Review: The Lumby Lines

The Lumby Lines
Author: Gail Fraser
Publisher: New American Library
ISBN: 9780451221391
Suggested Audience: Teen through adult
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from FSB):

Nestled in the Northwest is a quaint little town that its quirky residents are proud to call home. With charming shops lining its one main thoroughfare, Lumby has the oldest apple tree in the county and the smallest bank in the state. And though it's hours from the nearest big city, you'll always find Lumby close to your heart . . .

Nearly destroyed by fire, Montis Abbey remains a ruin on the outskirts of Lumby. Once home to a resourceful order of monks, it stands abandoned, surrounded by its overgrown orchards. Then Mark and Pam Walker, a vacationing couple from the East Coast, stumble upon it -- and upon the answer to their prayers. Leaving behind their hectic lives to restore the monastery and turn it into an inn is a dream come true.

But some residents of Lumby take a while to warm up to outsiders. One of them is irascible William Beezer, owner of The Lumby Lines -- the newspaper "worth the paper it's printed on." At every turn, he tries to hinder the Walkers' efforts. The couple soon learns that for every citizen like William, there are many more willing to lend a hand, and that Lumby isn't just a place -- it's a way of life.

Other books in this series include: Stealing Lumby, Lumby's Bounty, The Promise of Lumby, and Lumby on the Air (coming Spring 2010).


My Comment:


What a lovely book! The story takes place in Lumby which reminded me of a modern day Mayberry. The folks are friendly, but suspicious of outsiders until they prove they are worthy of being accepted. (How realistic of small town life that is.) The sheriff and members of the community could be anyone of any small town. I know I can see some of those Lumby residents in my own neighborhood. I find the people and the mischievousness that happens in Lumby to be quite realistic.

I really enjoyed this story. It had a nice cozy feel to it and would be a fantastic read on a rainy day or just to escape. I liked the bit of mystery and enjoyed the humor throughout the story. There were quite a few times I laughed out loud - and now just a chuckle but a real belly laugh. The outtakes of the newspaper were a really nice touch, as were the illustrations. There are a couple of nice bonuses as well - and author interview and some really tasty looking recipes in the back of the book.

I am anxious to move on to the next book in the series. This looks like it's going to be a fantastic series to read.

Author Bio
Gail Fraser had a successful career in corporate America holding senior executive and upper management positions in several Fortune 500 and start-up corporations. She lives with her husband, Art Poulin, and their two dogs near Saratoga Springs, New York.

Visit Gail Fraser at www.lumbybooks.com.


This book was sent to me by Caitlin of FSB for an honest review. Thank you so much, Caitlin!