BLOG TOUR: The Enemies of Versailles by Sally Christie

The Enemies of Versailles

by Sally Christie

Publication Date: March 21, 2017

Atria Books

eBook, Paperback; 416 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Series: The Mistresses of Versailles, Book Three

In the final installment of Sally Christie’s “tantalizing” (New York Daily News) Mistresses of Versailles trilogy, Jeanne Becu, a woman of astounding beauty but humble birth, works her way from the grimy back streets of Paris to the palace of Versailles, where the aging King Louis XV has become a jaded and bitter old philanderer. Jeanne bursts into his life and, as the Comtesse du Barry, quickly becomes his official mistress.

“That beastly bourgeois Pompadour was one thing; a common prostitute is quite another kettle of fish.”

After decades of suffering the King's endless stream of Royal Favorites, the princesses of the Court have reached a breaking point. Horrified that he would bring the lowborn Comtesse du Barry into the hallowed halls of Versailles, Louis XV’s daughters, led by the indomitable Madame Adelaide, vow eternal enmity and enlist the young dauphiness Marie Antoinette in their fight against the new mistress. But as tensions rise and the French Revolution draws closer, a prostitute in the palace soon becomes the least of the nobility’s concerns.

Told in Christie’s witty and engaging style, the final book in The Mistresses of Versailles trilogy will delight and entrance fans as it once again brings to life the sumptuous and cruel world of eighteenth century Versailles, and France as it approaches irrevocable change.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Kobo

My Review

Having read the first two novels in this series, I couldn’t wait for Enemies of Versailles to come out! While it did start a little slower than the first two, it definitely picked up and I enjoyed it as much as the others in the series. Her portrayal of characters, both major and minor, is amazing. I always feel like I’m reading an actual historical novel, and that the dialogue and actions of these historical figures is how everything really played out in the past. The author, Sally Christie, obviously does her research when writing her novels, because everything she writes about feels like it could have actually happened the way it is written.

Madame Adelaide, the king’s daughter, is a bit difficult to take at times. She is so full of herself and believes that if SHE thinks one way about something, than everyone around her also thinks that way. In the end, I do believe she always means the best for those she loves, but she is a demanding figure that was very off putting for many in her time, and a big for myself as well! Comtesse du Berry was fun to read about. I had heard of her in a few books that I have read about Marie Antoinette, and she always came across as a horrible person. It was nice to see a different perspective of her. One that shows her as charming and sweet, yet not particularly intelligent, at least as far as book smarts go. However, she was raised the position she ended up in through more than just her good lucks. She knew what the king needed, and she became that person. The king was older, and he didn’t want a woman to match wits with, he wanted a woman to love him and in a way, to “mother” him. He definitely got that with Comtesse du Berry.

Overall, this book is a great read. I would definitely recommend the entire series to readers who are interested in historical fictions, especially in what was going on in Versailles that helped to lead up to the French Revolution. You get an idea of just how frivolous the people of wealth were during this time, and how little room they had in their minds to care about what was going on outside of Versailles. They were all in their own little world full of intrigue, far from the downtrodden people of France who had nothing. It’s easy to see how these people might become bitter after seeing the amount of money the court went through for unnecessary items. Definitely a great book worth purchasing!

Praise for The Sisters of Versailles

“Such an extraordinary tale makes for compelling reading and, as the lead book in a planned trilogy, will draw in readers who are interested in royal lives before the French Revolution….historical fiction fans, unfamiliar with the history of the Nesle sisters, will be intrigued.” (Library Journal)


"Sally Christie's The Sisters of Versailles is an intriguing romp through Louis XV's France. Filled with lush backdrops, rich detail, and colorful characters, fans of historical fiction will enjoy this glimpse into the lost golden era of the French monarchy." (Allison Pataki, author of THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS )


“A stunning breadth of period detail, offered in a fresh, contemporary voice.” (Juliet Grey, author of the acclaimed Marie Antoinette trilogy )


“Tantalizing descriptions and cliff-hangers will leave the reader rapidly turning the pages in anticipation… A wickedly delightful read.” (New York Daily News)

About the Author

Sally Christie is the author of The Sisters of Versailles and The Rivals of Versailles. She was born in England and grew up around the world, attending eight schools in three different languages. She spent most of her career working in international development and currently lives in Toronto.

Visit SallyChristieAuthor.com to find out more about Sally and the Mistresses of Versailles trilogy.

You can also find her on Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Blog Tour Schedule

Wednesday, March 15
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession
Interview at T's Stuff

Thursday, March 16
Review at Leeanna.me
Review at The Lit Bitch

Friday, March 17
Review at To Read, Or Not to Read
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective
Spotlight at What Is That Book About

Saturday, March 18
Review at Jorie Loves a Story
Spotlight at Books, Dreams, Life

Sunday, March 19
Spotlight at Passages to the Past

Monday, March 20
Review at A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, March 21
Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Wednesday, March 22
Review at First Impressions Reviews
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Thursday, March 23
Review at Broken Teepee

Friday, March 24
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews

Sunday, March 26
Review at The Gadoury Dreamer
Review & Interview at Clarissa Reads It All

Monday, March 27
Review at The Reading Queen

Tuesday, March 28
Review at Book Nerd
Review at Luxury Reading
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views

Wednesday, March 29
Review at Impressions in Ink
Review at A Bookaholic Swede

Thursday, March 30
Review at Curling up by the Fire

Friday, March 31
Review at Bookramblings
Review at CelticLady's Reviews

Giveaway

Five copies of The Enemies of Versailles are up for grabs during the blog tour! To enter, please see the Gleam form below.

Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on March 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Enemies of Versailles

AMAZON REVIEW: Gorgeous Birthstone Necklace!

925 Sterling Silver Diamond Swarovski Elements Birthstone Necklace

5/5 Stars

My Review:


I wanted a birthstone necklace that had my 3 year old twin boy's birth stone, and I had been looking for a little while for one that I really liked. Their birthday is June 24th, so their birthstone is either the pearl or some other stone (I forget which one now), but I prefer pearls, so that is the one I wanted to get. I came across these necklaces, and absolutely loved how they looked, plus they were over 40% off. I decided to get the one for June, and when it arrived, it was even prettier than in the picture. It is so full of sparkle, and the pearl is larger than I had expected it to be. It is not a tiny, insignificant little pendant, it actually stands out and people notice it. I love wearing it, and it has definitely become one of the pieces of jewelry that I wear most often. Not only do I love how it looks, but I also love that it holds additional meaning as my twins birthstone.

Product Details:

• This Birthstone Necklace 925 Sterling Silver captures all the surrounding light and sparkles to perfection. Understated and elegant, adding a sophisticated finishing touch to your daily dressing from jeans and little black dress. 
• The Birthstone Necklace 925 Sterling Silver size: Height of the pendant:15MM, width of the pendant:10MM, totle weight:2.75g, with a sterling silver 45cm box Chain. The Birthstone Necklace 925 Sterling Silver Pearl CZ Diamond June Square Women Gemstone Pendant Necklace Material: 925 Sterling Silver Swarovski Elements Diamond Birthstone Necklace
• Caring for Your Birthstone Necklace 925 Sterling Silver: Rub it with baby wipes: they perform miracles on jewelry. Then rub with a clean dry soft cotton cloth to bring back the shine. Put it inside a soft cloth pocket or fabric swath, avoid it from rubbing against other jewelry. To better maintain your Birthstone Necklace 925 Sterling Silver Pearl CZ Diamond June Square Women Gemstone Pendant Necklace, please take it off when you swim, take a shower, or other action involved in water.

Necklace and Birthstones

January birthstone necklace Garnet

February birthstone necklace Amethyst

March birthstone necklace Aquamarine

April birthstone necklace Diamond

May birthstone necklace Emerald

June birthstone necklace Alexandrite/pearl                                     

July birthstone necklace Ruby

August birthstone necklace Peridot

September birthstone necklace Blue Sapphire

October birthstone necklace Pink Tourmaline

November birthstone necklace Citrine

December birthstone necklace Blue Topaz

Purchase this gorgeous necklace at AMAZON!

Women's Bohemian Embroidered Peasant Blouse Shirt

Joeoy Women's Bohemian Embroidered 3/4 Sleeve Peasant Blouse Shirt

4/5 Stars

My Review:

I really liked the coloring and flow of this Bohemian Blouse. It feels very summery to me, and I can definitely see it being worn at the beach, or just on a hot day along with a skirt or shorts. The white color is very neutral, but the baby blue makes the shirt stand out a bit, especially if the person wearing it has blue eyes. I personally think it looks better when it’s a bit off the shoulders, but if that’s not your style it looks fine above the shoulder as well. The detail in the embroidery is very intricate, and is definitely my favorite part of the blouse. It has kind of a “peek a boo” design to it, so that if you want to show a little skin, you can skip the tank to, or be a little more modest and keep the tank top on underneath.

My only complaints are that the embroidery is a bit scratchy, and I can see my skin getting irritated after a long day of wearing it. Also, the shirt is definitely made for shorter people. If you are talker than 5’4”, than it looks somewhat like a child size shirt with regard to length.

Overall, I do like the shirt, and it has a very pretty design and look to it.

Product Details:

• 100% Polyester
• Asian S=US 0/2;Asian M=US 4/6;Asian L=US 8
• Material: 58%Polyester+30%Cotton+12%Linen
• Embroidered blouse features wide sleeve and elastic neckline
• Neck tie with tassels
• Sweet, Elegant and Trendy

HFUN Professional Brush Set

HFUN Premium Synthetic Bristles/ Renewable Goat Hair 8 Pcs Makeup Brush Set for Foundation Blush Concealer Powder Bronzer Highlight Eyeliner Eyebrow Blending with Brush Cleaner and Black Cosmetic Bag

5/5 Stars!

My Review:

I have been looking for a nice set of makeup brushes for a couple of months, so I was happy when I came across this set. The price was right, and I felt that the quality was there after checking out the reviews, so I purchased it. I am extremely happy that I did. The item arrived quickly, and was exactly as described. The brush bristles are so soft, yet you can tell they are incredibly durable, and will not fall out or wear down easily. It is a great set for someone who loves to wear makeup, yet is not trying to be a makeup professional! There are enough brushes to get everything that you need done makeup wise, but not so many that you feel overwhelmed. Great set, very happy!

About Product:

• Essential Set for Professional User or Beginner---Totally 8pcs makeup brush in one set, contains all range of brushes to meet your various needs, such as Blusher Brush,Powder Brush, Highlighter brush, Blush & Bronzer Brush, Nose Shadow Brush, Eye shadow Brush, Blending Eye Brush and Eyebrow brush.
• Premium Quality Handle--- Natural wood handle combined with shinning sliver-toned aluminum design, easy for use and grip. Product length from 14.3cm-17cm/5.6 ~6.69 inch.
• Ultra Soft Touch Hair ---Blush & Bronzer Brush, Eye shadow Brush and Blending Eye Brush are made of eco renewable goat hair, 100% natural and Eco-friendly, and the other brushes are made of synthetic hair, they are soft silky and resilient,easier to pick up liquids, powders, or creams to produce a beautiful face and eye makeup application.
• Classic Black PU Cosmetic Bag---Made of high quality PU leather, super convenience for storage all brushes in this bag, portable enough to bring it to anywhere, a good accessories for travel, working and daily use.
• Our lifetime guarantee: your satisfaction is our greatest honor, if you are unsatisfied with our brushes after get it, we will provide unconditional 100% refund for you.

Set of 8 Brushes

-Blusher Brush (synthetic hair)
-Powder Brush (synthetic hair)
-Highlighter brush (synthetic hair)
-Blush & Bronzer Brush (renewable goat hair)
-Nose Shadow Brush (synthetic hair)
-Eye shadow Brush (renewable goat hair)
-Blending Eye Brush (renewable goat hair)
-Eyebrow brush (synthetic hair)

【Notice】
Please note that the goat hair we used is 100% natural and renewable, eco friendly to environment and never do harm to the animal itself. Please use it be at ease.

How to Clean Makeup Brushes

1. Run the bristles of brush under warm running water.
2. Apply a small amount of gentle shampoo to bristles and work into a light lather.
3. Rinse bristles thoroughly under running water. You will notice that the water leaving the brush is tinted from old makeup.
4. Continue rinsing until no color leaves the brush.
5. Allow it to air-dry.

AMAZON REVIEW: Fish Spoon/Cup Measuring Set

chéri d'amour Top Rated Fish Measuring Spoon/Cup Set for Measuring Dry and Liquid Ingredients, Dishwasher Safe

5/5 Stars

My Review:

These little guys are absolutely adorable! I just started smiling when I opened the package and saw the little faces! When I saw these on amazon, I couldn't get over how unique they were, and I knew that I had to get them! I have never seen anything like these. They are bright and colorful, and adorable with their big eyes and the little fins on the measuring cups. They also measure the perfect amount. I was curious if they would, considering the different shape, so I checked it out using another measuring cup, and they were right on.

I think they work great to brighten up a kitchen, especially if you're like me, and have a silly sense of humor. Now that I have these measuring cups and spoons, I honestly cannot see every being able to go back to the plain black ones that I have! They are well made and sturdy, and I can see them lasting forever. I am curious as to whether the eyes/fins will fade with time, but as I've only washed them once, it's way too soon to tell. Hopefully not, but I wouldn't be surprised, because that often happens to paint even on the best/most expensive products.

Definitely worth buying, and I can even see these making a great toy for your toddlers! Everyone knows how much little kids love to play with things like measuring cups and pots and pans, so why not get double the benefits out of these!

Product Details:

• Comprehensive 8-piece fish-shape kitchen measuring set with standard and metric measurements
• Measuring spoons feature 1-tbsp, 1-tsp, 1/2-tsp, 1/4-tsp
• Measuring cups feature 1 cup, 3/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup
• Made of high quality plastic (ABS), FDA approved and BPA-free
• All pieces are stackable for storage and dishwasher safe

Purchase this Adorable Set from Amazon!

AMAZON REVIEW: Bamboo Wood Watch for Men or Women with Bonus of Two Bracelets

Wonbee Bamboo Wood Watches for Men & Women,Cowhide Leather Strap,Bonus 2 Wood Bracelets

My Review:

I have been looking for a watch for quite awhile, but had not really come across anything that grabbed my attention. I'm not the type of person who wanted a dainty, girly watch, as I have a couple of those and never wear them. Also, I did not want a watch that was boring, didn't stand out, and looked like the same watch everyone else had. I like jewelry that is unique, so I also like watches that are unique and stand out. This watch by Wonbee was exactly what I was looking for. It's not too flashy, but it definitely does stand out, because you do not see bamboo wood watches every day! The infinity symbol was what really grabbed my attention, as I have always been drawn to it. I love how modern and smooth this watch looks. I also like that it is not bulky or big at all. Just looking at the picture, it was hard to tell if it would be too big for my wrist, but once I received it and tried it on, I realized how perfectly it fit. It is also so light that you can hardly tell that you are even wearing a watch, and the band is so soft. I have received countless compliments about it, and everyone that has seen it has asked where I got it.

The regular price is $89.99, and it is currently on sale for $20.99. There is no way you are going to go to a store and find a price like that, at least for a watch that is as high quality and unique as this one. It also comes with two beaded bracelets that kind of have a "hipster" vibe to them. That is usually not my style, but I think the bracelets look really cool when worn right beside the watch, so I have been wearing them together

I definitely recommend purchasing this product, if not for yourself, than definitely as a gift for a loved one.

Product Details:

• Imported
• MATERIAL:Wood watch is quite light ,weighing only 0.9oz.100% first layer cowhide leather strap that is soft and durable, bamboo watch face is made of real bamboo, and case that is healthy and comfortable (non-toxic Hypo-allergenic), japan miyota 2036 quartz movement to guarantee an accurate time ,and battery that can last at least 3 years
• SIZE: Diameter of wood case is 1.8’’,total length of strap is 10’’,useable length is 8.86”,width of strap is 0.86”
• DESIGN:Watch face is engraved a meaningful Infinity symbol.the wooden watch is perfect idea for someone special (such as lovers gift,Father’s Day gift ,Mother’s Day gift, Christmas Day gift,groomsman gifts,wedding gifts etc.)
• Water-resistant:Wood wristwatch is only life water resistance.can be in rain and washing hands.don’t put it in water directly
• WARRANTY:We offer 100% money back guarantee

Purchase this Gorgeous Watch on Amazon!

AMAZON REVIEW: Vintage Gothic Chokers

Dream Catcher Black Vintage Gothic Choker Necklaces

Product Details:

• Come with 8 Pcs Choker Necklaces. 6 Pcs 12.6 inches+2 inches Extender Chain Choker Necklace, 1 Pcs Elastic Tattoo Choker Necklace, 1 Pcs 63 inches Long Velvet Tassel Choker Necklaces. It is Adjustable for you to Fit Your Neck.
• Quality of this Product is High.Material is Soft and Supple, the Clasps are Attached Well to the Material.
• Excellent Design, Good Quality.Several Styles for Different Occasions.
• Multiple Kinds of Necklaces Offer you to Choose, Meet and Make your Daily Wearing Unique and Elegant.
• Promise 90-day Products Exchange and Money Back Guarantee; Come with a Dream Catcher Black Velvet Pouch.

My Review:

To me, it is wild that these types of chokers are in style. I say that because I am a 90's kid, so back when I was in middle school, chokers, dark makeup, and funky colored hair was in style, and now it's back! I loved chokers back then, and I love them now. There are a couple that I wouldn't wear, like the one with the ying-yang sign or the one with the star, because I feel that I'm a little too old for those. However, I genuinely like several of the chokers, and have already worn a couple of them out, and received several compliments! I've always been drawn to darker clothes, and darker styles, not because I am an emo or goth, but simply because I believe I look best in those darker colors. I will definitely continue to wear these, and when they go out of style, I will put them away in the velvet bag that was provided, and keep them until they come back in style 20 years from now! haha

Purchase Chokers Here!