Well written and engaging, author Rachel Good brings her characters to life. Personalities clash in this story of traditional vs homeopathic medicine. You will wonder if they can ever meld together.

This story is full of love and hope, as well as a willingness to surrender all to God’s will. It was really fun to see how things worked out in a totally unexpected way.

Every time I read a book by Good I learn new things about the Amish, and this one is no exception as we learn about some medical issues they have. She always does a great job of weaving together the Amish and English worlds. I highly recommend reading this one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

I loved both Kyle and Leah. They were well developed and both had secrets from their past that they wanted to stay there. They reminded me of so many of us that despite God's forgiveness,we just can't forgive ourselves. But God has a funny way of forcing us to deal with our issues so we can begin to heal.
I really enjoyed the contrast of modern medicine versus herbal remedies. It was interesting to see each character struggle to accept the others ideas of medical treatment.
I would wholeheartedly recommend reading this book which can be a stand alone, but would suggest reading the first book in the series before jumping into this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It is no secret I like to read Amish fiction. Lately there have been books in various genres about midwives and healing. I enjoy those also. This book was especially enjoyable because it had all of those.

Author Rachel J. Good knows about the Amish culture. She has researched it and has friends that are Amish. That is one reason her books are authentic to their way of life. This author has an easy way with words. Her characters are well rounded and described. I felt as if I knew Leah, Kyle, and the old doctor. I was invested in the story early.

The story was organized written, organized, and planned so that there were a few twists. I wanted to keep reading and longed to visit Amish country again after finishing this delightful book. Christian inspiration was sprinkled throughout along with life lessons. It is a sweet romance.

I would recommend it. It earned a 4.5 out of 5 stars from me. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own, honest ones.

I love reading books about the Amish. I always think I know everything about them, then an author will write one and I learn new things like I did in this book. The Amish very seldom go to the hospital unless it is life and death. It was interesting to learn more about midwives and how much they are depended upon. I also was intrigued about the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Leah is a very compassionate woman who loves helping the midwife in the community. She also helps run a store that has natural herbs for sale. It always interests me when a book talks about organic herbs for healing. I wonder if we are missing out on using some of these products today that could be beneficial to patients. That will be a subject that I will have to explore more on my own.

When the doctor in the town decides he is ready to retire he calls on someone who used to live there to take over his practice. Kyle graciously accepts the doctor's offer to come for a few days to look over the practice. There is a deep secret that he has carried for years that may prevent him from staying as the new doctor. As Kyle and Leah work together in the clinic there seems to be little attraction between the two. I was shocked when Leah told Kyle she couldn't continue as a midwife once she is married. Her soon to be husband will not allow her to.

There are a lot of misunderstandings throughout the story that cause friction between characters. I didn't realize how strict the Amish were like unmarried women and men are not allowed to be alone together at all. It would take a lot for me to adjust to their ways. I loved getting to know Kyle and Leah and how easy they seemed to work together. Will Kyle stay and take over the practice ? The story is quite emotional when secrets come out. I cried throughout the book as Kyle wrestled with the past. Leah has her own secret and when the two secrets are finally revealed, it brings a deeper understanding of how people struggle with forgiveness. There are a few surprises in the book that I didn't expect. The author has written a very good story about what happens when secrets are hidden and how much secrets can hurt people. It's a great lesson about forgiveness and compromise as well. I think this is the best book she has written and I won't forget how Kyle and Leah both learn what unconditional love is.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

This is such a sweet romance, about a couple who must make compromises on their ways of life in order to be together. Leah is an Amish midwife who strongly believes in the power of traditional remedies and prayer, and Kyle is a doctor who believes in the latest medical technologies. I love the way their friendship and respect for each other's abilities as a healer developed slowly over time. Even though they each ultimately have very different approaches to healing, I like that both care about their patients enough to be flexible. Leah is willing to take a patient to a clinic when the situation becomes too serious for traditional cures, and Kyle does his research and learns that there are actually a lot of similarities between Leah's mixtures and pharmaceutical medicines. I also like that their physical attraction is very much also rooted in mutual respect.

I also love that both have to decide whether their love for each other is worth compromising what they believe they've always wanted. Leah is very devoted to her Amish faith, and so marrying an Englischer like Kyle may estrange her from the community she loves. And Kyle has always dreamed of working in a big city hospital, so settling down in a small Amish town may mean having to give up that dream. Leah's also hiding a secret related to a painful incident in Kyle's past, though I'm glad that revelation didn't play out as dramatically as I'd feared.

Overall, The Amish Midwife's Secret is a sweet, heartwarming romance. Leah and Kyle are, quite simply, good for each other, and you can't help but wish them on towards a happily ever after.

+

Thank you to Forever Romance for an egalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My feelings going into this book were a mixed bag. On the one hand, I loved that it had a medical aspect and that it featured many Amish characters, but I wasn’t so sure about some of its other aspects. It’s a contemporary romance, and I prefer historical settings and, although a romantic at heart, I’ve never been a fan of the romance genre. However, so much of Christian fiction is romance-oriented that I’ve come to accept that it’s most likely going to be part of the story. What sets some Christian fiction authors apart for me as a reader is the ability to craft a narrative in which the romance is not overdone. The romance is definitely there, but it’s not overdramatized and it coalesces well with the other primary storylines. To my delight, this was the case with “The Amish Midwife’s Secret”. Even though it was clearly evident from the beginning that Leah and Kyle were attracted to one another, knowing this early on did not detract from the story.

Something that really stood out in this novel was Good’s ability to weave together the Amish, Mennonite, and Englisch cultures and customs. The characters were all dynamic, facing challenges to their beliefs and traditions, and this conflict added emotional depth to the story. Both Leah and Kyle had to come to terms with defining moments in their past and learn how to move forward in faith. They each had dreams that pulled their hearts in different directions, and it was interesting to watch this play out. One of the main lessons, in my opinion, was about compromise. Sometimes the answer isn’t always black and white but rather a mixture of the two. Balancing complementary medicine such as herbal remedies with prescription medication and more invasive procedures is one example of this. Seeing how the Englisch and Amish can coexist and learn from one another made this book stand out, and the strong faith element was a good reminder that God is always working things out and making a way for us. What a blessing it is when we, like Leah and Kyle, realize how things are coming together and falling into place!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in this series that I have read and enjoyed, and am hoping for more!
This is a story of love and compassion and a little bit of sweet romance, but mainly a story of forgiveness, and the hardest of all forgiving yourself.
The author did a wonderful job with the characters and presenting the story, even with the elderly woman who worried about their reputation, and past indiscretions of people in her care.
There are a few bombs that are dropped and surprise secrets unfold, and they sure kept me page-turning.
I loved how this book worked out!

I received this book through Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.

4 out of 5 stars

This is not my normal kind of romance, but I did enjoy it. The story flowed well and the main characters were both likable and people I wish I could know in real life. Kyle fled his hometown to pursue his dreams of being a doctor and never expected to return. Leah is devoutly religious, but desires to be more than just a wife and mom. The two of them are thrust together and despite their differences find common ground and a deep love. I love the way Kyle took care of Leah when everone around her just relied on her to take care of them. I love the way that Leah took care of him while trying to remain true to her religion and faith. It was a great story full of heart and I just might read more by this author one day.

This was a most enjoyable book to read. Learning more about the Amish is always fascinating and in that, this book does not disappoint. Secrets are something everyone has, I expect, but how many of these change life completely? Such secrets have changed all of the principle characters in this book. Can forgiveness be found? While you or I may go and study to be a nurse, doctor or a midwife, these dreams were not possible if you belonged to the Amish church. Marrying outside of the church was another dilemma if you didn't want to be shunned by family and friends. A story like this makes me consider how I would react if such barriers were set in front of me. How would my behavior compare to those in this book?
I received this ARC from CelebrateLit and all impressions and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this different story. I loved that they both had obstacles they had to overcome, not just to be in a relationship together but to grow as a person.

My only complaint is the ending felt very unfinished. The author assumed that the reader knew what how the solution would look when in reality I never heard of what was being proposed. I would have loved to read an epilogue about their life together. The end felt abrupt

** ARC received from Netgalley **

I have never read a book by Rachel and now I am a fan.

I will say sometimes I don’t care for Amish fiction because it can move kind of slow. Not the case with this book. This was a fast-paced, page turner full of unanswered questions and tension.

I had to keep reading to find out what had happened in the characters past and how that would play into their future.

I loved the romantic tension between Kyle and Leah but so much was in their way and I wondered how they would overcome it.

If you are looking for a good Amish fiction read this would be a great one to pick up.

A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Rachel Good's stories are warm and multi-dimensional and The Amish Midwife’s Secret is a prime example. The plot isn’t a typical one for Amish fiction (much like the first book in this series, as well), and I was fascinated with the unique insights I gleaned from the well-researched details and the events that unfolded. From midwifery to homeopathic remedies to other interesting tidbits that I won’t go into here lest I spoil anything for you, I was intrigued to see how it would all play out (the dwindling time left in my Kindle copy worried me for a bit there!) and what would happen next.

Leah and Kyle fight a strong mutual attraction in spite of their different backgrounds and beliefs, differences which make it seemingly impossible for them to be together. The important thing to their story, though, wasn’t the sparks that sizzled whenever they were in close proximity, but what God was doing in each of their hearts individually.

Bottom Line: Wonderfully written, emotional and sweet story about forgiving one’s self and adjusting to the unexpected twists of life. Layered characters who feel like old friends and intriguing details that bring a fresh take to the Amish fiction genre. Rachel J. Good’s Love and Promises series is a compelling peek into how Amish and non-Amish coexist in close-knit communities, and I’m very much looking forward to book #3!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Leah is Old Order Amish, but she's working to get certification as a midwife.

Kyle used to be Amish until an accident several years ago. Now he is a doctor and the doctor from his little home town wants him to come back and take over his practice.

There are problems with being Old Order and getting a certification as a midwife. The Ordnung does not allow it.

Kyle doesn't like the way Leah treats her patients with herbs and sweet words. Leah doesn't like his bullying ways.

Rachel J Good has written a sassy book taking place in the Amish world. Leah isn't afraid to stand up to Kyle and reintroduce him to the world of the Amish. Both Kyle and Leah have their own secrets and want to tell each other, but they dance around the words they need to say to get their points across. This book has happy moments, sad moments, and everything in between all woven into one cohesive story that is hard to put down.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a good doctor to argue with.

My thanks to Hachette Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

The Amish Midwife’s Secret by Rachel Good takes us to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Dr. Kyle Miller is surprised when he receives a call from Dr. Martin Hess who is the local physician in his hometown. Dr. Hess is ready to retire, and he is offering his practice to Kyle. After what happened, Kyle is not sure he can face returning home. Leah Stolzfus is a midwife in training plus she is knowledgeable about herbal remedies from working in her families’ herbal shop. Kyle agrees to shadow Dr. Hess for three days, but he did not expect to butt heads to pretty Leah. Dealing with the past is overwhelming and Kyle is going to turn down Dr. Hess’ offer. But when Dr. Hess has a heart attack and needs someone to cover his practice, Kyle cannot say no. Leah fills in for Esther Hess as nurse/receptionist. She thrives in her new role in the doctor’s office and begins falling for handsome doctor. Leah is not willing to give up her family and faith for love until she falls in love with abandoned baby and Kyle is not willing to become Amish. Can Kyle and Leah compromise for the sake of the child?

The Amish Midwife’s Secret can be read alone if you have not read The Amish Teacher’s Gift. Kyle Miller is reluctant to return home because of an incident that changed his life. We learn what happened with Kyle as the story progresses. It is a sad story that is dealt with delicately. It is a wonderful opportunity for him, though, to obtain a doctor’s established practice plus a home. Leah Stolzfus is Amish, takes care of her sick mother, works in the family herbal supply store, and is training to be a midwife. However, Leah cannot become certified as a midwife because the Amish do not allow it (I do not understand the concept). There is drama in the Stolzfus family courtesy of Leah’s brother who jumped the fence and the father has been unable to forgive him. We see how this has affected the family and how they deal with the situation. Leah also has a secret and is afraid to share it with Kyle. I thought The Amish Midwife’s Secret was well-written and engaging. It has steady pacing which makes the story easy to read and enjoy. I like the characters, the setting and the issues addressed. We see how modern medicine can be balanced with herbal medicines if people are willing to work together for the good of their patients. I appreciated that the characters developed over the course of the story. Christian elements include forgiveness of others as well as yourself (harder to accomplish), prayer, having faith, and God’s will. I thought the Christian aspects were nicely incorporated into the story. Everything flowed together into one lovely story. It was interesting to learn about the different herbs and the symptoms/illnesses they can treat. The pair also visit the Clinic for Special Children that has been established (it is a real place) to research, prevent and treat the inherited diseases by Amish and Mennonite. The Amish Midwife’s Secret combines romance, mystery, drama, and faith into one engaging tale.

Leah and Kyle both think they have a lot of stuff to forgive themselves for. They both had something happen when they were teens that affected them for years. Now Kyle is back in town after becoming a doctor to help in his mentors practice. Kyle has to live through what he thinks he caused. I loved the way that each character works through their problem and gets closer to God. I did not want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Magnificent--top notched Amish genre story found in The Amish Midwife’s Secret, book two in A Love and Promises series by beloved Rachel J. Good. This story is filled with characters that are flawed in the Amish community and English world where they need to overcome the past to find forgiveness. Good created an intriguing, heartwarming story that is masterful, picturesque and authentic in her Amish research.

Kyle Miller returned to the Amish community to visit Dr. Hess and the offer he made for his practice. Kyle had other dreams for his medical career, but when some hidden truths are revealed and unpredicted happenings transpire maybe he will discover his way back to God. Leah Stoltzfus dream as a midwife and a family came to a halt in a heartbreaking way. However, another delivery for Kyle and her in a middle of a storm may just bring some joy and blessing. This story is filled with family, faith, forgiveness in multiple ways and so much more. I do not want to give anything away, but this book is a MUST be read one for fans of Amish genre. I look forward to reading The Amish Widow’s Rescue when it’s released in 2019 as the next book in the Love and Promises series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts expressed are my sincere ones.

The Amish Midwife's Secret by Rachel J. Good is the second in her Love and Promises series. This captivating book brings to life the story of a young Amish woman who aspires to be a midwife and is seeing a nice Amish man. And along comes a young Englisch doctor who desires to do research at a prestigious facility but is called back to a place he'd rather forget and had vowed to never return to. Could he live in this community with all the memories? As the story comes to a climax, there are several twists and turns to the plot that are quite surprising. The author keeps interest high as she keeps the reader wondering just what is the midwife's secret and how in the world will these two ever be able to surmount their differences to make a life together. Keeping their feelings hidden from family and friends and even each other proves more and more difficult. The characters are likable and realistic and it is heartwarming to see the growth in their faith and emotions as they begin to forgive, to be forgiven, and allow healing to begin in their lives. Thought-provoking subjects of adoption and the use of natural remedies and transitional medicine are touched on and add considerable interest to the story. Another very intriguing subject she brings out in the story is a Clinic for Special Children where researchers work to prevent and treat inherited diseases that are seen in the Amish and Mennonite communities. It sent me to the internet to look up some of the disorders she mentioned. The Amish Midwife's Secret is an engaging book about secrets that when seen by the light of day, are covered by the grace and forgiveness.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

Sparks fly as new meets old

Kyle struggled with guilt and grief from his past. And he dealt with pride as well. His fresh-out-of-medical-school mentality that medicine was always better than natural remedies and hospitalization is better than treatment at home led to conflict between him and Leah as they were called to the same places to help with delivery and newborn care. Despite this, Kyle was extremely kindhearted and compassionate. His concerns came not only out of thinking he knew better but out of a burden for his patients.

Leah struggled with her deep desire to be a midwife and her beau’s expectation that she would discontinue her practice once they were married. Not to mention the community’s belief that any education beyond 8th grade is prideful.

I appreciated the way the author highlighted the difficulties Kyle and Leah faced without overemphasizing them. There were some unexpected elements introduced and the story was brought to a satisfying conclusion.

I regret having read this before the first two books in the series. While technically I believe this story was intended to stand alone, I have a feeling that a few of the things especially in Kyle’s history that I felt weren’t explained well were covered in those stories.

Read with a Preview and Guest Post at AmongTheReads.net

I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

From the very first chapter a secret was alluded to and grabbed my attention to where it was hard to lay the book aside to do mundane everyday things. I read whenever and wherever I could grab an hour or three.
I felt for both characters. Leah was a baptized Amish church member which restricted her somewhat in what she felt God was calling her to do, deliver babies. She also ran her family's herbal store and strongly believed in natural remedies.
Kyle was just finishing up his studies as a physician and had big plans for his life when he got a call from the doctor in his home town. He was offered a trial period to see how he felt about taking over the practice which included an office and house for free! He had no interest in coming back to his small town. He liked big city medicine. But to appease he came for a few days trial. It seems though that things kept coming up to keep him there.
He and Leah clashed right from the start. They had different ideas in how to treat patients. But they soon discovered an underlying spark of attraction. But he being an English doctor and she being strong in her Amish faith left no room for compromise.
She has a secret she's keeping from Kyle but the hometown doctor has an even bigger one he's keeping from Kyle! Wow, the story was great and the writing was superb. Five stars!
I received a complimentary ebook copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

Have you ever had life throw you a curve ball? How about five of them? Even young children are aware that life doesn't always go the way we hope or plan. We have to learn to take what life throws us and adjust accordingly. The Amish Midwife's Secret is the story of two young adults learning to maneuver the world when nothing seems to go as planned. 

What's difficult about sharing a review for this book, is that much of the content occurs due to the unexpected curve balls thrown Kyle and Leah's way and I don't want to spoil any of the story-line! So what I will say in very broad terms, is that I felt the author managed the thoughts and emotions of the characters in a very real, raw, and heartfelt way. She doesn't shy from their wounds and scars, nor does she hide the healing that doesn't happen overnight. It's as if you are processing the emotions right alongside each of the characters.

One thing I noticed quickly in the story, is that "boundaries" played a major part in this story. In both past and present circumstances, the characters learn the value behind appropriate boundaries and how they are not only important, but for their own protection. Learning to respect boundaries is a sign of maturity but struggling with them is also a sign of being human. Often we are able to learn the most from our mistakes.

Forgiveness is another major theme in the story. What's interesting though is that the forgiveness wrestled with in this story is not in relation to others--but to self. There are times in life where we can forgive others and walk on, but our own personal guilt eats away at us. Both Kyle and Leah learn to realize that in order to move on in their lives and seek joy and contentment, they have to first learn to let go of the pieces of their past that haunt them. 

Although this is the second book in a series I read this as a stand-alone. I didn't struggle keeping up in any way, however I enjoyed this one enough I'd be interested in going back and reading the first as well. I recommend this story to fans of Amish Fiction and those interested in how the medical field is viewed and run by different communities of people. This was my first book by Rachel J Good but I'm sure it won't be my last!

*I received a copy of this book from the author through NetGalley and Celebrate Lit Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.