I have been putting off reading this for months since I was waiting for the third book to come up for review.

But I really needed a break and this was pulling my attention so hard I had to give it a shot.

The way Camden wove this spellbinding tale in 1900 in the capital of the United States is wonderful. I enjoyed seeing the families of the main characters were in the novel more than most romances have, though this is no ordinary romance with intriguing changes.

I am seriously upset about that cliffhanger though, because wow, not finding out what happens to some characters is so not fun. ( )

(4.5 / 5)

When Annabelle Larkin is tasked with getting access to the plant collection of the Delacroix spice company, she is rebuffed by the man in charge, Gray Delacroix. Success in this endeavor is the only way that Annabelle can assure a long-term position at the Smithsonian, though, which is crucial to her own future, as well as the future of her family back in Kansas. She won't give up easily. But neither will Gray, who is determined to keep his secrets under lock and key. He has his own family to worry about--a brother who seems to only want to float through life doing nothing productive and a sister who knows how to spend money. Enemies are everywhere, but Gray is ready to trust someone. He's just not sure if Annabelle is that person.

This is my favorite kind of romance book--one that's not just about the romance. There's so much more going on than the synopsis shows. It seemed at first that Annabelle would be more of the focal point of the story, but really it was Gray. His family, his empire, his desire to stop traveling and settle down, and the way that so much of that gets thwarted, I really got caught up in his story. But that doesn't leave Annabelle on the sidelines. She's in Washington with her blind sister, helping her navigate the streets and life, and I loved how that side of the story went too.

This is the first book of 3 in the series, and it sets up what appears to be a plot running through all three when a scandal in Gray's family is exposed. While that could have been a downfall for the story, this grand plot that isn't very connected to or even resolved in this book, that's not the case at all. It works, and rather than leaving me disappointed at the lack of resolution, it made me look forward to seeing it all play out.

While at times, the dialog was a bit too modern, it didn't bother me much. My biggest issue is with a small spot of theology that could imply that one must work to earn salvation. However, I couldn't quite tell if that was the message there, or if it was more that the person in question was working toward the surrender needed in order to accept the gift of salvation from Jesus, but hadn't taken the final step yet. It was brief and vaguely expressed. I'll have to keep an eye out for that as I continue this series, because I do not endorse a works-based salvation. With that in mind, I do recommend this book for all fans of Christian or historical romance. ( )

It has been ages since I last read an Elizabeth Camden book, and coming back to her writing with The Spice King was a treasure I didn’t know I had been missing!

Washington DC was the perfect backdrop for this (unexpectedly) educational novel. Having been there once when I was a senior in high school, I was instantly reminded of the patriotism I felt for my country when I visited. I was also able to visualize several of the historical landmarks that would have been present in the early 1900s, and intrigued by the mentions of what would become future landmarks. It was also fascinating to imagine what the sights and sounds would have been like to a blind person (Annabelle’s sister), and the author painted that landscape quite vividly.

From the very beginning, I knew that Gray Delacroix would be a hero that I would fall in love with. Just his name – swoon! He’s tough on the outside, but a jewel on the inside. His love and protectiveness of his family knew no bounds. At first, I knew his newfound relationship with Annabelle moved rather swiftly, but I wasn’t prepared for the turn it would take before I even made it halfway through! All I can say, fellow readers, is don’t give up on them – plow ahead!

What I didn’t expect from The Spice King was to read a historical lesson on the beginnings of food oversight for America, and how after much worldwide exploration, new foods were brought here for further study. The book also provided some history of the Good Housekeeping magazine, how they fought to bring truth to their readership, and in the author’s note at the end, included some information on how the Good Housekeeping Seal came to be. In the end, I couldn’t believe how much I had learned!

The next book in the series promises to be about Caroline’s work in the White House, and I cannot wait to go back to Washington DC for another visit. 5 stars are well deserved for this first book in the Hope and Glory Series! ( )

The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden takes us back to 1900 in Washington, D.C. Annabelle Larkin has obtained a temporary position in the Botanical Department at the Smithsonian Institution. Annabelle wants a permanent position and in order to get it she must obtain access to Gray Delacroix’s one-of-a-kind plant collection. Gray Delacroix is the head of Delacroix Global Spice. Since his father’s death six months ago, Gray has quit traveling and settled down in the family’s Alexandria home. He does not trust the Smithsonian or the government for that matter (not a fan of President McKinley either). But he does admire Annabelle’s persistence and finally agrees to show her around his greenhouses. Gray finds himself captivated by Annabelle and begins spending more time with her. Annabelle enjoys her time with Gray and imagines a future with him. But then she is forced to make a choice between love and her country.

The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden is the first novel in the Hope and Glory series. This story is set in 1900 in Washington, D.C. where Annabelle Larkin has begun working at the Smithsonian Institution. She came to Washington with her blind sister, Elaine. Being in Washington allows Elaine to attend the Library of Congress’s educational program for the blind and access to the Braille books available there. If Annabelle cannot get a fulltime job, they must return to the family farm in Kansas. Gray Delacroix is a complicated man. He runs a large spice company, has two lighthearted younger siblings, has a strong work ethic, and has traveled the world. I thought The Spice King was well-written with developed characters. Ms. Camden captured the time period and I can tell she did her research for this book. It was interesting learning about spices, extracts, and food safety. We learn how the extracts, spices and other food items are processed and diluted. It was appalling what was in some of the products. I am amazed at what businesses did to products to make a buck. I had no idea how much work went into making vanilla (it is complicated and fascinating). Imagine how bland foods were before the introduction of spices. Good Housekeeping magazine and how their seal of approval came about is included. There is romance in The Spice King, but it is not the main story. There is politics, unsafe foods, intrigue, rebellion and botany. The author wove all the storylines together into one engaging book. I also liked learning about the Library of Congress and the program they had for the blind. The Spice King is a captivating historical novel. ( )

The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden
Book #1: Hope and Glory Series
Source: NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Annabelle Larkin’s family has sacrificed everything so she and her sister, Elaine can spread their wings and live a life far beyond the confines of their failing Kansas farm. The Larkin girls have both been to college and if they play their cards right, life in their new home of Washington D.C. can and will exceed everyone’s expectations. Though both women are thrilled to be living in the city, life isn’t without its challenges.

Annabelle’s sister is blind and her presence in D.C. is meant to help her live a real life, a life beyond her limitations. Elaine spends her days volunteering at the national library where she works with the Braille collection and helps fellow blind people advance their own reading skills. Elaine’s life hasn’t been easy, but helping others brings her comfort and allows her to live a life she is proud to call her own. However, her life isn’t perfect and without Annabelle, Elaine’s newfound freedom would not be possible. Annabelle spends her days working as an assistant botanist at the Smithsonian and if she wants her job to continue, she must impress her bosses.

Annabelle’s ultimate goal in life is to help her family bring their farm back to prosperity and that means learning all she can about wheat and crop production. To continue toward that goal and keeping her sister safe and happy, Annabelle must keep her job at the Smithsonian, but as a woman working in the late 19th century, that isn’t going to be easy. Her bosses have a very specific agenda and that agenda includes Annabelle gaining access to the plant and spice collection of one of the world’s most reclusive and private men, Gray Delacroix. Gray’s collection of rare and special plants would be a boon to the Smithsonian collection and Annabelle has been tasked with gaining access to, if not cuttings and samples from the tremendous collection.

Gray Delacroix has spent his life travelling the world collecting the most exotic plants and spices. His family’s fortune is based on he and his father’s hard work and focused determination to bring only the best spices back to America and make them commercially available. Gray is highly protective of his work and believes only he and his family can provide the best products in the industry. To Gray’s thinking, organizations like the Smithsonian and Department of Agriculture only want to exploit his efforts and give away for free what he and his family have worked hard to build. To Gray’s mind, Annabelle Larkin is just the latest volley in the ongoing struggle between Gray and the US government.

Or, is she . . . . .

Annabelle Larkin is the only woman who has ever made Gray think seriously about settling down and being more than a powerful and successful businessman. Annabelle is knowledgeable, honest, clear in her intentions, and truly interested in what Gray has accomplished. Her love of plants and desire to learn is rivaled only by Gray’s and that is something he has never found. In the shortest of time span’s Gray decides to court Annabelle and work towards building a life and family with her. Gray has every intention of helping Annabelle secure her future and support her sister and parents. Just as everything seems to be falling into place for both Gray and Annabelle, their lives are turned upside down following the arrest of Gray’s brother for treason. What unfolds in the wake of the arrest is a story of betrayal, lies, plans, shady business dealings, and the desire to do the right thing even in the face of heartbreak.

The Bottom Line: I was somewhat on the fence when I requested this book from NetGalley and I certainly should not have been. The Spice King is a bit outside my normal historical fiction comfort zone, but I am quite glad to have stepped outside the zone. I found this book to be complex, complicated, informative, and absolutely engrossing. I spent one very late night reading this book cover to cover and regret nothing. This story could have been dead dull if it weren’t for the robust characters telling the story. Annabelle is a quiet storm who holds fast to beliefs and loyalties no matter the personal cost. Gray is a surly, stubborn, reclusive man hell-bent on protecting his family no matter the personal cost. There are so many plots and sub-plots going on in this book, but Camden weaves them all together brilliantly and creates a truly excellent read. This book has a bit of everything including well-rounded and interesting characters, a solid and very real historical setting, and a story that weaves in and out in the most wonderful ways. Elizabeth Camden is a force to be reckoned with in the historical fiction genre and I look forward to her next offering. ( )