Love in the Shadows: A page-turning historical fiction romance

by Emma Nichols

Two women brought together by their ideals despite being on opposite sides of the war become embroiled in more than either of them anticipated. In the crucible of war, can their love defy the odds?

From the celebrated author of Madeleine and Don’t Tell Me Who to Love comes Emma Nichols’ Love in the Shadows — a gripping story of resilience in the face of adversity, weaving the bonds of love and resistance during World War II.

Johanna Neumann, a once-acclaimed pianist, is forced to leave her high-society life in Berlin to support her military husband, the newly appointed Kommandant of Erstein. With her son enlisted in the Hitler Youth and her dreams of music silenced by the clamor of conflict, she grapples with the harsh realities of her new existence in a place where she is neither welcome nor trusted. Haunted by loss and loneliness and disillusioned by her husband's transformation, she, like many, yearns for an end to the war so she can go back to her beloved homeland before her young daughter, Astrid, is recruited into the Nazi regime.

As Johanna tries to navigate her restricted life in the heart of war-torn 1943 Alsace, a flicker of hope emerges in the form of Fabienne Brun, a spirited dairy farmer turned French Resistance fighter. Their connection is undeniable, and that is more terrifying than the war, but is Johanna delusional in hoping for a future together, if they survive the war?

Find out, in this epic love story that will keep you turning the pages to the end.

What readers are saying about the new historical lesbian romance, 'Love in the Shadows':

★★★★★ This book is fantastic. It will suck you in, chew you up, then spit you out leaving you with a book hangover for a day!

★★★★★ I think this has just become my favourite historical novel.

★★★★★ I loved the book - really lovely story, fabulous read, and great writing as always.

★★★★★ I was hooked from start to finish.

★★★★★ I loved it. Hard to read at times, but captivating and true to the era.

Genres: Historical, Lesbian

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2024

About the author

Emma Nichols lives in Buckinghamshire with her partner and two children. She served for 12 years in the British Army, studied Psychology and an MBA, and published several non-fiction books under another name, in sports peak performance, before dipping her toes into the world of lesbian fiction.

Emma's bestselling lesbian romance books are: Finding You, Remember Us, The Hangover, Forbidden, Ariana and Madeleine.

Reviews

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, this is a favorite! Johanna is the kommandants wife and they've moved from Berlin to a small town in France. Her housekeepers are Fabienne and her mame. Fabienne is with the resistance, and Johanna doesn't believe in the war. Two women thrown together. This also has action with Fabienne being in the resistance. Emma has created beautiful characters that are complex and loving. A story you will reread throughout the years! Deservers more than 5 stars!

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love in the Shadows is a captivating World War II historical fiction novel. The story vividly portrays the horrors and devastation the Nazis inflicted on innocent people across Europe. This gripping tale kept me on the edge of my seat, with its unpredictable twists and turns making each moment more compelling than the last.
Johanna, the wife of a high-ranking Nazi officer, and Fabienne, a French resistance fighter, appear to be worlds apart. Yet, as their paths intertwine and they come to understand each other, it becomes evident that their story holds deeper, unexpected layers. Johanna and Fabienne's love blossoms despite their overwhelming obstacles, making their story profoundly captivating.
It's a story about acceptance, trust, and resilience with gripping twists and emotional depth, showcasing a love that defies the odds. Grab your copy now!

[Cindy Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this WWII novel, Johanna is the wife of a German commandant who is assigned to a town in the occupied Alsace area between France and Germany. Reluctant to leave Berlin with her 8 year old daughter, Johanna relocates to a large house owned by Fabienne and her family, who are now servants of the Germans and live in a small cottage next to the house. Fabienne is in the Resistance and slowly, she and Johanna move toward friendship and then more.

Given all the threats involved in this setting, the novel is amazingly low angst and low suspense. The book is otherwise well written. My only hesitation is how easily Johanna decides to become romantically involved with another woman. Not sure it would have been so easy in that time period.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

In a time where the world is in turmoil, love finds its way to find the courage to fight and be part of change. To help save lives and in the process find HEA.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

i don’t normally enjoy war stories but fabienne and johanna were so lovable and nancy and astrid were fantastic that this story was just fantastic to read.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by the author and, wow, was I surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Historical fiction is my jam and this one was very well done. The romance takes a backseat to the resistance/historical parts - at least for me they did. Our MCs growth as a couple felt organic and true, as well as the actions/reactions of many of the side characters. I was completely engrossed throughout and look forward to reading more by Nichols.

I bought the audiobook from Libro.fm while it was on sale and am definitely happy with the purchase. It'll be one I read again for sure.

[This · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.
Historical fiction, based on real events with some poetic licence. Good faction. What's not to love. Oh, yes. The Nazi's in France during WW2.
The romance plot woven into the French resistance and the Nazi occupation of France - gives a glimpse of people on both sides of the war doing what they can to survive. And finding love where it pops up, sometimes in unexpected places. Love does not recognise who the enemy is - and even if it did, the kommandant's wife is hardly the enemy. She refused to toe the party line. Her humanity was displayed for all to see - she was trying to bring up her daughter to be a good person rather than a good Nazi.
I always applaud good research . It was interesting to see the way in which the effects of WW1 on soldiers had an effect on their fathering skills - and how this impacted on those who were adults in WW2. War as a destroying force - not just of buildings but of people - the soldiers and all those around them, the loss of the good lives they could have led, and the loss to the arts of their creativity.
It was also good to see that love and kindness for the children she had looked after won through with nanny and she protected them in the end.

There was of course an epilogue.
This showed how people were able to move on and be known for who they were and what they did, rather than as the kommandant's wife and child.

[Hope Freed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that this told a WW2 story from a different perspective; from a German wife and mother to a French Resistance fighter. It reasonably effectively conveyed the conflicted position of Johanna, who doesn’t subscribe to Nazi ideology and the distance which has evolved between her and her husband, who does toe the Party line. What didn’t work so well for me though was the relationship between the two women which seems to go from a standing start to full on love and devotion in barely any time. It was difficult to see how the two women would have anything in common and this missed entirely on the slow burn build of feelings. The author’s other historical romance, Madeleine, is much better than this…

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay for historical fiction. With most fiction like this exploring WWII you end up in the perspective of the Americans or the British, and at this is something different dealing with a French resistance fighter and the wife of a German kommandant.

There were a couple of things that bothered me though, the first one is the French word putain (meaning fuck for most of this) is used way too much, it almost became comical. The other would be the main relationship between Johanna and Fabienne. It seemed like they fell in love suddenly without the build up to it? I'm guessing it was supposed to be a subtle love but there weren't the beginning stages of attraction and then suddenly they were kissing and declaring their love for each other. I just felt very blindsided by it even if I was expecting it at some point.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the feelings! The themes in this book - war, love, loyalty and bravery - tugged at my heartstrings throughout. Beautifully balanced with wonderful moments of growth for the characters. Descriptive and emotive, I loved every moment

[Rebecca Gaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wunderbar!!!

This is a beautiful although tragic story of war, frustration, courage, conflict, resolution & solution. The intensity & interaction. of the characters is astounding. The emotional boundaries are dynamic.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical read

Very good read. Historical history from Nazi controlled France. One character is in the French underground the other is th wife of a Nazi commander. I recommend this book thanks

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Vibeke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love in the Shadow by Emma Nichols is a breathtaking, emotionally charged story of forbidden love between two women — one from France and one from Germany — set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II. Nichols masterfully weaves together history, heartbreak, and hope, crafting a tale that feels both intimate and epic.

What makes this story truly remarkable is how it captures the quiet bravery of love that dares to exist when the world says it shouldn’t. The writing is evocative and deeply human, immersing the listener in the fear, longing, and fleeting joy that define life in wartime.

Jessica Jeffries’ narration is nothing short of extraordinary. Her ability to bring out the nuances of both women — their accents, emotions, and inner conflicts — adds layers of authenticity and tenderness. She handles the tension and quiet moments alike with perfect restraint, making the story feel heartbreakingly real.

This isn’t just a war romance — it’s a story about identity, resilience, and the power of love to survive even in the shadow of hatred and war.

If you love historical fiction that’s rich in emotion, beautifully written, and powerfully narrated, Love in the Shadow will stay with you long after the final word.