SHINE NOT BURN (Shine Not Burn #1) by ELLE CASEY

‘The question is, could I have a one night stand with a man named Mack who wears a cowboy hat to a casino?’

This book has been sitting on our kindle for four years and we’re so annoyed with ourselves that we’ve only read it now. But that’s the life of a book worm. We buy books every single day but haven’t got the time to read them all even though we’d love nothing more. With thousands of unread books on our Kindles we’re spoilt for choice so sometimes it’s such a happy revelation when we find that perfect book for our reading mood already sat on our kindles. Andie and Mack’s story was just wonderful and we loved every single minute. It had hilarious banter, swoony romance and hot n’ saucy naughty ‘cuddle time’.

“Luceo non uro,” he said.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that if I want to get lucky with you, I should take the risk and tell you what’s on my mind, because failing would be worse than never trying.”

Andie is on the straight and narrow, she’s a woman with a life plan and heaven help anyone who gets in the way. Sometimes control is all we have in a crazy messed up world. Meeting Mack under the influence and exorcising previous bad relationships out of her head through romps beneath the sheets should’ve helped right? Well sadly no, that is until she realises that’s not all that happened in Vegas! Mack is none the wiser to Andie’s predicament until two years later when a bedraggled blast from the past turns up on his farm. A hilarious situational comedic situation ensues with some real emotional moments and some heartfelt introspective realisations for both Andie and Mack. What a sweet, funny and saucy ride this was, we highly recommend it to all the romantics out there who love their second chance cowboy romances. We have to say though… if only the end hadn’t come so abruptly it would have been perfection. Andie, Andie, Andie…..girl you hung on to that plan of yours for too long! We were intrigued by Mack’s brother so will be jumping into the second book in this series of standalones soon and we cannot wait!

‘Instead of working towards a clear vision of happiness, I’d been head down, moving in the direction of…nothing. A big cloud of smoke I couldn’t see through. I drummed it into my own head, this mantra of success, success, success…but where was the happiness? Where was the love? And why hadn’t I realized this before?’