With Love, Libby

I loved this series and this book in particular. I, too, am a struggling writer and I saw so much of me in Libby. She gave me strength to keep trying. Thank you, Libby and thank you Roxanne! Superb!

This story was one I looked forward to from the moment I read the 4th book in the series. When it came I had to let it sit for a few days because I knew when it was over I'd have to say goodbye to all of my favorite characters. I took my time reading this book and cried SO many times. That's a sign of a great book when you actually FEEL what the characters are feeling. I love the way Roanne Henke filled in all the gaps and answered all of my questions about what would happen to each person I had met along the way. If you haven't read this book or this series, you are missing out!

We waited anxiously for the release of this book and now find ourselves saddened that we can't make another trip to Brewster! Roxy puts down in writing what our hearts feel but our voices never seem to say. Whenever someone comes in and asks for a good book, we always send her to the shelves for a Roxanne Henke book--if they are on the shelves and not checked out. This particular book speaks to so many of us in our search to find out who we are and what our purpose is in life. It also speaks to us about listening for that Voice and patience. I pray that everyone can have an Ida Bauer in their lives...what a wonderful character you made come alive! Thank you Roxy. We look forward to your next series!

I suppose that old adage is true, but it is sad to say goodbye to Brewster, ND, and the women who have become so alive in the pages of Ms. Henke's series "Coming Home to Brewster." I will miss lingering over coffee at "Vicky's," cheering Libby on with her writing career, and I will miss Pumpkin Fest. "With Love, Libby" does not disappoint as a finale to the series. It continues the stories of Libby and the others as they live sometimes ordinary and sometimes extraordinary lives in their small town. Like the other books in the series, it chronicles the joys and sorrows of the women of Brewster. Their children grow up and make their own decisions, some good, some disastrous. Friends die and others deal with disappointment and discouragement. Through it all, the women rely upon God and their friendships as their strength throughout their daily lives. This book continues Ms. Henke's tradition of storytelling at the level of the lives most of us live. I will look forward to her work in the future.

This series finale has three story lines in which the author has done a good job of describing how individuals are related to one another by blood or friendship--so it is a self-contained novel, whether you read the previous four or not. However, I look forward to reading the others in sequence to better understand how Olivia Marsden's personality evolves into a name change to Libby, and to keep the three changing viewpoints (Libby, Vicky Bennett, and Vicky's daughter Angie) and time frames straight. With Love, Libby is worth my time to read again after that. This character-rich book could benefit from a chart showing how these people are intertwined to avoid confusion on my part (Ruthie and Jan Jordan have their own books, Kenny Pearson, Mike, Mark, etc). I especially want to read about Anne as she sounds like a close friend worth knowing! The characters span four generations, ranging from Ida Bauer, an elderly German, who is a Godly example of a Titus 2 woman, to an infant boy. Having moved to a rural Nebraska town 10 years ago from the city, I see Roxanne having a mirror reflecting our small town's people and situations. It shows we are not alone in our trials and that individuals have similar life experiences in dealing with death, depression, pregnancy, among others. I think people many years in the future will be able to read this and see a slice of rural American history depicted clearly, accurately, and honestly, while getting a spiritual, moral tale of hope and forgiveness--like reading Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. With Love, Libby is thought-provoking. As a Christian who talks to her God and believes that I get feedback, I followed the italics showing His response to the three main characters as normal. But, I found it a little confusing when other people's thoughts were also put in that same font. Roxanne's vocabulary is so current that I had to ask my high school son what "huffing" meant. Her words paint wonderful pictures. Roxanne has a sense of humor, shown by naming the Banner newspaper column the Wry Eye. As an avid reader of history and cookbooks, I love her solution for a writer to research and compose one. Maybe Roxanne will really write it? I highly recommend With Love, Libby to my friends and our two local booksellers and public library. Armchair Interviews says: This seemed so true to life: the restaurant setting, rural school, traveling to the nearby city, struggling with hopes and dreams for your grown children who make their own decisions!