Save Me by Cecy Robson Pages: 349
Series: The O'Brien Family #5
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: ARC
Also in this series: Let Me, Crave Me, Feel Me
Also by this author: Let Me, Inseverable, Crave Me, Feel Me, Eternal
Goodreads
RT Book Reviews proclaims that the O’Brien Family series from award-winning author Cecy Robson “has the hottest brothers ever!” And in SAVE ME, it's time for Seamus, the family’s most notorious bachelor, to find true love.
Three weddings. No date. What’s a hot stud to do when all the women on his speed dial are either serving dinner to their families or serving time?
Out of all the O’Briens, Seamus is the best-looking, most creative, and, did I mention, best-looking? Single at almost forty wasn’t a big deal until every sibling in his large and loud Irish family found “the one.” Now, he’s desperate for a wedding date, one he doesn’t have to worry will make out with the limo driver or rob the bride and groom blind.
Allie Mendes is the good daughter, who’s spent her life living in her perfect sister’s shadow. But when her sister steals the man Allie was supposed to marry, that shadow she’s lived in threatens to swallow her whole. Allie wants to believe a bright future awaits. But when she begs God to save her from this disastrous twist of fate, the last person she expects Him to send her is Seamus O’Brien.
Allie needs a stand-in boyfriend to avoid appearing as lonely as she feels. Seamus needs a decent woman without an ankle bracelet or a rap sheet as long as his muscular arms. The two make a deal to pose as each other’s perfect date. But weddings mean romance and a chance at forever neither had planned.
Save Me is a bit of a ‘ugly duckling to beautiful swan’ story, except her fairy godmother is a foul mouthed Irishman who acts like a frat boy. Plus, you also have the fake relationship trope which is more the focus of the plot after Allie’s makeover! Allie’s family is horrible. Talk about evil siblings and mothers! Holy moly! Her sister is marring the man that Allie was engaged to. Her mom can’t understand why Allie isn’t supportive of her sister. Allie is the quiet, mousy type that everyone forgets about because her sister is a model (literally). But Allie is kind and caring and she wants nothing else but for people to notice that about her and remember her for that.
Seamus is a manwhoring frat boy who is looking down 40 years old with no prospects for long term relationships. His lady friends have been sleazy and criminal. When he runs into Allie he sees a chance to help her and help himself! Allie is respectable, pretty (once he gives her a makeover), and would be perfect to get his family off his back. Its win-win…right?
Sometimes I wanted to smack Seamus for being so ignorant. However, he is cognizant of Allie’s feelings and he doesn’t want to hurt her. He is torn between his budding feelings for her and feeling like she is NOT the girl for him. He is a bit self centered too. Yes, he is ‘helping’ Allie, but he is really doing it to help himself. I have always struggled with the ‘ugly duckling’ trope because it makes me feel like girls are judged by their looks and guys want ‘pretty swans’. He told Allie his family would never buy him dating her the way she was (a bit frumpy). I think that was an indictment of HIM not her. Perhaps he should have changed his clothes/attitude…but I digress. Of course, he does grow a bit throughout the novel and there is something endearing about him being a bit of a train wreck at times. Honestly, the whole ‘ugly duckling’ thing is very brief and in the beginning. While Seamus is my least favorite O’Brien, I still loved him. He does start to fall for Allie but then thinks she shouldn’t be with a guy like him. God save us from men who think they know whats best! What really won me over was Allie. Her awful family didn’t stop her from becoming successful. She struggled with self esteem in her personal life, but she was a successful woman. I really wanted her and Seamus to be honest with each other but that is the problem with ‘fake relationships’-its hard to tell whats real!
For me, a huge plus for Save Me was seeing the other O’Brien siblings and other Robson characters! Their stories were so wonderful that it was great to get more! Weddings galore, each with their own unique spin that had me reliving stories and falling in love with Seamus and Allie more with each one.
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: ugly duckling, fake relationship
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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books by authors like Aurora Rose Reynolds, Harper Sloan, Scarlett Cole, Kaylee Ryan…then you will probably like Save Me!
Save Me
Seamus is a really good guy, just rough around the edges. I will miss the O’Briens too!
I have the first book in this series and it seems I need to meet these O’Brien brothers even is Seamus was a schmuck at times. 😉 I’m with you about the ugly-duckling trope so I’m glad it wasn’t a theme carried throughout the story. I’m happy you enjoyed his story, Samantha!
YES! Oh the O’Brien’s are amazing!!