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Hard Play #2
Rebel Hard
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh continues her Hard Play series with a sweet, sexy romance featuring big, fat, OTT weddings, a meddling grandma, and a too-serious hero who needs to be unbuttoned…
Nayna Sharma agreed to an arranged marriage in the hope it would heal the fractures in her beloved family… only to realize too late that a traditional marriage is her personal nightmare. Panicked, she throws caution to the winds, puts on the tiniest dress she can find, and ends up in the arms of a tall, rough-edged hunk of a man who has abs of steel—and who she manages to mortally insult between one kiss and the next.
Abandoned as a child, then adopted into a loving family, Raj Sen believes in tradition, in continuity. Some might call him stiff and old-fashioned, but he knows what he wants—and it’s a life defined by rules… yet he can’t stop thinking about the infuriating and sexy woman who kissed him in the moonlight then disappeared. When his parents spring an introduction on him, the last woman he expects is her. Beautiful. Maddening. A rulebreaker in the making.
He’s all wrong for her. She’s all wrong for him. And love is about to make rebels of them both.
Nayna Sharma agreed to an arranged marriage in the hope it would heal the fractures in her beloved family… only to realize too late that a traditional marriage is her personal nightmare. Panicked, she throws caution to the winds, puts on the tiniest dress she can find, and ends up in the arms of a tall, rough-edged hunk of a man who has abs of steel—and who she manages to mortally insult between one kiss and the next.
Abandoned as a child, then adopted into a loving family, Raj Sen believes in tradition, in continuity. Some might call him stiff and old-fashioned, but he knows what he wants—and it’s a life defined by rules… yet he can’t stop thinking about the infuriating and sexy woman who kissed him in the moonlight then disappeared. When his parents spring an introduction on him, the last woman he expects is her. Beautiful. Maddening. A rulebreaker in the making.
He’s all wrong for her. She’s all wrong for him. And love is about to make rebels of them both.
409 pages, ebook
First published September 18, 2018
566 people are currently reading
3140 people want to read
About the author
Nalini Singh
239 books26.6k followersI've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 665 reviews
September 27, 2018
4.5 stars
It is quite amazing to me, the similarities between Indian and Greek/Cypriot culture. I grew up much the same way as Nayna and trust me when I say, it sucks. And I didn't even have a runaway sister. My parents had no excuse. Other than the typical "What will people say?". I wasn't even allowed to go out in broad daylight to have coffee with my girlfriends, or go to the cinema with them. This book took me down memory lane and frankly it made me angry for my poor teenage self all over again.
And I've really gone off topic but I really hate my teen years. DEEP BREATH, IN, OUT! And I'm back.
Anyway, this was a lovely book and I loved both Nayna and Raj. Together or apart they commanded your attention and your feelings. Navigating well-meaning families, dodging nosy aunties, listening to wise grandmas or well, one particular cool as all get out grandma, all made for a delightful book. If it wasn't for my flashbacks, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
And because they are all awesome and I couldn't pick (and also because I'm so tired my eyes are watering and doing a short review), for your viewing pleasure:
P.S. My apologies for the overshare. This book just brought back a lot of memories and I guess I needed to offload.. Sorry.
It is quite amazing to me, the similarities between Indian and Greek/Cypriot culture. I grew up much the same way as Nayna and trust me when I say, it sucks. And I didn't even have a runaway sister. My parents had no excuse. Other than the typical "What will people say?". I wasn't even allowed to go out in broad daylight to have coffee with my girlfriends, or go to the cinema with them. This book took me down memory lane and frankly it made me angry for my poor teenage self all over again.
And I've really gone off topic but I really hate my teen years. DEEP BREATH, IN, OUT! And I'm back.
Anyway, this was a lovely book and I loved both Nayna and Raj. Together or apart they commanded your attention and your feelings. Navigating well-meaning families, dodging nosy aunties, listening to wise grandmas or well, one particular cool as all get out grandma, all made for a delightful book. If it wasn't for my flashbacks, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
And because they are all awesome and I couldn't pick (and also because I'm so tired my eyes are watering and doing a short review), for your viewing pleasure:
P.S. My apologies for the overshare. This book just brought back a lot of memories and I guess I needed to offload.. Sorry.
July 28, 2024
Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh was many things, sweet, sexy, and emotional, but most of all it was fascinating.
Could you imagine being part of an arranged marriage?
I couldn't! But there are quite a few cultures where an arranged marriage is the norm, even in the 21st century.
The first time I met Nayna Sharma and Raj Sen was in Cherish Hard. They meet at a party one night without realizing that their parents picked one another as possible candidates for marriage. Of course that second meeting didn't go well after their first explosive encounter.
Throughout the novel, the author did an amazing job describing the feelings that both Nayna as well as Raj went through by coming to the conclusion that their future dreams might not match up. I liked that the author didn't gloss over this issue. She made the characters work for it, talk to each other, and figure things out together. Both, Nayna and Raj felt such a deep connection for each other, that their internal struggle felt real and deeply emotional.
Also, it was incredibly easy to fall in love with Nayna and Raj.
Both were mature, genuinely likable and wonderfully down to earth kind of people. And if I'm honest I had a slight crush on Raj. He was very much my kind of guy. Quiet, serious, hard working, devoted and loyal to his family. Responsible but also stubborn to go after what he wanted. He was actually the epitome of a perfect boyfriend. DREAMY!!!
Nayna was sweet but sassy. She struggled to find herself and was afraid that the past would always dictate her life. Her struggles were real, but she didn't ignore what was right in front of her either. She acknowledged her attraction towards Raj, and gave him a chance to change her mind. And together they were wonderful. They clicked right from the very beginning and I loved how fast they accepted this fact even though they both knew their dreams weren't evenly matched.
The true struggle between old traditions and modern times is real. Feeling free to choose, but also making parents and relatives happy was one of Nayna's biggest concerns. It was quite emotional and heartfelt to read Nayna and Raj' journey to their deserved HEA.
I must say, Rebel Hard is one of Nalini Singh's most unique contemporary romance novels yet.
The author took a topic that isn't usually found in contemporary romance books, an arrange marriage, and made it fascinating, eye opening, and emotional.
The cast was to 90% of Indian descent. I loved the insight into their culture, traditions, and family dynamics - it was all very foreign to me - which made it incredibly fascinating. Also, which gave me quite the surprise - both main characters were virgins. It didn't bother me at all. Their sexual experience wasn't intended to be the center of the story, and subsequently didn't take away from the plot or my enjoyment.
If you enjoy a diverse cast, learning about different cultures, and loving a sweet but sexy and emotional love story - this is the book for you.
Could you imagine being part of an arranged marriage?
I couldn't! But there are quite a few cultures where an arranged marriage is the norm, even in the 21st century.
The first time I met Nayna Sharma and Raj Sen was in Cherish Hard. They meet at a party one night without realizing that their parents picked one another as possible candidates for marriage. Of course that second meeting didn't go well after their first explosive encounter.
Throughout the novel, the author did an amazing job describing the feelings that both Nayna as well as Raj went through by coming to the conclusion that their future dreams might not match up. I liked that the author didn't gloss over this issue. She made the characters work for it, talk to each other, and figure things out together. Both, Nayna and Raj felt such a deep connection for each other, that their internal struggle felt real and deeply emotional.
Also, it was incredibly easy to fall in love with Nayna and Raj.
Both were mature, genuinely likable and wonderfully down to earth kind of people. And if I'm honest I had a slight crush on Raj. He was very much my kind of guy. Quiet, serious, hard working, devoted and loyal to his family. Responsible but also stubborn to go after what he wanted. He was actually the epitome of a perfect boyfriend. DREAMY!!!
Nayna was sweet but sassy. She struggled to find herself and was afraid that the past would always dictate her life. Her struggles were real, but she didn't ignore what was right in front of her either. She acknowledged her attraction towards Raj, and gave him a chance to change her mind. And together they were wonderful. They clicked right from the very beginning and I loved how fast they accepted this fact even though they both knew their dreams weren't evenly matched.
The true struggle between old traditions and modern times is real. Feeling free to choose, but also making parents and relatives happy was one of Nayna's biggest concerns. It was quite emotional and heartfelt to read Nayna and Raj' journey to their deserved HEA.
I must say, Rebel Hard is one of Nalini Singh's most unique contemporary romance novels yet.
The author took a topic that isn't usually found in contemporary romance books, an arrange marriage, and made it fascinating, eye opening, and emotional.
The cast was to 90% of Indian descent. I loved the insight into their culture, traditions, and family dynamics - it was all very foreign to me - which made it incredibly fascinating. Also, which gave me quite the surprise - both main characters were virgins. It didn't bother me at all. Their sexual experience wasn't intended to be the center of the story, and subsequently didn't take away from the plot or my enjoyment.
If you enjoy a diverse cast, learning about different cultures, and loving a sweet but sexy and emotional love story - this is the book for you.
October 21, 2018
I loved everything about this book! Raj and Nayna are both awesome! Their relationship is so sweet! I loved all the side characters- especially Nayna’s grandmother! The epilogue was good, but I want more! I would love a little novella about them!
December 31, 2018
Rebel Hard es el segundo libro de la saga Hard Play escrita por Nalini Singh y narra la historia de Nayna y Raj, personajes que conocemos brevemente en Cherish Hard.
Despues de leer la historia de Sailor y Isa y conocer pequeños vistazos a la futura relacion entre Raj y Nayna me moria de ganas de poder tener esta segunda parte en mis manos, no solo porque tenia el presentimiento de que seria una novela muy buena sino tambien porque la pareja protagonista tenia tanta quimica que estaba segura de que saltarian chispas entre ellos.
Una de las mejores sensaciones para una lectora es cuando esperas ansiosa un libro y cuando al fin lo lees resulta que supera con creces tus expectativas, esa situacion fue la que tuve yo con esta novela, la inicie bastante emocionada y lo cierto es que despues de terminarla he caido en la cuenta de que supero por mucho mis altas expectativas.
La historia de amor de Nayna y Raj es dulce, adorable, preciosa, diferente y muuy romantica, ademas tiene un toque original que hace que sea dificil de olvidar, pero lo que mas me gusto de esta lectura fue que no es la tipica historia de amor que suelo encontrar y tambien que tiene una profundidad y un desarrollo tan realista y verosimil que realmente da gusto conocer a sus personajes.
Muy probablemente esta sera mi ultima lectura del año y la verdad es que no podia haber sido un mejor cierre para el año 2018, definitivamente esta es la Nalini Singh que me encanta, la que escribe historias de amor unicas y especiales, ya que personalmente sus novelas sobrenaturales no consiguen hacerme sentir tanto como sus libros New Adult.
En resumen, Rebel Hard es una historia simplemente preciosa que te costara olvidar, ademas el tipo de amor que se profesan estos protagonistas es tan sano y correcto que te enamorara desde la primera pagina.
Muy muy recomendable!
4.25 Estrellas!!
September 13, 2018
Nalini Singh is back and she comes bearing gifts.
I'll be honest with you, I've been a little disenchanted with the whole Romance genre of late. I don't know if it's me, or it's generally going downhill, but if I have to read about one more secret kept for 20 years or a misunderstanding that has no reason to exist other than pride and prejudice I might just abandon this ship altogether.
FEAR NOT! NALINI IS HERE TO SAVE US, ONE DELICIOUS SEXY HUNK, HOT FLING AT THE TIME!
Or maybe I should say, one strong, smart, interesting heroine at the time. Because the best thing about this book? Not Raj, not Sailor,could've been T-Rex if she'd have done more than mention him. The absolute best thing about Rebel Hard are the women.
Now, this author has written (and I've read) all types of women. From strong, independent Elena to skittish, submissive Grace, and every combination in between. Somehow, Nailini Singh being my most-read author (at 63 stories, according to Goodreads), I didn't think she could surprise me anymore.
I WAS WRONG.
When Nayna first appeared in Cherish Hard, I didn't understand how a smart, financially independent woman in her late twenties could agree to an arranged marriage she didn't want. My uneasiness grew when I started this book and Nayna was described as a fiery, suffocated woman looking for adventure and her love interest was actually a serious, traditional man her parents had set her up with.
However, as I kept reading and got to know Nayna's family, it truly started to make sense. It was in the little things, as it usually is with love. Nayna's parents thinking of Isa on her birthday because she's Nayna friend and her family ignores her. Nayna's grandmother telling a few white lies so an annoying would-be husband would lay off her granddaughter. Her sister, who has in many ways taken away Nayna's freedom, helping her with her clothes so she'd look beautiful.
More than a romance, Rebel Hard was about the importance of culture, tradition, family, and finding your own path alongside it rather than in spite of it.
And Raj fit perfectly into it.
Despite their differences at first (and second, and third) sight, Raj and Nayna were good together because they were ultimately looking for the same thing: to be loved and acceptedand very sexytimes, GIVE ME THAT SMUT.
Dwight gifs should be inappropiate but he's Dwight, so they're just funny.
Raj might be serious and responsible, but he's also very sweet and truly commited to Neyna.I did mention sexy, right? The fact that he was willing to give Neyna space to figure out what she wanted, even as his instincts were screaming to push at every corner, is what truly won me over. His only truly reprehensible characteristic is that he's not a Bishop. And I was promised Bishop goodness, WHERE IS MY BISHOP GOODNESS?
Moral of the story? Never doubt Nalini Singh. She'll come at you with Bollywood-worthy OTT weddings, family mayhem, superb ab selfies, and eldery debauchery.
P.s.: Can you tell I'm watching The Office?
*ARC provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
I'll be honest with you, I've been a little disenchanted with the whole Romance genre of late. I don't know if it's me, or it's generally going downhill, but if I have to read about one more secret kept for 20 years or a misunderstanding that has no reason to exist other than pride and prejudice I might just abandon this ship altogether.
FEAR NOT! NALINI IS HERE TO SAVE US, ONE DELICIOUS SEXY HUNK, HOT FLING AT THE TIME!
Or maybe I should say, one strong, smart, interesting heroine at the time. Because the best thing about this book? Not Raj, not Sailor,
Now, this author has written (and I've read) all types of women. From strong, independent Elena to skittish, submissive Grace, and every combination in between. Somehow, Nailini Singh being my most-read author (at 63 stories, according to Goodreads), I didn't think she could surprise me anymore.
I WAS WRONG.
When Nayna first appeared in Cherish Hard, I didn't understand how a smart, financially independent woman in her late twenties could agree to an arranged marriage she didn't want. My uneasiness grew when I started this book and Nayna was described as a fiery, suffocated woman looking for adventure and her love interest was actually a serious, traditional man her parents had set her up with.
However, as I kept reading and got to know Nayna's family, it truly started to make sense. It was in the little things, as it usually is with love. Nayna's parents thinking of Isa on her birthday because she's Nayna friend and her family ignores her. Nayna's grandmother telling a few white lies so an annoying would-be husband would lay off her granddaughter. Her sister, who has in many ways taken away Nayna's freedom, helping her with her clothes so she'd look beautiful.
More than a romance, Rebel Hard was about the importance of culture, tradition, family, and finding your own path alongside it rather than in spite of it.
And Raj fit perfectly into it.
Despite their differences at first (and second, and third) sight, Raj and Nayna were good together because they were ultimately looking for the same thing: to be loved and accepted
Dwight gifs should be inappropiate but he's Dwight, so they're just funny.
Raj might be serious and responsible, but he's also very sweet and truly commited to Neyna.
Moral of the story? Never doubt Nalini Singh. She'll come at you with Bollywood-worthy OTT weddings, family mayhem, superb ab selfies, and eldery debauchery.
P.s.: Can you tell I'm watching The Office?
*ARC provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
March 4, 2020
I am in love with this couple! It was totally unexpected, and at one point in the story I had my doubts. All I can say is that towards the end of this book, things were happening that completely wiped out all my doubts.
The one thing that was consistent in this book was Raj. That man is dreamy! He was such a strong and steady presence, and man the way he fought for Nayna just slayed me. The way he knew when to step back, when to push and his complete loyalty to her makes this guy one of the best heroes I have read. He is 100% worth reading this book.
As much as I really liked Nayna as a character, I wanted to shake her so many times. She has this perfect man that wanted to just love her and what does she do? She kept pushing for independence, and for way too long. I kept thinking this girl is going to blow it. But you know what? When the time came, that girl shined.
Honestly, this couple just blew me away. It wasn't perfect, but what was good, was really good. Holy Cow, do I want more men like Raj!
The one thing that was consistent in this book was Raj. That man is dreamy! He was such a strong and steady presence, and man the way he fought for Nayna just slayed me. The way he knew when to step back, when to push and his complete loyalty to her makes this guy one of the best heroes I have read. He is 100% worth reading this book.
As much as I really liked Nayna as a character, I wanted to shake her so many times. She has this perfect man that wanted to just love her and what does she do? She kept pushing for independence, and for way too long. I kept thinking this girl is going to blow it. But you know what? When the time came, that girl shined.
Honestly, this couple just blew me away. It wasn't perfect, but what was good, was really good. Holy Cow, do I want more men like Raj!
September 18, 2018
This book was everything I wanted it to be, and then some. There’s family drama, an arranged marriage, meddlesome in-laws, massive OTT weddings, fledgling flirtation, super-sexy selfies and a hero who is just amazing. Seriously. Raj is amazing, that is all you need to know.
But if you want more… Well, in bare facts, Raj possibly shouldn’t have been as amazing as he is. He works extremely hard, doesn’t have much time or even the inclination to play, he is very serious and very old-fashioned. He wants a wife who will stay at home and raise the kids, which is why he’s contemplating an arranged marriage. He is definitely all of that, but he loves his family, is willing to do anything for those he cares about, he listens to Nayna and tries so hard to give her what she wants, while also learning how to flirt and take delicious ab-selfies to keep her interested in his body. And at no point does he ever even think about trying to turn Nayna into his stay-at-home-wife fantasy. He sees her exactly as she is and he loves her for all that she is.
He’s gorgeous, in every way, and I loved reading about him.
I liked Nayna too, even if she has no idea what she wants and is in the middle of a bit of an identity crisis. I did like how she judged Raj on his actions instead of some of the nonsense he said (such as romance being for children – after he’s met her for a midnight walk and pushed her on the swings and been completely adorable). And when he needs her, she’s right there, loyal and steadfast and loving, just as he is.
The rest of the stuff around the romance is equally as wonderful, throwing in a lot of Bollywood style and life and colour and incredible weddings. The Indian-Fijian-New Zealand cultural mix made for an excellent backdrop to all the drama and romance, treating traditions with respect while also maintaining a modern outlook. The secondary characters are great too, especially Nayna’s fabulous grandmother. The whole book is enormous fun, sexy, romantic and just enjoyable all the way through. Nalini Singh never lets me down and I cannot wait to see where this series heads next.
(ARC provided via NetGalley)
==============
Original First Impressions Review
Raj. Oh my goodness. Raj is amazing.
I'm going to have to read this again before I can review it because right now I'm just in a Raj-haze and my review is basically, Raj is amazing. That is all.
Which, to be honest, is all anyone should need to know about this book in order to read it. Nevertheless, more coherence to come later.
ETA: And it turns out I haven't actually read the final book yet. Which... if Raj gets any more adorable, I may squish my Kindle to death.
(And by adorable I mean sexy and amazing and, yeah, adorable too.)
But if you want more… Well, in bare facts, Raj possibly shouldn’t have been as amazing as he is. He works extremely hard, doesn’t have much time or even the inclination to play, he is very serious and very old-fashioned. He wants a wife who will stay at home and raise the kids, which is why he’s contemplating an arranged marriage. He is definitely all of that, but he loves his family, is willing to do anything for those he cares about, he listens to Nayna and tries so hard to give her what she wants, while also learning how to flirt and take delicious ab-selfies to keep her interested in his body. And at no point does he ever even think about trying to turn Nayna into his stay-at-home-wife fantasy. He sees her exactly as she is and he loves her for all that she is.
He’s gorgeous, in every way, and I loved reading about him.
I liked Nayna too, even if she has no idea what she wants and is in the middle of a bit of an identity crisis. I did like how she judged Raj on his actions instead of some of the nonsense he said (such as romance being for children – after he’s met her for a midnight walk and pushed her on the swings and been completely adorable). And when he needs her, she’s right there, loyal and steadfast and loving, just as he is.
The rest of the stuff around the romance is equally as wonderful, throwing in a lot of Bollywood style and life and colour and incredible weddings. The Indian-Fijian-New Zealand cultural mix made for an excellent backdrop to all the drama and romance, treating traditions with respect while also maintaining a modern outlook. The secondary characters are great too, especially Nayna’s fabulous grandmother. The whole book is enormous fun, sexy, romantic and just enjoyable all the way through. Nalini Singh never lets me down and I cannot wait to see where this series heads next.
(ARC provided via NetGalley)
==============
Original First Impressions Review
Raj. Oh my goodness. Raj is amazing.
I'm going to have to read this again before I can review it because right now I'm just in a Raj-haze and my review is basically, Raj is amazing. That is all.
Which, to be honest, is all anyone should need to know about this book in order to read it. Nevertheless, more coherence to come later.
ETA: And it turns out I haven't actually read the final book yet. Which... if Raj gets any more adorable, I may squish my Kindle to death.
(And by adorable I mean sexy and amazing and, yeah, adorable too.)
September 18, 2018
Rebel Hard was a joy to read from start to finish. Hilarious, poignant, and sexy, Rebel Hard is everything I wanted in my contemporary romance. Nalini Singh's writing shines through as she takes us through Nayna and Raj journey to HEA.
Full review to follow!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Full review to follow!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2021
This is the best contemporary Nalini has ever written!
September 27, 2018
5 “My heart can barely take all these feelings” Stars
This is the best romance book I read this year. Simple, beautiful, touching, full of feels and sexy AF.
I’m so in love with this book and these characters I don’t think I have words to describe my feelings.
Nayna is the kind of protagonist that steals my heart from page one and refuses to give it to back to me even after the story is over. She’s such a gentle soul. A beautiful person that I wish was real and my friend. Her desire for freedom and adventure never gets in the way of her love and respect for her family, and that balance is just another reason to love her.
Raj is book boyfriend material at its best. Thoughtful, respectful, serious, committed, sexy, smart. I can’t even with this man. He’s ridiculously perfect in a way that should be annoying but totally isn’t. I love, love, love his relationship with his parents and siblings. He’s one of those men who learned that he should treat women with the same care and respect he wants men to treat the little sister he dearly loves. He owes up to his mistakes, fights for the people he cares and protects them in a way that doesn’t feel suffocating.
The chemisty between Nayna and Raj is out of this word. I felt every scene between them from start to finish. They are adorable, sexy and perfect together. It also helps that Raj was so out-of-this-world in love with Naya. The “man who madly loves the woman who is reluctant to commit to her feelings” always gets me.
The romance was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Aside from Nayna and Raj’s perfect relationship, I adored the family dynamic. It was a beautiful thing to see both Nayna and Raj interact with their own families and with each other’s parents, grandparents and siblings. Nayna’s grandmother is probably my favorite character aside from the main couple. She made me laugh out loud more than a couple of times. But in truth, I loved everyone in Nayna’s family. Same goes for Raj’s parents and little sister. In fact, I was dying to read a YA book about Aditi, because she came across as such a smart and strong young lady.
And there were happy endings delivered like Xmas presents and I can't even bring myself to care that some were unrealistic. Real life is hard so books are allowed to give me as many happy ever afters as they want.
Honestly, I can’t think about anything I didn’t like in this book. Even the annoying sister-in-law had her place in the story and the third person narrative, despite not being my favorite in general, worked wonderfully here. The book was just that amazing!
Well, I don’t know what you’re doing, but whatever it is can’t be more entertaining than reading this book, so stop and go get your copy.
dnf
August 31, 202135% and I'm out.
I'm all for cute romance and cultural curiosities, but this one was just way too slow for me. Especially the over-delivery and over-description where you could see what was going to happen three or more pages before. I skimmed as much as I could but I just don't have the patience for this kind of story at the moment.
I'm all for cute romance and cultural curiosities, but this one was just way too slow for me. Especially the over-delivery and over-description where you could see what was going to happen three or more pages before. I skimmed as much as I could but I just don't have the patience for this kind of story at the moment.
September 24, 2018
2 to 2.5 stars. It was OK. I was a bit disappointed. I liked the H, Raj. The h not so much. She was very confused and IMO mucked poor Raj around just too much. It seemed like the angst in this book was a bit too manufactured. It just felt like a storm in a teacup and I wasn't convinced. I mean no disrespect to the Indian/Fijian/New Zealand cultures depicted in both of their families. That was an interesting aspect of the book actually (although there was a little too much detailed description of the pretty saris and the weddings).
But for the amount of drama (melodrama?) in the book, the circumstances to me felt like they didn't justify that depth of anguish. The sexual tension felt a little overcooked too. I got a bit sick of the number of times the h's damp panties were referred to. When H and h did get together it was hot, though.
So yeah, I'm a bit lukewarm about this one. Bummer.
But for the amount of drama (melodrama?) in the book, the circumstances to me felt like they didn't justify that depth of anguish. The sexual tension felt a little overcooked too. I got a bit sick of the number of times the h's damp panties were referred to. When H and h did get together it was hot, though.
So yeah, I'm a bit lukewarm about this one. Bummer.
April 25, 2022
4⭐️
2 🌶
Rebel Hard was the first novel I read by Nalini Singh and it did not disappoint! You may be wondering why I read book two first instead of book one in the Hard Play series. Well, let me tell you! The books in this series are standalone, so they can be read by themselves, but there may be spoilers from the previous books. I chose to read this novel first because I saw “Arranged marriage” in the synopsis and I was SOLD!! This was the Dual POV of my dreams.
Nayna Sharma does everything to make her family proud and avoids doing anything that may cause her family to be gossiped about; which is one of the reasons why she agreed to an arranged marriage. After having a couple of meetings with potential suitors, and turning them all down, Nayna decides to go to a party with her friend Isa. At the party, she is dared to kiss a random man there. The man in question? Tall, built, and extremely handsome, Raj Sen had definitely caught her eye! She was surprised when she got his attention too. Their chemistry was instantaneous and off the charts. They decide to go somewhere quiet to get to know each other ;). After that encounter and night, Nayna has another meeting with a suiter the next day. Little does she know, they have already met the previous night… They agreed to the arranged marriage, but could they make it work?
My Thoughts: I absolutely loved the connection and chemistry Nayna and Raj had from the beginning. I loved their banter! I just think they are incredible together, in every way, and it was lovely to see them open up with each other and share things that no one else knows about them. Their character developments shined the most to me. They both grew because of the other and were willing and open to compromise in their relationship, which made it realistic to me and I loved seeing that. You know what else I love? When she told him that she loved reading and her favorite novel was Pride and Prejudice so he got an audiobook of the novel and started listening to it and talking about it with her. A KING! My mind was blown and my standard hit the ceiling after Raj!
Most importantly, I loved their families. ESPECIALLY Nayna’s grandmother! She is HILARIOUS! I was laughing most of the time and the things she said and loved all the advice she gave. Some of my favorite quotes are from her.
Definitely would recommend this novel! It is a bit slow but a lot happens and I love all the tension that it added!
2 🌶
Rebel Hard was the first novel I read by Nalini Singh and it did not disappoint! You may be wondering why I read book two first instead of book one in the Hard Play series. Well, let me tell you! The books in this series are standalone, so they can be read by themselves, but there may be spoilers from the previous books. I chose to read this novel first because I saw “Arranged marriage” in the synopsis and I was SOLD!! This was the Dual POV of my dreams.
Nayna Sharma does everything to make her family proud and avoids doing anything that may cause her family to be gossiped about; which is one of the reasons why she agreed to an arranged marriage. After having a couple of meetings with potential suitors, and turning them all down, Nayna decides to go to a party with her friend Isa. At the party, she is dared to kiss a random man there. The man in question? Tall, built, and extremely handsome, Raj Sen had definitely caught her eye! She was surprised when she got his attention too. Their chemistry was instantaneous and off the charts. They decide to go somewhere quiet to get to know each other ;). After that encounter and night, Nayna has another meeting with a suiter the next day. Little does she know, they have already met the previous night… They agreed to the arranged marriage, but could they make it work?
My Thoughts: I absolutely loved the connection and chemistry Nayna and Raj had from the beginning. I loved their banter! I just think they are incredible together, in every way, and it was lovely to see them open up with each other and share things that no one else knows about them. Their character developments shined the most to me. They both grew because of the other and were willing and open to compromise in their relationship, which made it realistic to me and I loved seeing that. You know what else I love? When she told him that she loved reading and her favorite novel was Pride and Prejudice so he got an audiobook of the novel and started listening to it and talking about it with her. A KING! My mind was blown and my standard hit the ceiling after Raj!
Most importantly, I loved their families. ESPECIALLY Nayna’s grandmother! She is HILARIOUS! I was laughing most of the time and the things she said and loved all the advice she gave. Some of my favorite quotes are from her.
Definitely would recommend this novel! It is a bit slow but a lot happens and I love all the tension that it added!
January 3, 2019
First read of 2019 and it's off to a great start!
This was a really cute romance and I love how I learned so much about a culture I've always found so deeply fascinating and interesting. This book has a mix of arranged marriage, opposites attract and "You were my one night stand except now you're meeting my family, wtf?!"
I've always loved Nalini's writing but I've only read her shifter series, I'm happy I finally got the chance to read one of her contemporary romances. I thought the first three quarters of the book were so good but the last quarter got a little stale and I lost a bit interest. Also I haven't read the other books in this series but it felt like the author was on a serious "OW/YM" kick and had pretty much every secondary relationship be with this trope and I get it, you're trying to add that into this series but it felt like a bit much. But that could also be because I hate that trope lol.
Overall: great read and I loved the diversity!
March 28, 2019
4.5 ⭐️
September 18, 2018
Nayna has always felt like she has to be the perfect daughter to make up for the disappointment her parents felt when her older sister became a rebel. She's always done what was expected of her and has never wanted to hurt them by pushing her boundaries which is why she has agreed to an arranged marriage. But as she meets one disastrous match after another she starts to question whether she really wants to let herself be trapped in a life of someone else's choosing and her bet friend talks her into attending a party for a night of fun and dancing. The attraction she feels for Raj is instant but their first meeting goes horribly wrong so she is completely shocked when she realises that he's the next match her parents have found for her.
Raj was abandoned as a child and although he was adopted into a loving and supportive family he continues to crave love and security. He believes in tradition and is looking for a woman who will be the centre of his world, someone who will be a loving wife and mother and who would never abandon him. From the minute he meets Nayna he can't stop thinking about her but knowing how much she hates the idea of being forced into marriage he has to choose between his dream and allowing her the freedom to make her own choices.
Nayna and Raj both made an appearance in Cherish Hard as the best friends of Isa and Sailor so I was already excited about this story but it was even better than I had hoped for. They're both such brilliant characters, Nayna is sweet and funny, a little shy but also becoming increasingly brave as she finds her confidence. She loves her family and wants to do right by them but she also desperately wants to get a taste of freedom before she settles down and marries. Raj is a perfect hero, he claims he doesn't believe in romance but he's surprisingly good at the small romantic gestures that every woman longs for. He cares enough about Nayna to want to help her spread her wings and he stands up for her with both her family and his own when it comes to letting her have the chance to pursue her dreams.
The couple have fantastic rapport from the very beginning, they spark off each other and argue but the chemistry is there from the get go and you just know things are going to be explosive when they finally give into temptation. I loved the playful banter between them but also how they were always there for each other when anything went wrong. There is very little drama between them because they talk through their issues and are both willing to make compromises which is something I always appreciate in my romances. I also really loved both of their families, yes they have some issues but they all had a deep bond and clearly loved each other. It was really fun to see the families interact with each other and slowly blend into one big loving, supportive group around our couple.
We all know that Nalini Singh is a queen of paranormal romance but she's also just as good at writing fantastic contemporary romance with heroes you're guaranteed to fall for. T-Rex from Rock Hard has long been my favourite of her contemporary heroes but I think Raj may just have taken first place! Rebel Hard was absolutely perfect, great characters, swoon worthy romance, wonderful family dynamics and some huge and OTT Indian weddings! I'm already excited for the next book in this series.
Raj was abandoned as a child and although he was adopted into a loving and supportive family he continues to crave love and security. He believes in tradition and is looking for a woman who will be the centre of his world, someone who will be a loving wife and mother and who would never abandon him. From the minute he meets Nayna he can't stop thinking about her but knowing how much she hates the idea of being forced into marriage he has to choose between his dream and allowing her the freedom to make her own choices.
Nayna and Raj both made an appearance in Cherish Hard as the best friends of Isa and Sailor so I was already excited about this story but it was even better than I had hoped for. They're both such brilliant characters, Nayna is sweet and funny, a little shy but also becoming increasingly brave as she finds her confidence. She loves her family and wants to do right by them but she also desperately wants to get a taste of freedom before she settles down and marries. Raj is a perfect hero, he claims he doesn't believe in romance but he's surprisingly good at the small romantic gestures that every woman longs for. He cares enough about Nayna to want to help her spread her wings and he stands up for her with both her family and his own when it comes to letting her have the chance to pursue her dreams.
The couple have fantastic rapport from the very beginning, they spark off each other and argue but the chemistry is there from the get go and you just know things are going to be explosive when they finally give into temptation. I loved the playful banter between them but also how they were always there for each other when anything went wrong. There is very little drama between them because they talk through their issues and are both willing to make compromises which is something I always appreciate in my romances. I also really loved both of their families, yes they have some issues but they all had a deep bond and clearly loved each other. It was really fun to see the families interact with each other and slowly blend into one big loving, supportive group around our couple.
We all know that Nalini Singh is a queen of paranormal romance but she's also just as good at writing fantastic contemporary romance with heroes you're guaranteed to fall for. T-Rex from Rock Hard has long been my favourite of her contemporary heroes but I think Raj may just have taken first place! Rebel Hard was absolutely perfect, great characters, swoon worthy romance, wonderful family dynamics and some huge and OTT Indian weddings! I'm already excited for the next book in this series.
September 18, 2018
Also on Romances Ever After.
Okay so if you've been following my posts or tweets, then you'll probably know that Nalini Singh is a new-to-me author I've started reading early this year, and I've been a huge fan ever since. After devouring her paranormal works and loving her angels, vampires, and changelings, it's only right that I venture into her contemporary works as well.
Rebel Hard is my first, and holy shit it's SO GOOD. I basically said that about almost every Nalini book I've read so who's surprised? Not me, obviously.
The plot of Rebel Hard revolved around arranged marriage, something that is not unsual in brown cultures. Malays* have done it too, though not so much in the recent years. I love Nayna with all my heart, and it's so easy to root for her happiness. Her parents have been working hard to find a suitable husband for her, and while she was okay with it in the beginning, Nayna is feeling more and more suffocated by it all lately. She has always been the Good Girl in the family. She keeps her head down, always plays by the rules, and never does anything that could bring shame to her parents, not after how her older sister Madhuri ruined the family's good name a decade or so ago.
I totally get why Nayna wanted to rebel. I relate to her struggles to be the perfect daughter to her parents versus her wanting to carve her own path and live her life for her, not for family. Luckily her one night of rebel led her to Raj, who turned out to be another one of her parents' prospects for her. The prospect.
My one night of rebel? Hasn't happened yet, and I doubt that it would lead me to a Raj so what's even the point?
Moving on.
Raj is a dreamboat, by the way. I fell for him so hard, and so did Nayna though she sort of struggled with it in the beginning. Raj is described as a serious and traditional guy. He wants the whole package: a loving wife, kids, white picket fence, so much that he agreed to his parents' matchmaking efforts. He and Nayna hit it off right away the night they made, and although that night didn't end well, the thoughts of Nayna kept haunting him until they met again, this time as each other's match.
Raj knew instantly that he wanted her for keeps this time.
Their relationship development is my favourite thing about this book. Raj decided to court Nayna while he waited for her to make a decision, and I appreciated that he wasn't pushy about the whole marriage thing. He didn't play fair, though; Raj fully capitalized on the intense attraction between him and Nayna, and he basically seduced her all the time, LOL. They just have so much chemistry and fun together. I love the shirtless selfies Raj sent to Nayna (he knew he had a great body and made use of it, smart man), and how he made an effort to read Pride and Prejudice because it was Nayna's favourite book. He was also so good with Nayna's family, especially Nayna's grandmother.
Dream. Fucking. Boat.
Nayna grew so much in her relationship with Raj. She's had a moment of reckoning with her parents in which she explained her need to break away from the path she has been in, and I was so proud of her. I love that Raj understood her fears and did his best to alleviate them, and made an effort to show that she could trust him with her dreams. He was so understanding of Nayna's need to fly, and he was careful not to chain her.
Nayna's inability to make a decision, though, is so understandable. She knew she was attracted to Raj, wanted him more than her next breath, but she also wasn't sure about marriage as a whole. She wanted to do so many more things, and she was scared that her dreams would take the backseat to Raj's wants after she married him.
A lot of those fears actually resonated with me, I highlighted so many of Nayna's thoughts re: marriage because wow, somebody actually put my feelings into coherent words??? Amazing.
Not gonna lie, I cried after that bit because SAME.
I also love the secondary characters in Rebel Hard. Nayna's Aji was a riot, I want to be her when I grow up. I even ended up liking Madhuri and rooting for her happiness. I also love Raj's sister Aditi and Nayna's best friend Isa.
Overall, Rebel Hard is such an amazing ride! It's a whole new experience for me, and I totally recommend this book to everyone.
*Now, if my mother could take a cue from the Sharmas and find me a Raj Sen instead of some randos she's been showing me pictures of, that would be great.
E-ARC is received thanks to the author/publisher via Netgalley.
Okay so if you've been following my posts or tweets, then you'll probably know that Nalini Singh is a new-to-me author I've started reading early this year, and I've been a huge fan ever since. After devouring her paranormal works and loving her angels, vampires, and changelings, it's only right that I venture into her contemporary works as well.
Rebel Hard is my first, and holy shit it's SO GOOD. I basically said that about almost every Nalini book I've read so who's surprised? Not me, obviously.
The plot of Rebel Hard revolved around arranged marriage, something that is not unsual in brown cultures. Malays* have done it too, though not so much in the recent years. I love Nayna with all my heart, and it's so easy to root for her happiness. Her parents have been working hard to find a suitable husband for her, and while she was okay with it in the beginning, Nayna is feeling more and more suffocated by it all lately. She has always been the Good Girl in the family. She keeps her head down, always plays by the rules, and never does anything that could bring shame to her parents, not after how her older sister Madhuri ruined the family's good name a decade or so ago.
I totally get why Nayna wanted to rebel. I relate to her struggles to be the perfect daughter to her parents versus her wanting to carve her own path and live her life for her, not for family. Luckily her one night of rebel led her to Raj, who turned out to be another one of her parents' prospects for her. The prospect.
My one night of rebel? Hasn't happened yet, and I doubt that it would lead me to a Raj so what's even the point?
Moving on.
Raj is a dreamboat, by the way. I fell for him so hard, and so did Nayna though she sort of struggled with it in the beginning. Raj is described as a serious and traditional guy. He wants the whole package: a loving wife, kids, white picket fence, so much that he agreed to his parents' matchmaking efforts. He and Nayna hit it off right away the night they made, and although that night didn't end well, the thoughts of Nayna kept haunting him until they met again, this time as each other's match.
Raj knew instantly that he wanted her for keeps this time.
Their relationship development is my favourite thing about this book. Raj decided to court Nayna while he waited for her to make a decision, and I appreciated that he wasn't pushy about the whole marriage thing. He didn't play fair, though; Raj fully capitalized on the intense attraction between him and Nayna, and he basically seduced her all the time, LOL. They just have so much chemistry and fun together. I love the shirtless selfies Raj sent to Nayna (he knew he had a great body and made use of it, smart man), and how he made an effort to read Pride and Prejudice because it was Nayna's favourite book. He was also so good with Nayna's family, especially Nayna's grandmother.
Dream. Fucking. Boat.
Nayna grew so much in her relationship with Raj. She's had a moment of reckoning with her parents in which she explained her need to break away from the path she has been in, and I was so proud of her. I love that Raj understood her fears and did his best to alleviate them, and made an effort to show that she could trust him with her dreams. He was so understanding of Nayna's need to fly, and he was careful not to chain her.
Raj watched Nayna sleep that night and knew he might be the architect of his own heartbreak. The Nayna she was now wanted him, but the Nayna she became as she found her wings... that Nayna might decide a man so rooted in tradition and culture wasn't the man she wanted by her side. (...)
So he would tell her of his love only in the midnight hours, when she slept in his arms. He'd help her fly... and hope she'd choose to fly to him.
Nayna's inability to make a decision, though, is so understandable. She knew she was attracted to Raj, wanted him more than her next breath, but she also wasn't sure about marriage as a whole. She wanted to do so many more things, and she was scared that her dreams would take the backseat to Raj's wants after she married him.
A lot of those fears actually resonated with me, I highlighted so many of Nayna's thoughts re: marriage because wow, somebody actually put my feelings into coherent words??? Amazing.
But Nayna had no idea what she wanted from life. Him, she wanted him. But not the tradition that had begun to feel like ropes around her, cutting off her air. Not the implicit defined patterns of behavior. Not the rigidly limited choices. The very things that centered Raj were her worst nightmare.
Nayna had no right to put her dreams over his.
Not gonna lie, I cried after that bit because SAME.
I also love the secondary characters in Rebel Hard. Nayna's Aji was a riot, I want to be her when I grow up. I even ended up liking Madhuri and rooting for her happiness. I also love Raj's sister Aditi and Nayna's best friend Isa.
Overall, Rebel Hard is such an amazing ride! It's a whole new experience for me, and I totally recommend this book to everyone.
*Now, if my mother could take a cue from the Sharmas and find me a Raj Sen instead of some randos she's been showing me pictures of, that would be great.
E-ARC is received thanks to the author/publisher via Netgalley.
September 23, 2018
I don't think I can express how much I loved this book. It's the kind of book that makes me insecure about my own writing because Nalini Singh is a queen and if I only have a tiny bit of talent she has, I'd be ecstatic. But, at the same time, it inspires me to keep on going, keep on sharing, because these are the books that need to be written - #ownvoices novels from writers of color showcasing people from all cultures as the heroes and heroines in romance.
I've long admired Nalini Singh and although she gained fame through her paranormal series, for me, it's her Rock Kiss series that drew me in. My favorite was Rock Hard, from which this Hard Play series originated. I loved the first book Cherish Hard but Rebel Hard is next level in terms of greatness.
There is so much to love about this book. It's rich, beautiful, emotion-packed, humorous. There's family, friendship, culture, tradition, respect, food, fashion, and lots and lots of love.
I am not Indian, nor a younger sister, not single, and not in an arranged marriage, but while I was reading Rebel Hard, I was totally Nayna. Such is the gift of Nalini Singh that she took me inside the pages of Rebel Hard.
And Raj? He’s the best kind of hero. He explains his side, he backs off to give Nayna space, but he still fights for their love. I love the abs selfies and I’m a little in love with him myself.
I've long admired Nalini Singh and although she gained fame through her paranormal series, for me, it's her Rock Kiss series that drew me in. My favorite was Rock Hard, from which this Hard Play series originated. I loved the first book Cherish Hard but Rebel Hard is next level in terms of greatness.
There is so much to love about this book. It's rich, beautiful, emotion-packed, humorous. There's family, friendship, culture, tradition, respect, food, fashion, and lots and lots of love.
I am not Indian, nor a younger sister, not single, and not in an arranged marriage, but while I was reading Rebel Hard, I was totally Nayna. Such is the gift of Nalini Singh that she took me inside the pages of Rebel Hard.
And Raj? He’s the best kind of hero. He explains his side, he backs off to give Nayna space, but he still fights for their love. I love the abs selfies and I’m a little in love with him myself.
March 27, 2019
Nalini Singh is a compelling writer usually but this could have been like 50-75 pages shorter. I did not need descriptions of every sari that Nayna and her sister wore, or every Indian dish they ate and how to prepare it, or FOUR different weddings.
I recently read a review of a Goodreads friend that mentioned negative motivations or goals. This book was completely driven by negative goals - Nayna not wanting to get married and be caged - which didn't create as compelling a story as I would have liked.
I recently read a review of a Goodreads friend that mentioned negative motivations or goals. This book was completely driven by negative goals - Nayna not wanting to get married and be caged - which didn't create as compelling a story as I would have liked.
September 19, 2018
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2018/09/toris-t...
Delightfully charming and deliciously wicked, Singh outshines herself in her latest romance that examines the Indian tradition of arranged marriage and one couples’ determination to find a way to adhere to their culture without losing themselves in the process. Witty, bold and oh so sexy, Singh opens up for readers a colorful family-oriented culture rich in tradition as she introduces us to a hero and heroine for whom family is everything. Brimming with laughter and love, you can’t help but cheer for the stoic hero and his heroine who just want to be loved for who they are. Raj’s and Nayna’s families only serve to add more drama and laughter to the story as they go through their own personal upheavals from grandma stepping out and a wife wanting more of a partnership to a couple on the brink of divorce and one’s man’s taste of mortality. Rebel Hard is another winner in my book.
Nayna Sharma only agreed to her family’s offers of an arranged marriage in order to heal the cracks caused by her sister’s poor choices. In an attempt to regain control of her life, Nayna decides to be the bad girl for one night, she and a friend head to a party and she find her way into the arms of a ruggedly handsome stranger. Raj Sen agrees to allow his parents to arrange his marriage because he believes in tradition and rules. When he meets Nayna he is enchanted with her beauty but when he discovers she is his intended, he finds himself reluctantly falling in love with her maddening ways and lack of rules.
Neither is what the other one wants but sometimes what you want isn’t always what you need.
Grade: B+
Delightfully charming and deliciously wicked, Singh outshines herself in her latest romance that examines the Indian tradition of arranged marriage and one couples’ determination to find a way to adhere to their culture without losing themselves in the process. Witty, bold and oh so sexy, Singh opens up for readers a colorful family-oriented culture rich in tradition as she introduces us to a hero and heroine for whom family is everything. Brimming with laughter and love, you can’t help but cheer for the stoic hero and his heroine who just want to be loved for who they are. Raj’s and Nayna’s families only serve to add more drama and laughter to the story as they go through their own personal upheavals from grandma stepping out and a wife wanting more of a partnership to a couple on the brink of divorce and one’s man’s taste of mortality. Rebel Hard is another winner in my book.
Nayna Sharma only agreed to her family’s offers of an arranged marriage in order to heal the cracks caused by her sister’s poor choices. In an attempt to regain control of her life, Nayna decides to be the bad girl for one night, she and a friend head to a party and she find her way into the arms of a ruggedly handsome stranger. Raj Sen agrees to allow his parents to arrange his marriage because he believes in tradition and rules. When he meets Nayna he is enchanted with her beauty but when he discovers she is his intended, he finds himself reluctantly falling in love with her maddening ways and lack of rules.
Neither is what the other one wants but sometimes what you want isn’t always what you need.
Grade: B+
August 27, 2018
With this story the author gives what she knows best and that is tradition, family and of course love. Our heroine Nayna is “a good girl “ trying so hard to be everything her family expect. Yet she has subjugated her own wants and wishes and all so she will never hurt her family. A moment of madness brings Raj into her life but things get so much more complicated when it turns out the sexy hunk is more than a hot fling he’s actually someone her parents are arranging for Nayna to marry !
I never thought anyone could rival the sexy T Rex but then the author wrote about the sweetly determined Sailor and my heart melted. Now she brings readers Raj who is devoted to his family but commits to the woman who he sees as being as beautiful and delicate as a butterfly. Caging Nayna will crush everything she is and Raj sees that but allowing her to choose freedom might just mean he loses her forever.
Raj wants a traditional wife but Nayna wants to follow her dreams so just how this couple find their way through the mire of two Asian families was really eye opening. It’s the first book I’ve read that brings to life just how loving and yet complicated life can be when growing up in a lifestyle that is thousands of years old. Yet it’s done with aplomb and warmth and this couple deserve their happy ending and luckily with a sneaky epilogue readers too get to bask in the glow of their passionate love.
This voluntary take is of an advance copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I never thought anyone could rival the sexy T Rex but then the author wrote about the sweetly determined Sailor and my heart melted. Now she brings readers Raj who is devoted to his family but commits to the woman who he sees as being as beautiful and delicate as a butterfly. Caging Nayna will crush everything she is and Raj sees that but allowing her to choose freedom might just mean he loses her forever.
Raj wants a traditional wife but Nayna wants to follow her dreams so just how this couple find their way through the mire of two Asian families was really eye opening. It’s the first book I’ve read that brings to life just how loving and yet complicated life can be when growing up in a lifestyle that is thousands of years old. Yet it’s done with aplomb and warmth and this couple deserve their happy ending and luckily with a sneaky epilogue readers too get to bask in the glow of their passionate love.
This voluntary take is of an advance copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
September 18, 2018
I am not sure if I have the words to adequately express how much I loved Rebel Hard, but I am going to try. I'm still not over this book. I read this book in one amazing day and resented each and every time I needed to stop for things like food. It is absolutely one of my favorite romances of the year, hands down, and is my new favorite Nalini contemporary romance. If I had all the money in the world, I would buy this book for everyone I know.
I feel a little helpless as a reviewer in the face of such a gorgeous and rich story. Nayna Sharma and Raj Sen agreed to the arranged marriage process for different reasons. Nayna feels pressure to be the perfect daughter after her family was hurt by a previous scandal. Raj has always valued family and stability and an arranged marriage seems practical. When the two meet by chance at a party, neither one is expecting their explosive chemistry. When they meet later as potential spouses, the situation gets even more complicated.
A testament to Nalini's writing, I want to reread this book as I type. Raj and Nayna are undeniable. Nayna is a woman finally coming into her own and not letting anything get in her way. She loves her family, but her need to spread her wings was exciting and exhilarating to follow along with as a reader. The way Raj supports Nayna unconditionally is one of the best parts of an exceptional novel. Raj is my new dream man. His quiet confidence and willingness to fight for what he wants and what Nayna needs is wonderful.
A stunning cast of supporting, characters and multiple, complete sub story arcs weaved through Raj and Nayna's journey to happily ever after kept me captivated until the last page. Ms. Singh, seemingly effortlessly, combines family obligation, professional passion, and true love. FYI - I plan on recommending this book to everyone I know.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Find/Follow me on Twitter Instagram and my blog !!
I feel a little helpless as a reviewer in the face of such a gorgeous and rich story. Nayna Sharma and Raj Sen agreed to the arranged marriage process for different reasons. Nayna feels pressure to be the perfect daughter after her family was hurt by a previous scandal. Raj has always valued family and stability and an arranged marriage seems practical. When the two meet by chance at a party, neither one is expecting their explosive chemistry. When they meet later as potential spouses, the situation gets even more complicated.
A testament to Nalini's writing, I want to reread this book as I type. Raj and Nayna are undeniable. Nayna is a woman finally coming into her own and not letting anything get in her way. She loves her family, but her need to spread her wings was exciting and exhilarating to follow along with as a reader. The way Raj supports Nayna unconditionally is one of the best parts of an exceptional novel. Raj is my new dream man. His quiet confidence and willingness to fight for what he wants and what Nayna needs is wonderful.
A stunning cast of supporting, characters and multiple, complete sub story arcs weaved through Raj and Nayna's journey to happily ever after kept me captivated until the last page. Ms. Singh, seemingly effortlessly, combines family obligation, professional passion, and true love. FYI - I plan on recommending this book to everyone I know.
**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**
Find/Follow me on Twitter Instagram and my blog !!
September 28, 2018
I have been a huge fan of Nalini Singh's Rock Kiss series and was super excited to read Rebel Hard. Right from the beginning I was hooked as Raj and Nayna were both sexy and honest and their connection and initial meeting was fabulous. This story almost felt like a bollywood soap opera as there were so many feelings and issues that needed to be addressed. I was hooked from the getgo.
As a Desi woman and an Indian American I was overjoyed by the fact that this story told the story of traditional over the top Indian families and all of the customs and expectations attributed to that despite the difference in opinion their children (first generation offspring) may have. I just loved Raj. God he was just amazing and everything I love in a man. He was honest, protective, respectful and determined in winning his girl. Nayna likewise was just as fabulous. I loved their physical connection and chemistry and the way they loved one another. They had deep personal feelings about marriage and I loved how the author brought them together.
All in all, this story was moving and heartfelt and I never wanted it to end. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula
As a Desi woman and an Indian American I was overjoyed by the fact that this story told the story of traditional over the top Indian families and all of the customs and expectations attributed to that despite the difference in opinion their children (first generation offspring) may have. I just loved Raj. God he was just amazing and everything I love in a man. He was honest, protective, respectful and determined in winning his girl. Nayna likewise was just as fabulous. I loved their physical connection and chemistry and the way they loved one another. They had deep personal feelings about marriage and I loved how the author brought them together.
All in all, this story was moving and heartfelt and I never wanted it to end. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula
February 14, 2020
Nalini Singh is such a familiar name in Romancelandia but I’ve never actually read her books, nor have I really wanted to (mostly because it’s her paranormal romances that are popular). But since I got to know about this contemporary romance featuring desi characters almost an year ago, I’ve wanted to read it but just kept forgetting. So, when I suddenly saw it on my library shelf today, I thought why not and immediately picked it up. And it turned out to be quite a lovely read.
As I’m new to the author, the writing style took a little while to get used to. But I can’t exactly point out what I found different in the style. I thought the pacing initially was too fast, especially the meet cute (or meet hot n sexy would be more appropriate), but then it slowed down to a more reasonable pace and then I enjoyed it more. The characters in this book aren’t direct immigrants from India but a couple generations removed, and from Fiji finally settled in New Zealand, so it was actually lovely to see their own version of desi traditions and food and culture. The food itself was probably the most different with a lot of Fijian influence, but all the wedding rituals were familiar and beautifully described, the focus on family and the usual aunty brigade who wants everyone to get married was so relatable and I could totally see myself and my own extended family among them all. And it’s definitely this cultural aspect that endeared me a lot more to this story. And it was also quite refreshing to read a romance set outside my usual Western settings.
Nayna is such a desi character and so relatable, it almost hurt me to see her go through her struggles. She is loving and extremely caring about her family and doesn’t want to do anything to hurt them, but is also feeling caged because she has never had the freedom to follow her dreams. I could totally sympathize with her wanting to find herself before committing to a marriage, and I was really glad when she finally decided to take some steps in that direction. The name Raj is synonymous with loving and charming heroes in Bollywood, and while the namesake here may be a little more on the broody side, he is one of the best swoony book boyfriends I’ve read in recent times. He may have his own ideas about family and marriage but once he falls in love, he is such a sweetheart and does everything he can to ensure that Nayna doesn’t feel trapped in a relationship, giving her time and support to make her own decisions, and even standing up to her parents. He could be a typical alpha male sometimes but I just adored him so much that I could overlook such slight misgivings. Theirs is a great relationship built on trust and communication, there was so much honesty between them and I’m so glad that they always talked it out whenever there was a problem. Definite goals.
All the parents and siblings in the story were as intrusive and lovely and dramatic as desi families can be and it was fun to read. I particularly loved Nayna’s grandmother a lot who was a delight with her own young and hip “good friend”. I can’t say I really liked either Nayna’s sister or Raj’s SIL but they did get some sort of redemptive arcs which were satisfying enough.
In the end, this was a very enjoyable, sweet and sexy romance with not too much angst. If you love a swoony desi hero who makes for a great book boyfriend, a very relatable heroine and their absolutely wonderful love story, you should totally check out this book. It’s part of a series but it works very well as a stand-alone. And if you are a blogger participating in the South Asian Reading Challenge, I would definitely recommend this book.
As I’m new to the author, the writing style took a little while to get used to. But I can’t exactly point out what I found different in the style. I thought the pacing initially was too fast, especially the meet cute (or meet hot n sexy would be more appropriate), but then it slowed down to a more reasonable pace and then I enjoyed it more. The characters in this book aren’t direct immigrants from India but a couple generations removed, and from Fiji finally settled in New Zealand, so it was actually lovely to see their own version of desi traditions and food and culture. The food itself was probably the most different with a lot of Fijian influence, but all the wedding rituals were familiar and beautifully described, the focus on family and the usual aunty brigade who wants everyone to get married was so relatable and I could totally see myself and my own extended family among them all. And it’s definitely this cultural aspect that endeared me a lot more to this story. And it was also quite refreshing to read a romance set outside my usual Western settings.
Nayna is such a desi character and so relatable, it almost hurt me to see her go through her struggles. She is loving and extremely caring about her family and doesn’t want to do anything to hurt them, but is also feeling caged because she has never had the freedom to follow her dreams. I could totally sympathize with her wanting to find herself before committing to a marriage, and I was really glad when she finally decided to take some steps in that direction. The name Raj is synonymous with loving and charming heroes in Bollywood, and while the namesake here may be a little more on the broody side, he is one of the best swoony book boyfriends I’ve read in recent times. He may have his own ideas about family and marriage but once he falls in love, he is such a sweetheart and does everything he can to ensure that Nayna doesn’t feel trapped in a relationship, giving her time and support to make her own decisions, and even standing up to her parents. He could be a typical alpha male sometimes but I just adored him so much that I could overlook such slight misgivings. Theirs is a great relationship built on trust and communication, there was so much honesty between them and I’m so glad that they always talked it out whenever there was a problem. Definite goals.
All the parents and siblings in the story were as intrusive and lovely and dramatic as desi families can be and it was fun to read. I particularly loved Nayna’s grandmother a lot who was a delight with her own young and hip “good friend”. I can’t say I really liked either Nayna’s sister or Raj’s SIL but they did get some sort of redemptive arcs which were satisfying enough.
In the end, this was a very enjoyable, sweet and sexy romance with not too much angst. If you love a swoony desi hero who makes for a great book boyfriend, a very relatable heroine and their absolutely wonderful love story, you should totally check out this book. It’s part of a series but it works very well as a stand-alone. And if you are a blogger participating in the South Asian Reading Challenge, I would definitely recommend this book.
April 22, 2019
3.5 STARS
Después de haber leído en el libro anterior un poco de la historia de Raj y Nayna y como había quedado necesitaba SABER como terminaba, aparte conocer el desarrollo desde su punto de vista.
Si me gustó un poquito más que la historia anterior aunque igual, quería un poquito de drama pero pues ya me estoy haciendo a la idea que a la autora no le gusta. Además que lo sentí un poco más largo de lo necesario.
Raj aaaaay me lo como, es demasiado lindo y perfecto, a pesar de que Nayna era muy terca y no dejaba sus inseguridades, él tuvo la paciencia y esperó. Nunca la quiso cambiar ni imponer sus ideas, siempre la respetó y la dejó ser libre para sus decisiones y era lo que ella quería que su matrimonio no fuera una jaula.
Me encantan estas historias de amores arreglados y más cuando ya se conocían desde antes.
Después de haber leído en el libro anterior un poco de la historia de Raj y Nayna y como había quedado necesitaba SABER como terminaba, aparte conocer el desarrollo desde su punto de vista.
Si me gustó un poquito más que la historia anterior aunque igual, quería un poquito de drama pero pues ya me estoy haciendo a la idea que a la autora no le gusta. Además que lo sentí un poco más largo de lo necesario.
Raj aaaaay me lo como, es demasiado lindo y perfecto, a pesar de que Nayna era muy terca y no dejaba sus inseguridades, él tuvo la paciencia y esperó. Nunca la quiso cambiar ni imponer sus ideas, siempre la respetó y la dejó ser libre para sus decisiones y era lo que ella quería que su matrimonio no fuera una jaula.
Me encantan estas historias de amores arreglados y más cuando ya se conocían desde antes.
September 14, 2018
I absolutely loved the heroes, their story, their Relationship. And I definitely watched again my favorite Bollywood movie while reading the book. Because Rebel Hard is about Indian people, their tradition, their rules and the rebellion of a strong heroine.
January 25, 2022
Okay wait, this was actually such a wholesome book?? I was totally expecting the opposite based on the cover LOL. Nayna and Raj were so cute and I loved how their story focused a lot on their relationships with their family alongside their romance. I really liked how Nalini Singh explained the important role that family plays when it comes to young South Asians transitioning into adulthood and how she didn’t portray arranged marriages in a negative light. A lot of South Asians continue to live with their family after college while they’re working full-time (you save a ton of money!) and I liked how this wasn’t ridiculed and how Nayna only moved out when she felt it was necessary for her to do so. Regarding arranged marriages, I’m glad that Nalini Singh made the distinction between arranged marriages and forced marriages, which are two very different things that people mistake for the other, and how many people find love with arranged marriages. I also loved the family dynamic in Nayna and Raj’s respective families. Nayna’s Aji was such a boss and I found Raj’s relationship with his younger sister, Aditi, so cute.
Going back to the romance between Nayna and Raj, I found it adorable how determined Raj was to win Nayna from literally the moment they met and how every single chapter from his POV was him flat out simping over her. This man really read Pride and Prejudice after hearing her talk about it and sent her periodic updates on his thoughts on Darcy, Lizzie, and Wickham; hand wrote a letter and delivered it in person after the second time he met telling her how committed he was to her; took her cave-walking as their first date; and sent her a photo of himself every single day so she wouldn’t forget him. Also, the scenes in which he called her mere jaanam, jaan, or "Nayna with the sundar nayna" even though they had hung out for only a few weeks WAS SO CUTE AAAARGH.
I also really loved how even though Nayna was clearly attracted to Raj and couldn’t see herself having that same attraction to any other man, she still stayed true to her character and waited until she was 100% sure with her decision to be with him before she accepted his hand in marriage. Likewise, I loved how even though Raj was fully committed to Nayna from Day 1, he still patiently waited over a year with her until she felt comfortable enough to be with him fully and get married.
So yeah, this was a very adorable story. I’ve only read Nalini Singh’s urban fantasy books, but I feel like I enjoyed this contemporary book more, to be honest. I’m not sure if I’ll read the other books in the Hard Play series because the side characters didn’t stand out to me that much, but I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her other stories featuring South Asian characters!
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Going back to the romance between Nayna and Raj, I found it adorable how determined Raj was to win Nayna from literally the moment they met and how every single chapter from his POV was him flat out simping over her. This man really read Pride and Prejudice after hearing her talk about it and sent her periodic updates on his thoughts on Darcy, Lizzie, and Wickham; hand wrote a letter and delivered it in person after the second time he met telling her how committed he was to her; took her cave-walking as their first date; and sent her a photo of himself every single day so she wouldn’t forget him. Also, the scenes in which he called her mere jaanam, jaan, or "Nayna with the sundar nayna" even though they had hung out for only a few weeks WAS SO CUTE AAAARGH.
I also really loved how even though Nayna was clearly attracted to Raj and couldn’t see herself having that same attraction to any other man, she still stayed true to her character and waited until she was 100% sure with her decision to be with him before she accepted his hand in marriage. Likewise, I loved how even though Raj was fully committed to Nayna from Day 1, he still patiently waited over a year with her until she felt comfortable enough to be with him fully and get married.
So yeah, this was a very adorable story. I’ve only read Nalini Singh’s urban fantasy books, but I feel like I enjoyed this contemporary book more, to be honest. I’m not sure if I’ll read the other books in the Hard Play series because the side characters didn’t stand out to me that much, but I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her other stories featuring South Asian characters!
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
March 18, 2019
Nalini Singh gives us a slice of the unique Fijian/Kiwi Indian culture in ‘Rebel Hard’ where strongly-held Indian traditions grudgingly meet the modern (and supposedly declining) standards of modern dating.
And for many who love diversity and the cultural spotlight Singh shines here, 'Rebel Hard' is the book to go to.
The weight of family expectations is pushed hard on Nayna Sharma’s shoulders, more so after her rebellious sister broke her parents’ hearts but Raj Sen—the chosen one and the very one she rebels against even though her body says otherwise—is determined to woo her until she caves. The rest really, are just the details…and there are tons of those to soak in, like a visual feast that after a while, did get a bit too much.
Yet getting down to ‘Rebel Hard’ turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some parts read like a documentary almost and others, like a perfectly choreographed Bollywood show, of a culture that stands so differently on its own: the blindingly colourful saris and the vibrant multicolours that I associate with the big weddings, to the arranged marriages and the rom-com that Singh writes into the gaps of these dearly-held institutions.
There’s a strange mix I guess, of the fine lines drawn, the boundaries that can be overstepped and those that can’t (or shouldn’t) in the world of arranged marriages—something so foreign to me—but a whole lot of repetitiveness as well, of saris and cooking and talking about all and naught, of beading nipples and soaked panties.
In short, I suspect this would have worked better as a novella for me: it started out sparkling and fun, then flattened out somewhat near the middle onwards, where the forward momentum just got lost in the tangle of yet more colourful clothing, indecision and the two-steps-forward-one-step-back type of dance.
And for many who love diversity and the cultural spotlight Singh shines here, 'Rebel Hard' is the book to go to.
The weight of family expectations is pushed hard on Nayna Sharma’s shoulders, more so after her rebellious sister broke her parents’ hearts but Raj Sen—the chosen one and the very one she rebels against even though her body says otherwise—is determined to woo her until she caves. The rest really, are just the details…and there are tons of those to soak in, like a visual feast that after a while, did get a bit too much.
Yet getting down to ‘Rebel Hard’ turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some parts read like a documentary almost and others, like a perfectly choreographed Bollywood show, of a culture that stands so differently on its own: the blindingly colourful saris and the vibrant multicolours that I associate with the big weddings, to the arranged marriages and the rom-com that Singh writes into the gaps of these dearly-held institutions.
There’s a strange mix I guess, of the fine lines drawn, the boundaries that can be overstepped and those that can’t (or shouldn’t) in the world of arranged marriages—something so foreign to me—but a whole lot of repetitiveness as well, of saris and cooking and talking about all and naught, of beading nipples and soaked panties.
In short, I suspect this would have worked better as a novella for me: it started out sparkling and fun, then flattened out somewhat near the middle onwards, where the forward momentum just got lost in the tangle of yet more colourful clothing, indecision and the two-steps-forward-one-step-back type of dance.
September 24, 2018
I definitely liked this one better than Isa and Sailor's book. I did have some frustrations in reading this book but the ending was so delightful, I upped it to 4 stars.
If you're a fan of Nalini's books, I think you'll like it.
I do have to say, though, the Psy-Changeling series will always be my favorite of hers but I don't mind these looks into the contemporary romance genre.
If you're a fan of Nalini's books, I think you'll like it.
I do have to say, though, the Psy-Changeling series will always be my favorite of hers but I don't mind these looks into the contemporary romance genre.
November 7, 2018
1.5 stars - Contemporary Romance
I absolutely love this author, but I just couldn't get into this one. All the cultural details and traditionalist family drama far overshadowed any actual "romance". Sadly, this was a very blah/meh read for me.
I absolutely love this author, but I just couldn't get into this one. All the cultural details and traditionalist family drama far overshadowed any actual "romance". Sadly, this was a very blah/meh read for me.
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