A Tree, A Book, and A Breeze

The Spice King Elizabeth Camden Bethany House Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building a successful global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Tasked with gaining access to the private Delacroix plant collection, Smithsonian botanist Annabelle Larkin unwittingly steps into a web of dangerous political intrigue and will be forced to choose between her heart and her loyalty to her country.      After being a bit underwhelmed with this author's last series, I was pleased to find myself thoroughly enjoying The Spice King . Elizabeth Camden has a way of expertly handling history in her novels, spotlighting events of the past we've often forgotten about or overlook. This one focused on the intersection of politics, science, and business at the turn of the century, specifically on the purity of canned and processed food produced throughout the country. The politics of the Spanish-American War the the country's relationship with Cuba also play a role in

The Words Between Us Erin Bartels Revell A reclusive bookstore owner hoped she'd permanently buried her family's sensational past with a new name. But when the novels she once shared with an old crush begin appearing in the mail, it's clear her true identity is about to be revealed, threatening the new life she has painstakingly built.      This might be the most melancholy book I've read this year.      "Melancholy" as a descriptor isn't a bad or a good thing; more a matter of taste. The writing in this novel is lovely, and it's easy to get caught up in Robin's life in the novel's dual timeline plot. Literature, and people's perceptions and reactions to it, also play a large part in the story; Erin Bartels reads a bit like Katherine Reay's more wistful cousin.      For me, personally, I've never liked stories about couples (even teenage sweethearts) who only reunite after years of separation due to misunderstandi