Select one of the keywords
Lumby on the Air    by Gail Fraser Amazon.com order for
Lumby on the Air
by Gail Fraser
Order:  USA  Can
New American Library, 2010 (2010)
Softcover
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

It's not quite summer yet, but I took my vacation early. I went to Lumby in the foothills of the Rockies. Pam and Mark close the Montis Inn for a week to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. The timing happily coincides with the country fair and Mark plans to enter as many contests as possible.

Anyone familiar with Mark knows that he usually bites off more than he can chew. Such as: the sheep-shearing contest that he approaches with great enthusiasm – armed with an electric razor!! Mark and one of his sisters have not spoken for at least ten years. She accepts his invitation only as a courtesy, which does not bode well. She arrives with a prize-winning cat who has downright plebian tastes. Another sister is married to a radio personality who promised not to broadcast during the anniversary week. He reneges on his promise and starts to denigrate Lumby as a small hick town in the woods to his vast radio audience. His son is in need of a father but daddy is always too wrapped up in his own self-importance to notice.

Mark's brother Patrick is A-OK but comes saddled with a rebellious teenager. We all know what that's like. And to top it off, Pam's widowed mother shows up with a 'friend with benefits'. They proceed to try every thrill-seeking adventure for which they can sign up. Seems as though all is normal in this wee town where everyone knows each other and jumps in at a moment's notice when needed. I was glad to see that Hank, a pink flamingo, was there to keep an eye on the goings-on, dressed appropriately for each occasion.

I have to admit that I was a trifle disappointed that all the problems that were stumbled through ended so well. A tiny bit preachy. But, that said, Lumby on the Air is unequivocally another fun-filled winner for Gail Fraser's Lumby series. These books are a panacea for the soul, and I am already looking forward to my next sojourn with the folks in Lumby. Hope there's a room for me at the Inn.

Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons.

Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews