Indigo: Blues

Indigo B&B, Book 1

By: Adrian J. Smith

Narrated by: Quinn Riley

Anxiety ridden Sarah finds more than she bargained for in a no-nonsense rancher and baby cow.

Taking her best friend's advice, Sarah travels to Indigo B&B to distract herself from her upcoming tour. Instead, she comes face-to-face with Indigo's ruggedly alluring owner, Eli. The vision of strength and confidence, Eli evokes Sarah's envy as well as an undeniable attraction. Sarah wonders if there is more beneath Eli's façade and how deep both their demons go.

Eli wants nothing more than to fit into her tiny hometown. When singer-songwriter Sadie Bade shows up for two weeks at her new B&B, Eli fights her attraction, playing it off as star struck. As the days wear on, and Eli learns more about the enigmatic Sarah, she finds it impossible to keep up the pretense. But when her ex-girlfriend hints at getting back together, Eli is left with an equally impossible choice . . . what will she give up for Sarah?

©2022 Adrian J. Smith (P)2024 Tantor

Anticipation, Frustration, Exhalation

This book extracts many emotions. Written by Adrian J. Smith who apparently knows the state with a billion stars. The night sky takes your breath way. And speaking of stars, this book is a star in itself. After listening to it, I'm exhausted Finally, Eli! You are just going to have to buy it to understand why Eli wore me out. Good ending, good story. Love you, Buddy.
Jackson

All the feels

Just a plain fun good listen. Love the author’s complex language and scenes. They do a really nice job of setting the scene. Read it!

Life Experience

Wonderful romantic story on how life experiences and expectations effect how romance happens in your life.

Loved This

Stars: 4 Stars
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Quinn Riley
Series: Indigo B&B Book 1
Steam Level: Steamy

I read this for the 2025 Sapphic Book Bingo reading challenge for the prompt Mental Health Rep.

My first book of the year of my goal to read like 15 of Adrian J. Smith’s books. I randomly read “Inside These Halls” and she instantly became one of my favorite authors.

Quick Thoughts:
- I usually get annoyed when a “Successful Big City” professional goes to Small Town, USA and loves it there more than where they’re living but with the set up in this book, it actually makes sense and I bought into it
- Indigo sounds like a wonderful place and I’d love to go spend a month there
- I want a book about Kara
- Eli is exactly the type of person who should be running a B&B; calm, steady, welcoming, and knows how to keep a secret
- It was great to see how Sarah fit in with the town and Eli’s life without it feeling like she was being shoehorned into it
- Did not like Bridget at first and at the end while I didn’t exactly love her, I did appreciate her mini character arc
- Protect Buddy at all costs
- I admit, part of the reason I didn’t give this five stars because of how stubborn/stupid Eli is at towards the end, from the time Sarah leaves. It felt a bit out of character. It’s only because of the last scene (which was freaking adorable) that I didn’t knock it down another star
- Quinn Riley is a narrator I actively search for and will pick up a book because she reads it. If you haven’t listened to anything she’s done, I highly recommend you pick up one of her performances

Overall even with how frustrated I was with Eli, I really enjoyed this story and how it played out between these two. I bought into this relationship hook, line, and sinker. Not the series I’d start with if you haven’t read any of her books, I’d suggest start with the series that starts with “When the Past Finds You” but it’s starting out really strong.

Great book

This was a great book the story line was interesting, and although I never lived on a farm I like farm romance books. Looking forward to the next one the list. Since I discovered Quinn Reiley as a narrator I love her, she has a great voice and it is a pleasure to listen to her narration.

Complex and good story!

This was a very good and complex story! I’m used to this author’s style of writing. However, this wad different. While the plot development was very good (as usual), it was very tangential in the sense that both Eli and Sarah had huge struggles expressing their feelings towards each other. Ultimately, their reached their emotional balances but it was very hard at the beginning. I thought that Buddy was adorable! The narrator was excellent as usual!

Slow moving

This story was incredibly slow moving and the dialogue between Eli and Sarah was dismal with constant staring at each other tongue tied, or talking about the weather. There is page after page of wondering what the other is thinking and no depth of character development. I can't recommend.