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 … 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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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.*
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, even the little things like a label on a can of food – 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.
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.
I was granted an advance copy through Netgalley by the publisher Bethany House Publishers. And here is my true and unbiased opinion.