The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden

The Spice King (Hope and Glory, #1)

by Elizabeth Camden

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?"--

Reviewed by ladygrey on

3 of 5 stars

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This book wasn't quite what I expected. Somehow I'm always expecting vibrant, fun, YA.  This isn't that.  It's a bit serious.  It's very historic. It's not YA at all. But it's still good.

I particularly like that even though it's supposedly a sweet romance, the romance actually seems to take a side seat to a more full plot for the main characters and for the secondary characters. The relationship spurs a lot of the action but doesn't feel like the main story.

Part of why I usually expect (or hope for) YA is that it's more emotionally connected and vibrant. Anytime I read outside the genre the story feels a bit detached.  It means that I'm not as invested in the characters or as enthralled in the story so I like it fine, but don't love it. That isn't always a bad thing and in this case it works. 

I also expected it to be regency era and it's not. It's the gilded age, turn of the century America. I find that part of history less engaging but I thought the author handled it well in this story.

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Reading updates

  • 21 February, 2021: Started reading
  • 21 February, 2021: on page 0 0%
  • 21 February, 2021: Finished reading
  • 21 February, 2021: Reviewed