REBEL HARD is the second book
in Nalini Singh's Hard Play
series. The events in REBEL HARD
run parallel to those in the previous book CHERISH HARD, but this works as a standalone book.
Since her older sister's rebellious defection a few years ago, Nayna
Sharma has been the good daughter doing everything she can to keep
her family together and keep things harmonious to a large degree. A
twist of fate delivers the hot guy from her fling as a wild girl and turns
him into a prospective arranged- marriage suitor. REBEL HARD has humor, a smidge of drama, and sexy
romance that make it a must-read for romance fans.
I've read more books than I can count that have been various takes on
Jane Austen's book PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. In REBEL HARD, the allusions to Jane Austen's books are
there but skillfully done without being obnoxious. Most PRIDE AND
PREJUDICE inspired stories focus on the "Mr. Darcy" type character
and emphasize his personality flaws, even as they try to capitalize on
the popularity of that character. In REBEL HARD, Nalini Singh succeeds in capturing, as
Austen did in her books, the intricacies and complexities of family life -
- the delights as well as the cringe-worthy moments. This story
beautifully details the Indian culture and customs as they relate
specifically to courtship and marriage in a contemporary setting.
I laughed at the moment when Nayna is exasperated to find that her life
is suddenly mirroring one of her favorite books. Nayna finds herself in a
bit of an existential crisis. It's at this time in her life that she meets Raj
Sen. Raj proves to be the perfect man for Nayna but it's at a time when
she is looking to explore and be independent rather than tie herself to
anyone in marriage. While it initially seems as though Nayna and Raj are
at cross-purposes, their feelings for each other grow and Raj is
determined to give Nayna exactly what she's looking for. As this story
progresses, I'm inclined to agree with Nayna that Raj is infinitely more
attractive than Mr. Darcy. While Raj may have longed for a woman to fit
a traditional role, knowing and falling in love with Nayna changes his
perspective. In addition to backing his lady love up at a crucial moment,
he does something more seductive. Raj listens to Nayna and
industriously tries to help her realize her dreams and life goals.
REBEL HARD is a Jane Austen-
inspired story yet uniquely and fabulously a Nalini Singh one as well.
There are just as many laughs in REBEL
HARD as there are swoon-worthy moments and brief interludes of
family meddling. Nayna's older sister Madhuri proves to be more of a
Marianne Dashwood from SENSE AND SENSIBILITY rather than a Lydia
from PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and I can't help hoping that Nalini Singh
would write a story for her. I can't wait to read the next book in Nalini
Singh's Hard Play series.
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 rule breaker 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.
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