What can I say about The Midwife?

I can say this. It is not a easy story to read.

Jolina Petersheim deals with some very strong and serious issues in The Midwife and it will be a very difficult book for a lot of women to read.

In my own case, it’s exceptionally difficult and I’m certain that has colored every perception that grew from the reading of this intensely emotional story.

Am I saying not to read this book?

NO. I am not saying that at all.

In fact, if you enjoy intense drama and deep emotional turmoil, this is definitely the book for you.


In fact, Jolina’s writing is so exceptional, I was drawn into the story – even when I was thoroughly disgusted with several different things about it.

I know it’s probably silly but I don’t care for the cover at all. In fact, I almost didn’t request it because of the cover alone but you know the old adage – “Never judge a book by it’s cover.”

I don’t care for the back and forth way the story is told – it’s difficult to keep up with and it seems unnecessary once the “big revelation” is made (not saying anymore than that), but it continues to the last chapter. It took me almost to the end of the book to understand why it has to be this way but I don’t care for it nonetheless.

I really don’t care much for Rhoda Mummau at all. She is not at all what she is supposed to be. Yes, she is human and humans make mistakes so her character is very believable and that is another thing that shows Jolina’s skill as a writer. We don’t have to like main characters for them to be written well.

So… What did I like about the story? That one is a tough question to answer without giving too much away. There are a lot of things revealed throughout the story that gave insight into why our characters are the way they are and I LOVE that Jolina put those tidbits in. Again, it just goes to show her depth as a writer. She knows that out characters have to have flaws to be “real”. And she doesn’t hesitate to paint them in vivid detail.

I liked the ending. I wish there had been more of it but I did like where everything ended up. I was very afraid for a long time that I was going to hate the ending so it was a vindication for my pushing on to the end to see where it all went. It wasn’t a perfect little fairy tale happy ending but it fit the story very well.

I liked how Jolina brought to many different things in to affect the characters lives. Without these small details and events, it would have been far too dry. But Jolina clearly knew what she was doing and brought in enough details to fill out the story and give it life.

Disclaimer: I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Beth Winslow is a graduate student who agrees to become a surrogate for her professor and his wife, but when early tests indicate that the baby could be born with abnormalities, Beth is unprepared for the parents decision to terminate the pregnancy. Desperate to protect the unborn child, she flees and takes refuge at Hopen Haus, a home for unwed mothers in a Mennonite community.

Rhoda Mummau is the head midwife at Hopen Haus; she gives everything to the girls there but her heart, afraid of exposing the carefully concealed secret she has carried with her for years. When a young woman named Amelia shows up in need of help, Rhoda is forced to face her past, but will her heart finally heal?

I really enjoyed this very riveting story that also had hints of suspense. It had some very interesting plot twists, and one of the biggest surprises when I started reading this was how Beth and Rhoda's stories were tied together. I was only 2 chapters in when I thought, this is a book I can't wait to tell my friends about! ( )

A fabulous story! So many twists and turns in the relationships between the characters...one very near the end that I hadn't seen coming brought tears to my eyes. All of the emotions in this story touched my heart. Can't wait for more from this author. ( )

Beth, a graduate student become a surrogate for her professor and his wife. When they realize the child she is carrying may be abnormal they want her to abort it. Beth flees the city and seeks refuge at Hopen Haus, a Mennonite home for unwed mothers. This book isn't your typical, light happy go lucky Amish book. This was written through a time of intense loss, heartbreak, and healing for the author, Jolina Petersheim. It is a heartrending story, but one of hope, healing, and redemption. I can't imagine what it would be like if I personally was in this situation and I have to say the Author did a great job of casting the characters and laying out the ploy. This would be a good read for a Summer club read. I am not sure if this would be a recommendation for a beginner as this is not the norm Amish book. I enjoyed this & I have to say it was refreshing to have a new spin on Amish novels!
My Rating is **** . ( )

When you read this book, be prepared for an unusual chronology. The prologue is a glimpse into the future, mysterious and puzzling. It does not prepare you for what's to come, but rather sets the tone for the book.

In the opening chapters we are introduced to Beth Winslow, a graduate student assigned to Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick. To assist in the completion of her Master's degree, she has agreed to become the gestational surrogate for the doctor and his wife, Meredith. It's 1995 and soon Beth will be faced with a life changing dilemma.

At first, I found the shifting chronology to be annoying and confusing. It appeared aimless to me until some of the puzzle pieces fell into place. What kept me motivated to read was the desire to make sense of the opening story. Looking back, I can better appreciate the chronology presented since it was the timing of revealed factors that added to the suspense and urgency. I'm still not a fan of this approach, but in this story it serves to increase expectations. I just couldn't put the book down.

What genre is this book written in? I can tell you better what it is not than what it is. For example, it is not a typical romance although there is a satisfying conclusion and the presence of some romance. It is not a boy meets girl kind of story. Many of the characters are not who they claim to be. Yet this is a story that does not easily fit into the mystery, suspense, or thriller genres. There is some mystery, some suspense, but those are not the driving force. It has more character development than action, so it is not a thriller or an action and adventure book. This is not even a "bonnets" story, even though the midwife, Rhoda, is Mennonite, wears a cape dress, apron, and a prayer kapp. Being Mennonite is pretty much incidental because the central issues revolve around identity, acceptance, pain, loss, hiding, finding love, and resolution. In essence, it is a contemporary tale that deals with some hard-hitting issues at the core. The thought provoking problems seem to have come out of the author's "what if" file, assuming she has one. I don't think you can pin a particular genre to this book. As I read, the thing uppermost in my mind was a big question mark.

The segment I found most heartwarming was the friendship Rhoda found in Fanny Graber, the head midwife of Hopen Haus when Rhoda first arrived there pregnant and frightened. A special friendship developed between the elderly Mennonite and the young girl. Rhoda met the Lord because of Fanny. It was the first time she felt completely accepted, wanted and loved. Eventually, Fanny taught her to be a midwife. It was a task Rhoda adopted as her own mission--to care for the girls who came for assistance--even after Fanny had passed on.

There are parts of the book that will grip you and emotionally wring you dry. Most of the accounts are told in the first person, so that the point of view becomes personal to the reader. Toward the end, the resolution includes some twists in the plot that, in spite of a few clues, will still surprise the reader. That said, I still found more satisfaction from the second reading of the book. Once I had more of the pieces in place in my mind, it was easier for me to follow.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of Tyndale House Publishers. 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.” ( )