PBP presents... BREAD BAGS & BULLIES: SURVIVING THE '80s by Steven Manchester - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Providence Book Promotions for a stop along their current tour featuring the latest work from an author I've featured many times before.  His name is Steven Manchester, and if it doesn't ring a bell, you are sorely missing out, my friend.  This time around he's ventured into something a smidge different that will steep you in 80's memories while asking you to walk that fine line between disbelief and faith.  Ready or not, here comes today's title in the spotlight and blog tour guest...

Bread Bags & Bullies:  Surviving the '80s

by

Steven Manchester

Genre: Commercial Fiction

Published by: Luna Bella Press

Publication Date: November 19, 2019

Number of Pages: 288

ISBN: 978-0-9841842-7-9 

Amazon | Goodreads

It’s the winter of 1984. Twelve-year-old Herbie and his two brothers—Wally and Cockroach—are enjoying the mayhem of winter break when a late Nor’easter blows through New England, trapping their quirky family in the house. The power goes out and playing Space Invaders to AC DC’s Back in Black album is suddenly silenced—forcing them to use their twisted imaginations in beating back the boredom. At a time when the brothers must overcome one fear after the next, they learn that courage is the one character trait that guarantees all others. This hysterical coming-of-age tale is jam-packed with enough nostalgia to satisfy anyone who grew up in the ‘80s or at least had the good fortune to travel through them.

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Okay, so here's the thing...

...the story itself was GOOD and filled with all the beautiful memories and wonderful messages that readers have come to expect from this author's work...but I need to insert a BUT.

While I enjoyed the nostalgia (hello...child of the 80's here...well, newborn at least), the characters, and the trips down memory lane, I felt like there was something missing.  You see, in his previous works, there was always a prominent HERE AND NOW storyline tethered to all the mental walks into the past, yet in this one, it seemed like the characters kept getting stuck in the past.  There was even a time or two that they were dreaming or recollecting their past experiences and in the middle of that dream, they reflected on their past...so basically a dream within a dream.  It's not that it isn't an interesting concept, it just felt to this reader like there was a bit too much of it.  Don't get me wrong, Mr. Manchester is totally above par in the skill department to write this style of story, as he's proven time and time again, I just think it was too heavily depended on in this case and it made what was happening NOW get lost in the shuffle.

So, did I enjoy the story?  Yes!  Did I love it as much as his other works?  Not really, but I didn't not love it either.  My suggestion...if it sounds good to YOU, READ IT; if it's just a consideration at this point, check out his other works first, then decide.  Sound good?  Good!  Now, get reading!

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Author Bio:

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin' Chair, Pressed Pennies and Gooseberry Island; the national bestsellers, Ashes, The Changing Season and Three Shoeboxes; and the multi-award winning novels, Goodnight Brian and The Thursday Night Club. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Three of Steven's short stories were selected “101 Best” for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is a multi-produced playwright, as well as the winner of the 2017 Los Angeles Book Festival and the 2018 New York Book Festival. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

StevenManchester.com | Goodreads | BookBub | Twitter | Facebook

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GIVEAWAY!!:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Steven Manchester. There will be 7 winners. Two (2) winners will each receive an Amazon GC and five (5) winners will each win one (1) copy of Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the '80s by Steven Manchester (eBook). The giveaway begins on November 1, 2019 and runs through January 2, 2020. Void where prohibited.

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Find Your Next Great Read at Providence Book Promotions!

Special thanks to author Steven Manchester for the heads up on the tour and to Providence Book Tours for the copy for review as well as the chance to bring the tour to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, this tour, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so click on through to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

BLOG TOUR: Practicing Normal by Cara Sue Achterberg - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Providence Book Tours as we celebrate the release of a new Fiction title via The Story Plant.  It's the third release from this particular author in the given genre, and though I've not read the others, I must say that the author wove quite a story indeed.  Ready to make its acquaintance as we close out another month?  Great!  Here we go.  Today's book of choice is...

Practicing Normal

by

Carol Sue Achterberg

9781611882445

The Story Plant

About the book....

The houses in Pine Estates are beautiful McMansions filled with high-achieving parents, children on the fast track to top colleges, all of the comforts of modern living, and the best security systems money can buy. Welcome to normal upper-middle-class suburbia.

The Turners know in their hearts that they’re anything but normal. Jenna is a high-schooler dressed in black who is fascinated with breaking into her neighbors’ homes, security systems be damned. Everett genuinely believes he loves his wife . . . he just loves having a continuing stream of mistresses more. JT is a genius kid with Asperger’s who moves from one obsession to the next. And Kate tries to manage her family, manage her mother (who lives down the street), and avoid wondering why her life is passing her by.

And now everything is changing for them. Jenna suddenly finds herself in a boy-next-door romance she never could have predicted. Everett’s secrets are beginning to unravel on him. JT is getting his first taste of success at navigating the world. And Kate is facing truths about her husband, her mother, and her father that she might have preferred not to face.

Life on Pine Road has never been more challenging for the Turners. That’s what happens when you’re practicing normal.

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |   Goodreads

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This is a story best tackled through its characters because that's where all the drama, all the challenges, all the secrets, cover ups, and unknowns stem from...and there are OH SO MANY more than you might realize.

Kate...the mother, wife, and caretaker, trying to hold it all together.  It's a crazy hard task when you consider what all everyone is getting up to, and that's not even taking into account what she's dealing with personally.  I can't say I agree with her pre-story decision in keeping Everett about, but they do say love is blind...then again, that one should be blind-ED!  Still, she finds her backbone when the trials build beyond even her realm of manageable and a happier ending is found even if it doesn't fit with the Pine Estates formula.

Jenna...daughter, girlfriend, and neighborhood break-in specialist.  Seriously, this girl has talent, but it's one of those that if not used wisely could lead her down a very dark road.  I liked her spark, her spunk, the way she cared for her brother, and her adopted motto (Don't break more than more law/rule at a time.).  She's got troubles, but they're not unconquerable...rather waiting for her to conquer them in her own unique way.

JT...the son, brother, and all around great guy.  He presents his own challenges as life does to him, but it's all in knowing how to work with him,  not against him.  I love his honesty, incredibly brilliant brain, and how he really is the heart of the family.  Oh, and how he saves that one lady...way to go, JT!

Everett...husband (meh), father, (double meh), and classic case of...okay, I don't want to sound like a man hater here, but really...he is not a great guy.  He may have started off that way to our lovesick leading lady, but at this point, no...absolutely not, and I can't even bring up one redeeming quality.  Okay, so he did help crack the case on Frank (the long lost father aka "louse" according to Mildred) and bring to light WAY MORE than either sister ever asked for, but still...not enough to be an actual redeeming quality.

Cassie...newish neighbor, hospice nurse, and ultimately a kind and helpful soul.  She's definitely one cool cat (pun sorta intended), especially when she finds Jenna in a less than above the bar position.  I really liked her outlook on life especially considering her line of work...or maybe more so because of it.  Her ability to welcome Jenna and her "friend", to offer her friendship to Mildred, and even counsel Kate to a degree, speak to the largeness of her heart.

Mildred...mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, and shouter of the term "louse" to pretty much every man that ever existed.  There's a reason for that last bit that comes out in the end, and I can't say I blame her entirely.  Besides the strong opinion of the male species she harbors, she's actually a character who is suffering quite a bit, though one would think she inflicts more than she feels.  They say still waters run deep, well...she's not exactly a perfect fit for the stillness, but the deep part is on par with the Bermuda Triangle.

In the end, it's a story that shares the ups and downs of a life though the eyes of the family living it.  While not extraordinary or beyond belief, it is those exact features that draw you in and keep you turning pages til the unexpected, dramatic, and traumatic end.  There's lots to love, some (people) to hate, and moments to both stop and start your heart, which all add up to a book that should definitely be on your must read list this summer.

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About the author...

Cara Sue Achterberg is a writer and blogger who lives in New Freedom, PA with her family and an embarrassing number of animals. Her first novel, I’m Not Her, was a national bestseller, as was her second, Girls’ Weekend. Cara’s nonfiction book, Live Intentionally, is a guide to the organic life filled with ideas, recipes, and inspiration for living a more intentional life. Cara is a prolific blogger, occasional cowgirl, and busy mom whose essays and articles have been published in numerous anthologies, magazines, and websites. Links to her blogs, news about upcoming publications, and pictures of her foster dogs can be found at CaraWrites.com. CaraWrites.com | Twitter | Facebook

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Special thanks to the Providence Book Tours team and the folks at The Story Plant for the copy for review as well as the chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the publisher,  this tour or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the link provided above.  This title was released earlier this month, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

BEFORE YOU GO....
CHECK OUT THE OTHER SITES ON THE TOUR....

6/01 Guest post @ The Book Divas Reads
6/06 Review @ Rockin Book Reviews
6/07 Guest post @ A Bookaholic Swede
6/08 Showcase @ The Bookworm Lodge
6/09 Review @ BookLove
6/11 Interview @ BookLove
6/12 Review @ Book Babble
6/13 Review @ Wall-to-wall books
6/14 Blog Talk Radio w/Fran Lewis
6/14 Review @ Just Reviews
6/16 Review @ Books Direct
6/19 Review @ CMash Reads
6/20 Interview @ CMash Reads
6/26 Review @ Deco My Heart
6/27 Guest post @ Hott Books
6/28 Review @ The World As I See It
6/30 Review @ Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
7/01 Review @ Cafinated Reads
7/03 Interview @ BooksChatter
7/04 Interview @ Writers and Authors
7/21 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
7/26 Review @ Reading in White Bear Lake
7/30 Review @ Celticladys Reviews

...AND DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Cara Sue Achterberg and The Story Plant. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card and 5 winners of one (1) eBook copy of Girls' Weekend by Cara Sue Achterberg. The giveaway begins on June 1, 2017 and runs through August 3, 2017. Void where prohibited by law.

CLICK BELOW TO ENTER!

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Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

BLOG TOUR: Crossing the Street by Molly D. Campbell - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

I don't know about you, but the heat has really decided to become a relentless companion this past week.  I know, it just started, but I'm telling you!  We were all 70 degrees and fine to 90 degrees and melting in the blink of an eye.  It's enough to make me wish I could reach into today's title to snag one of those orange popsicles!  ~whew~  Anywho...

Today, we're taking a walk through the pages of a newly released Women's Fiction title via The Story Plant, currently touring with Providence Book Promotions.  It's a title filled with interesting characters, good humor, and heart...but not all the experiences are smile worthy for everyone within.  Ready or not, fair readers, I give you today's book of choice...

Crossing the Street

by Molly D. Campbell

Genre: Women's Fiction

Published by: The Story Plant

Publication Date: May 9, 2017

Number of Pages: 290

About the book...

This wasn’t the way Beck Throckmorton had planned it. She wasn’t expecting to find herself in her thirties writing erotica and making flat whites for a living while she stewed over that fact that her ex had wound up with her sister. She never saw herself living in a small suburban Ohio town with an octogenarian neighbor best friend. And she definitely wouldn’t have imagined the eight-year-old great-granddaughter of that friend turning her world upside down.

As summer comes around, Beck’s life is unsettled in every way. And that’s before the crazy stuff starts: the sister taunting her with her pregnancy, the infuriatingly perfect boyfriend, the multiple trips to the emergency room. The needy, wise-beyond-her-years little girl finding places in her heart that Beck didn’t even know existed.

Beck has found herself at an emotional intersection she never anticipated. And now it’s time to cross the street.

CROSSING THE STREET is a funny, touching novel that brims life’s complexities. Filled with characters both distinctive and welcomingly familiar, it is a story that will entertain and enlighten.

 Amazon  | Barnes & Noble  | Goodreads

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Read an excerpt:

My life isn’t exactly bright and shiny. My name is Rebecca Throckmorton. I live in a small town, and I muddle along as best I can. Four scenes from my world:
Scene one: I am at the grocery store. Aimlessly wandering down the produce aisle, looking at the grocery list, as usual, in my mother’s elegant hand. What the hell is a rutabaga, and why do we need one? Suddenly, I see my father, who is long gone from our family—divorce. He is wearing a gold golf shirt, his khaki slacks, crisp and unwrinkled. His hair from the back is a bit silvery, as I am sure it would be after being away from our family for all these years. My heart lurches—He’s back! He came back! I abandon my cart and nearly bowl over a woman studying kiwis, knocking the one in her hand to the ground. I don’t even stop to apologize, because my dad. I come up behind him, breathe in his cologne—yup, Eau de Sauvage. I reach out to touch his shoulder, and he turns around. I gasp. The man is definitely not Dexter Throckmorton. Instead of a Roman nose, this guy has a schnozz. There is awful hair growing out of his nostrils. His eyes are not velvety and black, like my father’s—they are a watery gray and clouded with cataracts. He hears me gasp and asks, “Do I know you?” I abandon the rutabaga and rush out of the store, grocery list still crushed between my fingers.
Scene two: My sister’s wedding. I am wearing a sleeveless, misty green satin dress with two small lines of silver sequins along the bodice. The misty green is reflected in my coloring and makes me look slightly vomitous. I feel about to vomit, since my sister Diana is marrying my former boyfriend, Bryan Dallas, who stands at the end of the aisle, beaming, his horn rims polished so highly I worry that he might start a fire with their refractions into the balcony. As D comes down the aisle on my mother’s arm (see divorce, above), my mother looking for all the world like an aging Audrey Hepburn in a slender tube of taupe silk, I look down at my bouquet and stifle the impulse to hurl it in my sister’s smug, highly-made-up-with-false-eyelashes-and-dewy-lip-gloss face.
Scene three: Me and my girlfriend, Ella Bowers. I sit with her in front of the TV. We like to watch really old reruns of Lawrence Welk that I found for her on the Family Network. Ella pats down her soft, fluffy lavender white hair, and every time Myron Floren comes on comments how much her mother “just loved that man and his accordion.” I nod and agree, because I don’t intend to hurt her feelings—Ella is eighty-three, and I don’t want her to get riled up and have a stroke. I notice my cut glass tumbler of iced tea is empty, and I offer to go into the kitchen of her cozy bungalow and get us each some more.
Scene four: My day job and what really pays the bills. I get home from my part-time job at Starbucks at four. I stretch, try to do the downward facing dog, and fail, as usual, about three quarters of the way down. My cat, Simpson, ambles over for a purr, and then I go and pee, change into sweats, and sit down at my computer, where I pound out a scene in which four orgasms occur within the space of twenty minutes between Travis and Crystal, who are extremely talented genitally. My latest book, Boys on the Beach, is under contract and due at my publisher in two months. When I think about this, sweat pools into the cups of my bra, because I am behind schedule, and erotica pays the bills, not venti lattes.
There you have it.

 

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Beck was an interesting character.  I mean, I could relate to her in many ways and often found myself chuckling at her antics, outbursts, and ponderings.  The difference between her "day job" versus "pays the bills job" was like night and day, but it just goes to reinforce the idea of not judging a book by it's cover because really, would you have ever thought she was a writer in her night hours, let alone of erotica?  Yeah, I think not.  Before you get your feathers ruffled, I'm not judging the genre, merely making a point.  You get an idea of what they should or shouldn't look/live like in your head and BOOM...it sticks.  Anywho...

Beck had a lot of heart, shown incredibly by her wonderful friendship with the Ella, the octogenarian next door, and reestablished (if there was any doubt) when young Bob pays an extended visit.  Who's Bob?  Ah, yes...well, SHE'S a darling little girl, Ella's granddaughter to be precise, and she's hit more than her share of rough patches in her young life.  Right now, she's motherless (by a choice not a passing) and missing her father dearly (military), so she's a bit lackluster in spirits understandably, but Beck will have none of it.  She puts in extra efforts to not only make Ella's new responsibilities easier on her but to liven up young Bob and put a smile back on her face.  There's no question the depth of the heart that runs throughout the book, even with the occasional swerve into family troubles, and erotica scene writing escapades.

There was but one flaw for me though, and that was Beck's love life.  Now, I'm not saying she should live what she writes, but the decisions she makes or rather forces herself to accept seemed out of character for her.  What's that?  I didn't write the character so how can I say that?  Ah, well you got me there, but that doesn't me I can't feel the way I do...and I do.  Her somewhat forced relationship with her sweaty handed gentleman suitor felt off from the start.  I mean, just because he sounds good doesn't mean he's the one for you...sometimes you have to wait for that popcorn moment.  (You'll get it when you read it....)

In the end, it was a good read, certainly worthy of crossing the street for (book title joke!  ^-^), and one I think Women's Fiction readers will find a good home for on their bookshelves.

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Author Bio:

Molly D. Campbell is a two-time Erma Bombeck Writing Award winner and the author of one previous novel, Keep the Ends Loose. Molly blogs at http://mollydcampbell.com. Also an artist, Molly’s work can be found at http://www.cafepress.com/notexactlypicasso. Molly lives in Dayton with her accordionist husband and four cats.

Catch Up With Molly: Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

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And now...

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Molly D. Campbell and The Story Plant. There will be 1 winner of 1 Amazon.com Gift Card AND 3 winners of 1 eBook copy of KEEP THE ENDS LOOSE by Molly D. Campbell. The giveaway begins on May 1st and runs through July 8th, 2017. This giveaway is for US residents only. Void where prohibited by law.

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Visit Providence Book Promotions for more great reads!

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Special thanks to Gina at Providence Book Promotions for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, THIS TOUR, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!