When She Dances by Ruby Dixon [Review]

When She Dances (Risdaverse #5) by Ruby Dixon
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 10, 2020

Risdaverse
When She's Ready
When She's Married
When She Purrs
When She Belongs
When She Dances - Paperback | Kindle
When She's Bold
The Alien's Mail-Order Bride
Pretty Human
When She's Lonely
Prison Planet Barbarian
When She's Pregnant
When She's Merry
When She's Fearless
When She's Wary
When She's Common
When She's Handy

Related Novellas:
Bad Guy
Worse Guy

Ruby Dixon
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I never expected to spend my days as a dancing girl… but it beats the alternative. In the window of a filthy space station cantina, I gyrate my hips and hope for better days.

When I’m bought by the most intimidating alien on Three Nebulas Station, those better days are on their way. Zakoar of the Broken Back is a cyborg who deals in black market prosthetics. He’s terrifying to look at, with a metal jaw and a fearsome demeanor. He intimidates everyone in the galaxy… except me.

Zakoar doesn’t want my name. In fact, he doesn’t want anything from me…except a little bed sport. In exchange for my willingness, he’ll take me to a human-friendly planet where I can live unafraid.

Love isn’t part of the bargain, but every moment that I spend with him, I learn more about the male beneath the metal…

…and I’m suddenly dreaming of a very different happy ever after for myself…

Thoughts on When She Dances: Zakoar of the Broken Back and Tessa get their chance to find a little happiness in this crazy universe. Zakoar is...well, he's a sweetheart. A cyborg with an intimidating demeanor who does quality prosthetic work, he's A COMPLETE MARSHMALLOW on the inside. His procurement of Tessa keeps her from becoming the property of someone who might use and abuse her and he fiiiiights his emotional attachment to her something fierce.

Because, you know, who would want an ugly cyborg like him?

Turns out the answer is Tessa. Tessa would want an ugly cyborg like him. Except she doesn't think he's ugly at all and she sees into the heart of his soft, gooey center.

Do they have a few speedbumps? OF COURSE. Because Tessa's a slave trying desperately not to get attached to her newest master since the probability of being sold off again is high and Zakoar is not gifted in being sociable. Which means sharing how he feels is...well, it's a big bump for them. A big one. But they make it work. Eventually.

I have to say (as I always do) that I adore these aliens who seem so different on the surface, but are just looking to be loved. Tessa and Zakoar! YES!