I immediately grabbed this book because 1) It's by Jane Kirkpatrick; 2) the history! 😍

This book definitely did not lack in the history department. I was soo intrigued by this true story of travelers.
But this book did, however, lack in compelling, lovable characters...... I didn't like any of them.
Actually, I disliked many of them thoroughly

The story was good, the writing was off.
The book just wasn't as amazing as I'd expected.

It became boring very quickly and I did not want to finish it.

Another wonderful historical fiction by Jane Kirkpatrick. Mid-1800s trek to California. Difficult decisions, dangerous situations, strong characters that display realistic and relatable emotions and actions. Family and friends deciding to split up to make the journey more doable, lots of action. I enjoy stories like this as they make me wonder how I would've responded in similar situations. I listened to the library copy of the audiobook and Christina Moore did a great job narrating the story which made for an enjoyable listening experience.

Classic Jane Kirkpatrick. Excellent writing. Believable characters. Thought provoking story line. Savor this novel. You will not be disappointed. Five stars.

Jane Kirkpatrick is a relatively new author for me, I’ve already come to realize that she takes historical events and expounds on it. Drawing in real people she brings them to life.



That is exactly what happened with One More River to Cross, in 1844 some of the first wagons travel over the mountains from Missouri to California. My mind just can’t imagine what this journey would be like, horse and wagons all the way across just sounds so cold and discouraging. The author researched well and then wrote a story that put me right there. It isn’t fast-paced and I'll admit to being confused a few times due to the large cast of characters which sometimes had me stopping to remember the connections to each other.

The author notes were extensive and welcomed. Kirkpatrick drew on history with real people mentioned and even went a little further and told about their future.

One More River to Cross is a look at brave men, women, and children who endured so much for a new life.

Thanks to Revell for a complimentary digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

year 1844. A group of families of Irish-Canadian-Missourians people, start a long journey from Iowa to Alta California.
It's a long trip, with troubles, mountains and rivers to cross, pregnant women, small children to tend, cold and snow to complicate the situation.
The familes must split up in small groups, the wagons must lay behind.
The story is well written, no boring, so much characters but well building.
It's incredible, but this story is true: people in year 1844 made a long trip, last 6 months, trough wild mountains, bad weather with a lot of snow and wind,
many children to tend, rationed food, huge and heavy wagons.
They had courage, faith, the wisdom of working together, dreams for a new land to create a new life.

Another fabulous title from Jane Kirkpatrick. I have read extensively about the famous Donner party but the group depicted in this book was never before brought to my attention. It's a very compelling story. If you enjoy the history of the settling of the west then you should read this one.

One More River to Cross
by Jane Kirkpatrick


Revell

Christian


Pub Date 03 Sep 2019


I am reviewing a copy of One More River to Cross through Revell and Netgalley:



The year is 1844, two years before The Donner Party the Stevens-Murphy company left Missouri to become the first wagons to come into California through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, they were mostly Irish Catholics and were going to California in search of religious freedom and educated. They had a safe journey until October when they faced a heavy snowstorm and had to face difficult decisions. This would be the first of many for young Mary Sullivan, newlywed Sarah Montgomery and the widow Ellen Murphy along with her pregnant sister in law Maolisa.



The party separates into three different directions, they each face loosing those they love and face the reality that adversity can either destroy or redefine. Two of the women and four men go overland around Lake Tahoe while three men stay to guard the heaviest wagons--and the rest of the party, which included eight women and seventeen children, huddle in a makeshift cabin at the headwaters of the Yuba River waiting for rescue or their deaths.


Will they survive this dangerous journey, and the harsh conditions? Find out in One More River to Cross five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

We never know another's demons. But maybe sharing them is way of smashing up their powers.


If you ever traveled thru the mountains in the Midwest and Pacific states, do you ever wonder how difficult it was for the first settlers? This historical account took me back to that time and 5th/6th grade history of those courageous men, women and children. Stevens-Murphy company left Missouri to be the first wagons into California through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This area is close to Lake Tahoe and the end of the book has the given the 3 different routes taken. These families led by their Captain who had to make the tough decisions as the snow came in the Sierra's.

These decisions were voted on by the men and the women were left with all the emotions. The parting of loved ones as some stayed with heavier wagons and another group went by horseback in a different route. These settlers were proactive in their survival, however, the fear of the unknown along with the excitement for a better future pulled them to their goal.

For me as the group divided, it became easier for me to keep track of who is who and the struggles that they faced. My favorite was Moses as he was a young boy that was left on his own on Lake Tahoe to defend the guns and wares the party brought to make their new start. He had to fight many obstacles to survive and he was able to fight those demons thru reading and the hope of seeing his sister once again. I was rooting for him as he was in the battle alone.

The account ended with a brief look at where each party ended up and how their lives ended. It is a real testament of what made this Country great and how it changed the lives of those who survived.
Highly recommend.

A Special Thank you to Revell and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

I have heard such good things about this book. However, I cannot get my NetGalley copy to open correctly so that I can read it. If I can get this corrected, I’ll be happy to come back and post a review. I am basing this rating on what I’ve read about this book.

I’m a huge Jane Kirkpatrick fan because I love how detailed her historical research is for her novels. She brings true events and real people to life in her books, and she doesn’t shy away from their hardships, disasters, poor decisions, or trials. This particular event was unknown to me, as a Canadian reader, and so I enjoyed the story even more for learning something completely new to me.
I especially enjoyed how Ms. Kirkpatrick centered on the story from the women’s perspective, even though the book has three pages of “characters” listed at the beginning so the reader can keep all the families in order. Women are at the heart of history and yet, little is known about their real struggles or contributions to it. So, taking her research and bringing to life the deadly winter of 1844-45 at the cabin, was spellbinding for me. It was a study in the defiance of the human spirit to survive and overcome. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!
This story of Mary, Sarah, Beth, and Maolisa will twist your heart and stay with you long after you finish the book. I was glad Ms. Kirkpatrick included Notes at the end which detailed what happened to these people after their ordeal was over, as much as she was able to find. And her Book Club discussion questions are well worth trying this book out for your Club.

Based on a truth, this wagon train crossing happened two years before the Donner party crossed the Sierra Nevada's. All was fine til October when the harsh snows hit the mountains.
The struggle was real and I am once again impressed with the strength of this author's research.
The vast wilderness,going without food for days on end including children,bone chilling cold,crossing rivers. Just amazing!
All had to work together to survive.
All the women had different strengths and weaknesses. The author showed a venerability to them. Do I think this made them weak, no! I do believe this brought out their character. No one had time to be selfish and think about themselves, everything was a group effort.
I think many of us have romanticized the wagon train crossings, including myself thinking how nice it would have been to ride in one in perfect weather enjoying the slow ride.
This book is really about strength,trust and faith in the Lord that he will get you through.
Excellent book with well developed characters set at a great pace!
Pub Date: 03 Sep 2019
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The American history books are filled with stories of brave men whose dreams pushed them further and further west. What we too often ignore is the simple fact that they were almost always accompanied by women. Women who eagerly chose to move in search of a better life, but also women who had no voice in the decisions that forever altered their futures. Those decisions were made by husbands, fathers, and even brothers. Too often the females would soon find themselves alone as family members succumbed to disease and accidents, leaving them too poor or too far away for a return to their previous homes. Jane Kirkpatrick has made telling the stories of these surviving women her life's work. Many of her books center on fictionalized accounts of historical women of the Northwest. In her latest book, she turns to the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend company who left Missouri in 1844 to travel across the Sierra Nevada to California. . . Jane Kirkpatrick has written over 20 books, most of them historical fiction. I've read most of them and always eagerly await her next book. ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS is not a disappointment. Once again she has taken a moment in history and expanded it into a full narrative, pitting adversity against the strength of the human spirit. And as only Kirkpatrick seems able to do, we see that story unfold for not only the men, but also for the women. I received a copy of this book from Revell and Netgalley. All opinions are mine.

People have different opinions about what makes a great book. For me, it is when an author can take readers right to the place where the story is set and can vividly feel part of the action. The characters are easy to relate to and the story flows at a pace that doesn't overwhelm readers with unnecessary facts.

This book is exactly all the things above and more. It takes place during 1844 where travelers take off in wagons across unforgiving weather and terrain to make a better life for themselves. We can understand their struggles as the author carefully shows the danger that our characters faced. There is a large group that make a decision to branch off and take different routes. This is where the meat of the story is for me. One decision will change the lives of these men, women and children.

The unknown is scary and I loved how they faced their trails with a steadfast faith. It is hard to read at times the many challenges they faced but with each step they became closer to their dream of a better life. I did like that the women were depicted as strong and capable of looking out for themselves and making wise decisions. I loved the historical facts that the author includes which makes the story intriguing to read. I love this time period but I'm sure I couldn't have done some of the things they had to do to survive. Overall the book is very good and gives us a look at people who traveled by wagon and overcame hardships with hope and faith of promising opportunities.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing. The review is my own opinion.

So much as been written about the wagon trains going west and it seems as though we have romanticized those trips quite a bit. Jane Kirkpatrick though, lays it on the line and doesn't mince what it was like when the wagon trains ran into trouble. The hardships are everywhere in this story and it makes me think if I could survive such a trip. These women were strong and so were there children. They grew closer, as times got rough and formed a bond that couldn't be broken.

One More River to Cross did seem to jump around a bit from party to party. Sometimes there were only a few sentences about that party before she jumped to the next. At times, that seemed to drive me crazy because even though I cared about them all, I just wanted to know more detail about Moses. He remained my favorite character with the way he cared for others, his hard work, and his ingenuity.

The history I learned while reading this book made me continue turning the pages. The descriptions were perfect and I could picture them in my mind. I even learned about something new that I didn't know before (reflector ovens) and that always a bonus.

Just to let you know, I'm still mad and I need to forgive the men.

This book was given to me by Revell and this is my honest opinion.

Most of this is facts that the author found in research. One of the first wagon trains to travel this area.

In the epilogue Jane said she hoped that this story might celebrate the honor of self-sacrifice, the wisdom of working together, and the power of persevering through community and faith. She did that exactly. This story is set in 1844 as a wagon train is progressing across country towards Oregon first then changing to California, which was still Mexican at the time. A fairly easy trip for the first part, they didn't take into the account the high mountains and altitude around Lake Tahoe, and thought California only had warm temperatures. Never expecting the deep, deep snow in the mountains. These became tremendous obstacles for them. Most were Irish, some from Canada. Good old Irish stubbornness, brains and tenacity came into play as they determined to live and move to their goal. Women were expected to follow without question or input, not expected to think. This group of Irish girls got tired of that and when left to themselves learned what they needed to and proved resourcefulness of their own, as the men left and forged ahead without them. As with all of Jane's books, there are always lessons to be learned that will apply to women everywhere, anytime.

Quotes
“An old Indian once told me, ‘When you come to a wide chasm— jump. It’s not as wide as you think.’ We had no alternative but to jump and so we did.”

“Taking things apart to re-create them,” Mary said. “That’s happening to us too,” Sarah said. “We’re having to remake ourselves here.” And so they did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#OneMoreRiverToCross #NetGalley #JaneKirkpatrick #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #5Stars #ChristianHistorical

One More River to Cross is a well written historical book. I struggled reading this book to many characters for this reader. If you enjoy historical fiction and can manage to keep the characters straight you might enjoy this book. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

One More River to Cross is an interesting read. It is based on true events from mid nineteenth century. I thought the author did a great job bringing this moment in history to life. However, there are quite a bit of characters to keep up with that did make me confused at times. I enjoyed reading the book, but it was a little slow at times. About halfway through, I was beginning to be intrigued and could not put it down.
I am giving One More River to Cross three and a half stars. It is definitely worth a read.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

I could not get into this book. The storytelling was not at all compelling. I'm not even sure who the main character is supposed to be, as it tells bits and pieces of everyone's stories scattered all through the beginning. I didn't care for the style of writing, as it felt juvenile to me. I tried to get through it, but didn't find it to be a story I wanted to spend my time trudging through. I don't believe the women of the time period were accurately depicted either. And those who were supposed to be Irish were only so at times in their speech patterns, and not consistently. Just too many things working against this book for me to try and enjoy it, or get into the storyline. May be good for younger readers but not adults.

The Stevens-Murphy company aims to be the first wagons to cross into California via the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The part decides to split up, several going overland via Lake Tahoe, another party abandoning the wagons to travel across the mountains, and a third staying with the wagons. When the party traveling across the mountains realizes that they won't make it, most of them shelter in a makeshift cabin while a handful push across the mountain.

The book focused on the women's stories, showing how they banded together to survive the deadly winter. The women were well developed and interesting characters. I enjoyed reading from their point of view. At times the pace of the book felt very slow, however, the women's stories kept me reading. Overall 3 out of 5 stars.

In 1844, two years before the Donner Party, the Stevens-Murphy company left Missouri to be the first wagons into California through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mostly Irish Catholics, the party sought religious freedom and education in the mission-dominated land and enjoyed a safe journey–until October, when a heavy snowstorm forced difficult decisions. The first of many for young Mary Sullivan, newlywed Sarah Montgomery, the widow Ellen Murphy, and her pregnant sister-in-law Maolisa.
When the party separates in three directions, each risks losing those they loved and faces the prospect of learning that adversity can destroy or redefine. Two women and four men go overland around Lake Tahoe, three men stay to guard the heaviest wagons–and the rest of the party, including eight women and seventeen children, huddle in a makeshift cabin at the headwaters of the Yuba River waiting for rescue . . . or their deaths. — from the publisher.
Jane Kirkpatrick at the beginning of the book introduces each of the characters and through the beginning of the trek towards the Sierra Nevada Mountains lets the reader feel the family relationships and the dynamics of the group. When the party splits up, Ms. Kirpatrick alternates the chapter narratives between the three groups. She writes the story in such a way that the reader can empathize and relate to the difficult decisions each time the group wrestles with splitting up.
Ms. Kirkpatrick through the character, Mary Sullivan shows how strong many of the women making the journey west were. Mary often used her determination and confidence to lead her party forward and survival. This story leaves the reader with a new appreciation to what the pioneers endured to make a better life for themselves and their family.
Readers who like historical fiction and especially this period will thoroughly enjoy this read. The book is a quick read while educating how the pioneers had to be resourceful to survive. It is very evident that Ms. Kirkpatrick extensively researches her story. At the end of the story, she gives many of her references for those wanting to learn more about the Stephens- Murphy party.
I received an ARC ebook from Netgalley and the publisher, Revell, in exchange for an honest review.