I have had my nose in a book almost non-stop the past few weeks. I have to admit I have gotten to read some amazing books, and All My Belongings was one!!
Cynthia Ruchti wrote a book that will draw you in through it’s charming characters, is dramatic plot twists and turns, and keep you hooked through the redemptive conclusion.
I am drawn to books that address family issues. I think there are many reasons I am drawn, one I was raised in a typical American family – WITH issues. The older I get, the more I realize most of us, nearly all, have family issues. However, the scale of issues does vary greatly between families.
All of My Belongings is a book about a family with some HUGE issues. Jayne is the main character who is trying to leave her family issues in the past, but soon realizes that is much harder than she realized. Jayne changes her name, and tries to re-create a history that she is not ashamed to share, when people ask. The problem is that Jayne, now Becca is not a good liar.
Once Becca is settled into a new life, she is welcomed into a family with open arms. Becca begins caring for an aged mother, Aurelia, as she spends her last weeks dealing with dementia and fighting heart failure. Meanwhile Isaac falls head over heals in love, mostly due to Beccas’ tender caring of his mother.
The real drama begins once Aurelia passes away. I will not go into details but everything is thrown into turmoil! After his mom’s death, Isaac also begins searching for his birth mother, since he was adopted as an infant.
Why did I love this book? Because while it may have a happy ending (hope that did not spoil it for you) – there is so much meat to this story. There are multiple twists and turns, enough to keep you reading and even up a bit late! This story is as real life as you can get. The forgiveness that is offered, the redemption that takes place, it is so healing to read about. As Becca learns to stand on her own, despite her past, is huge.
As an adult who still looks back too often, I really connected with Becca and her past. I felt that so much of what she learned about herself is what I still have to learn or remind myself of daily. The look that Ms. Ruchti gives Dementia was pretty genuine too. Having watched a few family members suffer from Dementia and Alzheimer's, I appreciated the sensitivity used to address the topic. I also appreciated the honest emotions that the family felt and Becca felt while loving Aurelia and dealing with her disease.
This is a sweet story, with enough drama to keep it from being sappy. The character are deep, strong and real. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it!
About the Book:
After spending years running from the shame her father put on her family, Jayne is determined not to let him steal her future in the same way he stole her childhood. Changing her name to Becca Morrow, she moves to California and settles into a new life and new job caring for ailing mother of handsome young businessman, Isaac Hughes.
But just as she's wondering if she and Isaac are headed for a relationship, Becca's patient passes away under unusual circumstances. Suddenly, her past catches up with her and the unnerving details of her heritage threaten to destroy all sense of home and all hope for love.
Even if she could clear her name, a phone call wraps a suffocating shroud around her heart. Her estranged father needs her help. But can Becca open her new life to the man who ruined her past?
About Cynthia Ruchti:
About the author: Cynthia Ruchti has more than three decades of radio broadcast experience with "Heartbeat of the Home" radio and currently serves as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers.
NOTE : I was offered a copy of All My Belongings in exchange for an honest review, by LitFuse.
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