BEAUTIFUL STORY OF HEALING, REDEMPTION, AND LOVE!

Author T.I. Lowe writes exceptional Southern fiction and she has demonstrated it again in this beautifully written story of healing, redemption, and love. Indigo Isle is the tale of two broken people who feel as though they have each made disasters of their lives due to their bad decisions. One’s decisions were some time ago and the other’s are ongoing. Neither can forgive themselves for the choices they have made. They become kindred spirits of a sort and find their escape on the private island one of them owns. The two become closer until their darkest secrets are revealed and then they have a falling out. It is beautiful to see the deepest of old wounds healed, redemption take place, and love restored all around.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence.

I picked this book up over half term, having decided to treat myself to a bit of fiction as I was also juggling two non-fiction titles for work purposes. Instantly gripped, I flew through it. The publishers bill it as ‘a Southern take on the Prodigal Daughter meets Beauty and the Beast’, which is a great description.

Sonny Bates had left southern California as soon as she could, desperate to get away from her family but also to prove to them that she could make it on her own. Now a Hollywood location scout she is back looking for a perfect spot for the latest film she’s involved with. Far too close to home for comfort, she begins to wrestle with her past. She also finds the perfect island for a film scene, only to discover it is private land owned by a recluse known as the Monster of Indigo Isle. Somehow drawn back to the island and its inhabitant, Sonny’s persistence sparks intriguing interactions with the ‘Monster’, Hudson. Once a successful New York attorney, his grief had caused him to exile himself on the island permanently, tending to indigo fields there. He hates visitors and is known locally as someone not only to avoid but to be afraid of.

Hudson is certainly not an easy character to speak to, read or understand, but, even so, Sonny keeps going back – most probably as an escape from the horrors of being at the beck and call of a film producer happy to take whatever he wants.

There are some really deep, serious subjects covered here, including sexual abuse and harassment as well as family rifts. Ultimately, it is a story of redemption – and faith is interwoven in the story too.

I found Indigo Isle a really unique, thoroughly enjoyable book.

I usually start my book recommendations by talking about how much I enjoyed reading the book. That was certainly the case when I read T.I. Lowe’s Under the Magnolias – I absolutely loved reading that book! See my recommendation on my blog.

T.I. Lowe has addressed many hard issues in Indigo Isle. Sonny is the teenage prodigal daughter who ran away to Hollywood, leaving behind her life and family in South Carolina. She landed on her feet, worked hard, and became a location scout for a Hollywood production company. From the outside, Sonny looks like she’s living a glamorous lifestyle and travelling the world for her successful career.

When Sonny left home, she left God behind in South Carolina and, over fifteen years, made a series of hard choices that didn’t bring her happiness. Workplace sexual harassment is sadly a normal part of Sonny’s working life. I identified with Sonny in one particular scene because that same situation had happened to me in my first job when I was only fifteen years old. I talked about this story situation with T.I. Lowe in StoryChats @ InspyRomance podcast/YouTube Episode 125. My personal connection to a story event made it a harder and more challenging book to read. That said, I’m glad I read Indigo Isle, and I appreciated hearing T.I. Lowe’s perspective on Sonny’s character.

Hudson is a recluse who has no interest in talking to Sonny or returning to his old life as a New York attorney. Hudson is the grumpy introvert and Sonny is the sunshine extrovert. The cast of quirky minor characters were fun to read, and I was fascinated by the history of indigo plants in South Carolina.

I recommend Indigo Isle to contemporary romance readers who like gritty and edgy Christian fiction that addresses hard issues with prodigal daughter, grumpy sunshine, and beauty and the beast story themes.

Many thanks to Tyndale and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I really love this book! Little tweaks and thrusts of humor kept the chuckles rolling. Frustrations galore kept one on edge, keeping the pages turning. The antagonism between Renfrow and Sonny is drama all on its own. However, this is not just air-y fiction. It's gratifying that the author touches on the issue of sexual harassment on the job in such a way as to empower women who may well experience such acts of affront upon them. The educational side in regards to the Indigo, and to top it all off, all the references to ones faith in Jesus were big pluses for me. All facts and figures woven in and pulling together made for an exceptional read. I'm giving this woman's fiction a definite 5 Star recommendation.

~Eunice C. Reviewer/Blogger~

February 2023

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy send by NetGalley and the publisher.

This book gave me all the feels. Somewhat southern gothic. Somewhat mystery. Somewhat women's fiction. And a love story that captures you. This book delves into so many topics relevant today. Social media addiction, the fakeness of it and how one can find onesself outside of that. It's a prodigal daughter story that will make you root for Sonny as she heads her life in the right direction for once. Let's just talk about Hudson for a while. He is broody. Almost mean. And under all of that a man who has been so deeply wounded that you can't help but want to hug him. In other words, go read this book.

I can't believe I hadn't read a book by T.I. Lowe until now! The two main characters could not be more different, but also very similar. Sonny is trying to continue to run away from her past and show her family that she is successful, while Hudson is trying to forget the past by living as a recluse on a private island. Will Hudson and Sonny be able to break down their own walls and let someone else in? Indigo Isle definitely covers some heavy topics, but ultimately is a story filled with grace and redemption. A wonderful story of redemption, friendship, and love.

"His flat tone did nothing to hide the underlying tease. If the man only knew how therapeutic that alone was for me. He kept giving what he noticed I needed, whether it be food, a journal, or joke to lighten the heavy. And what was the biggest gift in all that? Hudson required nothing in return. Not once."

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I. Loved. This. Book. This was my second T.I. Lowe book and I will 100% be reading her entire backlist now.

I don't know if it's the fact that it's set in the Charleston area or the fact that Sonny went to the Sewee Outpost (iykyk), but I felt like the setting of this story was magical. I also really enjoyed the fact that Hudson teaches Sonny about indigo farming and processing. I thought it was really cool that T.I. Lowe took classes on indigo while writing this book (and dyed her own shirt [see her insta}). Overall, the novel had that classic southern charm that I haven't seen in a lot of books set in the Lowcountry these days.

I absolutely fell in love with Sonny and Hudson's stories as well. What happened to make Hudson so reclusive? What did Sonny do to make her family stop talking to her? I had to know the answers. This is a story about finding and returning home, owning up to your mistakes, and learning to stand up for yourself. I love how T.I. incorporates difficult topics throughout her stories (I don't want to spoil this one or Under the Magnolias, but you should read both).

An enjoyable story that combines the prodigal story with Beauty and the Beast. This book confronts the realities of what happens when women are trapped in a relationship they can't escape because they freeze rather than fight or flee. It also explores the deepest desire we all have to find people who love us for who we are. I love the setting (Charleston and surrounding islands) as well as the peek into moving making. The hero is dark and brooding (ala the Beast) with a back story that requires healing on his terms. This novel is a blending of women's fiction and romance, all with hope laced through the pages.

A compelling story that will make a nice addition to summer reading lists. I enjoyed the South Carolina Lowcountry setting, and the reclusive hero living on an island is super intriguing. Hudson is my favorite part of this novel.
For me, Sonny's character arc was a bit perplexing. I didn't quite understand the motivation behind her actions. Her intimate relationship with her boss ping ponged between consensual and abusive. She refused to stand up to him. Yet in other scenarios, Sonny had no problem marching onto the island and trespassing on Hudson's private property. Repeatedly. If this was supposed to be symbolic somehow, I guess I missed it.
Overall, fans of inspirational fiction novels will appreciate the clever storytelling, loveable secondary characters, and the hope-filled conclusion.

Sensitive reader alert: this novel deals with sexual assault.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

I ended up loving this book! I wasn't quite sure where Lowe was going at some points, but she pulled the book together so well! The setting of the Carolina Lowcountry was simply magical, and I feel this book makes for the perfect beach read!! Thank you for allowing me to read and review this book!

I read my first T. I. Lowe story, Under the Magnolias, last year and loved it so much that I immediately raced through 4 more of her books and loved them all. Indigo Isle was no different! I absolutely loved this story.

Ms. Lowe writes in a way that draws you so deeply into the story and the lives of her characters that you truly feel like you know them. I loved how Sonny systematically broke down Hudson’s barriers and how Hudson helped her see what she needed to do to get out of the situation she was in. Both of these characters had been through so much so it was beautiful to see them heal. One of my favorite aspects of the story was how Sonny didn’t let Hudson’s gruffness push her away. I also really loved how they got to know each other so well before falling in love. The other thing I really enjoyed were the secondary characters, specifically Erlene and Vee. They both added so much to this story. I wish we all had friends like them!

If your are looking for a story of redemption and healing with wonderful, real characters, this is the story for you! I highly recommend Indigo Isle. 5 stars.

I got to read this while actually AT the beach which totally added to the experience! Indigo Isle kept me engaged for the entire two days it took me to read it. I went into it not knowing what the story would hold, so some aspects were a little bit of a shock, but I had to know how things would end for Sonny!

Hudson was easily my favorite character, mysterious and unexpectedly charming as he was. The descriptions of his home on Indigo Isle definitely made me wish it were a real place I could visit.

I also appreciated the spiritual "prodigal child" theme. The story could've easily felt too heavy without that emphasis.

TW: This book deals with sexual abuse which I wasn't at all expecting. It's not too graphic, but some scenes were too much for me. That said, I would only recommend this novel for mature adults. Personally, I wish some details would've been left out.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy to review!

There was much to be learned on Indigo Isle, more than just how to utilize the indigo plant, and much to Hudson’s chagrin, he and Sonny needed each other to figure out exactly what that might be. This story was one of reaching down deep and seeing who God wants you to be. It was about forgiveness and acceptance even in the toughest of situations.

Sonny was the adventurer type, and her adventurous spirit lead her to steal a good chunk of money from her parents, leave South Carolina, and head to LA to land her dream job as an actress. When life didn’t go exactly as planned, she was too afraid to go home, afraid she wouldn’t be forgiven or accepted by her family again. It was because of this fear that she found herself in an abusive relationship she didn’t think she could fully be rid of.

Hudson was a recluse on his own island, “The Monster” as the locals called him out of fear of the unknown. He didn’t mind the title if it meant people would stay away from Indigo Isle and from him. He was quite content to wrestle with his demons all on his own, happy to punish himself for choices he had made that ended in tragedy. But underneath it all was a tender, godly man.

Indigo Isle was an “opposites attract” romance. While Hudson placed “No Trespassing” signs on his property to keep others away, Sonny was drawn to the little island because of them. And though he put on an angry persona to drive her away, Sonny could not, would not be deterred. There was a gravitational pull happening, and it was fun to watch the two of them bickering in their own way. I thought their personalities were perfectly written and executed.

There was an array of characters, all with their own personalities (both good and bad), and I found myself latching onto Erlene and Vee. Erlene was an older woman who owned the hotel the production crew stayed at, and she was always willing to lend an ear to and say a prayer for Sonny. Vee was a confident young woman with a boisterous personality who loved on Sonny while also giving her a piece of her mind (as any good friend should be able to do).

I felt the story moved at a constant pace, slow and thoughtful. It took its time, settled you in, and brought you along. This is the type of writing I can get lost in. Focus on the story and not get distracted by the technical.

This book is definitely on my favorites list for this year. As always, T.I. Lowe’s love for the South, and for South Carolina in particular, is evident in her writing, and I can’t help but wish I was a Southerner, too, when I read her books (This coming from a proud New Yorker).

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a real romance where the two characters, though not perfect, are perfect for each other.

Possible trigger warning: sexual abuse

Indigo Island by T. I. Lowe

This book was as unusual as one of its main characters, and totally captivated my imagination. I loved (and hated some,) the quirky, well-written characters. The plot took turns that I did not anticipate and kept me reading. The ending was satisfying.

The author created realistic and fascinating characters. Hudson was very memorable, as was Vee. I came to love and appreciate Sonny and her back story, too. I loved the way the characters responded to challenges and grew. I became invested in their lives and thought about them after I read the last page of the book.

The plot was interesting and covered some difficult topics like sexual abuse and recovery. Woven into the plot was a love story that I had not anticipated. I enjoyed the epilogue showing the trajectory of Sonny’s life. I was glad she had found healing and a happy conclusion.

I have read another of T. I. Lowe’s novels and enjoyed it. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy romance that breaks out of the traditional mold. I appreciate the complimentary copy that I received from the publisher and netgalley, in exchange for this, my honest review.

Indigo Isle is a very well written book. I throughly enjoyed the plot, the character dynamics and the setting .I definitely recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

At first, I wasn't sure of the believably of this story. I know little of movie filming and even less about location scouting. And the monster and Sonny's boldness were a little much for me.

But..
Sonny and Hudson each had some major life changes that had to take place before a happy ending could come. And it all did.
I have rarely loved the ending of a book as much as this one. It was perfecto!

I loved all the fascinating information on indigo. It made me want to know more, and visit and see how it's all done.

There are some sensitive issues and scenes that readers need to beware of before they decide to read.

There are a few of the great quotes I kept:

“Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve, and mercy is him not giving us what we do deserve.”

“Grandpa Elson always said action is needed for what matters.
Whether it's a cause, an argument, or love. If it matters, you need to show it matters to you.”

“I believe you have a magnet inside you specifically for me.”

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Beyond the doubt this will be one of my favorites of the year. Sonny and Hudson are our 2 main protagonists and both are lost but both found each other in a chance meeting on Hudson island. This story is both comical and sad at the same time. This book deals with loss and a trigger warning it deals with date rape. T.I. Lowes writes these tense situations so well that I was drawn in. This isn’t just a love story there is so much more depth to this wonderful book. I highly recommend this fantastic novel. Just be aware of the trigger warnings. This definitely is an adult read. If I could give it 10 stars I would definitely do so!!

Indigo Isle is wonderful tale of God’s redemptive power and the freedom found in forgiveness, Sonny and Hudson are two lost souls who develop an unusual friendship while Sonny is on location in South Carolina as part of a movie crew.. These two characters find the courage to battle their way out of lives marked by bad choices and horrific loss and suffering to find healing and love. The first few chapters were slow but once the main characters meet the story was fast paced and engaging. There are some difficult pages to read about sexual abuse and a rape scene that should be noted. I enjoyed learning about the indigo plants and the way it is harvested and then made into a dye and how the author used this as a way to show her characters’ journeys to healing. It shows how out of something being battered and bruised God can bring beauty- a hidden discovery.

Loved learning about indigo! Sonny and Hudson both have complex backgrounds that are carefully hidden from others. When Sonny discovers a beautiful private island the monster (Hudson) living there, her life will be forever changed. Loved the way the author allowed both Sonny and Hudson to work out their issues in their own way. Writing the journals proved to help with their healing. Beautiful story that addresses some hard issues. Highly recommended!

TI Lowe has once again written a masterpiece! I absolutely loved Indigo Isle. This story is beautifully woven to let the reader feel all the pieces of brokenness, regret, betrayal, reconciliation, and forgiveness. I found myself laughing out loud one minute and crying the next. A very moving story! Definitely one of my favorites this year.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.