He’s cocky. Infuriating. And irresistible. I can’t decide if I want to kiss him or kill him.
When I stepped into the courtroom this morning, I intended to fight for my client’s life. I never expected to run for my own. Now the courthouse is in lockdown, and I’m trapped in a tiny room with my nemesis—the West Oaks PD cop who hates me most.
He’s a single dad with a growly attitude. And he’s the star witness against my client. But it turns out Detective Sean Holt and I do have something in common. This threat against us is personal, and the maniac behind it wants us both dead.
We have one week to catch whoever’s trying to kill us, assuming we don’t off each other first. But as we hunt down leads, I start to suspect I don’t hate Sean Holt after all. I might even like him.
And all this hostility is really turning me on…
Get ready for action, scorching steam, and plenty of swoon! Attorney Janie Simon and Detective Sean Holt go from enemies to lovers in this heart-pounding and heartwarming romantic suspense.
I write suspenseful romance with pulse-pounding danger, fun & flirty banter, and tons of heart (plus spice!). Both a Californian and a Texan in my past, I now live in the Colorado mountains with my family.
I liked the premise. A suspenseful romance with enemies to lovers.
Jane was a defense attorney and Sean was a police detective. Both mcs were strong and smart, shared a great chemistry, however they didn’t manage to win me over.
The story had a slow flow, plenty of dragging parts, tiring inner thoughts and the revelation of the culprit had an average execution. Also, the ending was cheesy and cliché.
Jane Simon is a tough defense attorney who keeps her private self away from the court house. Then, the same day she is saved from an embarrassing fall by the handsome detective that seems to hate her, all hell breaks loose.
Someone tried to Kill Jane and detective Sean Holt at the courthouse and succeeded in shooting her client. Before Jane can think straight, she finds herself in protective custody with the detective and his son.
This was very well thought out and I didn’t guess who dun’it until almost the end. The writing was good and the spice never got out of hand enough to ruin the story. Five star romantic suspense.
This is my first time reading Hannah Shield. I have to admit I enjoyed the suspense part of it really well. She's well knowledgeable in law and crime which added a lot to the story. I love a romance suspense thriller.
Janie is a lawyer, she finds herself in a dire situation where an attempt on her life throws her into the arms of detective Sean, main witness in her case. Janie is known as the Dragon Lady 🐉, for she is fierce, fearless and doesn't back down. A real badass 🥷, however, that badassery is sometimes a bit too much for my own taste, especially when later on she tries to wear the pants in her relationship with Sean. Now.... there is a strong woman and then there's a woman who wants to pass off as a man. There's a difference and this Janie is a bit on the latter side.
Did I ever mention how much I detest when authors mention the MCs previous sexual lives and how they've had "really hot", "kinkier", and "outrageous" sex before the MC? Authors... Please stop from doing so! It's enough that lately MFCs are as manwhorish as the MMCs, do you also need to brag about their sexual prowess with their multiple numerous partners?! Hmmmm
And don't get me started on all this "exclusive" BS!! I thought this was a gen Z thing! Now I have to read about it in Millenial MCs as well!!!
We don't kiss in front of his mom or Henry (his son). I'm not sure why. Maybe that would be a little too...official. We've agreed not to see anyone else, but that's not the same as naming this thing between us. I'm happy enough to figure it out day-by-day. We've both got plenty to stress about as it is.
So she's practically living with them. They f*ck like rabbits 🐇. He met her family. She lives with his mom and son. They agreed to be exclusive, yet she doesn't know what to name this between them!... 🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗 Bitch it's called a re-la-tion-ship, you're his girlfriend!!!!!!!! Need I be more clear?! Or are you saving yourself for more men hunting after you're done with this one!!!! Ughhhhhhh 😤😤😤😤😤😤
Other than the aforementioned stupidity, I loved the suspense, the twist and the plot!
~~~~~~And yeah yeah OK I will admit that the steamy scenes were steamy 🥵 hoo boy!!! Some of the best sex scenes I've ever read right there.~~~~~~
P.S: We never get the I love you moment. It is mentioned in passing in the epilogue as something that happened a few months ago. Woman!!! don't deny me my I LOVE YOU grand revelation!!! or my calling her baby moment. I live for this sh*t!!!
📝 ticking another Bingo square 12) "One MC is officer of law, the other is a suspect" Squares Count: 50
I loooove this book so much. I don't think I have ever read and loved a feisty heroine like I did with Janie. She's so smart, brave, sassy, and selfless, but overall, she has a very big heart that she shares with everyone around her. She's the epitome of a heroine I would want for every story I'm reading. She's just so perfect! The way she holds her ground with Sean is so admirable. I'm proud of her oozing confidence and determination to see through until the end that justice will be delivered. She's a great defense lawyer, successful, and people know her reputation. If all lawyers out there care for their clients like Janie did, I think it will really make a difference in the world. People were usually intimidated because of her tactics in court. But that's just her being the badass lawyer that she is. In reality, Janie is such a loving person; if people would just take time to get to know her better, they'd surely fall in love with her. I can't get enough of her character; I really, really love her.
As for Sean, he's a great detective, son, father, and boyfriend. He may have been a dick to her in the beginning. It was really a bad day for him the first time they met, and that awful first impression sets the whole enemy tension between the two of them. But since they were put under witness protection, they have to navigate coexisting together without killing each other. I really enjoyed reading his POV and the way he sees Janie and his plans for trying to win her over.
It was sweet and swoony to see how their relationship progressed. The banter and bickering made me laugh so hard. Janie gives as good as she gets, and Sean isn't backing down as well. The tension between them is so intense, especially the first time they do the deed; it was so intimate and hoooot 🔥 Sean and Janie are the most mature characters I've read that didn't piss me off at all. They were very open with the communication and honest about how they felt. I really don't like when there's a lot of push and pull between the characters in the book, and gladly, you can't find that here. They were both very straightforward, stating their intentions and what they really wanted. Sean and Janie are just really perfect and good together. I love them so much! ❤️
The action and suspense are so worth reading as well. I really had a hard time finding out the traitor within the government, and the twist of who it is actually is quite shocking and unexpected, well, at least for me.
Though this has my favorite trope, which is enemies-to-lovers, I admit there was hesitancy on my part reading this because of the title. I thought that this would be some sort of insta-love, which I'm glad isn't the case at all. I'm really happy that I got to read this, and I'm looking forward to the other books in this series.
This is my first book from Ms. Shield, but surely it won't be my last. I like her writing style; it was so so good. The mystery will keep you on your toes, and the readers will rack their brains trying to figure out the rest of the book. I enjoyed this so much more than what I'd expected.
Ever since Jane moved to West Oaks, she’s been heralded as the top defense attorney to hire as well as one of the “Forty Under Forty to Watch.” She’s reached a high level of success, but with that success comes new enemies. Enter Detective Sean Holt, who ever since they met, has had an intense hatred for the attorney – and that hatred seems to go both ways.
Detective Sean Holt has not had the easiest transition to being part of West Oaks PD. On top of moving from LA to a small town and going from investigating gangs and drugs to less nefarious cases, he finds out he has a son who now is under his care. But with the help of his mom, Sean finds his transition a tiny bit easier. Except Jane Simon is about the most cold-blooded, conniving woman he’s met, and he has no idea what to expect from her.
When a mutual case investigating the largest financial fraud crime in West Oaks history pulls Sean and Jane to the county courthouse, no one expects the attack to come. Gunshots and the attempted murder of Jane’s client and the two “enemies” turns into something much more personal. Putting aside their intense hostility, Jane and Sean are more determined than ever to discover who the mastermind behind their attacks is and just what that means for the case Jane and Sean were involved with.
***************
Written in dual first-person POV, “The Six Night Truce” follows Detective Sean Holt and defense attorney Janie Simon as they investigate who is trying to kill them while also uncovering the secrets behind the attack against the county courthouse.
This was certainly a suspenseful read. I honestly enjoyed it for the mystery that was the financial fraud case and how it linked to the attack at the courthouse, and I definitely wasn’t expecting that ending. As for the romance, it felt like a bonus. It was a well-built romance based on mutual attraction and hatred formed from misunderstandings. Basically, Jane and Sean hated each other because they caught each other on bad days and just never attempted to retry.
The author does a great job building the characters up and giving them unique (but realistic) backstories that led them to work really well together as love interests. Sean being a single dad and relying on his mom to help raise his son due to the stress and long hours associated with his job, but also his motivation to provide a better life for his son than what he had growing up, was really inspiring. Yes, single dad romances are common especially for first responder or military characters, but there was just something about this romance and the way it was written that I didn’t mind the common trope. As for Jane, she was a strong, determined woman who relied on herself to get what she wanted and needed to succeed thanks to the advice of her gran. But she also has a softness to her that makes her loveable for the moments where she isn’t as strong or willing to put up that front to protect herself. She hasn’t had the best life, but she’s making a name for herself and proving to herself that her past isn’t what defines her.
The romance just worked so well between the two, and they both filled in parts of the other that were missing. Plus the chemistry between them was palpable. The spicy scenes definitely made for a great read. Yes, everything was cheesy and cliché but it worked for the characters and the story the author was trying to deliver. If I wanted a fully suspenseful thriller or mystery, that would be the genre I chose instead of a romantic suspense.
Sometimes, the mystery kinda fell to the backburner, but that was okay considering the romance needed some build-up and development. The pacing of the story was sometimes slow and clunky, but I think it evened itself out by the end and made up for the draggy parts. And the twist of who the culprit of the attack was wasn’t all that intense, nor were any of the revelations that come from their confession all that surprising, but I think it all worked well.
If you happen to like romantic suspense novels with enemies-to-lovers and single dads, I think this is a pretty good read to check out. And this book kinda made me want to check out other Hannah Shield novels to see what else I will enjoy from them.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The pacing of the story in my opinion was good even though i think after the first few chapters the story kind of slowed down a little bit but after that it picked up the pace and i couldn't stop reading.
I loved the main and secondary characters i think they are well developed.
I really appreciate the fact that the author made Janie strong and independent. She was not only supporting Sean but they worked together in every step and i loved that.
There was a very good balance between romance and crime story.
I liked how their relationship changed little by little as they got to know each other, there was no rush( the author gave them time and us as readers to understand and follow that change in their relationship).
At times for me the dialogue could have been a little tighter.
Overall i liked this book.☺️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was amazing!! This is book one in a series. If you have read Hannah’s Bennett Security series there will be a lot of familiar faces - I personally love when authors add that touch. I have never read books by Hannah Shield but I am interested in her backlog now!
This has everything I love - super steamy enemies to lover PLUS suspense that lets Sean really flex his alpha maleness (my favorite) and Janie what a strong independent women she is.
Janie is a defense attorney and Sean is a former LAPD detective now small town cop. Ememies, Imma right??? After a court house shooting they need to figure out who is after them. It was a suspenseful romantic ride.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
This book was provided to me as an ARC and I completely forgot to review it, lol, have to stop getting ARC's because I feel too guilty when it takes me too long to finish and review. As was with Hung Up, another great book from the author, this one is action-packed, mistery-ridden and steam-laced, a great read all and all. This book is also in the same Bennet Security books universe, in the city of West Oaks mainly, and obviously we see a glimpse of past couples and their antics. I think they can all be read as standalones. Janie and Sean are on the opposing sides of every aspect of their lifes: her the independent all hands on deck defense lawyer, him the brooding and impatient cop. They are brought together through unfortunate circumstances, and have to try and find common ground for at least a week to try and save their lifes and the case. In the meantime, they get to see other facets of their daily lifes, and find out that maybe they have more in common then they think.
This is a wonderful read. I am a fan of romantic fiction but this novel was thrilling and exciting as well. A story about a detective and a defence attorney- an unlikely pair but such a great novel to read.
It had everything that I like in a novel and so it gets top marks from me. 5 stars and they are well deserved.
I think other readers especially those ones who are fans of contemporary romantic fiction will love this novel too. I loved the location to the novel. Travelling to sunny and warm California via this novel was bliss. I liked the main characters and the plot. I totally recommend this entertaining, thrilling and exciting read.
If you like crime shows, not true but like the fictional ones, THEN READ THIS. Cuz wow, this is all you need it’s got suspects, romance, enemies to lovers, spice (which you won’t have to wait 10 season to get) victory over the bad guys! It’s so freaking good.
Jane and Sean have hated each other since the first time they met. Working on a case together has them at each other's throats the entire time, but when bullets started flying at the courthouse, Sean protected Jane. Things get more complicated after that when both their houses get broken into. Now that both are being taken into protective custody, they feel like someone on the inside is against them.
They call a truce so they can figure out what's happening. Forced together in one place with no one to trust but each other, they get closer and get to know each other better.
Will their feelings for each other last after they find whoever is after them, or will the truce only last for six days?
This is an enemies-to-lovers romance suspense where someone is after the main characters and they are trying to figure out who and why. It’s the first book in the series and has ties to the Bennett Security series. There is suspense and single-dad romance, along with all the hot and steamy scenes. It’s a great book to pick up when you are in the mood for a pleasurable, suspenseful read.
I love how this book started. It got me hooked and I couldn’t put it down. It made me smile, laugh, cry, and swoon. Jane and Sean made me laugh and wish they would just kiss! I loved the chemistry between them. Their arguments made them more real. Their love felt realistic, deeper. I think they’ll be on my mind for a while and I’ll keep revisiting their story. I’d love to reread it one day. A book like this is the kind you wish you could read for the first time again and again so you could experience their relationship more than once.
I found no flaws. Nothing about this book bored me. It held my attention and kept me intrigued. I’ll be reading what’s next in the series and definitely more books by Hannah Shield.
I loved the suspense and the mystery of who was after them. I had a few guesses, but every time something new comes up, it makes you question everything. Who to trust and who is telling the truth? The ending was sweet and fitting for their story. It’s a must-read book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow, Just wow! The Six Night Truce by Hannah Shield is the first book in the West Oaks Heroes Series and the first I have read by Ms. Shield. I am disappointed only in the fact that I did not find her sooner!
This book has it all! Mystery, thriller and romance! We ALL need a Sean Holt in our lives! Sean is sexy, driven and well-accomplished. He is a former Marine who is currently a police detective. He's a single Dad, his Mom is his best friend and he is a true gentleman.
And the main female character, Jane, how refreshing. She is simply a bada$$! I loved reading a book with a strong female character. Jane is an attorney, workaholic who doesn't need anyone, but Sean and Jane come to find out that while they don't need anyone else they are better together.
I could not put this book down. I was engaged throughout the entire book. I even had to slow down at the end because I knew I would miss Sean and Jane once I finished this book. I can't wait to see where this series goes!
Well written and suburb execution this book will not disappoint!
At the beginning of the book, I wasn't sure if I would like Sean. He seemed judgmental and overly hateful toward Janie. However, once he overcame his preconceived notions, he fell for Janie even faster than she fell for him. I loved how protective he was over her. He was a great alpha male, but I also admired Janie's independence and intelligence. They made a great partnership, and I enjoyed the epilogue's sweet glimpses into the future of their relationship.
I really struggled with whether this book was deserving of three or four stars, but ultimately, the abundant slower moments and mediocre mystery resulted in me giving this book three stars. There were numerous scenes that could've been deleted to give the book a faster, more intense pace. Furthermore, while the mystery/action angle did add some excitement to the story, it wasn't very cohesive and the reveal of the villain seemed rushed.
Overall, this was a romantic, slightly suspenseful novel. I recommend it to those who enjoy alpha male heroes and forced proximity stories.
*I received an ARC of this novel. This is my complete and honest review.*
...I feel like he might pull off his mask...mission impossible style!...
3.5
Joking aside, this book was pretty good! Being my first Hannah Shield novel, I wasn't sure what to expect but I quite enjoyed it! I have another book from her on my kindle from the Bennett Security series which I think comes before this series! However, I didn't miss any key parts to enjoy this book.
It's been awhile since I've read a romantic suspense. I will say this ones gets the ball running right from the start with a shoot-out at a courthouse. Our main characters, Sean and Janie, are caught in the fire. Sean is a detective and Janie is the DA. The two are combative with each other and don't always see eye to eye. However, they form an alliance to find out who has it out for them and solve once and for all whodunnit!
I liked both Sean and Janie as individuals and I enjoyed them together as partners too! I liked the way their relationship progressed and I appreciated how the side characters fit into the plot too. Sean is also a single father so it was nice to see the dynamic with his son and also his Mom who helps support him as he raises his son.
For the most part, I thought the pacing of the story was well done. There were a couple times toward the middle/end that I felt it was a bit sluggish, but not so much that I was skimming. And, I really didn't feel it was overly long either.
That being said, I couldn't quite give it 4 stars. While I liked how the supporting cast aided in the enjoyment of this story, there was a bit of a curve to learning who everyone was and I think there were times I was a bit confused. lol Also, the ending wrapped up a bit to quickly for me.
SPOILER:
But, the biggest let down was the fact that while there is an HEA, the author didn't give the reader the "I love you" moment I was so hoping for. When I read a romance, even a suspense one, I want that moment between our two main characters. I need that in a romance even more so than an epilogue with a proposal. While that's nice, it's not as needed for me as that moment when the two characters express their love to each other. So, when that was stolen from me this book dropped a bit in score.
Still, I would like to read more from this author and see if another book is just as good or better. I think there's potential in this being an author I read more from.
I liked this one and if you read RS this is one I recommend.
Sean is our hero. He’s a single dad and works as a detective for the local police. Janie is our heroine. She is a tough as nails defence attorney who will go to bat for her clients. She and Sean know each other as they are on opposite sides. She’s trying to make sure the people who he arrests go free. They respect each other but aren’t friends. This all changes when her most recent client is shot at the courthouse when he is being arraigned. They are forced to share a small room while the cops try to find the shooters. Then they find they have more in common when both their residences are broken into and boob trapped.
They are forced to go into hiding together and let’s just say their relationship changes, becoming more…..physical. They work together trying to solve the case and respect for and attraction to each other grows.
This was a fairly standard RS. I quite liked the both of them and while the love scenes were just a tad to descriptive for my personal taste, I didn’t take any marks away since that’s more of a me problem and the next person probably wouldn’t notice. This was the first book in the series and I’ve already downloaded the next two from KU. This means thumbs up.
Okay I’m actually embarrassed by that cover, but hear me out: the plot is actually really really good (provided you’re into the romantic supense genre). As is the case with some of the classic romantic supense genre books out there, this book for one did not feature an overly toxic, patronising and somewhat misogynistic male protagonist and the woman, at first independent and headstrong, did not succumb to his charms and their sexual attraction and with it threw all her common sense and every last ounce of her brain out the window; so that was refreshing. Because no, they actually communicated a lot, trusted each other, no belitteling their feelings and the supense, gosh that was really really good. The supense, the mystery is what kept me going the most because it just was so well written and so complex and yes the romance and their (honestly amazing) chemistry and dynamic was a big part of the plot but so was the supense and I was loving every minute of it. The supense also wasn’t as obvious, as is the case for some of the other books within this genre, and that was a big plus for me. To conclude, as far as romantic supense novels go, this was top tier.
out of all the romantic suspense novels I've read so far, I think this one is my favourite. not because of the mystery itself, but for how well it was incorporated and provided a great setting for the romance. reeeally enjoyed this one. big part of it is also the fact that Jane and Sean were great characters, individually, I loved them, and they worked so well together, both romantically and work wise, though they started as "enemies" since he's a cop and she a defense attorney.
won't get into it too much because I don't want to once again review by comparison, but this book gets a big plus from me for how it progressed to sex scenes and what they were like, refreshingly avoiding some of my pet peeves.
I was so excited when I heard Hannah Shield was writing another book! A spin-off I can get behind! You meet Jane Simon and Sean Holt in the Bennett Security Series. Janie is an attorney and Sean is a police detective. They had the whole enemies to lovers trope down right from the beginning. Sean and Janie have careers that see them on opposite sides professionally. But once disaster strikes, they have to work together to get to the bottom of things! And forced proximity really made the temperature rise for these two! Janie and Sean were able to see different sides to each other and figure out what is truly important!
*I received an ARC from the author for my honest review*
Sean is a police detective, Jane is a lawyer. When they met in the courthouse because he was going to testify against her client their hate for each other is in the air, but when the situation gets complicated they need to cooperate.
I loved the characters. The enemies to lovers stuff was just perfect. Janie and Sean started as enemies in the courthouse but soon the dangerous situation they were involved forced them to stay near each other and to get to know each other. Their connection was strong and their relationship evolved in a very cute way. I also loved their interaction with Henry and Sean's mom is just the best. This book is also full of action and I wasn't expecting the twist in the final part.
4.5/5⭐️ This book was a great combo of spicy romance and legal thriller. So glad it wasn’t the typical smutty romance - this one actually had plot and twists and it was really good! Looking forward to reading more in this series.
I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was better than okay but I feel like the author dragged it out. Personally, I liked Sean and Jane's initial animosity towards each other. There was obvious chemistry and attraction, so I was looking forward to seeing them finally succumb to their growing attraction. However, I actually became less interested once they got together.
For months, Sean and Jane hated each other due to a bad first impression and assumptions on Sean's part. They were forced to have a "6 day truce" after both of their lives were threatened and they went into protective custody together. After hashing things out, it was like they suddenly had permission to like each other. It wasn't instalove though, which I appreciated. Given the situation, Sean and Jane were realistic about their relationship. When they inevitably started having s3x, they continued trying to get to know each other, because they wanted to know if their feelings were more than just forced proximity. Once they realized they could see a future, they had discussions about dating once they were safe. It was very adult-ish. However, it started to go downhill for me once their relationship started to overshadow everything else. There were about 5-6 s3x scenes & I almost felt like that was too many because of how long the scenes were and bc I kept wondering when they would get back to investigating. Instead of investigating, the author would have them doing every day stuff like shopping, cooking, eating, having more s3x and to be honest, I couldn't have been any less interested in seeing them play house.
Also, this didn't seem like a single father romance. Sean's relationship w/ Jane took priority over his baby, Henry, who played a VERY small role in this book. Henry was initially in protective custody with them, but then he left with Sean's mom, who took care of Henry throughout the entire book. Most of the time, Sean spent time with Henry through screens. It was weird because when the couple was supposed to be focused on investigating they were having s3x, but Sean's reasons for not spending time with Henry was supposed to be for his own protection and so he could focus on quickly solving the case. But Then they returned from a safe house, case still unsolved, and left town again to do something that had NOTHING to do with the case. There didn't seem to be a sense of urgency to solve the case so Sean could return to his son.
The main reason I finished this book was to find out the antagonist. I truly could not guess who it was and their reasons. I liked being surprised, but I question whether the antagonist truly had enough power to do everything that was done. Overall though, it was still an enjoyable read.
This book was delicate amidst all the action. A gem.
Jane Simon, Janie for her few close family and friends, is a defense attorney, used to sting before being stung, and coming off as aggressive and annoying, unliked by police officers given that their mistakes are what she feeds on to set her clients free. Sean Holt is a detective, freshly moved from LA to offer a more family friendly environment for his son, that he raises as a single dad with a lot of help from Sean’s mum. Sean and Janie definitely started on the wrong foot and they now tend to feel uncomfortable at each other’s proximity, getting ready for some bickering and snarky remarks.
The story starts off at the court of justice, for the testimony of Janie’s client, David. But something goes wrong, shooters try to take down David, and Sean and Janie get caught in the middle. It seems both Janie and Sean are likely targets and put into protective custody until the mystery is solved. So they agree to a six day truce (being 6 days the deadline for David to testify), to collaborate and try to find out whom their common enemy is.
I really enjoyed the characters: they felt true to me, without the extremes that sometimes authors plot to try and get your attention. Their life events might have been uncommon, but their reactions and coping strategies felt genuine. I don’t like the cover: my Sean looks different and definitely not so cocky and much warmer. I loved, loved the sweetness of it all. There was passion, of course, but a lot of affection and profound caring, which I rarely find in today’s books. It seems that either the main characters have to play it cool or shy or, on the contrary, they have to be all over each other with immediate burning passion. Few authors write about couples who can be passionate and caring and sweet, taking their time out of respect and heartfelt regard. I guess it must not be easy to write about love in these terms, for fear of being boring, but Hannah Shield nailed it, with all my respect and reading joy.
The plot was a bit slow at times: it missed that page turner effect for me. Maybe it was a bit predictable? Of course the plot is predictable, as it happens for many other books, but page turners keep you awake wanting to find out how the characters will sort themselves out. It wasn’t the case here. It was smooth reading, like a gentle river flowing.
I liked the side characters, they might have deserved a bit more brushes (like Murphy, or Chase, or Janie’s sister).
Overall a book I really enjoyed, with the kind of wholehearted and honest romance I wished I could read more of.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from BookSirens for free, in exchange for an honest review.
*ARC kindly provided by the author and I’m leaving an honest review*
5+
✔Contemporary ✔Romantic suspense ✔Military romance ✔A sullen, protective, broody ex Marine turned police officer and a single dad ✔A strong, vulnerable, headstrong heroine who needs to catch a break and an attorney ✔Enemies to lovers ✔Close, forced proximity ✔Opposites attract ✔Forbidden ✔Enough suspense, pain and emotional baggage to fill a room ✔Fun cast of supporting – secondary characters that add to the story and development ✔A heart-pounding action and a who-done-it mystery ✔Slow burn ✔Unpredictable twists and turns ✔Gripping / gritty / raw / suspenseful ✔Twisty ✔Angst-ish ✔Page turner ✔Secrets, lies, regrets ✔Off – the- charts chemistry ✔Emotional roller-coaster ✔Intense / funny / quirky ✔A cute, sarcastic, flirty banter ✔Beautiful love story
The Six Night Truce is the first book in a new West Oaks Heroes series by Hannah Shield. It can be read as a standalone in an interconnected series of standalones. It's a deliciously, dangerously good book and a 5 star read. A fast paced, entertaining, pulse pounding, thrilling, riveting, sexy read and captivating story that leaves you wanting more and not being able to put it down. It's very well written, well developed and eloquent. I devoured the pages and every word. The Six Night Truce is addictive, brilliant and an incredible story that has my whole heart.
The push and pull between Janie and Sean in this book is incredible. They are flirty, fun, sarcastic, tender, touching, heartbreaking at times and heartwarming. Neither of them in the beginning is looking for a relationship, but also can’t deny the strong connection, pull, UST and chemistry they feel. They are passionate, angsty, sarcastic, a bit frustrating and intense. Janie and Sean are so different yet they complimented each other very well. The chemistry between them is undeniable and instant. Sean became very protective of Janie while Janie still had mixed feelings about Sean. Both have insecurities, trust issues and enough emotional baggage. I love their relationship development and the build-up.
I completely adored the unique storyline, real characters and a build-up. Such a great start to this series with everything I love: danger, romance, suspense, protective, broody hero, strong heroine, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, single dad and healing love. Do not miss this story and series.
I really enjoyed this book. I am thrilled to be back in this world, in West Oaks, and seeing characters I’ve met and come to love from the Bennett Security series.
This follows Sean and Jane. Because of their line of work; Sean was a detective and Jane was a defense attorney, they are on opposite sides professionally. Their first meeting was anything but great and since then, they have been at each other’s throats, bickering and making snarky comments at each other. They are both of an investment fraud case and are at the courthouse when the courthouse is attacked. Later on, Sean and Jane find their house and office, respectively, broken into. They quickly realize that this is personal, but before they can do anything, they are taken off the case and put into protective custody. Needing to know what is going on, they make a truce and start their own investigation into what is going on.
I really liked Jane’s character. She was smart, strong, quick-witted but also caring and always takes care of others. I enjoyed seeing her open up and become more vulnerable with Sean as they progressed in their investigation. She also had some badass moments as well. Sean was great as well. He didn’t like Jane at the beginning, but as he got to know her on a personal level, he felt bad for the way he treated her in the past.
Being in protective custody, in such close proximity to each other, revealed this about one another that they wouldn’t have known otherwise . As they discovered different aspects of each other’s personality, their feelings developed into something that they eventually couldn’t deny.
I’ve always enjoyed the suspense aspect of Hannah Shield’s books, and this one was no different. I definitely felt like I was on a secret mission with Sean and Jane, trying to figure out who had done this and why.
The side characters were great as well, especially Sean’s mom and son. When it was mentioned that Sean’s mom read romance books, I instantly loved her. Henry was cute and though we got little of him (since he’s only 18 months), his presence brought out the softer sides of Sean and Jane, which helped with their relationship development.
Overall, really enjoyed this and can’t wait to see where this series goes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was exactly what I needed. Coincidentally, the series that I have been reading have all ended around the same time leaving me high and dry thirsting for more. This was a great pick-me-up considering that I am still very much hooked on the Bennet Security men. Hannah Shield brings a world that you don’t want to ever end. Once you are hooked, there is no way out -it becomes the addiction that you will continue to seek out. In this new series about West Oaks, we have Sean and Janie of who we met previously. Anyone who read their story knows how much chemistry is just flowing between the two. There is no denying they are made for each other. They sit on opposite sides in court, but it doesn’t mean nothing can’t happen. Janie has set herself as this independent woman who at most, intimidates everyone and Sean here is seen as one of the best in what he does. When there is a threat that is targeting them both, they are forced to put aside their differences to work together. As they do so, the arguments between them becomes less spiteful and more lighthearted. They start to see each other in ways that they never would have imagined. I love that Janie gets to see Sean as a dad during all the chaos because it helps to bring a humanness to him that she probably refused to see all this time. Seeing Janie stripped down from her power suits and playing with his son does the same for him. They come to understand each other and through all seriousness of the threat over their heads, holds this playful relationship with each other that speaks so loudly you can’t help but love and root for them. They also love to save each other – a lot. Haha. I love that from the series set in this world, you get to see characters from different backgrounds and see how different people connect with each other. Sean and Janie may be just another pairing in West Oaks but they are definitely not just another romance. I love the suspense that Shield always instills in her novels and the excitement when we get to see the story unfold as pieces fall into place is just the best feeling. Another knockout from Shield.
I'm a sucker for a great enemies to lovers trope and this book has that in exceptional form! Another aspect of the story line that I loved was the connection between detective and attorney. I think this always makes for such a great setup. Because it usually means both characters are going to have strong personalities and beliefs. This is the first book by this author, but after meeting some of the characters that are from a previous security series by her, I will be checking out that entire series next. Because I absolutely love the way the romantic suspense was written in this book. This author has absolutely found a new fan in me!
There was such a strong connection between Janie and Sean right from the start that I was hooked on the relationship between them. And the progression of their relationship was so natural and real, it made for a truly great read. It also made the characters so memorable. Individually, I loved both of the characters. They didn't need to be together for me to be a fan of them. So it made their journey and interactions together that much more enjoyable. This is also another series that has me caring about the side characters and wondering if they are going to get their own stories where they get to be at the center. I'm sure hoping that's the case, as I'm eager to learn even more about them.
I felt that the action was very well done. It was nice that it wasn't over the top or unbelievable. I think that made for a more realistic feel to the book and the overall situation that the characters were facing. I also felt that the ending was extremely unpredictable and I certainly didn't see it coming. There were some aspects that were a bit predictable, but that's kind of the idea behind using tropes such as lawyers and cops getting together. And that's one of my favorite tropes, so I've read a lot with that trope. I strongly recommend this book and I can't wait to read more by this author!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
After loving the Bennett Security series, I was thrilled to be able to read and review an arc for The Six Night Truce, Book 1 of the West Oaks Heat series. Hannah Shield's books are always full of action, well plotted, and suspenseful. The Six Night Truce is no exception!
Jane Simon, defense attorney, and Detective Sean Holt are barely civil to each other, but encounters are unavoidable with a big investment fraud case against the former governor's son going before a grand jury. When gunfire erupts outside the courtroom, Shane's quick response keeps them both safe, while Jane's client is critically injured. Sean's house and Jane's office have been ransacked and pipe bombs placed inside. The incidents raise many questions. There were two shooters at the courthouse, but who were they targeting, aside from the defendant, and why? Sean and Jane are placed in protective custody, but things quickly unravel with a leak of their location, and the mystery deepens. Who can they trust? Is the former governor using his connections to interfere in the case?
Aside from the action you expect of a romantic suspense novel, this enemies to lovers, forced proximity love story is full of character development, steamy scenes, and sweet moments. Sean's one year-old son, Henry, provides the perfect foil for showcasing both Sean and Jane's soft and nurturing sides.
Seemingly predictable at times, the identity of the mastermind is anything but. I love this about Hannah Shield's novels, that she always manages to surprise me with a twist at the end, while previously inducing doubt about characters that turns out to be solid.
This series is connected to the Bennett Security series and a few favorite characters make cameo appearances in this book, but you do not have to have read any of the Bennett Security books to follow and enjoy this book.
Thank you to BookSirens and Hannah Shield for the e-arc. This is my honest and voluntary review.