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Elizabeth Harmon
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Pairing Off (Red Hot Russians Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Elizabeth Harmon (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 188 ratings

American figure skater Carrie Parker's Winter Games dreams were dashed when her philandering partner caused one of the greatest scandals in skating history. Blacklisted from competing in the United States, her career is over…until she receives a mysterious invitation and is paired with the most infuriating, talented—and handsome—skater she's ever met.

Russian champion Anton Belikov knows sacrifice. He gave up a normal life and any hope of a meaningful relationship to pursue his dream. And he's come close—with a silver medal already under his belt, the next stop is the gold. All he needs is a partner. While he's never forgotten the young American skater he seduced one long-ago night in Amsterdam, he never expected to be confronted with their past…never mind share the ice with her.

When what starts as a publicity stunt grows into something real, Carrie and Anton's partnership will test their loyalties to family, country and each other. With only a few months to train for the competition of a lifetime, can they master technique and their emotions, or will they lose their footing and fall victim to the heartaches of their pasts?

96,000 words

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  1. Book 1 of 5
    Red Hot Russians
  2. Print length
    348 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Carina Press
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    February 2, 2015
  7. File size
    1.5 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"What really stands out is that it's clear that Harmon is a skating fan, and either has skated or has put in the work to know what things are: she knows the names of the jumps and the mechanics and clearly understands the facets of training that aren't just ice time...a very enjoyable book by a knowledgeable author." - Smart Bitches Trashy Books

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00PQJI7QE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Carina Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 2, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1426899508
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 5 ‏ : ‎ Red Hot Russians
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 188 ratings

About the author

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Elizabeth Harmon

Elizabeth Harmon

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A life long fan of cats, tacos and happy endings, Elizabeth Harmon makes her home in the Midwest. A graduate of the University of Illinois, she has worked as a library associate, a community college instructor, and as a journalist. When she’s not writing, teaching or talking books with library patrons, she loves to spend time with family and friends– especially when a good Chianti is involved. Her five-book Red Hot Russians sports romance series, is set in the world of competitive figure skating. The first book in the series, Pairing Off, is a RITA® Award Finalist.

Find her online at elizabethharmonauthor.com

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
188 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this romance book charming and well-written, with engaging characters and a fascinating Russian setting. Moreover, the story maintains a steady pace, and one customer notes how it transports readers into its world.

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16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book charming and enjoyable to read, with one describing it as a page-turner.

"...They are both wonderful, fully developed characters who have issues-mostly with their respective families- but found a way to work through them and..." Read more

"...But don’t be put off — this is well done version that feels fresh due to its international setting. She is American, and he is Russian...." Read more

"...engaging from the very beginning with well-developed characters and a nice, steady pace...." Read more

"...part was the CIA/KGB skate to the Bold theme; that was fantastically over the top and in your face for the haters on both the American and Russian..." Read more

16 customers mention "Romance"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in this book, particularly appreciating its Russian setting and fascinating portrayal of life in Russia.

"...I especially learned a great deal about the male partnership side of skating, which is usually ignored by many in the skating community. “..." Read more

"...This is a sports-themed romance, featuring a H/h who are competitive figure skaters with Olympic dreams...." Read more

"...I, of course, liked the romance aspect and the journey they went on to compete. I did not care for the over-the-top villain at the end...." Read more

"...I absolutely loved this sweet and sexy romance. Anton is my favorite kind of romantic hero; strong, sweet, and protective of the woman he loves...." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, describing them as great and likable, with one customer particularly appreciating the beta hero.

"...They are both wonderful, fully developed characters who have issues-mostly with their respective families- but found a way to work through them and..." Read more

"...The couple are both likable people you root for, both on the ice and off. Both have a bit of emotional baggage to add some drama to the tale...." Read more

"...Anton was very likable and a great partner for Carrie. He is super sweet and protective without being overbearing...." Read more

"...This book was engaging from the very beginning with well-developed characters and a nice, steady pace...." Read more

8 customers mention "Interest"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, with one mentioning how it transports readers into its world and another noting how it pulls them in from the first page.

"...was really interesting and not something I’ve run across in a romance before. Very enjoyable and interesting!..." Read more

"...This book was engaging from the very beginning with well-developed characters and a nice, steady pace...." Read more

"Loved this romantic read that explores cultural boundaries and the heart warming emotions that cross national boundaries...." Read more

"...isn't on my Favorite Ever list, but it's well-written, and transports you into its world...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting the author's expertise.

"...Overall, I did enjoy Elizabeth Harmon's writing and I can tell why it was nominated for a RITA...." Read more

"...This book isn't on my Favorite Ever list, but it's well-written, and transports you into its world...." Read more

"Realistic characters with an intriguing story line. The author knows her stuff." Read more

"Loved this! Beautiful writing, great characters. Can't wait for the next one!" Read more

4 customers mention "Pace"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting how the story moves quickly and flows easily.

"...from the very beginning with well-developed characters and a nice, steady pace...." Read more

"...they're all woven together in a way that feels fresh and keeps the plot moving along, though the romance itself is fairly slow-burning...." Read more

"...Read in one day, story moved quickly. I really enjoyed the author's description of Russia...." Read more

"Whoa romance! It's a keeper. Loved the characters and the book flowed very easily. Story in Russia, winter, food, people and love...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one mentioning the authentic familiarity of the foreign settings.

"...off — this is well done version that feels fresh due to its international setting. She is American, and he is Russian...." Read more

"...I loved the settings from different places in the world. Perfect for a weekend get away." Read more

"...skating...the striving and disappointment in sport...authentic familiarity of foreign settings and ways...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Blue Falcon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Figure Skating Centered Romance
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This review is of “Pairing Off”, book #1 in the “Red Hot Russians” series by Elizabeth Harmon.

    The book begins with a hook-up between a man and a young woman in Amsterdam. That hook-up will play a significant role later on.

    Seven years later, at the World Figure Skating championships, the American champion pairs team of Carolyn Ann “Carrie” Parker, the heroine of the book, and her partner, Cody DeWylde, are stripped of their gold medal due to a scandal. Humiliated, Carrie flees to Russia to become the partner of Anton Belikov, the hero of the book, a Russian pairs skater whose former partner of 10 years, Olga Zelenskaya, has joined forces with a new partner.

    When Carrie and Anton begin practicing, things don’t go well for them, and their coach, Galina Borisova, raises the possibility of replacing Carrie. This change does not occur; one that does, however, is Carrie and Anton changing their long program from Evita to a James Bond program, much to Galina’s dismay.

    As the book goes on, Carrie and Anton realize that they have much more in common than just skating, falling in love with each other and later marrying.

    Despite their many challenges, Carrie and Anton make their marriage a success and have their Happily Ever After.

    Upside:: Ms. Harmon did a phenomenal job bringing me as a reader into Carrie and Anton’s world; it wasn’t always pretty, but it was emotional. They are both wonderful, fully developed characters who have issues-mostly with their respective families- but found a way to work through them and find love with each other. I especially learned a great deal about the male partnership side of skating, which is usually ignored by many in the skating community. “Pairing Off” doesn’t have a Cinderella ending, which I was afraid it would and appreciate that it doesn’t. If Ms. Harmon is so inclined to not be chronologically correct, there is a young teenager in the book who wishes to be a pairs skater who would be perfect for her own book. Ms. Harmon appears to adopt from several sources: the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the "Cutting Edge" movie franchise, a little dash of the 2010-2014 television series "Make it or Break it" and Russian pair skating history.

    Downside: There isn’t a great deal to criticize here, but the Winter Olympics are being staged in PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018, NOT in Lake Placid, New York (which staged the 1980 Winter games). This may not bother other readers, and it didn’t bother me that much, but I found this kind of factual inaccuracy to be unnecessary. I feel Ms. Harmon could have devoted more time to focusing on the skating, which feels at times to be glossed over.

    Sex: A few love scenes that were fairy hot, especially the last one.

    Violence: Carrie’s father threatens Anton, but nothing more comes of it. Anton later hits Cody; I wish he had done more to the sleazeball! My sincere hope is that Cody DeWylde gets his much-deserved comeuppance at some point in the series.

    Bottom Line: One small crack in the armor doesn’t diminish the excellence of “Pairing Off”.
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  • AvidReader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Familiar tale freshly done with elite pairs figure skaters — he’s Russian, she’s American — with a bit of travelogue thrown in
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is my first book by the author, and it won’t be the last. This is a sports-themed romance, featuring a H/h who are competitive figure skaters with Olympic dreams. I’ve read the basic plot in other romances, and you probably have too. But don’t be put off — this is well done version that feels fresh due to its international setting. She is American, and he is Russian. Both have fish-out-of-water moments as the couple experience each other’s country — one of my favorite things about the book. The couple are both likable people you root for, both on the ice and off. Both have a bit of emotional baggage to add some drama to the tale. Another favorite aspect of the book is her getting used to living in Russia where they are training. Her experiences visiting tourist spots, trying to learn the language and culture, etc. was really interesting and not something I’ve run across in a romance before. Very enjoyable and interesting! My only complaint (a very mild one tho) was the couple’s road to love was very much one step forward and two back throughout. Still I chose this book because the Olympics are underway, and it made the story (and watching the Olympics) more fun.
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  • Jennifer
    3.0 out of 5 stars 3.75 STARS
    Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I picked up Pairing Off during an Amazon sale and was attracted to it because of the figure skating plot. I am addicted to the early 1990s movie, The Cutting Edge, so I had to read about a skating pair that ended up falling in love. I am also really into figure skating as a sport though I am horribly uncoordinated on the ice.

    The heroine of this book is Carrie Parker who was part of a pairs team full of high expectations. Unfortunately, her dream was destroyed when her partner (and boyfriend) was caught sleeping with a judge and she was forbidden from competing for the United States ever again. Figure skating is the only thing that ever made Carrie happy so she still continued to hold out hope for glory within the sport. To achieve her dreams, she needs a new partner and ends up being asked to work with Anton Belikov, a Russian superstar. Anton and Carrie decide to give this new partnership a try which is complicated by the fact that they were once anonymous lovers and there are new feelings starting to develop.

    I liked the fact that, in this book, the heroine is the tortured one with the past while the hero had a more stable upbringing. Carrie is difficult to like at first, but I believe that was by design so readers could understand how much her ex-partner's betrayal affected her. I came to admire her mental strength to keep going for her dream despite all the odds being stacked against her. Anton was very likable and a great partner for Carrie. He is super sweet and protective without being overbearing. He seemed to understand her issues early on and respected her hesitations.

    I will admit that I was not sure about the romance at the beginning due to Carrie's emotional baggage and the fact that Anton had a girlfriend. Thankfully, there is not cheating in this book and the love story actually doesn't start until the girlfriend is out of the picture which I appreciated. I felt like Carrie and Anton worked well as a couple. They are put in some difficult situations, but learn to trust and rely on one another.

    The first part of Pairing Off focuses on Anton and Carrie getting to know one another as friends and partners. There is a lot of detail about the rigors of figure skating training which was interesting. It felt accurate to me, but I am just an observer of the sport so experts may have to weigh in on the finer points. I liked the way that the story focused on their relationship moving from partners to friends before the romance kicked in. The second half concentrated on their love story and their attempts to get to the Winter Games. I, of course, liked the romance aspect and the journey they went on to compete. I did not care for the over-the-top villain at the end. They were in the perimeter for much of the book, but I didn't feel like the story needed their involvement.

    Overall, I did enjoy Elizabeth Harmon's writing and I can tell why it was nominated for a RITA. I am excited to try out the other books in the series. Long-time readers of my blog will know that I am very picky when it comes to contemporaries, but I have really gotten into some of the smaller press romances lately which makes me very happy. And Pairing Off is a good example of one that I enjoyed reading.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Gail
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book! There was something so likeable about the story and both characters. I finished reading a few weeks ago and think about it a lot still. I’m picky about writing and plots, but this blends both nicely without being bland or too contrived. A solid story and plot
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  • Jillian Maclean
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cute zstory
    Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    If you love a sweet sports-themed romance, this might be a great book for you. It is a cute, enjoyable read, perfect for a low key weekend.
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  • NP
    5.0 out of 5 stars A warm, touching read
    Reviewed in Canada on October 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A truly warm and touching story. And delightfully, without sexist elements I find common in stereotypical romance novels. The relationships are believable and the plot suspenseful enough to keep you hooked to find out what happens next. I was very satisfied when I finished it.
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