This book was swoon-worthy! I've never read anything set in this time period and it was so eye opening and also so romantic??? I loved it. The plot is strong and the steam is there. Amazing read, 10/10. Will absolutely be checking out more of her books!

Dear god how did this take me so long to read. Ms. Bev is an artist. A revelation. A genius. A gift to us all. 

Read the content warnings - it’s a book about slavery and the Underground Railroad so it’s not a light read in many spots. But GOD does it rise out of the pain and deliver joy and beauty and pleasure, the things intended for and deserved by all people, no matter the limits of the time. Hester and Galen are a dream couple. Only Galen Vachon could have pulled off that church scene and had me on his side. 

I don’t feel I’m exaggerating in the slightest to say this feels like Austen - sumptuous, beautiful, sweeping, discussion of class and the struggles of the time, different, rich characters all struggling over the same tough questions. What is love and what makes us risk it all for it? If we are lucky enough to find and to recognize true love, are we brave enough to grab it with both hands, in spite of our baggage, our insecurities, our past, all the stories we tell ourselves about how we do not deserve the love we seek and the love we find?

Also I have never been so aroused by vanilla in my whole life and I don’t think I’ll ever smell it again without thinking of Galen Vachon tracing that Madagascar vanilla extract all over La Petite Indigo (in case you were wondering - yes it bangs and DOES IT EVER BANG!!!).

Just go get this book. I’ll buy it for you, I’ll drive you to the library, I’ll ship it to you. Just read it!!

 There really are logic errors in this book.
1. How is Hester, educated and land rich, so poor? No chickens or garden? How is she feeding all of these passengers on the underground railroad? Is she buying that much food and no one is suspicious?
2. Why is Galen, who helps slaves escape, insistent on going outside knowing slave catchers are in the area hunting him?
3. Why would Hester leave her papers in an empty house?
4. What is the purpose of meeting Ginette or the entire ball scene in terms of the plot?
5. Nothing happens to Bea, who betrayed all of the townspeople, but Lem is killed?
6. Why would Hester trust Jenine / Foster in that climactic scene?
7. Why does Gerrold, who knows someone is trying to kidnap Hester, leave her?
8. What information could Gerrold get at the house that he couldn't get by going with Hester to the jail?
9. Hester believes that love makes you lose your mind, yet has no problem with a man who humiliates her into marriage / ruins her reputation if she doesn't say yes and keeps sneaking into her house at night?

Then the suspension of disbelief is strained to the point of breaking that Hester, at 9, did not realize the evils of slavery or what enslavement meant as well as Galen's "Christmas surprise."  

Never read any Beverly Jenkins books, this was my first and honestly no complaints.


Can't say that I liked the time period (slavery is triggering for me) BUT ik what I was getting into prior to reading so it wasn't like it was a shock.

Beverly Jenkins the author you are.
This is my second time reading her work, I admire her so much for writing black historical romance, they said it couldn't be done!
Usually I really don't like when male leads in romance novels are too self assured or pushy in their affection, but there was just something about Galen. I'm sorry yall I had to put the feminism down for a second.
This book had really heroic, likeable characters and a beautiful ending. There were times it felt a little like Bev was reciting from a history book, but we got back into it real quick.
Loved it!