Carleen Brice

Shay Dixon is a burnt out grad student at the University of Iowa. Her advisor has convinced her to take a semester off to get some rest and get her head together. Shay has worked and gone to school to the exclusion of the rest of her life for so long that she doesn't know where to go or what to do. Nina Simone appears to Shay and tells her to go home to her mother. Shay doesn't like or respect her mother. But with nowhere else to go, she heads back to Denver.

Nona was a serious alcoholic for all of Shay's life. Shay raised herself while Nona partied, leaving her school-aged daughter home alone for a week at a time. The last time Shay saw Nona was four years ago when Nona began AA and was following the steps, apologizing to the people she had hurt. Nona had been pregnant at the time.

Shay moves in with her mother and 3-year-old sister Sunny. Despite evidence that Nona has changed - healthy food, positive quotes, a garden, prayer - Shay is determined to hold on to her anger.

Shay is a very immature 25-year-old, especially for someone who raised herself. But the way she holds on to her anger and blames Nona for her situation is believable. She made a lot of bad decisions and pissed me off, but her character was realistic. I didn't feel a whole lot towards Nona.

I thought the book was going to end up implying that the love of a good man could save a woman, and I was ready to roll my eyes. But Brice didn't go there. Nona and Shay's relationship developed in a realistic way and Shay did start to make her own decisions.

The recipes at the back of the book were a nice touch, and I loved the idea of the God box, planting your prayers in your garden.… (plus d'informations)

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 advisor 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 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 is really 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.… (plus d'informations)