Night Hawk by Beverly Jenkins

Outlaw. Preacher. Night Hawk. He's had many names, but he can't escape the past. Since Ian Vance's beloved wife was murdered years ago, the hardened bounty hunter knows he'll never feel love or tenderness again, so he's made it his mission to ensure others get their justice. But when he's charged with delivering a sharp-eyed beauty to the law, Ian can't help but feel he may still have something left to lose. Orphaned at twelve, Maggie Freeman has always found her way out of trouble. But now there's a vigilante mob at her back who would like nothing more than to see her hang for a crime she didn't commit. Maggie may have to accept help for the first time in her life, even if it's from the one man standing between her and freedom. As the past closes in, the sassy prisoner and toughened lawman may just find a passion between them that could bring blinding happiness, if they'll let it--P. [4] of cover.

This is the second book I've read by Beverly Jenkins and I look forward to continuing to explore her work. I preferred it slightly to Indigo, because there is more humor, with the main characters bantering quite a lot. It also has a somewhat lighter feel, while still addressing serious issues of race and women's self-determination. I love all of the historical details in both books.

I've always liked Westerns, and historical fiction in general, but we often end up seeing a whitewashed version of so many eras through this lens. This author's books show that the people who contributed to building our country have always been of many races. Both main characters in this book are biracial (black/Scottish and black/Native American), and most of the side characters are also people of color. Additionally, many of them are women, some running their own businesses.

I really like the way women are portrayed. When female characters in this book are not in charge of their own lives, it's because of someone acting against them, not because they're not able to make their own decisions. So, when they need rescue, as Maggie does at a few points, it's framed as someone needing aid for a specific problem, rather than helpless women suffering until a man can save them. Maggie saves herself several times, as well.

I was very into the romance. Both of the MCs are prickly, and Maggie is quite outspoken, which is part of the reason Ian falls in love with her. Their love becomes a haven for him, a place where he can be vulnerable. I felt this worked really well because his goal throughout the book is to set aside his bounty-hunter days and return to his home in Wyoming; over time, Maggie's companionship becomes an essential part of that plan. Maggie has never had a family or a home of her own since her parents died, and it's very satisfying to see these characters coming together.

As in Indigo, the book doesn't end at the point most romance novels do, when you feel like they're definitely going to live happily ever after. They have a few more adventures once they return to Ian's ranch. We also see Maggie establishing herself in the community, and we meet a few more great side characters. I usually want more when I finish a romance novel in which I really loved the main couple, so I was happy that the story showed how everything worked out.

For the Read Harder Challenge–A romance novel by or about a person of color. Very readable, although it dragged a bit in the middle. The two main characters get together fairly early in the book, so there's not a lot of suspense about that. Mostly I liked Maggie's ability to take care of herself and the section at the end where the author discusses her historical research about people of color in the 1880s.