A New History of a Lost World by Steve Brusatte that’s a deep dive into modern paleontology, dinosaur ecosystems, and dinosaur physiology. It’s a fantastic read and if you can snag it from your local library, I think you’ll enjoy it. Not only did it inspire Devi’s career (I knew she was a scientist, I just didn’t know what KIND until I read this book) but it also inspired Old Grandfather (or should I say Old Grandmother?) who’s going to be haunting our little tribe for a little bit longer. Also, I do realize that Devi stating that she’s a scientist instead of say, telling everyone she has a focus on paleophysiology and phyology is a bit basic, but when people ask me what I do, I say I’m a writer because giving them an immediate deep dive into the romance genre and all its subculture is sometimes not worth the effort. So I just say I write books. Devi just tells people she’s a scientist and it usually stops questions. :)
As for N’dek and his heroine. I’m not stalling to try to be cute and clever and dangling his book in front of you for a million years. I was actually going to write their story next, but someone on Facebook pointed out to me that each book has focused on the heroine (after all, it is LAUREN’s barbarian and WILLA’s beast, not GREN’S Hick Human or K’THAR’S Baby Mama). I hadn’t done that with N’dek and his woman. I hadn’t built them up at all, and jumping right in felt like skipping ahead. Plus, I had several couples that have resonated—Callie and M’tok, T’chai and Marisol, and Hannah and J’shel—that I hadn’t really focused in on. In a way, this book is killing two birds with one stone. I’m setting the stage for N’dek and also showcasing an already-resonated couple. :) Win win!
So next month, we’ll be back at Icehome again for round two and we figure out what the hell is going on with our fun foursome (NOT THAT THEY ARE A FOURSOME - THEY ARE TWO COUPLES). I’m not dangling N’dek and his HEA further out than that, I promise. I did leave you a bit of a cliffy for the ongoing story (Never the couple! Just the ongoing story!) and so I’ll get that resolved.
After that…I have a few different things up my sleeve. I’ve had some fans ask about dragons. They are coming! But it’s going to be late summer as I get a few other projects off of the mental laundry list. I won’t leave you hanging!
<3
Ruby
THE PEOPLE OF ICEHOME
The New Arrivals (Icehome Tribe)
Lauren/Lo – Adult female at the beach camp. Once had glasses. Likes to be a problem solver. Resonates to K’thar, newly pregnant.
Marisol – Terrified adult female at beach camp who is fond of hiding. Gets stranded with Lo on the island. Resonates to T’chai. Due to his sickness, their resonance is ‘turned off’ by the healer.
Hannah – Previously, Vektal’s self-proclaimed assistant. One of the females at the beach camp. Resonates to J’shel when the island tribes arrive. Eventually mates to J’shel. Veronica’s assistant. Bossy.
Angie – Adult female at the beach camp. Pregnant with mystery baby when awoken. Gives birth to Glory (a clone female). Resonates to Vordis.
Glory - A qura’aki clone baby, implanted in Angie. Newborn.
Willa – Adult female with a southern twang. Lo’s friend. Gren’s most ardent defender. Resonates to Gren.
Gren – Beastly, feral ex-gladiator male. Attacks on sight. Resonates to Willa. Soft and fuzzy, according to Aayla.
Veronica – Newest healer on the planet. Resonated to Ashtar upon arrival. Bit of a klutz. Needs to work on her bedside manner.
Ashtar – Flirty golden ex-gladiator and former slave. Drakoni male who can shapeshift to a “battle form” as a dragon and has the ability to communicate telepathically. Resonates immediately to Veronica. Stud.
Vordis – One of the red “twins,” ex-gladiators of a race called a’ani. Longtime friends/brothers with Thrand, another clone. The really devoted one. Hot sauce. Resonates to Angie.
Thrand – One of the red “twins,” ex-gladiators of a race called a’ani. Longtime friends/brothers with Vordis. Confused by Nadine. The hotheaded, competitive one. Ketchup.
Tia – Teenager at the beach camp. Flirting with Sessah and anyone else that will stand still for five minutes.
Nadine – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Learning to hunt. Really irritated by Thrand.
Callie – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Resonated to M’tok. Hates M’tok.
Bridget – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Friend to Veronica. Hooked up with A’tam. Has regrets.
Steph – One of the adult females at the beach camp.
Raven – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Blonde, despite her name. Hippie parents.
Penny – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Learning to hunt.
Devi – Chatty adult female at beach camp. Scientist and dissection hobbyist. Hair flipper.
Flordeliza – Adult female at beach camp. Kinda a goofball.
Samantha – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Really fucking loves being on the ice planet, which no one else can figure out.
From the Old Tribe (Croatoan)
Raahosh – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe. Messed up horns. Mated to Liz and has 3 daughters, Raashel, Aayla, and now Ahsoka. Generally unpleasant to be around (except to his mate).
Liz – Snarky human mate to Raahosh. Mother to Raashel, Aayla, and newborn Ahsoka. Star Wars nerd. Salty.
Raashel - Liz and Raahosh’s oldest daughter. A bit of a tattletale.
Aayla - Liz and Raahosh’s middle child. Fascinated by Gren.
Ahsoka - Liz and Raahosh’s newborn daughter.
Sessah – Unmated, lanky, teen sa-khui from Croatoan. Currently dazzled by all the single ladies in Icehome.
Rukh – Hunter of the Croatoan tribe and ex-outcast. His mate is Harlow. Brother to Raahosh, father to Rukhar and now Daya.
Harlow – Mate to Rukh, mother to Rukhar and newborn Daya. She assists Mardok with technology stolen/looted from the broken ships.
Rukhar – Harlow and Rukh’s young son.
Daya - Harlow and Rukh’s newborn daughter.
Farli – One of the few sa-khui females. Mated to Mardok and has a pet dvisti named Chompy. Pregnant.
Mardok – Ex-soldier who has chosen to remain on the ice planet. Technology guru. Mated to Farli.
Taushen – Hunter and mate to Brooke. Recently arrived at Icehome camp.
Brooke – recently mated to Taushen. Hairdresser back on Earth, recently arrived at Icehome camp. Will braid anyone that sits still for more than five minutes. Pregnant.
The Island Clans
Clan of the Strong Arm
K’thar – Hunter, de-facto leader of Strong Arm, resonates to Lauren/Lo.
J’shel – Young hunter of Strong Arm, resonates to Hannah. Very cheerful. Long braid.
N’dek – Hunter of Strong Arm, recently lost a leg in a kaari attack. Kinda depressed and sits around the fire a lot.
I’chai – deceased female, mother of Z’hren
Z’hren – Orphaned child of Strong Arm, now child of Gail and Vaza
Fat One/Kki – nightflyer pet of the clan
Gail – adopted parent of Z’hren, older human female, once of Croatoan.
Vaza – adopted parent of Z’hren, older sa-khui male, once of Croatoan
Clan of the Tall Horn
R’jaal – Clan leader of Tall Horn, co-leader with Raahosh.
T’chai – Hunter of Tall Horn, resonates to Marisol. He is attacked by skyclaw on the island and nearly killed. His wounds get infected and he nearly dies, so the healer stops his resonance.
M’tok – Hunter of Tall Horn, resonates to Callie. Why haven’t they boinked yet? Why is Ruby such a tease?
S’bren – Hunter, brother to M’tok
Clan of the Shadowed Cat
I’rec – Clan leader. Kinda quiet.
O’jek – Hunter. More later.
A’tam – Hunter, said to be the handsomest on the island. Currently hooking up with Bridget…or at least he thought he was!
U’dron – Hunter. We’ll see more on him later.
RUBY DIXON READING LIST
ICEHOME
LAUREN’S BARBARIAN
VERONICA’S DRAGON
WILLA’S BEAST
GAIL’S FAMILY
ANGIE’S GLADIATOR
HANNAH’S HERO
FIREBLOOD DRAGONS
Fire in His Blood
Fire in His Kiss
Fire in His Embrace
Fire in His Fury
Fire In His Spirit
Fire in His Veins
ICE PLANET BARBARIANS
Ice Planet Barbarians
Barbarian Alien
Barbarian Lover
Barbarian Mine
Ice Planet Holiday (novella)
Barbarian’s Prize
Barbarian’s Mate
Having the Barbarian’s Baby (short story)
Ice Ice Babies (short story)
Barbarian’s Touch
Calm(short story)
Barbarian’s Taming
Aftershocks (short story)
Barbarian’s Heart
Barbarian’s Hope
Barbarian’s Choice
Barbarian’s Redemption
Barbarian’s Lady
Barbarian’s Rescue
Barbarian’s Tease
The Barbarian Before Christmas (novella)
Barbarian’s Beloved
Barbarian’s Valentine
Barbarian’s Seduction
CORSAIRS
THE CORSAIR’S CAPTIVE
IN THE CORSAIR’S BED
ENTICED BY THE CORSAIR
DECEIVING THE CORSAIR
STAND ALONE
PRISON PLANET BARBARIAN
THE ALIEN’S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE
BEAUTY IN AUTUMN
THE KING’S SPINSTER BRIDE
THE ALIEN ASSASSIN’S CONVENIENT WIFE
BEDLAM BUTCHERS
Bedlam Butchers, Volumes 1-3: Off Limits, Packing Double, Double Trouble
Bedlam Butchers, Volumes 4-6: Double Down, Double or Nothing, Slow Ride
Double Dare You
BEAR BITES
SHIFT: Five Complete Novellas