Kyle Miller, who recently became a doctor, receives an unusual request from an old friend and doctor in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He agrees to extend a small favor. However, he never expected to be butting heads with the highly opinionated and noncertified Amish midwife, Leah Stoltzfus. The two clash over the use of modern medicine versus herbal remedies and both are thankful he’ll only be there a short time.

I enjoyed Rachel J. Good’s latest story, The Amish Midwife’s Secret. The story was well-paced and kept you turning the pages. Often, I guess a story’s ending long before I get there. However, there were so many interesting twists to this tale that I didn’t even try to guess the ending.

Good’s focus on the difficult aspects of life is compassionate and thoughtful. Her characters struggle with making hard decisions, facing shocking truths and accepting losses. I also appreciated the faith theme running throughout the book.

The Amish Midwife’s Secret is the second in the Love and Promises series, but it can be read as a standalone.

I received the book from NetGalley and Celebrate Lit. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

THE AMISH MIDWIFE’S SECRET is the second book in the LOVE AND PROMISES series, and it was nice to be back with some of the characters we met before. While I wasn’t as emotionally invested in this book, it was a heartwarming read with some romance along with discord.

Leah is Amish and studying to be a midwife but can’t get her certification because the Amish do not believe in higher education. Her parents deal with her calling as best they can but aren’t happy when she tends to make it a priority over some of her other responsibilities.

Ben, whom she is to marry someday, doesn’t want a wife who works outside the home. All is not rosy with their romance. Enter the Englisch doctor, Kyle, who has higher aspirations. But Kyle is currently helping out the elderly local doctor who makes house calls and whose practice is made up of both Amish and Englisch patients. Leah and Kyle have an immediate attraction. Their chemistry is off the charts, but neither one can do anything about it since they come from two different worlds, or so they think.

There are many twists and turns to the story, along with more confidences than just the midwife’s secret. We learn of Kyle’s past and about his brother, Caleb, from whom he’s estranged. Leah’s brother, Joel, has been shunned because he turned his back on the church, but his inclusion in the story is touching and very moving. There are many plot lines going on at once, but they all meld together neatly and there is a nice flow to the story. The characters have a depth to them. There is nice closure but also a lot of loose ends, which I hope will bring us to more stories in the series.

Ms. Good is a fairly new-to-me author, having only read the first book in this series, THE AMISH TEACHER’S GIFT, and her story in the anthology, LOVE’S CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS. I will be back to read more of her books since I enjoy Amish stories and read books by other authors who write them.

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars on this and other sites.

The Amish Midwife's Secret by Rachel J. Good
Secrets kept can be beneficial in order not to harm an individual. But sometimes it comes at a price. This is what happened to Kirk and Leah.

An interesting story that shows how the secrets impacted so many people's lives. When is it ok to let the secrets out?

I enjoyed getting to know Leah. She is hardworking and very dedicated. She loves to help her family and the families she works with. Kirk has been studying for years to be the best doctor he can be. He didn't realize he had so much more to learn when he returned to the community he grew up in.

I received this free from Celebrate Lit to review

Wow. What an amazing story. I love the way that this author writes .She always creates great and unique characters. She also has a way of crafting one of a kind story lines. This book is filled with forgiveness, faith and family. This is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone .

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program

This story is about Leah and Kyle. Leah is a Midwife in training that believes in holistic medicine and Kyle, just out of Med school, believes in medicine and hospitals, so they clash, a lot !! Leah’s fiancé wants her to quit training to be a midwife but she doesn’t want to.
Both Leah and Kyle have secrets, but Kyle’s secret may interfere with him taking over the medical practice in his hometown. He doesn’t know how to tell the Doctor, whom is very dear to him, he doesn’t want to take over the practice, but he comes to help out until he can find a way. This is where Leah and Kyle will clash, over the care and treatment of Amish patients. They learn to work together, and they do work well together. A surprising twist will have you glued to the book, such an enjoyable read.
Rachel J. Good is a wonderful writer of Amish fiction full of faith, understanding, love and sometimes a little “friction”. I so enjoy reading her books and so will you.

I always enjoy reading stories by Rachel J. Good. First of all, she provides story lines that are different than the norm. Readers in the amish fiction world have been seeing so much repetition lately, that reading one of Good’s stories is refreshing. Second, she provides characters that are flawed. When you read one of Good’s stories, you are not going to read about “perfect” amish people that live in their “perfect” amish world. No, these characters have issues, trials, tribulations, and even fear. Third, Good always provides a sweet faith element that is subtle yet bold. I found all of these and more in the pages of The Amish Midwife’s Secret.

I’m not sure what I liked about this story more, Kyle or Leah. They both had things from their past that they wanted to stay in the past. But doesn’t God have a funny way of bringing those to light in a way that forces us to deal with the issue and start the healing process? Through ups and downs these characters really grew in this story, and quite frankly I think Good wrote it perfectly. It wasn’t an automatic healing. Remember when I said the characters were flawed? It takes them time to sort of things, and sometimes they don’t react well to circumstances. Guess what? That basically mirrors every single one of us unperfect people! I just really enjoyed the way Good wrote the characters this way.

The other part of the book that was interesting to me was the medicinal aspect. I actually learned a lot – yes you can do with with fiction books! I don’t know too much about herbal medicines and such, so it was not only interesting to read, but it made me want to look into it even more. Good has a way of doing that – making you more interested in something you never thought twice about before. In a world that is starting to rely on more of these kinds of treatments, and the big push on essential oils and stuff, I found this fascinating and think other readers will as well.

Would I recommend this book to you? Oh yes, I most surely would. But I would recommend reading the first book in the series before you do. This could probably be read as a stand alone, but I think that reading the first book made this one even more enjoyable! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a sweet tale of love, betrayal, forgiveness and ask the entanglements of real life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and hated for it to end. Thank you Rachel J. Good for writing such an incredible book!!

An excellent book for those who love
Amish fiction. Characters are well described making them easy to identify with. Quick paced plot keeps the reader totally engaged from beginning to end of the book.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I have to say that I do enjoy Amish fiction books and I so enjoy the books by this author. When you can read a book and imagine what the food tastes like or what the scenery looks like, you know that the author is very descriptive in their writing. I would highly recommend reading the first book in this series to really be able to follow this book. Leah has struggles in her life but is working hard to become a midwife. However, it's something that her boyfriend would want her to give up if they get married. Along comes Kyle, a young doctor taking over the practice of Dr. Hess who plans on retiring. Kyle only plans on staying a few weeks and then there are secrets revealed along the way.

Kyle Miller, is led back to his Amish community when he is offered to take over a retiring doctors medical practice. Leah, learning to be a midwife, finds herself working together with Kyle, but a secret from their past haunts them both.

The story has intrigue, lots of surprises, and a romance that seems impossible. I loved the main characters and Leah's strong Faith. Kyle's faith on the other hand is a constant struggle for him.

The ending wrapped up everything nicely. I enjoyed reading The Amish Midwife's Secret and would highly recommend it.

I received a copy from Celebrate Lit and voluntarily chose to review it.

Kyle left his hometown behind after a heartbreaking young romance and a devasting accident with no plans to ever return. When the local doctor asks him to take over his medical practice, Kyle feels the need to help. What Kyle did not expect was to fall in love with Leah. Leah is the Amish midwife who believes that holistic healing herbs and faith in God are the best healing medicines. Can Kyle and Leah overcome their differences to let love have a chance?

This book kept me up way past my bedtime more times than I can count. I also found myself ignoring everything that needed to be accomplished after work just so I could dive back into Kyle and Leah's story. You cannot help but believe in love and the power of love when you read this story. I became a little weepy as I read because it was so tender.

I am also more interested in the holistic healing properties of organic herbal teas for chronic illness. I have found a new interest. Leah's story was very convincing in how well they can work.

This is the second book in the Love and Promises series but each book can be read as a stand-alone. It is a beautiful Christian romance with no obscene sexual overtones or scenes, no foul language and not overly religious (meaning scripture verses on every page). I would feel comfortable giving this to a teen girl or my ninety-year-old grandmother to read.

I received a copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this book because it’s a well written story that is told from both the Amish Midwife’s perspective as well as the Englisch Doctor, Kyle, who is trying to decide if he wants to take over a rural practice in Amish country. Kyle feels an obligation to Doctor Hess due to reasons that will slowly be revealed throughout the story as we learn about a tragic event that happened years ago that involve Kyle and Leah who is the Amish Nanny. I enjoyed the sweet Amish storyline and learning more about home births was interesting information. The mystery of Kyle’s past and Leah’s part in it kept me guessing throughout the book but I have to say I thought there was too much emphasis on the preparation of food for Kyle’s meals and at times it took away from the more interesting parts of the story. All in all, it’s a good book. I read a complimentary copy of this book provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.

An Amish midwife and an Englisch doctor must embrace their differences to rescue a baby in need in this uplifting romance. Kyle Miller never planned to become a country doctor., but when he's offered a medical practice in his hometown, he returns to face his painful past. But will the Amish community be ready for Kyle? Will he be accepted by the pretty midwife who refuses to compromise her traditions with his modern medicine? As Leah Stoltzfus works with the handsome Englisch doctor, she finds herself caught between her family and her own hopes for the future. A surprising revelation and a helpless baby in need of love shows Leah and Kyle that their bond may be greater than their differences. Will Leah find the courage to follow her heart? I loved the excellent story line with strong characters.

Sometimes, it is difficult to face the pain of the past.

In "The Amish Midwife's Secret" you'll read about 2 people who struggle with that very thing. Kyle and Leah both face a past they would rather forget, but facing it is inevitable. As they meet again after many years, changes are coming in both of their lives. A story that will warm your heart! Kyle faces a big decision and I'm so glad he made the right one. (I'm not saying what it is, just read the book). Leah is faced with accepting and keeping a small bundle. (I'm not saying what it is, just read the book).



Blessings,

Karen

Rating 5*

I received this book as a gift and all opinions are my own.

This second book in the Love and Promises Series deals with secrets, despair, forbidden feelings, forgiveness, love and trusting God. I loved Kyle and Leah’s story!

The title of this book is the Midwife’s Secret but, as it turns out, Leah wasn’t the only one living with a secret. As you get into the lives of the characters, you find out Kyle has his own secret keeping him from the life he should be living. Long before Kyle’s life changing experience, the doctor and his wife had a huge secret. I really didn’t see that coming!!

Leah was courting Ben, whom she never seemed to have time for, and learning to be a midwife, which Ben disapproved of. He didn’t want his wife working and expected Leah to stop once they married.

Kyle Miller was a young Englischer doctor who worked long hours during his residency. The Mennonite doctor in Lancaster was ready to retire but needed someone to take over his practice. He called Kyle. Why Kyle? Kyle remembered Dr. Hess and his wife but, why would they just hand over their business and home to him?

Read this well written story to uncover all the secrets the pages hold. This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Having not read book 1 in this series, I thought that I may get confused with reading this story. But, pleasantly, I was not and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by a new to me author. Her writing style is captivating and her characters are heartwarming and friendly. Each page brought me something new to the story and before I knew it, I was on the last page.

This is a story of love, hope, longing and following God’s plan for your life, no matter whether you were expecting it, or not. Kyle, Leah, Ben and all the characters within are facing everyday challenges and have to rely on God to help them find their ways. These sweet characters become more than just characters, they become a part of your heart and pull you into their circle. I loved that feeling!
This page turning novel is one that you don’t want to miss! You’ll be transported to Amish Country, feeling like you’ve put on that solid colored dress, jumped in the buddies and are following these sweet ladies and men around their homes. If you are looking for a novel that will captivate your mind and soul, grab this 4 star read now. You won’t want to miss it! I can’t wait to grab book 1 and see where it all began.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

An Amish midwife and a traditional “young” Doctor clash in this story. They both have pasts that keep them a little at odds. When the young Dr. is given an opportunity to take over the retiring towns Dr. office it becomes a process of who will give more to get him to commit to taking over with her staying as the office helper with the Amish. Secrets, opinions and a little romance made this an interesting read.. I was gifted a copy, no review was required. My review is voluntary..

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie

What a fabulous, gripping novel this is! I have a great appreciation for Amish fiction, and I will definitely read more by this new-to-me author. The characters are well defined with realistic actions and dialog that reflect their faith, teaching me more about the Amish living in their district. Mennonites also have strong roles, and one person, vital to the novel, claims to not believe in God. Excellent, colorful descriptions of each person and the area make this novel sing.

Dr. Kyle Miller has finished his residency and is preparing to find a place to spend the immediate future. His desire is to get a fellowship to research, hoping to find a cure for a disease, partly to do something worthwhile with his years of study and partly to have his name known for a positive reason. Dr. Martin Hess from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, contacts Kyle to come visit for several days. He plans to retire and gradually turn over his practice, even his home, for free, and wants Kyle to return and see the practice as it is today. Originally from the Lancaster area, Kyle has no desire to even return for a visit, much less to live there, but he owes the older doctor and his wife for the help they gave Kyle after his mother died. He also feels he owes the Amish community a great deal.

Leah Stoltzfus is training to be a midwife while running the natural remedies shop that her parents own while her Daed takes a full-time job to help pay down Mamm’s growing medical bills. Leah cares for her mother, who has MS, when her father isn’t home. Her brother, Joel, had taken excellent care of the shop until he decided to not be baptized in the church, then was turned out by her father. Leah is being courted by Ben, who, if they marry, would not allow her to continue to be a midwife. She struggles with this, as she believes being a midwife is her calling. She studies under Sharon, a well-known local midwife. work closely with Dr. Hess if there are any high-risk pregnancies or health challenges they might need his help with. When Leah hears that Dr. Miller may be coming to join, then take responsibility for, Dr. Hess’s practice, she is worried and afraid. She was present the night when the lives of many people changed forever, including Kyle’s, the Amish teen he was dating at the time, and the teen’s family. Leah is afraid of Kyle’s reaction when looking into her eyes and realizing the part she played in the tragic events.

When Kyle meets Leah, he doesn’t seem to recognize her. He does, however, have a problem with her delivering babies in homes rather than with doctors in hospitals. He really has a problem with Leah treating some illnesses with herbs and poultices. It will take time for him to learn that the Amish do not use hospitals except as a last resort, but he doesn’t plan to take that time in Lancaster. Before he could send a “thanks but no thanks” letter to Dr. Hess, Mrs. Hess frantically called him for help. Martin had a heart attack, and they need Kyle to fill in at the clinic for however long it takes. Since he has a month before starting at the new position he accepted, he packs and is on an airplane before he can stop to think about it.

The author shares wonderful, three-dimensional characters with her readers! They are well defined, and many epitomize the Amish (or Mennonite) lifestyle. They are also very human, as noted when sparks were flying between Kyle and Leah. Since in her district, courting someone is a commitment that might continue with marriage, she was unavailable. Since she is Amish and Kyle isn’t, she could never date him. And if Kyle were to become Amish as his brother had, he would have to give up being a doctor. Folks in this novel are very intelligent, caring, and empathetic. I do, however, like Leah the best, for her commitment to others and the follow-through required of her. I also understand why Kyle has turned his back on God, despite the cost to him and those he loved but rooted for him to return to faith.

This drama pulled me in from the beginning and held my attention throughout. There are many closely-held secrets in this gripping novel. I do believe that Kyle has suffered the most, with Leah a close second. Even Dr. Hess and his wife have secrets affecting others’ lives. How the Amish respond to the events surrounding the secrets is nothing less than amazing. This is a delightful story in many ways, especially when seeing Leah’s joy of delivering babies and preparing for her friend’s wedding. There are plot twists and the suspense of knowing who has secrets but waiting for them to be revealed. These are people I would want to read about again – they have flaws, griefs, and secrets – but through it all, the faith and values of the Amish bring healing and ultimately joy to the main characters. I highly recommend this to those who appreciate reading about Amish daily life and medicine, seeing Amish faith in action, even a bit of romance.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

The Amish Midwife's Secret by Rachel J. Good

Rachel J. Good has become one of my favorite Amish authors. Her books are not just your typical Amish love stories, and she always manages to teach me something new about the Amish and their way of life.
When Leah, an Amish midwife in training, meets Kyle Miller, an English doctor with a past secret in the Amish country, sparks fly for sure and not all in a good way. Leah and their Amish community practice holistic medicine as a way to treat their loved ones when ill. Kyle, an English Doctor brought to the Amish country to take over for a retiring doctor, believes in hospitals and English medicine to treat the ill. Kyle decides he can't stay in Lancaster County, but when circumstances change and he feels he has to stay, both he and Leah have no idea what God has in store for them.
This is a second book in the Love and Promise's series, but it can definitely be read as a stand-a-lone. I give this book 5 stars and can't wait to read the next book in this series!
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, but was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion of this book.

I like that this book has a lot more going on with it. The characters are interesting and thought provoking, and the story makes one pause and think about their convictions.