Sam's Secret by Ruby Dixon [Review]

Sam's Secret (Icehome #15) by Ruby Dixon
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 12, 2021

Icehome
1. Lauren's Barbarian
2. Veronica's Dragon
3. Willa's Beast
4. Gail's Family
5. Angie's Gladiator
6. Hannah's Hero
7. Devi's Distraction
8. Nadine's Champion
9. Callie's Catastrophe
10. Penny's Protector
11. Mari's Mistake
12. Raven's Return
13. Bridget's Bane
14. Steph's Outcast
15. Sam's Secret - Paperback | Kindle
16. Daisy's Decision
17. Flor's Fiasco

Ruby Dixon
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Life has taught me that I can't trust anyone. Not friends, not family. In the worst, darkest moments, no one can be counted on to have your back. Even a billion miles away from Earth, on a remote icy planet, I still feel alone. The only consolation? I haven't resonated. It's not that I don't want love or children. I just can't trust anyone, even myself.

But then one day, my khui resonates, and it's to the last guy I ever expected. In fact, I resonate so hard that my chest is singing its mating song before his does. That never happens.

So what does a calm, rational, grown woman do when life turns upside down?
She runs for the hills, of course.

I should have known he'd follow me.

Thoughts on Sam's Secret: It's Sam's turn to find her special someone AND reveal some of the secrets she's been keeping close to her chest. Her honey-bunny is a sweeeeeetheart of the highest order and her life before being abducted makes her utter glee at being stranded on an alien planet totally understandable.

That said, it takes a while for Sam to get on the resonance train. Not GET on it, because resonance waits for no one and her khui is fired up and ready for some action. It's more like, she has to mentally accept that Sessah isn't trying to own her, but that he's there as a partner. Given the stalking and terror she lived with back on earth, there's a lot of baggage Sam has to deal with. But Sessah is patient and understanding and gives her the space she needs to be comfortable with them as a couple.

By the by, Sessah grew up into a Hottie McHotpants, didn't he? The years were kind to our boy and Sam hit the jackpot with that one.

Enough about Sessah's tree-trunk thighs, though. Let's talk about how the tribes don't really have an understanding of violence for violence's sake. None of the men can wrap their heads around the idea of hurting a woman or attacking someone just to cause pain. Sessah doesn't really understand how terrible Sam's life back on earth with a stalker was. He (and the others) grew up in a society where the endless winters mean they have to rely on one another. Someone taking what they want without regard to how it affects the rest of the tribe is pretty much unheard of. So an unexpected visitor who DOESN'T have that same mindset is foreign to him.

Fortunately, Sam is wary of trusting others and she's strong enough to stand firm when her man needs her the most.

An extended interlude at the fruit cave, a whole lot of learning one another's cues, a little danger, a secret or two, and resonance! Because there's nothing like resonance, amirite?!?!