Blog Tour and Giveaway: "Follow Me" Joanna Scott

From the Publisher's Website:

On a summer day in 1946 Sally Werner, the precocious young daughter of hardscrabble Pennsylvania farmers, secretly accepts her cousin's invitation to ride his new motorcycle. Like so much of what follows in Sally's life, it's an impulsive decision with dramatic and far-reaching consequences. Soon she abandons her home to begin a daring journey of self-creation, the truth of which she entrusts only with her granddaughter and namesake, six decades later. But when young Sally's father--a man she has never known--enters her life and offers another story altogether, she must uncover the truth of her grandmother's secret history. ...

My Review:

I'll admit that it took me a long time to get into this book. My biggest problem was that I didn't really like the character of Sally Werner. I couldn't imagine abandoning a child, even if it was with family, and running like that. Sally spends much of the book running- from people, from places, and mainly from herself. I thankfully loved the last third of the book when everything begins to come together (with some intriguing twists!) and we meet some incredibly likable characters. I especially loved the part written by Sally Jr.'s father- I found it compelling and impossible to stop reading. I ended up enjoying the book despite my initial misgivings and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking read. You can find out more about "Follow Me" here or read an excerpt here.

I have a copy of Joanna Scott's "Follow Me" to giveaway, and the winner will also receive a copy of her book of short stories "Everybody Loves Somebody"(I haven't read this one yet, but plan to!). I'll make it simple to enter: leave me a comment with an e-mail address that I can contact you at if you're the winner, telling me why you would like to win this book. The winner will be drawn randomly from all entries on May 4, 2009. This contest is open to both Canadian and American addresses, no PO Boxes please!

For additional reviews from other book devotees participating in the blog tour please visit any (and all!) of the following:

http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/

http://redladysreadingroomredlady.blogspot.com/

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/

http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/

http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/

http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com/

http://stephaniesbooks.blogspot.com/

http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.com/

http://bananas4books.blogspot.com/

http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com/

http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/

http://grumpydan.blogspot.com/

http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/

http://worducopia.blogspot.com/

http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/

http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/

http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset

http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/

http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/

http://epicrat.blogspot.com/

http://www.anovelmenagerie.com/

http://danys-san.blogspot.com/

http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/

http://tvandbookaddict.blogspot.com/

http://literarymenagerie.blogspot.com/

http://www.chikune.com/blog

http://book-chic.blogspot.com/

http://www.amberstults.com/

http://allisonsatticblog.blogspot.com/

http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/

http://38thavedivareaders.blogspot.com/

http://linussblanket.typepad.com/

http://www.morbid-romantic.net/

http://kylees2009.blogspot.com/

http://www.savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/

http://exlibrisbb.blogspot.com/

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/

http://www.xanga.com/bravehsgirl

http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/

http://burtonreview.blogspot.com/

http://donnasbookreviews.blogspot.com/

http://www.squidoo.com/readingstaycation

http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/

A big thank-you to Miriam at Hachette Book Group for organizing this tour. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to experience a new author!