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micpegu's review
My first Black historical romance. Normally, I can't get over the idea that Black people would've been enslaved during stereotypical historical romance but this wove that history into every aspect of the plot and characters.
Pacing after 40% is a bit wonky but I can live with it.
Pacing after 40% is a bit wonky but I can live with it.
swagginswanigan's review against another edition
5.0
Dang this book was such a journey and it was done so well. The hero and heroines chemistry and story was so well paced and I was buying it all. I was on board and moved through it all. So truly well done.
greylandreviews's review
5.0
4.75 stars
I have finished all of Ms. Jenkins backlist of her historical romance. It was one of my goals to finish all of her HR's and I did it.
I couldn't tell how excited I was to finally get to this book. Some of the previous books I've read her backlog mention this couple and how amazing they're (which is very true). The way Galen loves Hester is just amazing. When he fell in love with her, he fell hard. Loved how he kept telling she was so much more worthier than him and he would doing anything for her.
Trigger Warnings: loss of loved ones, slavery, racism, colorism, mention of imprisonment, physical assault, cheating (not between h/H), kidnapping, and gun violence
I have finished all of Ms. Jenkins backlist of her historical romance. It was one of my goals to finish all of her HR's and I did it.
I couldn't tell how excited I was to finally get to this book. Some of the previous books I've read her backlog mention this couple and how amazing they're (which is very true). The way Galen loves Hester is just amazing. When he fell in love with her, he fell hard. Loved how he kept telling she was so much more worthier than him and he would doing anything for her.
Trigger Warnings: loss of loved ones, slavery, racism, colorism, mention of imprisonment, physical assault, cheating (not between h/H), kidnapping, and gun violence
sanyaes_library's review against another edition
this was a 5 star read until i reached 80% and i lost allll interest. i haven't picked this back up in weeks. it's definitely me and not the book
amberreadsromance28's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and found it interesting to read about such an important part of American history. It was an emotional and heartbreaking journey, but with hope at the end. The romance was sweet, and I really loved how strong Hester was. She was devoted to helping slaves find freedom using the underground railroad.
I did find the pacing a little slow, and the story dragged in some places. This was my first Beverly Jenkins, and I was super impressed with her writing.
I did find the pacing a little slow, and the story dragged in some places. This was my first Beverly Jenkins, and I was super impressed with her writing.
delaney572e4's review against another edition
3.0
I was really interested in the abolitionist and underground railroad portions of the book. They were very good. Unfortunately, I think I preferred the non-romcance parts of the book to the romance parts (unfortunate because this IS a romance novel). Call me boring or old fashioned or whatever, but I would have preferred less smut and more conversations about feelings. I DEFINITELY would have preferred an actual conversation about the issues that divided them rather than the whole "stunt to get you to marry me" thing.
(On one hand there is something to be said from a feminist analysis perspective that he gets her off on at least four separate occasions before he gets anything out of their sexual interactions. On the other hand, there's some dubious consent and perhaps not enough respect for the word no.)
Also while for the most part I appreciated the history parts of the novel, I thought the part about John Brown at the end was done clunkily, and it didn't fit into the story well. It's like the narrative voice shifted for that portion.
Bottom line: not my fave, would analyze in an essay, good enough to convince me I should read more of Beverly Jenkins.
(On one hand there is something to be said from a feminist analysis perspective that he gets her off on at least four separate occasions before he gets anything out of their sexual interactions. On the other hand, there's some dubious consent and perhaps not enough respect for the word no.)
Also while for the most part I appreciated the history parts of the novel, I thought the part about John Brown at the end was done clunkily, and it didn't fit into the story well. It's like the narrative voice shifted for that portion.
Bottom line: not my fave, would analyze in an essay, good enough to convince me I should read more of Beverly Jenkins.
isitcake's review against another edition
1.5
Just not for me. I listened to this at 2.5x speed because it just kept going on way longer. There's not much of a story here imo, it's more about the setting and class dynamics with her being a former slave and him being Cajun royalty and how those 2 were completely different societies back then. Both of them are part of the underground railroad, which is how they meet. But the whole book is just him being a former rake and how he can't even believe himself that he wants to marry her, and her thinking this is all a game to him, how he's not serious about her and would tire of her or take a mistress eventually. I also am not a fan of ridiculously naive virgin heroines and ugh this is a bad book for that trope because she is all those things.
He calls her Indigo because she worked dying things and it has permanently stained her hands and feet indigo.
foreverfree's review against another edition
5.0
Indigo is the story of a former slave turned Underground Railroad conductor and her struggle to live the life she deserves. The perfect blend of historical fiction and romance, Indigo is a must read.