The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden

The Spice King
by Elizabeth Camden

ISBN-13: 9780764232114
Paperback: 348 pages
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Released: September 3, 2019

Source: Free ebook.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building an acclaimed global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Resolved to salvage his family before they spiral out of control, he returns to his ancestral home for good after years of traveling the world.

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 Review:
The Spice King is a Christian romance set in 1900 in America. This story sets up the next two novels in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. The historical details about the events and politics of the time were woven into the story and affected everyone's lives. There were interesting details about the spice trade and how some companies were doing things like passing off corn syrup as maple syrup by using chemistry to modify the taste and save a few bucks.

The characters reacted realistically, were complex, and I cared about what happened to them. Gray need someone like Annabelle to draw out his better tendencies rather than just think about himself and his family. They shared interests and spent time together, becoming good friends and then romantically interested. The issue that stood between them was believable, but Annabelle didn't give up.

The main character's Christian belief's affected how they behaved toward others. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written, interesting historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.