The Spice King is a historical fiction novel, and is book one in the Hope and Glory series written by Elizabeth Camden.
Summary: Gray Delacroix works hard to ensure his family’s legacy and if that means traveling the globe to bring home exotic spices, or negotiating the best deal at any cost, he is willing to do it.
When family circumstances force him home however, he realizes he has neglected his own family for far too long. Is he too late, or will he be able to mend broken fences with his brother and sister?
Annabelle Larkin is completely out of her element. Moving from Kansas to the big city to help her sister, and trying to save the family farm are tough tasks, but she will do her best not to let her family down. And if that means facing down stubborn Mr. Delacroix to do it, she is determined to make it happen.
Will Gray and Annabelle be able to help their families survive tragedy and scandal? And, will they be able to live with their own choices when it becomes obvious there is a traitor in their midst?
My Thoughts: I know I have raved about Elizabeth Camden books in the past, and……this is no exception. I absolutely love historical fiction, and in my opinion, Ms. Camden delivers the best in this arena.
I loved the story, the history, the quirky characters, and the fabulous writing. This book is truly worth reading, and I highly recommend it!
Also, there is a bit of a cliffhanger, so I am anxiously awaiting the next book to find out what happens next!
I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

If you enjoy historical romance novels, then Elizabeth Camden is the best. Her new series, Hope and Glory book number 1, The Spice King is a testament to her outstanding writing and storytelling skills. Ms. Camden takes a relatively unknown part of history and brings it alive. The amount of research must be tremendous. This book is filled with intrigue, romance, a bit of treachery, faith, morals and forgiveness. The story is well developed and keeps your attention to the very end. As always, I really enjoy Ms. Camden’s development of characters from the main to the secondary. This is a great start with a new series and a must read.

I love books that are written by Elizabeth Camden. But this book surprised me. It was one of the best Elizabeth Camden books that I have ever read! The plot was very well done, and the characters were so wonderful to read about. The book had surprising twists in the story, and it kept me coming back for more. It is a wonder I got any sleep during the time I was reading this book, as this book kept me up late into the night trying to see what would happen next. I would say this is a must read for Elizabeth Camden fans. And even if you tried her books in the past but did not care for them, I would say try this one! It was simply amazing, and I wish the story could have lasted longer.





I received this book free through NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. The opinions are my own.

The Spice King
By Elizabeth Camden
First impressions: This is a great book that had me hoodwinked into staying up well past my bedtime to finish. This book is the first in a series and much was left unfinished. Now, I don’t know what to do with myself until the next book comes out.
Annabelle brings her blinded sister to Washington DC in hopes to bring her out of her shell and find a new purpose. While her sister is discovering new beginnings volunteering at the Library of Congress, Annabelle is forging her way into the male dominate laboratory at the Smithsonian. Tasked with getting cuttings from the infamous and believed to be extinct original vanilla orchid Annabelle does what she can to make an impression not to be forgotten. That she does. Gray Delacroix is taken back by this young woman the moment he meets her. As their business is discussed the passion, they both have for agriculture blossoms into a romantic interest.
I will give no more away but this, deception, political intrigue, and scandal make a rocky road for romance.
On another note, I found it interesting to read about a topic that over 100 years later is still an issue. Perhaps not labeling food but the idea of what is in our food. The concern for our health and diet is very much relevant today and I enjoyed reading of past crusaders and their triumph to bringing pure unadulterated food to the public.
I was provided with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. For more book reviews visit my blog: https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

The Spice King is a soaring and tantalizing tale about two very different persons from both sides of the fence who made choice to help their kin and the consequences they face afterward.

I do know this novel does not classify as an historical romance but the blurb told me there was a hint of it inside this historical fiction.
Now, I do think this is my first historical read set this late in history, right at the end of the gilded age. so yes, there is no sizzling scenes but Gray and Annabelle’s feelings never felt short despite the lack of steam, their love evolved along their own revolution until their epiphany.

Even if Gray and Annabelle could not have been two more opposite persons, their love for their siblings was what linked them together.

Annabelle is not perfect, why when presented with few choices, she chooses the one path which will cost her her heart but unsure her sister is provided. I didn’t liked her path because it felt like she used Gray’s growing affection against him but between a burgeoning love and her sister’s welfare, I do understand which way she had to set her mind.
And once her decision made, it was not without consequences for Gray and herself. In some way she paid too for her choosing, a nibbling guilt for her deeds, spying does not leaving people unscathed.
Gray is sure the wronged party and I felt for him as for once he was ready to settle and saw in Annabelle, a possible future. She was the sunflower to his clouded self.
And I do wondered at time how they could overcome the rift Annabelle’s disruption in his life caused.
Gray is a good man, he was shaped by his upbringing and has his reasons for his defiance about the gouvernement. Time changes but not his distrust but life’s events will force him to reenact his decisions and confront his own mistakes.
The side characters crafted by Mrs Elizabeth Camden gave this novel its deep as they were as true as fleshed persons, with their flaws, guilt, and unconditional love for their clan. Now I do wonder if we will see more of them in the next installments.

« This country had been built on a foundation laid down by farmers and stalwart farmer’s wives. It was made great by college professors, inventors, gamblers, industrialists, and dreamers. The politicians at the helm would change every four years, but the heartbeat of America would stay strong.« 

I was granted an advance copy through Netgalley by the publisher Bethany House Publishers. And here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Elizabeth Camden is one of my autobuy authors. I see a new book, I click “add to cart” and then patiently wait 6 months for it to be released. This time I got extremely lucky as I was able ro read an advance e-copy and the waiting was cut short! And I’m so glad it was... because The Spice King is AMAZING. It’s the best christian historical fiction I read this year. I’m gonna tell you why.

First, I couldn’t stop reading. I read so much my ereader actually overheated. Did I wait for it to cool down? Nope, I continued on my phone. It’s very addictive and there are so many twists and turns! And it starts very original, with Annabelle trying to persuade Gray Delacroix to donate his collection to the Smithsonian, and Gray’s letters were hilarious. The actual introduction made me laugh out loud, and their banter brings me life. It starts so well!

Annabelle and Gray have a connection, and their wonderful courtship is developed very early in the story. And they are a perfect pair. But of course, it’s not all fun and laughter, there is much more at stake... hearts will be shattered including my own. I honestly had no idea how on earth this was ever going to end up well in the end. There were many suprising plots and subplots and the pacing was perfectly balanced between lightness and heavy stuff, action and introspection. Annabelle is a wonderful cheerful character with much resilience and I respect her a lot (even if I’m not agreeing with certain actions). Gray seems a bit broody but he totally is very sweet and caring on the inside and a righteous man.

Elizabeth Camden has a way of making relatively boring jobs sound so exciting! This book gives a lot of insight in the food industry, and makes it thrilling, and you actually come to care a lot about ingredient labels! So, so interesting!

What makes the story more vibrant are the fabulous side characters. Gray’s much younger twin siblings are amazing, even if he has trouble seeing it sometimes. I just wanna hug my cinnamon roll Luke and Charlotte is so interesting! The next installment better be about them because I kinda need it badly because some plot points were left open.

My heart always beats faster when there is disability representation and since that kind of is my thing I’m going to mention it. Gray has malaria, and has flares with crippling high fever (and other symptoms), and it is so well written! I love how it isn’t an obstacle to overcome or a plot point, it just is and everyone’s OK with that (well as far as being ok with a chronic illness is possible of course). And Annabelle’s sister became blind three years ago and I love how this is portrayed. You can imagine her fear very vividly and yet she fights for an indepent life, she is extremely brave yet very realistic. We need more of this kind of writing, it is so important for people to see disability treated as normal in books/media, this makes me very happy.

Also, I love that the (gorgeous) cover features a man. My dad and grandfather will be very happy to see this, they are normally slightly embarrased to be seen reading this genre, as it is generally marketed towards women, but don’t underestimate the men reading these books! ;) When it is released in my own language I’ll definitely be handing out copies to both of them.

Overall, I loved every minute of it and I can’t recommend it enough and I have all these feels....

I’ve got a free e-copy of this book from Bethany&Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you have never read an Elizabeth Camden novel you don’t know what you are missing. She is one of my favorite authors as her characters are flawed and very real. I enjoy watching her characters grow throughout the book as they struggle with life.

In The Spice King, Annabelle Larkin struggles with helping her older sister who is blind and makes sacrifices to help her learn to live in a dark world. Especially since Annabelle feels responsible for her sister losing her sight. Annabelle’s determination to stay in Washington, D.C. to make a better life for her sister puts her in conflict with Gray Delacroix, the Spice King, who has fought to build his families circumstances back after the war. After his father’s death he mans the helm of the company and decides to settle down and leave the traveling to others. He struggles to understand his younger brother and sister, twins, who have grown up since he started traveling the world. As they struggle to realize their goals they realize they may be on the same side.

The history Elizabeth Camden weaves into her writing always fascinates me. She has written another book that does not disappoint.

The publisher provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The first book in the author's new "Hope and Glory" series, we meet the spirited Annabelle Larkin - on a mission to right the wrongs of the world and learn how to help her family. She has left the farm in Kansas to come to Washington DC with her recently blinded sister, Elaine. While working for the Smithsonian as a botanist, her fascination of the plant world and drive to help her family leads her to seek out a meeting with the reclusive and successful "Spice King".

Gray Delacroix (The Spice King) is a man of many hidden depths. As a successful businessman, he has traveled the world multiple times to grow the family company while in pursuit of righting his own wrongs. Now back home, Gray (who is a fair amount older than his siblings) is learning to interact and communicate with them on a very different level. I really enjoyed seeing how their relationships changed from the beginning of the story to what they became in the end.

When Gray and Annabelle clash over some VERY strong principles, can their relationship survive? What will happen to Gray's brother, Luke? Will Annabelle and Elaine's parents accept the changes this new life brings?

This book is set during such a fascinating time in history. I especially enjoyed being able to take a peek behind the scenes at Good Housekeeping as well as learning about the evolving food industry. The witty repartee, the well written conflict, the family ties and deep relationships, even the villains - all combine to create a beautiful recipe for a wonderful book; one I am delighted to recommend!

I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars

***ARC received in exchange of an honest opinion*

This is another read that in theory seemed my kind of book, but in reality ended up disappointing me.

The story was long, which I usually LOVE, when I enjoy the book, but this wasn't the case. I think this time, this was too long and it took AGES for things to unravel and start happening. I have to say this one even bored me a little, but I kept going because I just can't DNF.

I didn't love the characters, even the hero, who was a rich jerk - one of my favorite types of hero. I feel like the story kept going on and on but nothing really happened. By the end of the second half I started to like other characters (and I'm curious about her book in particular), but I didn't really love the main ones.

The book got a bit too technical in some aspects, but that wouldn't have bothered me if the rest of it managed to captivate me, but unfortunately it wasn't the case.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

Historical fiction is my favourite genre so I am thrilled to add another author to my 'must read' list

I absolutely LOVED this - the romance has definite 'spice'. This is a well researched book and the author has interweaved the history beautifully, making this a wonderfully rounded novel

A fantastic summer read I would recommend to everyone

I read everything by author Elizabeth Camden and this story is one of my favorites! She has a knack for finding relatively unknown history and making it fascinating. In The Spice King, Camden writes about the lack of regulation in the U.S. food industry in the early 1900's. The story is fast-paced, well developed characters, friendship, courtship, witty banter, honest & dishonest food distributors, political intrigue, betrayal, family, and the dilemma of telling the government if someone you know is acting as an enemy of the country. The story was so engaging that I read it in less than two days. I highly recommend this captivating story, fascinating history and lovable characters to historical fiction fans everywhere. I eagerly await the next book in the series.

It’s hard to think of a time when laws or regulations were non-existent when it came to food processing and labelling products that were being sold to the public. Elizabeth Camden takes the reader on a journey to the early 1900s when some companies in the food industry strove to make profit and cheated their way through adulterated food and false advertising, and others strove to bring pure products to market.

Gray Delacroix has been given the responsibility of running his father’s spice company and has travelled the world looking for spices to enhance the culinary palette of every home in America. He’s taken care to cultivate pure products and to process the plants in such a way as to maintain flavour without sacrificing the nutrients naturally provided. Upon the death of his father, he gains responsibility for guiding his younger half siblings, twins Luke and Carolyn (who are in their twenties).

Annabelle Larkin has a personal mission to succeed in her job at the Smithsonian as a botanist, and develop a strain of wheat that will withstand frost and drought, to save her family’s farm. Her job is only temporary, and in order to continue her placement, she is tasked to obtain a sample of a rare orchid believed to be in the possession of the Delacroix family.

What ensues is a masterful tale of espionage, intrigue, and treason from unlikely characters. Characters are faced with moral and spiritual dilemmas, while trying to overcome the mistakes from their pasts. They are loveable and believable cast of characters, living in an interesting time of American history.

I learned so much about the early development of the food industry through details included about the Department of Agriculture, the role of the Smithsonian, the American occupation of Cuba, the presidency of McKinley, and the lengths companies went to create simulated foods to pass off as pure.

It was a fascinating historical fiction read, and one that kept me turning the pages.

I look forward to the next installment of this series.

I received an ecopy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

“At the end of her life, she wanted to know that she had made a difference for the better.”

In The Spice King, the first installment of her Hope and Glory series, award winning author Elizabeth Camden has created an intriguing historical fiction novel filled with faith, romance, betrayal, and treason. Elizabeth Camden is a master at taking relatively unknown parts of history, such as the lack of regulation in the U.S. food industry and the use of adulterated food in the early 1900s, and weaving a fascinating tale of politics, sabotage, and sacrifice.

The story begins in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian as botanist Annabelle Larkin is tasked with obtaining extremely rare plant specimens from Gray Delacroix, the owner of Delacroix Global Spice. Annabelle suddenly gains the attention of government officials and finds herself in a dangerous position in which she has to choose between loyalty to her country and the opportunity for true love.

Elizabeth Camden consistently creates intelligent, strong-willed heroines, and Annabelle Larkin is no exception. From the desire to have a successful career and overcome her regrets from the past, Annabelle becomes stronger and realizes what is truly important in life. The author authentically weaves the characters’ faith into the novel and educates the readers about the rich history of the Department of Agriculture, food regulation in the early 1900s, the American occupation in Cuba, and the presidency of William McKinley.

The Spice King is highly recommended for readers of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy books by authors such as Jody Hedlund, Rachel Fordham, and Carrie Turansky. Readers will eagerly look forward to the rest of the Hope and Glory series, in which Gray’s siblings will hopefully get their own stories told.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.


Additional Quotes:

“God was sending her a message. The world was a good place. She needed to look for it, even when life was full of pain.”

“They lived in a huge and expansive country, filled with choices and opportunities. Not all of them were easy, but she had found a man of character who would step into that world with her, and nothing had ever felt so right.”

“This country had been built on a foundation laid down by farmers and stalwart farmer’s wives. It was made great by college professors, inventors, gamblers, industrialists, and dreamers. The politicians at the helm would change every four years, but the heartbeat of America would stay strong.”

This was a really unique piece of historical fiction. It was really interesting to see Gray's business pursuits and the development of spices that we take for granted in our day, particularly alongside the government aspect, with the Smithsonian wanting information and the Department of Agriculture wanting to start regulating the growing business. Saying a book talks about the beginning of the fight for food safety and ingredient labels, that might not make it sound very appealing, but it was really fascinating, which I think shows Camden's talent for taking a unique part of history and making it engaging so that readers find themselves totally caught up in something that they didn't think they'd ever find that interesting. (I expected the "spice" aspect of the book to be the thing I liked least, but I really enjoyed it!) The political setting, with the brief look at the aftermath of the Spanish-American war, was also something Camden made me want to know more about.
The plot was good, with suspense and action and family dynamics, and moved along well. I definitely want to read the next book in the series to see how things play out for certain characters.
What didn't work quite as well for me was the romance, particularly on Annabelle's side. I just didn't see her feelings being developed enough. Gray's feelings were shown more than hers were, but I just didn't ever get a good sense of chemistry between them. They worked well on projects--sometimes because they antagonized each other!--but I would have liked a stronger romantic feel. The other thing that fell a little short for me was the Christian aspect. There was very little that came through about Christian beliefs (and the biggest part of that was very close to the end of the book), to the point that I actually double-checked to make sure this really was being put out by Bethany House.

So, with that said, if you're mainly interested in historical fiction, this an excellent choice. If you're looking for a great romance or a book with overt Christianity, this might not be the best choice. For me, it's interesting enough that I'll give it 3.5 stars and I want to continue with the series.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I confess, I used to read all of Elizabeth Camden’s books, but I fell behind a while ago, amidst the busyness of life. So this is the first one I’ve read in quite a while and as I read, I was reminded what I so enjoyed about her other books! I didn’t have a ton of expectations, given the previous statement, but if I’d had any, I can confidently say they would definitely have been far surpassed!
I can’t fathom how much research and time Ms. Camden must put into every single one of her stories! There is so much detail and specifics, which I absolutely adore! I so appreciate how she writes about different professions and times in history. There is such variety across her writing and this book is no exception! If any other author had published a book about a spice company owner and a botanist , I probably would have been more than a little skeptical. But not with this one! From the first time I saw the cover and read the description, I was intrigued! This was something I’d never considered reading about and I so enjoyed getting to know Gray and Annabelle! They are opposites in many ways, but also so suited. I so appreciated Annabelle’s integrity and desire to do the right things, the hard things. And Gray’s devotion to his family and integrity, in his own way.
I loved the history surrounding their characters, too! Like Annabelle’s sister assisting at the Library of Congress to help the blind and integrity in food manufacturing and labeling. And throw in a bit of mystery (which I’m hoping continues in the next book) and I’m hooked! I’m definitely a history geek and this book is like stepping back in time. The vivid descriptions and detail made it seem as though I was right there with them, learning how to bottle vanilla and appreciate rare orchids. Though it may sound a bit odd, this was a fun read for me! I greatly enjoyed it and am anxiously awaiting the next book!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys unique characters and American history!

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love novels that are not afraid to ask the BIG questions. The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden is a wonderfully engaging read. The characters are excellently crafted and delightfully endearing. The historical detail is fascinating. I learned so much about the history of processed food. Unfortunately, since the 1800s, food has been a science experiment crafted in warehouses and labs. I am blown away by what some people were, and still are, willing to call food just so they could turn a profit. What I really love about The Spice King though is how it made me wrestle with BIG ideas, specifically with the question: is it ever wrong to tell the truth?

Very early on in the story, Annabelle, the heroine of The Spice King, is backed into a metaphorical corner and is sort of forced to spy on Gray Delacroix, the spice king. IF she is willing and is successful, Annabelle is told that a very lucrative job will be her reward. So she spies, finds some incriminating evidence, turns it into her military contacts, and receives her reward: a really good job with the Department of Agriculture. On the surface, Annabelle did the right thing. Treason is BAD. However, it bothered me -- I mean really, really bugged me -- that Annabelle spies and tells. Now, before you start to worry, NO, I am not a traitor to my country. I really do believe treason is BAD because it can lead to a lot of innocent people getting hurt. What I don't agree with is Annabelle's use of the truth as a weapon, which is what she does in order to personally profit. And I know this kind of truthtelling severely bothered Annabelle too because she has a brilliant Lady Macbeth moment: "All [Annabelle] could see was the splotch of old stain on the slate table before her. The stain of what she'd done … would be with her forever too."

"But wait!" you're saying. "I thought Jesus said in the Bible that the Truth will set you free. How can Annabelle be in the wrong?" I struggled with this as well until I really considered why we tell truths. Truth does set people free when it is told for the right reasons in the right context. I have no issue with a man or woman going through the necessary training to become an actual spy, taking on an actual mission, finding real intel on an enemy, and then relaying that information to the proper authorities. The general goal and heart of the person, in this case, is to keep others safe. My issue with Annabelle is her motivation. Annabelle does not spy to save lives. She does it to receive personal compensation. When I teach others the Truth of Jesus if my heart is in it for me and what I can earn, my truthtelling is wrong. But when I teach others about Jesus because I genuinely love them and want a soul change for them, my truthtelling is righteous. When Annabelle tells the truth she discovers it causes her to feel anxiety, pain, and heartache because she is selfish in her motivations. This really forced me to analyze my heart. What are my motivations behind my actions, words, and beliefs? Am I doing and saying the right things but for the wrong reasons? Or am I right on track?

I love, and highly recommend, The Spice King for many reasons, but the fantastic lesson on truthtelling that is weaved throughout the narrative makes this book an absolute must-read! The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden releases on September 3, 2019. I implore you to pre-order yourself a copy of this book today. I promise you will NOT want to miss out on this book.

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a fantastic book! The main characters are “spicy” in their attitudes and interactions with each other which makes the romance such a great entertainment. I loved the history woven into the plot of this book. I would recommend it to anyone.

Elizabeth Camden has once again written a fabulous historical fiction in The Spice King. I absolutely loved her characters and the depth of their interaction.

Annabelle Larkin is determined to win a donation from the Delacroix plant collection. Fresh out of school in Kansas, she feels somewhat at a lose to be living and working in Washington DC. Working in the Smithsonian for only two months, she tried every way she knew to contact the elusive Gray Delacroix. After writing two times to Gray, she refuses to give up, being the latest of in a long line of botanist who'd tried and failed to make headway with Mr. Delacroix. If she can obtain the coveted Vanilla Orchid, she would secure her position with the Smithsonian. Boldly she makes her way to the Delacroix home. Along the way she spies a Spice map and hopes to gain entrance to entice his interest. As she meets Gray she notices that he is quite ill, the effects of Malaria, but he demands to see the map. Adamant that he doesn't trust the government, Annabelle charms her way into the man's greenhouses.

This is the most charming tale. The story is full of historical insights from a time when there was no regulation on foods stuff. I love how the relationship between Gray and Annabelle progressed and how they learned to trust each other. A definite 5+ star on my scale.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

Camden is my new favorite historical fiction author! No matter how many I read, I just can't find one I don't like! Camden is a master of this genre.

Annabelle Larkin is an adorably naive and innocent character, but that's not to say she doesn't have a backbone. She is passionate, tender-hearted, and nearly always optimistic, as well as patriotic with strong morals. I quickly fell in love with her sweet character. Grey Delacroix is quite the opposite. Embittered against the government for having wronged his family in the past, he is reclusive and sarcastic, yet he too has a strong moral code and is incredibly loyal to his family, which is a trait I am always drawn to.

The story starts out with a series of (rather humorous) letters, and quickly draw the reader in. I was a bit surprised by how quickly the romance took place in the course of the book, but it definitely made sense plot-wise and still was very realistic. (No insta-love either, thankfully.) But the story is certainly not all about romance. There is suspense, treason, betrayal, politics, intrigue, sabotage and more. This is a jam-packed story that is sure to keep your interest! And, of course, the book is well-laced with Camden's trademark humor and witty banter. I found myself laughing out loud at times.

All in all, The Spice King is an epic opening to Camden's newest series, and I am greatly looking forward to the rest of the series! I highly recommend checking this book out, as well as any of Camden's numerous other works!

Elizabeth Camden is a master at crafting a story that brings unknown elements of history to life. In her latest novel, The Spice King, Camden catches the world of artificial flavorings into a delightful story. From the moment her heroine, Annabelle walked onto the page, I admired her ability to leave the plains of Kansas and move to Washington D.C. That took guts. Plus, to bring her blind sister with her and take care of her while following her dreams is a huge accomplishment by itself. The plot was fascinating to learn and taught me more about the history of artificial flavorings versus the real stuff. It moved at a nice pace. I didn't find it slow at all. I flipped through the story at a nice rate and enjoyed what I was reading. While the romance isn't the point of the story, I think the romance between Annabelle and Gray moved a little too quickly for my taste. They barely knew each other and were dying to be together again. Overall, The Spice King was a delightful read filled with fascinating characters who taught me something about the importance of buying the real stuff.

I received a complimentary copy of The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.