Willa's Beast

Icehome #3

by Ruby Dixon, Sean Crisden (Narrator), Felicity Munroe (Narrator)

Beast. Creature. Monster.

Dangerous.

All of these things have been said about Gren.

Willa doesn’t believe it, though. She knows that monsters can sometimes come in appealing packages. She knows that for all of his snarls and fearsome appearance, he’d never hurt her.

And she knows she has to get Gren away from the Icehome camp, because no one will ever see him as a person, not when he attacks all who come close. Not when he’s tied and treated like an animal.

She’s going to save him… or fall in love. Maybe both. Willa doesn’t mind that he’s a beast, as long as he’s *her* beast.

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

Audible Audio

First published October 5, 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 3 out of 5]

Gren and Willa 

Although this is a very well written book, it is definitely my least favourite story that takes place in the blue barbarians universe.

And the one simple reason for this is the main character, Willa. I couldn't stand her at all from the beginning of the book until the end.
I found her behaviour unnecessarily neurotic to the point that I had to discard many book pages in order to avoid her internal battle to accept other people's kindness and tolerance for her senseless and illogical behaviour.
She was even considering very hard whether she should thank them for the selfless help that they offered to her and her mate. Sometimes she didn't even bother say "thank you".
I couldn't tolerate all this ingratitude!

Even the book "Barbarian's Beloved" that featured a girl with medical anxiety issues was less frustrating that this book.

What saved the story:
1. The big blue sweethearts who were giving help and forgiveness so freely and without thinking and without expecting anything in return.
2. Veronica who keeps maturing and becoming important for the continuation of the story of the ice planet as a whole. She fits in the big picture nicely. (I also adore her dragon)
3. Brooke that offers Willa the correct advice and thank God somehow Willa starts getting what is going on around her.

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

This book was great but after a while (this is wayy pass the 50% mark) I just couldn't stand Willa.?

I understand having bad experiences and baggage but letting all that have so much control over you is beyond my understanding.

Also, this has to be the weirdest Ruby Dixon I have ever read. And she's known for her alien erotica so just imagine! xD

Now off to my favourite of the book, Gren.

(Now I don't know about y'all but this is what I see when I imagine Gren)

So, in the beginning it was all like this.


Then we saw some of this.

and this,


She tried to tell 'em but well, I would have probably reacted like everyone else.


So we got some form of this,

and they ran away . . .

Bunch of shit happens, in a nutshell, (this is only about the first 40%-ish)







Sub the wolves with ferocious snow cats and we all know what happens next.



Oh yeah, he was definitely dying


Now if this review wasn't getting real ass long I'd continue, cause we can talk about Gren's past that had me all

but I think I've painted a fair amount of the picture.

Pretty disappointed there wasn't some of this,

(Hey, impractical or not I'll always be a reader :p)

Ridiculously surprised we didn't get some of this,

But we got some of this and it's almost the same thing ^_^


I can't put my finger on it but this book reminded me of something, I wonder what ever it could be . . .?

Quick! Someone give me a hint! xD


Oh she did, Lumière. Boy, did she ever! xD

[BleuBelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I couldn't stand the Heroine. And the way she talked was really annoying.

Hero and Heroine can't understand each other. The only word they understood for the first part of the book was "friend". Reading it felt very childish.

But my main problem with this book was the way the Heroine escaped with the Hero. In order to free him from his bounds she has to overcome the "guard". He's part of the tribe that saved the Hero and Heroine and gave them food, shelter and clothes. And in return Heroine bashes his head in with a huge stone, so that she can free the Hero. They left the guard bleeding and unconscious. Somehow it didn't fit with the characters or the story.

[♛ Garima ♛ · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was such a tiring chore to re-read this. The only reason I did was, not to miss out on anything in others' interactions. I liked Gren less and Will even less...I think they are my least favourite couple of Icehome (and maybe IPB too).

Why does this happen all the time? Every time, I read Dixon's book, it happens that I am more invested in other people's stories than the main one. Like when I was reading Veronica's, I wanted to read Willa's. and while reading this (Willa's story), all I wanted to do was to read Angie's story. What is wrong with me?

Ok, so Willa's story- right....one bad decision after another. Gren, I can understand, he was a slave for a long time and cannot trust anyone since he was 'created not born' Gladiator -- like Frankenstein's monster. A monster/beast is not aware of concepts like love trust or kindness.

But Willa! I have expected more from her...yes, she doesn't trust 'blue people' but the reason was very flimsy. They both would have died a horrible death for the choices she made...*Sigh
Very frustrated with this...but I think the next one will be better.

[Leah Bratvin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get past this, she lost all my simpathy with how blasé she was with possibly killing Pashov. It doesn't help that we've already been there and saw Stacy's despair when Pashov almost died in the cave in. Honestly, f*** Willa. Such a ungrateful prick, talking like she was queen of empathy when she spent a 1/3 of the book comparing Gren to a dog. She wasn't doing shit for him, she was doing it for herself and whatever trauma she had.

[S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say I hate Willa. She is a selfish, immature, idiot. She basically kills Pashov by fracturing his skull and causing brain damage which ENRAGES ME.... and leaves him for dead. She cannot comprehend why all the sakhui want to keep Gren tied up and away from the others when any time they go near him or try to release him he ATTACKS THEM. She is so incredibly ignorant and doesn't give a shit about anyone. Then when Veronica shows with Ashtar to SAVE GREN FROM DEATH She is the most ungrateful little shit and decides while she's glad Gren is alive that she has NO RESPECT for Veronica or Ashtar, whom without, her mate would have died. They hump like rabbits, not caring at all that Veromica is out cold from saving her mate. Willa literally tells them to leave, whilst Veronica is passed out from healing Gren. ENRAGED I TELL YOU. She is worthless. Absolutely worthless. I have loved every IPB book and the first two of this series but I could have done without Willa. She is a mess and not in a good way. I wish she had died, honestly. Would have been a better story and I would have smiled.

[jenn *mother of dragon & snake* · Rating 5 out of 5]

GUESS WHO FINALLY GOT THIS ON HER KINDLE!?



YES YES. I know, I'm super trash for this series alright?



WHY IS THIS NOT OUT YET!?

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beastly Hero!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💙💚🖤💜
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🪐🪐🪐🪐
Character development: ☺️👹🫤👹

The heroine: Willa - she is one of the human women rescued by the barbarians and their mates after being taken from earth and crashing on the ice planet. She is a southern country girl who came from a bad background. Her mother what a drug addict and prostitute and Willa was determined never to be like her mother.

The Hero: Gren - He was a slave, created in a lab and is a hodgepodge of different alien DNA, made to be the ultimate fighter in the gladiator ring. When he is awakened from a cryopod after crash landing on the ice planet, he is immediately put in chains because he kind of goes crazy with the growling and everyone on the ice planet thinks he is too much of a beast and a danger to the group. They weren’t able to get close enough to him to implant a translator chip so he can’t understand anyone and they can’t understand him.

The Story: Willa is the only one of the group to feel bad for Gren who is a beast, but is being treated like a feral animal by the Messakah and other humans. She decides she will be his friend and eventually they escape the camp together. Willa doesn’t want Gren to be in a place where his is still treated like a slave and an animal, she sees more than just a beast.

Like all of the Ruby Dixon books I have listened to thus far, this book was written in dual points of view and done in dual narration. The narrators were Sean Crisden and Felicity Munro. Sean did a very gruff and growly voice for Gren which was pretty perfect for The Beast, especially because Gren and Willa couldn’t really communicate. Felicity did a southern accent and she did it well, though a southern accent isn’t my favorite for romance books.

The story takes place during the same timeline as Veronica’s Dragon and the storylines overlap in many ways since we know that Veronica helps Gren and the outcome of that situation. Though I really liked to hear the events from Willa’s point of view. There was much more to their story as well.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub

[Jen ♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

These two exasperated the ever-loving crap out of me. I’ve never come across a couple in this series or the last one who have been so pampered like Willa and Gren. They’re super fortunate that these aliens and humans were so understanding and accommodating of their needs. 🙄

But maaaan, Willa can be the most ungrateful woman after being rescued from potential slavery. I really don't like her at all. Gren is a different story, so I'm willing to give him some grace, but her? She could just take a hike for all I care and never come back.

Ugh! I should've DNF when I had the chance. 🤧

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is Willa and Gren's story - this is one of the romances running simultaneously to Veronica and Lauren's story...so some of this gets kinda repetitive. But as we learned in the last two books, Willa decides Gren needs to be free and steals off with him into the wilderness. Their friendship just sparks and gets confused with some of the sexual attraction arcing between them. Then, Gren gets attacked by snow cats and gets really sick, and Willa has no idea how to help him. Until the enemy, the big blue buddies who tied Gren up in the first place, come back to help. They bring Veronica, who is now a healer, and she fixes Gren right up...and then he's resonating to Willa. They shag like bunnies, and continue to shag, and even more shagging, because something isn't right and resonance isn't being satisfied. This means a trip back to the IceHome so Veronica can figure out what's wrong. But will everybody accept Gren among them or does Willa have to step in and protect him some more?

All of my two stars go to Gren entirely. He's the only redeeming factor in this book, though I'm a little skeeved at the idea that he has so much hair around his groin that it hides his penis. I'm not big into hair, so I chose to ignore that little point and just fan-girl adore his heart-breaking personality and innocence. He's a former slave who has learned to attack before getting attacked, which is why the blue guys tie him up. This just goes in line with his belief that he's still a slave, so he continues to fight them. But for Willa, he calms down and will follow her anywhere.

If only Willa hadn't been a stupid, selfish bitch. I liked her well enough in the beginning - she's down to earth, rationally agreeing with the need to tie-up Gren, even if it does kinda break her heart. She sets out to help him. Unfortunately, her idea is awful. Instead of maybe trying to establish a relationship and calming him down enough that he might be able to stick around...building trust and all that, she decides to free him and head off into the wilderness with him. Okay...sure, freeing him makes sense. But she leaves the one place where there is a known source of food, comfort and protection and heads off into a completely unknown wilderness where neither of them have any idea how to survive. Worse, she heads off into waist-deep snow without any idea how to start a frickin' fire. I cannot respect such TSTL behavior, especially because it endangers Gren. And of course Gren does get hurt...and he's near death. And she blames herself because she had to pee (that's when she was attacked by snowcats and he tried to protect her). She doesn't even once think this never would have happened if I'd been a little smarter about freeing him or she hadn't actually brought him out into danger in the first place...no.

And sometime during her time away from civilization, Willa loses all ability to be rational. At some point, she begins to see the blue guys, not as rescuers, not as people just doing what they need to do (in tying up Gren), but as the enemy, set on enslaving him and separating them. This probably stems from some of her insecurities and fears, but it makes her seem pretty whackadoodle to me. So much so that when the blue guys show up, instead of begging them for help, she tries to fight them off to leave Gren alone while he dies (because he'd rather die free than live a slave). So as they go off to protect the cave these two are living in, she grumbles about how they're content to let Gren die, when she's doing the exact same frickin thing! She's lettting him die. At this point, I was done with her. She finally accepts Veronica's help and is she super grateful at their help? No. Not really. And boy does it creep me out that they have loud, raucous sex while Veronica and Ashtar are sleeping in the same cave with them...that's not sexy it's just skeevy and juvenile. She still doesn't trust them or want them near her and Gren. And when they have to go back to get help getting pregnant, Willa still looks around with suspicion at everyone, like they're going to tie up Gren and hurt him or something. This definitely comes from her insecurities, but it also shows how selfish she is, since Gren is happy to be accepted and around people and she still isn't sure she wants to stay with them.

Also, let me just say how disappointed I was that Willa was able to bash Pashov over the head (believing she'd killed him) to free Gren. She acknowledges that Pashov had been nice and that none of them had hurt Gren, but killing him would have been okay? The ends justifies the means? I seriously wish that Stacy had been in the village when Willa and Gren had returned and she'd given Willa a piece of her mind. I get that the author needed a reason to establish and us vs. them mindset, so that Willa and Gren had a good reason to be off alone, but she also didn't want to make the blue guys evil...so she made Willa neurotic instead. I'm seriously hoping that our next story takes out of this endless time loop and on to a bit more of the future.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have read the first two books in this series, then you know that we have seen many glimpses into Willa and Gren's relationship. I've been cheering Willa on since she shown interest in Gren. Everyone else was treating him like the ferocious monster he is, but Willa was determined that he shouldn't be treated like a caged beast.

Willa doesn't listen to her peers and begins to sneak to see Gren. As things progress, she takes a risk to set him free from his bonds. And, of course, Gren steals her away.

I wouldn't say that this was my most anticipated book of the series, but I was very intrigued by their storyline as Ruby really already gave away part of their story in the past books. Therefore, Willa was already up pedestal for helping Gren. I loved the fact she was also a southern woman. I loved her compassion and her ability to see past Gren's rough appearance. But when I read the book. . .



She was made to appear naive and dumb due to the fact she was a "hillbilly." Her southern accent didn't translate well to the page - leaving her sounding very phony. I also hated how she did things outside of her character. It was like she had multiple personalities. I hated reading from her perspective.

However, I loved Gren. He was the saving grace to this whole book for me. I still think he could have done better than Willa.

Another downfall to this book was that we had already read the majority of it in the past books. It really killed the mood of the whole book because we really knew everything that was going to happen before it happened.

Overall, it was just a disappointment for me because I was expecting something different. I would still recommend you read it as it is part of the series, but I would just prepare you to not to expect more than what you already know from the other books.

3 stars!

This review was originally posted on Sincerely, Whitney

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love RUBY DIXON and I love anything that has to do with the IPB series and all the spinoffs! I hope Ruby never stops writing.

[AKA · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars for Gren...

If you have read any of my longer reviews, you've probably realized that I have to like the female lead. I can't love a romance where I just like the male lead.

I don't live vicariously through the FL nor do I read to fantasize about David Gandy look a likes. The FL needs to be someone I am rooting for. Honestly, both leads do in a romance... why should I care about the relationship of people I don't like? So, this book was tough because I wanted to snatch Willa bald!

I didn't care that she inadvertently caused his injury or that her escape plan sucked. I hated the way she acted once she and Gren met up with the others again. Like, he ATTACKED everyone at the beginning. Be glad they didn't spear him to death. Even Gren got why they tied him up. They owed her nothing and I was so glad Ashtar and later Lauren checked her.

Her hand wringing over whether to stay or go annoyed me and I wished Georgie (who I also dislike, lol) had been there to tell her to take Gren and kick rocks.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

The book started out as 5 stars, but towards the second half, mostly Willa, she got REALLY annoying so I dropped it down a star.

I try to do the audio version of this series because I really like listening to it. Although I’m not a fan of smutty reads via audio, I thought this one was pretty unique.

First off, Felicity does a really great Southern impression and it’s very strong. It might not be everyone’s cuppa, but it didn’t bother me at all. It’s very thick that’s all I can say.

Sean Crisden does a growling voice. Like imagine your husband growling at you and talking to you in a deeper voice than what he sounds like. That’s what the narrator did. I’m not sure if I liked it or it hinder my listening experience. It was different that’s for certain. At one point he does an impression of the Heroine and it sounded really good! He can do a high pitch southern voice pretty well. So A for doing different impressions.

This is kind of like the story of Beauty and the Beast, but in this instance, Willa takes the beast.

So I’ve always been curious about the Beast. He growls, has fur and he attacks anyone near him.

Willa sees a person in need and does what she can. She tries to help him out by helping him escape and they live in the middle of nowhere.

I liked the premise of the book. It was really good for the first half.

Then Willa gets annoying and let’s her inner monologues of issues come out and sheesh. It was making a light book not so light and it was just well, annoying.

Willa has mama issues, uncle issues, sibling issues, it looks like she has all kinds of issues and because of that, that is how she treats people.

GIVE ME A BREAK.

I did like the beast and I liked that most of the issues was Beast and Willa verse EVERYONE else so that was nice.

Overall, it was a decent read and I will continue the series.

[Mei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm fairly agree with Umaiya's review! :-)

Only one thing different that I kept seeing Beast and dark grey instead of golden! LOL

I was exasperated with Willy too! She started as a reasonable being, but soon lapsed into paranoia!

She made some really bad decisions that could have ended very, very badly!

The constant reference to her trashy junkie mother was OTT, but she just couldn't stop comparing people who didn't have anything to do with her to her.

I wanted to congratulate Brooke when she gave a stern lesson of how Willa's idiotic behaviour was influencing Gren!!! Brava Brooke!

Gren was a dear, as are all the male characters in this series. They're all a big teddy-bears!

I love all the books placed or connected to "Not Hoth"and I'll be looking forward to all the stories that are to come! :)

[Natalie Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ✨

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

** First Read** 1️⃣
August 21, 2022
3½ stars
⭐⭐⭐💫


** Reread** 2️⃣
September 28, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars.




➕ What I liked :

Rather interesting and likable main characters.
(Especially the hero.)

Good romantic build up and chemistry.

The heroine was rather observant/perceptive and she was also compassionate and overprotective of the hero.

The hero is protective of the heroine.

Interesting concept with the malfunctioning cootie and the resonance issues.

Interesting idea/concept about the heroes appearance/looks. (He is regarded as beastly to everyone else but the heroine finds him handsome in a “different way”.)







➖ What I disliked :

A missed opportunity to have a couple that can’t have children (because the khui/cootie/resonance does not work as it should.) Or for different reasons do not want children.... just to change things up a little bit in this universe/world.

Some of the heroines overprotective behavior was a little over the top/too much.
(But she had a past that explained a lot of her personality and issue/problems …. But it was a tiny bit frustrating/over the top to read at times.)

Formulaic in the character description/character choice: small “delicate” human and Huge hulking/buff alien.
(Would have been/Would be really interesting to maybe see much more variety in the character descriptions/character choices.)

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the worst books in the series. The main character actively worked against her own and her mates best interests. Grossly stereotyped “southern” woman says “bless your heart” 20+ times and “sugar” over 30. There are a handful of plot inconsistencies (which seems to be a growing issue with Dixon’s Icehome series) that are irksome to say the least.

This book could have been wonderful but it relies too heavily on miscommunication and a psychotic female lead that grows more and more unlikable as the story continues. The male lead is a classic cinnamon roll type that wouldn’t have had to go through any of this if it wasn’t for a huge misconception caused by his love interest and not being able to speak to anyone.

The whole misunderstanding could have been solved with a 5 minute conversation and some gentle adjustments to the tribe dynamic. This reads as a bad beauty and the beast retelling with a flat ending (you mean the tribe that continued to care for you throughout the entire book was actually GOOD all along??? Shocking).

I’d recommend skipping it and moving on to the next book — save yourself the headache.

[Dani · Rating 1 out of 5]

Frustrating.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willas innerer Monolog war manchmal anstrengend und die zweite Hälfte des Buches hat sich für mich etwas gezogen. Aber … Gren ❤️‍🩹
Gebt ihm ein zu Hause und Liebe und eine warme Decke, right now.🥺🫶🏽

[Brit Andrews · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars for Gren and no love for Willa

I thought Georgie was my least favorite person on the ice planet but nope now it’s Willa. She is the absolute worst! Nothing she does has any logic behind it even Gren thought how he was treated when they first woke up made sense. All the whining she did especially about nobody telling him any information made no sense... the only person that could have communicated with Gren at all was Ashtar except that he’s Ashtar and Gren never actually bothered talking only growling so how could anybody know what language he spoke at all? I get that Willa had a difficult life back on Earth but not once ever did anyone treat her badly since arriving on the planet yes sure Gren was tied up but it was never because anyone was trying to be mean to him her while mistrust and freaking out every other minute was ridiculous. Gren adapted to everything with such ease that it made her look even more insane in comparison.

Willa is so stupid and annoying that I had to force myself to keep reading. I like the whole series I like most of the people in it so I will keep reading. At first I liked Willa because she wasn’t whining about “free will” and “choices” like a lot of the others did making my eyes roll because in reality it’s not something everybody obsesses over. But no really Willa is somehow worse than literally anybody somebody should have just knocked her off a cliff. Over dramatic stupid overly emotional no common sense and just plain annoying that’s Willa. But I liked Gren, I feel bad he got stuck with that nutcase.

[Rosebud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waking up after being released from a stasis chamber on an bitterly cold ice planet is not something Willa thought would ever happen but here she is. Trapped on a planet with no hope of leaving, if she is to believe the resident sa-khui's. So far the welcoming committee has been polite and respectful to Willa and others who have ended up on the planet, except for Gren who is tied up and kept as a prisoner though he's done nothing wrong. They say he's an animal. They say he's dangerous. They fear he'll kill everyone if he were to get loose. What they don't do is give him the chance or opportunity to be free.

Gren has suffered much in his life as a battle slave with his sole purpose to fight or die for his masters pleasure. Expecting to travel to another planet and another arena to fight, Gren is confused when he's tied down and kept isolated without explanation or expectation of what it is that he is to do. One female dares to approach him to provide food and creature comfort in the form of blankets and such which is smart as he doesn't harm females, ever. This is a new game, a new battle, that he will observe until he knows the rules to this newest fight.

Willa has had enough. Gren is not a prisoner nor an animal. The only way he can be freed is if she can make it happen little realizing Gren has no intention of leaving without her.

* * *

This is the 3rd installment in the "Icehome" series that can be read as a standalone though there are references and includes information from earlier installments. For the most part though that won't be a problem.

The main characters Willa & Gren. I was disappointed that the male cover model did not suitably depict Gren. While normally I would be ok with that, at some point a high volume author needs to stay true to her characters with a semi realistic depiction as I the reader do look at things like that. Getting back on point. This was a slow burn type of romance between Willa & Gren who started out with baggage issues from their pasts that needed to be resolved if they had any chance of moving forward. Luckily the alien equivalent of a fairy Godmother helped things along in the form of khui & resonance. That took care of the physical attraction at least. The focus then became finding a way to make their relationship work outside of the bedroom.

For those who have a need to know attitude, yes there is sensual adult content scenes between the two that maybe go a little overboard as maybe too much of a good thing (sex) may have consequences, and not all in a good way.

Secondary characters are limited to the cast of characters from previous installments in this world building, which pulls in other series by this author. I myself always appreciate authors who keep the old and new characters around giving them a role to play that contributes to the current story. Also, gives teasers that lead up to the future main characters of upcoming installments.

Any issues I have run more into second guessing the story line itself and/or critique on how long a female can be pregnant in a series before she delivers. Seems like a couple of the girls have been preggers F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

For fans of this author and series, I'm sure this book will be appreciated. The recurring alien male with human mate formula is always a hit so as long as each story is fresh and different than others, I'm a fan.

[Alyssa (HeartwyldsLibrary) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was insufferable and exhausting to read. I hate Willa with every fiber of my soul and the smut was absolutely horrendous to read through. Up until now I have had pretty much zero issues with Ruby’s smut scenes but what was put in this book was cringe and so absolutely uncomfortable to read through.

To be perfectly honest all the best scenes were when side characters where present, such as Hassan, Taushen, Brooke and so fourth, the side characters made the journey through this book mildly better, as it gave me something to look forward to.

The best part of the book overall was Aayla telling Gren to be a kitten!

Also I am livid that Willa NEVER apologized to Pashov for bashing his head in with a rock.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one so much. I'll be honest and say that Willa did annoy me, just a smidge. I mean, the way she tried to protect Gren in certain situations was cute and admirable and all, but FUCK! Just relax a little bit. Over there acting like all our other precious blue hunks were out to get her and her man.

Smh.

Who did she think she was?



I kid, I kid.

But let's take a moment to address something...

I think this is the first Ruby Dixon book to have a...

Ummmmmm...

Errrrrr...

Certain situation (?) that was kind of...

Odd.

How can I put this without spoiling anything?

Let's just say there is a certain thing that happens (doesn't happen?) and Will and Gren get a little company during their, umm, mating?

LMAOOOOO



Like, seriously.



It was just... weird. I get it why the situation had to happen the way it did. But it didn't make it any less awkward.

Like any other Ruby Dixon book (except that one to do with Miss. Whiney-Pants) this was chalk full of sexy times with lots of fondling and the awkwardness that comes with two different beings (species?) trying to figure out how to tell the other they're fucking horny and that they want to put it in them (or them put it in they?)

Great times.

And then you have everyone else at the cave entrance like:



And it truly is great times.

Some parts were a little long I think, and the story felt a bit repetitive in respect to every other story on this planet, but it's all good. I live for this smut. So it's all good.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

10 stars for Gren and 1 for the rest so I'm bringing it all up to an average of 3.

If you were to ask me what this story is about, I'd say: 'Taming a beast'. And the authour does a fabulous job with our MC.

Gren is a genetically engineered beast, a monster created with DNA from different species for the sole purpose of fighting in the arena as a gladiator. His life is a series of cages, fights and beatings. He knows no kindness and no other touch except that of a weapon or a club.

The author shows us how he transforms, how he slowly starts to see himself as something other than a monster. She describes how a kind touch and a nice word can make a world of a difference for someone who's been made to be a beast. And she does it beautifully with Gren. I loved the way she wrote him!

That being said, the rest of the book is a bit dissapointing.

Willa is not very smart to say the least. Her thoughts and actions had me eye- rolling more than once because ... come on! How daft can you be?!!

The plot is inexistent, apart from taming the beast. There isn't even any action. Well, provided you don't count sex as action; cause then I'd have to say there's a whole load of action! Waaay to much action to be more exact!

So, on the whole, I'll probably remember Gren for proving to be a big sweet and cuddly softy under all those fangs, claws and fur. Glen... but nothing else.

If you like beauty and the beast type of fairytales and you don't mind a lack of plot, a hell lot of smutty scenes as well as the fact that the beauty is beautiful and kind but not very bright; then go ahead and give this a try.

If you're looking for hot and sexy with a good plot and nice real action... keep looking.

[christina 🌺 · Rating 1 out of 5]

my least favorite book in the series, I was legit considering not continuing the series at all, that’s how much I disliked this one.

I will give the next book a try though, but I need a break from this series for a while.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐ I did not like this story

The only reason I'm giving this 2-stars is because Ruby Dixon is a great writer and story-teller.

First off, the sex storyline is basically if Belle f*cked the beast in Beauty and The Beast. Gren is more animal than the big blue guys. He has enormous fangs and a cat-like nose and fur all over. It was gross visualizing how him and Willa mate. They can't really kiss so they lick each other’s chins/faces. YUCK! I'm sorry but no. Let's be honest, we're here for the smut and I hated that aspect of the story, so it gets a low rating.

Second, I hate Willa more than any of the other female protagonist in the IPB universe. Her reasoning makes zero sense and her mistrust annoyed the sh*t out of me. She was so mad at how everyone tied up Gren but didn't see where the tribe was coming from? It was just weird she could empathize with him so much but not the rest of the clan.

I think this will be my last IPB/Icehome book for a while. I think I need a break.


Icehome Books + Ratings

💎 = Favorites

1. Lauren’s Barbarian - 4/5 💎
2. Veronica’s Dragon - 3/5
3. Willa’s Beast - 2/5
4. Gail’s Family (TBR)
5. Angie’s Gladiator (TBR)
6. Hannah’s Hero (TBR)
7. Devi’s Distraction (TBR)
8. Nadine’s Champion (TBR)
9. Callie’s Catastrophe (TBR)
10. Penny’s Protector (TBR)
10.5. Twas the Night Before No-Poison Day (TBR)
11. Mari’s Mistake (TBR)
12. Raven’s Return (TBR)
13. Bridget’s Bane (TBR)
14. Steph’s Outcast (TBR)
15. Sam’s Secret (TBR)

[Fanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willa' s Beast es el tercer libro de la saga Icehome de Ruby Dixon, y si soy sincera tengo que reconocer que estaba muy curiosa sobre la relacion entre Gren y Willa y tambien sobre el pasado de el protagonista masculino.

Esta tercera parte me ha gustado un poco menos si la comparo con sus dos predecesoras, no es que la historia sea mala, ya que me resulto entretenida, sino que en determinados momentos extrañe que tuviera mas accion.

La pareja protagonista tambien es agradable, me gusto que la autora hiciera hincapie en que las apariencias no lo son todo y que Willa no fuera tan superficial como para juzgar a Gren por su aspecto fisico, y de el me encanto que fuera tan dulce y tierno pese al pasado cruel y horrible que tuvo que vivir.

En fin, esta tercera novela decae un poco respecto a los libros anteriores pero continua siendo una lectura sencilla y entretenida, que es una opcion ideal para leer en cualquier momento.

3 Estrellas!

[Valkyrie ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the heeeeeeell, these just keep getting better and better. These last few books have been completely ridiculous, and hilarious, and sexy af. I loved every second of it 😍

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willa's been watching the way these strange blue, behorned...aliens have been treating Gren. He may look like a wild untamed beast, but he's still a person and the more they treat him like an animal, the more he fights. So, although the blue aliens have been nothing but kind to her and her fellow humans after rescuing them from a crashed spaceship, she starts formulating a plan to free Gren and escape Icehome.

I feel like my reviews of Ruby Dixon's books are becoming slightly repetitive. There's only so many ways of saying I LOVED IT, LET THE ALIEN HAVE ME, that I can come up with. Although Willa's Beast has been successful at shifting my day dreams away from sexy blue and horny aliens to scarred and growly - think Beast from Beauty and the Beast - type aliens.

I recently did a post about heroes that fit in to the wild and untamed category. Heroes that are ferocious and instinctual, but strangely innocent of normal social conventions. Gren fits perfectly into this breed of hero. Created by slavers, he was expected to fight and then die for a crowd's entertainment and his owner's bank account. He's never experienced kindness of care from anyone, until Willa.

Willa knows about real monsters, having been raised by them. She knows that a beautiful appearance doesn't mean anything, her mother was beautiful but she was a beast. Gren, despite his beastly appearance is no monster. I loved Willa's devotion to Gren, and my favourite part of this book was the beginning when they just escaped and were surviving together and before they knew each others language. Dixon managed to quickly develop a bond between them that was both sweet but rife with sexual tension.

This was another great alien romance by Ruby Dixon. The story managed to be both sexy as hell but incredibly sweet. And, as well as the romance, we get to see the other people in Icehome and the possible developing romances that Dixon is building. I can't wait to see who will be resonating next!

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