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    One More River to Cross
    One More River to Cross
    One More River to Cross
    Audiobook11 hours

    One More River to Cross

    Written by Jane Kirkpatrick

    Narrated by Christina Moore

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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 love 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. Award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick plunges you deep into a landscape of challenge where fear and courage go hand in hand for a story of friendship, family, and hope that will remind you of what truly matters in times of trial.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateSep 3, 2019
    ISBN9781980052418
    Author

    Jane Kirkpatrick

    Jane Kirkpatrick is the author of twenty books and is a two-time winner of the WILLA Literary Award. Her first novel, A Sweetness to the Soul, won the Western Heritage Wrangler Award, an honor given to writers such as Barbara Kingsolver and Larry McMurtry. For twenty-six years she "homesteaded" with her husband Jerry on a remote ranch in Eastern Oregon.  She now lives with Jerry, and her two dogs and one cat on small acreage in Central Oregon while she savors the value of friendship over fame.

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    Reviews for One More River to Cross

    4/5

    59 ratings24 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Very enjoyable and interesting story of courage and faith of others
    • 5/5
      Excellent story with lots of inside stories. I highly recommend it!
    • 3/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      It is always difficult to write a review of Jane Kirkpatrick's book when I finish reading it. I always have to dwell for a while on the emotional and spiritual aspects of what I learned or was impacted by in her work of art. The same is true for "One More River to Cross". Her stories are based on real life. One gets to know these people, their strengths and weaknesses, their accomplishments and failures. Most of all, one can see them grow in their faith in God and how He is at work in their lives. Her words can sometimes go to the very heart of a person and touch them deeply while reading about the lives of others. Truly inspirational.
    • 4/5
      This is an historical novel of the 1844 Murphy - Stephens – Townsend wagon train, the first wagons brought from the States over the Sierra Nevada mountains into California.In the late fall of the year, the party was trapped by snows too deep to continue. Part of the group, including an ill woman, set off to the south on horseback along a path that passed Lake Tahoe. A passing Indian had told them this was the best route, but that wagons could not get through.Time and time again the remaining party split.At Lake Stephens three men were left behind with the heavy wagons full of trade goods. Eventually, these three also split up, with two following the main group and one sick young man left behind.Eight women, 17 children and one elderly man were left with the remainder of the wagons a few miles beyond. The other men continued on, hoping to reach Sutter’s Fort and mount a rescue party.And then, in a stranger than fiction twist, once the men arrived at Sutter’s Fort, they let themselves be conscripted by Sutter into a war with the Spanish instead of rescuing the rest of their party. By this time, those left behind had been reduced to eating boiled leather and pine needle tea due to the utter lack of game in the deep snow.At first, I was dizzied by the number of characters. I also wished for a bit more flair in the writing. Eventually, though, I was captured by the story.I found the last chapter fascinating, where author Jane Kirkpatrick tells how she found a reference to this forgotten story and tracked down published journals and primary references to bring this out of the shadows.A good read for those who like stories of pioneers and endurance. 3.8 starsI received a copy of this through LIbraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an unbiased review.
    • 5/5
      To say I am an avid fan of Jane Kirkpatrick is putting it mildly! I have loved all her books but she really out did herself this time! Her detail (as always) to research is impeccable. What I find remarkable is her ability to understand and capture the emotions and physical details of the people involved to the point the story does not appear as historical fiction but a personal account of the characters. The 1800’s was a time when settlers were heading west for the promise of better more prosperous lives. These brave men, women and children had no idea what danger or difficulties lied ahead, all they saw was their dream. In 1844 the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend left Missouri to travel over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to California. As they reach the mountain range snow begins to fall and the trip becomes a race against time to before severe winter weather sets in. The decision is made to divide up into 3 groups. One will stay in a crude built shelter and protect supplies until the others return in the spring. As the remaining 2 groups move on, they realize the way is impassable for the wagons. A second larger crude shelter is built and the women and children are left as the third group forges on to California to bring back a rescue party. As I read I thought about how my impressions of these westward settlers pretty much came from the show Wagon Train. Boy was I misguided! The hardships these people faced are unbelievable! The constant fear of death or loss of a loved one was a part of life. The lack of food and starvation was an endless reminder of their mortality. It is one thing to be hungry yourself, but to have small children with nothing to eat is another. Can you imagine giving your children animal hides to chew on hoping there would be some sustenance? Mothers who bore children on the journey even feared they would not have breast milk for their babies to survive. And the cold, oh the cold! Fire didn’t do much to warm you and about the only thing between you and the elements was a crude structure that had snow and wind blowing through the cracks. I don’t do well with frosty weather, and Ms. Kirkpatrick’s descriptions their battle against frigid temperatures was so vivid I found trouble keeping warm! What I found truly amazing was their perseverance, ingenuity, and courage. People from all nationalities and walks of life worked together without pettiness or irritation even during the worst of times. Instead of whining and dragging each other down, they uplifted and encouraged one another. No one belly-upped and quit in the face of their suffering which is what I am sure I would have done! A remarkable book you want to read! I received this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have stated are my own.
    • 4/5
      While everyone knows about the Donner party and their feet while trying to cross the United States with dire consequences, Little is known about the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend party. This group of men, women, and children endured great hardships and nearly insurmountable decisions in order to survive not only the crossing but the winter that had set upon them during their travels. While the trip initially seemed to go well with little hardship, once the party reached California their hardships began in earnest. Peri while the trip initially seemed to go well with little hardship, once the party reached California their hardships began in earnest. Forced to leave their belongings behind and also some of their family members, this parties journey is definitely one that must go down in the record books as heroic. This book was a very interesting book to read.. I had never heard of this party nor it struggles. Thank you Library thing and the early review group for sending me this book as I really enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      It has been many years since I learned about the Donner Party's tragic expedition so I was eager to read about this journey that had taken place two years before that ill-fated trip. One More River to Cross relates the hardships that The Stephens-Murphy-Townsend Overland Party encountered during the months from October 1844 -July 1845 as they attempted to cross the Sierra Nevadas to reach California. As I read about these brave people who endured extreme hunger,frigid cold, and snow that was estimated to be eight feet deep, I couldn't imagine how much they had suffered. I was especially touched byThe Wintering Women, a group of eight women and seventeen children who were left to tend for themselves in a makeshift cabin while the rest of the group traveled on to find help. These women faced extreme difficulties but they drew strength and comfort from each other and from their faith in God. They also discovered just how strong they really were!Author Jane Kirkpatrick relates in her Author's Notes and Acknowledgements how this story came to be and she also shares what is true and what she has added as fiction. I am a fan of historical fiction and I admire her efforts but I did find myself having to refer often to the list of characters in the front of the book. There are many people involved in this story and I found it difficult to keep them all straight. One More River to Cross is 345 pages long but those who enjoy reading about the early history of our country and the pioneers who struggled to expand its boundaries will find it to be both entertaining and educational.I received a complimentary copy from Revell and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts in this review.
    • 3/5
      One More River to Cross by Jane Kirkpatrick is a stand-alone novel based on historical events surrounding the Stephens company and its journey to California. I appreciate that the author chose to stick to certain happenings, as odd as they seem to today’s readers. While some of these events led to character development and/or relational healing in the book, other events seemed to pass without sufficient time given to dealing with the trauma they must have caused and I wished those events had been more thoroughly addressed. Much of One More River to Cross is devoted to highlighting the powerlessness of women in that time period and how the women’s mindsets changed. I enjoyed seeing the women find their own reasons to hope and persevere through their severe hardship. They learned to speak up despite oppression from companions and loved ones. They learned to take action when necessary. The themes about powerlessness and gender equality echo into today’s society and are still relevant.Despite its prose being well-written with its smooth dialogue and vibrant descriptions, I struggled to finish One More River to Cross because I never developed deep interest in the characters. There were just so many of them and the story hopped all around in so many different minds that even when I was a third of the way through the book, I needed to refer to the character list.If you have enjoyed previous historical fiction novels by Jane Kirkpatrick, you may enjoy One More River to Cross. While it didn’t captivate my attention, long-time fans of Jane Kirkpatrick will likely be interested in her newest release.Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
    • 4/5
      In the 1800s, no trip to the West occurred without unanticipated hardship. The Donner Party, of course, remains infamous for what they endured in 1846-47. Lesser known is the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend company, which chose to make the same crossing through the Sierra Nevada—with much different results.In One More River to Cross, Jane Kirkpatrick imagines the experience this group of people had, facing a dangerous snowstorm and difficult decisions to make. Her writing is exquisite as the historical detail combines with intriguing characterizations, and it all proves extremely well-told.My problem with this novel is strictly a personal one: I had trouble keeping track of the many characters, their relationships to one another, and who went where with whom. The book does include a map and a detailed character list at the beginning, so Kirkpatrick does her best to alleviate potential confusion. The fault here lies entirely with me.So, if you love historical fiction, check out One More River to Cross. A story of brave men and women facing ostensibly insurmountable adversity, it’s worth a read (especially if you don’t have trouble with characters, like I do). I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 5/5
      All the while I’m reading this story, I had the feeling that I would never be warm again, or not starving.The author made this story so real, and then I read her notes at the end of the book, and found out that this is based on real people. Along that note, I loved all the updates on these folks that we sure cared about.As you are reading this you kept wondering how they ended up in these circumstances, and then you remember what happened to the famous party that came after them, and I had to wonder how many if any of them would be left at the end of the book.An eye opener of courage and perseverance.I received this book through the Revell Readers Program, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this book!! At first I had trouble keeping all the characters straight, but the list of characters in the front of the book helped immensely. Jane Kirkpatrick is one of my favorite authors of historic stories, and she has never disappointed. This book is based on an actual wagon train, the Murphy, Stephens & Townsend party's journey to California, and on actual people, which made it even more fascinating. At the end of the book, Kirkpatrick explains how she discovered this 'story' about this wagon train in a footnote while doing research for another story. She went on to cite other sources that told more of the story from those who lived it, or heard about it firsthand. That sparked my interest even more...and I plan to look for some of these to read more of the actual story. She also explains what was true, and what was fictionalized in the book, and even what actually happened later in the pioneer's lives....some of which was very sad, especially considering what they went through to get to California! Bringing history alive like this a real gift! It makes one appreciate what those early pioneers...our forefathers....went through to survive and follow their dreams. And it amazed me to read that the Donner party came through this same area, and faced some of the same problems, but with vastly different results only a year or two later. One has to speculate, as the author did, that the difference was the willingness of everyone to do what was best for all, even if it meant splitting the group;they were willing to leave wagons and possessions behind; they shared all their resources, and rationed food early, and they followed the advice of experienced mountain men. All in all, an excellent story pulled from the pages of history!
    • 3/5
      This is my first novel by Jane Kirkpatrick and I’m now wondering why I haven’t already come across some of her previous novels. This newest work is set in 1844 and involves a wagon train that travels through the Sierra Nevada mountains en route to California.Most of the settlers from the wagon train are Irish Catholics, but regardless of where they are from or what their religious views are, they are all searching for a better life in California.Unfortunately, the journey didn’t move fast enough to beat the first snows of winter. Due to the weather situation, they began to run low on food and to have trouble getting the wagons through the snowy mountainous terrain.At some point in the journey, they decide to split up. They end up having three groups. Some stayed with a few wagons that held the heaviest and most valuable possessions. The plan was to winter in place and have others come help them when the snow melted.Another group traveled by horseback. This group made the best time and reached the settlement area in California before any of the others.The third group was the rest of the wagon train. This group eventually split due to the lack of food and the slow progress being made. The idea was for the men to ride ahead and send back help. As so often happens, the best laid plans go awry. With each group facing starvation, natural disasters and other hazards common to living in a snowy mountainous region, there were quite a bit of tense moments. The experience that the people endured also brought to light various weak spots in some of the marriages. It was truly a journey that exposed what was important in life to each individual.This was a well done historical fiction novel based on real people and experiences that I think many will enjoy.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed reading the book and understanding more about what the people of that time went through on the wagon trains. I was very glad the names and relationships of all of the people in the book was in the front as I had to go back from time to time since there were so many people involved. Even though I am not much of a history buff, I did enjoy this book. It kept my interest and I couldn't wait to see if everyone made it to their final destination or not. I would recommend this book. I also found it interesting to read the author's notes on how she got her idea for the book and what was fact and what was fiction.
    • 5/5
      One More River to Cross by Jane KirkpatrickPaperback, 352 pagesExpected publication: September 3rd 2019 by Fleming H. Revell CompanyMrs. Jane Kirkpatrick has taken stories of true accounts and blended it with a little fiction and woven this amazing story of the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend wagon train and given us the accounts of this wagon train. They realize they aren't going to make it all the way to Sutter's Fort, as they had planned. They decide to split into several different groups, so everyone will survive the winter.Wintering Women Camp, has all of their 17 children, including 2 babes that have been born on the trail. There is also 8 women and 3 men. They are pretty goon, but they run out of food. Two of the men leave, hoping to find game or help. Wagon Guard Camp, a few of the men decide to leave their wagons, because they would be able to travel faster, with fewer wagons and the stock that they had brought with them. Game becomes scarce of them, also. The Horseback Party consists of 1 woman and several of the men. They hope to travel swiftly and bring back help for the other two groups.I enjoyed this book, it is nice to read of the hopes and dreams of those who came before us. There were struggles, families having to dump some of their belongings along side the trail, because it was too heavy or simply not worth the time to carry it here and there. Or, One More River To Cross, to get the entire wagon across. My thanks to LibraryThing and Revell for the opportunity to read this book. I was not expected to leave a review, doing so, is my choice to leave one.One More River to Cross by Jane KirkpatrickPaperback, 352 pagesExpected publication: September 3rd 2019 by Fleming H. Revell Company
    • 3/5
      Thanks to the publisher, Revell, via LibraryThing, for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.This is a story of survival based on true events in 1844 about a group of people from Missouri traveling through the Sierra Nevada mountains to find a better life in California. They encountered unimaginable hardships of starvation, cold, separation from loved ones, and birthing babies in the wilderness.I am always interested in how an author gets an idea for a novel. Jane Kirkpatrick saw a footnote in The Brazen Overlanders of 1845 by Donna M. Wojcik. Writing of the Bear River country, "they camped in the valley near a log cabin built by 1844 emigrants.... Here the snow must have been very deep for some of the trees had been cut off 8 feet from (above) the ground....This cabin was occupied the winter of 1844 by women emigrants looked after by James Miller." For Jane Kirkpatrick the obvious question was, who were those women and what were they doing? So a few years later, she began her research.There were so many characters in this novel that the author compiled a list at the front of the book with pertinent information like who was related or married and a comment as to their occupation, personality, etc. It was very helpful since I have a hard time remembering details when there are so many characters. There is also a map which helps to envision the route they took.I felt this novel was too long. There was so much misery among the people who endured the trip, I felt depressed, cold, and hungry most of time while reading. I don't mean to diminish the courage and strength it took for the people to survive, but the slow pace was hard to handle with all the trials and tribulations going on.
    • 2/5
      This book is about a small group of people heading west. Each has their own strong personality, even the women, who are regulated to typical womanly chores of the time. The men make all the decisions concerning the trip. When there is a disagreement on which route to take, the group splits, each in hopes their route will get them to California quickly and safely. It should have held my interest since I love reading about wagon trains heading west, but it didn’t. A lot of the book seemed dry. Kirkpatrick is a very good author but this book just didn’t catch my interest.
    • 4/5
      I found this book hard to put down. It tells the story of a strong group of men, women, and children who travel across 100's of miles through horrifying conditions to make a new life in California. At the start, the men are the superiors; the women's contributions are unnoticed. By the end of the trip, the men have a new respect for the strength and endurance of the women, and the women have learned to trust in themselves and their abilities. For anyone that likes true life history, I highly recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      Acclaimed author Jane Kirkpatrick is known for the meticulous detail found in her inspiring works of historical fiction. "One More River to Cross" is her storytelling of the "Murphy-Stephens-Townsend Overland Party", which traveled from Missouri through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to reach California in 1844. Decisions of varying wisdom by members of the group. the twists and turns of Fate, and the undeniable force of Nature itself lead the travelers on an eventful, life-altering journey for which none of them were truly prepared. The author has included a breakdown of the groupings in the wagon party which explains who was in each group--giving us insights into their characters: "Horseback Group"; "Wagon Guards"; "The Wintering Women"; "Also at the Wintering Cabin"; and "Cross-Country Men". The party eventually separated into three main groups--each one choosing a different and difficult route to follow. If you enjoy reading about American Frontier trials and tribulations and life in the mid-nineteenth century, then you will find "One More River to Cross" to be an involving and inspiring journey of a lifetime.Book Copy Gratis LibraryThing
    • 4/5
      Title: One More River to CrossAuthor: Jane KirkpatrickPages: 352Year: 2019Publisher: RevellMy rating: 4 out of 5 stars.I am always amazed to read how various authors get started on a novel. Whether it’s a person of history or an event it just fascinates me. The novel One More River to Cross began when the author read a footnote, which you can read about in your copy, and from there she set out to learn more. Jane Kirkpatrick does a very good job of researching and portraying true events as close to reality as possible. When she writes the story, there are times she might deviate from what occurred if she knows what did or if there is no way to know, and her ability to create a believable tale is exceptional.Before I started reading the tale, I read in the back the Author’s Notes and Acknowledgments, which lets me know fact from fiction. For me, it doesn’t diminish my ability to enjoy the novel. In fact, it enhances it knowing the truth from fiction. In the beginning of the book, Jane lays out her characters’ histories such as who they are, if they are married and to whom they are related. Having this helps me if I forget as I read who is related to whom.October 1844 is where the reader’s journey begins, traveling with women who must face a harsh wilderness with courage and fortitude. In a time where there wasn’t any way to communicate instantly with a loved one or know what lay ahead, these women had to carve out a living with their children until they reached their destination.What is so gripping is the precariousness of life in the wilderness and traveling long distances always keeping in mind the unknown future. These women had to fight to live. It wasn’t pursuit of riches or fame but wanting a future. I hope readers enjoy following these Winter Women to their destination through a vast and unkind wilderness to reach a future they believed would be better. May you enjoy the novel and the journey!Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
    • 4/5
      Writers of historical fiction for contemporary readers often lose their balance and, for the sake of readability, modernize the plot or language so much that the story becomes implausible.Not the case here. Jane Kirkpatrick has done a fine job with this story based on actual events: a group of wagon travelers are forced to make a difficult decision, causing the party to split. The period detail is accurate, and I found no 21st-century turns of phrase or philosophy to distract me from the engaging plot. Because the story involves the entire traveling party, it is a bit of a challenge to keep your "who's who" straight. The advance proof copy I received contained a glossary of characters which I referred to often; I hope that's retained in the final edition.
    • 3/5
      Set in the American West of the 1840's, this novel is based on the obscure true story of a group of pioneer families who set out for and reached California, after enduring hardships, obstacles, and setbacks. Quite a contrast to the unfortunate Donner Party, this group all pulled together, helped each other, and were willing to separate into several groups, so that at least some of them would reach their goal and no one would hold anyone else back. I liked the author's note where she explained how she came across this unbelievable story in a footnote to something she was reading. She just HAD to research it deeply. Too bad, with such enticing material to work with, the writing was bland and cloyingly sweet. There was too much banal dialogue and it was much too long; it could have been pared down. With so many similar names, I'm glad the author gave a list of who each person was, and in which group. This made it clearer to me.Only recommended, with reservations.
    • 1/5
      I received this book for an early review. Sadly I cannot finish it. I pride myself on being able to read anything and get the story no matter what kind of fluff I have to read through. I am sure this is a great story. But after 10 pages and 5 paragraphs opening on the color of someone's hair......I have have to stop. I have not read any of the authors other material but honestly this is weak writing at its worst. I hate to say anything negative about anyone's ability to write a story, because as a writer myself, I know how criticism feels. My mind wonders who, or what crowd has made Mrs. Kirkpatrick a bestselling author. No editor in his right mind should read this and give it an OK for release. I think this story has potential and I know as a pre publication copy things may change. I can only hope so because I think the story may have potential. Once again I apologize for the criticism but that is why early copies are sent out. This is not good at all. It is terrible. But on a positive note.... it is not nearly as bad as Twilight or Fifty Shades of Grey.