Christy J. (southernsassygirl) reviewed The Spice King (Hope and Glory, Bk 1) on + 180 more book reviews
It has been ages since I last read an Elizabeth Camden book, and coming back to her writing with The Spice King was a treasure I didn't know I had been missing!
Washington DC was the perfect backdrop for this (unexpectedly) educational novel. Having been there once when I was a senior in high school, I was instantly reminded of the patriotism I felt for my country when I visited. I was also able to visualize several of the historical landmarks that would have been present in the early 1900s, and intrigued by the mentions of what would become future landmarks. It was also fascinating to imagine what the sights and sounds would have been like to a blind person (Annabelle's sister), and the author painted that landscape quite vividly.
From the very beginning, I knew that Gray Delacroix would be a hero that I would fall in love with. Just his name â swoon! He's tough on the outside, but a jewel on the inside. His love and protectiveness of his family knew no bounds. At first, I knew his newfound relationship with Annabelle moved rather swiftly, but I wasn't prepared for the turn it would take before I even made it halfway through! All I can say, fellow readers, is don't give up on them â plow ahead!
What I didn't expect from The Spice King was to read a historical lesson on the beginnings of food oversight for America, and how after much worldwide exploration, new foods were brought here for further study. The book also provided some history of the Good Housekeeping magazine, how they fought to bring truth to their readership, and in the author's note at the end, included some information on how the Good Housekeeping Seal came to be. In the end, I couldn't believe how much I had learned!
The next book in the series promises to be about Caroline's work in the White House, and I cannot wait to go back to Washington DC for another visit. 5 stars are well deserved for this first book in the Hope and Glory Series!
Washington DC was the perfect backdrop for this (unexpectedly) educational novel. Having been there once when I was a senior in high school, I was instantly reminded of the patriotism I felt for my country when I visited. I was also able to visualize several of the historical landmarks that would have been present in the early 1900s, and intrigued by the mentions of what would become future landmarks. It was also fascinating to imagine what the sights and sounds would have been like to a blind person (Annabelle's sister), and the author painted that landscape quite vividly.
From the very beginning, I knew that Gray Delacroix would be a hero that I would fall in love with. Just his name â swoon! He's tough on the outside, but a jewel on the inside. His love and protectiveness of his family knew no bounds. At first, I knew his newfound relationship with Annabelle moved rather swiftly, but I wasn't prepared for the turn it would take before I even made it halfway through! All I can say, fellow readers, is don't give up on them â plow ahead!
What I didn't expect from The Spice King was to read a historical lesson on the beginnings of food oversight for America, and how after much worldwide exploration, new foods were brought here for further study. The book also provided some history of the Good Housekeeping magazine, how they fought to bring truth to their readership, and in the author's note at the end, included some information on how the Good Housekeeping Seal came to be. In the end, I couldn't believe how much I had learned!
The next book in the series promises to be about Caroline's work in the White House, and I cannot wait to go back to Washington DC for another visit. 5 stars are well deserved for this first book in the Hope and Glory Series!
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.
