All My Belongings

By Andrea Renee Cox

What happens when your troublesome past mashes down the replay button?

That's the question looming before Jayne Dennagee in Cynthia Ruchti's All My Belongings. Once her father's reputation bars her pursuit of a nursing career, Jayne changes her name and moves halfway across the country in an attempt to start fresh. But when her past comes tripping after her, will the footing she's gained with her new friends be ripped apart and leave her wondering yet again if she'll ever belong anywhere?

Cynthia Ruchti (pronounced ROOK-tee) presents a heart-gripping story wrapped up in the life of a caregiver. Each chapter brings new heartache for the lead female, a testament to the author's talent for digging deep and laying her heart on the line. I always appreciate that in a good book. When you can see how much the author poured out in the writing ... it makes you care all the more about the characters and their journey.

My favorite of all the characters in All My Belongings was Aurelia Hughes. Though she was fading from life, she still retained her spunk and humor. I especially enjoyed this line of hers: “I've got a scream could peel paint off the Titanic, you know.” Isn't that a hoot? It's characters like her that make books memorable ... and keep me coming back for more stories from the author.