I loved this book! I have long had a fascination with the royal family and this gives a lot of background about other figures who were part of the story of the abdication that I did not know. I will strongly encourage people to read this. Best historical fiction I have read in quite awhile.

Perfect historical fiction for fans of The Crown.

It's fun to have these great books about royal life that give so much context to the evemts you already know about and all of the events you didn't even realize happened.

I, for one, had no idea that King Edward had so many mistresses especially for so long a time. I knew he was a troubled soul, not quite content to take the thrown from his father, but knowing it was his destiny.

Filled with sensational historical details, The Woman Before Wallis paints a picture of the English gentry showing their flaws and all. But more to the point, The Woman Before Wallis is an honest portrayal of the woman that may have lead to the only abdication of the English throne in history. If not for this woman, Edward would never have known or met Wallis Simpson. Seriously, how different would the world be?

I loved thr pace and writing of this story because it felt almost like a contemporary romance just taking place in the past surrounded by historical events and figures. The only reason this book didn't get 5 stars was because it was a little long, otherwise, a wonderful family drama with plenty of romance.

i really enjoyed reading this book, the historical period was a really good one, the characters were great and I really enjoyed reading this.

Review will be posted on 10/6/2020

At first glance, one would think Thelma Morgan had it all. She married into the British aristocracy and she rubs elbows with all sorts of interesting people, especially Edward, Prince of Wales. Things with her husband aren't always the stuff of fairy tales, so she finds herself as a possible love interest for the womanizing Prince. However, things don't prove to be just a fling between them, but rather something more steady. As things inevitably fall apart with her husband, she finds them coming together with the Prince. The Prince can't actually enter a serious relationship with her.... can he? Meanwhile across the pond in the New York City, Thelma's sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, is headed for some major turmoil. She is about to enter one of the most infamous custody battles that ever occurred and Thelma find herself longing to be by her sister's side. How could she not support her during this horrible time? However, if she were to go to New York, she would have to leave behind the Prince of Wales and his wandering eye. What if their relationship suffers in her absence? Thelma decides she can go to New York and have one of her married friends keep an eye on the Prince. Who better than her trusty friend, Wallis Simpson? Cue the plot twist. Bryn Turnbull's debut, The Woman Before Wallis, covers the lesser known story of Thelma Morgan and her relationship with the Prince. I found it utterly fascinating; it's the perfect read for the fans of The Crown.

I knew just a little bit about the Vanderbilts, so a lot of the background regarding Thelma, and especially Gloria, was really interesting. This is another situation in history where the truth is most definitely more interesting than fiction. I knew nothing about Thelma's relationship with the Prince, so it was really captivating to watch how it all unfolded. I also loved her relationship with her sister, Gloria. I heard a little bit about the notorious custody battle, but The Woman Before Wallis really brought it to the forefront. Having Thelma involved in that trial along with her relationship with the Prince made for a lot of drama and major scandals.

I had a lot of prior knowledge of Wallis Simpson before reading The Woman Before Wallis, so how she ended up with the Prince really didn't come as a surprise, but how she helped out her friend Thelma did. I mean what a bold move! The sole purpose of keeping an eye on the Prince was to keep him out of trouble and could you imagine finding out the very person who trusted to keep him out of trouble led him right into a huge vat of it? Again, there was a lot of drama, but I was here for it!

My only gripe with The Woman Before Wallis was the slow pace at times. It was quite a long book at over 400 pages and some parts dragged more than others; however, I thought overall it was a solid historical debut. I will keep my eye out for Turnbull's future novels.

This book all began with a single request for a friend to watch the man she loves while she is gone. What transpired it's what we know to become a huge story. We meet Thelma Morgan and her twin sister Gloria Morgan the ups and downs these sisters suffer through is huge. Gloria lands the dashing Reginald Vanderbilt and Thelma falls for Viscount Duke Furness.

This book so rich in history and what women went through back then and how men behaved. I found myself following along with Thelma as her story is shared and the ups and downs she went through with her sister to the death of her husband and the court case that shook the country.

I loved it and think anyone wanting to learn more about Edward the King who abdicated his throne for love to Gloria's ups and downs in her life. Definitely worth learning more about. Can't wait to see what this writer comes up with next!

In her novel The Woman before Wallis (Mira, 2020), Bryn Turnbull has written about the life of Thelma Furness (née Morgan), twin sister of Gloria Vanderbilt, great aunt of CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper and mistress of Edward VIII, former king of the United Kingdom.

Thelma Morgan led an illustrious life as a socialite in 1930s New York and Europe, eventually marrying Viscount Marmaduke Furness, a British shipping magnate. Shortly after she arrived in England, her husband introduced her to the Edward VIII (Prince of Wales at the time) and she became his mistress. When her sister Gloria Vanderbilt needs help during the infamous custody trial involving her daughter and the Vanderbilts, Thelma gets on a boat, but only after asking her friend Wallis Simpson to take care of Edward VIII in her absence. Soon after, Edward and Wallis became lovers, which ultimately led to his abdication of the throne so he could marry Wallis.

The story is well-known among history buffs, but Turnbull offers up a completely new perspective on Wallis’ predecessor. She explains:

“The parallels between Wallis and Thelma spoke to me. Both American; both divorcees. What was it about Wallis that was different? Through marriage, Thelma was part of the British aristocracy, and had a healthy respect for the institution of the monarchy. Wallis, the consummate outsider, didn’t share that respect, and was therefore willing to let Edward do what he wanted from the outset: renounce his claim to the throne.”

Once Turnbull started her research into Thelma she realized that: “Thelma’s story was about so much more than her relationship with Edward. Writing a novel about, say, Freda Dudley Ward would be interesting because of her years-long romance with Edward, but it would be a story only about that relationship. Thelma, through her twin sister, was peripheral to not one, but two major historical events: the abdication, and the 1934 Vanderbilt custody trial. When I realized her story intersected with ‘royalty’ on both sides of the pond, I was hooked.”

In her research, Turnbull stuck to non-fiction (biographies, court transcripts, history books and newsreels) in order to ascertain who these people were. She dived into the era’s music, clothing, jewelry, books, newspapers, film reels, and other cultural artifacts to get a further sense of Thelma’s world. She also visited most of the sites she was depicting: both in the UK and Gloria’s townhouse in New York. She even managed to visit the place in the Supreme Court where Justice Carew presided over the infamous custody battle of Vanderbilt. Once Turnbull dove into the newspaper archives she realized how much the Vanderbilt custody case reverberated across the world.

The more Turnbull learnt about Thelma, the more apparent Thelma’s vibrant life became. “Women throughout history are so often reduced to a soundbite,” she says. “Despite the vibrancy of a character like Thelma, she’s written into the history books, quite literally, as the woman before Wallis Simpson – her life outside that one label simply hasn’t mattered. Far too often, women in history weren’t able and still aren’t able to control their own narratives. Wallis is remembered as a scheming villain; Gloria is regarded as an unfit mother. Thelma is seen as the runner-up to Edward’s affections. I wanted to look at the origins of those destructive labels, and question why we remember these women in such a reductive way. My title is meant to draw you in, but when you read the book, I hope you come away with an understanding that she was so much more than that.”

One pertinent fact that the novel uncovers is that Edward VIII was looking for a reason to abdicate the throne. “He didn’t want the responsibility of ruling, and if Wallis hadn’t given him the excuse to abdicate, I think he would have found it elsewhere.” Turnbull reflected.

Turnbull draws a clear distinction between Wallis’ and Meghan Markle’s situation. “It’s fair to make comparisons between Meghan Markle and Thelma Furness and Wallis Simpson as women who diverted royals from their prescribed paths, but to conflate Meghan’s experience with Thelma’s (and especially Wallis’s) negates the very real and destructive influence racism has had on how Meghan Markle is perceived by the public. Unlike David, who was already king when he abdicated, Harry is fifth in line to the throne and therefore the stakes of leaving ‘The Firm’ are much lower; he’s not causing a constitutional crisis by giving up his position as a royal. Further, Harry’s ‘abdication,’ if we want to call it that, appears to be externally motivated – he’s driven by the desire to protect his family from what he sees as a toxic lifestyle, whereas Edward, I believe, was driven by much more selfish motivations.”

When reading the book, one cannot help but wonder if Thelma Furness was the lucky one as she managed to avoid the brunt of the scandal, and could go on living her own life in California.

Thelma Morgan & her twin sister Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt were both raised by their mother to marry great wealth. Gloria married a Vanderbilt & had a daughter, Little Gloria, shortly before her husband died. Thelma was married briefly to a man who was not the best of husband material & subsequently divorced him. She lived for a time with her sister, who supported her financially. Their social lives were conducted in the wealthiest of circles on both sides of the Atlantic. Eventually Thelma made the acquaintance of a wealthy Englishman, Viscount Duke Furness. They went on to marry & have one son, Anthony. Duke was in love with Thelma, but had a "wandering eye" & his various affairs were embarrassing & disturbing to her. When she was introduced to Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, it was the beginning of a love affair which would end her marriage to Duke and ultimately introduce Wallis Simpson to the Prince.

This was a truly exceptional historical novel. I could not put it down & found myself thinking about it when I was not reading it. I am still thinking about it & looking into other books about the main characters, who were all real people. The story by itself is fascinating & the writing excellent, even though the story did go back & forth in time a fair amount, which I do not care for. It was a wonderfully descriptive take on the lifestyle of the very wealthy at that point in time. Thelma & Duke lead extravagant lives with no thought to cost. Their homes & entertaining were luxurious & all about comfort & pleasure. It was also an account of a terrible time in the life of Gloria Vanderbilt, as she fought with her husband's family & her mother, for custody of her daughter, Little Gloria, who would grow up to be mother of Anderson Cooper. When Thelma goes back to the states to support her sister, she leaves the Prince of Wales in the cross hairs of Wallis Simpson & loses him. Very strongly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Bryn Turnbull, & the publisher Harlequin for granting my request for this free ebook in return for my honest opinion.

While I ultimately enjoyed this title, I did find it hard to get into. I'm a historian as well as librarian with a particular interest in the British Royal Family, and, even I, was not hooked from the beginning. However, this book does eventually draw you in, and, from that moment forward, it's hard to put down.

The world is familiar with Wallis Simpson and her story. It is much less familiar with Edward VIII's loves that came before. I especially like diving into the connection of the main character with one of the most notorious child custody cases in history.

Ultimately, I would not purchase this for my high school library as I think the subject matter wouldn't be of particular interest for that age group, but I would hesitate to recommend it to adult friends.

This historical fiction novel tells the story of Thelma Morgan, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt's (the mother of Gloria Vanderbilt-Anderson-Cooper's-mother) twin sister, and her relationship with Prince Edward. The Morgan twins were reared in a privileged lifestyle and encouraged by their mother to marry for money and power. Though both sisters did this, the lifestyle of excess and hedonism caused early death to Gloria's husband, Reggie, and affairs, open marriages and eventually divorce for Thelma. During her marriage to Duke Furness, she began an affair with Prince Edward, successor to the throne. At the time, affairs between nobility and those with certain positions were well-known and accepted. Prince Edward often talked of abdicating the throne and went so far as to propose to Thelma that she divorce Furness and marry him. As she was considering this possibility, Gloria was sued for custody of Little Gloria by her late husband's sister. Thelma rushed to America to be by her twin sister's side through the highly publicized trial leaving Edward in the hands of her supposed friend, Wallis Simpson. The rest, of course, is well known history.

This was a riveting look into not only into Prince Edward's scandal and the scandal of Gloria Vanderbilt losing custody of her daughter, but also into lifestyles of the rich and famous during the 1920s and 1930s. Turnbull does a brilliant job of capturing the mores of the privileged and the over-indulgence of members of High Society. As I read this book, I simultaneously chased several Internet rabbit holes researching more into the the characters of the story: Thelma and Gloria, Little Gloria, Prince Edward, Wallis Simpson, Marmaduke Furness, and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. I learned a lot, but found myself shaking my head in sadness at the lack of happiness that is the high cost of wealth, power and position.

Highly recommend for historical fiction and British nobility fans.

In 1926, American divorcée, Thelma Morgan, married Lord Furness in England. Throughout their marriage, Thelma split her time between her husband and her sister Gloria Vanderbilt, who has her own struggles with the death of her husband and her custody battle over her daughter. After Lord Furness begins having an affair, Thelma sets her sights on another man, the Prince of Wales. When Thelma has to travel to help her sister, she leaves her friend Wallis Simpson to look after the Prince, which leads to a romance she never expected.

I love stories about British royalty. This one was about two infamous families in both America and England: the Vanderbilts and the Windsors. The Vanderbilts fought to have custody of Gloria’s daughter, Little Gloria. Gloria’s mother also fought alongside the Vanderbilts to get her granddaughter away from her own daughter. Meanwhile, Thelma had an affair with Prince Edward. Ironically, the title mentions Wallis by name, yet she doesn’t come into the story until halfway through. Since she is named in the title, it’s assumed that the reader will know that Wallis Simpson eventually marries Prince Edward, leading him to abdicate the throne. Though I knew who the Vanderbilts were, I wasn’t familiar with the custody case of Little Gloria, so I learned a lot in this story.

Motherhood was a major theme of the story. Gloria Vanderbilt’s custody case was one of the main plots. Gloria wasn’t considered a suitable mother because of her wild lifestyle. At the same time, her own mother fought against Gloria by trying to get custody of Little Gloria. Thelma had a child, but she spent significant time away from him to stay in London and stay with the Prince. Even though Gloria fought for her daughter and loved her, she faced the threat of losing custody, whereas Thelma and Gloria’s own mother were not judged as harshly or forced to face the same consequences.

This was a fabulous debut novel!

Thank you HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy reading historical fiction and non-fiction about the British Royal family so this book immediately piqued my interest. While I have read many books about Wallis Simpson, I had never heard of any serious romance the former Prince of Wales had before his abdication to marry Mrs. Simpson, much less than with an American whose mother was Gloria Vanderbilt, Sr. The former, Thelma Morgan ascended to the British aristocracy with her 1926 marriage to Viscount Duke Furness, giving her the title Lady Furness. She realizes that she will someday be cast away because he won't be able to be King of England and married to a twice-divorced American. Sound familiar?

There was a lot of information about her friendship to Wallis and her husband, trying to help the expatriates feel more at home. She even loaned her clothes and ostrich hat to wear when Wallis was formally presented at Court. I could definitely identify with the "former friend, backstabber" sentiment that the reader knows when reading and I just wanted to jump into the book and shake Lady Furness. There was also a lot, too much for my liking, of the plot about her twin sister's custody battle with her mother over Gloria, Jr. Although there was a connection to her relationship with the Prince, I wish there would have been more focus on the actual events in England. Her character was well developed and I had a lot of empathy for her.

Thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.

A beguiling and seductive tale of scandal, loyalty and desire, Bryn Turnbull’s evocative and enthralling new novel, The Woman Before Wallis, is an addictive and engrossing historical page-turner written with plenty of flair, verve and style.

When Thelma Morgan, the daughter of an American diplomat, heads over to London to visit her sister, Gloria Vanderbilt, and to meet her adorable new niece, Little Gloria, Thelma is newly divorced, broke and certainly not looking for a husband. Thelma just wants to spend time with her sister and her new baby and enjoy being spoilt and pampered by her. Romance is certainly not on the agenda for Thelma, but Gloria seems to have other plans for her. When she finds herself sitting next to the charming Viscount Duke Furness, sparks immediately begin to fly. The two of them quickly embark on a whirlwind romance and when Duke proposes, Thelma is absolutely overjoyed. Her marriage to Duke will not only open many doors to her socially, but she will be immersed in a world of wealth, decadence and privilege where her every whim and desire will be catered for. Thelma feels as if she is living in a fairy-tale, however, she quickly realises that her prince might not be her husband, but rather a real-life bona fide one: Edward, Prince of Wales.

Thelma’s marriage to Duke has propelled her into a world of royalty and when she is introduced to Edward she finds herself unable to resist the charming prince and a passionate love affair quickly ensues. Despite of her marriage vows, Thelma’s feelings for Edward quickly intensify, but when her sister Gloria finds herself entangled in a shocking scandal in New York, Thelma has no other option but to leave her life behind and head to her sister’s side to support her in her hour of need. Thelma cannot help but worry about Edward. Still, her good friend Wallis will be by his side ensuring that he never gets bored. Or lonely…

Thelma is about to learn a very harsh lesson about trust, loyalty and betrayal and although she doesn’t know what state her sister will be in New York, one thing is for certain: on her return, Thelma’s life will have changed irrevocably, thanks to her trusted friend, Wallis.

Modern day celebrity scandals have got nothing on this jaw-dropping, earth-shattering and heart-twisting tale of high society mischief, illicit liaisons, royal intrigue and dangerous desires. Bryn Turnbull brings the early twentieth-century to colorful and vivid life in The Woman Before Wallis and creates a glamorous and scandalous world that is so spellbinding, readers will feel as if they are experiencing the story, alongside her characters.

A sweeping historical tale fans of The Crown will not want to miss, Bryn Turnbull’s The Woman Before Wallis is one of the summer’s must-read blockbusters.

4.5 rounded up to 5 Stars

I've read scores of books about The Windsors over the decades, and even some focusing on Wallis Simpson and Edward Windsor- later known as the banished royal married couple the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Edward is famously known for the speech in which he gave up the throne of England to marry the woman he loved, American divorcee Wallis Simpson. His younger brother "Bertie" and wife Elizabeth then became King and Queen of England. They had two young daughters, the eldest being Elizabeth (the current Queen Elizabeth II) and the youngest, Margaret. They were everything Edward wasn't. They were happily married with two children and devoid of any scandal. Most importantly, Bertie (later known as King George VI) and his wife had a strong sense of duty to their country. Edward (known as "David" to his close friends and lovers) often gave off signals that he did not want the burden and disruption to his personal life in order to be King of England. He had a penchant for enduring romantic relationships with married women. Thelma Furness was the married woman of the moment he clung to when he first met Wallis and Ernest Simpson. She famously asked Wallis to "watch over David" while she travelled to New York for the famous "Little Gloria" Vanderbilt custody trial. Although Thelma was Lady Furness, she was also the twin sister of Gloria Vanderbilt. Not the lady who made the famous designer jeans in the seventies; that was her daughter "Little Gloria". Gloria was married to Reggie Vanderbilt and they had a daughter which they named Gloria. However, Reggie met an early death due to alcoholism, leaving behind a mountain of debts. The only secure financial holding was a multimillion inheritance specifically for his daughter "Little Gloria". Gloria Vanderbilt the mother had to auction off everything Reggie had to pay off his debts, and lived off the inheritance as Little Gloria's mother. She had to be careful with the money which was closely monitored and accounted for by surrogates in NYC. However, in a cruel twist of fate Gloria's own mother didn't trust her own daughter to properly raise Little Gloria, and between her and Reggie's sister Gertrude, the Vanderbilt family kept the child out of her reach. This reminded me somewhat of when Princess Diana's parents had divorced when Diane was a small child, and her maternal grandmother actually sided with the father, Earl Spencer, who got legal custody of the children. Ultimately, this whole Vanderbilt matter went to trial in NYC and received a lot of attention in newspapers and with crowds surrounding the court.

But when Reggie was still alive and Gloria was still enjoying an opulent married life, she did a kind turn to her twin sister Thelma who was divorced. Thelma had married quickly for love, only to discover she had made a horrible mistake. Now a divorcee, she relied on her sister Gloria and brother-in-law Reggie for financial support. When Lord Furness from England was coming to a dinner party, Gloria sat Thelma next to him in the hopes they would hit it off. Lord Furness was a widower with two children and was immensely rich, with many lavish properties in England. Thelma was lukewarm to the idea at first, but soon realized her luck and that it was possible to learn to love someone...especially if they were that rich. They soon married, and now her sister Gloria did not have to support her anymore. Now Thelma was titled Lady Furness, and she and her husband mingled in royal circles. This soon brought her in contact with the Prince of Wales, Edward Windsor aka "David". He had just transitioned from a romantic relationship with married socialite Freda Dudley Ward into an enduring friendship. He was rife for a new romantic entanglement and set his sights on Thelma. Thelma and husband Duke were going through a rough patch following the birth of their son Tony. She practically pushed Duke into an affair, feeling less desirable about her lingering baby weight. Now it was Thelma's turn to be unfaithful, but in these circles you didn't deny the prerogative of the Prince of Wales. In a way, it was an act of deference and a compliment. In truth, Thelma felt that even if David wasn't the Prince of Wales, she still loved him more than her own husband.

When Wallis Simpson and husband Ernest moved from the United States to England, she tried her best to elevate her social status. She wound up befriending Thelma and through that friendship was welcomed into the Prince of Wales' circle. When Wallis was invited to be presented in a ceremony with many others to the Royal Family, she didn't even have the proper clothing for the event. I loved reading about how Thelma and sister Gloria helped cobble together the needed items, a white satin dress, train, tiara and ostrich feathers. Wallis added her own unique sense of style with a large aquamarine cross on a long necklace. This prompted me to search the internet for a picture of Wallis in this outfit, and I was thrilled to find several.

This author obviously painstakingly researched her subject. She attended St. Andrew's College in Scotland (the same one where WIlliam and Kate met). She was inspired to write about Thelma after seeing a movie that Madonna (of all people) directed called "W.E." about the affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. The author realized that no one ever fleshed out the full story about Thelma, who had practically pushed Wallis and Edward together by asking her to watch out for him. I find myself thinking about these real life characters often following the read of this book. My only gripe about this voluminous book of over 400 pages is that I found the topic of the courtroom drama tiresome after awhile. Perhaps it could have been edited down a bit more, but this was a very good book overall.

I love some royal drama. You throw in the Vanderbilts, the Roaring 20s, and a love triangle, and you have a winner. I am consistently drawn to books that have one foot in history and one foot in fiction. Bryn Turnbull straddles the line between fact and fiction so well. I am currently having withdrawals from The Crown on Netflix, and this was the perfect solution!

WOW! I did not know any of the people existed! I loved every minute of this book and paused several times to write down information to look up further. Thelma's story was captivating, and the scandal surrounding Gloria Vanderbilt was even more interesting. I would have liked more about Wallis and David becoming a couple and the ending of the relationship between Thelma and David, but overall I was so happy with this story!

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

The novel follows Thelma's life in a nonlinear fashion, jumping from her present to her past and back again. As such, you begin the book knowing that she is the prince's mistress and waiting to see how she rises so high. At first, the reader sees her relationship with her husband Lord Marmaduke "Duke" Furness. You follow Thelma as the relationship sours and she starts seeing David (the Prince of Wales).

The book is not an action-packed novel; it follows Thelma over several years of romantic and family relationships. The slower pace reflects the lifestyle of the women in these times -- living in the country, traveling between homes, and planning parties and home décor are not fast-paced activities.

Readers who love books about high society, British royalty, and scandal in the papers will enjoy this novel. Fans of TV shows like Downton Abbey and The Crown will love this pre-WWII story of riches, fame, and glamour. Those looking for a plot-driven novel would find a more desirable fit with WWII fiction.

The woman before Wallis Simpson is Thelma Morgan and this is her story.

From the title some might believe this to be a book about the royal family and abdication of King Edward. But really its about Thelma, her relationship with twin sister Gloria, her husband Duke and yes Prince Edward. I'll admit most of my knowledge of this time came through watching The Crown which has piqued my interest - hence why I wanted to read this book. In 1926 Gloria Vanderbilt is playing matchmaker for Thelma then jump to 1934 and the custody battle of the century is about to take place. There is a lot that goes on in those years, I was kept on my toes with the transitions and the wide cast of characters.

The author definitely researched quite thoroughly, as the title says A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilt's and Royal Scandal. But there is more, it's not just the lifestyle of those family's but society in general, even going through the depression it was interesting to read what the rich and famous were up to. How they hid indiscretions, or not. At times I might have felt it progressed a little slowly but all in all an enjoyable read.

My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Secrets of Royalty

Thelma Morgan, twin sister of Gloria Vanderbilt, was married to a Viscount, but after their child was born the marriage became formal rather than intimate. Then Thelma met Edward, Prince of Wales. They had a four year romance, but marriage was out of the question because Edward didn’t want to marry a divorced American.

When Gloria Vanderbilt becomes involved in a bitter custody battle over “little” Gloria, Thelma decides she must go to the states to support her sister. She’s reluctant to leave Edward, but her good friend Wallis Simpson tells her she’ll take care of him.

The story shifts between Thelma’s marriage, her affair with Edward, and the Vanderbilt trial. I didn’t find it hard to follow. I though the author did a good job keeping the story moving and bringing the characters to life.

Although the book is historical fiction, the story sticks closely to the facts. Where this is not the case, the author tells us. I found the book very enjoyable. If you like seeing behind the curtain of the lives of the rich and famous, this is a good read.

I received this book from Harlequin for this review.

A fantastic read. You can tell Bryn Turnbull did her research. Her writing is poignant and I love the way she told the story of these people. The Woman Before Wallis is a book not to be looked over as it has an intriguing twist and the author's writing that keeps a reader engaged. You won't be disappointed when you pick this one up!

Shortly after becoming King Edward VIII, he (David) decided to abdicate the throne because Parliament (and technically the Church of England) wouldn’t give him permission to marry Wallis Simpson, an American Divorce.

But this story comes right before that. Before there was Wallis, there was Thelma Furness. Thelma Furness was an American who had ties to not only British Royalty, but American Royalty as well when her twin sister married into the Vanderbilt’s. The Woman Before Wallis follows Thelma through her twenties and thirties as she navigates a rocky marriage, her sister thrown into the socialite scene, and ultimately an affair with the future King of England. I truly enjoyed this book, since I had no idea how intertwined all of these people were, but there were parts of the novel that dragged. I hoped that they would come back to support the novel more towards the end, but I’m not sure if they did. However, I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in British history!