All She Left Behind is another great book by Jane Kirkpatrick! Her characters have depth, her dedicated research authenticates it, and the trials faced you into the story.. Jennie Pickett is an unusual woman for her time and is a real person in history. She has goals most women would not dream of pursuing. Her longing to be a physician and bring healing to others never leaves her. She is raising her young son with very little help from her husband and continues to find her way. She faces many disappointments and often wants to quit. How will she maintain her desires with all that is going against her?
This is another of my favorite books and I don't want to spoil any of the plot for you. It is worthy of reading!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. My thoughts in my review are my own and I was under no obligation to write one. ( )

This novel is historical fiction, based on a true story. It is very well written and well-researched. Jennie proves that success can be gained through hard work and perseverance. I cannot wait to read more from this talented author. ( )

Happy dance!!! A new book by Jane Kirkpatrick always excites me! Not only is she an incredible author but I love that her books are based on true stories. The real life women she chooses are so varied and interesting!
Jennie Lichtenthaler’s story is proof that your circumstances and education have nothing to do with your ability to succeed! She was one of the first female doctors in the state of Oregon. That in itself is an amazing achievement considering women doctors in the 1800’s were shunned and not accepted. As I read her story, her success became extraordinary! Since her childhood her interest in herbs, medicine and natural healing had been a driving force. Not only to learn but to heal others. She never gives up her dream to become a doctor even in the face of insurmountable odds. Jennie’s family and husband drag her confidence even lower with the criticism and treatment of her. Married at a young age to an abusive alcoholic and drug addict her life held few opportunities. She has a learning disability, though the story never really says what it is. It makes reading and retaining written material difficult. Her son suffers the mental effects of the father’s addictions and is challenging to handle.
After her first husband divorces here which left her in poverty and social shame during that time, it opens the door to meet the love of her life, her second husband Josiah Parrish. He was a wealthy, influential minister. He had children that were grown and grandchildren so he was many year older than her. The vast difference in age had no bearing on the depth of their love and devotion. Each brought the other much joy and fulfillment. His love and belief in her led her to accomplish her dream and become a doctor.
As usual Ms. Kirkpatrick does an in-depth historical research, she leaves no stone unturned about her characters. I admired Jennie’s strength and faith in all the sufferings she was dealt. No matter what was thrown at her or how her heart broke, she kept moving forward, doing what needed to be done to survive. She never gave into self-pity or bitterness. Her loving attitude and sweet spirit was not affected by abuse or adversity. An extraordinary book! ( )

Jane Kirkpatrick’s “All She Left Behind” is based on the true story of Jennie Lictenthaler Pickett Parrish. Jennie married the first time to Charles Pickett with the promise of a good life together. They had a son, Douglas. Charles became a less than wonderful husband because of addictions and they shortly parted ways. She was a self-taught healer with visions of becoming a doctor at a time when women doctors were not welcome either in medical school or by the community. She eventually married Josiah Parrish, many years her senior, after being his wife’s companion and nursemaid during her terminal illness. Josiah encouraged her to follow her dreams, but she waited until their two girls were older before she became a student at Willamette College in Salem, Oregon, founded in 1842. Jennie was a person of faith and perseverance. She never let anything stop her, not the abuse from her first husband, her son’s addictions, following in his father’s footsteps, not the censure from the community, or her family’s misgivings about her second marriage. The title of the story, it seems to me, lets the reader know that her life meant something and her becoming a doctor in that day and age was a symbol of courage, fortitude, and love for humanity. I would recommend this book and others from Ms. Kirkpatrick’s works. However, I will say that I had to refer to the list of characters and their place in the novel from time to time.

I received a complimentary print copy of this book from Revell as a member of the Blog Tour Team. You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-sb. Other reviews can be found at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com. This review is posted on Good Reads at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2086307974 and on Facebook and Twitter, and on Amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/review/R2ESOODJPPMQG8. ( )

I have read a number of Jane Kirkpatrick's historic novels, and this one was just as great as her other ones. It's obvious she has done a lot of research on the time period she is writing about, and it feels like you have literally stepped back in time when you enter her stories. So much detail that it brings some understanding of the conditions and hardships people lived with back then....but people are still people, facing the same challenges, fears and heartaches. The character development is great....they could walk off the pages! And the story, based on a real life person, is inspiring and very interesting. As a nurse, I enjoyed a look back at the medical practices of the time period.....we've come a long way in the medical field, but the human touch is always one of the most important aspects of care. I would recommend this book, as well as Jane's other books, if you enjoy reading historic novels! You won't be disappointed! ( )