Rebel Hard

As a reader of romances, they can sometimes be predictable. This story is not. The characters are fresh and the plot is unique and thoughtful. I love Raj and Nanya.

I love Nalini Singh’s books and Rebel Hard didn’t disappoint. A beautiful story from start to finish.

3.75 stars--REBEL HARD is the second instalment in Nalini Singh’s contemporary, adult HARD PLAY romance series-a spin off from the author’s Rock Kiss series. This is twenty-eight year old, accountant Nayna Sharma, and twenty-seven year old, construction worker/builder Raj Sen’s story line. REBEL HARD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Some of the events of REBEL HARD run parallel to, and cross-over with book one Cherish Hard.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Raj and Nayna) REBEL HARD follows the building relationship between twenty-eight year old accountant Nayna Sharma, and twenty-seven year old construction worker/builder Raj Sen. Having met at a mutual friend’s party Raj and Nayna were unaware that their traditional, Indian backgrounds were about to collide. For weeks, Nayna’s parents have set up several meetings with prospective grooms in an effort to arrange a marriage for their single daughter. Having born the brunt of shame her elder sister’s affair placed on the family Nayna is having nothing to do with the time honoured tradition but outdated ‘arranged marriage’ her parents are desperate to achieve. Enter Raj Sen, the man she met and accosted on a previous occasion, and the man with whom Nayna will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Nayna and Raj, and the potential fall-out as Nayna battles between head and heart, and her need to remain independent in spite of her love and attraction to Raj Sen.

Nayna Sharma wants to do it all-travel the world, explore new places, experience the life she has always dreamed but her parents have other plans for their daughter, including an arrange marriage to a man of their choice. Raj Sen is a successful contractor and builder, and has always dreamt of marriage, children with a stay at home wife-traditional, old school marriage to a woman who lives to serve her husband and family but times have changed, and so too have the women in his life including the woman with whom he has fallen in love. Neither family is above using guilt or shame in their attempts to force a marriage between our leading couple.

The relationship between Raj and Nayna is one of immediate attraction tempered by their dual virginities and family responsibilities. Making time for themselves, Raj and Nayna will go behind their family’s backs to explore the world of dating, and falling in love. The $ex scenes are sweet, intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters including Raj and Nayna’s best friends Sailor Bishop and Isa Rain (Cherish Hard #1), as well as both of their meddling but meant well families.

REBEL HARD is a story of family, tradition, understanding and rebellion. The premise is spirited and realistic; the romance is tender and emotional; the characters are charismatic and energetic.

Just a heads up, as the story line focuses on Middle Eastern and Indian values, some of the language and text may be unfamiliar.