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Incense & Peppermints
On a snowy February day in 2011, 62-year-old Cindy Sweet receives a Facebook message from a dead man—Warrant Officer Ryan Quinlan who supposedly died in Vietnam forty years earlier. He’d been Cindy’s fiancé before an RPG took out his “dust-off” chopper, killing all aboard. Cindy, a young combat nurse at the 24th Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh, had been devastated by her loss, but with no other choice, had served out her year in Vietnam—and even found love again.
INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS is a novel about patriotism, loyalty, enduring love, unimaginable courage and devastating loss. It’s the story of one woman’s year in a war zone during the most unpopular war in U.S. history.
"With intelligent and absorbing writing, Carole Bellacera places a courageous and inspiring young woman at the intense and dangerous center of the Vietnam War. Bellacera's account of the seventies is heartfelt and real, yet her moving story of love, loss and healing is timeless."
--Diane Chamberlain, best-selling author of Necessary Lies
“Carole Bellacera's Incense and Peppermints skillfully transports the readers back to the turbulent seventies, and the heartbreak and passions of war, as seen through the eyes of a nurse serving in Vietnam. I couldn't put down Incense and Peppermints.” -- Cindy Myers, Author of The View From Here.
INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS is a novel about patriotism, loyalty, enduring love, unimaginable courage and devastating loss. It’s the story of one woman’s year in a war zone during the most unpopular war in U.S. history.
"With intelligent and absorbing writing, Carole Bellacera places a courageous and inspiring young woman at the intense and dangerous center of the Vietnam War. Bellacera's account of the seventies is heartfelt and real, yet her moving story of love, loss and healing is timeless."
--Diane Chamberlain, best-selling author of Necessary Lies
“Carole Bellacera's Incense and Peppermints skillfully transports the readers back to the turbulent seventies, and the heartbreak and passions of war, as seen through the eyes of a nurse serving in Vietnam. I couldn't put down Incense and Peppermints.” -- Cindy Myers, Author of The View From Here.
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2014
15 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Carole Bellacera
14 books24 followersRITA-Award-nominated author of six novels of women's fiction--BORDER CROSSINGS, EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON, UNDERSTUDY, CHOCOLATE ON A STICK, TANGO'S EDGE and SPOTLIGHT"
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 19, 2014
I'm going to give Carole Bellacera the highest review I can give by saying, I wish I would've written this book. Very emotional, you'll feel for Cindy Sweet in more ways than one as you read this book. I only have one crit, and that is I wish there was more of the story to read. You won't be disappointed if you buy this book.
April 25, 2016
People Need the Truth
As a teenager in the late 1960's, I grew up knowing people going and coming from Vietnam. My father's family were all world war 2 vets and I was very patriotic. This book reminds me of feelings from that time. Fear for the ones over there, trouble dealing with changes in people who returned, and lose of old dreams for a normal future as people returned.
My husband was in Vietnam years before we met and it affects us and our opinions even today. I don't usually relive this type of experience, but this is an excellent example of life in a war zone. Cope how you can, try to make the best of terrible situation, and don't give up. Life isn't easy, but you get through it one day at a time and with help from your friend.
As a teenager in the late 1960's, I grew up knowing people going and coming from Vietnam. My father's family were all world war 2 vets and I was very patriotic. This book reminds me of feelings from that time. Fear for the ones over there, trouble dealing with changes in people who returned, and lose of old dreams for a normal future as people returned.
My husband was in Vietnam years before we met and it affects us and our opinions even today. I don't usually relive this type of experience, but this is an excellent example of life in a war zone. Cope how you can, try to make the best of terrible situation, and don't give up. Life isn't easy, but you get through it one day at a time and with help from your friend.
August 26, 2018
It was entertaining, but parts of it weren’t believable.
July 23, 2020
Very engaging!
Loved the characters! Loved the storyline! Plenty of different emotions! Appreciate that the story finished and didn't leave me hanging.
Loved the characters! Loved the storyline! Plenty of different emotions! Appreciate that the story finished and didn't leave me hanging.
June 11, 2014
Loved this book!
Incense & Peppermints is a must read! The title itself caught my attention and sent me traveling back to an era that was both bitter and sweet. The early seventies, the Vietnam War, the music, I relived it all. The characters were real and I connected with them. I recommend this book and I will read it again!
Incense & Peppermints is a must read! The title itself caught my attention and sent me traveling back to an era that was both bitter and sweet. The early seventies, the Vietnam War, the music, I relived it all. The characters were real and I connected with them. I recommend this book and I will read it again!
March 1, 2015
This novel leaves a great impression on the reader even days after the last page is turned.
Read full review in the 2015 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2015 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.
June 7, 2014
This book is Carole's best yet. It really touches the soul. My heart really aches for Cindy. This absolutely a must read!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews