The Seal by Juliette N. Banks
Black Hawk Security series, Book One
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by MistflowerHe’s sworn to protect, and never love again, but will she be the one to breach his walls?
My name is Josh Hawke, decorated SEAL and founder of Black Hawke Security. Some might call me arrogant. Women call me cold. Those who truly know me call me dangerous.
I’m all those things.
My priority is my elite team of former special ops who fulfill our contracts with governments and some of the most powerful people in the world.
When a famous rockstar hires us to protect his daughter, it’s just another job. Until I meet Cassy Cartwright and her intense green eyes send a bolt of chemistry through me.
She’s as infuriated as I am by it.
The last thing I want is private security intruding on my quiet, hard-fought-for life. Even if he is six foot four and the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen.
Not interested.
Josh is going to distract all the clients in my hair salon and… protect me from the stalker who is out of prison and looking for me again thanks to my rock star father’s comeback hit.
But that’s all I want from him.
I can’t say I wasn’t warned—the book overview clearly stated this was a steamy romance with spice. But wow. My eyes were reading Tien Tsin chile pepper-level steamy!
The hero, Josh Hawke, is a decorated SEAL who openly admits to being arrogant, cold, and dangerous. He’s well aware of his eight-pack abs, which he maintains through regular workouts in the private gym at his Black Hawk Security (BHS) headquarters. Josh, along with his elite team of paramilitary experts, runs BHS, a company that provides high-stakes security services.
The chemistry between Josh and the heroine, Cassy, is immediate and intense. It’s easy to see why Cassy was taken in by his Alpha presence, good looks, and wealth—complete with his Maserati SUV and expensive clothes. Josh, in turn, was hooked from the moment he laid eyes on Cassy. Her photo captivated him, but in person, she was even more stunning. When their eyes locked, he was hypnotized by her green eyes.
Cassy is independent, successful, and strong-willed. But even she can’t resist Josh’s charm—especially when he becomes the one person who can truly protect her.
And she needs protection. Years ago, Cassy was stalked and kidnapped by a dangerous man named Isaac, who’s now escaped prison. Her father wisely hires BHS to keep her safe. The suspense element in this story kept me on edge—every twist had me rooting for everyone’s safety. I felt a sense of relief when Josh was near, just like Cassy did.
The supporting cast is well developed and adds richness to the story. I especially enjoyed getting to know Josh’s crew at BHS—they’re the kind of characters I hope to see again in future books. Cassy’s world also feels real and grounded, especially through her connections at her salon. Her co-workers and clients added humor and warmth that balanced out the intensity of the action scenes.
One thing to note: there’s a fair amount of profanity, which I’m no stranger to myself. Sometimes a well-placed F-bomb gets the point across. However, I personally found the use of strong language in the sex scenes off-putting—it just didn’t feel romantic to me. That said, the scenes were easy to skim past and didn’t detract from the gripping suspense and solid plot.
Overall, The Seal was a fast-paced, action-packed, and thoroughly entertaining read. If you enjoy romantic suspense with high heat and high stakes, this one is definitely worth picking up.
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