All She Left Behind 

Paperback, ebook, hardcover, audio book 

September 5, 2017

by Jane Kirkpatrick 

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Revell 
• ISBN-13: 978-0800727000

Already well-versed in the natural healing properties of herbs and oils, Jennie Pickett longs to become a doctor. But the Oregon frontier of the 1870s doesn't approve of such innovations as women attending medical school. 

To leave grief and guilt behind, as well as support herself and her challenging young son, Jennie cares for an elderly woman using skills she's developed on her own. When her patient dies, Jennie discovers that her heart has become entangled with the woman's widowed husband, a man many years her senior. Their unlikely romance may lead her to her ultimate goal--but the road will be winding and the way forward will not always be clear. Will Jennie find shelter in life's storms? Will she discover where healing truly lives? 

Through her award-winning, layered storytelling, New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick invites readers to leave behind their preconceived notions about love and life as they, along with Jennie, discover that dreams may be deferred--but they never really die. Based on a true story.

My thoughts: ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND is a story based on a true story - which always makes for a good read.  Jennie Pickett is a pioneer woman who was into essential oils long before they became popular. Her dream is to help heal women and children and to help men recover from alcoholism. 

Unfortunately, she discovers that her husband is totally against the idea, her best friend denies there's a problem, and Jennie must come to terms with her own problems. 

Ms. Kirkpatrick knows how to set the scene, and the reader can almost "see" what the character sees in this story. Almost feel what the character feels, which generally makes for a story that they are drawn into. 

Jennie has a very hard life, sharing a three bedroom home with her husband, son, and two other families, mourning the loss of her infant daughter (which no one wants to admit existed -- most women who miscarried or had  a stillborn baby can relate to that) and having a dream that very few people, not even her husband, is willing to acknowledge or support.  Even when he seems to support it, he really has ulterior motives. 

The story starts out slow and seems to have a dark, depressing undertone which made it difficult to read this book for long stretches of time. It dragged me down with it, and I didn't like those feelings. However, it was interesting reading about Jennie's journey as she struggled to realize her dreams.

I received a copy of this book free. All opinions are my own.