Stealing Lumby

I started reading "Lumby Lines" first and it was something new for me. So I purchased "Stealing Lumby" and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story. Pete

What a wonderful book! I stumbled upon this and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It's got a few mysteries in the book but it's not just a mystery. The story focuses on a few of the town's people but not one person in particular. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters. One difficulty, since I didn't read the first in the series before I read this one, I had some trouble keeping track of the characters. I finally wrote them on a post-it I stuck in the front cover and that helped me remember who everyone was. I was surprised I hadn't heard of her before but am quickly gathering the other books she's written. Keep it up, Gail! You're doing a fantastic job!

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!!