Barbarian's Mate was definitely one of the heavier IPB books, since both Josie and Haeden had a lot of trauma (both physical and emotional) in their pasts. Be sure to check the CW's before reading. I couldn't wait for this grumpy + sunshine pairing, but sadly it didn't fully work for me. So much time was spent with Josie rebuffing Haeden and trying to deny the resonance, that it made their connection feel too superficial once she essentially gave in. This book is more of a bridge to introducing more women into the mix and the plot felt thinner than the previous books to me. The sexy times were very sweet and steamy though (I loved the reveal about Haeden!), and the updated special edition includes Josie and Haeden's Ice Planet Honeymoon which added more delicious steam. Overall, this one was just OK.

CW: rejection and death of mate (past), death of family due to mass illness (past), grief, trauma, sexual assault and abuse in foster system (past), sexual assault and rape by aliens (past), animal attack, brief thoughts of suicide

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Ruby Dixon does what she does well! I liked this installment of this series, and I hope others do too!

Continuing my love of this series, I have finished the next ARC! Thank you to Netgalley and Ruby Dixon.
Josie is the last of the humans on Not Hoth to resonate with a mate. She's overjoyed, until she finds that her mate is Haeden the crankiest most overbearing male on the planet!
Thus begins a fabulous enemies to lovers tale that's so sweet and full of adventure as any of the Ice Planet books that have come before. I enjoyed this novel so much because Josie has always been a lady I'm rooting for. She's a sunshine person in situations that could use a bit of sun. She's also head strong, independent, and force to be reckoned with as Haeden soon finds out. If you love this series, enemies to lovers and some fun forced proximity, you will love the newest edition of Barbarian's Mate.

Such a guilty pleasure. They're well written and different. Such an easy read. Keep them coming, I'll read them until the end.

After reading and thoroughly enjoying Barbarian's Prize I was very excited to pick up Barbarian's Mate, especially as a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope. However, while the love story of Barbarian's Prize felt unique and fresh, the plot this time around felt a bit too similar to other books in the series, and the POVs of the leads didn't really seem very distinct from other previous leads (yes, we get it, the aliens are horny and desperately want to bonk with their mates every time we see them...there's only so many times I can read about it). The "enemies" part of the enemies-to-lovers could have also been a bit more pronounced, in reality it was more like "miscommunication and misunderstandings-to lovers." In the end though it's a solid entry to the series, and if you've read all the others and loved them you'll probably love this. But for me it was just too much of the same.

I need everyone to know that I am absolutely obsessed with these IPB stories. Seeing them be repackaged with special editions has been wonderful. These books are just so creative and every storyline and romance is unique and fresh. Definitely pick this one up if you've enjoyed the past ones!

4⭐️
3.5🌶

In Barbarian's Mate, we tag along on Josie and Haeden's journey of hate to love.

Josie is the last unmated human woman on Not-Hoth. Her resonance was delayed due to her IUD, but when her khui randomly pushes out her contraception device once day, she realizes that resonance could now be possible. Josie goes in search of her mate, only to realize it's none other than the one big blue alien she can't stand... Haeden. While Josie resists the resonance, and while Haeden does what he can to handle their unfortunate situation, they find themselves learning more about one another. What was once a stressful and tension filled relationship becomes something neither of them expected... tenderness, patience, and love.

I love Haeden so much. The big, hot quiet, brooding type who would rather be alone because of his past heartbreak? Just my cup of tea! Josie grew on me after awhile, and when she finally opened up (to herself and to Haeden), the story really flew by for me. Ruby Dixon continues to weave fun, adventurous tales and adds just the right amount of spice to each story in this series.

Not that I want to get abducted by aliens or anything, but every time I pick up one of these books and return to our favorite frozen planet, it feels a little bit more like coming home.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley publishing!
I really love Ruby Dixon as an author. I think their books are very creative, and the spice is very fun to read. This did not disappoint as a continuation of the ice planet barbarians series. I read the first few books a while back and enjoyed getting to read part of the series again.
If you want some creative space and like your men 6ft and blue then definitely read this book.

I was so excited to get to Josie and Haedon's story! Both characters are great, a very good enemies to lovers story. I do wish the two got together sooner in the book, as their time as a couple was so wonderful.

Josie wants nothing more than have a soulmate and when she does find hers... it turns out to be the one person who hates her... or does he? Being stuck on an alien planet where your soulmates are chosen for you by the “resonance” should be easy right? Except its not, especially not in Josie’s case in which her’s suddenly happens with the one person she knows dislikes her, Haeden. Haeden has had a difficult past relationship and now he’s given a second chance to finally make it right with his new soulmate.... except she hates him and he can’t figure out why. Both Josie and Haeden have really bad communication issues as well as past baggage that makes it difficult for them to open up to one another and properly communicate, it also doesn’t help that they are two different species. Haeden wants nothing more than to prove to Josie he’s the right one for her and that he can make her happy, but will their mixed communications ruin things? This one was meh for me, I really didn’t like Josie and Haeden at the beginning of the book and it didn’t take me until about 70% in to finally like them. This book really stretches the poor communication and misunderstanding story line and if that’s your thing then this is definitely for you. Josie read kind of like a 16 year old girl rather than someone in their twenties. Overall, if you are into the grumpy x sunshine trope and the miscommunication and misunderstanding trope then maybe this one will work for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

3.5⭐️ I wasn’t so sure about this in the beginning as I really disliked both main characters but they get so much better with time.

~All Josie wants is a family of her own. Being the last single female on the ice planet is as depressing as it sounds. She never expected her soulmate to be Haedon, the man who hates her as much as she hates him.~

Josie’s background.. wow. My heart hurt for her. You just want to wrap her up in a hug and take away her pain. And Haedon is so much more than meets the eye. I loved them together.

*I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*

I loved this one! You get a little glimpse/hint at this couple at the end of the previous book and I could not wait to start their story/this book immediately. Josie resonates to Haeden and she is not happy about it one bit. While she’s always wanted a family of her own, she doesn’t want this jerk to be her mate. Haeden is so grumpy but beneath his grumpiness he just wants to protect and take care of Josie and I loved their slow burn relationship. Both have a lot of hurt and sadness in their past, Josie was a foster child on earth and has been abused pretty much her whole life. Haeden has a sad past as well and this is his sort of second chance at love and a mate. I loved how their story played out and just couldn’t get enough of this couple!

BARBARIAN'S MATE is the next installment in the ICE PLANET BARBARIANS SERIES by Ruby Dixon. These books absolutely blew up on BookTok, and it has been so refreshing to see them get the attention they deserve. This book was just as good as the other installments, with the same steam, humor, and plot that you would expect from the series. These books are such a guilty pleasure read and I cannot wait for the next book to release in stores!

I loved this installment of Ice Planet Barbarians!

After the last book left me a little ho-hum, Josie and Haeden's story was just what I needed. They were both great characters who needed so much growth to be in a relationship, the plot was super exciting with lots of peril, and the payoff totally earned!
I'm back on the Ice Planet train!

4.25 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy!

If you like stoic grumpy men, this book is for you. This is the 6th in the series and brings some of the heat similar to the others. Unfortunately, Josie can come across as annoying and it kind of ruins parts of the story due to this. She comes across as a cranky and sometimes very selfish woman, which doesn't do terribly well with the grumpy butt of a man. I look forward to the 7th in this series, but we will see.

Barbarian's Mate by Ruby Dixon is a part of the Ice Planet Barbarians series and follows the story of Josie, who has always dreamed of finding her soulmate. However, when Haeden is chosen for her, she is not happy with the choice. Haeden is grumpy, unpleasant, and not the kind of mate she had hoped for. But as they spend more time together, Josie's body responds to Haeden's touch, and she starts to wonder if there is more to him than meets the eye.

The author has done an excellent job of building the world of the ice planet and its inhabitants, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the story. Josie is a relatable and likable character, while Haeden is initially unlikable, but readers will find themselves warming up to him as the story progresses. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, and the author has done an excellent job of building up the tension between them.

The bonus novella, "Resonance," adds more depth to the story, giving readers a glimpse into the lives of other characters in the series. The writing is engaging and easy to follow, making it a perfect read for those who enjoy sci-fi romance. Overall, Barbarian's Mate is a fun and entertaining read that will leave readers eager to read more about the ice planet barbarians.

I always find myself enjoying the books in this series, but with that said it does feel like once you’ve read one book you have read them all. They all follow the same flow of a character finding her “one” and then falling in love. While I enjoy that, I do wish there was a bit more variation.

Josie was a character that I wanted to know more about when it came to her back story. I definitely felt for her when her “one” turned out to be the one person she thought hated her. I did like that dynamic and while it wasn’t a true enemies to lovers trope, it did have a hint of that.

Although I do feel like all these books end up following the same formula and I can see the story coming, which I don’t like predictability, I do still plan to continue the rest of the series. They are still a good time and give an enjoyable escape from reality.

I absolutely adore this series! I was so pumped for Josie's story and then when I found out that she resonated with Haeden???!?! The drama! Honestly another really great story and I feel like the relationships are getting better and stronger with each book. Can't wait to read the next one!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

This was my favorite one in the IPB series so far! Enemies to Lovers 🙌 Haeden was grumpy in a good way and he and Josie were great together.

Love this new cover, and another great addition to the IPB world!! I did get stressed out in the beginning with the miscommunication between Josie and her mate, but obviously they got their HEA in the end. And I’m so excited to read more about the new humans that were found, as well as more info about the planet and creatures!