by Karleen Koen
Before one can truly understand the sentiments that brought about the Reign of Terror and the fall of the monarchy in France during the late 1700s, one must go back to the beginning and the behaviors and experiences that set France on its path. In Before Versailles, Karleen Koen takes the reader bac...
Koen's latest book tackles a short period in the life of a young Louis XIV. Cardinal Mazarin is dead, and Louis is now in control of the government - a government seriously short of cash - although the Superintendent of Finances sure does have a pocketful of it. Louis is newly married to Maria Teres...
Very interesting story about a time that I have always been interested in. This book has def. prompted me to take a deeper look into this period of time. Interesting story, but didn't really have a "pop" factor which would have me increase the rating I gave it.
I understand now why Koen has such a devoted following. This deliciously huge novel has a fantastic cast, a fabulous setting, delicious intrigue, romance, and drama. Set during 1661, after Louis' prime minister Cardinal Mazarin died, the novel follows Louise, a lady-in-waiting for the stunning, en...
This one by Karleen Koen shifts from the world of the Verneys to that of France of Louis XIV. The heroine is Louise a young maid-of-honour in attendance to Henriette -- Minette -- the wife of Philippe d'Orleans, and sister-in-law to Louis XIV. Lots of scandal and intrigue, with a plot that uses (yet...
The book is in a way not written from one POV. Sure Louise de Valliere is the main character for most of it but there is always someone else taking her is his turn to say something, or to think something. It feels not like you follow one person but like you are some sort of ghost jumping around try...
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