Blog Tour and Book #Review and #Giveaway: Before Versailles by Karleen Koen

About the Book:

Louis XIV is one of the best-known monarchs ever to grace the French throne. But what was he like as a young man—the man before Versailles?

After the death of his prime minister, Cardinal Mazarin, twenty-two-year-old Louis steps into governing France. He’s still a young man, but one who, as king, willfully takes everything he can get—including his brother’s wife. As the love affair between Louis and Princess Henriette burns, it sets the kingdom on the road toward unmistakable scandal and conflict with the Vatican. Every woman wants him. He must face what he is willing to sacrifice for love.

But there are other problems lurking outside the chateau of Fontainebleau: a boy in an iron mask has been seen in the woods, and the king’s finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet, has proven to be more powerful than Louis ever thought—a man who could make a great ally or become a dangerous foe . . .

Meticulously researched and vividly brought to life by the gorgeous prose of Karleen Koen, Before Versailles dares to explore the forces that shaped an iconic king and determined the fate of an empire.

About the Author:

Karleen Koen is the author of Now Face to Face andThrough a Glass Darkly, which was a New York Timesbestseller and featured a much older Alice Verney (known in that novel as the Duchess of Tamworth). The author lives in Houston, Texas.

Connect with Karleen at her website, karleenkoen.net, and on Facebook



My Opinion:


Most history buffs know of Louis XIV. His reign shines through French history for his control of the throne and his love of art. This book tells the tale of his beginnings; before he became known as The Sun King.


It covers only 4 months of his life - the first four months of his reign before he converted Versailles to the magnificent palace it is today. He is coming into himself as a king and as a leader of men. His mentor Cardinal Mazarin has died and his brother has just married a woman who has enthralled the court. Louis finds himself a bit enthralled as well.


It was very interesting to read a story of Louis before he came into his own. Ms. Koen writes a tale that brings us into a young king's life as he tries to learn whom to trust. Her writing brings the court to life. The characters were fully realized and I find myself still thinking about them a week after I finished the book. I researched the main players and Ms. Koen did not stray from established history but there is nothing dusty or old in her telling.  We feel the love and lust of young King Louis as he first falls for his sister in law and then for her maid of Honor Louise. We feel his uncertainty as he matches wits with the powerful Viscount Nicolas, the finance minister who seems to have connections to everyone at court.


This book covers a short period in history but it tells a dramatic and fascinating story.


You can see the rest of the Tour HERE

Before Versailles is available at Amazon.com















Thanks to the publisher I have one copy of Before Versailles to give away.
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Disclosure:  I received a copy of Before Versailles from TLC Book Tours gratis. Any opinions expressed are my honest opinions and were not impacted by my receipt of the free book. I received no monetary compensation for this post.