All She Left Behind

by Jane Kirkpatrick

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical, Christian, Audiobook, Inspirational

343 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2017

About the author

Kirkpatrick brings us a story of one woman's restoration from personal grief to the meaning of community."

Reviews

[Joleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: 1860-1887ish
Location: Oregon Territory
Main Characters:
Jennie Pickett: AKA Jennie Parrish
Charles Pickett: First husband, addict
Dougie Pickett: Jennie’s son, also addict
Josiah Parrish: Jennie’s second husband, church minister

Jennie had a learning disability making reading and writing difficult. Although exceptionally intelligent, this hardship caused others to think her intellectually inferior, including some family members, her husband, and even herself. But she excelled at anything having to do with medicine. She was able to develop ways to dry and distill plants for medicine and oils. But having a distillery did not entirely work in her favor as her husband turned out to be an addict, and introduced it to their son.

Eventually he left her for a sad life. But with the support of her family, all of whom lived nearby, and with Jennie having such a hard work ethic, her new life was not easy at first, but God provided for her needs, including a new family.

The title made it sound like she had much and left it all, for whatever reason. This is not the case. It's more like the life she lived was so full and such a blessing to everyone, that it was a legacy of Godliness and generosity and healing many that she left behind.

This was not my favorite Jane Kirkpatrick novel. It was like a day to day history of Jennie and her family, which did in fact seem a bit like a historical account rather than a flowing novel. Ah well, it was interesting, just not riveting.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read one book this year make it All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick. Based on a true story this is a book that will make you weep, get you angry, long for loved ones to be near, mourn those you've lost and get you thinking about doing all you can while you can with the life you've been given.

Jennie Pickett took what life threw at her and tried to make the best of it. Her alcoholic husband didn't make that easy. I won't give you the rest of the story because to do so would take away from the emotions you will feel if I do. Suffice it to say that God always has a plan and can take the evil intentions of others and turn them into blessings we could never imagine.

Jennie's story will inspire you. I was amazed that she was not a fictional character but did at one time walk this earth. And oh, my! What an impact she had on the lives around her. And what a blessing those lives were to her, who dared her to pursue her dreams.

Read this book. You will not be disappointed!

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical fiction is a carefully researched blend of historical events using real people. The story is about Jennie Pickett and her struggle to become a doctor in the 1870’s Oregon.

This tale is an amazing journey in a time where women physicians were shun by society. For Jennie to become a doctor she had to surmount imaginable obstacles: her dyslexia and a difficult husband and son. She first learned homeopathic treatments with herbs and oil and practiced her art at every occasion with passion. After her divorce from her husband, she met her second husband, a wonderful man who gave her all the encouragement and the push needed to become a doctor. We follow her life through a bad marriage and a good marriage.

This story is told in a smooth narrative one that easily pulled me in from the first chapter. I wanted Jennie to succeed and have a wonderful life. She is portrayed as a strong and determined person regardless of her disabilities and the tragedies in her life. We have a lot of surprises along the way to keep us flipping the pages.

This is a captivating story of over-coming tragedy and poor choices, personal and family challenges and never losing hope. It is also a story of love. Beautifully written this novel is hard not to like.

“All She Left Behind” is based on a true story

I received this ARC from the publisher Revell via the Early Reviewer Program for an honest and unbiased review.

[Parkland Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
Completed: June 03/25

Format: audiobook borrow from Audible Plus
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert -- one of the best!
Challenge Prompt: CNL’s #3 of 50 - “features a woman in STEM” — FMC becomes a medical doctor

Book #67 of 2025: new-to-me author

Two things attracted me to this new-to-me author and this specific book. One is the main character's love for herbal remedies, essential oils, etc. The storyline sounded very intriguing. The other was seeing that Tavia Gilbert narrated the audiobook. I listened to the sample and was immediately drawn in by the story and the narration.

Jennie is the FMC and she is a young married woman with a son. Her husband had had a fall the night of her marriage and had never been the same. His behaviour changes over time and things become increasingly worse. He becomes an addict of alcohol and cocaine, a philanderer, and is quite negative and critical. He has flashes of normalcy where he recognizes that something is wrong but he succumbs to his addictions, cheating, lying, etc. time and again.

Jennie loves working with nature's herbs to make teas, medicines, pain relievers and more. Her husband is critical and condescending. Even after their marriage ends, she doesn't lose her passion for them.

Amidst helping care for sick and elderly woman, she later falls in love with the widower. Her ex-husband's issues arise in their son; therefore,her drive to come up with something to help addicts.

I'm not a fan of huge age gaps in marriage though this one was far more understandable. My one issue with this book is the change she makes when she studies to be a doctor. I didn't feel that was a believable or acceptable change for her to go from herbals to pharmaceuticals. It was against her character.

I'd recommend this book for anyone who reads historical, enjoys herbal remedies like me, enjoys tough topics, appreciates an excellent narration, etc. I was fully immersed from start to finish. It was a very enjoyable read even with some tough topics. While I'm not one to shy away from tough topics, some authors handle them better than others and this is a great example of that.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will always enjoy Kirkpatricks style and writing pattern but every now and again she will write about someone I'm less than thrilled to read about and such was the case with Jennie Pickett. I couldn't quite grasp Jennie's mentality or her inner reasoning through most of this book. Above all; the alcohol and drug abuse and addictions were just something I couldn't get passed. Ultimately I just did not want to read about these qualities in anyone and journey through life with them.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What She Left Behind is a book about Jennie Pickett who has the love and gift of medicine, using herbs and oils, though she is self-taught by listening to others read text books and articles to her. She obviously had dyslexia, with the turning of letters and taking longer than usual to read. It is a story of overcoming hardship, fear, and abuse. A lot goes on in this story, from the alcohol and drug abuse by her first husband and son, to her uncommon divorce at that time, being the nurse maid for a wealthy woman, the new found love with a much older widower, and the realization of her dream to become a doctor.

This was a good book, it showed the strength Jennie had all her life to realize her dream of becoming a doctor despite her reading disability. I liked the interaction of characters and how the story fed off them. I was not too crazy of the relationship of Jennie and Josiah Parrish, I thought being 36 years her senior was a bit much, so I did not like that. However, he showed love and support for Jennie to make her own dreams come true. But to my surprise, in the very end I learned the book was based on real life and how each person lived on after Jennie completed the story. So for that I am giving this book 4 stars.

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I really enjoyed it.
All you could ever want in a book. Recommended.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick is based on a true story from 1860’s Oregon history. This book is a wonderful example of Jane Kirkpatrick’s ability to tell a story from historical documentation that brings out the compassion in the readers. Jane “Jennie” overcomes great personal and physical obstacles to become a known healer, doctor, and public figure for her time in the Oregon west.
Seventeen year old Jane Lichtenthaler of Washington County, Oregon married Charles Pickett in March of 1860. During their wedding dance Charles slipped, fell hard, and hit his head on the rough floor. We will not know if this affected his personality or if he had problems before the accident, but Jennie soon learned hard lessons from the man she had married. He was not always the kind person she had thought him to be before the wedding. Jennie and Charles had a son, Douglas and a baby daughter who died at her birth due to the cord being around her neck. Jennie would always wonder if the delay of Charles bringing the doctor, both smelling of alcohol as she was in labor with baby Ariyah, had contributed to the death.
Jeanie has the spirit of a natural healer. She is knowledgeable about herbs, plants, tea, and tinctures. Her heart’s desire is to be a doctor, although she knows that Oregon in the 1860 will be hesitant to approve of allowing a woman to become a healer equal to a man. Jeannie also has a small learning disability. She has trouble reading and deciphering letters, what we would call today as dyslexia.
Read how she overcame the spousal abuse, loss of a baby, financial disaster, divorce, and humiliation among family and community to rise above and be heralded as a forceful and strong woman who kept her faith during troubled times. Once you start reading you may not want to stop!

[Cindy Kubley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perseverance

This is the story of Jennie, a pioneer of women in medicine. Jennie overcomes amazing odds to become one of the first female physicians in America. The story was told in a very sweet way, though a little rambling at times. Overall it was a good read.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick is the first book that I have read by this author. I am excited because I enjoyed it so much and she has already written so many. It is a fictionalized account of a real person. The author put what she uncovered about Jenny Pickett in easy to read and hard to put down story. I have often wondered if I could write a story about some of my ancestors based on what I know about them. This book encourages me to do so.

Jenny Pickett, the main character was married to an alcoholic and he abused her physically and verbally. She had a son, Douglas who became the biggest sorrow of her life. She also had daughter who died but her husband forbade her to mention it. Growing up reading was difficult for her because of dyslexia. A friend told me of her own personal experiences with dyslexia so it was easy to understand Jenny's reading problems. Jenny learn homeopathic treatments with herbs and oil but always yearned to be a doctor.

It may seem like people were either good or bad in this story but the other left clues that explained the motivation and original behind the "bad" characters. Jenny never gave up her dream and she did the best that she could do although, she was filled with regrets over what she was not able to do. If you read too fast, you might miss them! But those carefully laid clues made me think about people in my own life.

The author did a wonderful job of weaving together the historical facts and at the end of the book told what happened to the characters later on and what bits of fiction she added. I highly recommend this book.


I received an Advanced Review Copy as a win from LibraryThing from the publishers in exchange for a fair book review. My thoughts and feelings in this review are my own.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick is a marvellous Christian historical novel. It is an epic read that blends fact and fiction into a wonderful story.
Jane Kirkpatrick tells the story of a modern woman, a pioneer of her time who became a doctor. As well as researching into obstetrics. The reader 'feels' the passion of the leading lady to help those around her.
There is the difficult topic of alcoholism and drug dependency. It is heartbreaking to see the consequences of these taking hold. A terrible craving where everything else comes second to drugs and alcohol is terrible to witness.
The novel is peppered with tragedy. Life was precarious in the nineteenth century. Poor choices can spell disaster. Forgiveness ties in to this. "He had yet to forgive himself." Often we are the hardest person to forgive.
Characters sometimes lose the fight to survive. This description when facing death really lodged in my heart. "It's still a new beginning... Just one we have to take alone." Tears are referred to as 'liquid love' which I think is beautiful.
There are some very comprehensive descriptions of the landscape, making the area come alive for the reader.
God has a prominent part to play in the novel. There are some battles that only God can fight when we commit our struggles to Him in prayer.
Strong friendships in the novel withstand both time and tragedy.
All She Left Behind is an epic tale of nineteenth century pioneers of medicine. It is a wonderful story that both educates and entertains.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

With All She Left Behind, Jane Kirkpatrick sheds light on the life of Jennie Parrish, one of the first women to finish medical school and practice medicine in the Oregon in the late 19th century. But more than a story of one woman defying social convention to pursue a "man's" vocation, Kirkpatrick weaves together the fragments of surviving history about Jennie's life, to paint a more complete portrait of this remarkable woman, who like so many before and after her, refuses to be contained in one box or descriptor that society deems most fitting for women at any given point in time. I love fiction that explores women's history, breathing fresh life into stories that are all too often forgotten by the history books. And Jennie could not be a more worthy (or timely) subject. It was fascinating to read about a woman with a learning disability (likely dyslexia?), passionate, intuitive, and far ahead of her time in recognizing and acknowledging addiction as a disease, rather than a simple choice. While Kirkpatrick drew from history to pen this portrait, any conjecture she uses to bridge the gap between fact and fiction results in a plausible, compelling portrait of an extraordinary individual who allowed hardship to refine her rather than destroy, to knit her into a woman who did not let the choices of others define her, but rather chose her response to such and from heartache and hardship left a remarkable legacy. While this is my first novel by Jane Kirkpatrick, it is certain not be my last. This is moving, inspiring, thought-provoking novel, bringing a slice of history to life that I'm grateful to now know.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

All She Left Behind is a fictionalized historical account of the life of Jennie Pickett, a woman from 1870s Oregon who becomes a doctor.

The novel follows the life of Jennie. It reads like a fiction story, with fictionalized conversations joining the recorded historical events. At first, it isn’t terribly clear where the story is going because it simply follows the Jennie’s life, starting from her wedding as a young woman. But by the end, the story showed that she was a woman worth remembering as a feminist, a woman doctor, and a loving wife and mother who overcame much to do what she did. It had a lot of feminist themes and contrasted the difficulties of women during the time to the joys of family and a marriage of equals.

I enjoyed this story and learned a lot about how women were treated during the time period. I cheer Jennie on for what she accomplished and am eternally grateful for the freedoms I enjoy as a woman in the United States. I appreciate that the author wrote about the real struggles Jennie went through, both from the sexists against her and in daily and family life. She wasn’t any more perfect than the men around her, and I am glad that was represented.

I recommend this book to those who are interested in learning about women feminists in history in a relatable way (as historical fiction).

I received a complementary copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not obligated to give a positive review.

[Brandi (Rambles of a SAHM) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of Jane Kirkpatrick's historical novels. She has such a gift of resurrecting long forgotten figures from the past and allowing us to take a journey with them. Most of her leading characters are women and that's what we find in All She Left Behind.

Jennie Pickett is a young bride when we first meet her. A minor accident on her wedding day changes the entire scope of her married life. But Jennie is nothing but persistent. She's the epitome of "when life gives you lemons . . . make lemonade." For the first part of the novel we see Jennie being dealt blow after blow until the dreams she had for herself and her family seem impossible.

But Jennie serves a God of the possible. I don't want to give away the plot so I will just say that Jennie's story is inspiring. You will be reminded to never give up on a dream. It may be delayed far longer than you can imagine but if it's from God it will come to pass.

I can't stress enough to read the author's notes at the end. There is an epilogue that gives you part of the rest of the story. But the author's notes are like an epilogue to the epilogue. Fascinating stuff. If you are looking for a great read about a real person that will inspire you to dream big, this is the book for you!

I received a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was difficult to read because it deals with some pretty distressing and depressing subjects, like substance abuse and addiction. And given that it's based on a true story, happy endings are not in store for everyone. I had a harder time with it than I expected.

I never really got to the place where I was really invested in the main character, and I'm not sure if it's because of the way she was written or because of who she was. Truth is stranger than fiction, and if I hadn't known this was a true story, I would have thought it extremely far-fetched, especially for the era in which it was set.

My other complaint was that we waited for so long for Jennie to become a doctor, that when she does, it's anticlimactic. That part of the story felt rushed and a little dry. There was a lot about her accomplishments as a doctor, but little about her actual experiences.

The writing itself was lovely. I loved the character Aariyah, and the thread of musical insights she brought into the narrative. That was a beautiful touch that added a lot to the story.

[Kami S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some spoilers*

Didn't finish.. scanned after chapter 8

Kirkpatrick's writing is good. I've enjoyed some of her other historical novels, but I did not like her choice in this one. It's loosely based on the life of a woman who was a pioneer of sorts for the rights of women in the medical field. From the start, I didn't care for Jennie. Her life is quite depressing... abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction, unfaithfulness, loss of child, divorce, new love with twice her age man, and early death. Super depressing. The issues, perhaps real, seemed strange in that era (post civil war). I wouldn't recommend this one.

[Laura Klowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. The author did a great job developing the main character and showing her changing personality with the wisdom of experience and age. Jennie was a likable main character who I was rooting for throughout the story. It was nice to see her get a stronger personality & more confidence as she got older.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND by Jane Kirkpatrick takes place in the Oregon frontier in the 1870s and is based on a true story.
This audiobook was narrated by Travia Gilbert and I enjoyed listening to it whenever I was driving my car. It is an interesting story and I like Jennie, who knows the natural healing properties of herbs and oils and uses them to help her family and friends. Jennie struggles with reading, and compensates by memorization. She has an excellent memory and is a dedicated worker. Jennie longs to become a doctor, but women do not have many rights in the 1870s and most men strongly object to the idea of female doctors.
On Jennie's wedding night, her husband fell hard and bumped his head. He hasn't been quite the same towards Jennie since the fall. He is no longer a gentle, thoughtful, godly man like her father and brothers.
I liked Jennie Picket's cute little boy called Dougie. He was a bit headstrong, but Jennie and her parents were trying to teach him to be polite.
Jennie falls upon sorrow and hard times through no fault of her own. Will she be able to find away to sustain Dougie and herself? What can she do? Will Dougie do well? What lies ahead for Jennie and Dougie?
I recommend this audiobook. 4.4 stars

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read some of this author's work before and did not care for it. I thought maybe this time would be different, but sadly that was not the case. I did not connect to the characters and that made me not really care about the story. I think I will try another one of her books and hopefully I'll find one that I like.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All She Left Behind is my new favorite novel written by Jane Kirkpatrick. I just love this story. This book is based on real events involving Jennie Pickett. I loved Jennie and loved that she refused to allow the times to keep her from following her dream. She was an extraordinary woman that went through so much to keep her dream alive. Such a beautiful story full of hope, faith, determination, and redemption.
All She Left Behind is most definitely a must read and I highly recommend it.
5 plus stars.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

All She Left Behind (2017) is a stand-alone novel masterfully written by Jane Kirkpatrick. This novel was just released on September 5, 2017. This novel comes in all forms including eBook, and is 343 pages in length. With a full-time job and a busy five-year old, this novel took me two days to read. I received a free copy of this novel directly from the publisher, Revell of the Baker Publishing Group. In no way has this influenced my opinions of the story. All opinions expressed in this review are mine. I give this novel 5+ STARS. This novel is a Christian Historical Fiction based on authentic historical people and events.

The main character in this novel is Jennie Lichtenthaler, one of Oregon's first female doctors. Jennie's story is so engaging I read 3/4 of the book in one sitting! From a small girl, Jennie has always been fascinated with herbs and medicinals prepared naturally. She loves healing others, and does dream of becoming a doctor one day. But, a lack of confidence and some seriously upsetting moments put that dream on hold for Jennie. 

Jennie's life was really hard. Her first marriage was a disaster due to her husband's alcohol and drug addiction. Jennie also lost one child at birth, which completely devastated her. Some of the events described in this book are so heart-wrenching I wanted so desperately to reach into the novel and give Jennie a comforting hug. I would love to expound on Jennie's first marriage, some of the things she endures are beyond bearable, but I don't want to ruin one single page of this novel. Jane Kirkpatrick does a fantastic job of putting her readers directly into the time period. The arrogance of men and the way many of them treated women as less than second class citizens was really hard to read. Every insult Jennie had hurled at her, I felt deeply. 

But, Jennie does have a fantastic love story as well. Her second husband, Josiah Parrish, was the love of her life, and treated her so well. He is so beautifully written in this novel -- he may well be my top fictional hero. The relationship between Josiah and Jennie gave me hope as I read this novel that good people, loving people really do exist in this hard world.

This novel does discuss alcohol and drug addiction at great length. Jennie was tremendously affected by the abuse of such substances. In fact, it is one of the driving forces that help her determine her course of studies in the medical field. Alcohol and drug abuse is a terrible sickness. It ruins not just the lives of those addicted, but the lives of family members who truly want to help but are completely helpless to do so. I felt this novel touched on these topics with grace, authenticity, and truth. It is frustrating and traumatic to take second (or third or fourth) place in the hearts of loved ones choosing harmful substances over you and your love. It's a terrible thing to watch a loved one succumb to the depravity of drug and/or alcohol abuse, and the other sins that typically go along with these abuses. And, the grief and guilt you feel when you finally let go of these loved ones is almost indescribable. But, as is subtly illustrated in the novel, give it all to God. Give God the pain and the grief and the guilt and the loss of the loved one. He is the only One who can truly heal!

All She Left Behind is one of the best books of 2017. It is exquisitely written! My goodness did God bless Jane Kirkpatrick with a phenomenal writing talent. I highly, highly recommend this novel.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher, Baker Publishing Group, via LibraryThing for an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by Jane Kirkpatrick. I was so impressed with this author that I have ordered another of her books and I intend to read a lot of them. She is an award-winning author and it clearly shows in her latest novel which is based on a true story about a young woman, Jennie Lichtenthaler Pickett Parrish, living in Oregon in the 1870's. Jennie loved healing and taught herself to do just that using herbs and oils. Her dream was to be a doctor, a profession that was mostly for men in that era. Due to her family problems with alcohol, she assumed she would never have her dream. We read how alcoholism can affect individuals' lives and ultimately, their family. But Jennie never gave up on her dream, no matter what obstacles got in her way. And there is a beautiful, though unlikely, love story which is tenderly written by this talented author.

Ms. Kirkpatrick did a tremendous amount of research which she tells us about in her Acknowledgments and Notes at the end of the book. For me, this detailing throughout the novel was impressive to read. Also at the end of the book is the list of Jennie's Herbs and Oils and for what treatments homeopathic physicians used them at that time.

[Kav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Kirkpatrick finds the most interesting true-life heroines to highlight in her fictional biographies. Lesser known women who have lived exemplary lives. Women who define the pioneering spirit. Women like Jennie Pickett.

I'm astounded at everything she went through and what she accomplished despite so many hardships. An intelligent woman with a learning disability that made reading difficult who becomes a doctor? That's something to shout about in this day and age but in the late 1800s it's inconceivable. And Jennie's story is rife with emotional ups and downs though she remains steadfast in her faith.

Captivating, compelling and mind boggling. If you enjoy biographies of strong women who make a difference while overcoming insurmountable odds then this is definitely the book for you.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Kirkpatrick. Had heard great things about her writing. I chose this book since I am interested in homeopathy, herbs, and oils. Unfortunately, there were some inaccuracies in that area of writing. Also, I felt like Kirkpatrick didn't show me and allow me to feel, she just told me how to feel, so I never really enjoyed the characters. I did enjoy the information about Jennie's drive to be a doctor as it was based on a real story of a woman who wanted to be a doctor in the late 1800s in Oregon. Overall it was good, but it just felt like a struggle to finish it.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I read a new Jane Kirkpatrick historical novel, I know I am going to meet a remarkable woman from our country's past, a lady who somehow stood up against the status quo and lived a life that changed the fate of families to come. Jennie Pickett Parrish is that woman in Kirkpatrick's newest book ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND. Married young to Charles Pickett, Jennie soon finds that the life of promise she expected is peppered with heartache. Charles becomes moody and abusive, which Jennie attributes to drink and perhaps to a head injury; hoping to help support the family, Jennie begins distilling botanicals for healing essential oils. Deep within Jennie is a desire to pursue the healing arts, perhaps even to be a doctor, but doubts and obstacles over shadow her dreams. Few women have successfully entered the medical field, especially here in the new state of Oregon. A learning disability, probably what we would call dyslexia, sets her apart from her siblings who all learned quickly. For her, all book learning has been a burdensome challenge, so Jennie concentrates on raising her son, who even as a young child shows the signs of an addictive personality.

As we all experience, what is ahead in life is a complete unknown, and soon Jennie's life takes many twists, leaving her a divorcee, needing to find a way to support herself and her son. An opportunity to work as a nursing companion to an ailing wealthy woman allowing Jennie to pay back a loan her husband has defaulted on, and ultimately leading to the chance to be the doctor Jennie always dreamed of being. This isn't really a book about the world wanting to deny Jennie Pickett Parrish the opportunity to practice medicine; once she and her second husband decide she should pursue this dream, a pathway to the medical college opens for her --- possibly because her new husband (much older than she) was an influential Oregonian. No, this is about the personal sacrifices necessary to pursue a quest for knowledge and a quest to improve the basic health of families. The demons of addiction play a huge role in this book, and it is clear that Jennie Parrish sought the medical answers behind addiction, something we still seek.

Ever since I read my first book about Elizabeth Blackwell, I have been fascinated by the women who forged their way into the medical fields. And I have been a Jane Kirkpatrick fan since I picked up my first title written by her, one that just happened to be set in Wisconsin, my home state. ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND seemed a sure win for me and it was! I must say that ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND is quieter than some of her books. Set in the 1870's and after, this is not a book with lots of physical action -- no Indian/white settler disputes, wagon trail treks, or starvation winters. This is about the baby steps of change that lead to societal change. It also shows that sometimes we have to accept that we cannot change other people, that we cannot heal them of their demons. And with that acceptance, we can move ahead to a life where we can make a difference. It is also a story about a love that defies age barriers. I received an advanced reader's copy of ALL SHE LEFT BEHIND and I was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

All She Left Behind was a historical novel based upon the real life pioneer doctor Jennie Parish. The story started with Jennie being 17 and newly married, actually at her wedding party. Her husband, Charles has an accident. From that one fateful moment we watch their marriage go through many rough patches, ups and downs, that could either break or make a marriage. From the loss of their daughter, to abuse, to alcohol and drug addictions marked their marriage with some wounds that could never heal. What happens next throws Jennie into a whirlwind she is not sure she will survive.

She finds herself a single mother to her beloved son, but also not sure if she should pursue her dream of tending to folks, especially women and children who are ailing. In her work she meets a much older man and becomes a nurse to his sick wife.

This story took so many unexpected twists and turns as we travel through Jennie’s life and see her hopes and dreams, but also her discouragements and failures in regards to her family, especially her son. Dealing with alcohol abuse and it’s affects not only for the user but also the detrimental effects on the the family, Jennie hopes to one day not only to become a doctor but to find a cure for people’s addictions to alcohol and drugs. This story is very relevant even to this day as so many people still battle addictions. I felt that Jennie had a noble cause to fight for and I wish she was able to find that cure.

I received a copy of this novel for free. I was not required to post a positive review and all the views and opinions expressed are my own.

https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...

[Laura Helweg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This past month, I was paired with a book, as part of a blind book tour date, thanks to JustReadTours. I was sent "All She Left Behind," by Jane Kirkpatrick.

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?

I confess, this book really wasn't for me.
Not that it wasn't well-written or interesting, because it was. But it just didn't have that spark that caught my attention and held it throughout the book. But I was curious to see where Jennie ended up, and her future hinted at.

Jennie was a strong character. I especially liked her portrayal in the beginning. Then, as her life went on for her and her son Douglas, it was sad. A blanket of depression kind of fell on me as I read about her and her circumstances. And yes, it did get happier as the story went on, but I don't really like to read books where it's so incredibly sad like that.

The story also skipped years, and progressed very fast, which can be ok, but in the case of the romance between her and Mr. Parrish, it seemed very rushed. I wanted a little more chemistry, drama, etc. But the story continued and was good.

It also was heartbreaking to read about alcoholism, and how it affected and tore apart parts of Jennie's life. This was the main theme of the book and it was the reason for the sadness/dark feelings.

But my favorite part of this story, is that is was based on a REAL life woman, and stories of life in the Salem area during the late 1800s. I always love to read true historicals, and this definitely was that. I really appreciated all the research the author did for this novel. It was well-done, and showed.

So, all-in-all, not my book, but I still give it a solid 3 stars for good writing, and solid researching
.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways I love this book and I definitely love Jane's stories. I especially like how she adds the little tidbits of how she comes up with these stories based on real ppl.
Jennie Pickett is a fascinating
character who went after her dreams even in the toughest of time and actually achieved it.
I think that this should be classified as Women's Non fiction reason being it was based on a true story.
I had a hard time in getting into parts of the story tho.
The medical section I had a hard time with.
I admired Jennie because of her wisdom and the ability to see her dreams through.
Some ppl have to work harder than others. I'm the same way with Math. I struggle so hard and to me it's not fair when others get it just like that.
my throat constricted in other parts of this beautiful story.
Thank you Jennie Pickett for making a way for others and thank you Josiah Parrish for being there for my girl!!
Oh and did I mention that my last name is Parrish. It was one of the reasons I wanted to read this book!!
A great book!!
I received this book from Netgalley and was in no way required to review this book

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

All she left behind is a fantastic heart wrenching love entangling , boundary pushing story . You start off in the book with Jennie getting married and having her husband falling – hitting his head – her wanting to help but of course she can't she is just a woman . Then all of a sudden she has a strong willed challenging three-year-old. She then realizes – hey wait I'm not going to tell you the whole story, let's just say something miraculous,I believe, but others wouldn't , happens and in that something serious will happen and she even maybe finds true love , all the while having this challenging son. I think she is amazing , a Blessing, true grit and strong as could be . I received this from the publisher and Netgalley; all the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.

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