Seen: A Dark Irish Rom-Com

by Shauna Adams

When Aodhán O'Neill found himself charged with a crime he didn't commit, he was confined to a prison cell, enraged with a burning desire to clear his name, regain his freedom, and take revenge on those responsible for setting him up. It was all consuming until a chance encounter turned his whole world on its axis.

Nora Kavanagh was just a girl who loved nothing more than chilling with her friends and fantasising about the men she read about in her books. That was until she unwittingly became snared in the sights of a man who both terrified and intrigued her.

Try as she may, to fight what the future holds, now he has seen her, nothing will stop him from capturing his shining light in the darkness and making her his.

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2025

About the author

Shauna Adams is an Irish romance author who lives in Belfast with her husband, two children, and three adorable cats. On the nights she isn't cheering on the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team, she loves nothing more than curling up with a mug of coffee and a good book - Dark Romance, Rom-Coms, Romantasy as long as it's hot and spicy.

You can follow Shauna on Tiktok: Weeraff86

Reviews

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shauna Adams’ Seen is a wild, gritty plunge into a dark romance that's anything but gentle. Set against a backdrop of Belfast’s criminal underworld, the story pivots around Aodhán, a morally grey antihero, and Nora, a woman whose accidental encounters with him ignite a dangerous obsession. Told through dual perspectives, the book peels back layers of trauma, lust, revenge, and vulnerability as their lives entwine. It’s a bold mix of intense attraction and criminal intrigue, stitched together with raw, explicit prose and themes that are not for the faint-hearted.

The writing is sharp and unapologetically in-your-face, and it works. Adams doesn’t mince words. Her dialogue has bite, the pacing sprints, and the steam is downright volcanic. Aodhán’s voice drips with menace and charm, while Nora feels real, grounded, and complicated. Still, parts of the book made me uncomfortable. Aodhán's obsessive, stalker-like behavior is painted with romantic undertones that had me questioning whether I was supposed to swoon or scream. The emotional push-pull is gripping.

And yet, I couldn’t put it down. The plot twists hit like punches, and the chemistry between the leads was electric in a way that felt almost reckless. Adams pulls no punches on violence or sex, so you need a thick skin (and a strong stomach). The story has that addictive “just one more chapter” pull, even when you're shaking your head at the sheer audacity of what's happening. There’s a certain poetic tragedy in how flawed and raw everything is—it’s messy and unapologetically human.

In the end, Seen is not for everyone. But if you’re someone who loves dark romance, doesn’t shy away from taboo topics, and craves stories that don’t play it safe, this is your book. It’s intense, provocative, and a little unhinged—in the best way. Personally, I walked away a bit stunned, a bit disturbed, and a whole lot impressed. Adams knows what she's doing, and she's not afraid to break the rules to do it.

[Mynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely amazing read, not saying this just because she my Street team bestie 😍 but this dark rom-com is definitely one for the shelves... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ set in Belfast, Ireland, she passionately detailed out some spots that I hope I get to see when I one day find myself in this beautiful country 😍
We got ourselves a sassy MFC and a possessive MMC with some skeletons in the closet (who doesn't like that?)
The spice was spicing well 🥵🔥😉 and before I forget, our MFC is a reader 😍 and Shauna has included some Easter eggs for some lovely indie authors 🥰 which I think is absolutely beautiful.
We got our MMC Aodhan being framed for a crime, and is set bound on revenge, well till he meets Nora, and let's just say the gears have shifted.... I could start yapping about the book and fear giving spoilers... So if yalls looking for an amazing dark rom-com to dive into (with some 🔥 characters) look no further ...

PS: I've claimed the boys, Shauna says Cormac will be my kinda vibe, so can we have book 2 already, because I need to know my man 🤣🤣

[Emma Scullion · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing debut Shauna. I was obsessed from start to finish. 😜 A dark rom com that everyone needs to read. I loved that it was based in Belfast and could relate to the venues and places. The banter and the terminology, I was able to relate to which was true Belfast characterization.
The build up to Aodhan and Nora’s relationship keep me in suspense without giving to much away going from wanting revenge for being in prison to then seeking out Nora the book has many twists I wasn’t expecting. It sure kept me ion my toes, which I loved. 🥰

I also loved the family bond between brothers and cannot wait for the next book 📕
I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone ✨

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic debut! I've not read much dark romance, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I loved the dark gang underworld that lingered in the background to create an atmospheric urban feel and added to the suspense and thrill towards the end. The belfast location was so unique and different. The spice was enjoyable too. I loved the close, loving sibling relationship and banter between the 3 brothers and couldn't help but draw comparisons with Rhys, Cass, and Az from the ACOTAR series! I'm so excited for Shauna to continue the Lagan series and explore it further!

[Jasmine Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful book! Pulls on the heart-strings in the right way and then gives you that golden-comedy moment to help heal you from any heartbreak you may be suffering! Cannot wait to dive into the rest of the series when it comes out!

[Nikki J Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Aodhan and Nora were the sweetest and hottest couple ever. I loved the twists and turns. It kept me hooked right until the end. And that ending… perfection!

[Naomie Barnabas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkly gripping and emotionally intense, this story of obsession, justice, and unexpected love hooks you from the first page and refuses to let go.

[Amy Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aodhan Our obsessive, possessive hero is 🔥
The moment he sees Nora his entire agenda in life changes. Suddenly it’s all about HER. If you love brooding alpha, touch her and die MMCs with sexy accents then this is for you.
Oh and just WAIT till you get to the massage scene *chef’s kiss*
Perfect for lovers of dark rom coms with loads of spice!!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Belfast and wrote by a local, that's hard to come by. If your from Northern Ireland like I am, you can imagine all of the places talked about, really making you feel like you're there with the characters.
This is a stalker romance, he falls first, Nora is a beautiful curvy woman who gets entangled with Aodhán after he breaks out of a police van unknown to her.
All I'll say is... massage 😉😅
I highly recommend the read, you won't want to put it down and book 2 should be out next year 🤞🏼🤞🏼