A Certified Nurse Midwife, Audrey Novak, believes in putting the choices of her patients first and started her own home birth practice to provide what she believes to be the best care. Her attractive new neighbour also turns out to be Dr. Ammon Parker, an obstetrics resident who believes only in modern medicine. The two go head to head over their differences of opinions a number of times at church, at the hospital, while patients are in labour. And while words fly, so do sparks. Unbeknownst to either of them, as avid rock climbers, they are chatting on a rock climbing forum, and potentially falling for each other online. But can they stop fighting long enough to figure it out?

An entertaining, wholesome, clean romance novel. It is at times funny, moving, and exciting, while also informative about the differences in these two forms of medicine, how they can coexist and actually work together, and about the birth experience in general. Through the online interactions, we are privy to kindness beyond first impressions and how to work with difficult people. Filled with dramatic irony, as we get to know what's going on before the characters do. Overall well written and interesting. Would recommend for someone looking for a clean romance novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

Audrey is a home birth midwife, Ammon is an obstetrics resident. You can guess just from that there will be plenty of sparks between these two, and you’d be right!

Get ready for a great friends to frenemies to HEA novel. Plenty of ups and downs, mistakes on both sides, and add in an internet flirt that only increases the tension. I enjoyed this book and would read another by the author. There’s a bit of a religious theme, but not overwhelming or off putting to me.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This is an enjoyable book about two very opinionated people that rub each other wrong from the very beginning. The topic of home birth vs hospital birth was interesting. I liked that the author made a point of being proactive in decisions about the birth of your baby. I liked that both Audrey and Ammon were dedicated to taking care of their patients. Their faith in God was encouraging. The outcome was predictable but I enjoyed the process of getting there. Recommended!

I really enjoyed this contemporary story. I would describe it as a modern version of You’ve Got Mail. Super cute, fun, and a great HEA!

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Witty Banter, Hidden Social Media Identities, and Frenemies turned Lovers

THIS IS A MUST READ! If you have ever read contemporary proper romance and enjoyed it then this book is just for you. Audrey Novak (a registered CNM) and Dr. Ammon Parker (OBGYN) are both young and new to their fields of medicine. They have different views on care for patients, and so of course they start a relationship off of misrepresenting who they truly are. At the same time, they accidentally meet online through a rock climbing social media app, and you can only guess where this leads. (You’ve Got Mail vibes were strong but in a different way)

I personally loved seeing the story from the dual point of view, and to see the transformation of the characters was just beautiful!!! Truly the number of times that both of them change their opinions based on the actions of the other is so adorable! I love the change that Audrey goes through to not sabotage her happiness, and Ammon changes from prideful and egotistical physician to a respectful and loving human. It is truly a must read!

A special thank you to Covenant Communications and Sarah Alva for the digital ARC provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own and in no way biased.

I wasn’t so sure I would like this book when I started reading. Audrey and Ammon are both a little hard to like. I am so glad I continued because as I got to know the characters better I was pulled into the story and could not get enough. I highly recommend this book!

The Doctor and the Midwife
by Sarah Alva
Back of the Book: “As a midwife running her own home birth practice, Audrey Novak deals with pressure like a superhuman. Until, that is, she meets her handsome and arrogant neighbor, Dr. Ammon Parker. Ammon, who believes only in modern medicine, is just as unprepared for the infuriating---and inconveniently beautiful---midwife. When the two are repeatedly called to the same labor and delivery unit, their clashing ideals and fiercely independent personalities threaten to derail both their professional goals and their pride.
Outside of work, Audrey is a passionate rock climber, tantalized by a secret route she's heard about in an online forum. Her hunt for the climb's location leads her to the intriguing Belaying on of Hands, a man who claims to have set the route. Soon their anonymous virtual flirtation and witty exchanges deepen into a true connection. But when Audrey discovers the man from online is actually Ammon, she's blindsided. It seems they have more in common than she could have imagined, but will their differences keep them from making the climb to true love together?”
Impressions: This was a charming and clean romance with lessons on OB and Midwifery woven through.
Liked: I enjoyed this romance and thought that the ideas of first impressions and struggle with in-person communication to be relatable. I find myself better spoken at times typed out rather than spoken. I find myself thinking through my thoughts and words more when I am relaxed at the computer rather than on the spot with another person. That being said I can only imagine the impressions I’ve made throughout my life with the dumb things that have rolled right out of my mouth. I am thankful for second chances and the delete button😊
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

A very well written and entertaining romance. I enjoyed the plot and the character dynamics. A good clean read. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Audrey Novak is a driven young woman. With her own midwifery practice and years of experience of helping women have the best experience possible while giving birth, Audrey knows what it means to be a patient's advocate.

Dr. Ammon Parker is a second-year resident who struggles with knowing whether or not he picked the correct profession.

When Audrey and Ammon meet, sparks fly. With Ammon insulting her profession and belief in midwifery, Audrey is determined to avoid him and to continue to be an advocate for pregnant women.

A fun romance filled with witty conversations, great character development, and plenty to laugh and smile about, The Doctor and the Midwife is a story you won't want to miss.

Obstetrician/Gynecologist Dr. Ammon Parker has a low opinion of midwifery when he meets his neighbor Audrey Novak. Certified midwife Audrey is a fiery and independent personality who is not sure it is worth the bother to set Ammon straight about his misconceptions. A love for rock climbing brings these neighbors together anonymously in a charming story with a plot worthy of The Shop Around the Corner/You've Got Mail for a modern audience of social app users.

The Doctor and the Midwife is such a good story. The two main characters are so much alike they clash. Watching them go from disposing each other to respect was a beautiful development. I loved this book.

This was such a cute contemporary romance! The dialogue was witty and the characters were relatable. I really enjoy this author's writing style and the way she draws you into the story.

Are you a fan of an enemies to lovers storyline? If so, this is a book for you. Cute romance with serious You’ve Got Mail vibes. Fantastic relatable characters with terrific chemistry. It was a delight to watch them grow from frenemies to falling in love.

Very cute. Loved the mix of enemies (or at the very least two people who strongly disliked each other) to lovers along with You’ve got mail vibes with the anonymous virtual messaging that the do. This book actually got my attention because of the medical aspect. I’m a nursing student about to graduate, and the specialty the I want to focus on is maternal child, so I really loved that part of the book! And the information they used was all very factual so I found that very well done.

Ammon is a doctor doing his residency on the labor and delivery unit, and is very much by the book. He really focuses on the scientific aspect of things without much thought on non pharmacological measures. Audrey is a midwife, who also occasionally works as a doula. She loves the idea of a home birth whenever possible as opposed to a hospital which she thinks can sometimes lead to life threatening situations. Not surprisingly the two clash based on their opposing beliefs. I’m not going to lie towards the beginning I kind of felt more inclined towards Ammon’s, even though he was definitely a jerk about the way he stated his opinions, only because from why I’ve learned in class, there really are so many ways pregnancy can go wrong, and I feel like being in a hospital would be the best option to be. But as I read more about Audrey’s experience and as what’s its like to be a midwife, I could understand her point of view as well.

The two of them really grow throughout the book, as I felt both of them could be unnecessarily harsh and rude towards the other, but they slowly work past their issues as they work together at the same hospital. They both are also rock climbing enthusiasts and meet anonymously on a forum online, and bond over there as well.. With their virtual and IRL relationships growing the question is what happens when those two lives meet. Overall I though it was a cute lighthearted story, with great character development, and a satisfying end.

It was an easy read, light and funny.
I enjoyed the bantering and it had a realistic plot.
I enjoyed the descriptions of what was happening and you could feel the emotions.
It interested me since it had a taste of You've got mail and corresponding with the opposite sex in every day life,

Spoiler alert: It's clearly a Utah/medical version of You've Got Mail. But for me, the extremely similar plotline did not detract even a tiny bit. Very well written and the characters were charming and endearing without being inhuman. I will say, if you're not into birth and some medical details, you may not be into this (and may even need to do a few google searches). As a pregnant mom of two, I LOVED every minute of it. I hope this book can help some moms-to-be advocate for themselves and their babies!

I really enjoyed this book! I learned more about midwiferey than I knew before, and it put it in a positive light, while not discrediting at all the importance of doctors and hospitals. I feel like the author did a good job finding the balance between what can be (and was in this book) a touchy subject. I am a full proponent of hospital births but I feel like I gained a better understanding behind the thought process of an at-home birth.

The storyline was very much a "You've Got Mail" trope, which I love. It was an enjoyable read and I liked the main characters and the romance.

I can definitely see myself reading this again, and reading other books by Sarah in the future.

Audrey is a midwife who does home births. Ammon is a resident OB/GYN. Their philosophy on childbirth and the role of the hospital/doctor are at odds with each other. When they first meet in person, they get off on the wrong foot and there is almost an insta-hate between the two of the them. Both Audrey and Ammon are fans of rock climbing, and unknown to the two of them, have met on a rock climbing app. Their relationship via text quickly develops and they get to know each other. I thought the book had a great premise with the midwife and the OB sparring about their different ideas. I was less excited about the You Got Mail premise and would have liked to see the enemies to friends relationship develop without the need for that plot trope. Overall the book was a cute, quick read.

This is a fun book. I actually learned quite a bit about midwife's and their role. This book definitely has shades of You've Got Mail, which is a movie I happen to love. I enjoyed seeing the arc the characters took in getting to know each other and overcoming prejudices. I really enjoyed reading this book.

I read Alva’s first book and while these are loosely connected, it can be read as a stand alone.
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Audrey is a midwife that practices with home births. She meets the hot but arrogant young doctor, Ammon, and it’s instant loathing.
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Ammon is in the middle of his residency for being an OB and he gets women that flirt with him or throw him out of the room. So he can’t understand Audrey’s dislike of his charm being a doctor.
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They work together with a few patients but also anonymously through an app for avid rock climbers. Very “You’ve Got Mail” but sweet Christian fiction. I wish there was an epilogue.
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A few TINY things that made this a 4 star for me: a few typos and formatting errors that were repeated enough (I mentioned this to the author so hopefully it gets changed in the final print), mentioning that Ammon is super athletic and has a hot body but he only works out once and drinks a few Red Bull’s. I feel like it’s almost a cop out that the hero needs to be super built and muscular but to not even back it up just further perpetuates that’s what “normal” men are like. Like I said tiny bit but the formatting drove me crazy the most. Where it got in the habit of a break between POV and quite a few times it wouldn’t have that break so it would be jarring to release you were in another POV.
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This book comes out in a few months and I received an ebook from net galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.