The Promise of Lumby by Gail Fraser

The Promise of Lumby is the fourth book in the Lumby Series written by Gail Fraser. The others are Lumby Lines, Stealing Lumby, and Lumby's Bounty.

Synopsis from the back of the book:
Hidden in the foothills of a bucolic landscape are 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.

My thoughts:

It took awhile for me to really get into this story.  Unlike the others it opens with the introduction of a new character, Tom Candor.  The opening is an introduction to an incident that occurred in Tom's life fifteen years ago.  I won't reveal it as it is a pretty relevant part of the story.

Following the pattern set in the previous stories, one of the characters that was previously in a supporting role is brought to the forefront of the story.  This time it is Mackenzie McGuire, the town carpenter.  Much of the story centers around a romance between Mac and the newcomer in town.  All of your favorites will still make an appearance, including the monks of Saint Cross Abbey who get themselves into a fine predicament while doing some public relations. 

Some of the characters from the previous novels who were among the group of townsfolk who were more accepting of newcomers will surprise you in this installment.

All in all this was a very entertaining story.  Some of Mark Walker's shenanigans were a bit over the top in this one, which is okay by me.  Escaping reality is one of the reasons to read such a novel.

I can't say that this one is a favorite in the series, but it is worth a read, especially if you've already gotten to know the town of Lumby in the previous three novels.  You might be interested in knowing that  there is a fifth installment Lumby on the Air coming out July 6, 2010.

If you are interested in learning more about Gail Fraser and the Lumby Series, head over to http://www.lumbybooks.com/ to learn more.  It is an interesting website which includes more of the fun artwork that is featured throughout the books. 

Disclaimer: I received my copy of The Promise of Lumby from the publicist in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Caitlin.  I was not compensated in any other way.