This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com. 
 Last year, I waited for Kiss of Snow with baited breath. I was so anxious for Hawke and Sienna's story to live up to my expectations that I gave little thought to after. As in, "What's going to happen to the series after the penultimate couple has their moment in the spotlight?" "Will Nalini Singh be able to create a hero that will tempt me after dazzling me with Hawke?" I shouldn't have doubted Nalini. Adria and Riaz have the kind of sweet, complex romance simmering with alpha male-ness and female strength of will that always brings me back to this series, to this author. In addition, Tangle of Need has revived my interest in the world-building in this series. The romantic pairings are always scorching but, at this point, I'll keep coming back to see what's going to happen in the war between the Psy and the Changelings, and to be there when all the secrets are revealed. 
 I will admit, however, that there was a bit of let-down for me regarding the romantic pairing in Tangle of Need. Riaz and Adria's push-pull, love-hate, yes-no relationship has its moments, but even the sizzling sex scenes didn't excite me as much as the most G-rated moments between Hawke and Sienna. Their tension has had years to build, so it makes sense that it would be a hard act to follow. The good news is that Tangle of Need has so much else going for it that it's difficult to mind much. It also has plenty of newly-mated Hawke and Sienna to satisfy anyone who wanted more of their story after Kiss of Snow. 
 Tangle of Need's strongest aspect is the way that it draws readers further into the Psy-Changeling world, and begins the second arc of the series. It brings new characters into play--and even takes us on a little trip outside the San Francisco area where most of the action takes place. Singh's version of Venice will delight readers, and make them want to see more of the world she's created. I promise. Some secrets are revealed, but the questions are still coming strong. Your mind will be whirring by the end of Tangle of Need's last page. 
 Ultimately, I think Singh made a good choice by making Kiss of Snow's followup about more than the central couple. All the books in the series allow us a chance to reconnect with familiar characters, but Tangle of Need goes a little above and beyond the usual. This gives us space to recover from Hawke and Sienna's story so we're ready to fully invest in the next couple. It's tempting to pester Nalini Singh to bring us the stories of highly anticipated characters (Kaleb, Vasic and now Alice) but she's a writer who knows how to make the wait worth every minute. The best part? Getting there is half the fun!