BOOK REVIEWS --LUMBY SERIES

Thursday, June 10, 2010

My review for the first book in this excellent series was posted May 19 and can be found here http://clif74blog.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-delightful-series.html Today I am posting overviews of the next three books in the series and then in a few days I will post a full review of the newest book, Lumby on the Air.

STEALING LUMBY
Just a dot on the map of the Northwest, Lumby looms big in the hearts of its residents. The townsfolk consider one another family as well as friends. And though the annual cow race can bring out the competitiveness in people, when times get tough, there is no better person to turn to than your nearest neighbor...

Inn owners Pam and Mark Walker are up to their ears in new projects, including planting gum trees for their bees to produce rare honey and expanding their critter collection. But the big news of the day is the theft of The Barns of Lumby, one of the most important paintings of the twentieth century. Town matriarch Charlotte Ross has a very personal connection to the painting--and to the artist, Dana Porter. And as a media frenzy descends on the little town, one of the two actual barns disappears from the landscape--and pieces of it begin showing up all over town in the oddest places...

LUMBY'S BOUNTY
How Lumby has come to host a hot-air balloon festival is a long story, but the town's residents are jumping right into preparations. Montis Inn owner Mark Walker assumes command with less than successful results. Lucky for Lumbians, two visitors at Saint Cross Abbey are balloon enthusiasts. As Kai and Jamar help Lumby take flight, their efforts are noticed by Caroline Ross, granddaughter of the town's recently deceased matriarch. While romance grows, cultures clash, and balloons crash in town. Pam Walker is tethered to her home with an overwhelming challenge of her own. And all are keeping their fingers crossed for blue skies and smooth sailing...

THE PROMISE OF LUMBY
At Montis Inn, the success of Pam Walker's on-location restaurant is leaving her overworked and frazzled, while her husband Mark's fascination with Internet auctions leads to some outlandish purchases, one of which requires military clearance. Meanwhile, Lumby's only veterinarian, Dr. Ellen Campbell, has decided to sell her business, and the townsfolk are in full panic mode. Who will tell blind Jeremiah that his old horse Isabella is eating rabbit feed, and who will help little Timmy convince his parents that a puppy is the perfect pet?

When animal doctor tom Candor arrives in Lumby, he seems the answer to everyone's prayers. But some residents are not so trusting of the shy, pensive vet, especially newspaper owner Dennis Beezer, who is determined to expose Tom's secrets. The repercussions lead to an unpredictable, over-the-top adventure--and a heartfelt lesson the people of Lumby won't soon forget.
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Gail Fraser has done an excellent job with this series of delightful books. I agree with author, Joan Medlicott, who said, "A visit to the charming, whimsical town of Lumby is a refreshing change from our fast-paced lives."