Always Jan

Coming Home to Brewster #4

by Roxanne Henke

Jan Jordan is having a birthday—a birthday she’s been dreading since she learned to count...surely life can be nothing but downhill from here. Kenny Pearson is old enough to know better, but he doesn’t care. As long as he can still knock a softball out of the park and brag about it over a beer with the guys afterward, life is good. Ida Bauer is old and doesn’t mind saying so. Her husband is gone and so are most of her friends—and she has to face it—soon she will be too. Does she have anything left to offer in the time she has left? God has a plan for all these people...if only they will listen.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Novels, Fiction

360 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always Jan is book #4 in Roxanne Henke's Coming Home to Brewster series, and deals with the specific topic of aging and maturing within a Christian context. Like the other books in the series, Henke writes about characters that draw you in and to me, seem familiar to people I actually know. But then again, I'm actually from North Dakota, and the author's fictional town of Brewster is a small town that same state.

I read the earlier books in the series years ago, but for some reason didn't pick up this last book until I was challenged to finish books in series' I'd already started. This book really hit home for me because this year I will turn 50. I could identify with Jan's panic about aging. While I don't envision plastic surgery in my future, there is something unsettling about this milestone birthday. Henke tries to provide a calm Christian voice to reassure her characters and her readers, that we have nothing to fear with a loving God on our side.

Very nice finish to a series of heartwarming novels.

[Diane Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, the story moved quickly. Although I found the portrayal of Jan a bit exaggerated in the beginning the she was eventually redeemed. Loved Ida and her insights and how she coped with her diminishing physical abilities. Would have liked more info on the baby but maybe that comes in a later book in the series. Also enjoyed the little angel on the shoulder of the characters whispering in their ears.

[Carrie Causey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good read!

[Beth Peninger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually book 4 in a 5 book series called "Coming Home to Brewster" but each of the books could be read individually. As a general rule I like to read series starting with book 1 and going in order. For whatever reason I apparently have thrown that rule out the window when it comes to this series. I read book 2 a year ago and now picked up book 4 without reading books 1 or 3 yet. Whatever. :)
I liked book 2 but things have changed a lot for me in the past year personally and so I'm left wondering if I would give it the same review I did a year ago because I'm giving this one one star less than book 2. This one gets 3 stars, it was okay. I liked it good enough but it wasn't a book that knocked my socks off.
The title leads a reader to believe it is about a character named Jan, however, two other main characters share the book with her so I'm not sure why Henke chooses just one of them to get the title. Jan is joined in equal time by Kenny and Ida.
Henke seems to like to pick themes for her characters to work through. Jan's is aging, Kenny's is aging and growing up (two different things don't you know) and Ida's is aging but also endurance. So the overall main theme is aging in its different and varied forms with other issues thrown in for good measure. I actually enjoyed and got the most out of Ida's chapters. Several parts of Ida's story pierced me and served as good reminder. Jan and Kenny, ironically both my age right now, just ticked me off with their self-absorption and unwillingness to live below the surface of life. Of course Henke develops circumstances that force both Jan and Kenny to get below the surface of life but I still found myself irritated anyway.
I'll finish the series. I'm starting book 3 and am trying to hunt down book 1 through inter-library loan since my library system doesn't carry book 1. My guess is I'll end up reading book 5 before book 1 is located. Good thing they can be read separate from one another. :)

[LuCinda Beltman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read this author, but after this book I'll be looking for more of her. It was a fabulous book written from the viewpoint of four different people. The main character, Jan, was feeling her age at 43 and began obsessing over her looks and getting plastic surgery to remain young. She was frustrated when all her friends and family couldn't see how "old" she looked. Days before her scheduled surgery she developed a case of Bells Palsy and surgery had to be cancelled. Throughout her healing process she realized that beauty is not on the outside, but on the inside, as her friends had been telling her all along. This was considered an inspirational book and did have some scripture and underlying religious tones, but it wasn't overly preachy, which I appreciated. Especially on the eve of a big birthday it really made me take a step back and look at myself from the inside instead of the outside. While I'm not ready to ditch the hairspray and makeup it does make me glad I have been more open with my beliefs than I used to be.

[Larisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the 4th book in Roxanne's Coming home to Brewster series.
She so wonderfully touches on how precious life is. As she sums up and says 'every
day is too precious to waste complaining. Our time is
better spent Embracing each day, loving those God places
around us and All the more... Growing closer to God!!!!'

The main character, Jan was so wrapped up in her own
World... As we can all do & as a result she didn't see at first
God's plans for her!!

[Dale Wilen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book in a series written by a personal friend of mine. They are sort of chick books, but not really....

[Ali Wang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another very fast read perfect for plane rides. As I was reading I couldn't get over how much the women in these books pray to God, and it's quite inspiring and at the same time daunting.

[Kara S]

Wow, this was great. I learned a lot about us as women putting too much into our looks. Through out all of these books I have really learned how to hear Gods voice.

[Teri Hancock]

Another great book that shows how unlikely friendships are formed and how what we think about someone might be different from what is truth.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about growing older.

[Carla Sokotuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great circle of life story and re-evaluation of friendship.

[Julie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is a must-read. It has everything you need, as a reader. It's been 4-5 years since I read this series, and it hasn't been topped, yet.

[Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

ND author.

[Lisa]

Coming Home to Brewsters series / book four