78 Responses

1. Debbie

   April 4th, 2009 at 3:39 am

   

   Wow – What a great review – Sometimes the hard decisions we make in life stary with us forever. I have commented on the post for Follow Me. It sounds like a great book. Please include me in your giveaway.
   Thanks
   Debbie
   debdesk9@verizon.net

2. Melissa

   April 4th, 2009 at 4:07 am

   

   This book sounds great! Please count me in!

   *I left a comment in your review post as well.

   *I’m a subscriber

   *I tweeted about this contest

   *You are in my blogroll and are also a featured button above my blogroll

   Thanks for the chance to win!!

3. rhapsodyinbooks

   April 4th, 2009 at 5:17 am

   

   Please enter me!

   nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

4. rhapsodyinbooks

   April 4th, 2009 at 5:18 am

   

   I subscribe to A Novel Menagerie (and am even learning to spell it!)

   nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

5. Erika Lynn

   April 4th, 2009 at 7:08 am

   

   count me in. this book sounds so good!

   I commented on the review

   I subscribe in google reader

   I tweeted the giveaway (my Twitter ID is kissmybook)

   You are in my blogroll

6. NotNessie

   April 4th, 2009 at 8:07 am

   

   This sounds like a really interesting read. Count me in.

   *A part of my family legacy that has strongly influenced who I am is loyalty. Even though we’re far-flung around the country, if you need the family, the family is there.

   *A tragic event that has made my family stronger – my brother’s mental illness. We’ve really had to take a daily interest in making sure he’s doing well.

   *commented on your review. It’s a good one!
   *subscriber

   gypsyrover21(at)yahoo(dot)ca

7. Indigo

   April 4th, 2009 at 9:15 am

   

   I would love to enter for this book please.

   *I follow you on Google Reader.

   *Family history would be I’m Native American (Cherokee to be exact). I come from a long line of which the last 3 generations seemed to be in denial of who they were. Strange enough they seemed to want to keep the bloodline pure despite their denial by marrying Indian. Today I’ve changed that course by embracing all of who I am Native and German.

   *Not exactly tragic, rather heriditary…All the women in my immediate family are Deaf outside of my mother. For some reason it doesn’t effect the males and skips every 3rd generation. I found immense strength within myself after I lost the last of my hearing.

   Thanks for this opportunity! (Hugs)Indigo

   ravensquietscreams(at)gmail(dot)com

8. Margay

   April 4th, 2009 at 11:16 am

   

   What an amazing review! I left a comment there, too. I suppose the thing about my history that has probably shaped me into what I am today is that I came from a long line of strong women who were great storytellers. My maternal grandmother used to tell me some fantastic stories about our history and genealogy, which would ignite my imagination and spur my own interest in writing and genealogy. I would love to write about them some day.
   Margay

9. nomadreader

   April 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am

   

   * I left a comment in the review post.
   * I subscribe via RSS feed.
   * Family legacy: My grandmother’s great aunt was Harriet Beecher Stowe. My father refers to me as my grandmother’s twin from another generation. I aspire to be a writer, and it’s nice to think, somewhere in the family tree there’s history of great writing in the family.

10. kaye

    April 4th, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    

    This sounds like an amazing book, I would love to win.
    * Family legacy, we trace our heritage back to the Mayflower. When I think something is too difficult, i remind myself that if they could land on another continent and build housing to start a new life in the middle of the winter, then I can face what is handed to me.

11. DebbLou

    April 4th, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    

    Thanks for the giveaway… I am leaving a “comment”… I love books and I am really glad that you are having giveaways… thanks

12. Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)

    April 4th, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    

    No need to enter me, but I’ve heard this is a great book and I can’t wait to read it when my book arrives from Hatchette.

13. Literate Housewife

    April 4th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    

    I just heard a lot about this book at lunch today with Miriam from Hatchette and I must enter this contest. First things first:

    My Great-Grandpa Vollmer was a big man – not fat, but big. He was tall and strong and had the biggest hands I’ve ever seen to this day. When he was young, he was recruited hot and heavy by the Chicago Cubs to play baseball. Back then (around 1920), baseball players didn’t make the kind of money they do now. When asked to decide between his dream or taking care of his family, he chose to take care of his family. He later went on to become a Christmas tree farmer in his retirement. To this day, the Vollmer clan loves baseball. I will only have a real Christmas tree, too. No fake trees for me and my babies. There is always a picture of him in the tree, too.

    A tragic thing that happened in my family is that my dad’s older brother Randy committed suicide one week to the day after my 21st birthday. That day also happened to be his father’s birthday. Although he didn’t choose that day purposefully, Grandpa still really won’t celebrate his birthday anymore. That was a really hard thing for our family to endure. There was a lot of anger for a good while, but Uncle Randy was so depressed and crippled with anxiety and the doctors told him that there was nothing they could do to help him. Although I can’t say that it made the whole family closer, it has made me closer with my dad – not that we were ever not close. The way that he had to be involved with identifying the body, driving 2.5 hours to tell my grandparents in person, and pretty much being the responsible one of his brothers made me respect so much on an adult level.

    I will take care of the rest of the entries tomorrow. The hubby and I are going to watch Slumdog Millionaire.

14. angie

    April 5th, 2009 at 6:48 am

    

    This books really great. I LOVE to read it.

    You are in my blogroll in my sidebar and have been for some time.

    The most tragic thing that has happened in my family is that my mom was murdered when I was 8. After all these years, I think the tragedy has made me a stronger person, but I still yearn for my mom. I think it brought my sister and I closer.

    I have every hard working, industrious ancestors (Scottish and Danish). I never sit still (unless I’m at the computer in which case my fingers are always moving) and I attribute that to them. My Danish ancestors helped settle a county in Utah.

15. MJ

    April 5th, 2009 at 7:36 am

    

    Please count me in.

16. MJ

    April 5th, 2009 at 7:48 am

    

    My son had a horrible accident last year with a shotgun. I missed month of work. He’s better now. My niece was in a terrible car wreck last week. Now my sister realizes how she wasn’t there for me. It’s sad but it’s brought us closer.

17. Connie Keirns

    April 5th, 2009 at 10:28 am

    

    Sounds like a good book.

18. Valorie

    April 5th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    

    I would love a chance to win. And, you know, I think the red hair of the girl on the cover is soooo pretty.

    I left a comment at the review!

    And I blogged about this contest: http://www.morbid-romantic.net/2009/03/30/book-giveaways-0330-0405/

    My family on my mother’s side is very Mormon and we all have a connection, Mormon or not, to Salt Lake City and the Mormon church. Even though I don’t practice any religion, I still deeply respect the Mormon’s and everything they do. My family was among the founders of the first Mormon’s here, so we’re very proud of that legacy and love it when we see our name in museums.

    The death of my aunt was a very tragic event, yet it made my family stronger. My mother had been somewhat estranged from her mother for a while. The death of my aunt brought them together and they have been impossible to separate since.

    I subscribe, of course.

    Tweet here: http://twitter.com/morbidromantic/status/1459037351

    Thanks so much. <3

    Valorie
    morbidromantic@gmail.com

19. Anne Taylor

    April 5th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    

    This looks like a wonderful book! Thankyou for another great giveaway!

    I’m subscribed via Google Reader

    Tweeted
    greeeneyedwhwomhttp://anovelmenagerie.com/… Win a copy of Follow Me!
    greeeneyedwhwom (twitter name)

    Thanks

20. Rebecca

    April 5th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    

    Please sign me up to win, Sheri!

    ~Family History: I don’t know a lot about my family history but I do know that I am Swiss on my father’s side somewhere and I have seen the house where some of our extended family lives today. It is set on the side of a cliff in the Alps! You have to climb somehow up onto the cliff to get out of it! And I thought I lived in a tough neighborhood!

    ~Family Struggle: Well, as you already know I think, my dad passed away in January. Unfortunately a lot of our family stories died with him. You always think you have more time to record stuff but you don’t. I would love to know where that picture is of that house on the cliff. Do we have it hidden somewhere? Does someone else have it? I have no idea. And that’s just the beginning of things we may never know.

    ~I subscribe to you and follow you.

    ~You are in my blogroll already, too. You know I love your blog!

21. Sherry

    April 5th, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    

    Awesome giveaway Sher! I also commented on your review of this book. It’s on my must read list!

    My blog can be found here:
    http://sherrylinnslist.blogspot.com/2009/04/win-copy-of-follow-me.html

    My tweet can be found here:
    http://twitter.com/Sherrylinn/status/1460421092

    Family History – lucky me, I’m part German, Irish, and Italian. (Think I might have a slight temper problem? LOL I do!)

    Tragic Event – I was a single mom ten years ago, my boys were 14 and 16 at the time. My youngest was home alone on spring break, and our kitchen caught fire, while he was sleeping. (short in the wiring). Had our cat and dog not woke him, I would have lost him along with the house and our belongings. Praise God my son lived. We did loose our kitty too. We are much closer and stronger after that.

    I’m a subscriber – slcremer at gmail dot com

22. Tiffany

    April 5th, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    

    Please enter me. This book looks really good. Thanks!

    Family history: I was raised by a single mother who was raised by a single mother. It has taught me to be very independent from a young age, since I had a higher level of responsibility than most kids my age did.

    Tragic event: My uncle Wesley was killed when his car was hit by a train. The train crossing had no bar or toll bell at the time. They were only installed after his death. For years afterwards we’d have to drive across the spot where he was killed. It did bring the family closer together though.

    I’m also subscribed to your blog.

    tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com

23. Carol

    April 6th, 2009 at 7:51 am

    

    I would love to be entered.

    Family legacy: Faith.

    Family tragedy: My father died when my brother and I were in college, wchih brought us closer together.

    Thanks.

24. Cheryl S.

    April 6th, 2009 at 9:12 am

    

    Looks like an interesting read – please count me in!

    Thanks,
    Cheryl
    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

25. Cheryl S.

    April 6th, 2009 at 9:22 am

    

    Read your review & posted a comment there as well – great review!

    Cheryl
    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

26. Cheryl S.

    April 6th, 2009 at 9:23 am

    

    I’m an email subscriber

    Cheryl
    megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

27. Kristi

    April 6th, 2009 at 10:50 am

    

    Please enter me in the giveaway for this book. I also commented on your review.
    I follow your blog and you are in my blogroll!

    Kristi
    kherbrand at comcast dot net

28. Kristina

    April 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am

    

    I’d love a chance to win!!
    luckistarr4@gmail.com

29. Kristina

    April 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am

    

    I left a comment on your review post and here =)

30. Kristina

    April 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am

    

    I posted here
    http://kristinasfavorites.blogspot.com/2009/04/win-book-follow-me.html

31. Kristina

    April 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am

    

    I subscribe
    AND
    You’re in my blogroll!!

    This was fun!

32. rachel0

    April 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    

    A key element of our family history is that my parents are immigrants. There is no doubt that being a first generation American has shaped and even helped define who my siblings and I are today.

33. rachel0

    April 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    

    I’m a subscriber too.

34. Faith

    April 6th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

    

    I subscribe (that’s how I got here. )
    I read the reviewand commented.
    I added this site to my book review blog sidebar.
    I will be commenting about the contest in several blogs (since I cross post to different communities (airynothing, Livejournal, Xanga and Facebook) – will advise when I’ve done it
    Can’t do the “ADDITIONAL TWO ENTRIES” without much more thought.
    I don’t tweet.
    Will be telling friends.

    Thank you for the opportunity to win this book. One can never have too many books. And this one sounds like a really good one, too.

35. Bridget

    April 7th, 2009 at 3:38 am

    

    Just posted about this on Win A Book. No need to enter me.

36. nfmgirl

    April 7th, 2009 at 4:23 am

    

    I’d love to win this book.

    I commented on the fantastic review!

    I think that my family legacy is simply endurance and tenacity, and being content with life. We don’t let life get us down or keep us down, and find love and enjoyment in the little things in life.

    A “tragic” thing that we endured would probably be just the whole period (years) of my parents separation and my father’s infidelity. I’ve been blessed to not have had a life of tragedy.

    Thanks so much!

37. desiree kelley

    April 7th, 2009 at 5:02 am

    

    we love to read it

38. Beth

    April 7th, 2009 at 7:07 am

    

    This looks great! Please enter me!

    BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

39. Amber G

    April 7th, 2009 at 8:25 am

    

    Please enter me!

40. diane

    April 7th, 2009 at 11:51 am

    

    I am captivated with this wonderful novel. It would be a pleasure to read it.
    I have very close family relationships which are so important to me. The are what is meaningful in life and mean the most to me.

41. Marie

    April 7th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    

    I would love to read this, it sounds fascinating!

    I commented on your review as well.

    My family legacy is one of endurance and determination — I come from an Irish immigrant background where life was often hard but could always be improved if you worked hard enough and kept trying! This really sticks with me today.

    As far as tragedy there were many throughout the years but I think one that had a major impact was when my grandfather’s brother was killed saving another man from a car accident — it’s a story that is often told in the family and it is a tragedy that is remembered for both its sadness and its heroism.

42. Jake

    April 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    

    sounds like a good read, please enter me into this giveaway.

    thanks,
    jakewoodworth(AT)gmail.com

43. Melissa - Shhh I'm Reading

    April 7th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    

    I left a comment on your review post.

    I also follow.

    As for a tragic event, my first husband was killed in a car accident just after his 28th birthday. This is one of those things that never think will happen to you, but it definitely has brought my family closer.

44. bridget3420

    April 7th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    

    I’m a follower & you are on my blogroll

45. cheryl kellery

    April 7th, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    

    I’d love to win this – please enter me

    Family history – my great grandfather fought in the Spanish American war and was supposed to go on a battleship – he woke up sick so his best friend went in his place and the ship sank – he placed a wreath on his friends grave every year on the anniversary of the sinking of the ship until he died at 98 years of age. My family wouldn’t be if it weren’t for this event because he would have died instead of his friend.

    Tragic event would be my mom passing away of pancreatic cancer at age 49.

    msboatgal at aol.com

46. Wrighty

    April 7th, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    

    I really want to read this book!
    - I posted a comment on your review. If you enjoyed it that much I expect it to be really good.
    - As far as family heritage, I always refer to us as American mutts. We have a bit of everything. One side of my family has many secrets in the past so I’m not sure of our history. We do have a large percentage of American Indian. I think the secrets of the past have made us all more open now.
    - Our most recent tragedies would be our family’s run with illnesses. The women have been hit particularly hard – my mom’s years of leukemia, my grandmother’s breast cancer and a year later her colon cancer at the age of 87 and my 34 year-old cousin’s extremely rare brain cancer that has returned twice in 2 years are the giants. Fortunately they are all still here and doing pretty well and teaching everyone to appreciate every good thing we have.
    - I already follow.
    - I already have you on my blogroll.

47. amandasue

    April 8th, 2009 at 6:51 am

    

    What a great book I’d love a chance to read it, and I left a message on the review post. Thanks
    unforgetable_dreamer_always (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

48. Marie Burton

    April 8th, 2009 at 7:15 am

    

    I subscribed (moonpiece) in Google

    I Added your site to My Blog Roll

    I Follow your Blog.

    PLEASE enter ME

    Marieburton2004 at yahoo dot com

    Thanks very much!

49. Marie Burton

    April 8th, 2009 at 7:24 am

    

    I have left a comment on your REVIEW post as well.
    Thanks again,
    MarieBurton2004 at yahoo dot com

50. Lesley

    April 9th, 2009 at 12:53 am

    

    Is this contest open to international entries? If so, please throw my name into the hat! Thanks!

    Lesley
    lesly7ch(@)yahoo(dot)com

51. Carrie K.

    April 11th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    

    This one sounds great – after your review, I have to read it.

    My grandfather fought in the Battle of the Bulge, which has given me a huge interest in WW II – and is one of the reasons Band of Brothers is one of my favorite movies/miniseries.

    I blogged about your contest:

    http://booksandmovies.today.com/2009/04/11/bookish-links-for-saturday-april-11-2009/

    Plus, I follow you on Google Reader and you’re in my blogroll.

52. Teddy

    April 11th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    

    This book sounds wonderful! I also commented on you wonderful book review. (Actually, I keep getting a bad gateway message on it but I will keep trying.)

    My grandparents all came from Russia, they were Russian Jews. Though I don’t practice the religion, I got the values that I have today from them and my parents. I also know the value of money. Something they didn’t have. They made sure that we grandchildren would have a better life. I am so thankfuk for them and miss them.

    A tragic thing in my family happpened when my Gandpa Dave was dying of lung cancer. I was in nineth grade and my mom and dad told me that he was dying. I started crying and my dad hugged me and cryed with me. I had never shared an emotional moment like that with my dad before and I felt like we really conected for the first time. I never saw him cry again but I felt closer to him and realized who he was, a man, a human with emotions. I’m not sure what I thought before that. Just that he was the one who made the “rules” or something. LOL!

    I follow your awesome blog via Google Reader!

    teddyr66 @ yahoo.com

53. Belinda McNabb

    April 11th, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    

    Looks like a great one. Please enter me in your contest

54. Maureen

    April 12th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

    

    I would love to win this book and read it and pass it on in my reading circle of mom, sis in law, aunts, and cousin. It sounds like a book we would all enjoy reading.

    Family history: I come from a long line of strong, hardworking women. Most of the women in my family, grandmother, great aunts, aunts, have all outlived their husbands. Many lost husbands when they still had children at home and have always had to work very hard to support the family. My family is full of great people, who are strong in their faith. They have wonderful work ethics and believe in helping anyone who needs a helping hand. I hope I can live up to the fine example the woman before me have set.
    Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
    itsjustmerene2003 at yahoo dot com

55. vicki

    April 13th, 2009 at 5:57 am

    

    great review- looking forward to reading!

56. A Hazra

    April 15th, 2009 at 3:26 am

    

    Hey, I’d love to read this book. I commented on your review too

57. Ashley Madden

    April 15th, 2009 at 7:36 pm

    

    I’d love a chance to win!

    A tragic event in my family was that my aunt gave birth to a stillborn child. It’s made our family become closer and value the time we have with each other.

58. Anita Yancey

    April 17th, 2009 at 6:14 am

    

    Looks like a really good book. I would love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks for having this giveaway.

59. Ashley Madden

    April 17th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    

    I will subscribe as well.

60. Trin

    April 17th, 2009 at 11:11 pm

    

    *I left a comment in your review post as well.

    *I’m a follower

    *I tweeted about this contest (faith42love)

    *You are in my blog roll and are also a featured button above my blog roll

    * My family legacy is that one of my ancestors was a founding father of Rhode Island, Cranston area apparently.

61. Sue W.

    April 18th, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    

    This sounds like a book that would be enjoyed by many of my friends. I would really like to win it. Thanks for having this and other giveaways.

62. Sue W.

    April 18th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    

    I blogged this giveaway on

    http://gourdcrafter.blogspot.com/

63. Literate Housewife

    April 19th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    

    Sheri, I just tweeted about this contest and included @anovelmenagerie. I hope I win!

64. Jessica Marie

    April 20th, 2009 at 12:56 am

    

    I would love to win this book!

    -I follow you on blogger
    -I commented on your review
    -I tweeted about the giveaway : bookslove

    lovejessicamarie [@] gmail [.] com

65. Jessica Marie

    April 20th, 2009 at 12:58 am

    

    Oh I forgot… I also added you to my blogroll

    lovejessicamarie [@] gmail [.] com

66. Regina D

    April 20th, 2009 at 5:48 am

    

    sounds like a great read. please enter me

67. Regina D

    April 20th, 2009 at 5:49 am

    

    i subscribe

68. Regina D

    April 20th, 2009 at 5:54 am

    

    read your review now i can’t wait to read this book. thanks i posted on review

69. Aik

    April 20th, 2009 at 7:06 am

    

    This sounds like a very interesting book. Can’t wait to read it.

70. Aik

    April 20th, 2009 at 7:20 am

    

    My grandfather was a Siamese and my grandmother was from China. Although they’re from different races, they still fall in love and married.

71. Aik

    April 20th, 2009 at 7:22 am

    

    This makes who I am today!

    (This is the 2nd extra entry for the family history.)

72. Aik

    April 20th, 2009 at 7:29 am

    

    Tragic event #1:

    My grandfather was a chain smoker and in the year 2006, he was diagnosed with 4th stage lung cancer. After knowing this terrible fact, we were very sad and worried because we knew that every time we see him could be the last time in our lives. My grandmother was very upset even though she didn’t say anything. After 3 months, he passed away and my grandmother couldn’t take it anymore and went on crying and crying. Luckily, by the help of a pastor and friends from church, she was able to cope the loss. However, neither of us knew that another tragedy was coming…

73. Aik

    April 20th, 2009 at 7:39 am

    

    Tragic event #2:

    After six months, something we never expected happened. Our beloved aunt commited suicide in her home. She did this because she was suffering from serious depression as a result of working pressure. She was a Christian, and we never thought she’d do such a thing. My dear grandmother was so shocked that she couldn’t say anything. After that, she remained expressionless. Although she did not express herself, I knew that to her, this was the greatest pain of all. When we humans are in our most heart-broken state, we are expressionless because the pain we bear is more than we can hold.

74. Aik

    April 20th, 2009 at 7:44 am

    

    I’d like to subscribe. Thanks.

    aikychien@yahoo.com

75. Aik

    April 20th, 2009 at 7:49 am

    

    I tweeted here:

    http://twitter.com/aikychien/status/1565905138

76. Vera

    April 22nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    

    Please enter me! vvperesk@gmail.com.

77. BookSpot

    April 22nd, 2009 at 9:01 pm

    

    That looks like a really igood book

78. BookSpot

    April 22nd, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    

    and I read and commented on the review as well