The Six Night Truce by Hannah Shield:

4 stars

Jane and Sean have been at odds since the day they met, despite having friends in common. Sean believes that defense attorney Jane is driven by money, power, or something equally self-serving. Jane finds Sean, a detective, cold, surly, and consistently rude. That doesn’t stop them from being attracted to each other, especially after they survive a courthouse shooting and spend six nights together, trying to piece together what happened and why.

The Six Night Truce is a dynamic story, successfully blending romance with mystery/suspense. With dirty politicians, corrupt cops, and treacherous informants, Sean and Jane aren’t sure whom to trust. Ms. Shield allows her characters to make mistakes and learn from them. Their wins aren’t always clean or timely, adding a layer of realism.

Both protagonists are shaped in complex backgrounds. They have good reasons for being who they are, and believable, if miscalculated, reasons for not trusting each other. The supporting characters could benefit from a little more depth, and could even be used to drop hints at the truth.

The central mystery seems straightforward at first, but as the story develops, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. Sometimes the odds of surviving seem overwhelmingly narrow, yet the conclusion is convincing and satisfying.

Funny (Jane the Panther), charming, and steamy moments are woven throughout, making The Six Night Truce an engaging, intelligent romance sure to please readers who want their spice with substance.