Seal of Surrender gets my "seal" of approval

I am always super excited to find a new author and a new series to sink my teeth into and with summer fast approaching, I've been stacking my list of must-reads. I was pleasantly surprised with the Seven Seals series as I reviewed Book 2 of the series, "Seal of Surrender" by Traci Douglass. After the read, I have added Book 1 to my reading list.

Worldbuilding: I have to admit that I was swept away with the worldbuilding of this book. It was so real and completely imaginable that I was pulled in immediately. I loved the premise of the seals and the story behind the heroes. I loved the world that the Miss Douglass created.

Characters: I find that sometimes when I am reading a paranormal romance that the hero overshadows the heroine, but while I absolutely fell in love with Chago, I adored the heroine Irene Soldan. Her character is so heroic and while she is incredibly tough, she has this heart of gold that makes me love her as much as I loved Chago. And believe me, I LOVED Chago. Chago is perfect with his dark sense of humor and his damaged personality. He is a true hero and has landed himself on my list of favorite heroes.

Pros & Cons: There are so many pros including a different and unique world for paranormal romance lovers, super awesome and realistic characters that you not only root for, but stay up extra late just to get in another chapter. I loved how the villain's point of view was also included and although he was evil, you could almost understand why. My only con is that I missed some of the worldbuilding because I hadn't read Book 1 yet and I had a few questions that I had to research a little on the Scion. I would suggest that although it's not necessary to read Book 1, I think that I could've gotten even deeper into the Scion world if I knew more of the background.

Fresh Factor: This is a very fresh series and a different spin on the normal paranormal romance world. It's not vampires or werewolves, but it is as equally intriguing. While the hero has similar characteristics of the damaged alpha hero, Miss Douglass created fresh and intriguing lead.

Overall: The Seven Seals series is the reason why I love paranormal romance novels. Not only do you get swept up in a different world of make-believe with a strong set of characters, but the romance between the hero and heroine sizzled. I could fell the romantic tension growing each step of the way and Miss Douglass made Chago and Irena the perfect match in spite of the fierce challenges and obstacles they faced. I would give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 and have placed Book 1, "Seal of Destiny" on the top of my must-read list.

Book Description:

Love, like War, will always find a way…

War has shaped every aspect of Irena Soldan’s life—her childhood, her work, her DNA. Unaware she is the genetic host of the second Seal of the Apocalypse, Irena battles for those who cannot fight for themselves. As a top human-rights operative for The Omega Consortium, her company provides both the financial backing required to undertake her task and a charismatic, publicity-loving boss to promote her cause. Life proceeds on plan for Irena until a mysterious, sexy stranger arrives claiming to be her guardian and Irena’s path takes a sudden, inauspicious turn for both the erotic and the lethal.

Chago has always been the quiet one amongst his warrior Scion brethren—the brooding, Spanish combat expert with a hidden soft side.  A member of Divinity’s covert special forces, he’s protected humanity for more than a millennium. Still, his greatest joy comes not from the battlefield, but from tending the cattle herd on his remote Montana ranch.

Irena’s new assignment takes her straight to the heart of a bloody civil conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa and Chago’s mission demands he follow. Expecting a seething cauldron of female whoop-ass, he instead discovers a harbinger of peace amidst a world of ever-increasing violence. The explosively tense situation is further magnified by the cunning Omega Consortium leader, his ambiguous personal agenda, and an ancient foe whose audacious rise to power threatens the world’s very existence.

Despite the cataclysmic circumstances, an undeniable attraction ignites between Chago and Irena. Together, they must unravel the ancient puzzle of the Seals and discover her employer’s ulterior plans before they both become casualties of War. Soon, both are forced to choose between a past riddled with old torments or risk everything they treasure on a love capable of defeating evil incarnate.


About the Author:
Traci is the author of paranormal/urban fantasy and contemporary romances featuring a sly, urban edge, including her current Seven Seals series. Her stories feature sizzling alpha-male heroes full of dark humor, quick wits and major attitudes; smart, independent heroines who always give as good as they get; and scrumptiously evil villains who are—more often than not—bent on world destruction. She enjoys weaving ancient curses and mythology, modern science and old religion, and great dialogue together to build red-hot, sizzling chemistry between her main characters.
 
Traci is an active member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Indiana Romance Writers of America (IRWA) and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Writers (FF&P) and is pursing a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction through Seton Hill University. Her stories have made the final rounds in several RWA chapter contests, including the 2012 Duel on the Delta, the 2012 Molly Awards, and the 2012 Catherine Awards. An earlier draft of Seal of Destiny won the paranormal category of the 2012 Marlene Awards sponsored by the Washington Romance Writers.

Other current projects include upcoming books in the Seven Seals series and a new futuristic suspense series with hints of the paranormal and plenty of romance.