Gail’s Family and Barbarian’s Valentine by Ruby Dixon

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Title: Gail's Family
Author: Ruby Dixon
Series: Icehome #4
Published by: Indie
Release Date: November 3, 2018
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 82
Genres: Romance, Erotic Romance, Science Fiction
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 COYER Winter, Lenoreo's 2022 Diversity Reading Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:

Blurb:

I’ve had a full life: wife, mom, divorcee…and then alien property. All of that’s changing now that I’m on the ice planet. Here, I’m free again, and I’ve found love once more. Vaza’s older and a widower, but he knows how to make a woman smile both in the furs and out of them.

Everyone around me has a baby in their arms or in their belly, though, and it’s hard to be the only one without. I love nothing more than being a mama…and when I hear there’s an orphan at the Icehome camp, I want to adopt him. Vaza and I have so much love to give, but will an alien baby love us back?

(Psst! This story does not stand alone. Start with LAUREN’S BARBARIAN! You’ll be glad you did!)

My Review:

4 stars — This novella was fun, solid, not too complicated.  I felt for Gail, I can’t imagine having all that hope and then being faced with challenges.  Also, I know what it’s like to feel like a child hates you, though that stems more from my anxiety.  It was fun to finally loop this into the Icehome series, I had missed it initially because I usually listen to these books and this novella wasn’t available on audio.  It was fun to see people I know from both clans, and get to see the kits reunited with their parents in the background.

I genuinely LOVED Gail and Vaza together.  #relationshipgoals.  I loved the playfulness, it was delightful.  And Vaza is the absolute sweetest, I’m so glad they both found their second HEA together (and with Z’hren).

Title: Barbarian's Valentine
Author: Ruby Dixon
Series: Ice Planet Barbarians #17.5
Published by: Indie
Release Date: February 11, 2019
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 85
Genres: Romance, Erotic Romance, Science Fiction
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 COYER Winter
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:

Blurb:

Maddie's mate is returning soon, and she wants to make his homecoming a special one. Pregnant Josie wants to seduce her mate all over again. The solution for both of them? A Valentine's Day celebration, ice planet style. There'll be kisses, scanty outfits, and a pair of reunions you won't forget.

Come and revisit two of your favorite couples from the original Ice Planet Barbarians series!

My Review:

4 stars — This was another fun novella.  I loved that we got to revisit 2 couples, and their stories may have been linked slightly, but they were fairly different.

Maddie and Hassan’s story was light and fun — just a couple that was missing one another and being reunited.  I think I forgot what they were like, but it was definitely fun and sexy.  I also enjoyed seeing their son, and getting glimpses of her sister’s family as well.

Josie and Haeden’s story had light moments, but it was definitely more true to life in some ways.  I can only imagine that this is what many couples with young families go through, and it was hard seeing them miss one another and not quite connect.  Which only made it more satisfying when they did finally connect.  I’m proud of Josie for doing something, instead of wallowing in her misconceptions.  It was definitely the more emotionally satisfying of the two interlinked stories.