THE SPICE KING by Elizabeth Camden, Reviewed by Nicole Cook

“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.”

Back Cover Blurb:
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?




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Author Bio:
Elizabeth Camden (www.elizabethcamden.com) is best known for her historical novels set in Gilded-Age America, featuring clever heroines and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won the RITA and Christy Award, and she lives in Florida with her husband, who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.