The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden Book Review

Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building his very successful global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Resolved to salvage his family before it spirals out of control, he returns to his ancestral home to save his brother and sister before it's too late.

As a junior botanist for the Smithsonian, Annabelle Larkin has been charged with the impossible task of gaining access to the notoriously private Delacroix plant collection. If she fails, she will be out of a job and the family farm in Kansas will go under. She has no idea that in gaining entrance to the Delacroix world, she will unwittingly step into a web of dangerous political intrigue far beyond her experience.

Unable to deny her attraction to the reclusive business tycoon, Annabelle will be forced to choose between her heart and loyalty to her country. Can Gray and Annabelle find a way through the storm of scandal without destroying the family Gray is fighting to save?

My Thoughts:

I found a new favorite artist! This was an amazing book that captivated me from the first page to the very end. I didn’t want the story to end.

The story was intriguing and I have to admit that I have a lot more admiration for my homemade vanilla as well as spices.

The story takes you back to the 1900’s. The characters are intriguing. Annabelle who comes from a small town in Kansas has moved her and her blind sister to Washington D.C. so she can work at the Library of Congress and has full access to the Braille books it offers. Annabelle is trying to gain a permanent job at the Smithsonian. She is   eventually able to get a full time job at the Department of Agriculture but, that dream job comes at a cost. Annabelle Larkin is very optimistic, outgoing and has a strong patriotic morals. Annabelle is also a tender hearted individual who cares deeply about others.

Gray Delacroix also has many strong traits that you can’t help to admire despite his sarcastic and introvert personality. He on the other hand doesn’t trust the government due to some bad history in the Civil War that was done to his family. He is a person of loyalty and has a strong moral code.

I love how the author weaves two completely different people from different backgrounds and social classes together on a journey that opens your eyes to the food regulations in the 1900s.  She then has many back stories going on in the world at the time period like the American Occupation in Cuba, and the politics of the era of President William McKinley and his family. The Good Housekeeping added into the mix was even more interesting.

I have to say that the characters where my favorite in this historical fiction. I look forward to reading the next book in the Hope & Glory series.

 I received a free copy of this product from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.