Indigo Blue (Comanche)

Catherine Anderson is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed it and I think you will also.

This is the story of Hunter and Loretta's daughter, Indigo. When she was only thirteen she was sexually assaulted but not raped, because Swift had saved her before anything happened. But the emotional scars she carries from that incident are so deep and painful. Ms. Anderson shows the racial prejudice at the time, its cruelty and ugliness. And the plight of women in those times. Six years later, Jake Rand walks into her life. Jake owns the company Or-Cal and he had been sent by his father to buy Hunter's mine. Only before heading to Wolf's landing, Jake soon discovers that the mine had come across several accidents from cave ins, etc, which were not just mere accidents, but looked more like staged incidents. With dread, Jake decides to look into the matter more, to investigate it. He can hardly believe that his father would resort to ruining mines, banks, etc, and then offer to buy them knowing that the owners would have no choice but to sell. Upon arrival to Wolf's landing Jake disguises his true identity and instead tells the Wolf family that he is passing by and in desparate need for work. He agrees to fill in, in Hunter's place at the mine until Hunter gets well again (The cave in happened when Hunter was in the mine). There Jake meets Indigo a wild, and beautiful woman. Then as things progress and upon circumstances beyond their control, Lobo's death, which was a very sad part of the book, they spend the night in the woods, in a small abandoned cottage, Lobo's last hours. Because of that situation, Jake and Indigo find themselves forced to marry. After that, the struggle begins, Jake is trying his best to make this marriage work and to understand Indigo. Indigo is doing her best to hide her feelings, and get through this marriage which she resents. The last thing she wants is to find herself married to a white man. Jake is patient and kind, and the moments between him and Indigo are precious, as they get to know each other. The scene after Jake and Indigo had a huge fight, (in which Jake lost his temper and said some really hurtful things to Indigo), when they reconcile with each other, is unforgettable, and so moving, I cried at that part. This story is beautiful, and moving. A great, fantastic read. Highly recommended.

"Indigo Blue" is a story about a young woman who, despite her bravery in the face of danger and rascism, has a severe inferiority complex. Jake Rand comes into her life at a time when she is dealing with a lot of problems. Her father has been severely injured in the mine that he owns and she, being the only child, takes over. Jake comes and immediately takes control, never telling her that he is in fact a wealthy businessman who made a fortune through mining. He is out to find out if his father is really causing accidents in small mines and then buying them from the bankrupt owners. He is immediately drawn to Indigo but his own preconceptions of women and their role in society cause him to treat her badly. She is forced into marriage with him and is terrified that he will treat her badly because he might percieve her as a "squaw". Indigo was betrayed by the first man that she loved and she does not know how to deal with Jake. He overwhelms her and confuses her and, as he begins to understand her fears and her personality, comes to love her very much. The description and the writing were lovely. Anderson made her characters come alive, painting their struggles and their growing love and understanding of each other in a way that lets the reader become a part of the story. "Indigo Blue" is a great romance novel and I would recommend it to anyone.