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Risdaverse #9

When She's Merry

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Homesteading on the remote farm planet Risda III can be lonely. So when I notice that my neighbor isn't doing so well, I ask for help to give her a Christmas celebration to brighten her spirits.

Unfortunately, the person helping me is Sinath, the most infuriating male alien ever. He's got a weird sense of humor. He doesn't know what a Christmas tree is. He even tried to exterminate my pet rodent.

And he keeps staring at my mouth and yet refuses to kiss me. The nerve.

But Sinath is easy to be around, corny jokes and all. He knows just what my friend is going through. And he’s a surprisingly good snuggler.

This is either going to be a complete disaster...or the merriest holiday ever.

122 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2022

463 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read

About the author

Ruby Dixon

161 books19.8k followers
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. :)

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5 stars
2,085 (39%)
4 stars
1,790 (33%)
3 stars
1,228 (22%)
2 stars
207 (3%)
1 star
31 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
Profile Image for Kristina .
1,051 reviews931 followers
December 8, 2022
When you venture into the Risdaverse you are guaranteed cute, sweet little reads most of the year, set one at Christmas and the sugar levels might cause instant diabetes! This was such a nice holiday read. At first I was worried because it dealt with a side character battling depression and dealing with loss (not too Christmasy) but they were written in an accurate and sensitive manner so it was uplifting and hopeful. That’s difficult to do. Often mental illness is used as a plot device in holiday reads and everyone is cured by Christmas and family. In reality, Christmas and family are incredibly difficult things for those struggling with depression, they can be triggering and are often things to be endured, not celebrated. But this book didn’t gloss over that. This book showed the long path someone dealing with loss goes through and showed how, if done with empathy and without pressure, help from others can in fact assist someone at the lowest get a boost towards wellness.
That aside, this was also a very cute story, with an earnest golden retriever hero and a wary heroine. Sin learning about and questioning human Christmas traditions was hilarious. Him asking for a matching sock so he could wear it with the one they hung up for his gifts made me chuckle. It’s true that Christmas traditions are nonsensical and mishmashes of various cultures and pagan rituals, that’s actually what I love about Christmas, because I am not a Christian but still love this holiday. This was such a silly and heartwarming story, with a really nice epilogue and an overall hopeful feeling.
Profile Image for •Mrs Pizza•.
501 reviews140 followers
December 6, 2022
What’s your favorite alien romance series? Oh mine? That would be Risdaverse.
I can count on them to feel like a cozy love story with a little heat, even when some more important topics are covered.
Plus who doesn’t love a big blue dude that’s madly in love?!? Also Christmas 🎄
Ruby Dixon could write a book about any damn character on this backwater farming planet and I would promptly devour that nonsense.
Profile Image for Tami.
Author 36 books2,735 followers
December 15, 2022
Das war sooo so so so schön 🥹❤️
Profile Image for Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️.
2,945 reviews2,673 followers
July 12, 2024
Awesome character interaction!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💚💜
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎🌍
Character development: 😊😄😘😍🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

The Hero: Sinath - he is a Messakah (Blue alien with horns and a tail) who works on Risda 3, the planet that is a home for human females where they can be free and they each get a plot of land to farm, a home, bots to work on the farm, and other things. His job is to help the residents of Risda 3 with anything they need.

The heroine: Devin - She was kidnapped from Earth before the planet was destroyed. She was owned by a Messakah male who kept her as a pet, but often neglected her, forgot to feed her and give her a proper place to sleep. Now she is happy to be free and has her own farm on Risda 3. She didn’t know how lonely she was until she found a ring-tailed rodent one day and made him her pet. She wants to help her neighbor who seems to be in a deep depression and barely gets out of bed. Her farm is in disrepair and her house is a mess.

The Story: Devin goes to Sinath for help, though she dislikes the Messakah male because of her history with Messakah and also because he seems to hate her, and he really dislikes the fact that she keeps a rodent as a pet. However, since one of the colonists complained about Sinath to his boss recently, he doesn’t want Devin to complain about him as well, so he figures he better to everything he can to help her. She wants to have a Christmas tree and celebration for her neighbor, but since there aren’t a lot of trees around, she needs approval to take one from a neighboring farm.

I actually really loved this book and this couple. They started out bickering over everything and despite the short length of this book, they spend a lot of time together getting to know each other and falling for each other. They are silly and funny and both of them are so adorable and interesting. I love the way Sin looks at things so logically. He can’t understand why Devin wants to kill a tree just for a short celebration. Especially when trees are such a rare resource. He also can’t figure out why you would put a skirt on a tree. He pictures the tree dressed up in women’s clothing. Not to mention the fact that you put goodies in a stocking on the mantle. Who would want food or gifts that smell like an old sock?

This audiobook was told in dual points of view via dual narration and was narrated by Jillian Macie and Mason Lloyd. I love Mason Lloyd for these alien romance books, He has a great voice for them and always does a great job. Same for Jillian Macie who has a great voice and in this book her personality really shines through.

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Profile Image for RLbooks (in and out).
994 reviews480 followers
December 7, 2022
More Risdaverse fluffiness, this time holiday style. For this story, we get a h who’s worried about one of her neighbors and trying to bring Christmas cheer to lift her out of a depression. She enlists our H, a Custodian, to help while trying to explain Christmas with hilarious results. There’s just the right touch of holiday traditions, worked in a different way to give that feel. Written in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama; H is a virgin and h is not but hadn’t been with anyone in years.

These two start off being annoyed by each other due to past interactions (the H had tried to kill a rodent on the h’s property that she then adopted and he’s horrified over), but I loved how they bonded trying to take care of someone else, the humor they shared, and how once again Ms. Dixon created a relationship where they fit like sweet puzzle pieces. Lots of adorable moments, another respectful H, and a slow burn to steaminess. This will always be a happy place to visit.

There are references to a side character dealing with depression that I thought were handled very respectfully. Also, shout out to the rodent pet rep, they make excellent and sweet pets but people can be really judgey about rodents.
Profile Image for Christy.
4,543 reviews35.9k followers
December 8, 2024
4 stars

This was so much fun and cuter than I thought it would be. I enjoyed the story between Sinath and Devin; it had a sweet Christmasy theme.
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Jillian Macie & Mason Lloyd
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance/SciFi
Length: 3h 9m


Profile Image for Inna.
1,678 reviews372 followers
December 8, 2022
4 stars. It’s in the Risdaverse, therefore, I love it.

I do still dislike how trivialized the trauma from sexual slavery seems to be in this series. I realize it makes sense from a backstory perspective to have aliens want earth women for sex… but they just all cope soooo remarkably well. 😒

Safe ofc. Virgin hero, non-virgin heroine who was SA’d by her previous captor, no scenes or drama with om/ow, no cheating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Zero.
809 reviews24 followers
December 29, 2022
This is a cute novella. Sinath is a sweetheart. He says the wrong things sometimes, but his heart is in the right place and here's funny. Devin is kind and strong, but I feel like her personality wasn't fully fleshed out.
Profile Image for Mara.
1,950 reviews4,322 followers
December 13, 2022
This was a very fun short story in the Risdaverse that had just the right balance of sweet and smutty for a Christmas novella
Profile Image for Kimmylongtime.
1,308 reviews130 followers
June 28, 2024
This series makes me so happy !! I can say since the first book and we in the double digits !! I love everything about this story and I was so happy that Sin got the HEA he deserved. I also loved that he was average and not 7 foot with a foot long ding-a-ling!! Sin was perfect for Devin and Jerry the spicy rodent who got into all kinds of shenanigans. I hope the grandma of the series gets her HEA too !!

I am rereading this because I want to 🥰🥰!! We should all own books that make us smile 😊!!
Profile Image for AvidReader.
1,473 reviews333 followers
December 12, 2022
4.5🌟.

I can never get enough of Ruby Dixon and I love love her lil bit slice of heaven Novellas. And this was no different.

A lonely Messakah who has a bad sense of humour but is a secret sweetheart and sharp witted, bold human female with a pet rodent name Jerry, this book was heartwarming and hilarious.

Recommended.
Profile Image for Christi (christireadsalot).
2,794 reviews1,438 followers
May 31, 2024
The farming planet Risda is getting snow and Devin wants to help cheer up her recluse neighbor who is depressed by bringing her a Christmas tree! She enlists the help of one of the gruff custodians, Sinath. Well he’s grumpy towards her because she’s domesticated a wild rodent, her pet squirrel and he can’t get over it. But he ends up bonding quickly with her neighbor since she reminds him of his grandma!

The banter and teasing in this one was so fun between Devin and Sinath. The snowed in and Christmas vibes was a fun twist to the planet too! This is just a quick holiday novella part of the Risdaverse series and it was a lot of fun.
Profile Image for Sammie Reads.
1,137 reviews183 followers
December 13, 2022
It’s been so long since I immersed myself into Ruby Dixon’s world of blue aliens and human women, and I’d forgotten just how much I love these earnest and devoted humanoids!!!! Humans colonized on another planet after Earth was destroyed, each given a patch of farm land and rations. Sinath is a mesakkah, and is tasked with helping the humans. Devin met another human, Liesje, and realizes that she is very depressed. She askes Sinath to help her create a Christmas for Liesje to help.

Sinath’s absolute non-understanding Christmas customs is hilarious and adorable, but he goes out of his way to help the women, winning them over with his charm and earnestness. Somewhere along the way, Sinath and Devin fall for each other and it’s very sweet and lovely…and hot. Well done Christmas novella, I kind of want to reread all of her other books now! Loved it!
Profile Image for Patri.
412 reviews50 followers
December 20, 2022
No me escondo, me ha encantado. Cuqui y 🔥 a partes iguales, con un alien que no entiende por qué hay que cortar árboles y meterlos dentro de casa para decorarlos cuando es navidad 🤣
Profile Image for Hilda.
1,323 reviews289 followers
December 9, 2022
I pick up my pet, cuddling him, and return to the living area. Sure enough, Sinath takes one look at Jerry in his sweater and laughs. He holds his sides, shaking his head. “That animal is ridiculous and he’s absolutely growing on me.”

Devin and Sinath were so cute together. Two lonely souls coming together to help a neighbor in need. These colonist all have such sad stories but so do the custodians (alien officers). It was so nice to see them come together to bring some joy and found family to each other.

It was a fast, cute read with a very happy ending for this adorable couple. And Jerry the rodent is the cutest with his little sweater and shoulder handing tendencies.
Profile Image for Angela Plumeria.
427 reviews4 followers
December 15, 2024
Loved all the Xmas spirit and her little pet rodent, Jerry. I thought their romance was cute though wasn’t as much of a fan of the parts after things started getting intimate, but could just be me.
Profile Image for dany.
780 reviews53 followers
December 20, 2022
Okay pero lo de llámame Sin me hizo sonreír como tonta. Te entiendo, Devin, te entiendo.
Profile Image for Ra! 	ʕ •̀ ω •́ ʔ.
428 reviews341 followers
December 8, 2023
I'm back on my Ruby Dixon bullshit! This time with a holiday romance!

I thought this book was good. It touched on the need for community and connection , depression, holidays, and had a good love story in it!

Tropes:
— Alien Romance
— Virgin Hero
— Holiday Romance

Horn Level: 3/5🌶️
Format: Ebook

The Rating
I give this book a 4/5🌟 rating. This was cute quick read!

Check out my socials here for more reviews!
Profile Image for SmuttyBuddy.
631 reviews165 followers
December 6, 2022
What an awesome little holiday novella! Ruby totally rocked this book like she always does!

Sin and Devin are the cutest pair, and their miscommunication makes for the most hilarious antics! I love the silly, corny jokes. And the romance in this book was just so sweet and sexy!

Another five star book Dixon has blown me away with, there's a reason I keep coming back for more!
Profile Image for Kayla (onthefritz).
733 reviews120 followers
August 21, 2023
Devin + Sinath

Wowwww!! Since it is going to snow on Risda, Devin wants to bring Christmas to her recluse and depressed neighbor to cheer her up. She reluctantly gets help from Sinath, who quickly befriends the neighbor himself as she reminds him of his grandma. Oh, and Devin has a pet alien squirrel.

So, so good! Could reread this one anytime, not just good for a holiday read (although is an amazing holiday read full of gifts, trees, cooking, and baking - and snow!)

A+++ banter here. Devin and Sinath do not get along, their main discourse being Devin domesticating a wild rodent. The banter changes to loveable teasing, escalating the harbored feelings with a snowed in, there's only one bed scene. All the good things crammed into one book here, these last handful of Risda books have been some of the best!
Profile Image for Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro.
1,486 reviews239 followers
May 2, 2023
I feel like I went on a date with this book and at first, everything was great. The vibe the christmassy mood, the tension-less feel-good story with just a tiny bit of real feels? Great.

But that's before the FMC and MMC started having pseudo-deep discussions and talking about boundaries and relationship progress ~insta-marriage~ versus ~taking it slow~.

And I was like: ?????

My dear Risdaverse book, thou art not a novel!

I am always in support of fictional characters setting boundaries. It's important!

But you can absolutely set an iron-clad boundary in one paragraph and be done with it if your novelette is short!!!
Profile Image for Badh.
3,311 reviews66 followers
December 12, 2022
So cute

Sinath and Devin are just so adorable together. I love how Sinath interacts with Liesje. Those two really needed to have each other in a very family kind of way.
Profile Image for nelka9books.
431 reviews239 followers
January 4, 2024
this one was actually so wholesome and cute??!!🫶🫶
Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews

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