Must-read romances: 'Shards of Hope,' 'Something to Prove'

This week we're recommending new romances by Nalini Singh and Kimberly Lang and also chatting with the authors.

First up is Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh. This paranormal has two assassin psys on the run who have no hope of life and so cling to each other all the more tighter. The heroine, Zaira, and my favorite hero in the series, Aden, are so perfect together. There's raw chemistry and emotions and a ton of action (triple threat!). Nalini is in my top five favorite authors, and I have already pre-ordered the audiobook.

What it's about (courtesy of Berkley):

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn't welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she's too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.

This time, even Aden's passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken…like Zaira.

CHAT WITH NALINI

How did you choose your couple this time?

Nalini: I always knew these two would be the final couple in the first arc of the series. It couldn't be anyone else. But I didn't force it — Aden and Zaira were ready. It's their time.

Tell us about Aden… I love Aden!

Nalini: Aden is a true leader. He'll go into hell itself for his people, and he will never, ever leave an Arrow behind. No matter what.

What would you be, changeling human or psy?

Nalini: My two top choices, between which I see-saw, are: a winged changeling and a teleporter. I love the warmth of the changelings, and as a winged changeling, I'd get to fly, too! But teleporting all over the world with a thought sounds so seductive.

Have you ever had an interesting supernatural situation?

Nalini: No ... not yet!

What are you currently working on?

Nalini: I have a Psy-Changeling novella collection that I'm working on in my spare time, so I'm going to focus on that until I get my page proofs for Archangel's Enigma.

Favorite line from Shards of Hope?

Nalini: "I want you. No substitutes."

Something to Prove by Kimberly Lang

Next up, we have Something to Prove by Kimberly Lang. In this contemporary, we have Ryan Tanner (super hot) and Helena (former wild girl) getting together after years apart, and it's adorable. Watching these two had me smiling and blushing. When I'm in the mood for a contemporary, Kimberly's one of the first authors I go to.

What it's about (courtesy of Signet):

Former wild child Helena Wheeler was happy to leave behind her hometown—and her sordid past—for Atlanta twelve years ago. But when her grandmother suffers an injury, Helena has no choice but to return, even if it means facing down all the people who have shunned her.

Ryan Tanner went from being a football legend in high school to Magnolia Beach's young, hot bachelor mayor. As a teenager, he never wanted anything to do with a girl like Helena. But when she hires Ryan to do some construction in her grandmother's house, he finds that she's grown up into a different person—one he quite likes.

For Helena, confronting her past has its share of surprises—and falling for the resident golden boy was definitely not on her to-do list. But will her reformed ways be enough to get her back in the town's good graces, or will her reputation keep Helena and Ryan apart for good?

CHAT WITH KIMBERLY

How did you create the world around Magnolia Beach?

Kimberly: Magnolia Beach is what happens when you let a Southern girl really wallow in her Southernness. It's everything I love (and hate) about the South rolled into one little town.

So, small town or city gal?

Kimberly: I am very much a girl from the 'burbs. However, I very much want to be a city girl, living in New York or London or Chicago. Sadly, I'm too Southern to tolerate snow, and all the cool big cities are too far north.

Ryan Tanner is a football legend. Do you have a favorite football team?

Kimberly: I'm not much into sports in general, but when I do cheer, I cheer for the University of Tennessee. Go, Vols!

Tell us about Helena.

Kimberly: Helena is sassy and snarky and seemingly tough as nails, but it's really a front for a girl who's been hurt. I love that she's a former wild thing, but she's not looking for redemption in the eyes of the town — merely acceptance for who she is now. I think she's one of the strongest heroines I've ever written, as well as the most fun.

What are you currently working on?

Kimberly: I'm working on edits of both the second Magnolia Beach book, Everything at Last, and a Magnolia Beach novella, One Little Thing. A third Magnolia Beach novel is loosely plotted and currently cooking, and I'll be starting on that one soon.

Favorite line from Something to Prove?

Kimberly: Helena's thoughts her first day back in town:

They probably have the high school on lockdown already. She snorted. Like she even knew where to find a pig these days.

Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions departments at Dreamspinner Press and Entangled YA. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).