Lulu Thorpe is a woman on a mission to find her husband who has gone missing. As you follow her quest, she recounts her time in the Bahamas during the early 1940s. As a journalist, she was sent to write about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor- a.k.a. the Governor of the Bahamas. Lulu recounts all the people she met and how she came to be "in the know" of the world she was living in, relaying all the details in her own column. She gives you the front row seat she had for the scandals and drama. You're introduced to a host of characters- especially the one who captured her heart.

The book also tells the story of Elfreide. She's connected to Benedict and as her story unfolds, you learn how. Elfriede's story is one that will break your heart and give you hope. You share her losses and rejoice in her happiness. You find yourself rooting for this underdog.

I liked the book, though I felt the story pace was slow. There were parts of the book that I was more interested in than others. I really gravitated to Elfriede's story. I was more interested and invested in her story. Through her depressions and her marriages. While Lulu had an interesting story to tell, I preferred Elfriede's.

4.5 stars - Wow! Ms. Williams is so good at books that switch back and forth to different time periods, and while that can be confusing at first, it all becomes clear in time. Characters that are well developed and so believable. Some easily to love (esp. Wilfred) and some easy to hate (that would be the despicable Helga!). While the book did have some slow parts, and when I couldn’t see how all this would weave together in the end - well, weave together it did, and in a really remarkable way.
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Wonderful historical fiction, loved how the different characters came together. Couldn't put it down!

Read this on a long plane ride and then poolside and could not have been happier—it's compelling and smart and i loved all the people in this book!

Thank you NetGalley for advanced ebook copy.

Rich in detail and characters, a fascinating read. Although a tad confusing with different characters/time periods, the author does an amazing job of bringing them all to life, and how they wove together..

I liked the book but it was slower paced than her others. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed figuring their connections and heritage. I was disappointed in the book though due to it being less active and dragging a little for me. Still in all Beatriz know how to write intriguing historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Golden Hour. The story takes place between WWI and WWII and follows the lives of Elfriede and Lulu. Historical Fiction is my favorite genre and I really enjoyed the book overall but I did feel like there were parts of the book that moved a little slowly. With that being said, there were some twists at the end that I didn't see coming which I thoroughly enjoyed! I ended up rating the book a 3.5/5 stars.

I absolutely love Beatriz Williams and everything she writes, but this book was a bit of a dud. Pretty boring, not as engaging as her normal work. I finished the book, but only because I kept waiting for a better story,.

Just wonderful! Another splendid historical fiction tale from Beatriz Williams! Love the time span of the story and the basis in real history!!

This novel is set between different timelines from Germany, Switzerland and the Bahamas from the early 20th century and during WWII . We go Germany in 1900 where we find one of the protagonists, Elfriede a young woman who is unhappily married and has suffered from what we now call post-partum depression. She is now going under psychiatric treatment in Switzerland. It is there that she meets and falls in love with a young British patient, Wilfred Thorpe, recovering from pneumonia. Her tale is one of pain and heartbreak.

The second female protagonist ,Leonora Reynoldls, Lulu, is a reporter during WWII and is living in the Bahamas working as a journalist for the Metropolitan magazine. She is there to write a column on the high society gossip of the island, which, of course, just so happens to be the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. They provide background to the story, and are sprinkled throughout learning a bit more about their life in the Bahamas when they left England after his abdication. In her pursuit to find her missing husband, British undercover agent Benedict Thorpe, Lulu travels to London and Scotland with the hope of getting him out of a German prison camp. All this while learning about his family history.

The picture painted of wartime Bermuda as well as the Windsors thru the lens and writing of Lulu gives us quite an interesting story. There is espionage, murder and romance set in this historical work of fiction, enough to keep you reading until the novel is all resolved at the end. Lulu is one tough "cookie"..., smart, sexy, and , if nothing else, relentless. It is her character that makes the book as entertaining as it is. I have always enjoyed the written work of Beatriz Williams, this is no exception. For those who enjoy historical fiction, this will be the book for you.

Thanks to Morrow/HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A novice journalist comes to the Bahamas to cover the society and by that I mean the Duke and Duchess of Windsor who is acting as the Governor of the English colony. They are in the middle of a war but in the warm sea breezes and glittering parties that are held, you would never know it. Nassau is crawling with secrets and none more than the Windsors and their friends. One of those friends is Benedict Thorpe, a mysterious man full of secrets of his own and one that Lulu can't help but fall for.
The second story goes back to WWI in Europe and gives us insight into Thorpe's past and how the stories are entwined. Beatriz Williams is a master storyteller who combines fascinating story lines with unforgettable characters. A must for summer getaway reading. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

This historical novel is about a unique time in WWII where the Duke and Duchess are sent to Nassau. The characters are well drawn and the descriptions are well-done. However, to me, the story, as a whole, was disappointing and not as interesting as I thought it would be. I like this author but this was not one of her best.

The Golden Hour is a historical fiction novel. The novel switches around from Germany and America in the 1900's to the Bahamas and London in the early 1940's. The novel focuses on two women who are living in two different eras, but have a connection that is revealed as the story unfolds. The author does a great job of creating the atmosphere of the locations. You really get a sense of what it was like to be in cold, rainy London during the Blitz or hot, steamy Bahamas around the same time. The characters are interesting and well-drawn. My only complaint is that the plot slow down in the middle of the novel. So much so, that I stopped reading the novel before I finished. I kept feeling like something exciting was about to happen, but it never did. In fairness, the novel may have pick up in the latter half. If you like historical fiction, especially WWII novels, this novel is worth trying and other readers might really enjoy it.

Historical Fiction and Historical Romance are two of my favorites book genres - I got more than few- but lately it have been difficult to find a Historical Fiction story that kept me interested and engaged from the first to the last page.

Well, folks , I found that book, my search is over . The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams is that book.

Beatriz Williams weaves a captivating tale of interesting characters , drama and mystery . As the settings are based in real places, circumstances and people ; I kept researching as I read. The Windsors were a fascinating couple , as well as that period of our history. I enjoyed how rich and visually descriptive is this tale.

Ms. Williams is a phenomenal storyteller.

Thanks to the Publishing House and Netgalley for giving me an early copy for my unbiased review.

Two women, against the odds, find the love of their life but the changing world conspires to keep them apart. Set against a back drop of wealth and moving in high society the stakes are high but love is worth the risk.

The Golden Hour was a very enjoyable read. The story was told in three different timelines, but by two women. Lulu and Elfriede. It was very hard to put down. I just wanted to know how these two woman's lives were intertwined. Lulu and Elfriede's lives were very real and showed us how love can play a very important role in surviving through some of the darkest times.
I highly recommend it!

Beatriz Williams is an author that I will read any books she writes. I love her characters, she makes you feel like you are part of the story with the descriptions, and she makes me lose sleep every single book as I can not put them down! The Golden Hour tells the story of two incredibly strong women, Lulu during WW2 and Elfriede during WW1. Both ladies our strong, brave, and face horrible circumstances due to the wars. I love how the dual time lines resolve at the end of the book. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Lulu, a gossip columnist, travels to Nassau, to write stories about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. She quickly becomes a favorite of the Duchess, after making an agreement to write only positive stories about the couple.

I'm not sure what to say about this book. It was extremely slow moving and all of the action took place off stage. The clandestine activities, and murder were dealt with in such a small and insignificant manner. Most of the book was Lulu drinking and going out with Thrope, her romantic interest. Overall, a huge waste.

The author wields her magic again! This was a titillating story with historical detail. I think this may be my favorite of her books. She just gets better and better. I loved the espionage and reading about the Windsor’s. Many thanks to William Morrow and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The former King of England and his American bride,Wallis Simpson, the Bahamas, World War II and an unsolved murder in 1943: the “golden” setting for The Golden Hour.

The plucky young American, Leonora Thorpe, is in the Bahamas to give the American readers of the Metropolitan Magazine an inside view of Nassau society-meaning the Duke & Duchess of Windsor. The world famous, Edward and Wallis, are serving as governor and live at Government House. (Americans have always had an appetite for the “royals,” which continues to this day.) Leonara, Lulu, also known as the “Lady of Nassau” for her column in the Metropolitan, entrenches herself in high society and becomes a confidant of the Duchess. As Lulu gets involved with the rich and famous of the islands, she also begins to unravel the story of her husband’s family dating back to Germany and Switzerland in the 1900’s. The saga of Elfriede & Gerhard, and her quest for love and a united family takes the reader on a journey of pain and suffering, but also “wonderment” – questioning loyalties and how far love and devotion should extend. This novel is laced with joy and heartache, but is worth the emotional “royal rollercoaster,” to the very last page. It’s a 5 star golden read!