Customer Reviews

Stealing Lumby

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was such a delightful book, so I hope my review will help others to find this gem. (I'm one of the many guilty of writing reviews only when I feel very strongly that it is good or bad.) The 2nd book in the Lumby series is as good as the first. It's so nice to fall into a book where you already know many of the characters, but this book also works well as a standalone. I can't add too much to the plot summary given by the professional reviewers without spoiling the fun except to say that in addition to the saga of the stolen painting, the monks are caught up in business angst while growing the new sauce business.

This book has it all for those looking for a cozy read--interesting characters that you will care about along with a great plot--and will leave you wanting more. The daily sheriff's log is published in the local newspaper, and those sections are laugh-out-loud funny. Other sections are very serious. Highly recommended for those who can't get enough of Jan Karon, Fannie Flagg, Adriana Trigiani, and Louise Shaffer and those looking for a charming place to escape from the crazy schedules we all keep these days. This book is very spiritual but not religious or preachy, so it works well for most religions. Gail Fraser is very clever with her plots, so I look forward to seeing what she will come up with next. I really wish I was catching up on this series instead of being ahead of the curve on this series because I'm ready for more but will look forward to installment #3 in January of '08.

I read Stealing Lumby first.......now I have ordered the first Lumby book and look forward to more! What a great read! Wish these folks were my neighbors!!

Was hoping to find a Jan Karon "Mitford" type of story and The Lumby series isn't as good, but they are a nice cozy read.

Once you have been introduced to the characters in this book you want to go back and visit the other books offered in the series. These are fantastic bedtime novels that make you feel comforted.

I love these books. They invite you in and make you feel at home! It's very nice, easy reading that keeps you interested and wanting more without all the gratuitous violence, etc. I can't wait to get to the next book and the next. In the same vain as the Cape Light books--read all those, GREAT READING.

I really have enjoyed this series. this book was one of the best. they are clean and good characters, not using bad language and violence to accomplish a story. Thank you to Gail Fraser.

I was provided copies of the Lumby Books from the publisher after a favorable review of The Lumby Lines - but copies or no, I already had these books on my library list.

I really loved revisiting Lumby - it was fun meeting up with Pam and Mark again, fun seeing the monks and I had the most fun reading the stories in the Lumby Lines newspaper and the Sheriff's Reports.

That all said, I didn't enjoy the plot of this book as much - yes, it seemed a bit far-fetched that Lumby would become such a media hotspot, but I could handle that, I understand that when a famous painting goes missing something like that would happen.

My issue was with a missing barn. I just had a hard time with it and it felt as if things were really going a bit too far and trying too hard.

Also, as much as I loved Charlotte, the woman just seems made out of money and an easy way out in this book - I couldn't wrap my mind around it.

Overall, the book was a fun read, just a bit too far-fetched for me to enjoy as much as I loved the first one.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, The Lumby Lines, and I found this installment just as charming. The residents of Lumby all have such unique and interesting stories. Fraser does a wonderful job at weaving the individual stories into the overall picture. She is able to connect the residents of Lumby with the famous artist and the national story about the painting without losing the charm of life in Lumby. Many familiar characters return in Stealing Lumby and there are a few new friends introduced as well.

It is very rare that a book will actually bring a smile to my face or cause me to laugh out loud. Stealing Lumby is a fun book and a great break from the darkness often found in the books I read. It was actually a perfect follow up to Susan Kelly's By Accident because it was such a change of pace.

After reading the first book in this series, I could not wait to return to Lumby again. I had such a wonderful visit that I wish that this town actually existed. Right now I am in need of a place to rest and relax and Lumby is the perfect town for me to achieve both. Since I can't actually go there in real life, reading about the town in a book is the next best thing.

The book starts off a little slow but that was mainly because I was trying to remember who everyone was again. Once you get into the story however, it's easy to get sucked into the plot as you mingle with the characters. They are what makes the story. I loved visiting with Pam and Mark as they are in full swing with their inn. They are really putting their heart and soul into making this second start in life work for them. From ordering unique trees to attract bees to getting animals to attract business, the couple have tons of adventures. Also of interest are the monks at the monastery who have found a new business in making rum sauces. I loved reading about all the different products they were making.

The story also has a bittersweet touch to it as the reader finds out about the history of how The Barns of Lumby got painted. I really liked how the story between Dana and Charlotte played out throughout the book. It's wonderfully romantic but doesn't bring up a past that will hurt anyone. The entire plot involving the missing barns was very intriguing as I couldn't picture how in in the world an entire barn could disappear overnight. It was a good mystery mixed in with the rest of the story.

This is the second book in the series, and while it can be read as a standalone, I really recommend reading the first book to get a full understanding of the characters and the town itself. As in the first book of the series, there is another version of the Lumby Reader at the end of the book with more recipes, garden tips and another humorous and informative interview with Fraser and the Lumby gang. Again if you are a Mitford fan and are looking for a new series to tide you over, these books will be perfect for you. I can't wait to go back and visit again.

This book is excellent also. I like the questions that are asked of the author in the back of the book. It is very funny!