The Spice King (Hope and Glory Book #1)

This is book one in the Hope and Glory series and I can't wait to read more from the series. I enjoyed getting to know the Delacroix and the Larkin families. I love the humor, sparks, mystery, family and all the twist and turns in this novel. Gray Delacroix and Annabelle Larkin have many similarities yet some complete opposites as well. I love their sparks and oddities. Gray and Annabelle come from two completely different worlds yet overall they both want the same thing, even if they don't realize it.

The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden is the first novel in the Hope and Glory series. This story is set in 1900 in Washington, D.C. where Annabelle Larkin has begun working at the Smithsonian Institution. She came to Washington with her blind sister, Elaine. Being in Washington allows Elaine to attend the Library of Congress’s educational program for the blind and access to the Braille books available there. If Annabelle cannot get a fulltime job, they must return to the family farm in Kansas. Gray Delacroix is a complicated man. He runs a large spice company, has two lighthearted younger siblings, has a strong work ethic, and has traveled the world. I thought The Spice King was well-written with developed characters. Ms. Camden captured the time period and I can tell she did her research for this book. It was interesting learning about spices, extracts, and food safety. We learn how the extracts, spices and other food items are processed and diluted. It was appalling what was in some of the products. I am amazed at what businesses did to products to make a buck. I had no idea how much work went into making vanilla (it is complicated and fascinating). Imagine how bland foods were before the introduction of spices. Good Housekeeping magazine and how their seal of approval came about is included. There is romance in The Spice King, but it is not the main story. There is politics, unsafe foods, intrigue, rebellion and botany. The author wove all the storylines together into one engaging book. I also liked learning about the Library of Congress and the program they had for the blind. The Spice King is a captivating historical novel.

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.