Georgie Blalock

I've encountered several novels about Wallis Simpson, the infamous Duchess of Windsor, but this one is one of the most compelling and most explicit about her wartime activities. Seen primarily through the eyes of a fictional cousin who serves as Wallis' social secretary, this book serves as a character study of Wallis and one that rings true with the historical figure. Most books and even biographies are somewhat cagey about the Windsors' connections to Nazis and their activities during the show more first part of World War II. This novel presents a plausible, if fictional, explanation and one that may not be too far from the truth. show less

First thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for a free e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest opinion of the book.

I really wanted to like this book because its everything I love to read - royals and historical fiction. However, I just had a very tough time getting into it. I almost stopped reading it which is something I rarely do but decided to keep going out of respect for the author and I am glad that I did. The first half of the book was slow and I just couldn't connect to the show more main character Vera. I knew enough about Princess Margaret so it didn't matter to me so much.

The second half of the book was terrific - it just took off with story, emotions, action and lots of dialogue which I love.

I just wish the author could have done that with the first half of the book and it would be a true 5 star book.

If you do stick with it you will be able to see yourself in both Vera and Princess Margaret.

I would rate it 3.5 stars. show less

What a disappointment! I read two thirds of the book (over 200 pages) without a hint of the conspiracy that was promised in the book’s title. I had had enough by then as the story was dragging, so I skimmed the rest and then read the last chapter to provide closure.

I have read many historical fiction accounts of the Royals as well as numerous World War II novels, so this book was a good fit as far as topic. The research and the writing were topnotch, the character development was vivid, show more and the concept was intriguing – Americans Wallis Simpson and her (fictional) Cousin Amelia Montague are living in Europe before and during the outbreak of WWII.

Yes, that’s really what this book is about – the two women, their aspirations and how they survive during a time when success most often depended on husbands and money.

The picturesque European setting and the evocative descriptions of furniture and clothing were not enough to carry the weak plot. Wallis Simpson (the Duchess of Windsor) was an unsympathetic character and I never really connected with Amelia. By the time (nearly two thirds of the novel) Britain declared war on Germany, it was anticlimactic.

This book held such promise but ultimately didn’t work for me. show less

For all the WWII-era historical fiction I've read, this novel is the first (that I can remember, at least) to offer a positive take on Neville Chamberlain. Set in the months leading up to the second world war, The Last Debutantes is centered around Valerie de Vere Cole, niece of the British Prime Minister, who is experiencing the famed "Season," in which youthful members of the elite dance, flirt, drink tea, make friends, acquire enemies, and sometimes even fall in love. Valerie has baggage show more from her past - she's essentially a poor cousin raised in France - but she's hopeful she can find some friends and discover a path for her own future. The impending war, of course, hangs over this story, but it's not the focus. Overall, I liked this novel, I appreciated the characters, and the story was enjoyable and satisfying. show less