Indigo

This was an action-packed romantic drama with all of the fixings. Not a moment went by that I wasn't highlighting Jenkins' beautiful prose or well-researched facts about the abolitionist movement. I appreciated that there was no "fixing" of Hester, our selfless and witty protagonist. She's the caretaker of her free ancestors' land in Michigan, aiding and protecting escaped enslaved families in her simple home. She's perfectly happy to settle down with a man who tolerates her but doesn't truly love her and dedicate her whole self to the cause, until a (very handsome) fellow conductor arrives injured on her doorstep and begrudgingly needs her help.

There are twists and turns and betrayals and gossip along the way, but at its core the story show more is about trust and personal freedom. Hester has a community that supports her work, but no-one to appreciate her as a beautiful, desirable woman until Galen falls hard for her sharp tongue and reliability. From there it blooms into a pseudo-Cinderella story-- a dashing hero offering her not just rich gifts and experiences, but also a promise of safety and unbreakable love. There is a lot of steamy romance and temptation coming from this hunk of a fellow, but for the most part, power is always in Hester's hands. Galen is a gentleman who has met his match, and they giggle and banter like an old married couple that will be together for life.

The only plot point that caught me off guard, as some other reviews mentioned, was (minor spoiler) Galen claiming that Hester must wed him in case she's carrying his child. His intentions are good-- he wants to save her from the humiliation of rumors that they're messing around out of wedlock-- but it does feel like a breach of consent. If this is something you can look beyond as a period romance trope, then this book will rock your stockings clean off with the rest of the ride. An excellent read for people dipping their toes, as well as seasoned mudpie makers alike. show less

I loved the historical Black American history seamlessly woven into this. The different strategies for freeing enslaved people were fascinating to read.

The female lead Hester is quiet, laidback, and lovely. Although she does get positively swooned, she never loses her realism/sense. Her parents’ love story was also bitterly tragic and shaped her view on love (doubly surprised that it's based on real life).

Galen, once he learned the value of please and thank you, wasn’t bad. He was a former playboy but didn’t have a wandering eye.

It’s refreshing to see a Black woman and a deeply dark-skinned one get spoiled and live in the lap of luxury and love. Her dark skin is described beautifully and not just as “chocolateeee.” She's show more his jewel. Galen said ‘Anything you want I got it, baby!’ This card is limitless lol.

The love scenes were also tasteful and sensual. They didn’t make me cringe either.

Overall, this was the first Beverly Jenkins story I’ve read. I would read more from her. Only 1 star retracted for for Galen strong-arming her into marriage. While the characters call him out on this, and he’s sincerely apologetic, it takes away Hester’s agency. I wanted her to put away her fears and decide to love him. Some of it is intended to be comedic but still.

But bonus points for Jenine being the villain. I knew it was either going to be her or Foster. Jenkins faked us out on Foster and subverted Ginette being a hater. show less

Sometimes you read the right book at the right time, and in the right format. I think that was important here, because I could take my time, I had pauses for processing, and I snaked my way through this over a week rather than my regular "inhale first, think later."

There was so much to love in this novel; though admittedly, while I loved the overall backdrop - and a book in another Midwest state with excellent geographic details, the way some of the work that Hester dedicated her life to was peppered in didn't work as well as some of the slices of the Galen-Hester encounters did. I love the style in general, but it could feel quite abrupt. Again, today that worked for me. In her other works, it hasn't always.

BUT...I LOVED THIS! LOVED. show more This couple is unforgettable and wonderfully drawn. I really enjoyed this read. show less

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I borrowed a copy of this on audiobook from my library.

Thoughts: For the most part I really enjoyed this. I loved all the history that is covered here and the relationship between Hester and Galen is respectful and steamy.

This story follows Hester, who was born into slavery and then sold into freedom at a young age. Hester was raised by her aunt who helped run the underground slave railroad; transporting escaped slaves from the south to Michigan and steps into this role when her aunt dies. Things have been going smoothly until a famous conductor named the "Black Daniel" ends up under her care. Sparks fly as Hester and the Black Daniel get to know each other. Hester backs off when she show more finds out that the Black Daniel is actually a wealthy man named Galen Vachon. When Galen is forced to flee, Hester goes on with her life not expecting him to turn up ever again.

I really loved all the history here. I learned more about the US during the slave era than I had previously known (or maybe I had known it but forgotten it). While this is primarily a romance, Jenkins does focus on the political events happening at the time and delves into the trials and tribulations these black families went through.

The romance between Hester and Galen is well done. It's a relationship that develops over time and is founded on respect, which I really enjoyed. There are many steamy scenes in here that are decently done, not super creative and sometimes the flowery descriptions made me roll my eyes, but well done.

There is a nice side story about a bounty hunter that comes up from the South that is pestering Hester. This adds a touch of danger to the story. Things never get really dire or dangerous but this does make the story more engaging.

My main issue with this story was with Hester as a character. She was just too naive and good to be real and comes off as way too perfect throughout. She has been through a lot in her life but she acts as if she hasn't. Her excellent composure under high stress situations is at odds with her supposed naivete and I struggled to understand her character.

I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was well narrated. The narrator did sound a bit stiff but I got used to that over time.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this. There is some excellent history in here and the two main characters have excellent chemistry together. I enjoyed the blend of historical events, romance, and the danger of having to evade the attention of a bounty hunter. The only thing I didn't enjoy was Hester as the main character, she came off as way too naive and perfect throughout. I will definitely look at picking up more of Jenkins' books when I am in the mode for a good historical romance. show less

This was my first Beverly Jenkins and it will certainly not be my last. While it's definitely a romance (and a great one at that!), it is equally a historical novel. I learned so much about pre-Civil War American history reading it and she gave me just enough info to want to continue studying the time period without weighing down the enchanting love story. I enjoyed every moment and the end pay-off was perfect!

Indigo was and still is one of my favorite romance novels. It has accurate history, a bold handsome hero, a smart sassy heroine and other characters that add depth and dimension. Galen is determined to have Hester and he woos her in grand fashion. Galen is totured by his desire as well as taunted by his best friend Raymond. Galen does not have a problem following his own path and he has no qualms with upsetting those in his social class especially his grandmother who tries to control everyone. There are scenes in this book that will make you laugh, make you think and make you thankful for all those who sacrificed on behalf of country, class and race. In my opinion, this is Beverly Jenkins' finest literary work.

A rescued slave, Hester Wyatt lives as a free woman in Michigan, helping others to freedom as part of the underground railroad. One night, she takes in a seriously wounded fellow member of the railroad, known as The Black Daniel, and her world will never be the same.
I enjoyed this one a fair amount, although I do have a few quibbles. Some of the prose is a bit clunky, the sex scenes are a bit repetitive and sometimes don't seem to fit smoothly into the story, and the end goes on a little too long - the climax and resolution felt like it was a tagged-on fan fic chapter. So, I liked it fine, but I think it could have been a step or two up on the engaging scale, with a few fixes here and there.