Gail's Family

Icehome #3.5

by Ruby Dixon

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!)

Genres: Romance, Science Fiction, Aliens, Science Fiction Romance, Novella, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

67 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2018

About the author

Ruby Dixon is an author of Science Fiction Romance. She likes fated mates, baby-filled epilogues, and cinnamon roll heroes. She also likes to write biographies of herself in the third person, because it feels more important that way.

Ruby also loves coffee and dirty books and will probably be a cat lady at some point. :)

Reviews

[Sophia Triad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gail and Vaza

A sweet little novella with two mature characters.

Vaza has lost his resonated mate and his child in the khui sickness and thus he cannot be a father again.

Gail is human and his pleasure mate. She is over fifty, so there is no chance for resonance and for children for her as well. Gail hasn't had an easy life before she met Vasa. Her son in Earth was killed, she got divorced and later on she was kidnapped and sold as a slave in space. Vasa is the best thing that had happened to her and he makes her feel very special.

They are happy and in love, but there is something missing. They would love to have a baby. When they learn that there is an orphan baby among the newcomers from the island, they decide to adopt him.

Gail will be thrilled in the beginning, but later on she will realise that it is not easy to have a difficult baby again. She will need lots of patient, lots of love and there may be a chance to give the baby the stability that he needs. Thankfully Vasa is an amazing mate and he will be there for her all the time.

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute read and omg I love this cover!

[Brittni Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m finding I’m just not a big fan of really short novellas. I need more context and time with characters to feel invested.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so all of my previous questions were answered. I shouldn't have doubted Ruby lol. I totally understand the cover now. I loved Gail's story! There was one stereotype that encompassed Gail's personality, but I forgave it because there were other aspects that were done very well. And this time (unlike with Tiffany's story) Ruby put a black woman on the cover. I had other minor issues, but overall I absolutely loved this!

[Valkyrie ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt so identified with Gail’s nursing experience and that’s something so personal and important to me. When the baby looked up at her and smiled… I bawled 😭

And getting to see “older” people having sexy, naughty sex was fantastic. Their banter and playfulness was actually really hot and their little sex scene was more interesting than some from the main books 😅

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella was so cute!
I liked that Gail got her family and both she and Vaza were so sweet to each other!
Even without resonance, I could feel the love they had for each other!
I'm happy that the orphan baby got such a wonderful family too!

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, how I have missed Ruby Dixon while I've been absent from the book community. ♥

This was the perfect novella to get me immersed back into this creative, intertwined series. As you can tell by the title, this one follows sweet motherly Gail. She has been the mother figure to all the gals at the first barbarian colony but when she receives news of an orphaned child at the new Icehome group, she knows it is her only chance to start her own family with Vaza.

It is a super sweet, feel good read about love and family. If you haven't started this series yet, you are truly missing out.

3 stars!

[Elle ♡ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a super cute little novella. I’ve never liked Vaza, he always came across as a creepy old man, but I love his and Gail’s relationship. He’s charming and funny and they’re so sweet together and now they have a baby 🥲🤍

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wollte die Novelle erst nicht lesen, fand sie aber überraschend schön und süß. ❤️

[Raine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gail gets a baby!

Its been a while since I've read this series. I ended up skipping Willa's Beast and moving on to this story because of all the reviews about how annoying Willa was.

I really like Gail and Vaza and love that they are going to be parents for the orphaned baby from the island.

[♛ Garima ♛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice, feel good, slice of life story :)

[Fanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta cuarta novela tiene menos paginas que las anteriores pero eso no hace que sea menos buena, todo lo contrario, la historia de Vaza y Gail fue muy agradable de leer, no solo me gusto el echo de que esta pareja sea mas madura que las demas, sino que tambien me complacio que su relacion no tomara el camino predecible.

En fin, un libro imprescindible si eres seguidora de esta saga, no es el mas atrapante, pero narra una historia muy emotiva.

2.75 Estrellas!

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely appreciate having an older couple as our main characters as well as showing adoption as a valid HEA for them

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little novella!

Gail & Vaza foreverrrr 🫶🏾✨

"I find everything about you perfect. Why would I change any of it? It is Shail that I adore. I want all of Shail, not pieces of someone else."

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gail's Family was a sweet short story. Since I haven't read all the books in these series I'm not totally familiar with all the characters and where they fit in. I have only read books 2,3, and 4 in this series but it's really not an issue I'm still enjoying the books.

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gail’s Family is a novella taking place after Willa’s Beast and before Angie’s Gladiator.

The series needs to be read in order.

It’s a cute read. It’s not like the previous books in that we get a full romance and resonates.

Gail is over 50 who will not resonate and Vaza is an older alien. Gail and Vaza are clearly already in an adorably loving and stable relationship, something that has developed in the background of the other books. Both have found pleasure and a relationship that works, but both miss not having children of their own. They get a chance in this story to adopt.

Z’rhen is adorable and somewhat cranky. I enjoyed both Gail and Vaza’s POV. Their relationship is nice and they make a family together.

This was nice slice into the life of the Icehome series. If you enjoy sexy aliens then I recommend picking up Dixon novel.

Rated: 3.5 Stars

[CrazyGal609 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet short story for dear “old” Vaza & Gail who have both lost family.
Gail, the maternal mama hen to all the lost chicks - that’s so sweet 🐓🐥🐥🐥🐥🐣🐣🐥🐣🐥
Vasa, sweet man who says such beautiful (and naughty) things to his chosen mate🩵
Love that they both get some family happiness 🥹❤️
✨Bonus, they got to ride a DRAGON!!!!!!✨

😈🤍 Love his playful naughtiness:
His hands tighten on my thighs. "I would push inside you and you would say, 'Oh Vaza, fill me with your enormous blue c*ck. Make my c*nt shiver on your rod. I am but a weak human female and need to come so hard."
I want to giggle at his ridiculousness, but then he sucks on my clit and I lock my thighs tight around his shoulders, pinning him in place. 🤍😈

[Chappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I'm so happy for Gail and Vaza. It must be difficult being the only older human lady on the ice planet. Even if there is no resonance, Vaza is still a VERY attentive mate. Thankfully, he no longer seems "creepy" to me. In previous books he was often the older guy lusting after the young women. Now, he can put all his love into his new family. Z'rhen is adorable if somewhat cranky...

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is listed as a full book in the Icehome series...don't get too excited. I mean, you should definitely get a little excited as it is a Ruby Dixon release after all. But, don't expect to have a full romance. This is more like a slice of life story. If you've read the previous books in the series - which you need to do RIGHT NOW if you haven't - then you know that Gail has become the adopted mother of baby Z'hren. Z'hren is an orphan amongst one of the island tribes and Gail and her mate Vaza instantly agree to adopt him. 

I really loved this very small novella - about 90 pages - it's a bit different from romances you usually find. One, because Gail and Vaza are clearly already in an adorably loving and stable relationship, something that has developed in the background of the other books. Two, both Gail and Vaza are mature characters, both being in their early 50s. I loved seeing a story with an older hero and heroine; being in love doesn't stop in your 20's. 

This was a really great slice of life/novella in the Icehome series, it's a heart warming story and I am really pleased that Gail got a book of her own, even if it's a short one. But, it has only whetted my appetite for more in this series!

[Севдалина · Rating 3 out of 5]

Гайл (Човек) и Ванза (Мессакаш-Са'Кхуи)

Тази кратка новела проследява това как Гайл, единствената възрастна човешка жена на ледената планета и Ванза, нейният любим, вдовец и старейшина от племето на варварите, напускат дома си, в подземния град, за да се присъединят към племето на новодошлите. След като Лорън, от първата книга на поредицата, се връща при останалите, водейки със себе си оцелелите от три островни племена, води със себе си и едно бебе, сираче от племето на Стронг Армс. Нова на планетата, наскоро обвързана и чакаща собственото си бебе, Лорън не е готова да отдаде цялото си внимание и любов на малкото сираче, което половинката й и хората му отглеждат след смъртта на родителите му. Затова, когато научават, че в селото на другото племе има двойка, които няма как да имат свое дете, защото жената е вече възрастна, а мъжа е имал преди половинка, която е изгубил, решението кой да осинови бебето е повече от ясна, и Гайл и Ванза, изпълнени от щастие местят дома си, за да създадат новото си семейство със сирачето, което да стане центъра на тяхната вселена.



Ами, книгата не беше нищо особено. Като героиня, Гайл не успа да ме грабне с нищо. Слез загубите преживени на земята, където губи сина си и после се развежда, и след като прекарва няколко години като робиня на какви ли не извънземни, тя носи доста горчилка в себе си, и макар след като се среща с Ванза да се влюбва в него и да намира щастието си, тя все пак не бе типична за Руби героиня. Може би защото е значително по-възрастна от другите й героини и е преживяла много, но просто не ми беше интересна новелата. 90% от книгата бяха размисли от страна на героинята, безкрайни обяснения, чувства и спомени, и само в 10% се случваше нещо различно от това да се разхождаме в ума на героинята. Като цяло замисълът на историята бе добър. Другите герои които участваха бяха чудесни и все пак не мога да дам повече от 3 звезди на тази новела. Не ме впечатли и лесно можеше да минем без нея, само с информацията в другите книги, че Гайл и Ванза осиновяват сирачето.

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet look at one of the oldest(?) human women, her doting guy, and the wee one they take in.

[Zero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute slice-of-life novella about Gail and Vaza adopting their baby.

[Sheri Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet but short little slice of life story about Gail, Vaza, and their adopted baby from the island tribe that lost his parents. I enjoyed seeing more from an older couple and so happy to see them be happy as a family.

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars for Gail’s Family: Ice Home, Book 3.5 (audiobook) by Ruby Dixon read by Ja'air Bush.

Gail’s finally with a someone who is treating her well and her motherly nature is kicking in on this Ice Plant. There’s an orphan in the camp and she and Vaza would like to adopt him. It can be challenging to nurture a young one when they are a different species but Gail persists and finally the child takes to his new mother.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is listed as a full book in the Icehome series...don't get too excited. I mean, you should definitely get a little excited as it is a Ruby Dixon release after all. But, don't expect to have a full romance. This is more like a slice of life story. If you've read the previous books in the series - which you need to do RIGHT NOW if you haven't - then you know that Gail has become the adopted mother of baby Z'hren. Z'hren is an orphan amongst one of the island tribes and Gail and her mate Vaza instantly agree to adopt him.

I really loved this very small novella - about 90 pages - it's a bit different from romances you usually find. One, because Gail and Vaza are clearly already in an adorably loving and stable relationship, something that has developed in the background of the other books. Two, both Gail and Vaza are mature characters, both being in their early 50s. I loved seeing a story with an older hero and heroine; being in love doesn't stop in your 20's.

This was a really great slice of life/novella in the Icehome series, it's a heart warming story and I am really pleased that Gail got a book of her own, even if it's a short one. But, it has only whetted my appetite for more in this series!

Reviewed by Suzanne❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very happy Gail got her story. Very happy that it was extremely short because I did not enjoy it. Okay so I don’t have children so I can’t relate to a need to be able to breastfeed, but seriously, a whole story centered on breastfeeding was not enjoyable to me. The author spoke about wanting to demonstrate the joy of adoption but it was completely overshadowed. I may be the only one but I was very disappointed.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about second chances for Gail and Vaza. I was flighting back tears for parts of the story because I could feel just how much Gail wanted another chance at a family. I love her jokey relationship with Vaza, who treats her like the queen that she is. Just a lovely, heartwarming story.

[Joy Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable and essential and Vassa is king

[Umaiya ❄️Ramblings of a Scattered Mind❄️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would honestly rather have been asleep right now.
Oh, it's not the book's fault. I just find sleep to be the best medicine when I'm sick and this food poisoning really kicked my ass, even if it lasted only a day. And I would have had my way with it too if it weren't for the super loud and obnoxious music being played somewhere in the neighbourhood.

The book was a real sweet novella that I wasn't too excited about at the end of Willa's Beast. But it was super easy to relate to even though I'm not fifty or stuck on an alien planet. It was a great dose of reality, a small slice of what adoption can be like and all round written so well.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aww, this was a cute novella about found family (which is my catnip), and Ruby turned Vaza into a total sweetheart. I mean, he's still a weirdo, but the way cherishes Gail and their new baby is adorable.

Also I loved the glimpses we got of Liz's daughters, especially Raashel. I wish Ruby would write something where it's just Raashel being an ornery little shithead and both daughters bossing around Rukhar the whole time.