Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe: Book Review

 *Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

“Storms show up and there ain’t a thing we can do to stop them.”

Sonny Bates left South Carolina fifteen years ago and never looked back. Now she’s a successful Hollywood location scout who travels the world, finding perfect places for movie shoots. Home is wherever she lands, and between her busy schedule and dealing with her boss’s demands, she has little time to think about the past . . . until her latest gig lands her a stone’s throw from everything she left behind.

Searching off the coast of Charleston for a secluded site to film a key scene, Sonny wanders onto a private barrier island and encounters its reclusive owner, known by locals as the Monster of Indigo Isle. What she finds is a man much more complex than the myth.

Once a successful New York attorney, Hudson Renfrow’s grief has exiled him to his island for several years. He spends his days alone, tending his fields of indigo, then making indigo dye—and he has no interest in serving the intrusive needs of a film company or yielding to Sonny’s determined curiosity. But when a hurricane makes landfall on the Carolina coast, stranding them together, an unlikely friendship forms between the two damaged souls. Soon the gruff exterior Hudson has long hidden behind crumbles—exposing the tender part of him that’s desperate for forgiveness and a second chance.

A story of hanging on and letting go, of redemption and reconciliation, and of a love that heals the deepest wounds, from the author of the breakout Southern fiction bestseller Under the Magnolias.

T. I. Lowe is an ordinary country girl who loves to tell extraordinary stories. She is the author of nearly twenty published novels, including her recent bestselling and critically acclaimed novel, Under the Magnolias, and her debut breakout, Lulu's Café. She lives with her husband and family in coastal South Carolina. Find her at tilowe.com or on Facebook (T.I.Lowe), Instagram (tilowe), and Twitter (@TiLowe).

What do you get when you combine the story of the prodigal son, Beauty and the Beast and the behind-the-cameras world Hollywood film making? 

Indigo Isle, of course! 

While this may seem like an odd combination, T.I. Lowe weaved them together beautiful in this book that is equally parts heartbreaking and hopeful. And I absolutely loved everything about it. Admittedly, it started a slight bit slow for me, but I'm not sure if that was really the story itself, or just me having to adjust after having just finished with a few much faster paced reads. Still, a few chapters in and I was absolutely HOOKED and couldn't put it down! From the romance to the family dynamics to the messages of faith and forgiveness, it was all just done SO well! I loved the banter between Hudson and Sonny, and how even through his grumpy anti-socialness he cared for and protected her well-being... such a direct contrast to what she had been used to from men in the past. This isn't a drama free read with perfect characters, but rather one with messy, characters and true to life heartaches and issues. As such, it wasn't always easy to read... but it was a beautiful one. 

Content to keep in mind: Sexual harassment and assault are big themes in this book. While I think it was handled gracefully and no graphic details were given, it was definitely more than a passing mention than we often see in other Christian fiction. As such, it could most certainly be triggering to sensitive readers. 

Overall, this was an absolutely wonderful read. It was certainly a little more intense than many of the books that I have been enjoying lately, and as such I had to step back on occasion... but I loved it nonetheless. I've enjoyed every book I've read by T.I. Lowe, but this one might very well be my favorite!