As the Rolling Stones sang, if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.

In Her Cyborg Awakes by Melisse Aires, Sabralia dreams of a gentle, courtly man to sweep her away from life as the minor wife of an oppressive Emperor. She was given to him to forge a treaty between her weak agrarian world and his aggressive war-hardened one, but she is one of many wives and is all but forgotten by her husband. Her only companion is Qy, a cyborg servant who can only follow instructions and offers no real comfort. When the palace is attacked and the cyborg controls fail, Qy becomes Kaistril, the warrior he once was. He isn’t the courtly, peaceful man she dreamed of, but he saves her life and treats her with kindness and respect.

What I loved about this story is that Sabralia, a women who could easily have become a pampered brat, is actually very clever and eager to learn. Although she has little education or skills, she has courage and a natural intelligence. Under Kaistril’s patient tutelage she learns to pilot their small ship and even saves Kaistril’s life when the chips are down.

Kaistril comes from the Puregen race, humans with improved blood lines. They are athletic and strong, and all of the women he’s been with before were tough warrior women. Sabralia isn’t what he would have chosen either, but together they’re perfect.

I first heard about Her Cyborg Awakes when I read Heather’s interview with the author over on the Galaxy Express. I’m glad I picked it up. It was just the upbeat, romantic read I was looking for.

Length: Novella

Primary format: E-book

Publication date: May 2012

Anyone willing to share their favorite ‘what you need’ romantic couples? Two characters who would never have chosen the love that turned out to be just what they needed?