Orange Mint and Honey

by Carleen Brice

Broke and burned-out from grad school, Shay Dixon does the unthinkable after receiving a “vision” from her de facto spiritual adviser, blues singer Nina Simone. She phones Nona, the mother she had all but written off, asking if she can come home for a while.

When Shay was growing up, Nona was either drunk, hungover, or out with her latest low-life guy. So Shay barely recognizes the new Nona, now sober and with a positive outlook on life, a love of gardening, and a toddler named Sunny. Though reconciliation seems a hard proposition for Shay, something unmistakable is taking root inside her, waiting to blossom like the morning glories opening up in Nona’s garden sanctuary.

Soon Shay finds herself facing exciting possibilities and even her first real romantic relationship. But when an unexpected crisis hits, even the wise words and soulful melodies of Nina Simone may not be enough for solace. Shay begins to realize that, like orange mint and honey, sometimes life tastes better when bitter is followed by sweet.

Genres: Fiction, African American, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Book Club, Novels, Audiobook

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

My debut novel Orange Mint and Honey aired on Lifetime as the NAACP Image Award-winning movie "Sins of the Mother" starring Jill Scott and Nicole Beharie. The novel won awards from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and from the African American Literary Awards Show.

Of Orange Mint and Honey, Alicia Keys said, "“This is the reason I love to read. This book has so much character and a wealth of soul."

My second novel is Children of the Waters. Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Wednesday Sisters, said, "In Children of the Waters, Carleen Brice deftly explores issues of family, identity, and race with a wonderful abundance of humor, forgiveness, and grace. This moving story of two sisters separated by prejudice will open minds and touch hearts."

I'm currently working on a novel titled Calling Every Good Wish Home.

Reviews

[Cheryl James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is about a dysfunctional mother and daughter relationship. I am not sure why I was so driven to this book, but I watched it for months before I decided to read it and I am so glad I did. I myself had a dysfunctional relationship with my mother. There is nothing greater for a daughter than her mother's love and understanding. Nona and Shay were able to confront both of their demons and rebuild their relationship. And in the mist of it all Shay got to love her baby sister while learning how to love herself. One day she will become a mother and I hope she does all the right things for her child. This book taught me to stay true to yourself. If you are missing someone's love from your life, it's okay to go and seek that love. Someone has to make the first move and why not you.. I would love to read a sequel to this story. I love a happy ending☺

[Precious Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have just finished reading this book and in fact stayed up all night reading. Orange Mint and Honey is well-written and Brice has a really original, engaging voice. I found Nona far, far more sympathetic than Shay. Obviously Shay had reason to feel angry and let down but I was waiting for the moment when she'd conclude "yes, my life is screwed up thanks to my childhood, now what am *I* going to do now to sort my life out?" Instead she was whiny, extremely immature for a 25-year-old and very quick to blame absolutely everything on others. I felt like shouting "get over yourself already!"

Growing up, I went through everything Shay's character went through - and far worse - and in my experience it is rare for a neglectful mother like Nona to manage to eventually sort her life out and apologise to those she hurt. Nona puts in a huge amount of work to sort herself out, apologises profusely and means it and tries to make amends. Shay would rather stomp about like a petulant little girl than make any attempt to meet her mother halfway. That said, I think Shay's character is actually very realistic. People do tend to kind of 'enjoy' holding onto grudges and letting their anger ferment inside them.

Very much looking forward to Brice's next book.

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Orange Mint and Honey, Shay Dixon moves back home when she burns out at graduate school. She struggles to reconcile with her mom, a recovered alcoholic, and with her own feelings of anger and inadequacy. I enjoyed the insights into the struggles Shay faced as a young, black woman. I also enjoyed the references to Denver landmarks since I grew up nearby. However, Shay does not always make wise choices nor does she have the right framework for making good choices. Although the book recognizes that often our choices affect others, the motto seems to be “To thy own self be true.” Shay’s decisions reflect the choices many people make, and thus are true to life, so my objection may not bother many. But I know that Shay is missing Christ. If Christianity hadn’t been present in the book, the lack may not be so glaring. But Shay’s mother attends church and talks of her need for God. However, when Shay’s friend objects to one of Shay’s choices on the grounds of being a Christian, the girl is dismissed for acting “holier-than-thou” and having made poor choices herself. So, although Shay’s story ends on a happy note, real life often brings harder consequences to poor choices. I would rate the book R for sex, frank language, and viewpoint.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shay Dixon is a ungrateful twenty five year old that thinks the world owes her a favor. Blaming her alcoholic mother for her mistakes, she feels that she is justified in not being vulnerable to anyone. The only thing that bring her pleasure is listening to Nina Simone, who she considers an idol. After receiving a vision from Simone, she returns to the place that she was once called home. Now that her mother Nona is sober, she anticipates the arrival of her daughter but Shay can careless about seeing her. In fact she refuses to open up about her life, much less to a mother that had her when she was fifteen year old. To make matters worst, she finds out that she has a little sister that clings to her as cubs clean to their mother. At first she is hesitant to have her around, soon, she grows accustomed to having her around. As long as she respects her space, it can't be hard getting along with her.

Living in a house with a sister and an estranged mother is bad enough. However when Nona introduces her to Ivy, her life is turned upside down. Ivy is struggling to maintain her sobriety, often having relapses in her midst. The two often clash about the way she treats Nona but Shay does not think she owes anyone an explanation. Convinced to satisfy her mother rigorous demands, she gets a part time joy working as a clerk. Befriending a younger guy Oliver, the two embark on a romance that ends abruptly after Shay finds out shocking news. Told with humor, drama and depth, Orange Mint and Honey is a remarkable read for all ages!

I pleasantly enjoyed this novel, the story was evocative and memorable. Shay was such a spoiled brat! I never wanted to punch a character so hard in my life, ( that is what makes great writing, when you have that connection)she was so infuriating! However I learned to like her towards the middle of the story, so her flaws did not outshined her potential. Really impressed with the topic of alcoholism, it was unbiased and objective.

Looking forward to reading more novels by Brice.

[Prof Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book!

[mina reads™️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was exactly what I was hoping it would be ❤️❤️

[La Tonya Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a book with perfect characters that I could actually see before me and hear myself in the conversations, this is it. LaShay, she likes to be called Shay, is working on her masters at Iowa State. She is suffering from burnout, laid off from her part-time job writing grants, not able to concentrate on her thesis, and accumulating debt. Her advisor suggested time-out. The ghost of Nina Simon the great jazz singer tells her to return home to Denver.

In Denver is where Nona, Shay alcoholic mother, lives. Shay has not spoken to her in seven years. Nona has been sober for four years. She wants to make amends for Shay's childhood. Shay cannot let go of the grudge. Nona would leave her alone at night when she was only eight years old to drink. Shay would have to clean up her vomit the next morning, make breakfast, and get herself to school. She even left her alone for a week when she was eleven to drink, snort coke, and be with a man. Needless to say Shay has issues she doesn't know how to deal with because she been trying to keep moving forward without addressing the past.

In Denver, she gets a wake up call. All her life all she has seen is her hurt and problems. In Shay's mind everyone around her has a perfect life, except Shay. Everybody's life has secrets. Their are no perfect people. For the first time, she starts to see that everyone that appears to be smiling and happy has problems as well. Everyone has been hurt by something or someone. Forgiveness is the key.

Quote:

I guess since that MIT student set herself on for a few years ago-even after visiting te mental health service-the plan was to get depressed college students off campus ASAP. Let them be someone else's lawsuit in the making.

The next morning, I was both disappointed and relieved to see that Nona's lip wasn't busted and her eyes weren't blackened.

I like old things, antiques, vintage clothes. Things that last.

That strong-black-woman-die-before-you-admit-weakness thing is foolish and deadly.

I looked at my hands in my lap. "You can't end up with the first guy you ever slept with, right?" "Stranger things have happened. He's in college, He's not a crackhead or a dog. You've already picked better than I ever did."

We hugged. "No, thank you. To be able to help you, to have something to give you, is an answer to a prayer," she said into my neck, squeezing me tighter.

[Inken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shay Dixon is an angry young woman and has good reason to be. Working on her Master’s degree in Iowa, she is forced to take time off when her grant-writing job is eliminated and her advisor believes she is burned out. With nowhere else to go, Shay heads home to Denver to stay (temporarily) with her recovering-alcoholic mother Nona and 3-year old half-sister Sunny.

Shay is highly suspicious of Nona’s almost evangelical sobriety. On her first day, she ransacks her mother’s house, convinced she’ll find hidden bottles of booze. Used to taking care of herself since she was 10 years old (fending off her mother’s drunken acquaintances, buying groceries, doing the laundry and even managing to get good enough grades for university – all without any help or interest from Nona), years of neglect, lies and disappointment have made Shay physically and emotionally isolated. She has almost no friends, never dates and is, at the age of 25, seriously socially inept. Forced to take a job in a record store, she meets Oliver, a geeky young student who opens up Shay’s world, making her realise there is more to life than studying and school.

Shay finds Nona incredibly difficult to live with as both women seem incapable of dealing with their past. Nona doesn’t mention her constant abandonment of Shay, preferring drinking, getting high and getting laid over spending time with her daughter and Shay won’t confront her mother until practically forced to during a church meeting, revealing years of pain, anger and grief over her lost childhood. At the same time, she has to deal with Ivy, a young woman Nona has taken under her wing. Ivy’s jealousy and resentment of Shay spills over repeatedly into confrontations and outright violence.

Despite her resentment of Nona, Shay still desperately loves and wants her mother. Most of her issues are due to what she sees as Nona’s inadequate sense of responsibility. And the truth is, despite her apologies, Nona does gloss over a great deal of her past failings. It isn’t until Shay blurts out some of Nona’s worst excesses in public that she admits those mistakes. Then again, Shay is a rigid young woman who finds forgiveness and letting go incredibly difficult. Used to having only herself to rely on and with no real outside human experience, Shay doesn’t know how to understand or empathise with human frailty until her friends and family finally start to show her.

You’ll find yourself getting frustrated with almost every character in this novel, because they’re human and they make mistakes. The trick here (and everywhere) is for them to learn from those mistakes, admit them, apologise and not make them again. Life is hard and complicated and there are bitter moments along with the sweet – just like tea made from orange, mint and honey.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very readable book, with a storyline about personal growth, getting past hurt-letting go-accepting you can't change the past and learning to see things differently.

I love the opening of the book: guidance comes from an adored, but dead blues singer and willing went along with Shay's premise for finding herself.

Clearly the author has knowledge of recovery programs, she hits fine details about AA and ALANON without being over the top. Her characters are very real, I feel like I could meet them anywhere in life and indeed I have.

I gave the book 4, not 5 stars because I felt Nona isn't complete. We don't get inside her head, know the pain she must carry around, the guilt for the kind of mother she was--back then. Nona is closely tethered to the new her, with all of her 'self-help' and doesn't share the old her with us. This by contrast makes Shay seem like a whiny child. It's only Shay's scattering of experiences later in the storyline, that allows us to know why it is so hard to get over her anger at Nona, at 25.

I loved Shay's boyfriend-very original and fun! He's a wonderful contrast for Shay to share all of her pain in ways that make the reader wish, pray and hope for healing for her.

Nona's sponsor has some wonderful words of wisdom for Shay, that fall on deaf ears. Yet, Nona's response to Shay is in essence, "I've been doing nothing but apologizing since you got here," is equally hollow as this only transpires in Nona's mind--not in the story.

I wish I was more surprised by the ending, the author stayed true to statistical life experience of adult children of alcoholic's.

My pet peeves may not be yours--the book is definitely worth the read, regardless of your peeves.

[Nardsbaby Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morning Glories

LaShay Dixon is literally at wits end. Broke, burned out with school and struggling to get her thesis done, her advisor demands that she take a break. With no family in Iowa to turn to, Nina Simone, the dead blues singer, sends her home to Denver, to face the chaos that she left smoldering years ago.

Nona Dixon, Shay's mother, is an alcoholic. Though she's been sober four years now and is an excellent mother to her three-year-old daughter, Sunny, Shay can't help but feel cheated on the opportunity to have a normal life. While Nona opens her home, heart and desperately tries to rebuild with Shay, she's not ready to deal with all of the baggage and continuously plucks at the problem with sarcastic jabs and temper tantrums.

When Nona sets ground rules, Shay gets a job and is now opening her world up to all sorts of possibilities. At 25 years old, she's felt socially retarded and is just now learning to live a little and she's quite pleased with her accomplishments. However, when the bitter is no longer turning to sweet, Shay has to make hard choices and Nina Simone, the one constant in her life, doesn't seem to know the correct melody. Can Nona and Shay finally bury the hatchet?

ORANGE MINT AND HONEY by Carleen Brice is a striking, original, rousing and magical tale about life, bouts with mothers and daughters and mending fences. I love how the story delves into the past relationship and how the process of growing, learning and forgiveness is stressed. Originally I didn't know what to expect when I was told to read this book, but I am pleased and will definitely be checking out more books by Carleen Brice in the future.

[Michelle Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very interesting, compelling read. It has been a few years since I read it and I remembered all of the details when it was prompted by a brief glimpse of a commercial for a lifetime movie crafted from the book.

I found Shay to be deeply troubled but bright and interesting.

I was interested in getting to know her and the other charachters in this book.

While I understand that her mother was negligent, one thing I thought was universal to most women and their mothers is a feeling of unfinished business. Unresolved issues plague so many of us that this book can appeal across a broad spectrum of people.

There are wrenching scenes that I still remember as though I just put the book down yesterday. My main on this book is of a teaching from the bible about FORGIVE as we hope to be forgiven regardless of what the issue is.
Without saying too much about the plot, old bitterness poisons and I felt a charachter here was poisoning her future based on her past pain.

Really good read. I would reccomend it to many readers.

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on the relationship, ideologies, anger and hurt of a generation of women but finally gets to the heart of the matter with Nona and LaShay. Her addiction to jazz was astounding and with everything she's been through, Shay (LaShay) is tired. She's supported herself since she was a little girl and she doesn't understand that all the baggage she's carrying is the reason she's at the point she's at now; confused, lost, depressed and falling apart.
Now she's sent home by a ghost, Nina Simone, and she's resisting the new Nona but not wanting to talk about the "elephant in the room." Through tiny steps, they began a bond that wasn't there before but is evident throughout the book to the reader but not yet to Shay until she gets herself into a well known situation. Whose the only person that understands her? Her moma, Nona. The judgement you pass on others will come back to be the judgment brought upon yourself. Orange Mint and Honey is entertaining, inspiring and poetic. Read the book!

[Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of liked this book. Actually, I liked more about it than I disliked. The story is about Shay Dixon, a burnt out grad student who goes to stay with her recovering alcoholic mother for a break. She goes because Nina Simone (a dead jazz singer) tells her to. I didn't really connect with the Nina Simone thing. However, I really liked the mother-daughter story that's at the core of the novel. Their relationship and Shay's healing and evolution kept me reading. I didn't like the end. It felt loose and unfinished but not in a "literary" on purpose kind of way. The ending also felt untrue to me. I didn't understand Shay's decisions in the end. I'm not saying they were the wrong decisions. They just didn't fit for me. This sounds like a bad review but it's not. I did enjoy most of the story and I would recommend this books to friends. Lifetime is coming out with a movie based on the book. Hopefully they don't butcher it too badly.

[Nakia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, mainly because some of the issues presented throughout it's pages, really hit home. Someone VERY close to me dealt with a similar upbringing as the main character, Shay, so it was hard not to cry during certain parts of the book, when she aganized over her pain and chose not to forgive her mother. I think that the author handled the mother-daughter relationship superbly, and I give her two thumbs up on accurately introducing the audience to how children are affected by living in a home filled with alcoholism.

However, I have very mixed feelings about how Shay chose to view her chastity and the ending made my side eye tremble. It definitely left me wanting more.

I am very interested in seeing how closely the movie "Sins of the Mother" will stick to the storyline presented in the book. If they follow closely enough, I'm sure I will be in tears before the movie ends.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to Ms. Brice for pulling on her hip boots and wading through the morass of destructive anger and painful recovery that is the mother/daughter, victim/survivor alcoholic angst ridden basis for this story.

[Shanae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I just LOVED this novel. The characters were so real and the plot was so defined. I listened to this as an audiobook, so while I couldn't see the writing, listening to it was a great experience.

You must read this novel!

[Akilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, honest to God, like reading a story about my own life.

[yunique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a great read! The author fully and completely captures both the mother’s and daughter’s relationship through the rollercoaster that can sometimes make, break, or strengthen familial (blood or not) bonds. This book is a “must” read.

[Lisa Cornetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! It might be my favorite book so far!!! The storyline was amazingly real, yet raw. Shay grew up with an alcoholic mother and no father, and basically raised herself. While taking a break from grad school, and moving back home with Nona, she grew into who she really was. She learned she had to let go of her bitterness and resentment, which in turn allowed her to grow as a person. She ended up pregnant by her first, Oliver, but in the end, that made her realize what SHE wanted for HER OWN happiness. The author pulled this book out flawlessly, and I can’t wait to read another by her!!

[Agnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really ended up loving this book… first half was pretty slow/ bitter bit sweet cute loving ending. Denver setting is my fav ever.

[Lorna Satchwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the tone and culture expressed in this book. I hear there is a film adaptation. I plan to watch it soon.

[Reyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shay Dixon is a graduate student who is struggling to write her thesis. She finds herself heading home for a break and forced to face her estranged mother and the little sister she has never met. This was a wonderful story about forgiveness.

[Donura · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING: 5 out of 5


Why did I wait so long to read this book? I was lucky enough to snag a hard cover copy back in September of 2009 but somehow kept putting it further down on the pile. Must have truly been overrun with ARC’s. Finally, I decided I must devour it before the “made for TV” movie airs which just happens to be this Sunday on Lifetime. I never like to see the movie before I read the book. This was a simple feat because once I picked up the book; I could not put it down.

Don’t get me wrong. This is not light reading. The subject of conflict between mother and daughter is always raw and hurtful.

Shay Dixon had raised herself for all practical purposes as her mother, Nona was a stone alcoholic, and stayed drunk throughout all of Shay’s school years. Shay left the first chance she had, getting herself a scholarship, and as far away from her mother as possible. However, all the negative baggage that Shay left home with continued to haunt her throughout her college years. As she shied away from any kind a relationship, she had no support network, and that finally took it toll on her and she could not finish her thesis to graduate. Her adviser recommended that she take a semester or two off and gather her strength. Unfortunately, Shay had no place to go but home, which she did reluctantly because she was still packing all the baggage of her lost childhood.

However, Nona on the other hand, had found sobriety four years earlier, and gave birth to another daughter, Sunshine, who she was just beginning to raise.

The story of Nona and Shay coming to terms about their earlier life is full of pain, blame, and a dawning of the damage that could not be forgotten but had to be forgiven for both of them to move on. The question really is can that happen?

No spoilers. I hope you will rush out and get a copy of the book. Record the movie and save until you finish the book. I promise you will not be sorry.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orange Mint and Honey is a gripping story of a young woman who finds herself in the midst of an identity crisis that has her literally pulling out her hair and seeing Nina Simone “standing in front of her bedroom window.” At the urging of the High Priestess of Soul, LaShay takes a leave of absence from her graduate studies at the University of Iowa and goes home to her recovering alcoholic mother in Denver. From that point on, Brice entangles her readers in a universal tale of a daughter coming to terms with the flaws of her mother. In order to find out who she is, LaShay must first reconcile her anger and bitterness; she must confront her mother, who in the meantime has had another child.

Carlene Brice grapples with universal themes such as a tumultuous mother-daughter relationship, recovery from addiction, first love, and survival. But she puts these themes in a refreshingly urban setting. Brice writes in a clear and accessible style that keeps the story moving around utterly believable and human characters. Unfortunately, Nina Simone doesn’t significantly figure into the story. I was expecting a more profound inclusion of her music or her life. I thought Brice would draw parallels between this brilliant artist and the young life developing in her main character. It’s definitely worth reading!

[Anita Laydon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excerpt from my COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE column:

Carleen Brice’s “Orange Mint and Honey” is a gem. “Orange Mint and Honey” tells the story of Shay Dixon, a broke and broken-down graduate student in Iowa City. The book begins with Shay becoming so depressed, she sees a vision of deceased blues singer Nina Simone. In the vision, Simone tells Shay to go home.

Home for Shay is a tricky place. Shay grew up in Denver with an absentee father and an alcoholic mother. While Shay’s mom, Nona, claims she’s stopped drinking, Shay is doubtful. But with no other option in sight, Shay journeys to Denver and moves in with Nona. Also in the house is Shay’s half-sister, a little girl named Sunny.

Shay has a huge chip on her shoulder, and you’ll have to read the book to see if it ever comes off. No spoilers here! Suffice is to say, Shay grows considerably in the book. She builds strong personal relationships and deals with a recurring problem with trichotillomania—the intentional pulling out of hair. Shay also comes to terms with her past and develops a healthy approach to her future.

“Orange Mint and Honey” is a fabulous book club book. I can easily imagine members verbally jousting over the mother/daughter dynamic. Should Shay forgive Nona? Some book club members will scream, “Yes, yes!” while others will insist, “No way!”

[Cheryl Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome book! I am so excited that this was my first read of 2017. LaShay Davis was a young Graduate student who was struggling in school. She was the adult daughter of an alcoholic. LaShay, because of her upbringing, struggled with issues of trust, forgiveness and love. She has not been able to move forward and develop healthy relationships. With her academics being compromised, she is encouraged to take some time away from school.

Will going home help her to come to grips with who she is? Will revisiting her mother help her to move forward? Or--will she find her mother doing the same things that she did when LaShay was a child? Is LaShay able to handle what is before her?

LaShay and Nona, the mother, both reckons with the past. They both learn a great deal about themselves and each other. Louis B. Smedes " states that "forgiveness does not erase the bitter past." He went on to say " a healed memory is not a deleted memory. Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget creates a new way to remember. We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future."

Note; This book will not only pull on your heart strings but it will touch your soul. Read it and encourage others to do the same.

[Titilayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shay has issues. Her peace is shattered. She has no friends. She is flunking college. Her mental health is atrophying. She has trichotillomania (compulsion to pull hair out by the root). She leaves grad school (the locus of so many nervous breakdowns-center of isolation for many Black women) to go "home" Why? Because the deceased singer, song writer, civil rights activist, humanitarian, and icon dead Nina Simone said "Go Home Shay." Sounds simple right? Nope. This is a story about reconciliation between a neglected child and her adult self; a recovering alcoholic mother and her regrets; mistakes and opportunities to fix them; & the ghosts of a woman's past versus the promise of her future. The last line of the plot blurb sums it nicely: "Shay begins to realize, that like orange mint and honey, sometimes life tastes better when bitter is followed by sweet."

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the garden and the symbolism there was by far my favorite part of the story. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was that I had trouble connecting with the main character. I thought Shay seemed whiny, overdramatic, disrespectful and just really bratty toward everyone. I understood the reasons for her self-pity. It just got old after a few chapters.

The beginning drew me in to the story and I quickly started to like the book. The middle was a little slow, but I liked the style and the reader on this audio has a way of keeping your attention. The ending was not at all what I expected and I was a little sad that the story ended so quickly after it seemed like things were just starting to really happen.

[Haritha · Rating 4 out of 5]

State #3 Colorado
Book #3 in my literary journey through USA

What a beautiful read! This book explores the deeply fractured mother-daughter relationship between Shay and Nona, and addresses the scars of alcoholism, child neglect, and the difficult process of forgiveness and healing. It is a gripping story and I found myself racing through the pages, yearning for redemption for all the characters. I have only seen the outskirts of Denver, and it was interesting to read the descriptions of the neighborhoods described in the story. As a budding gardener, I loved the descriptions of the flowers and herbs in Nona's garden. Now if I only could get my hands on an orange mint plant...

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book!!! Loved, loved loved it....and though it's definitely more of a new adult book - grown folks and teens alike could read and appreciate this book.

After a light night vision from an apparition in the likeness of Miss Nina Simone, herself, Shay Dixon decides to return home to her estranged mother. She's flunking out of graduate school, pulling her hair out, and in a deep depression she's not sure she knows how to pull herself out of...for more visit: http://www.hypelit.com/#!Orange-Mint-...