Indigo

IndigoI enjoyed this book very much. They primary characters, Galen & Hester(Indigo), were very likeable and endearing.Galen was a member of the Creoles of Louisiana, he was somewhat estranged from that group, but still had minimal contact with them through his Aunt Racine. He was also involved with the Under Ground Railroad. This is how he and Hester met. Hester's house acts as a station for runaways.Hester began her life as a slave on an indigo plantation. As a result her hands and feet are purple. She was brought to her Aunt's out of Slavery to the North. Galen is ambushed on one of his trips transporting runaways and winds up being hidden and taken care of by Hester. Hester is a 24-year-old single woman.Again, as with all of Ms. Beverly works, you get a love story, with a little erotica, and a history lesson. This is not your typical romance novel.The reason I give this book a four is for the following reasons:Galen has purchased a house a short distance from Hester's. She drives herself to his house one night with her horse and buggy to discuss the establishment and funding of a school."Hester had no trouble driving the relatively short distance to the Folly(Galen's home) in the dark."However, the following excerpt has her being driven home:"Luckily for Hester, Maxi, returned, bringing with her the handsome Raymond LeVeq. He grinned at the brooding Galen, then crossed the room to where Hester stood. He bowed low. "Enchante Miss Wyatt, Maxi says you are in need a ride home."#2 Early on Hester is told that Maxi was there when Galen was born. Later on the same question comes up, which has already been answered."Maxi's confident reply wiped away any misgivings Hester may have had over this surprising news. `How long have you been with Galen Maxi?' "Galen's Tante(Aunt) Racine is a very important aspect of his life. He loves her dearly. Racine lives with her mama, who is a very rich, but difficult and bitter woman. Since at the age of majority, 18, Galen had access to his inheritance. He is free and no longer had to endure grandmama's constant put downs of his origin and his mama marrying outside of her class and a dark skinned man. The question for me is why couldn't he set up Aunt Racine in her own house and make her life better? He now feels that now that grandmere is dead, Aunt Racine is now free. What I gathered from the story that most folks in the family tolerated her, because they need her for financial support.#3 Ginette is a Creole and was betrothed to Galen as a baby. However, she see him as a brother. However, later on in the story Ms. Beverly says something odd considering if you see a man as your brother. Again, there is some contradiction:Ginette explains "Galeno and I would have never suited as man and wife. I love him very much, buy he's like a brother to me." Then on page she says "Those are not very brotherly thoughts.#4 Hester's ex-fiancée is described early on as being a kind and honorable man. Yet when we finally get to meet him in the book, he is totally the opposite. The vicious and mean spiritedness he directs towards Hester in completely inconsistent with this characterization.I enjoyed all the cast of characters, i.e. Hester, Galen, Raymond LeVeq, Bea, Ginette, Renaud, Gail, Jenine, Foster, Shoe, the Sheriff, the house with all the secret compartments, etc. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a good story and a history lesson, with some steamy erotica. The story is well balanced and enjoyable. I loved it. I own most of Ms. Beverly's book. I know I will re-read not only Indigo, but all of her books. This is saying a lot. I don't buy romance novels.If I am willing to buy a book and read it, then re-read it, I am hooked.Love it. Love it!November 23, 2009The moment I began reading the first line in Black Pioneers by William Loren Katz of the Blackburns my mind came immediately to a similar scene in Indigo. This why I read Mrs. Beverly."That Sunday Black women put into operation their own plan, one that did not rely on ugly weapons. A delegation of African American women visited Mrs. Ruth Blackburn in her cell. Mrs. George French secretly exchanged clothes with Mrs. Blackburn, who then walked out with the delegation. That night Ruth Blackburn was secreted to Canada. When authorities released Mrs. French, she also left for Canada. Detroit's Black women had scored an impressive nonviolent victory.On Monday crowds of muttering African American men armed with stones, clubs, and pistols milled around the jail. Since white stereotypes cast men of color as weak, fearful, and unassertive, no one paid attention. A Detroit paper said the men at the mail were engaged impulsive or silly posturing, not to be taken seriously.Later that day Sheriff Wilson decided to order to the jail a horse and cart that would carry Thornton Blackburn to the wharf, where a steamboat would return him to Kentucky. When the prisoner appeared, a seething mob swung into action. Some placed Blackburn on the cart and rode off. When Sheriff Wilson tried to disperse the crowd, he was beaten to the ground, his skull fractured, and some teeth knocked out.As the sheriff's cart carried Blackburn away, a posse raced in pursuit. It only found the empty wagon. By nightfall, Thornton and Ruth Blackburn were reunited in Canada". Black Pioneers - William Loren Katz

I have never read a book that had me immediately start over after I finished it! This one I did 5 times! Crazy I know, but there was something about the 2 main characters that thoroughly captivated me! A beautiful love story with great but sad history! Highly recommend.

Spoilers below!Pros: the details were astounding! The characters were interesting. The plot was engaging. There was a lot of time and effort put into the creation of this story.Cons: 1) The hero of the story coerced the heroine into marriage: first by trying to get her pregnant, then by announcing to her church family that they would be getting married, despite her always refusing his proposal. The stain of those acts ruined the story for me. Was that not, in a way, slavery?2) The main heroine lost her interesting personality and most of herself when she fell in love with The Black Daniel. She agreed to his every whim. She was always, understandably, innocent and naive, but once she decided to love him (it felt very much like a pursuit), she began making silly, stupid, almost fatal mistakes. Why on earth would she trust Foster or his whore bride about anything???3) It felt too long and drawn out.

This was so good I don't know what to say. The history lesson I got was just exciting as the love story. Thank you Miss Bev. I recommend this book!

Northern Michigan, 1859. Born a slave and now a free woman, Hester Wyatt is a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad. As the book begins, she and her fellow conductors are helping a family that has just arrived from the South. The family will move on quickly to Canada, barely stopping to rest and replenish themselves, but their guide was seriously injured during the flight. Severely beaten, the man, known as “the Black Daniel”, cannot possibly be moved. He remains in a secret room in Hester’s basement to be cared for, even as he suspects that someone in Hester’s circle has betrayed him, and more importantly, their work.Hester nurses the Black Daniel, Galen Vachon, back to health. Initially very difficult to deal with, he relaxes as he heals and they form a tenuous bond before he returns to his work. They each try to forget the other, but when Galen returns in the spring, it is with very serious intentions towards Hester. Objecting to the differences in their stations, Hester holds out against his charm offensive for as long as she can, but ultimately surrenders. Because of the setting, their happily ever after is vulnerable and the reader knows it will be challenged as the American Civil War begins.Almost any other historical romance written in 1998 would feel dated. Indigo does not (mostly) and I think that is owed to both Jenkins skill as a writer and the seamless way she weaves genuine historical detail into the story. Every once in a while, there is a history lesson/succinct summary of what the reader needs to know about the political and cultural climate at the time. The fraught situation creates a sense of jeopardy that no other romance has ever possessed for me. Normally, I view the “historical” part of the romance as something that creates narrative distance: It’s another world and the clothing is pretty. Indigo is a love story in which the historical context is truly essential. The characters are not real, but the bravery and boldness required in their situation calls out to all of the people who fought against the injustice of a repugnant society.

I’ve heard SO much about this book, and part of my disappointment is due to the high expectations I had for it, but there were elements that I just couldn’t enjoy:- Hester started as a strong witty heroine who devolved into a meek bride , who overused “first-name?!” Exclamations as entire sentences to convey her meaning- The book is written in first person and it switches mid chapter from one voice to another ... you guess by context who is speaking.- I initially loved the historical research woven into the text, however, towards the end, it was just narration without a credible impact on the main characters- There were other smaller elements that just are not believable: Hester is supposed to be an experienced conductor, living in a big house alone.. and yet anyone can sneak into her room in the middle of the night and she’s fine with that.- I haven’t done in depth research and I might be wrong... but Indigo die wouldn’t stain your hands forever if you’ve only worked with it a few years. It would at least fade over the years since hands are the one body part that sheds skin the most due to use.Anyway, the concept is lovely and intriguing, the delivery just felt unpolished.

The backdrop of this story is the underground railroad in 1858, and the heroine Hester is a freed slave herself, who supports the railroad by sheltering escaped slaves. The book feels rooted in that background which is fascinating and horrific, but this is very much a warm and sexy romance as humble Hester is swept off her feet by the dashing hero Galen, who it turns out is not only a hero of the underground railroad but also a very wealthy man. Hester and Galen's romance has a Cinderella quality that is very sweet. His pursuit of her is swoon-worthy.- perhaps to a fault as he doesn't seem inclined to take no for an answer, but fortunately Hester is not too inclined to resist.

Gave a good picture of the early Underground Railroad. Spoiled by heavy emphasis on repetitive sex scenes.

Page turning, sizzling and character driven with a enthralling story about black people's life during the times if slavery. A must read for anybody.