THE LUMBY LINES: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE LUMBY LINES
BY GAIL FRASER

ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:(In case you missed meeting Gail yesterday)

Gail Fraser was born and raised in Rye, New York, and attended the Rye High School before continuing on to major in English and receive an AA from Colby Sawyer College. Gail then studied at the University of London before returning 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.

Prior to changing her life and becoming a novelist, Gail had a successful career in 'corporate America' holding senior executive and upper management positions in several Fortune 500 and start-up corporations, and traveling extensively throughout the world. In addition to living throughout the east coast from northern Vermont down to central Florida, Gail also lived in Colorado, Montana and Oregon for several years. Gail and her husband, artist Art Poulin, are building their own Lumby on Lazy Goose Farm in rural upstate New York. Featured in several magazines and newspapers, 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. They share their lives with Yoda (a kind and gentle German Shepherd from New Skete Monastery), Emma, Camille and several other two- and four-legged barn friends. Art spends his days in the studio while Gail writes in her library, overlooking their pond. Gail is also an avid stoneware potter, gardener and cook and enjoys tending to their orchard (recently decimated by the deer) and bee hives most every morning.

MY REVIEW:

I found the idyllic place to spend my spring break and that is in Lumby. I will admit I was unsure if I would like this homespun-looking book, but am just in love with it, THE LUMBY LINES, and the entire series! The delightful story tells of how Pam and Mark Walker stumble across Lumby while on vacation, and fall in love with everything Lumby and especially Lumby’s Montis Abbey which they decide to buy. Built in 1893, it is a local historic landmark that they have resolved themselves to transform into a comfortable inn and a commercial success. They are full of enthusiasm which hopefully makes up for their lack of experience in any of this. The former resident monks are thrilled with the Walkers but have their own problems as you will discover.

Sadly, not everyone is happy about the Walker’s project. The Lumby Lines, the town newspaper, begins printing news, but also gossip, about how the Inn will not be good for the town‘s economy or for the residents. The Beezer family and their influence is just one of the parts of the story that makes it intriguing. Characters like 90-year-old Charlotte, or Charley as she is known, decides to remarry; Joshua, a former Montis Abbey monk takes an interest in Mark’s friend Brooke who comes to help with the renovation; and of course, Sheriff Dixon, whose daily report is published in THE LUMBY LINES all add to the colorful population of Lumby. Sheriff Dixon’s report appears throughout the book and makes for some of the funniest features of the book. One can’t leave out the thoughts from Hank found all through the story. Who said an artificial flamingo that appears in various places around town often dressed to match the occasion and then again, often not, wouldn’t be charming?

THE LUMBY LINES is just the beginning of a love affair with a series of books from the imaginative mind of Gail Fraser. Where else can you find 4-year old dogs running for mayor, or monks who grow marijuana, or a beaver who builds a dam with twenty dollar bills? Will Pam and Mark’s inn be finished and successful? What will come of the editor of THE LUMBY LINES and does Charlotte really marry again? This and much more are what go into making this book a treat to read. Fraser has created a world we would all like to think exists with her intriguing and assorted characters and a ingeniously depicted setting that easily conveys to the reader what it is like to be in Lumby. From the first page to the end of the book, which even gives recipes from the local community, you will be in a extraordinary place as you read THE LUMBY LINES.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO CAITLIN AND GOOD PEOPLE AT
FSB ASSOCIATES AND AUTHOR GAIL FRASER,
I HAVE THE ENTIRE SET OF THE FIRST
FOUR BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN THE SET...AND
POSSIBLY THE NEW BOOK WHEN IT COMES
OUT THIS SUMMER IN JULY!

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:
Yesterday and over the next 3 days,
you will learn more about the four books
individually and be able to gather
entries for the entire set.
FIRST
You MUST GO AND ENTER HERE
to be eligible to win
the set of four LUMBY books.
SECOND
You MUST ENTER EACH DAY for
the four books to be eligible for
the set. You only HAVE to enter
the "MANDATORY ENTRY" parts
but can gain more chances with
the bonus entry questions.
Here goes...

+1 ENTRY-MANDATORY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THINK, OR FOUND INTERESTING, ABOUT THIS FIRST LUMBY BOOK FROM READING THE SYNOPSIS AND MY REVIEW

+1 MORE ENTRY: GO TO GAIL FRASER'S WEBSITE AND VISIT HER SCRAPBOOK WITH THIS DIRECT LINK. ENJOY HER LOVELY PICTURES FROM ALL THE SEASONS AT LAZY GOOSE FARM AND COMMENT ON THE ONE YOU LIKED THE BEST BY JUST GIVING ITS TITLE

+1 MORE ENTRY: VISIT FSB ASSOCIATES WEBSITE HERE AND LOOK AT THE CURRENTLY FEATURED BOOKS AND NAME ONE YOU THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ, OR HAVE READ

+1 MORE ENTRY: THE GREEN CHILE IS A FAVORITE EATERY IN LUMBY THAT SERVES GREAT MARGARITAS, BY THE WAY. NAME A FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT THAT IS IN YOUR HOME TOWN.

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, APRIL 25!

GOOD LUCK

BONUS!!!!

IF THERE ARE 200 OR MORE QUALIFIED
ENTRIES TO WIN THE SET, I WILL
PERSONALLY PURCHASE A SECOND
SET TO GIVE AWAY!