A good second book in an exciting historical series

In The Shadow of Love picks up not long after In The Shadow of the Past ended. While the first book introduced readers to the characters, the era, the context, the second one, as can be inferred from the title, focuses more on the relationship between Jenny and Kat than on the intrigue.

There’s not a lot of action in this book but that’s not what it’s about. We get to know the main characters better, as well as Kat’s shadow, Smitty, and learn about their motivations. The pace is slow but never boring, as the author takes her time to immerse the readers into the flawless film noir atmosphere she’s created.

The more I get to know them, the more I love both MCs: Jenny, an apparent ingenue who’s really a badass, and Kat, a femme fatale dealing with more than her share of PTSD and insecurity. As I said, the romance arc is at the forefront, and I really enjoy the way Kat and Jenny interact and try (sometimes failing) to communicate. I was worried I’d get tired of Kat’s push and pull but her past and trauma explain her fears and misgivings and her attitude is consistent, not a trick the author pulled out of her hat to add angst. It also allows Jenny to show how genuinely kind and wise (on some matters) she is.

Since there will be four books in total, we’re midway through the series, and as when I finished the first book, I’m impatient to get my hands on the next one, In the Shadow of Truth, later this year. 4 stars.