With Love, Libby

Henke Roxanne

Description

The concluding book in the popular Coming Home to Brewster series follows the faith journey of Libby Marsden, who faces the question, "What happens when a dream comes true?" After she accomplishes her goal of writing a book Libby must figure out if her desire to write has clouded her understanding of purpose. Vicki Johnson has big dreams for her daughter, Angie, who is about to graduate from high school. Only after Angie is in college will Vicki explore her personal passions and plans. But when Angie reveals ambitions of her own, Vicki must readjust her vision of the future. Fans of this series or those just introduced to Henke's writing will be captivated by this character-rich, compelling story.

Sujets

• Romance

Informations

• Publié par: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2006
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780736934725
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Readers everywhere rave about Roxanne Henke’s Coming Home to Brewster series…

Here’s what they say aboutAfter Anne,Book #1 From California:“A dear friend gave meAfter Anneseveral weeks ago.…Your book was awesome and should be sold with a box of Kleenex!” From North Carolina:felt as though the characters were my best friends. The “I last time I cried this much was when I read James Patterson’sSuzanne’s Diary for Nicholas.” From Oregon:“I could hardly put the book down. Oprah should know about this!” From Christianbooks.com:“After Anneis probably my favorite [book of the year]. This moving story of an unlikely friendship between two women will have you laughing and crying and longing for a relationship like theirs.” From an Amazon.com reader:“I don’t know how I got this copy ofAfter Annebut however I got it, I am so glad I read it!…It’s just beautifully written—and so true.… It is one of the mustreads for the coming year if not tomorrow.” From North Dakota:“We readAfter Annefor our book club in our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group in Fargo and all fell in love with it. We all kept saying even if you cannot make it to book club this is a book you have to read.”

And Book #2,Finding Ruth From Virginia:“I readFinding Ruthafter I finishedAfter Anne,and I thought this book couldn’t be as good…but sure enough you did it again! You are my favorite author.” From California:“I just finished reading the last page ofFinding Ruth….The tears went down my cheeks as I read it.…But what kept me so on the edge…was your showing me Brewster town. I could see everyone, even their laugh lines.” From Kentucky:“Your book couldn’t have come to me at a better time. I struggle with contentment or lack of. Thank you for a touching story that fit quite nicely into my life. I was moved by it.…If I had my way, your book would be topping all the bestseller lists.” From Indiana:“I chose your book from the new fiction section at our public library without realizing it was a Christian book.…I could hardly bear to put it down.”

And Book #3,Becoming Olivia

From Indiana:“I’ve been burning up the email lines telling anyone who will listen that your books are required reading. Please hurry with number 4!”

From North Carolina:“Just finishedBecoming Olivia—loved it!…Your Chris tian insight and faith shine through as realistic and practical without coming off ‘preachy.’” From South Dakota:“I could not put it down! I could relate to so many of the things Olivia went through, especially the struggle with depression and anxiety.…Becoming Oliviawas the first of your books that I have read, and I look forward to reading the others. Thank you!” From Ohio:I’ve just readBecoming Oliviaand am so moved. There are many words to describe the book, but none seem adequate enough.” Via email:“I am a voracious reader and many authors have touched me, moved me and changed me, but you are the first one I’ve written to. I needed you to know how important your writing is to people like me. Thank you.” “I just finishedBecoming Oliviaand hadto write and tell you how much I loved it. I have read all three of your books…butBecoming Oliviaespecially spoke to me.…I know that this had to have been a difficult book for you to write, but you did a superb job, as always.” “[Becoming Olivia] is amazing for its healing powers.…I’m going to use the book in my clinical practice to give to patients who know they don’t feel right but don’t think it’s bad enough to be classified as depression. Thanks for telling the story so beautifully.”

And about Book #4,Always Jan From Dorothy:“I just finished readingAlways Jan,and, like your other books, I loved it.…God has truly given you a beautiful talent…one which I pray you will continue to use so that we can share in His goodness and mercy through your stories.” From Ellen:“I just finishedAlways Jan and hated leaving Brewster as I read the last page.…I absolutely loved this series.…I want to go to Brewster and see these wonderful people. I want to go to Pumpkin Fest. I want to visit Aunt Ida. I want to buy her house. I want my life to be transformed like Jan’s and Kenny’s, and I want to be a friend like Libby.” From Nancy:This is your best work“I just finished your book, and man! yet!” From a housewife and mother in Indiana:“I just finished reading the fourth book in the Brewster series. Wow! What a read.…Life can sure be difficult at times, and a good, uplifting, honest book is a treasure.”

®

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken fromThe Living Bible, Copyright ©1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.

Verses marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Cover by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota

Roxanne Sayler Henke: Published in association with the literary agency of Janet Kobobel Grant, Books & Such, 4788 Carissa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95405

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

WITH LOVE, LIBBY Copyright © 2006 by Roxanne Henke Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97402 www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data Henke, Roxanne, 1953–  With love, Libby / Roxanne Henke.  p. cm. — (Coming home to Brewster ; bk. 5)  ISBN13: 9780736911979 (pbk.)  ISBN10: 0736911979  1. Women—Fiction. 2. North Dakota—Fiction. 3. Selfrealization—  Fiction. I. Title.  PS3608.E55W58 2006  813'. 6—dc22

2005018229

All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 / BCMS / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

A Note from Roxy

With Love, Libbythe final book in the Coming Home to Brewster is series.Sigh.It’s been hard saying goodbye to old friends. I want to thank my readers who love these characters as much as I do. Thank you for reading these books…and for writing to me. Thank you for your letters and for so generously sharing the many ways the books in this series have touched your lives. As always, many “Thanks” go to my family and friends. Thank you for giving me the time and space to write, and also for knowing sometimes I need a break. Your love, laughter, and support mean the world. A big “Thanks” to Bon Wickenheiser for sharing her dream of serving others for so many years…and for letting me use her idea here. I owe you lunch! It would be hard to imagine writing these books without the never failing support of my wonderful editor, Nick Harrison. He’s a gem more precious than gold! Thanks to my agent, Janet Grant, and the stellar folks at Harvest House. You make the way smooth and the journey pleasant indeed. And, finally, to my husband, Lorren, and my daughters, Rachael and Tegan. Thank you for sharing my dream. It’s thrice the thrill because I get to live it with you! Oh, and I can’t forget Gunner, my faithful canine companion who makes sure I don’t ever sit at my computer fortoolong. Thank you…I think.

This is what God said: Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day I had holy plans for you.

Jeremiah 1:45 MSG



This book is for my daughters, Rachael and Tegan. God hadholy plansfor me, indeed!

Prologue

Libby’s letter…

Why had I thought this would be so easy? I stared at the blank page, took a deep breath, put my pen to the paper. Dear Anne, I rested the end of the silver pen on my bottom lip and stared at the words. I read the two words over…Dear Anne…Dear Anne… I hadn’t expected to get writer’s blocknow. Not after two simple words. Not after several hundred thousand words. Dear Anne,I put the pen to the paper. I’d learned it was best to just write. Not overanalyze. Not try andthinkmy way through. Just write. My pen hovered above the page. What should I say? Pretend you’re talking to her. Pretend she’s sitting next to you. I took a sip of coffee, took a quick breath as if I were going to speak. I started writing.Where should I start? Anne, do you know that if it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t be sitting here next to… I looked at the ream of white paper sitting on the desk by my elbow. Over four hundred pages filled with words. My words. Doublespaced. Telling the story—mine and Anne’s. If it hadn’t been for you—A familiar lump pushed its way into my throat. I closed my eyes. This was silly. I had no reason to cry now. Did she know? DidIreally know? 



R OXANNE H ENKE

A single tear made its way down my cheek. I smiled as I brushed it away with my fingertips. I could almost hear Anne laughing with me. “Just tell me the story,” she’d say. “You’re a writer. Start at the beginning. Once upon a time…” A soft breath of laughter blew through my lips. Heavens, I didn’t need to go backthat far! I glanced again at the sheaf of paper at my elbow. Those pages held our story. What they didn’t tell was what happened next. The part Anne hadn’t lived to see but had been part of all the same. In those pages I’d already told the story of a dream that appeared impossible. Of a friendship that seemed unlikely. Of a life gone too soon. Now I would tell the rest of the story. About a friendship that didn’t die with the friend. About a dream that did come true. So…okay…I would start there. At the end. The end that was really a beginning.