Did not finish. Just boring, didn't seem to have a point, some mild language that pushed me over the edge, and did I mention it was boring?

To quote another reviewer: "I'd seen it compared to Jan Karon's Mitford series and I loved those books. This was like a flat, pale attempt at imitation, and one that tried too hard. "


^^^^ Yup. That is pretty much it. ( )

Kudos to the author for keeping it clean. I hate to say this, but this was not my favorite novel. Yes, it had some humor in some places, but it's not a series that I *have* to read. I felt that the author took forever in building up the town and its people. The dialogue really doesn't do much for me. The plot felt slow in some places. While the fictional town sounds pleasant, I really don't feel a magnetic attraction to the series. ( )

While I like reading about series of towns and the people who live in them, this one is a tad slow in places. It's not Cedar Cove or Cape Light; however, it is a clean read like the other mentioned series. My favorite character in this book is a pink flamingo . The townspeople get great delight in dressing him up! ( )

Six-word review: Weak but pleasantly diverting light fiction.

Extended review:

It has bright, cheery paintings of the town and the surrounding countryside, done by the author's husband, paintings that enhance the sense of place and mood. It has recipes in the back, attributed to the fictitious inn, abbey, and restaurant that figure in the story. Maybe best of all, it has, after the conclusion of the story, a transcription of an informal conversation among the author and her characters, wherein they casually interview one another and compare notes like old friends.

How could anyone fail to be charmed by this book?

Maybe I simply expect too much.

The story itself has pleasing characters, a choice variety of them, and interesting dynamics among several. There's an authentic-feeling small-town flavor and plenty of local color. There are problems to be solved and mysteries to be revealed. There are also cliffhangers and unanswered questions that set the hook for a sequel.

What's missing, for me, is not just some actual drama and suspense, which I suppose we don't expect in this genre. It's craftsmanship, polish. It's what I look for in any genre and has nothing to do with style. It's not seeing lines like "the rest of the visit was quite enjoyable" or reading a protracted scene in which a series of characters are introduced to one another and exchanging commonplace small talk in greeting. It's not strained humor such as of a stoned cow with a couple of upset stomachs, resulting in crude sensory gags that really aren't very funny if you care about the characters, or very interesting if you don't. It's a clearer story arc that doesn't wobble quite so much and an ending that leaves a little less up in the air.

In short, The Lumby Lines feels very much like a beginner's novel, which it is. Pardon me for running this theme so often, but as a professional editor I can't help it: what it really needs is a good shaking and dusting and a little judicious scrubbing to bring out the best and let some of the rest go.

In time I may come round to the next in the series; I see there are five to date, the last published in 2010. I'm not in a hurry for another one, but it's sort of nice to know it's there. ( )

This book is charming and a very relaxing read. The characters are interesting, if simplistic but that's part of the charm! Fraser's portrayal of the small town bias towards outsiders is real and honest without being mean-spirited. I've read some of the goodread reviews (complaints) about the lack of geographical accuracy, character depth, etc. and I say get over yourselves :D This is a work of fiction that isn't meant to be the next great American novel! So those of you who are wondering if you should read this book, I say yes! :) Especially if you are looking for a light-hearted read that makes you want to visit Lumby. ( )