The Spice King ~ Review

The Spice King
Hope and Glory #1
By Elizabeth Camden

Annabelle Larkin has been given an almost impossible task - secure a sample of the Vanilla Orchid from the private collection of Gray Delacroix. But Gray Delacroix has spent years amassing his collection and he isn't about to share it with the Smithsonian. But Annabelle's future and her job depend upon this. 

But Annabelle is faced with a choice when she manages to make an impression on Gray Delacroix and is given access to his world. But Washington, DC, is nothing like the Kansas farm that she grew up on. And all too soon she is caught between two worlds that of society and of the government.

Set in 1900, The Spice King focuses on the Delacroix family who lost almost everything in the Civil War. With hard work and sacrifice, they rebuilt and were known for their botanical expeditions and the expansive private collect they had amassed. Their goal was to grow and produce locally what had to be brought in. But various government agencies seemed bent on preventing them from profiting from their work. Unfortunately, Annabelle stumbles into this mess. She needs her job at the Smithsonian so that she and her sister can remain in Washington.

This is a fascinating look at just how far some individuals will go to obtain what they desire - no collateral damage is too high and anyone in their way, well too bad for them. I loved the various historical aspects of this book. The fight over food purity, the right for women to work in untraditional fields, and a look into the life of the US President.

This book is the first book in a new series Hope and Glory and if this one is any indication it is likely to become a favorite series. If you love historical fiction this one brings it to life in a fantastic way that makes you just connect with the characters. Lovely and well worth multiple reads.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own honest opinions.


About the Book:
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?