), but this is my first book set in "The Ice", as it is called in Antarctica, and it was my favourite character. Yes, I said it, the setting was my favourite character. It manipulated the other characters to be where they needed to be, to do what they needed to do, and to react the way they needed to react.

That's not to say I didn't like the other characters, it's just that I really enjoyed learning about the Antarctic and what sort of things go on there. To be honest, I wasn't aware that there were camps hosting people who lived in the area year-round. Where have I been, right? For me, the best part of the book was the love these people had for their home, and what they would do to save it. Overall, this was an interesting read.

This novella romance takes place in Amity Bay, Antarctica and will certainly warm you up! Both main characters have suffered losses and are struggling to come to terms with their loss or to trust again. Alexei Zaikov is in charge of the small community and loves life with the mismatch of people and personalities living there, though as the ‘boss’ he feels it precludes him from any close relationships with the other residents.

Glacier Ridge Lodge is the new self-sufficient building in the area. It was designed by Nora Bradford who put her whole focus on making it the very best possible, a great distraction after tragically losing her fiance in a diving accident two years ago. Her boss, however, instead of living up to his promise to ensure she was recognised for all her innovative hard work chose to promote a male colleague who had actually hardly done anything towards the concept or building. When she challenged him about this, he immediately sacked her. Now she’s chosen to hide out at the lodge, but she hadn’t counted on the red hot Russian finding her. The attraction between the two is rampant but the lies force restraint. As the Amity Bay community, researchers and everyone else now face losing their roles because of her innovative design, will discovering this alienate him from her? Can love find a way?

I’d thoroughly enjoyed other books in this series and generally did this short novella too, as long as I suspended my belief that no way would the boat have left without finding where she was. They really couldn’t leave someone stranded in the Antarctic like that, I hope! I would assume some for of health and safety procedure would prevent it happening really. If you disregard that - it is a story, after all - then it is a story of resilience, overcoming what life has thrown at you to move on to a more promising future, keeping love and hope alive. I really want to know if they succeed in their endeavours discussed at the end of the story. It is these two aspects the caused me to lower my rating. It is still a great read and heartwarming romance in a cold climate. I would have liked an epilogue at least to share how things worked out - or there to be a sequel in the pipeline! I’m not sure if there will be on to continue this story, but certainly hope so.

Just amending my review within hours of posting it. The author tweeted me to say that a sequel is in the pipeline . . . that ups my rating to 4/5 - can't wait to read the sequel, I want to know what happens to this couple and the community!

Many thanks to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review.

Novellas tend to be tricky. They should be short but complete stories. The characters should be well fleshed out and their motivations should be clear and concise. There is very little room for extras in a Novella and maybe that is why I found this book a bit flat.

Heating It Up is a complete story, more or less. The main characters, Alexei and Nora, seemed a little bit wooden to me and I didn't find much heat between them. Nora's secret seemed dumb to me, and I wondered how she could stay behind without anyone noticing she was missing. (Don't they take some kind of head count before they leave? I would expect some safety procedures when leaving Antartica, including making sure you don't leave anyone behind.)

The storyline itself was just ok and parts of it just didn't ring true to me - not that I know absolutely anything about Antartica. I guess I just didn't feel like I ever really connected with the characters which made this just an ok read for me.

Elizabeth Harmon designs stories that are sultry enough to fight off the chill and emotional enough for the romantic in her readers. The previous novels in her Red Hot Russians series have border around the backstage life of skaters. From the heartbreaking failures to their triumphant returns, Ms. Harmon set hearts racing and hormones raging with her champions of the arena. Heating It Up is just as winning, but it's beauty lies in that it is more a story of redemption off the ice. Sometimes, it takes hitting rock bottom for a person to discover their inner strength. Nora has lost it all, her heart, her reputation, her career and the will to fight. Alexei, helps her find herself and let go of the past in order to conquer her future. Salvation can come in the most surprising of packages and Heating It Up is a great example of the power of faith and the strength of hope.

An enjoyable short read, both characters have recently experienced both pain and betrayal, in Alexei's case both together, which makes the reader feel sympathetic towards them. I liked the descriptions of Antarctica and the oddballs that you find living in 'the back of beyond' and the wording was such that I could 'hear' Alexei's Russian accent. However, I didn't really feel the heat between the characters and the ending felt rushed and unfinished. Perhaps there is to be another companion story/novella?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.