Monday, June 1, 2020

The Spice King

GIVEAWAY
CAMDEN, ELIZABETH
THE SPICE KING

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:

Elizabeth Camden can always be trusted to deliver riveting fiction from fascinating, lesser known bits of history. I mean, I've never even thought about the politics of the food industry from a historical perspective and yet this author has woven a complex tale of intrigue and betrayal and impossible choices around that very topic.

Annabelle is smart and gutsy and driven! She has to be if she wants to succeed in her male dominated field. Love her strength and determination, anchored in the roots of her mid-west values. Her life is the polar opposite of Gray's privileged upbringing. A well-traveled businessman, he's used to getting what he wants when he wants it. He's arrogant at times, and a bit of a brooder -- I do so love a fretful fictional hero (in real life, not so much!) Their romance doesn't fully take center stage -- family drama , political intrigue and secrets get in the way all too often -- but a happily-ever-after is on the horizon once all the dust settles.

A captivating first book in Camden's Hope and Glory series and she's done an excellent job of setting up the next story -- Gray's sister, Caroline (who I didn't much like in this one) is set to star in her own political intrigue -- at the White House! A Gilded Lady releases on June 2. I can't wait for Camden to work her magic and make me a Caroline Convert!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Spice King leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 6 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

37 comments:

  1. I loved Gray and Annabelle, and although you didn't like Caroline in this book I can almost guarantee you will LOVE her in her own story The Gilded Lady out tomorrow! I am already on pins and needles waiting for brother Luke's story!

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    1. Oh, good to know you're on Caroline's team, Tracey. I figured I'd warm up to her but I'm thinking it will be a journey. :-)

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  2. Elizabeth Camden is one of my MUST read authors. KAV, thank you for the excellent review and the opportunity to win a copy.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  3. Annabelle sounds like a great heroine.
    turtle6422 at gmail dot com

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  4. Elizabeth Camden is hard to beat! I would love to read this one!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. She does such an amazing job researching her novels. Good luck, Melanie.

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  5. New to me book
    This Authors Books Always Sound Good Though
    Thank You iamabho AT gmail DOT com 😁💗😁

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    1. Time to catch up before the next one comes out. Good luck, Linda!

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    2. Right! So many Great Books 📚 & So Little Time Thanks

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  6. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book, I really enjoy Elizabeth's books.

    wfnren at aol dot com

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  7. I always enjoy Elizabeth Camden's books. One of the many things I liked about The Spice King was that Annabelle is from Kansas, my home state. I just finished A Gilded Lady. Caroline is much more likable in this book. No need to enter me in the book giveaway.

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    1. Glad to hear a second endorsement for Caroline. :-) I'm eager to read her story now too. Thanks for chiming in, Pam!

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  8. Elizabeth Camden's books are great! Would love to read this one!

    dmandres5 at gmail dot com

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  9. I’m salivating over this one. Haha. My sister in TN told me how much she enjoyed it. Thank you for the chance. leliamae54(At)aol(dot)com

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    1. No drooling on the books, Lucy! :-) Good luck!

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  10. THE SPICE KING sounds like a wonderful book. Sounds like Gray and Annabelle could be delightful and frustrating - maybe even at the same time, a wonderful combination for a wonderful story to develop. Definitely a book I would love to read.

    Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  11. Yes, one could say delightfully frustrating. :-) Good luck, Kay!

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  12. I love Elizabeth Camden! The Spice King is one that I want to read, for sure.

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. She's an amazing author. Good luck, Trixi!

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  13. Do you notice that more than a few of her books have strong women in roles that were not very traditional during the time period? Always interesting reads! Thanks!

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    1. Yes -- she finds the most interesting bits of history to build a story around. I love her heroines. Good luck, CC!

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  14. Always interesting how she puts in the lesser known parts of history. She has a great style,
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Yes -- very unique. Good luck, rubynreba!

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  15. Not sure if I've ever read anything by Elizabeth Camden... what a cover!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Ohhh -- you're in for a treat. Good luck, Patty!

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  16. This book sounds intriguing! I can't wait to read it!

    usedtextbooks5(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  17. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ladysnowangelphotos(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. I love Elizabeth's books! I also like it when authors make these pesky characters, but then explains why the character is the way they are/makes us like them in another book. Would love to read this one!

    LLWaltz [at] gmail [dot] com

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    1. Yes -- great characterization makes for a riveting series. Good luck, Laura.

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  19. I honestly think that's one of my favorite things about historical fiction. I've never even considered some of the things these authors manage to turn into an entire, captivating book. The spice industry is something that I come into contact with pretty much every day but I never considered its history.

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. And it's a fascinating history! Good luck, Liz!

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