Lumby's Bounty by Gail Fraser

Title:  Lumby's Bounty
Author:  Gail Fraser
Publisher:  New American Library
Publication Date:  January 2008
Format:  Paperback, 351 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Series:  Lumby (Book 3)

The delightful residents of Lumby are back for another adventure in Lumby's Bounty, the third book in Gail Fraser's Lumby series.  This time Brian Beezer has managed to sign Lumby up to host a hot-air balloon festival despite the facts that the town doesn't have enough room to house all the attendees and they know nothing of how to build or pilot the lead balloon.  Add in a construction project at the Montis Inn, an influx of seekers at Saint Cross Abbey, and a bit of romance and the sleepy little town of Lumby is anything but.

Although I have enjoyed all of the books in this series, I felt a very personal connection to this one.  I saw myself in Hannah Daniels' shyness and desire to reclaim herself as a person.  I also saw myself in Pam Walker with her intense fear of failure and her need to know how to do everything exactly before starting a project.  I could see my relationship with my husband in their marriages.  With Jimmy and Hannah I saw exactly where I don't want to end up.

The description of the hot-air balloon launch at the end of the festival brought back memories of attending a festival in Battle Creek, Michigan when I was I was a teen.  My dad had gone to college with one of the men who had a balloon on the field so we were able to go out there where many attendees were not allowed.  We didn't go up in a balloon but watching them all take flight was an amazing experience!  I can clearly imagine the joy and wonder that the residents of Lumby felt with the launch of their amazing balloon.

I love how Fraser can write such an entertaining story that is so light on the surface but really contemplates some of the deeper aspects of life.  Many of the characters are searching for purpose and direction in their lives and others offer gentle advice along the way.  While the monks of Saint Cross Abbey provide a very spiritual component to the books, Fraser also shows their sense of humor and human doubts as to the best path to take.  It is truly the characters and their relationships that make these books so charming.  One simply never knows what will happen next in Lumby!

I borrowed Lumby's Bounty from my local library and there was no expectation from anyone for a review.

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