Half in Shadow Audiobook By Gemma Liviero cover art

Half in Shadow

A Novel

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Half in Shadow

By: Gemma Liviero
Narrated by: Sarah Naughton, Alex Wyndham
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.00

Buy for $25.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

From the bestselling author of In a Field of Blue comes an unforgettable novel about courage, love, and consequences at the dawn of World War I.

1915. In German-occupied Belgium, a tragic loss forces Josephine Descharmes to navigate dangerous new territory. By day it’s compliance, serving German officers at the Hotel Métropole. By night it’s resistance, working with her brothers underground to help Allied soldiers and civilians cross the border into Holland. Both paths put her and her family at great risk.

As Josephine struggles to keep her family safe, Arthur, a grief-stricken English soldier trapped behind enemy lines, finds purpose and hope with Josephine and her work. Meanwhile, Franz, a German officer remorseful for the casualties of war, offers her protection and opportunity. These two men from opposing sides will open her heart and test her loyalties.

Amid the sorrows of war and threats of mortal danger and betrayal, Josephine must steer her own fate. In a country deprived of freedom, she will make an impossible choice - one that will forever impact the family she cherishes and the man she loves.

©2022 Gemma Liviero (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. 20th Century Fiction Historical Fiction World War I War Heartfelt Tearjerking Inspiring

Critic reviews

“…Skillfully and movingly rendered. Readers will find this a fascinating, if heartbreaking, topic…”—Historical Novel Society
All stars
Most relevant  
poignant story of real people during WW1. a point of view I hadn't seen before

loved the story told with two different voices

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is the first story I have ever read from the era of WW1. I initially felt like I was too involved with WW2 and the Holocaust (I have immersed myself with this time frame for the past year), and wondered if going back a few years might perhaps have a soothing or hea!ing effect on my wok red and saddened heart. I had seen reviews on Gemma Liviero, very positive ones, so chose this book to read.
I was not disappointed!
The author indeed has a way of making the reader feel like they are part of the story. Although I have read thousands of books over the years, only a few authors have ever made me feel this way, and I can only give praise to this group of writers, which now includes Ms. Liviero. Thanks so much, dear lady. Your storytelling skills are superb!
The narration was also excellent! Both narrators had excellent skills, and kept my interest in both Arthur's tale and Josephine's story piqued constantly!
I feel like my favorite parts were: Josephine, when she finally feels love for Arthur and can finally realize that she has true !ove; and in Arthur's story when he speaks to Xavier about his son, Jack, and feels li!e the heavy weight and burden of pain and remorse has finally been lifted from him!
Thank you Ms.Liviero, for this wonderful book! Before this review, I purchased another of your books, but this one is about World War 2, and I am sure it will also be as good as this book was. I will begin reading it tonight....but, a nice cup of tea first!

A beautiful story!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Gemma Liviero is a fabulous story teller. Not only do readers learn a great deal about the German occupation of Belgium during World War I. but they also find themselves immersed in a beautiful love story.

Fabulous Read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The story and characters were well defined. So many twists and turns kept me me wanting to keep listening. I recommend this storytelling.

Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’m always astonished how people can survive during times of war. Especially when the war is on their home soil. This is the story that hit me emotionally on many levels. I was touched by how much love affects all especially during times of sauce. The German officer who loved Joesaphine did do right by her and her family as we find out in the end, at cost of his own rank. He was demoted trying to get them released from jail. But, the true love story presented here was for another man. Josephine and Arther paid dearly in the war. It left me in tears! Don’t miss this one!

Outstanding!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was sure hoping that Josephine and Arthur would find each other after the war. Knew the odds were against them.

Books like this are why I love historical fiction.

Great story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A very good book. The author keeps you engaged in the story as if you are there yourself . Worth every moment of listening or reading. Thank-you.

Half in Shadow by Velma Liviero

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved the book and the female reader was very good. The male reader was hard to listen to. He had the same repetitious cadence throughout without appropriate expression. It made it almost unbearable for me.

Great book - male reader terrible

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The main character Josephine walks a fine line between a young heart, innocence, naiveté, and working with the Resistance..

Resistance and walking a fine line

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If you like historical fiction, you’ll love this book! It was set during World War 1, and it centered around the war between Germany and Belgium. The writing was great, the characters were very sympathetic and real, and I had a hard time putting this book down. A+++

Outstanding!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews