A Prisoner of Versailles - eBook

A Prisoner of Versailles by Golden Keyes Parsons is the second book of a series called Darkness to Light. The protagonist, Madeleine Clavell, is on the run with her Huguenot family in seventeenth-century Switzerland after her estate has been burned and her husband taken prisoner by King Louis XIV, the staunchly Catholic monarch of France. But she is captured and taken to Versailles with her elder son, Philippe, soon after her husband Francois dies from consumption. Madeleine had had a brief affair with Louis as a teenager years earlier, and Louis suspected Phillipe to be his illegitimate son. Even if there are no blood ties, Louis is determined to keep mother and son at Versailles, as he is still in love with Madeleine and wants her as his courtesan.

[Spoiler Alert]A courtier, Pierre Bovee, helps Madeleine cope with her “imprisonment” at Versailles, although he is considered a traitor by the court and is soon whisked away to Bastille prison. With help of a good friend, he manages to escape and, in turn, secures Madeleine’s and Philippe’s escape from Versailles. They return to the cottage in Switzerland, and after a short marriage ceremony to each other, they begin their journey to Holland and, hopefully, to the New World. They know that King Louis’ troops are looking for them, and they must stay the course, hoping that the troops believe that they are heading for Spain.

This is a well-written, fast-paced historical romance that keeps the reader turning pages. It is particularly suitable for Christian women readers, as references to God are plentiful throughout the novel. Madeleine questions God during her stay with the king, and is challenged in her faith as she tries to “play the game” at the court, getting along with the array of people who surround King Louis. Scripture is quoted by Madeleine’s Uncle Jean at the Swiss cottage, giving hope and guidance when he wants to know what happened to her and to Philippe. Giving over to the Lord and what He will do with one’s life is the overall theme of this wonderful story. A Prisoner of Versailles is recommended for all readers, but especially women. – Anita Tiemeyer, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com