The local garden club in Bloomsfield is very important to Amber Weathersby. She runs a garden ornament business and the club's members are her best customers. Her membership hangs on by a thread with her own inability to grow a garden. But she owns Gnorman the Gnome who appears in the Spring Fling winner's garden every year holding the coveted, historical trophy. As this year's winner is revealed, they discover Gnorman has been GnomeGnapped, and the trophy with him. A ransom note made from cut out newspaper letters is left where Gnorman was standing. However, it isn't a real ransom note; it's just a rhyme giving a clue to where Gnorman may appear next. Amber has been told in the note not to move Gnorman or she will not get the trophy back.

Amber's best friend and childhood buddy, local mechanic Stan Wilson, helps Amber try to find Gnorman. About every four days the GnomeGnapper moves him to a new location and leaves another note with clues. Then a second note appears at Amber's store. Gnorman is always dressed in a different costume as he arrives at his latest location. Stan and Amber crisscross Bloomsfield a number of times picking up the ransom notes and trying to determine who stole Gnorman. When their video surveillance plan backfires on them, it seems they have run out of options. Will they ever find Gnorman, and more importantly to Amber, the garden club's prized trophy?

TAKE THE TROPHY AND RUN is a delightfully inspirational story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The story line becomes a bit predicable with Amber and Stan traipsing across town and back after Gnorman, but then a new twist is added that keeps your interest and builds the suspense. Amber has more at stake here than just losing her membership to the garden club. Do the members of the club have another agenda as well? This one's a keeper.