The Midwife by Jolina Petersheim

About the Book:

Since the day Rhoda Mummau was baptized into the Old Order Mennonite Church and became the head midwife of Hopen Haus, she’s been torn between the needs of the unwed mothers under her care and her desire to conceal the secrets of her past. Contact with the outside world could provide medical advantages, but remaining secluded in the community gives her the anonymity she craves.

 

Graduate student Beth Winslow is on a path she never would have chosen. Heartbroken after surrendering a baby to adoption, she devotes herself to her studies until she becomes pregnant again, this time as a surrogate. But when early tests indicate possible abnormalities, Beth is unprepared for the parents’ decision to end the pregnancy—and for the fierce love she feels for this unborn child.

Desperate, she flees the city and seeks refuge at Hopen House.

 

Past and present collide when a young woman named Amelia arrives to the sweeping countryside bearing secrets of her own. As Amelia’s due date draws near, Rhoda must face her past and those she thought she had left behind in order for the healing power of love and forgiveness to set them all free.

My Thoughts:

I am not a fan of Amish/Mennonite fiction.  So know this important fact before you use this review to influence whether to buy or not to buy. 

However, the back cover blurp sounding intriguing, and my friends at Tyndale House Publishers were gracious enough to send me an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I took a chance.

The book held my interest until Amelia entered the scene.  From that point on I was lost, trying to keep track of who was telling the story from which point of view.  Multiple points of view normally enhance a book for me.

This time, we had too many points of view to follow.  And when it was revealed that Rhoda wasn't always Rhoda....yipes!  Needless to say, I cheated and read the last few pages to get the gist of the story, and even that wasn't enough to persuade me to go back and finish.

I am certain Jolina is a fine author.  And if you are a fan of Amish/Mennonite fiction, then this is probably the book for you.  It just wasn't the book for me.  But I'm just one person, so check it out for yourself.  Download a sample chapter from either Tyndale or your favorite online retailer and see for yourself.




Happy Reading!





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