What Once We Loved What Once We Loved

Kinship and Courage #3

by Jane Kirkpatrick

A CIRCLE OF COURAGEOUS WOMEN DISCOVERS THE MEANING OF INDEPENDENCE, FORGIVENESS, AND LOVE Ruth Martin had a to become an independent woman and build a life in southern Oregon for herself and her children.But when her friend Mazy's inaction results in a tragedy that shatters Ruth's dream, Ruth must start anew and try to heal her tender wounds. Her friends are also moving on. Mazywrestles with her understanding of what faith and family really mean; Tipton discovers that marriage requires more than she's ready to give; and Suzanne's challenge is to keep seeing with new eyes.Together, the turn around women travel to arenas of untested promise where they'll find a hope that sustains them and relationships they'll cherish all their days.THE FINAL BOOK IN THE KINSHIPAND COURAGE SERIES "From the Trade Paperback edition."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Historical, Christian Historical Fiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2001

About the author

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

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 satisfying stars

The conclusion to this Christian historical romance that began with All Together in One Place and No Eye Can See focuses more on the relationships of Mazy, Susanne, Elizabeth, Ruth, and Tipton as they settle into their lives and navigate the ups and downs of marriage, motherhood, and courting.

I felt a bit of a departure from book 2 as Mazy was taken on a slightly different storyline than I anticipated. Considering Suzanne' s link to it, it was convenient. Tipton's was over the top dramatic, but both Ruth and Elizabeth had deeply satisfying conclusions.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read all 3 books in this series, however I enjoyed the first two more than this one. Rated it 5 stars because it brought an ending to the the series. I really would have preferred Zane Randolphs' part in the story to end in the second book. He was such a maniacal jerk. Also found myself impatient with Tipton, Ruth, and Suzanne. I think those are the kinds of emotions an excellent writer, such as Jane Kirkpatrick, brings out in a reader.

[Mavis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in this series but found that from book 2 on, the preachiness was really annoying and ruined what could have been an informative and entertaining look at pioneer women of the 1800s.

[Ursula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a trilogy, written from the point of view of pioneering women. It's wonderfully well researched and the character developement is superb. Very enjoyable. Love Kirkpatricks writing.

[Maninder Grewal · Rating 3 out of 5]

“What Once We Loved” by Jane Kirkpatrick is an inspiring story to read about a woman who uses courage and perseverance through all the hardships life threw at her. It taught me how sometimes it is necessary to learn to be independent and move on in life when things don’t turn out exactly how you planned them to be. I think the author’s main theme is to keep going ahead in the journey of life even if you meet challenges on the way and you get hit by trajedy.
On page 30 it states, “Reality was what happened when one started to hope.” This has a message that one only begins to hope and pray for something when things in life aren’t exactly going as you expect them to. Ruth had a dream to become an independent woman and build herself and her children a peaceful life but situations and events happened that shattered her dream and forced her to start over. “She’d even started to move forward, to do something different, not just wait to react to the trials she attracted like dead vermin enticing wasps.” Here she used a simile to convey how her she attempted to move forward and let go of past that she couldn’t let go of. “Dead vermin enticing wasps” really made me picture really ugly dead rats and wasps which can be seen as the ugly past that needs to be forgotten for the better.
On page 134 it says“He listened to the stomp of mules and the night sounds of crickets and packers turning in their sleep. The coast range mountains gave off cold. The moon cast barely a shadow from its pale opaque.” The imagery used here to describe the campfire here is amazing. The sensory detains describe the setting beautifully using the different senses of sound, sight, and touch. The author does a great job using figurative language when saying “The moon cast barely a shadow from its pale opaque.”
Furthermore, the pain she felt is described on page 305 is “The ache overcame her like an ocean wave rising, then lapping the shore. She panted and turned onto her side.” Here the labor pains she was feeling is described using a simile to emphasis how much pain there was. “Like an ocean wave rising and lapping the shore” makes me imagine a humungous violent wave so the pain must be tremendous as well. The reason the author may have used similes is to put attention on the level of ache a woman must go through in order to give birth but must undergo.

[Wendy Sparkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An almost wonderful conclusion to the "Kinship & Courage" Series - I was sorry to say goodbye to the characters, they had become close friends.

The turnaround women are spread about now, but the tender ties that brought them together on the trail still link them together as the women reach out to embrace new changes, and not be held hostage to what once they had loved.

My main problem with this story, and why it ended up with a lower rating, is the scene between Matthew and Ruth on the ridge where he kisses her. She protests, which is right. Although separated from her husband, she is still married. He hushes her telling her this is a good thing between them. No, it isn't!

#1
#2

To fully appreciate the stories, this series needs to be read in order.

[Joneal Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master storyteller? Time will tell us that as history means the writing is behind the author. The writer passes on. The writing remains and gets termed "master of the genre" "classic author", etc. Jane Kirkpatrick will be one of those termed a master storyteller of historical fiction involved deeply with the telling of pioneering, intensely strong, passionate women. Nobody does it as well as Kirkpatrick. This book is the final in a trilogy that gave dimension to the women who forged on alone to establish western homes for their families leaving their husbands, brothers, and sons buried or behind. Not by choice most of them, but no matter, they weren't deterred from seeing the new country and building a new land. Kirkpatrick makes them believable. And many of her characters are based on true lives. Her writing is believable because of this and the authenticity that she brings to the settings as well as her plot lines. Amazing stories from an author who knows of what she writes.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Once We Loved
Jane Kirkpatrick
Historical Contemporary Romance
390 pages
copyright: 2001
isbn: 1-57856-234-1

Ruth Martin had a dream: to become an independent woman and build a life in southern Oregon for herself and her children. But when a tragedy shatters Ruth's dream, she must start anew and try to heal her tender wounds.

Her friends are also moving on. Mazy wrestles with her understanding of what faith and family really mean; Tipton discovers that marriage requires more than she's ready to give; and Suzanne's challenge is to keep seeing with new eyes. Together, the turnaround women travel to arenas of untested promise where they'll find a hope that sustains them and relationships they'll cherish all their days.

[Rosemary Cantrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in this series. To be honest, I found myself getting a little bored with these characters. I know they were supposed to be coming to a new understanding of life and all, but a lot of it was a little contrived. The first two books had a little more excitement and struggle. The struggles in this one just didn't catch my interest as much.

There are plenty of lessons about living life and coming to terms with who a person is in his heart and how to let the right people in, about having faith and overcoming weaknesses, etc. It felt like the purpose of this book was to make sure all the morals were clearly displayed.

Overall, it was a good series, but I would like to have seen a stronger ending.

[LPK · Rating 3 out of 5]

I entered into this trilogy in the last book, I think. Generally I love books about pioneers, and this one had some horse-interest going on as well. However, the characters were really hard to keep straight, as there were a million of them. Also, it was pretty annoying to keep reading about how they were going to breed their mules. The author used "mules" and "jacks" interchangeably, which is pretty wierd considering mules are sterile and can't be bred. The character confusion may have been cleared up if I had bothered to start the series with the first book (but that's not the way I roll. Actually, I picked it up at Salvation Army, so what do you expect?).

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3rd book in a series- All Together in One Place & No Eye Can see) A sisterhood of friendship and faith, a circle of courageous women, a story of faith in the 1850's. The women are all building their separate lives now; moving on from the past and looking forward to the future. But can they do it, even when tragedy strikes, dreams are
shattered and life is so challenging? Together, these sisters find their hopes and dreams tested as they struggle to fine the love that will sustain them. I love historical fiction books like this- even though they're fiction, they are based on some fact and are very
inspirational to me!

[Jaclynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The women(now mostly widows) who started out on the trail for Oregon 2 books ago have now come full circle, establishing homes and their families (there might just be a few weddings in the book! ) They’ve learned how to stand on their own 2 feet, but have also learned along the way that it’s okay to ask and accept help, to let go of the past, forgive, and learn to love again. New memories don’t necessarily replace, but rather shape the old. The historical settings for this novel include (in Ca) Shasta City, Sacramento, San Francisco , Crescent City, and Jacksonville, Oregon

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an inspiring story and exciting finish to the trilogy by Jane Kirkpatrick, of the women who survived the journey on the Oregon trail. Having been to most of the west coast locations mentioned in this book, it was interesting to visualize how it would have been over 100 years ago. I thought Kirkpatrick did a splendid job of winding the story of each woman's experience on their own path in life, and bringing them all together in the end as friends and family would do in their situation. Their bond was strengthened through the journey and through time.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final book in the series (3 of 3), it's a pretty light read and was an interesting story of strong pioneering women. The overtones of religion isn't my bag but it takes place in northern CA and southern OR so that was fun. I'm not sure if I'll read this author again but she's a local author that lives on Central Oregon and did great research blending in historic characters into a fictional story.

[Jackiehutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great end to a very good series! This is far and away my favorite of the 3 book set. Although I would love to jack slap Ruth and give Suzanne a piece of my backbone, I found more turths in this book than I expected.
"What once we loved is memory now, tangled up with time, rooted deep. Cradled through experience, it seeks to warm us; stay off erosion of the wounded heart"

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

All three of these books were about a group of women whose husbands and brothers all died as they came west on the Oregon trail - historical fiction that was loosely based on some true stories. Initially I was somewhat put off by the religious undertones, but the books grew on me and the third was definitely the best.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I often felt her writing was a bit slow through this series, I'm sorry to see the story wrap up. Her writing does get you to look inward at your own life and philosophies of just how you deal with hardships--very inspirational for sure.

[Sarah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than 2, not as good as 1.
This third book in the trilogy sees everyone finding their homes. Everyone's adventuring has reached conclusion and as with most romance novels, most have happy endings!
Good writing, obviously lots of research.

[Deann Doolittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the third book in the trilogy and it took me awhile to get through. I love reading about historical fiction but this book seemed to linger on forever. I just needed closure on how their lives ended whether I enjoyed the book or not.

[Marjorie DeAngelis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane, thank you for bringing all the ends together - a happy ending for some, a horrible end for others, and lots of unexpected things. An amazing series, well worth the time. I remain totally in awe of Ms. Kirkpatrick's use of language - words, turn of phrase. Just exquisite.

[Lanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, AFTER I finished this book I discover it's the third in a series. Now I'm going to have to go back and read the first two! ore like a 3.5 to me... kept my interest and I really liked the characters.

[Cheri Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final in the trilogy, still great things and bad things happening, but all's well in the end of course, just the way I like it. What Once We Loved........until we choose to love again. Good Book!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but I had to push myself to finish it up. I must not be in the right frame of mind for this one, but I did enjoy it.

[Cristina]

still reading it

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Kirkpatrick is very good at expressing people's emotions and relationships. I enjoy getting a look into how people lived as the west was being populated.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun series... I wouldn't mind another book...

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Jane Kirkpatrick trilogy. This was the least enjoyable of the three to me, but it was and is a fascinating read.

[Pamela]

I was sorry when this series was finished.

[Juday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it.

[Cws]

YA Kir