Take the Trophy and Run by Gail Sattler

About the Book:

Like Mitford and Lake Wobegon before that, Bloomfield is a place we could all call home. Here, the residents enjoy a splash fountain in the town square, dine at the “Fancy Schmantsy” on tree-lined Main Street, and dream of reaching the 10,000 population mark -- only 22 more folks to go!

The Bloomfield Garden Club, an all-ages group of lovable oddballs that will stop at nothing to make everything beautiful, maintains this piece of heaven on earth. But even such idyllic places as this have their share of dramatic characters and stories to be told.

Take, for instance, craft store owner Amber Weathersby. She wants to be a member of the garden club but has never received the blessing of a green thumb. Her friend, Stan the mechanic, has helped as much as he can -- even adding a timed sprinkler system to Amber’s garden -- but the results never live up to the club’s expectations.

Her only claim to fame with that gang is her semi-famous garden gnome, Gnorman, who gets to hold the prized trophy each year in the Bloomfield Spring Fling contest’s winning garden.

But this year, instead of being the life of the party, her little star is gnomegnapped, and worse, the club’s irreplaceable trophy has gone missing with him. While Amber is chasing the gnome around town trying to win the trophy, Stan is chasing Amber, trying to win her heart.

My Thoughts:

What a fun place to hang out!  Bloomfield is a lot like Jan Karon's Mitford: filled with quirky characters and lots of laughter.  This new series is published by B&H Fiction (one of my favorites) and features a host of authors showcasing their talents.

Gail Sattler is a new author for me, but I was quickly wrapped up in her unusual mystery.  Who knew a gardening club could be so sneaky?  Kidnapping Amber's garden gnome is one thing...but sending her on a...well, a wild gnome chase is over the top.

But everyone means well.  Especially Stan, Amber's friend and co-gnome hunter.  All Stan has ever wanted was to make Amber happy, and to help her win the coveted trophy for best garden in Bloomfield.

Instead, he's chasing through blooms and enduring some curious looks in order to bring Gnorman home.  Will Stan find a home with Amber as well?  At least we know he'll have fun uncovering clues and helping his best friend.

Gail has created memorable characters that will have you chuckling on one page and a bit teary-eyed on the next.  The light hearted romance adds just the right touch, but "Take the Trophy and Run" is about much more than true love.

The story is about community, faith and family...three elements that really make the story come to life.  I love small town tales, and I'm a sucker for a creative series concept.  The Bloomfield series is perfect for a reader like me!

I received an advance copy of "Take the Trophy and Run" via NetGalley from B&H Fiction in exchange for an honest review.  This is an excellent start to what promises to be a fun series, and I can hardly wait to see what is next in this quirky town.

"Take the Trophy and Run" is recommended reading.  Have fun chasing Gnorman!

Happy Reading!

 

 
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