The Reluctant Midwife: A Hope River Novel

Written by Patricia Harman

Narrated by Heather Henderson

The USA Today bestselling author of The Midwife of Hope River returns with a heartfelt sequel, a novel teeming with life and full of humor and warmth, one that celebrates the human spirit.

The Great Depression has hit West Virginia hard. Men are out of work; women struggle to feed hungry children. Luckily, Nurse Becky Myers has returned to care for them. While she can handle most situations, Becky is still uneasy helping women deliver their babies. For these mothers-to-be, she relies on an experienced midwife, her dear friend Patience Murphy.

Though she is happy to be back in Hope River, time and experience have tempered Becky’s cheerfulness-as tragedy has destroyed the vibrant spirit of her former employer Dr Isaac Blum, who has accompanied her. Patience too has changed. Married and expecting a baby herself, she is relying on Becky to keep the mothers of Hope River safe.

But becoming a midwife and ushering precious new life into the world is not Becky’s only challenge. Her skills and courage will be tested when a calamitous forest fire blazes through a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. And she must find a way to bring Isaac back to life and rediscover the hope they both need to go on.

Full of humor and compassion, The Reluctant Midwife is a moving tribute to the power of optimism and love to overcome the most trying circumstances and times, and is sure to please fans of the poignant Call the Midwife series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Mar 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9780062390301

Patricia Harman

Patricia Harman, CNM, got her start as a lay midwife on rural communes and went on to become a nurse-midwife on the faculties of Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, and West Virginia University. She is the author of two acclaimed memoirs and three novels: the bestselling The Midwife of Hope River, The Reluctant Midwife and The Runaway Midwife. She has three sons and lives near Morgantown, West Virginia.

Reviews for The Reluctant Midwife

[Suzanne Monks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Patricia Harman continues to tug at our hearts by inviting us into the lives of the residents of Hope River,West Virginia during the Great Depression. In this novel, she focuses on the career of ex-regional health nurse Becky Myers who returns to Hope River after an absence of approximately 4 years. Nurse Becky, in the first novel, was portrayed as an individual very reluctant to deliver babies. Now, mid-Great Depression, Nurse Becky returns with a very changed Dr. Blum hoping to reestablish themselves in the community and resume their practice. As in the first novel, through the birth stories, and the midwife’s journal, we learn more about the lives of the people of Hope River. Patience Murphy remains a main character who is sidelined forcing Nurse Becky into the role of a reluctant Midwife. The author feeds us a slice of life during a period of time when medicine was in it’s infancy and health professionals struggled with life and death situations daily without the benefit of lifesaving drugs & techniques that we have today. Great character development and ongoing storyline. The audiobook is very well narrated. Recommended for any individual who enjoys historical and/or medical novels.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a marvelous novel, not only for the character of Patience, but for the many layers of history it covers. The great depression, the mines in West Virginia, Mother Jones and the formation of the unions with the ensuing strikes, protesting the unsafe and long work hours required to be a mine worker, Patience has many secrets and these are revealed in flashbacks and so the reader comes to know Patience really well. The vet is also a character that I liked and I liked the comparison between Veterinarian medicine and midwifery. But the favorite part of this for me was reading about all the childbirths in many different circumstances and of woman through many walks of life. Wonderful story.

[ellasmeme · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book! A lot of the reviews below make mention of an unbelievable plot, weak characters, and etc. Set in the 1930's midwife Patience Murphy has had a lot of things happen in her life, but those were hard times, so I found this believable, and maybe the author used these happenings simply to insert a lot of historical information into the novel? I found this made the story more interesting because it covered some things I was unaware of, like the depiction of life in the coal mining towns and the forming of unions. It also was a reminder of the continued subjugation of blacks during that period in the south. Like most other reviewers, I found the birthing stories fascinating. I plan to find the 2 books Ms. Harman has written about her own experience as a midwife and read those too. Great effort for a first time novelist. I would recommend to anyone interested in that period of history or in the history of midwifery.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Midwife of Hope River is an engaging and touching novel of human frailties and triumphs. Patience Murphy inherits the role of the midwife of Hope River, a small rural community in West Virgina, when her mentor and friend, Mrs Kelly dies. Patience is no stranger to loss, orphaned at a young age she has since buried a fiance, a husband and a child. Mrs Kelly was her last link to her secret past and without her support Patience is apprehensive about managing on her own.The Midwife of Hope River is told in the first person detailing Patience's experiences delivering babies in the community against the everyday challenges of life in Hope River. It opens with a harrowing delivery for one of the town's wealthy, white residents expecting a stillbirth, only for the child to be born alive. While Patience is relieved, she questions her own ability to be a midwife with such little training and experience. However with Dr Blum, the county's white doctor refusing to provide care for any one who cannot afford his services and the 'negro' midwife, Mrs Potts elderly and infirm, Patience is the only resource for the majority of the women.The birth stories Patience shares are surprisingly riveting, not only for the circumstances of the delivery, but also for what is revealed about the individuals, families and the community. Slowly Patience is drawn into the fabric of Hope River, befriending Bitsy, a young black woman, who becomes her lodger, assistant and friend, and sparking a romance with the new vet, Dr Daniel Hester.While the characters in The Midwife of Hope River are fascinating, Harman sets her novel against a time period of significant social angst in America. The story references the coal miner union riots of the early 1920's, racial segregation and the activities of the Ku Klux Klan and the Wall Street market crash leading to the Great Depression in 1929. The small rural Appalachian community in West Virgina Patience lives in is affected by these larger issues despite it's insular nature. Patience is paid in firewood or flour, if at all, as the Depression worsens, a family passing through in search of work abandons a new baby they cannot afford to feed to Patience's care, a husband turns on his wife as his fortune dwindles and racist attitudes are inflamed.The Midwife of Hope River is a story of struggle, loss, love, survival and a celebration of life. A wonderful tale and an impressive fiction debut from Patricia Harman, herself a practicing midwife. I very much enjoyed this novel and happily recommend it.

[dalexander_14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beginning midwife tries to outrun her past but instead becomes aware of the racial inequalities of where she now lives . A very entertaining read. I believe readers who enjoy Alice Hoffman's writing would enjoy this story as well.

[tess_schoolmarm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This a novel which begins in the 1920's and goes into the Great Depression. It is the story of a young woman, who, through a set of circumstances, loses her husband and then miscarries their child. She ends up being a wet nurse and when she loses that job she flees and takes refuge with a midwife, who becomes her mentor. Eventually, Patience inherits the "job" upon the death of her mentor. This book is about her trials, tribulations, and triumphs. I liked this book because of its broad spectrum. The setting is a small mining town in Appalachian West Virginia. Included in this tale are the struggle of the unions, the hardships of coal mining towns, the KKK, and yes, a bit of romance. Very enjoyable and informative

[kimaoverstreet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beautifully written account of a year in the life of novice midwife Patience Murphy,living in rural West Virginia. Author Paticia Harmon creates a wonderful sense of time and place. Patience is trying to live and work in near seclusion, as she is afraid she may be pursued for some crimes in her past. The Great Depression, racial tension, poor conditions for coal mine workers, and prohibition all have a role to play in making 1929 a year Patience will never forget. Some of the book's language is so beautiful, that I found myself copying down sections so I can rearead them again and again. Highly recommended for fans of historic fiction and for readers who enjoy novels with a strong female progtragonist.

[beecharmer_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Midwife of Hope River was somewhat interesting, but not a book I would suggest to a friend. I liked hearing about the deliveries, but thought some of the story was awkward and unbelieveable. Especially the ending.

[patsymac-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable

I haven't read many books set in this time. Very enjoyable and well written. I will have to look up this author for another book.

[karenherndon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was reading another book when this came in the mail. I thought I would read the first few pages to see if I liked the authors style of writing- I did't put the book down! This s a sweet little story that flows like a slow stream and I was drifting along enmeshed totally in rural West Virginia during the 1920's. I am always so thrilled when I find a story I like as much as this- I recommend this highly.

[pinkcrayon99 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Set at the base of Hope Mountain on a farm during the onset of the Great Depression, Patricia Harman begins one of the most beautiful novels I have ever read. Harmam describes the landscape in such a way that you feel the seasons change. She draws you in so deep that you forget you are reading a work of fiction. "I've played too many roles in too short a time; had too many names, lived too many places." -Patience MurphyElizabeth Snyder Gordesky is on the run when her friend and midwife mentor, Ms. Kelly, brings her to West Virginia. Ms. Kelly dies of a broken heart and Elizabeth has a new role to play. Of all the roles Elizabeth has played being the midwife, Patience Murphy, is her most redemptive. Bringing new lives into the world slowly heals her heart of all the loss she has suffered in her past. "To be a midwife was never my goal." -Patience MurphyWith each baby that Patience brings into the world there is a unique experience and an equally unique family. Times are hard for everyone. Patience's expertise is needed regardless of color, class, or economic status and she gives herself relentlessly. When Patience acquired an apprentice, Bitsy, who was threatened with homelessness a beautiful friendship blossoms. Bitsy being a young black woman brought a new dynamic to Patience's life and work. No matter how the community embraced Patience, she did not feel comfortable revealing who she really was. The communities surrounding Hope River was clearly divided. Whites and Blacks. Patience being from Pittsburgh often crossed the lines. She was determined not to be boxed in. She faced racism head on. It must be said that Harman includes themes such as social justice, domestic violence, labor organizing, women's rights, and violent racism in a novel whose main theme is midwifery in an extraordinary way. Just when you thought the story could not melt your heart anymore Harman moves us by including two women with disabilities whose strength is astonding. There were so many small details of this book that really made me smile. I fell in love with Patience's love and affection for her animals. The dogs Emma and Sasha who were named for radical anarchists. The cow Moonlight with her calf Sunny. Patience nursed a lame horse, Star, back to health. She often delivered babies where her only payment was food or nothing at all. The different reactions to birth by each family will make you laugh and cry. I literally pondered over this review for days because I knew no matter what I wrote it would not express how much I enjoyed reading this book. Over the course of the novel, Patience reflects on her own past little by little. She heals gradually. Throughout Harman gives a balance of life and death. By the end a new life and a new love is blossoming and Patience's past is finally put to rest. The Midwife of Hope River is one of those books I will never forget.

[cammykitty · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had real trouble finishing this novel. It had many elements that usually I would enjoy - midwifery in a depressed rural/mining community, animals, lovely setting, union organizing etc - and I did enjoy this things, but in the absence of a plot or overall "problem" that the main character was working on it wasn't enough to hold my interest. The book had no structure, no pacing, no plot. Many of the characters were interesting, but they didn't share their feelings - especially our narrator. It was hard to care for them. I did, however, love the love interest Daniel Hester. I wonder why? Hester, like the other characters, didn't talk much and certainly never showed any emotion "on stage." Some of his actions show great emotion, but the reader never sees these actions. We hear about them as he tells Patience, our narrator. Patience doesn't respond strongly to anything. She's felt enough in her life and is afraid to feel. Sigh - I would've preferred the novel if Patience hadn't had quite so much life/backstory so we could've focused on one sad event rather than being asked to pity her for several sad events.

[jostars-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Midwife of Hope River left me with mixed feelings. I was fascinated with the birthing stories, Patience’s life as a midwife during the Depression, the union theme, and the evolving interracial relationships. I didn’t care for the way Patience’s back story was told in bits and pieces. Still and all, I recommend this book.

[thea5block · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Hartman: 4/5 stars. An engrossing and fascinating picture of a resilient midwife in the Appalachians during the Great Depression. Enjoyable structure to the writing, deep relationships portrayed, and nuanced storytelling. Recommended!

[caseylondon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Coal mining West Virginia during the 1930’s is the setting for Patricia Harman’s engaging debut novel THE MIDWIFE OF HOPE RIVER. Patience Murphy is making a new life caring for pregnant women in Appalachia, as she reconciles her past with her new surroundings. With the heart of Sandra Dallas, the intensity of Gay Courter and a nod to Barbara Wood the author integrates historical notes (the Great Depression, Appalachian coal mining, unions for miners and lack thereof, Emma Goldman the anarchist, Mother Jones, the Ku Klux Klan) into a seamless story about womanhood and the inherent risks of childbirth. She writes of a world where poverty, malnutrition and unequal access to quality healthcare can mean the difference between life and death. And while Patience’s story is the story of her female clients and their children’s births it is also her story.Harman weaves Patience’s personal tale with gentleness and sudden details that leave the reader wondering how she can escape her own sadness to help her patients. Can the town vet be counted on as an ally for Patience? Can Patience reconcile her own past and move forward to be the midwife Hope River needs? Can she face the challenges for both her poorest and wealthiest of her clients? Can she train an apprentice? An excellent book about the fragility of life, the miracle of birth, the community of neighbors, the Great Depression, love and healing and a woman’s journey to find her place in the world. Beautifully written and a joy to read.

[Becki Basley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Reluctant Midwife by Patricia Harman (hope river 2). ( Scribt audiobook)

First thing. I didnt notice this was book 2 til i was halfway through it so this was My first Hope river read. In this book Nurse Becky and her former boss Dr. Isaac Blum return to Hope River West Virginia after Dr. Blum becomes unresponsive and unable to take Care of himself after the death of his wife.

This is during the Great Depression and work is hard to come by. So nurse Becky (who though a good nurse is not fond of childbirth) begins at first to help the local midwife with deliveries.

This book was actually pretty good abd from listening to stories of My own family paints a good picture of WV during this time. I love the characters’ progression through the novel and the flowing backstory. Highly recommend this book. Im actually going back to read the first book now.

[smileydq · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Patience Murphy is honest from the get-go, saying "to be a midwife was never my goal." No stranger to loss (she was orphaned young, then widowed young, and lost a baby along with way), Patience suddenly finds herself a guardian of life when her friend and mentor dies and leaves her alone to deliver babies in rural West Virginia. Set in the depths of the Great Depression, this book describes with poignant realism the crippling poverty and despair governing the lives of Patience's patients; at the same time, with each baby she delivers, Patience sees renewed joy and hope for the women she meets. Harman's writing is vivid and her characters are warm and richly developed. Patience's story is woven throughout the novel, her secretive present interspersed with a very different and wilder past; along the way we meet the wildly different people who have influenced her. Nothing about this novel felt overdone - I thought Patience's emotions and experiences leapt off the page with their unapologetic reality, both good and bad. The scene was always alive but never over-imagined. Harman masterfully captured one woman's (and really, her entire community's) experience in a particular time and place - there were moments in the book that made me forget I was reading a work of fiction. I give this novel 5 stars, I highly recommend it!

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman is a beautifully crafted tale of one woman’s struggles in life, as she helps bring new life into the world. Patience Murphy’s gift as a midwife, as readers will discover, enables her to bring life into the world by assisting indigent mothers with childbirth. Set during the Great Depression, Harman uses much symbolism as readers are transported back to this difficult time when money is scarce, working conditions poor, and bigotry is surfacing amidst the peaceful backdrop of the Appalachians. This is a tale of hardship, love, perseverance, sacrifice and hope, characteristics all well developed through the plot that centers around Patience and her daily struggles, blessings, and victories. Though this is a tale of one woman’s life, in many ways, it is a very profound commentary on the social issues of the 1930s in the United States and by example; the story demonstrates the type of people that brought the country back into more prosperous times. I highly recommend The Midwife of Hope River to all historical fiction fans.

[bookaholicgirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Patience Murphy is a midwife in West Virginia in the beginning of the Depression. Patience has many secrets and it is very hard for her to open up to people. During one year's time, she will undergo many changes and become a much bigger part of her community. The author took great care in developing her characters and sharing just enough of Patience's past to keep you wanting to read more. This was a very good first book. I look forward to more from this author.

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good read, very new material for me and although the ending left me a little dull I really did enjoy this book, would recommend it ot all my reading friends.

[melopher_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I should have enjoyed this book - I love stories of midwifery, of the 1920-30s, of small mountain towns, of women and history etc. Unfortunately the writing quality was so poor I almost didn't finish reading it. Not only was it saturated with cliches, but some of the phrases she used weren't anywhere near accurate for the time it was set in (once Patience says "that pisses me off" ...really? in the 30s?) and the conflict/growth was contrived. History was added in a way that spoke more of the author's research than being true to the characters, with the phrase "not many people knew that" used on more than one occasion. The author's choice to write in present tense posed some problems as well. However, if you are mainly interested in reading vivid birth scenes and don't care about writing quality, you may enjoy the book, although even those are rushed and out of place. Overall it was quite shallow and poorly done, failing to evoke any connection with the characters, the setting, the era, or the story.

[anbarrineau · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Historic fiction is not generally my cup of tea but I really enjoyed this book. I have a few friends who are midwives and as I read this book I thought of them. The story focuses on Patience a midwife not necessarily by choice but possibly by opportunity. She seems to have fallen into this life of a midwife in W. VA but it is certainly her calling. The story let's you into the hard scrabble life of these people following the stock market crash and their struggle as well as the tensions of race in that time period. Definitely recommend this one, would make a great book club read!

[bap1012 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this story about a midwife in Appalachia during the depression years. There are many themes throughout this book ranging from women's rights to racial inequities. The heroine, Patience, is very human and has lived an interesting life with tragedy, courage, and passion. The contrast between her former life in the city and her self-exile to the country give depth to her character and help explain some of the courageous decisions she makes in the novel. The descriptions of births are clear and detailed and highlight the author's personal experiences as a licensed midwife. The author's writing style is straightforward and concise, yet descriptive. My only, very tiny, issue with the book is that a few of the circumstances seemed contrived but, overall, the story is beautiful and keeps you reading.

[newsieq · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's the early years of Great Depression in West Virginia – where the poorest of the poor struggle to survive. Midwife Patience Murphy has inherited the role of midwife among them. Poor as she is, Patience takes in Bitsy, a black woman who has just lost her job with one of the wealthier families in Hope River. The two of them soon are close as sisters and Bitsy becomes indispensable to Patience as an associate midwife. The Midwife of Hope River is the second novel I’ve read by Patricia Harman, both set in Hope River and featuring many of the same characters. They’re both gentle books about strong women and the men they love. Readers are allowed to glimpse into the lives of the women Patience and Bitsy help through childbirth. Nearly all the families are living in grinding poverty, but most of the mothers are surprisingly cheerful, joyous even. The Midwife of Hope River is an easy read, engaging and well-written, and with no pretensions. It was hard to put down and I breezed through it.

[hobbitprincess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I did not get this as an Early Reviewer book, but the description prompted me to buy it on my own. This novel tells the story of Patience, a midwife in West Virginia in 1930. It's more than about a woman delivering babies, however - I loved the main character and enjoyed reading about her life. Her assistance Bitsy was also an incredible character. The author used to be a midwife, and it shows in her descriptions. There is so much depth to this book - life and death, political struggles, racism, changing society, love, and redemption.

[janesteen_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Where I got the book: ARC from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program.An eventful life has brought Patience Murphy to a rural backwater in 1930s West Virginia where she works as a midwife, at first a fairly inexperienced unknown but gradually gaining the respect and friendship of the community. With the Great Depression causing poverty all around her, she is increasingly called upon for difficult births because the families cannot afford a doctor or hospital, and her skills are put to the test. She develops a relationship of mutual aid deepening into attraction with the local veterinarian, and finds a friend when she reluctantly takes in a young colored woman who proves to be an intelligent and resourceful partner.I was sucked into this story very quickly by the birth stories, which continued to be the main fascination for me. I also enjoyed the depiction of life in the 1930s; it came across as very well researched, and I liked the way Patience's past brought out some of the social upheavals of the early 20th century.At times I thought this novel had the potential to be as thought-provoking as The Help, with its references to racial tensions and changing times, but in the end I felt that the author had shied away from fully exploring these themes. Situations seemed to resolve themselves a little too patly, and I often felt that the writing could have lingered over some of the scenes or emotions that were sketched in with just a few lines. It's rare that I find a novel to be too short (especially at 380 pages) but Harman writes very well and I could easily have seen this novel expanded.This feeling of not-quite-there extended to the characters. I found it hard to see Bitsy and Hester the vet; I would have liked to have known how the Patience/Bitsy situation resolved itself in the end, and how things went on with Patience and Hester. I would have liked to have known them more deeply, understood more about their backgrounds. I don't feel like there should be a sequel, though, and part of me likes the way threads were left for the reader's imagination, so I'm struggling a bit with my reaction to this novel.My rating is around 4.5 stars, simply for the combination of good storytelling and excellent writing. There were two kinds of story here; the individual birth stories, where I think Harman excelled, and Patience's story arc which I found a little weaker. Still, they added up to a page-turner and I suspect this novel has the potential to gain widespread popularity.

[yourotherleft_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman takes us into the 1930s world of Patience Murphy, recently certified midwife, as she attends to a growing number of mothers around her West Virginia home. Patience's adventures as a country midwife give us a cross-section of the population: black, white, rich, poor, young, old, and even Amish. Seeing the many ways women cope with the impending birth is fascinating. Some scream and fight against it, others dance with their husbands, nearly carefree until the last moment. Patience assists with all kinds of births, hurrying off to places unknown at any hour of the day or night, often receiving nothing but gratitude in return for her services during the hard times of the Depression. Patience's frequent calls to attend at births keep up the pace of a book to brisk clip, but in between Harman is hard at work drawing out a complex character in Patience herself. Patience has a much richer history than at first meets the eye, and Harman slowly leads readers into the dark corners of the past that has had her on the run. Patience is no stranger to heartbreak or to tragedy, but her experience has opened her up to viewing all kinds of people as no different than her, which makes her stick out like a sore thumb among the racist whites of West Virginia who don't take kindly to her setting up house with a black girl, her new birthing assistant, Bitsy. As Patience faces threats and troubles from all sides, she finds herself an unexpected ally in Daniel Hester, the local veterinarian, who threatens to poke holes in the shield she has erected to fend off those who might be too curious about her mysterious past. Aside from some minor quibbles about the redundancy that occurs in the rhythm of the book (birth, memories, birth, more memories, birth...), I very much enjoyed The Midwife of Hope River. Patricia Harman has knit together a community of mostly lovable yet very different characters from the well-off wife of a local coal baron to the older, wiser midwife to the black community who takes Patience under her wing. At the center is Patience who is a strong and well-developed character in her own right but also a lens through which to view the times. Patience's life has brought her into the paths of lesbians, flappers, workers unionizing to struggle for their rights, coal miners trying to scrape out a meager living, coal barons losing everything to the market crash, and various and sundry "ordinary" people who dot the West Virginia countryside making a living however they can. Through Patience's lens, both the 1920s the Depression era are brought to life.Patience is a captivating character who I easily fell in love with. She is strong, capable, and stands up for her principles, doing what her heart tells her even when it's dangerous and possibly deadly. The Midwife of Hope River is a quick read and absorbing piece of historical fiction. Here's hoping that Patricia Harman has a few more historical midwives up her sleeve!

[smartchiksread · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved every page of this book. I was drawn in from the first page to the descriptive imagery of Depression Era Appalachia. This was a very hard novel to put down. Patience is strong, yet vulnerable. She is brave, yet fearful of her past catching up with her. Her lack of prejudice and openness make her different from her neighbors in West Virginia. Many of them view her with mistrust, yet they need her in a community where the only doctor refuses to help black people or poor people.It wasn't just the midwife aspect that made this book appealing. The everyday life of two women- Patience and Bitsy (a young black woman)- making their way in rural Appalachia makes this book a page turner. There is so much more to this book than just the midwife aspect. The book deals with prejudice, spousal abuse, exploitation of Coal Miners, heartbreak, and redemption. I love Harman's simple writing style. I look forward to reading more of her work.This one is definitely a keeper.Read this book if....*you love novels set in Appalachia*you love southern fiction*you love novels about midwifery*you love novels set in the Depression Era*you love novels about race relations and racial issues in the early 20th century

[icedream_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very well written book about a midwife named Patience in depression era West Virginia. I enjoy a novel where the author is well versed and accurate in the details of the book. Four stars.

[dyslee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Won an ARC from Goodreads: This is the second "midwife" book I've read - Midwives by CB was the first - and greatly enjoyed this one more than the other. I read primarily for "escapism" and the other was difficult (i.e. upsetting) to read. This book provided the escape into main character's (Patience Murphy) life that I look for in books.

The pace of this book is like the South – steady…slow…and it won't hurry no matter how much you try to rush it. I did this in the beginning because the pace annoyed me during the first two or three chapters. I realized later this tempo was set by Patience, of how she lived her life and created relationships. Soon I found myself immersed and finished it in less than two days at the beach. I especially liked having titles for each chapter, as they gave the reader a hint as to the slightly different focus for Patience, and what was going on in her life.

The background of the Great Depression is woven well throughout the story. Through Patience’s struggles of being paid, getting to births and even hearing about news from town, bring a subtle light as to what it was like to live during that time period in the mountains of West Virginia. The polarized lives of blacks and whites, men and women, rural and city dwellers are also part of Patience’s story.

Patience finds herself an inexperienced midwife after the death of her mentor during the 1930s. She's running from a past, and because of it, she not only physically isolates herself, but emotionally tries to do the same. But the births keep her tied to a community and the people in it. She finds everyone has a past, and as those continue to live life, she begins to live hers also.