No Eye Can See

Kinship and Courage #2

by Jane Kirkpatrick

When blind and widowed Suzanne Cullver reaches California with a group of women who have survived tragedy on the Oregon Trail, she sets her mind on doing for herself all that must be done. Though she cannot see, she rejects offers of assistance, unwittingly risking her children's safety - and her own. Her companions blindly falter as well, held hostage by their own pasts. As Suzanne attempts to control her life in Shasta City, Ruth defends against past errors, failing to see how she limits love. Meanwhile, Mazy's vision seems to be permanently clouded by her late husband's betrayal. But when a young stage driver risks all for a Wintu Indian, his life becomes entangled with the turnaround women - and together they are changed forever as they discover that No Eye Can See all the good God has in store for those who love Him.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Christian, Relationships, Romance

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

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

Reviews

[Jane Kirkpatrick]

I wrote this book. I hope you like it!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I certainly enjoyed this story much better than book one (All Together in One Place). Gambler Seth Forrester leads the women to their new home in Shasta City, California. As Sister Esther and her two Asian brides continue on to Sacremento, Mazy, Ruth, Tipton. and Susanne find themselves filled with unexpected challenges as they carve a life for themselves, their mothers, and their children. There is a bit more action in this one as Zane Randolph, Ruth's husband decides to terrorize the ladies in order to exact his revenge on Ruth. Also, a new character is introduced that may help Mazy cone to terms with her deceased husband's secretive past. All in All, a much stronger story that had me turning the pages and lingering over my morning coffee.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd in a series of 3. I loved the first one, but didn't like this one as much. A couple of the characters really got on my nerves. Still it was great to find out what happened to the characters from All Together in One Place. I still plan on reading the 3rd, hoping for happy endings for all.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started out a little slow paced but after getting into it, it is very exciting, with new characters introduced and the stories entwine and unfold, leaving me anxious to find out how it will all unravel and come back together. Suzanne the widowed, blind, mother of two small boys found a nice place to live in Shasta City, and gains her courage to live on her own, despite being taken for granted by the evil shyster who uses her to find his ex-wife, Ruth. And there are many other side stories going on about the other women who survived the long haul across the country and new characters that become involved. I looked forward to reading each night and toward the end could not put the book down. So much was covered and revealed about each character, the mysteries of their backgrounds, their motivations, etc. the history of the California gold rush is brought to life, the prejudice and the pride that guides each person to making the choices they must make.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about the ties that bind families & friends together & how they do not always form clean, straight lines or meet any sort of traditional definition. I enjoyed learning more about the late 1800's & gold rush time in California's history. There were some surprising things to learn regarding the laws & treatment toward Native Americans during this time - very different than what I remember from text books in middle school - college. It was eye opening. I also liked the individual character story lines & the internal struggles that each person had as they dealt with their past & owned up to taking a chance on the future even though it is not seen.

[Delene · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many wonderful quotes and quips that are words to live by in this book. I found the story fun to read, even though the story is not always realistic, and enjoyed learning many new things about the way life must have been for the early settlers. I really had trouble with one of the characters( I am not telling who) and even though I look forward to reading the 3rd book, I do not look forward to encountering this particular individual again. I hope Mrs. Kirkpatrick is able to write this one out early in volume 3!

Enjoyed the book~

[Deborah Weikel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a the second book in a series of three. The characters continue into book two and I find myself becoming attached to them. They are strong women who have withstood unsurmountable trials. Ms. Kirkpatrick has such a talent to creating believable characters.

[Tauni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Kirkpatrick's use of description and imagery. The first book in this series was deep, and she made you connect wholeheartedly with the characters. This book was very slow in my opinion... I couldn't finish it :(

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I am really enjoying this book. Such strong women to go through what they did. It is a novel based on real people. Gives you a different perspective of women and their roles in the 1800's.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is book 2 in a 3 book series. This 2nd book was a lot slower reading I thought. Liked Book 1 better.

[Lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book overall. Slow reading in spots but the ending was well worth it.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second installment of the Kinship and Courage series, the tale continued for Suzanne Culver and the rest of the widows who lost their husband from the cholera epidemic on the Oregon Trail. For all of them, they bonded like family and became closer friends, when they journeyed to California and hoped to find their own way. New romances bloom for Mazy and Tipton, while Suzanne wanted to be independent on her own and take care of her two young sons. Based on true facts of the original pioneers, there's no doubt of danger from Zane Randolph, Ruth Martin's estranged husband who spent time in prison for killing his own son on the trail. Heartache, romance, and new secrets and lies turn up in this continuation of the saga with an inspirational message for God to guide them along their ways.

[Wendy Sparkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great continuation in the "Kinship & Courage Series".

The turnaround women arrive in Shasta City. Now starts their new lives in a new country - with new trials to face, & new friends to make.

#1
#3

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

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it even though I found myself angry at one of the characters. I also discovered after I had read most of the book that it is the second book in the series of three books, and I promptly bought the first one to read next.
The story is about some widows traveling to California with the help of a man named Seth. One of the widows is blind and she has two young children. Another woman has secrets and she has many problems. The other ladies all have interesting lives of there own.
I always enjoy whatever Jane Kirkpatrick writes, even when her characters do not behave as I would like.

[Racheltd · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book finally gets the gals to shasta city california. i learned that being a pioneer sucked...because you had to churn your own butter...boring.
but back to the book...good read if you are reading the series...answering some questions. ruth's ex comes into play...charles the prodigal son shows up again...what will happen next? one more book to go!

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not much on reading a series of books. I get bored and usually don't like the sequels. That said, after reading All Together in One Place I had to find out what happened after the women reached California. Enjoyed the 2nd book almost as much as the first. And enjoyed it enough that I ordered the 3rd and last in the series. We will see if it holds my interest and I am able to finish.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in the series, good but not great. The book features a mostly female cast of characters of pioneers which is refreshing to read but the book is technically a Christian novel and so sometimes it gets lost in the "lessons" it's trying to share instead of making a strong story that the reader can interpret.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book that picks up where we left the women heading to Shasta City. You find out what happens with Ruth and the kids along with Mazy and her mom. We are introduced to a wonderful and gentle man that has a wonderful tie to the women that journeyed west.

[Jaclynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sequel to the above book, it was also very good and mainly tells about what happens to the women and what choices they face after they reach Shasta. How each much choose the path that God has laid before them and how He has brought them together as one family.

[Sunshine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy fun series. I look forward to reading the 3rd and final book. I do appreciate some of the deeper insights the characters share with each other as well as the research that Kirkpatrick put into the writing of these books.

[Jackiehutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good companian to the first in the series. Man, I have a HARD time liking the Suzanna character. Self (Pity is such a bummer) Although the book tends to get a little sappy, I am looking forward to the third.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

second in a three part series. I had to read this book because I read the first one and was curious as to what will happen to the characters. That is the same reason I will read the third book, not that they are written very well, but the story is interesting.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it had been so long since I read the first one that I was confused during parts. The author definitely assumes that you will have read the first one and doesn't offer explanations to the situations the characters find themselves in. It wasn't bad, wasn't a favorite.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this second book in Jane Kirkpatrick's Kinship & Courage Series. I love historical fiction. This series about a dozen women crossing the country via the Oregon Trail set in the 1850's, is one I am enjoying very much. I look forward to reading the final book in the series.

[Kristine Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first one enough to find out more of the story. I like the pioneer stories. It does seem a bit coincidental that with all the places to go in California and Oregon, Zane Randolf stumbles upon who he wants.

[Sarah A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book as much as the first in the series. A couple of the characters just irritated me so much. I loved the enthusiasm for life and the head on meeting of challenges which were obvious throughout the first book, just not so present in this book. Still interesting.

[Cheri Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in in the trilogy by Kirkpatrick, the ladies arrive in California and begin to go their own ways, with more adventures of course!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good - 2nd book - need to read "All together in one place" first

[Jen Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great book in this series. This one had a little more love and not so much loss as the first.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this book. I did learn what I wanted to know. But still want to know more!