The Spice King (Hope and Glory Book #1) by Elizabeth Camden
Sarah Grace's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Camden is my new favorite historical fiction author! No matter how many I read, I just can't find one book by this talented author that I don't like! Camden is a master of the historical fiction genre. The Spice King, book one in the upcoming Hope and Glory series, is a jam-packed and well-rounded novel full of rich historical detail and wonderful characters.

Annabelle Larkin is an adorably naive and innocent character, but that's not to say she doesn't have a backbone. She is passionate, tender-hearted, and nearly always optimistic, as well as patriotic with strong morals. I quickly fell in love with her sweet character. Gray Delacroix is quite the opposite. Embittered against the government for having wronged his family in the past, he is reclusive and sarcastic, yet he, too, has a strong moral code and is incredibly loyal to his family, a trait I am always drawn to.

The story starts out with a series of (rather humorous) letters that quickly draw the reader in. I was a bit surprised by how quickly the romance took place in the course of the book, but it definitely made sense plot-wise and was still very realistic and sweet. (No insta-love either, thankfully.) But the story is certainly not all about romance. There is suspense, treason, betrayal, politics, intrigue, sabotage and more. This is a chock-full story that is sure to keep your interest! And, of course, the book is well-laced with Camden's trademark humor and witty banter that never takes the story over to a comedy but lightens up the somewhat serious themes of the story just enough. I found myself laughing out loud at times.

All in all, The Spice King is an epic opening to Camden's newest series, and I am greatly looking forward to more! If you are a lover of historical fiction, I highly recommend checking this one out. Now, excuse me while I go dive deep into another Camden novel.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.