Review and Giveaway! "Before Versailles"

"Before Versailles"
by Karleen Koen

Publisher: Crown
Release Date: June 28, 2011 
Source: sent by publisher and TLC Book Tours

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

New York Times bestselling author Karleen Koen offers another delightful historical novel that will transport you to another time and place.

Before Versailles is the luscious, sweeping story of the young Louis XIV in his first year as king of France. Told in the alternating perspectives of the young king and his first love, the woman who would become his mistress, Karleen Koen's newest weaves a portrait of court and country in turmoil with the legends of this colorful period in history, including that of the mysterious man in the iron mask.

My Review:

There is a lot going on in this book! There's almost not enough time to even grasp everything. I can see this being the next historical series on cable. There's enough scandal and drama in this book for at least three or four seasons.

I really liked Louise from the start. She was so genuinely caring. I might have enjoyed the book more if it had really narrowed its focus down to Louise at court. But there were so many other storylines going on as well, I found myself waiting until Louise showed up again.

I was so intrigued by the bits and pieces of story about the man (boy) in the iron mask. I've always been interested in that story, but again, I didn't feel like there was really enough about his story. I was anxiously reading page after page awaiting the next bit of his story to develop.

I liked that the book was scandalous but it never took things too far. The scandal never got too graphic. The descriptions of court and the exquisite fashions were described in great detail.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5

Setting: 4/5

Romance: 3/5

Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 3/5
Writing: 4/5



Bottom Line: This is a very interesting book if you have the time and energy to invest in so many different stories at once.


GIVEAWAY RULES:

Crown Publishing and TLC Book Tours have generously provided a copy of "Before Versailles" fora lucky reader of my blog!



All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address! Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy
Extra Entries:
+1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
+1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:
  • US and Canada only
  • Must be a follower to enter
  • Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Books will be mailed out by the publisher
  • Must be 18 or over 
  • Ends Mon July 25
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!


More Tour Stops Here:

27 comments

  1. I've been dying to read this. Karleen Koen is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Thanks for the review!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great review.
    I'm curious about the drama now :)
    (not an entry)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I so want to read this!! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to read it, it sounds really good.
    I am a gfc follower
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Have you googled what happens next? poor Louise :(

    ReplyDelete
  6. This one sounds like a must-read.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the giveaway!
    jenalang@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fab review. I am curious about the man in the iron mask.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    reflectionsofabookaholic[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just started getting into more historical reads, this sounds right up my alley

    ReplyDelete
  10. I could definitely see this one as a cable drama - you are so right on that!

    Thanks for being a part of the tour.

    ReplyDelete
  11. gfc follower
    love historical fiction

    felecia@twinoaksfl.org

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oooh! I like that special attention was given to fashion. I love dresses from this time period!

    books[a]muggle-born.net

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is on my wishlist, would love to read it!!!!

    I follow your blog with GFC.



    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Forgot to say that I tweeted:


    http://t.co/i30mHdT Giveaway of 'Before Versailles'

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm a follower! lifeisshort.readfast at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I cannot wait to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).
    candc320@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm a GFC follower: Michele
    Thank for the review!
    rlawrence110 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. great giveaway
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I would love to receive this book!! I have been wanting to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would love to read this!
    I follow via gfc
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for the giveaway! I've been looking forward to this one for several weeks now and would love to get a chance to read it!

    I'm an old GFC follower.
    Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/SusieBookworm/status/92616061861634048

    susanna DOT pyatt AT student DOT rcsnc DOT org

    ReplyDelete
  22. Not one big on infidelity, but this one intrigues me.
    lvsgund at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thank you for the giveaway.
    follow on GFC as Jenn
    jenhedger at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for the giveaway!

    mk261274 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. This one sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway!

    teddybrgrrl@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  26. I've been wanting to read this. Great giveaway!
    GFC: ruby95660

    Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Ruby95660/status/95399988846264320

    Blog Link: http://2011megareadingchallenge.blogspot.com/

    Email: ruby95660@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I cannot wait to read this book! I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).
    candc320@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your lovely comments!