Book Review: See Me by Pauline Allan

Title: See Me (Amazon)
Author: Pauline Allan
Genre: Erotic Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy from author
Published: March 2012 by Loose ID

Abigail Swanson’s spirit has been battered, a body left for dead, only to recover to find fear and loneliness. Due to an abusive relationship, she is unable to feel the one thing she longs to have again. She builds a lucrative business specializing in the commodity she can’t afford to experience. Passion.

Sean Drennan traded his fists for a portfolio, but the cost was too great. Now, considered damaged goods, he’s unable to find employment. Desperate to gather some quick cash, he reluctantly agrees to take a job in the field guaranteed to make him sell his soul.

So what does a successful pornography entrepreneur do when her clients are demanding a tattooed hunk and her performers don’t fit the bill? She puts all her trust in an ex-con who has nothing to lose. For one voluptuous, scared woman it’s love at all costs. For one man it’s a new experience he’s more than willing to fight his way into. Can he save her business and her heart at the same time or will his fighting ways leave him cold and lonely yet again?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: Exhibitionism/voyeurism, flashback to violence.

Reviewed By: J9

In a Nutshell: I was in the Derecho, which knocked out power to my house for days, and when I should have saved my cell phone’s battery life I read this story instead! If that isn’t a strong enough recommendation, I’m not sure what else I could say to make you read this!

The Set Up: Abigail survived an abusive relationship and created a life for herself where she can be surrounded by passion while keeping herself safe. Now the owner of an online made-to-order pornography company, she’s looking for a tattooed hunk to fill an order. Sean is an ex-con used to rejection so he expects more of the same from Abigail. But Abigail is tired of saying no to life and Sean is just the guy to say yes to.

Why I Read this Book: I enjoy well-written erotic romances and the blurb on this promised exactly that. Plus the excellent rating on Goodreads confirmed I *had* to read this.

What I Liked: I adored both these leads. Sean is a perfect combination of strength and vulnerability. His awareness that he can’t escape how his troubled childhood affects him is powerful and will resonant with readers. Abigail is also a survivor but of her psycho ex-husband. She’s understandably slower to let Sean in but it’s lovely when she does. The dance of courtship between these two is compelling to read and had me flying through this novel.

What I Also Liked: The focus of this novel was on Abby and Sean’s relationship. There are a few secondary characters but they served to bring Abby and Sean together and this worked very well for me. I’m a romance reader so I want to see the leads get to know each other, learn to love each other and sex it up—all of which I got in this stellar relationship-focused story. Also, I’m not a dog lover at all but Abby’s little dog is a super cute addition to the story and how Sean forges a relationship with Abby’s pup is adorable.

What I Didn’t Like: I wouldn’t say I didn’t like it but the stalker plot is utterly predictable. If you don’t see the big showdown coming from novel’s beginning, I’d be shocked. Sure, it works to solidify Sean and Abby’s relationship but it isn’t anything that hasn’t been done a million times in survivor-romance. Plus it robs Abby and Sean of sharing something huge together in a loving way and to me that was a slight miss.

IMO: This novel combines heat and heart beautifully for an outstanding erotic romance. The little predictability with the action plot can be forgiven since it isn’t overwhelming. Fans of well written, character-focused romance will love this as I did.

J9’s Rating: