Another absolute wonderful book by a fantastic author. Elizabeth writes with such passion for weaving a beautiful fiction story among true historical facts. Can’t wait to read the next book. Thank you Elizabeth for writing such wonderful books. Thank you to the publishers for contracting with wonderful writers and Thank You NetGalley for being the source of great reads.

I loved the history with Washington politics, Good Housekeeping, and also the secondary characters with blindness. I am so thankful to people that fought to have ingredients disclosed on labels for us. I am really excited to see this is a series as well, as I want to know more about the siblings.

I have never been disappointed by one of Elizabeth Camden's books, and this one was no exception. I found myself pulled into the story immediately. The short heroine, of course, which I don't see as often as I like, being only five feet tall myself, made me laugh. I could see myself in her.

As I stated earlier, I totally want to know what becomes of the siblings of the main characters, and just get more from this author. You will be entertained, but learn at the same time. Romance? Yes, but not exactly in the way you think. It was less the focus of the story and more a background story. The relationship and friendship was what you really saw as you learn how this country changed history with spices and food.

Plus, with that cover, I mean, you just have to get it!

Elizabeth Camden’s new series, Hope and Glory, begins with The Spice King. First, let me say how much I LOVE this cover, and it’s pretty representative of the hero…strong, somewhat aloof, and powerful.

The year is 1900 and the setting is Washington, D.C., specifically, the Smithsonian. Annabelle Larkin works as a botanist charged with obtaining Gray Delacroix’s exotic plant collection. The museum is especially interested in a particular species, the rare vanilla orchid. Her job and the protection of her family’s Kansas farm depends on her obtaining it.

Gray Delacroix, the wealthy owner of a spice-manufacturing business, has traveled the world seeking premier spices and rare plants. Since his boyhood during the time of the Civil War, he has distrusted everything related to the U. S. government. No way is he giving anyone or institution involved with the goverment a gift. Then, he meets Annabelle and begins to see a future he never thought he’d experience.

Of course, not everything goes according to plan. That would be boring, wouldn’t it? The characters soon find themselves deep in an intrigue involving Cuba after the Spanish-American war. Gray and his siblings, Luke and Caroline, are soon embroiled in an effort to save lives and the family’s reputation.

For me, Gray was a highly appealing hero. As with most of Ms. Camden’s heroes, he had his gruff and stiff side, but it was tempered with vulnerability and a love for the brother and sister he considered irresponsible.

I started out liking Annabelle. She was strong and clever. But that faded to a toleration about a third of the way through the book. I didn’t dislike her but felt as if she never truly understood the ramifications of her actions. Enough said.

Overall, I recommend The Spice King for its rich historical insight and a family who won’t be prevented from doing what they think is right, as well as the continuing story it holds. Oh, Luke.

I’m giving it 4.5 stars. It’s not her best (nothing will top Against the Tide), but I’m hooked and looking forward to reading the next book.

“Soon even Kansas won’t be safe from properly seasoned food” (location 786). This book talked about the early days in the fight for food purification. It was common for companies to add filler ingredients, including things like tar, so they could make more of a profit. It was fascinating to learn more about the different positions and to hear what is behind the “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.” I had no idea that magazine had a testing lab for looking at products.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. When Gray Delacroix sums up Annabelle and her family, he gets it just right. Annabelle is a beautiful woman. She gives up her own plans to move to Washington to help her blind sister. She is a picture of sacrificial love and persistence. Gray’s brother, Luke, reminded me of the movie “The Mission.” He is trying so hard to pay his own form of penance. Gray, too, is very caring for his family. He takes his responsibilities seriously yet has a dry sense of humor that balances that.

This is a great read. It doesn’t get bogged down with the politics of the fight for food purification but gives just enough information to get a flavor for the times. I’d highly recommend it.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

#TheSpiceKing, #Netgalley

This is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Camden, though I've wanted to read one for a long while. I was drawn to the title and the rich history that I associate with spices.

Gray was just a small boy during the Civil war, in which his family's ships were confiscated and home burnt. This left a lasting impression on his life, living in the "raccoon shed" and later life aboard a ship searching for spices and other exotic plants. His passion is his vanilla orchids. Now 40, Gray has decided to settle down in America.

Annabelle is new to Washington DC. She moved together with her sister Elaine. Annabelle is at a temporary job cataloging plants at the Smithsonian. She is determined to make the job permanent. Her boss says he will find her a position if she can convince Gray to give her a sample of the original vanilla orchid.

Gray is immediately charmed when meeting Annabelle. They both share a passion for botany and Gray invites Annabelle to visit his greenhouses to see his plant collection. One of my favourite scenes in this book was when Gray takes her through his greenhouse and together they sample the exotic fruits such as avocado, passion fruit, and mango. I could just feel how exciting this must have been for Annabelle.

When Annabelle is recruited by the war department to spy on Gray, she is torn. But her feelings of patriotism, and the potential for loss of thousand of American lives, leads her to decide to spy on Gray.

As you can imagine, things swiftly turn from charming romance to unpleasant disaster when Gray discovers Annabelle's spying. It was hard to imagine how these two characters could ever get their own HEA.

I've read very little from this time period. It is interesting to learn more about 1900 Washington. What I take for granted every day - such as spices in every grocery store, eating fresh fruits and vegetables year round, and modern conveniences such as cars and computers.

There were many side characters that were very interesting. I hope that there will be more books in the series. I personally think that Gray's sister would make a good heroine in the next book. There was legal trouble that was not resolved, and I eagerly await the conclusion of that story thread. Annabelle's sister, Elaine, was a lovable character and I hope to hear more about her as well.

I found the writing well done though I noticed the author had a particular fondness for certain words (people can eat without wolfing their food and anathema is descriptive, but don't use it 3 times in one chapter). I feel like the series would make a great TV show and I know it will be a really amazing read.

I received this title from Bethany House via Netgalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love basically any story that Elizabeth Camden has written, and this one is no different. My problem was finding the time to actually finish and complete the story. 

What I truly appreciated was the back story at the end of the book, explaining things that occurred within the pages. It helped complete areas of questions.

The story melds together the lives of Gray Delacroix and Annabelle Larkin, who is a Smithsonian botanist. She has written a letter to Mr. Delacroix requesting information of a spice, and he responds. Thus begins the blossoming friendship between the two. But of course, all is not going to be like peaches and cream. She agrees to compromise her feelings to obtain information for the government, and that sadly doesn't bode well with her relationship with Gray.

There were several layers of plots within this book and each were layered upon the other, which kept me, as the reader, intrigued and curious. From the trading of spices, to the Good Housekeeping magazine. It was a fascinating read. You could tell that Elizabeth did her research for this story.

Definitely worth a read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I love reading Elizabeth Camden's books because she can take a piece of history and make it come alive in the book. I always learn so much when reading, and this book was no different. I will always read her books for this reason.

I do feel, though, that the historical aspect of the book took away from the romance of the book. I didn't feel a spark between the characters, and i didn't feel like they engaged enough to have any chemistry between them.

I will read the next book in the series, but this was not my favorite Camden book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

"The Spice King" is the first book I have read written by Elizabeth Camdem, but I found it so interesting that I might read other of her works in the future.
Historical romance is not one of my favorite genres, but the synopsis caught my attention, and the plot surprised me in every way, since it was not the cliché that I thought it would be. I really liked the characters and especially the main couple, Anabelle and Gray, as well as other aspects of the story, American politics and the world of spices, as it seemed quite original and different from what I had read before.
I also liked that the author introduced in the history a character with a disability, Anabelle's sister, Elaine, who is blind, and I wish we could had know a little more about her and her experience.
It is definitely a novel that I would recommend, the plot is entertaining and full of unexpected twists, with a complex romance and an interesting background.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ebook to review!
All opinions expressed are my own.

The depth of research that goes into any of Elizabeth Camden's stories is always so impressive and her love for history is evident in everything she writes. I always feel like I come away with an education in eras gone by and always look forward to sinking my teeth into the next book! The Spice King was an enjoyable read with lots of wonderful world building that took me right into the political machinations of the early 20th century. Who would have known that the intrigue surrounding the beginnings of the FDA would be so fascinating!

Actually 3.5 stars. If you enjoy a "spicy" story of family bonds and betrayal then this novel is definitely right up your alley! Elizabeth Camden is a prolific author who writes on innovative subjects, and I found her research on the origin of spices we now use everyday in our kitchens quite fascinating.

What didn't work for me was the chemistry between the hero and heroine. I enjoy plenty of romantic tension and traveling down the rocky road to love with plenty of angst. I was definitely disappointed in that regard and also in the characters' first kiss. Not so spicy...sigh.

I found myself skimming through a lot of the political and governmental details as well. If you enjoy a unique tale that doesn't have much romantic depth, be sure to give 'The Spice King' a try! It has great reviews but just wasn't my "flavor." ;-)

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Another wonderful book from Elizabeth Camden! I enjoyed this story and getting to know the characters. Once again, Elizabeth has brought history alive!

This is my favorite Camden novel to date. Every element was pitch-perfect and came together in a truly lovely novel. I loved Annabelle and Gray, as well as the supporting cast of characters. Sweet, inquisitive, and intelligent Annabelle Larkin is the opposite of the brusque, business savvy and reclusive Gray Delacroix, yet together they are the perfect couple. I loved these two and championed for their happily-ever-after, even though the odds were against them. And, without giving away any spoilers, they had a rocky road to travel. I was kept in suspense wondering how things would work out not only for Annabelle and Gray, but for the Delacroix business and all those involved.

Camden’s passionate prose and thorough research breathe new life into obscure bits of history. What I love about her novels is that they are very smart with women protagonists who do amazing things in their respective eras. I love reading about bold women who defy expectations and follow their hearts and this is a hallmark of Camden’s writing.

I adored The Spice King and cannot wait for more in the Hope and Glory series. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Camden is a master of taking a fairly traditional plot line and making it her own and unique through her fantastic characters. I especially love her strong female leads.

Annabelle is working in a scientific field full of men, but she stands on her own and I love it. I also love how invested in the work she is. I know there are personal reasons, but even then it makes a great heroine. Granted she is far from perfect, but that only makes her more believable.

Gray was amazing. I loved his care for his family, his determination, and his unique ailments gave him a great physical flaw that I don't find too often in books. I related to his bad days as I'm sure many others will.

As I mentioned before this plot isn't anything new. It has been done, but Camden's research and characters make her books amazing. You truly feel transported into the time of the book. And honestly you learn a lot too!

This was a fast read for me because I got so engaged in the story.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Elizabeth Camden comes up with the most creative, unique, and fastidiously researched professions for her characters. I love that about her books! She dives in to areas that I never would've expected, making me intrigued and curious about things I never would've thought to be intrigued or curious about. The Spice King is no exception...both the hero and heroine have interesting and intersecting careers and Camden's research shines on each page. My one qualm is the same qualm I've had with Camden's past four or five books, to be honest--I struggle to emotionally connect with her characters. I wish the emotional layers went as deep as the historical research. But that said, still a truly enjoyable read!

The Spice King has everything I love in a historical read and so much more. There's espionage, secrets, betrayal, intrigue, romance. I could go on and on.

I always feel like I learn new and interesting bits of history when I read an Elizabeth Camden book and this one is no different. The Spice King deals with a subject that's very important to me. Food safety. I had no idea how lax the regulations were. Food labeling was pretty much nonexistent and oftentimes, the product wasn't even what it said it was. For example: a jar of applesauce that had no apples in it, but was actually pumpkin that was chemically treated to taste like apples. Crazy! This completely blew my mind and made for an absolutely compelling read. I know there's still room for improvement with our food nowadays, but thank goodness it's better than it used to be.

I'm gonna say something that shocks even me, but, here I go. Move over Romulus White. I've got a new favorite Elizabeth Camden hero and his name is Gray Delacroix. Never did I think there'd be a leading man that could outdo Romulus from 'From This Moment', but Gray Delacroix has done just that. So dreamy. So cranky. He has his faults, for sure, yet he's such an upstanding, all-around good guy. He's taken over his family's spice empire and is adamant about making sure all the ingredients are pure and of the best quality. Unlike his biggest competitor whose only concern is making money and will use unsafe ingredients to get the biggest profit.

Annabelle Larkin has a sunny, upbeat, and always optimistic attitude. She's Gray's complete opposite, but they have some seriously strong chemistry. I liked her, for the most part. Though she did make a decision that really irked me. I know why she did it, but I still wanted to shake some sense into her.

I want to talk about so many more things, but they verge into spoiler territory. Suffice it to say, The Spice King is a must read for any fan of historical romance. It's my new favorite novel from this author and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

It took me a very long time to get into this story. It might have been that there were very little deep emotions playing – especially from the heroine’s side – that couldn’t let me get my teeth into it. About forty percent into the book things shaped up and it started to read like a different story. I really enjoyed the rest of the read, which deals with topics that are as relevant today as they were more than a century ago. To think that people had to fight for everything we take for granted – it makes you rethink and be grateful. I love it when an author weaves history and fiction together, and this was done seamlessly.

Thank you Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers for a chance to read and review this book.

It took me a couple of chapters to get into this, but once I was there, I was hooked! There's a nice romance, with the characters dancing around each other, here, along with a mystery and crime element. It was the second-string story, however, that really intrigued me! Given our "modern-day problems" with food safety, the story of the FDA and food integrity from over a century ago was very enlightening. The history tucked in these pages makes the read worth it alone!

I really enjoyed this book. Good characters, good plot, and the right amount of problems thrown in to keep things interesting. Kept me turning pages and wanting to finish it!

Elizabeth Camden writes historical fiction with strong female leads, and that’s very enjoyable to me. Usually they are women who were maybe a bit unusual for their day, not stereotypical at all. This book was no exception. If you enjoy this type of book, you’ll like ?The Spice King.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

Annabelle Larkin has traveled to Washington D.C. to give her sister, Elaine, a chance to find purpose in her life as a blind woman. She's been given a temporary job with the Smithsonian, with the understanding that if she can convince Gray Delacroix to give up some of his botanical secrets, there may be a more permanent position in store for her. Gray Delacroix, while reluctant to give anything away for free, and especially reluctant to give anything to the government, finds himself drawn to Annabelle. When Annabelle is required to search out more than botanical secrets, will she choose Gray or her country?

I have always enjoyed Elizabeth Camden's penchant for uniquely employed heroines that give an unusual look into her particular periods of history. Annabelle is no exception; as a botanist working within the Smithsonian and then the Department of Agriculture, the reader is given a peek into the period of time where food additives were not monitored by the government. I found this setting to be very intriguing and the interplay between Gray's world of food production and the government's growing interest in food safety was an engaging setting for a novel. The side stories were woven into the larger picture fairly seamlessly, and I am looking forward to finding out how those play out as this series continues!

I give this book 4 stars. I enjoyed the characters, and I enjoyed the perspective from this view of history.


I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis from Goodreads: “Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building a successful global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Tasked with gaining access to the private Delacroix plant collection, Smithsonian botanist Annabelle Larkin unwittingly steps into a web of dangerous political intrigue and will be forced to choose between her heart and her loyalty to her country.”

The part of the story that is outlined in the Goodreads synopsis is my favorite part of the book. However, the story swerves into the complexities of food purity and the Food Purity Act and completely lost my interest.

What I liked-Imagining Washington DC in the early 1900s. I love the scenes of Anabelle navigating through the city and the fact that she worked at the Smithsonian and her sister worked at the Library of Congress. This was intriguing to me. The book also started with a great opening scene where Anabelle really makes a powerful statement. The stories about the White House and the McKinleys were also very interesting.

What could have been better - While the Food Purity Act was an important part of US history, I don’t think the topic is interesting enough carry the plot to an exciting conclusion. The last 2/3 of the book spent time setting up the other books in the series which made it feel like nothing was happening to move the story forward.
I really liked the other characters, Gray’s siblings, twins Caroline and Luke. I think that bodes well for the other stories in this series if it continues with their story lines. 3/5