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Risdaverse
When She's Handy
Five years ago, an alien saved me from a cruel master. He rescued me and I fell in love instantly, only for him to turn around and dump me on Risda III.
I both love and hate him for that choice.
I've moved on and created a life for myself on this strange alien planet amongst the other refugee humans. I create things for them out of scrap, things from home, things that humans want and aliens don't understand. I'm happy enough.
But then the alien I can't forget...returns.
I both love and hate him for that choice.
I've moved on and created a life for myself on this strange alien planet amongst the other refugee humans. I create things for them out of scrap, things from home, things that humans want and aliens don't understand. I'm happy enough.
But then the alien I can't forget...returns.
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2024
488 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Dixon
161 books19.8k followersRuby 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. :)
Ruby also loves coffee and dirty books and will probably be a cat lady at some point. :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
September 15, 2024
Risdaverse is a treasure that keeps on giving. Doesn't matter if it's one of my favorites of the series or not, these cozy sci-fi bits of happiness can break my slump anytime (plus, I finish a new one and always go back to reread some of the prior ones).
In this venture to Risda III, Brux (H) is on a job site when his crew gets distracted by a human female digging through the scrap pile. Confronting her, it turns out that he's very familiar with this particular human because he rescued Melody (h) a few years ago before they had a ONS and he dropped her off on Risda to be safe. Melody's ready to hard-core pursue Brux because she's thought of him constantly the past few years, failing at dating or trying to move on. Brux, though, has major self-esteem issues and looks on their ONS with much different eyes than she does, he feels he took advantage. He also needs to feel emotional connection to enjoy hopping in the sack.
This is short, a bit angsty with whether Melody's pursuit will win over the stoic Brux, but sweet and a bit steamy. Plus, we get an allergic reaction, which completely makes sense given the mix of aliens and various supplies for said aliens on Risda. And this particular story was inspired by a Tay Tay song. I wasn't fully on board with Melody's aggressive approach at first (but hey, she owned what she wanted) and I do wish we'd gotten a bit of POV of Brux obsessing over her during a lull where they weren't seeing each other. Melody's resourcefulness for building human-esque items was refreshing and Brux was a big ole softy. I loved them playing games with each other and how the forced slowness gave them the intimacy needed. The ending is HFN, living together and caring for each other. So glad for the timing of this one and can't wait to see where Ruby takes us next on this beloved lil planet.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, tiny bit of om drama when h goes on a date with another guy who's interested in her and H sees them (but she's clearly not into the other guy, who takes it sadly but well), and both are experienced (h hadn't slept with anyone else in the years they've been apart, not sure about H but he's definitely not a casual hookup kinda dude anyway).
In this venture to Risda III, Brux (H) is on a job site when his crew gets distracted by a human female digging through the scrap pile. Confronting her, it turns out that he's very familiar with this particular human because he rescued Melody (h) a few years ago before they had a ONS and he dropped her off on Risda to be safe. Melody's ready to hard-core pursue Brux because she's thought of him constantly the past few years, failing at dating or trying to move on. Brux, though, has major self-esteem issues and looks on their ONS with much different eyes than she does, he feels he took advantage. He also needs to feel emotional connection to enjoy hopping in the sack.
This is short, a bit angsty with whether Melody's pursuit will win over the stoic Brux, but sweet and a bit steamy. Plus, we get an allergic reaction, which completely makes sense given the mix of aliens and various supplies for said aliens on Risda. And this particular story was inspired by a Tay Tay song. I wasn't fully on board with Melody's aggressive approach at first (but hey, she owned what she wanted) and I do wish we'd gotten a bit of POV of Brux obsessing over her during a lull where they weren't seeing each other. Melody's resourcefulness for building human-esque items was refreshing and Brux was a big ole softy. I loved them playing games with each other and how the forced slowness gave them the intimacy needed. The ending is HFN, living together and caring for each other. So glad for the timing of this one and can't wait to see where Ruby takes us next on this beloved lil planet.
Written in first person, dual POV. No ow drama, tiny bit of om drama when h goes on a date with another guy who's interested in her and H sees them (but she's clearly not into the other guy, who takes it sadly but well), and both are experienced (h hadn't slept with anyone else in the years they've been apart, not sure about H but he's definitely not a casual hookup kinda dude anyway).
September 13, 2024
Risdaverse. Is. My. Favorite.
Cozy sweet and spicy, sci-fi romance. Aliens being precious sweet cinnamon rolls. Humans being like “let’s bang it out” to the blue guy of their dreams (or sometimes it’s a cat-dude guy)
And apparently this one was inspired by a Taylor Swift song.
Cozy sweet and spicy, sci-fi romance. Aliens being precious sweet cinnamon rolls. Humans being like “let’s bang it out” to the blue guy of their dreams (or sometimes it’s a cat-dude guy)
And apparently this one was inspired by a Taylor Swift song.
September 26, 2024
Short and cute, this is a fun reversal of hesitant heroine to hesitant hero in terms of the sexual element of their relationship
September 14, 2024
This was a cutie short with a confident FMC determined to get her rescuer/one night stand of 5 years ago to stay with her. Preferably forever. She had trauma, but dealt with it by being sunshine incarnate and embracing her passion for creating things. Brux was grumpy and had abysmal self esteem. He was stuck in the land of “I’m not good enough for her”. I liked that he had an average sized peen and was not as adept at sex, but was an eager student later on.
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: mentions of abuse and captivity, discussion of power differential during sexual encounter, mentions of poverty and social isolation, mentions of SA of side character (more just implied than talked about), stalking behaviors
Spice: 2/5
Triggers: mentions of abuse and captivity, discussion of power differential during sexual encounter, mentions of poverty and social isolation, mentions of SA of side character (more just implied than talked about), stalking behaviors
December 29, 2024
3.5 Stars for When She’s Handy: A Risdaverse Short Story (audiobook) by Ruby Dixon read by Jillian Macie and Mason Lloyd.
It’s hard when a big strong alien saves you from a terrible master and drops you off on a peaceful planet and then leaves. All you can do is try and pull your life back together and hope that the two of you meet up again someday.
It’s hard when a big strong alien saves you from a terrible master and drops you off on a peaceful planet and then leaves. All you can do is try and pull your life back together and hope that the two of you meet up again someday.
January 11, 2025
I love that Ruby makes the heroes insecure and confused! It’s a breath of fresh air in sci-fi romance!! I also love that the while the heroines are strong, confident and have wicked sex appeal. They still compliment and care for their mate !! Of course,this is not for every set of characters but she puts the option out there. I love the power exchange !! Also, I have a big thing for female handywomen/ mechanics 🧰 🥰😍!!
January 17, 2025
I wasn't a big fan of this rhisdaverse story. I'm not sure if the quality of the books is going down or if my tastes are changing.
This felt pretty shallow relationship-wise. It was clearly attempting to make the relationship more than just physical, but I don't think it was successful.
This felt pretty shallow relationship-wise. It was clearly attempting to make the relationship more than just physical, but I don't think it was successful.
April 12, 2025
Short and sweet!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙🩷💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 🙂🙁😉🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Melody - she has been on Risda 3 for five years and knows that farming isn’t for her. So, whenever there are work crews on the planet, she talks to the boss and gets his permission to pick through their scraps. She finds some gems that she plans to use for her repair business. She is surprised when she sees Brux at the most recent work site she was picking from. She is elated to see him again and is determined not to let him go this time.
The Hero: Brux - he is a project manager in space. He is in charge; it is him that will hear it from his employer if things aren’t on schedule and on budget. He has been with building and repair crews for more than ten years. He is unmated and works with crews that get jobs based on strength and hard work. He considers himself Messakah station trash. He first met Melody five years ago and it took him that long to get over her. When he sees her again, he knows it will be another five years to get over him again.
The Story: when Melody was first kidnapped by aliens, she was bought by an old Messakah who abused her, Brux saved her by buying her from the man, though he ended up dropping her off on Risda 3, since it is a safe place for human females. She has wanted him and only him ever since. He thinks that Melody deserves better than him, he is an outlaw and no good family name or credits. His blood isn’t even pure Messakah. He is determined no to let her get to him again like she did five years ago.
The story is interesting, Melody is kind of obsessed with Brux, and he isn’t the standard ex-con from the bad side of the galaxy. He is secretly a very good man. He spent a whole lot of his own money to rescue her with no thought to what he would get out of it and now, he refuses to sleep with her because he says he doesn’t know her well enough. This was another novella from Ruby Dixon, so it had all of her romance, but I like the longer stories with more of an adventure.
This audiobook was told in dual points of view and was narrated in dual narration by Mason Lloyd and Jillian Macie. These two narrate a lot of Ruby Dixon’s books and I have read and listened to most of them. I like both of these narrators. Mason has a great voice and is very expressive as is Jillian Macie. I like her voice and her enthusiasm.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🖤💙🩷💚
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 🙂🙁😉🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Melody - she has been on Risda 3 for five years and knows that farming isn’t for her. So, whenever there are work crews on the planet, she talks to the boss and gets his permission to pick through their scraps. She finds some gems that she plans to use for her repair business. She is surprised when she sees Brux at the most recent work site she was picking from. She is elated to see him again and is determined not to let him go this time.
The Hero: Brux - he is a project manager in space. He is in charge; it is him that will hear it from his employer if things aren’t on schedule and on budget. He has been with building and repair crews for more than ten years. He is unmated and works with crews that get jobs based on strength and hard work. He considers himself Messakah station trash. He first met Melody five years ago and it took him that long to get over her. When he sees her again, he knows it will be another five years to get over him again.
The Story: when Melody was first kidnapped by aliens, she was bought by an old Messakah who abused her, Brux saved her by buying her from the man, though he ended up dropping her off on Risda 3, since it is a safe place for human females. She has wanted him and only him ever since. He thinks that Melody deserves better than him, he is an outlaw and no good family name or credits. His blood isn’t even pure Messakah. He is determined no to let her get to him again like she did five years ago.
The story is interesting, Melody is kind of obsessed with Brux, and he isn’t the standard ex-con from the bad side of the galaxy. He is secretly a very good man. He spent a whole lot of his own money to rescue her with no thought to what he would get out of it and now, he refuses to sleep with her because he says he doesn’t know her well enough. This was another novella from Ruby Dixon, so it had all of her romance, but I like the longer stories with more of an adventure.
This audiobook was told in dual points of view and was narrated in dual narration by Mason Lloyd and Jillian Macie. These two narrate a lot of Ruby Dixon’s books and I have read and listened to most of them. I like both of these narrators. Mason has a great voice and is very expressive as is Jillian Macie. I like her voice and her enthusiasm.
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January 21, 2025
This is a second chance romance where he rescued her 5 years ago, they had sex and then he dropped her off at a planet where she would be safe from further harm.
The amount of self-focused beating himself up while not listening to her is exhausting!!
She tells him she's thought about him for 5 years and felt abandoned and he's all "I'm not good enough for you". Ya, but you had sex and then left. No words or explanation to her!
She ends up pursuing him when they stumble across each other and gives him the choice to "go slow" and get to know each other or "go fast" and have sex right away. He chooses go fast and then freaks out that the sex would be meaningless and he wants her to know him before they have sex again. (Notice the focus on her knowing him rather than the other way around). He runs away from her for a couple weeks (once again without word to her of what he wants) and while he comes back, it still takes a LOT for her to drag out his true desires and also to listen to what she wants. Ugh.
The book ends with their one sexy time where he notices that "she's not perfect" because she has scars from past abuse (unnecessary, author, to give him that thought).
Ruby Dizon's aliens and alien planets are always to "American". It's kinda annoying but you know what you're getting with her.
It's not high literature but I finished it.
The amount of self-focused beating himself up while not listening to her is exhausting!!
She tells him she's thought about him for 5 years and felt abandoned and he's all "I'm not good enough for you". Ya, but you had sex and then left. No words or explanation to her!
She ends up pursuing him when they stumble across each other and gives him the choice to "go slow" and get to know each other or "go fast" and have sex right away. He chooses go fast and then freaks out that the sex would be meaningless and he wants her to know him before they have sex again. (Notice the focus on her knowing him rather than the other way around). He runs away from her for a couple weeks (once again without word to her of what he wants) and while he comes back, it still takes a LOT for her to drag out his true desires and also to listen to what she wants. Ugh.
The book ends with their one sexy time where he notices that "she's not perfect" because she has scars from past abuse (unnecessary, author, to give him that thought).
Ruby Dizon's aliens and alien planets are always to "American". It's kinda annoying but you know what you're getting with her.
It's not high literature but I finished it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2024
2.5
Big miss. Dixon says in her author's note that she combined a lot of reader requests into this story, and it showed. The relationship was dysfunctional in a way that Dixon usually completely avoids. I actually felt uncomfortable with the way Melody approached and spoke to Brux. Which is a shame because a demisexual MMC, and one with a "small" dick to boot, should have been a nice deviation from Dixon's norm.
Taken all together, though, it simply didn't work for me.
Big miss. Dixon says in her author's note that she combined a lot of reader requests into this story, and it showed. The relationship was dysfunctional in a way that Dixon usually completely avoids. I actually felt uncomfortable with the way Melody approached and spoke to Brux. Which is a shame because a demisexual MMC, and one with a "small" dick to boot, should have been a nice deviation from Dixon's norm.
Taken all together, though, it simply didn't work for me.
December 25, 2024
This was super cute and super short! A novella part of the Risdaverse series by Ruby Dixon and it recently got an audiobook, which is my favorite way to read Ruby books!
Melody and Brux haven’t seen one another in five years but he finds her digging through a scrap pile on Risda III. Brux saved Melody five years ago when he purchased her freedom but then he dumped her on the farming planet and left. She fell in love with him immediately and was hurt when he left her so suddenly. Now he’s back in her life and she’s so thrilled to see him because of a moment they shared in the past. Brux still finds himself pulled to her but also is wary she’s just feeling indebted to him for her freedom. So he tells her he wants to take things slow and get to know one another/become friends.
These two were so cute and sweet together. I liked how they become friends along the way. Melody was so much fun and I liked how she wants to open up her own repair business on the planet since she is not cut out to be a farmer. Her want for Brux was so fun to see and I also liked how she wants to bring/make toasters for residents of Risda III to use.
Melody and Brux haven’t seen one another in five years but he finds her digging through a scrap pile on Risda III. Brux saved Melody five years ago when he purchased her freedom but then he dumped her on the farming planet and left. She fell in love with him immediately and was hurt when he left her so suddenly. Now he’s back in her life and she’s so thrilled to see him because of a moment they shared in the past. Brux still finds himself pulled to her but also is wary she’s just feeling indebted to him for her freedom. So he tells her he wants to take things slow and get to know one another/become friends.
These two were so cute and sweet together. I liked how they become friends along the way. Melody was so much fun and I liked how she wants to open up her own repair business on the planet since she is not cut out to be a farmer. Her want for Brux was so fun to see and I also liked how she wants to bring/make toasters for residents of Risda III to use.
September 14, 2024
Another cute addition!
This one was a bit different because the heroine was definitely the one pursuing the hero.
I thought there would be more angst since he dropped her off on the planet five years ago and left, but she’s ready to welcome him back eagerly. I guess they didn’t really know each other when it happened.
This was cute and I liked that they decided to be friends for a while and get to know each other! Brux was a little lacking in confidence so I was glad he had bubbly Melody to tell him how great he is!
This one was a bit different because the heroine was definitely the one pursuing the hero.
I thought there would be more angst since he dropped her off on the planet five years ago and left, but she’s ready to welcome him back eagerly. I guess they didn’t really know each other when it happened.
This was cute and I liked that they decided to be friends for a while and get to know each other! Brux was a little lacking in confidence so I was glad he had bubbly Melody to tell him how great he is!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2024
And he wonders how I can be attracted to him? He should be wondering how he’s going to fight me off at this rate.
These stories are so good. It’s definitely a comfort read for me. It was also very refreshing to have the female be the aggressor. Poor Brux had no way of stopping Melody. She knew what she wanted. She was not a timid human. I also loved how loud she loved him. She wanted everyone to know and she was so proud of him. These two were perfect for each other.
These stories are so good. It’s definitely a comfort read for me. It was also very refreshing to have the female be the aggressor. Poor Brux had no way of stopping Melody. She knew what she wanted. She was not a timid human. I also loved how loud she loved him. She wanted everyone to know and she was so proud of him. These two were perfect for each other.
September 15, 2024
Pleased to have a story with a messakah MMC. I miss them.
This little story also tied up a few inconsequential loose ends that you wouldn't think important but give an avid fan a little easter egg thrill.
This little story also tied up a few inconsequential loose ends that you wouldn't think important but give an avid fan a little easter egg thrill.
September 19, 2024
It's a Ruby Dixon, so it's already a comfort read. And I loved how strong Melody was and that *she* was the one working to get what she wants: the type of job she enjoys, a life she wants...and Brux, grumpy messakah alien to the max.
Brux was a massive bundle of insecurities, and that dragged down my rating a bit, as I would have liked to have seen him address that a bit more gradually than he does in the book (it's a lot of "no" and then..not).
But it's a great fun read, and Dixon does things with Brux and his anatomy that are truly refreshing for alien romance (IYKYK). So it's another winner in the Risdaverse series!
Brux was a massive bundle of insecurities, and that dragged down my rating a bit, as I would have liked to have seen him address that a bit more gradually than he does in the book (it's a lot of "no" and then..not).
But it's a great fun read, and Dixon does things with Brux and his anatomy that are truly refreshing for alien romance (IYKYK). So it's another winner in the Risdaverse series!
September 14, 2024
I have been liking Ruby’s Risdaverse books more than anything else. I am always surprised at how much personality can can shove into 100 pages.
September 13, 2024
3-1/2 sweet alien romance stars
September 13, 2024
Very cutesy. I like how this time our MMC was shy about wanting her, and wanted to get to know each other before rushing into things. She brought him out of his shell.
September 14, 2024
He’s A Tail-Flicker ❤️❤️ love it when the tail gives away their true emotions…lol
Found this one sweet, even though this poor guy had some (realistic) issues…who doesn’t, it was his actions that made him handsome and a hero to Melody❤️ I loved that he’s one of those soft souls in a hardened body, he just wanted her to truly know him and who he is, and well, not to die from allergies would be a bonus!!! 🥴
Wonderful alone or part of the Risdaverse series 💋💙💋💙💋
Found this one sweet, even though this poor guy had some (realistic) issues…who doesn’t, it was his actions that made him handsome and a hero to Melody❤️ I loved that he’s one of those soft souls in a hardened body, he just wanted her to truly know him and who he is, and well, not to die from allergies would be a bonus!!! 🥴
Wonderful alone or part of the Risdaverse series 💋💙💋💙💋
September 14, 2024
A little Too Everyday
So, I don’t know about anyone else, but I read fantasy because it’s different from real life.
The sexy times on this book were a little too common and everyday for me. You want the MMC to be ridiculously endowed, ridiculously handsome, ridiculously confident etc. Would you want that in real life? Of course not.
The awkward getting down to it bits and changing positions when it’s not quite right with your partner? Totally happens all the time in real life. Do I want it in my fantasy? Of course not.
The authors note at the end refers to our MMC as the mess, and I absolutely disagree. He may have been self conscious of his looks and behavior, but I believe his reservations about her motivations were absolutely correct. His wanting for her to actually know him before they had sex, to have a real relationship based on more than that? How is that messy?
So, I don’t know about anyone else, but I read fantasy because it’s different from real life.
The sexy times on this book were a little too common and everyday for me. You want the MMC to be ridiculously endowed, ridiculously handsome, ridiculously confident etc. Would you want that in real life? Of course not.
The awkward getting down to it bits and changing positions when it’s not quite right with your partner? Totally happens all the time in real life. Do I want it in my fantasy? Of course not.
The authors note at the end refers to our MMC as the mess, and I absolutely disagree. He may have been self conscious of his looks and behavior, but I believe his reservations about her motivations were absolutely correct. His wanting for her to actually know him before they had sex, to have a real relationship based on more than that? How is that messy?
September 15, 2024
Love Ruby Dixon but I didn’t like this one
I LOVE Ruby Dixon, but I found this book to be boring, annoying, and way too sweet. I skipped over most of the second half of the book. Having said that, I will continue to read everything she writes.
I LOVE Ruby Dixon, but I found this book to be boring, annoying, and way too sweet. I skipped over most of the second half of the book. Having said that, I will continue to read everything she writes.
June 6, 2025
I wish these were full length books instead 😔
October 7, 2025
Niche unlock - hard to get, second chance Alien romance!
love it
love it
September 13, 2024
It's Ruby Dixon, of course I loved it.
September 13, 2024
Short and sweet, I gobbled it up as I do any RD short story. But… the blurb had me making some assumptions about how it would play out and when it turned out to be different I was left a little disappointed. Still a quick, fun read though.
September 20, 2024
ehh…
2.5 ⭐️
This was a little different, I still enjoyed it. Just was super short and felt like things were happening out of nowhere, especially changes in personality.
2.5 ⭐️
This was a little different, I still enjoyed it. Just was super short and felt like things were happening out of nowhere, especially changes in personality.
September 27, 2024
Quick easy fun read as always. Who cares about quality???
April 11, 2025
So cute and different for Risdaverse. I loved it.
October 8, 2024
These are always fun little books. Cinnamon roll MMC in a grumpy coating, sunshine FMC, and a hot finish. Will keep reading all of Ruby’s work, love the world she’s created.
September 14, 2024
not my cup of tea
I was just kind of bored reading this. Too much explaining, not enough just falling in love. Brux was a bummer, and Melody’s character was shallow.
I was just kind of bored reading this. Too much explaining, not enough just falling in love. Brux was a bummer, and Melody’s character was shallow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews