GOD AND MR. GOMEZ

When Romulo Gomez builds your Baja, California, dream home, it takes a bit of adjusting. If necessary, he even adjusts the road a bit to put your home in a spot with a better view. Still, the view did turn out to be fabulous, and Mr. Gomez turned out to be a lasting influence in the lives of Jack Smith and his wife, Denny. William Dufris's narration of this chronicle seems more sarcastic in places than the gentle writings of the late LOS ANGELES TIMES columnist Jack Smith, yet he portrays the Smiths, Gomez, and their neighbors in a fledgling expatriate colony as well-rounded, likable people. If you're dreaming of getting away from urban life and long commutes in California, this one's for you. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 08]