Incense and Peppermints

By: Cathrina Constantine

Narrated by: Katie Penate

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

Peace demonstrations and sit-ins following the escalation of the Vietnam War are leading to a catalyst known as the Sixties. A musical revolution, flower power, hippies, and drugs are carrying - young and old - into a new decade. All the while Mary Monroe is caught between being an innocent good girl and an autumn of drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. 

When her brother offers a solution to her dilemma in the form of a little pill, Mary takes a walk on the wild side. Plunged into popularity and a life she’s only imagined, she meets Michael Covington, the hot newcomer, and she’s instantly drawn in by his less than flawless exterior and bad boy sex appeal. Caught up in danger and excitement, Mary follows her new crush into a world where girls are never truly safe from predators lurking in the shadows, and where young men are hiding from the harsh reality of war. 

With the war and her fear threatening to separate Mary and Michael forever, only the death of a friend, a crushing confession, and her own sensibilities can carry her over the threshold between adolescence and adulthood.

©2017 Cathrina Constantine (P)2021 Cathrina Constantine

What's it like to be a teenage girl in the 60's?

I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed the narration as well. You get swept up into the life of a teenage girl growing up in 60s America, with everyone afraid of being drafted into the Vietnam war. I loved its anti-war theme or at least to me it was an anti-war theme. I felt bad for the main character and her brother because she came from a dysfunctional family with a lot of emotional and even physical abuse. I was rooting for both her and her brother.

The author weaves an interesting story together where there's a slight mystery and you're wanting to find out what happened to her and who did what. Who can she trust? I would read more by this author and I wish this was a series because I want to find out what happened in this character's life next. I enjoyed being swept up into a completely different historical era. The characters were real and came to life for me.

The author gave me a review copy of this book and I'm really glad. It in no way affects my review as I'm given a lot of books to review that I don't like but I loved this one and hope to continue reading this author and listening to the narrator. It was such a nice listen that I just lay down in bed with my baby and held him while he slept and kept listening to this book whereas normally I would likely put him down and go do work or something. But I was pretty captivated; it was like a movie or TV show, so, I really recommend it.

It really is a perfect listen for snuggling with your baby or cleaning your house and being transported to a different time period. Thank you to the author for writing this book!

Beautiful Story

A sweet and tender romance amidst the clamor of the sixties. Laughter and tears are wrenched from the listener. Excellent story professionally narrated .

An awesome story

This is a story about Mary growing up and her 15th year in 1969. She goes through the regular team drama and thanks to her brother is finally hanging out with the in crowd. To Mary’s chagrin though the in crowd does drugs drinks makes out… All the things Mary has never done. It even puts her in company with the boy all the girls want and for some reason she keeps catching him looking at her. I love this book I loved Mary and Michael’s relationship I love the memory just in general she was awesome and I thought the story was authentically told and put on no errors. It almost seem like an honest memoir from a girl growing up at that time. I honestly love this book!

very good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

A good read.

From 1969 a young woman let's you see what growing up during this time was like for many. All the things that make life interesting when you are a teen. Cliches, football. driving, etc. will the team win the playoffs? will my friends accept me? There is a mystery around the football player's past, and more. A great read.