The Promise of Lumby [Mass Market Paperback]

Gail Fraser (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lumby | Publication Date: July 7, 2009

Hidden in the foothills of a bucolic landscape lies the charming village of Lumby and its quirky inhabitants. The town mascot, Hank, a pink flamingo who thinks he's a bald eagle, came to Lumby long ago because of its mountains, while others still come for the promise of a brand new start. But what happens when the town's warm welcome turns cool?

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...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lumby fanatics are sure to stick by Fraser for her fourth installment of the series featuring her beloved townsfolk and the enigmatic, personified plastic Pink Flamingo Hank in the two-street rural Rockies' town, but newcomers might head for the hills. Sloppy with repeated use of the same descriptive words, the tale centers around newcomer Tom Candor replacing the town's beloved veterinarian. He's frowned upon because he keeps to himself (so as to not spill his secret of accidentally killing Ming the panda), but he does catch the heart of carpenter Mackenzie McGuire. Inserts of the local paper's news lend a well-needed faint chuckle in this meandering chaos of conundrums. Then there's Pam and Mark Walker, suddenly swarming with new dinner customers at their inn after a hot magazine review has foodies from across the country venturing to Lumby while the monks who sold the inn to the Walkers begin getting daily deliveries of exotic animals. It's a whirlwind of implausible activity, the perfect happy ending to every story line making it all that more unbelievable. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"If Fraser's little town of Lumby could escape the confines of her imagination and be put on the proverbial map, I'd move there in a moment.  What an agreeable world she's created!" (Lumby on the Air) --Philip Gulley, author Harmony series

"A visit to the charming, whimsical town of Lumby is a refreshing change from our fast paced lives.  A delightful read."  (Lumby's Bounty)
--Joan Medlicott, author of The Ladies of Covington series

"Fraser carries the reader through a rich venue of storylines and memorable characters set against the backdrop of small town life.  Enjoy!" (Lumby on the Air) --Katherine Valentine, author of the Dorsetville series and the Haunted Rectory

"You will be amazed by the great imagination of the author...The reader is in for a treat. This book is a delight to read and one that you will thoroughly enjoy." --Bestsellersworld

"Readers who have traveled to Mitford with Jan Karon will find the trip to Lumby at least as pleasant and marked with a lot more laughter." --CozyLibrary

"A visit to the charming, whimsical town of Lumby is a refreshing change from our fast paced lives."
-Joan Medlicott, author of The Ladies of Covington series

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade; 1 Original edition (July 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451226968
• ISBN-13: 978-0451226969
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Prior to changing her life and becoming a novelist in 2004, Gail had a long and successful career in 'corporate America' holding senior executive and upper management positions in several Fortune 500 and start-up corporations. During her career, in addition to living throughout the United States, Gail traveled to 22 countries and had extended stays in Australia, Japan, Brazil and several countries in Europe.

Gail was born and raised in Rye, New York, and attended the Rye High School and then majored in English and received an AA from Colby Sawyer College. After graduating, Gail studied at the University of London and returned to Skidmore College where she earned her BA in English Education. She completed her MBA at the University of Connecticut, with graduate work done at Harvard University.

Gail and her husband, nationally renowned folk artist Art Poulin (www.lazygoosestudios.com), have built their own 'Lumby' at Lazy Goose Farm in rural upstate New York. Featured in several magazines, newspapers and on television, Lazy Goose is a 40-acre gentleman's farm that is demarcated by a 200-year old stone wall, and has views of the Catskills, Adirondack and Vermont mountains. Gail is also an avid stoneware potter, an heirloom gardener and a cook and enjoys tending to their orchard and bee hives most every morning.

Gail and Art's story and respective talents are featured in their first collaborative effort, a non-fiction illustrated hardcover entitled "Finding Happiness in Simplicity: Everyday Joys for Simple Living Throughout the Year" (Globe Pequot 3/2012).

Please visit her at www.lumbybooks.com
www.findingsimplicitybooks.com
www.lazygoosestudios.com
www.lazygooseretreat.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Escape To Happiness, July 8, 2009

By 

Rebecca Tucker "Becky" (Missoula, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Promise of Lumby (Mass Market Paperback)

An absolute delight to read from the first page to the last! Lumby comes alive again and the series just keeps getting better and better. The author hits her full stride with this fourth book that draws the reader into the small, captivating town and the lives of its residents who will do most anything to persuade a veterinarian to call Lumby his home. Fraser's writing reminds me that life can be, at its best and worse, hilariously imperfect and all we have to do is sit back, smile and know that we are each blessed in our own quirky way. Thanks for giving us such a breath of fresh air and a dose of much needed happiness.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love the land of Lumby, July 15, 2009

By 

Debbie's World of Books "Debbie's World of Books" (Union City, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Promise of Lumby (Mass Market Paperback)

When I first received this book I was not too excited and thought the title was kind of strange (not having read any other Lumby books) but I am so glad I received this now! Otherwise I would have missed out on a wonderful book filled with a quirky town full of people you will come to love. I love how Hank, the town's flamingo mascot, ends up every where and is attributed all of these great actions. The antics of the towns people will put a smile on your face even as you are shaking your head. I will admit that the one character I had a hard time with was Pam Walker's husband. I know he was supposed to come off as so clueless that he loveable but I just found him irritating and thought love must be blind in order for Pam to stay with him. Other than that this was a great book that I highly recommend you pick up if you need a laugh and are willing to suspend reality and enter the entertaining world of Lumby.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For fans of Lumby, July 8, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Promise of Lumby (Mass Market Paperback)

In the Rockies' tiny town of Lumby, Pam and Mark Walker had hoped their restaurant at the Montis Inn would be a success. Neither was ready for how successful it become. Now each is exhausted from overworking and both wonder what is going on with the former owners. The now famous philanthropists of Saint Abbey, the monks are receiving exotic animals and selling gourmet dining to delighted customers who come for great food and spiritual cleansing as they know the way to a man's spirit is through his stomach.

At the same time, vet Dr. Ellen Campbell announces she is selling her practice to Tom Candor. He is made quickly unwelcome because he fails to mingle. Tom fears rejection if they knew his darkest secret, killing Ming the panda. However carpenter Mackenzie McGuire is attracted to the newcomer and hopes he reciprocates.

Fans of Lumby (see STEALING LUMBY, LUMBY'S BOUNTY and LUMBY LINES) will relish this engaging return trip enhanced by the local newspaper gossip. The subplots are fun, over the top of the Rockies, and all subplots end up in "Happy Valley" (but not Penn State). Whimsical, uplifting and warm, THE PROMISE OF LUMBY is a lighthearted frolic that requires leaving the reality meter at page one.

Harriet Klausner