Review: Rebel Hard

Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading the first book in this series, I had to read this second. When it comes to arranged marriages, most people outside of the arranged marriage culture do not understand the nuances. I really enjoyed and appreciated Ms. Singh bringing to life for a little bit of time some Indian culture. Seeing through the eyes of a good girl, Nayna helps show how good girls get stuck in a situation not of their making.

It breaks my heart a little bit at how little Nayna's father sees her - really sees her. So it is so good by contrasts to see how Raj sees Nayna - all over her. Their chance meeting crosses over to their arranged meeting match is serendipity. I loved these two characters. Being immersed in their culture and how they bring tradition to today's norm is a treat. Seeing from their perspectives and how they respectfully navigate their elders and their desires/wants is heart warming.

It is said that people are a product of their experiences. Each person's baseline of how they response to a situation and what they want for their future is based on what they experienced as a child. This is never more evident than seeing what happened to Raj. It is rare to throwaway a boy child in Asia. It does happen and the stab in the heart letter/message from Raj's birth mother is unfortunately all too easy to see. There are no good answers for this because Raj's birth mother is justified in her feelings but not right to take it out on an innocent child. Ms. Singh's example of how an unwanted child can find the right fit with a family created from heart, not birth is a message of hope. For Raj, it worked out even if he's emotional scarred.

This story is much more than just a romance. Or as some social justice warrior (SJW) wants to shout out about people of colour token story finally published by a people of colour author. (See my sarcasm?) This story transcends skin colour and showcases a culture and how it needs to blend with one that is different, specifically the New Zealand culture. For someone who has India friends, an understanding of the India conflicts in Fiji and visited the beautiful land of New Zealand, this story touched me on multiple levels. The depth and richness in character, plot and integration of a real place creates a three dimensional story for me. I may not have Raj or Nayna's background, personality type or experiences - yet Ms. Singh makes them so relatable. I loved both characters and their happily ever after is delightful.

This contemporary romance is highly recommended to all romance readers.