Wish I could give this a stellar review. I really, honestly do. I simply could not get into this writer's voice, and the way she tried so very hard to be more intimate with the reader than was appropriate for this story. It was just not the book for me. I fell in love with the subject matter, and the cover, but the story bored me. I wish I had better news. I look forward to seeing what others think as they read this book, as it is a new release. Hmmm.

Williams always writes solid commercial historical fiction and this is not an exception. It’s a bit slow to start and I became weary of “Believe me” and “Let me tell you” but mercifully those particular repetitions tapered off. Consisting of two timelines, one during WWI and the other during WWII, the period details are rich. I preferred Elfriede’s story to Lulu’s although one hinges upon the other. Be aware that while the Bahamian years of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor during WWII are a cleve...

3.5 starsI had read and enjoyed a book by this author awhile back and when I saw the gorgeous cover for this one, I immediately put it on my to be read list without even bothering to look at the synopsis. When I started reading this historical fiction book I was excited to learn Wallis Simpson and her husband, the former king of England who gave up the throne, were going to be a characters in the story. I read a biography on her not that long ago and they are both fascinating people although not...

Why I love itby Susan MeissnerIt takes a truly gifted novelist to seamlessly weave together what appear to be separate storylines into one fantastic tale, and lucky for me, and you, and book-lovers everywhere, Beatriz Williams is that kind of writer. Her talent for creating dovetailed stories—stories that beckon and badger me to keep reading to see where and how and why the characters will collide—is unparalleled, which is why her newest, The Golden Hour, shimmers like the sun.I adore a story th...

4.5 stars. Leonora "Lulu" Randolph, a newly widowed and newly minted reporter for an American magazine, arrives in June 1941 to Nassau to write about the latest gossip of the Bahamian governor and his wife, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. On the plane she meets a mysterious Englishman, Benedict Thorpe. She ingratiates herself into Wallis and Edward's social circle and enters into a mutual arrangement with the Duchess and her New York publisher to write the Lady of Nassau column. Clever and obse...

4 .5 Stars!The Golden Hour is my first Beatriz Williams read and it will not be my last. I've always been interested in her books, but for some reason or another I never took the plunge until now. The draw for me was the Duke and Duchess of Windsor being cast, along with the setting of the Bahamas during WWII. I'm hesitant to pick up a traditional WWII book these days (I've read so many) and this took the topic that I love, but gave it a new spin. I couldn't wait to pick it back up again (and th...

What a stunningly beautiful book. This piece of historical fiction, using the backdrop of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as residents of the Bahamian Government House, is superb. The web of mysteries are told from the viewpoints of Elfriede and Lulu. These two women tell the stories of their lives with such depth of character. But, all of the brilliantly developed individuals voices seem to come right off the page and live with you while you listen to their stories.I definitely recommend this b...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams is one of those books that takes a long time to read, but one that you want to savor forever.What it's about: I recommend reading the synopsis because it is too hard for me to explain this book in just a few sentences! The Golden Hour took me ages to read (almost 7.5 hours) and is the type of book that you definitely want to take your time with. So if you are looking for a quick read, this isn't it. But if you are looking for a book that you can re...

One of my favorite books by Beatriz Williams is ALONG THE INFINITE SEA. Now, I have to admit that I love plenty of her books, but that one just rocked my world as I listened to the audio version. One thing one has to know is that William's books often are connected in some way or another. You can even visit Beatriz Williams' home page to get the Schuyler family tree and the books they each appear in. Anyhow the reason I mention all this is that THE GOLDEN HOUR has connections to ALONG THE INFINI...

Epic WWII novel set in the Bahamas. We meet the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Edward and Wallis. Intriguing historical fiction filled with mystery, murder and espionage.Two story lines alternating with one another.Lulu is sent to Nassau, Bahamas to cover a story for NY magazine and to get the scope on the Duke and Duchess. She joins the Red Cross in order to meet the Duchess. Lulu meets an intriguing man named Benedict Thrope who disappears from time to time, but she falls in love with him and ma...

3.5 starsI received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. “Was yours ever hit?”“No. Not a scratch. I suppose even bombs have a sense of irony.”“Not really,” I say. “That's just human illusion. We imagine there's an order to things, because it's too awful to consider the randomness of fate.” The Golden Hour is historical fiction that mainly follows two women decades apart while slowly but surely weaving thei...

DID IT AGAIN!Oh how I adore this author, her gorgeous writing, compulsively readable plots, stunning covers, and I wondered, “Can she do it again?” Indeed she can and she did with THE GOLDEN HOUR, set inventively in Nassau, WWII intrigue swirling ‘round the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, multilayered plot lines also weaving in the War to End All Wars. Plus this stunning publisher’s note, best I’ve ever read, whose writer must write his or her own novel!HOTBED OF SPIES“The New York Times bestsellin...

What a ridiculous book. The description says this is an “extraordinary epic of espionage, sacrifice, human love, and human courage, set against a shocking true crime . . . and the rise and fall of a legendary royal couple.” I enjoy a tale of espionage and WW2-related history, so I figured it was worth a try.Don’t be suckered the way I was. This is actually a sexed-up romance with some historical window dressing. I’m not a romance reader, but I don’t think much of this as a romance, either. It’s

The Golden Hour is our favourite novel from Beatriz and one of our most favourite read of the Year, she is really professional and an amazing writer, the way that she crafts the different times is fascinating and the topics elaborated within the book will keep you in suspense throughout the story!Beatriz is really the present Queen of Historical Fiction, she can merge such a mindful plot with intriguing characters and bring us masterpieces, I've loved all of the books I've read from her and I'm

I received a free e-copy of The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams from NetGalley for my honest review.This is the first book I have ever read by Beatriz Williams, and I was not disappointed.This book follows two women, decades apart,and then slowly their stories come together. Elfriede is sent to a Swiss clinic because she is struggling with a darkness in her sole after the birth of her child, a/k/a postpartum depression. Back in the 1900's there was no such thing as postpartum depression so no on...

This is actually 2 separate books, IMHO. And the "eyes" of both time periods, earliest years of the 1900's and 1941-43 primarily (those two) are from two different female protagonists. It has character development to a full 4 star, but plot lines pulled the whole rating down. With that length for minutia detail and locale setting copy- this just didn't, IMHO- equate to a 400 plus page book that held together as one unit. It would have been better as a series of two books. Which it was. And the t...

The Golden Hour was an engaging historical fiction novel by Beatriz Williams told in alternate timelines by two women until their life stories ultimately come together in an exciting conclusion. Lenore "Lulu" Randolph is sent to Nassau in the Bahamas in 1941 to report for a New York magazine the social doings of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. This Caribbean paradise was an intriguing setting for all of the rich and famous as well as unsavory characters and spies, all creating an exciting and g...

I love Beatriz Williams and many of her books have become some of my favorite historical fiction novels. However, The Golden Hour fell a bit flat for me and it was a slower pace than I’d hoped for.*thank you netgalley and publisher for the digital copy for review