***** (5 stars) Well-written, unique twist on the paranormal with romance and motorcycles.

C.J. Pinard has a different take on the usual paranormal characters of vampires and succubi. I enjoyed the twist she created as it kept me wondering what exactly the paranormal characters were and what they were capable of.

Her skill in foreshadowing is remarkable and isn’t what I typically see. She sets readers up thinking one thing, subtly guides you to wonder if your thought process is right or wrong, and then hits you with the outcome when you least expect it. There are many unexpected twists in this book, not just with the story line, but also with the characters.

Soul Rebel is mainly Nolan’s story. He is a sweetheart, one of the good guys, and a hard worker. Who can resist a man like this who works with his hands and rides a motorcycle as hot as he is? Nolan has made plans for a life he has dreamed of for years, only to have his dreams shattered and his life turned into a nightmare (many times literally) by Eva.

Eva is definitely not the right woman for Nolan. To Eva, Nolan is more of a necessity than someone she wants or needs–it isn’t really Nolan she wants, but something he has. Eva will stop at nothing, not even stealing, to get what she wants, Despite not wanting and needing Nolan the way he wants a woman to want and need him, she doesn’t want anyone else to have Nolan, not even her twin sister Charity.

Charity and Eva may look similar, but their personalities are as different as night and day. Eva is dark, evil, and full of shadows. Charity is sweetness, kindness, caring, and light. She brightens the darkness creeping into Nolan’s life and does more for him than he expected or believes he deserves.

Soul Rebel is a well-written book, and Ms. Pinard does a wonderful job providing background information on characters without an information dump. I really enjoyed the way the characters cross each other’s paths in unexpected ways, yet the timing meshes well with the story line. There is nothing better than both you and the main character being surprised by a previously unknown fact about another character. By the end of the book, you are invested in the lives of the main characters. Even though you know the outcome to the question at the heart of the story line, you need to know what the future holds.

Is Nolan completely saved from the darkness? When Nolan acted on instinct, did he accidentally make a powerful enemy? Will the secrets of Archie and the Rebel Riders affect Nolan in the future? Will Eva seek revenge and come after Charity and Nolan?

This was a great start to a new series, and I can’t wait to read the next books, learn the answers to my questions and find out what the future holds for Nolan, Charity, Archie, and the Rebel Riders.