Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Paris Portrait by Heidi Eljarbo, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: The Paris Portrait
Series: A Fabiola Bennett Mystery #3
Author: Heidi Eljarbo
Publisher: Independently published
Release Date: November 12, 2024
Genre: Historical Mystery, Dual Timeline, Fiction
Fabiola stumbles upon a clue that indicates a royal portrait went missing almost two hundred years ago. Is this true, or is there substance to the rumor?
Paris, France, 1973.
After an enjoyable but dusty road trip, Fabiola and her friends, Pippa and Cary, arrive in a small village on the outskirts of Paris to spend a few days with Fabiola’s brother Eivind and his family.
On their first evening there, Eivind shows Fabiola an ancient recipe book he bought at an auction. The book is filled with old writing, and he asks Fabiola to decipher the pages. After the others have gone to bed, she spends hours reading and is gripped by the last pages that have nothing to do with recipes for baked goods and stews. Certain the author was a famous portrait artist at the time of the French Revolution, Fabiola and her friends set out on a treacherous investigation, dodging murderers and thieves to learn the truth.
Versailles, France, 1789.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun— portraitist and close friend of the extravagant queen of France, Marie Antoinette—has already painted thirty portraits of the queen. Her contemporaries compare her to the old Dutch masters, calling her one of the greatest portrait painters of her time.
But outside on the streets, Paris is becoming more perilous with every day that passes. Madame Le Brun would be a fool to think the rumors of a revolution will pass, and aristocratic life will continue as before.
Amid the turmoil, she paints one final portrait of Marie Antoinette, knowing well her association with the queen could cause her to be arrested or executed. As chaos and riots in Paris turn to violence, Madame Le Brun flees with her young daughter, hoping her royal friend and the portrait will be safe.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
More Books in This Series
Excerpt from the 1789 Chapters
As she stood in the queen’s salon in the Palace of Versailles, a surge of pride went through her. Being a female artist had its challenges. Stiff-necked men ran the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. The members of the Parisian art academy studied figure and anatomy by painting naked male models, and women artists were not allowed. Despite her talent, it took years before Élisabeth was admitted to the program. Even being invited to exhibit her paintings in the academy’s Salon had been problematic. Very few women were allowed to show their works there, and to make matters worse, her husband was a prolific art dealer—a conflict that made the academy shut their doors to her pictures. She’d wrung her mind, trying to find a way in. The Salon teemed with art critics and connoisseurs, and potential patrons and future buyers frequented the place. But when news of Élisabeth’s extraordinary talent had come to the queen’s ear, she’d been invited to the queen’s apartment in the Palace of Versailles.
“You will paint my portrait,” the queen had said with a slight Austrian accent. “I must appear majestic, powerful, and lavish.”
About the Author
Heidi Eljarbo grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history.
Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter.
Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.
Connect with Heidi by visiting HeidiEljarbo.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon giftcard + a paperback of one Fabiola Bennett Mystery of your choice!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 12, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 19, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Sounds like a book I will enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt is interesting, and I will enjoy reading the timeline set during that particular time period.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a book I would enjoy.
ReplyDeletethank you for spotlighting The Paris Portrait :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fantastic read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFabulous set of covers
ReplyDeleteDual timeline mystery set in France...count me in!!
ReplyDeleteI accidentally posted this without my name (Sydney Witbeck)
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