Some people say you can’t judge a book by its cover; I disagree. This book has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen and the story behind it is every bit as beautiful. The Golden Hour is the first book I’ve read by Beatriz Williams but I’ll definitely be reading others.
The chapters alternate between 1941 in the Bahamas and early 1900s in Switzerland, telling the story about two generations and how they are connected.
1941: Lulu is an American journalist who travels to Nassau in the Bahamas to write about the glamorous life of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. She finally makes her way into this powerful social group. The Duchess agrees that Lulu can write about their enchanting life, if she promises to portray them in a positive light.
Meanwhile, Lulu meets a handsome mysterious man who believes they were meant to be together. Lulu is loving her life, writing about the royal family for a magazine in the US while falling in love with Mr. Thorpe. On the other hand, she realizes that not everything is so perfect in this beautiful place. World War II is raging, the US is considering joining the war, and a man from their wealthy circle is murdered.
1900: Elfriede lives in Switzerland; she has a husband who is loving and wealthy as well as a beautiful baby. But right now, her reality is far from ideal. She’s spending time in a clinic to reestablish her sanity. According to her husband, she went crazy after their son was born. While having odd treatments in the clinic, Elfriede meets Wilfred Thorpe and her life changes forever. Does she really love her husband? Or did she just marry him because he could give her a life she never had?
Heartbroken and pensive, Elfriede lets Wilfred go and she goes back home. But when she finally gets there, she finds out that her husband is not as genuine as she thought.
This book is so much more than a romance story. Elfriede’s chapters are truly heartwarming, talking about forbidden love, sacrifices, and forgiveness. I loved every single page. Lulu’s chapters are intense and have everything that you want to read in a historical novel.
