Member Reviews
Love, love, love! This book is allll about love and how it can blossom in the most random of ways! This book is sweet and each story has its own unique setting and plot. The characters are addicting and you will want to keep reading until the book is complete! A must-read if you are a fan of Amish fiction!
This is a novella collection of three stories all based on the theme of midwives.
Each of the midwives has devoted her life to midwifery .
I am drawn to Amish books because they live their lives a little differently than we do.
They are more accepting of things than we are . Find the good in little things ,are willing to help all and know when to let go and let God. Are they perfect? Of course not and neither are we but God still forgives us every time we ask it of him.
Strong resilient characters that I enjoyed getting to know.
I really enjoyed the strength that shone throughout this book.
Highly recommended.
Published March 2nd 2021 by Zondervan
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
I'm a huge fan of all things birth and midwifery related, so when I was thrilled when I got the chance to read Amish Midwives. Amish Midwives is a compilation of three novellas by some of Amish Christian fiction's most popular authors. Each story follows an Amish midwife through her own set of challenges as she learns more about herself, God, and the plans He has for her. Of course, no Christian romance would be complete without a good love story and each of the novellas definitely delivers.
In the first novella, Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston, we meet Kristina Beiler and Aiden Smoker. Kristina and Aiden's relationship ended abruptly years ago, leaving both of them very confused and hurt. Kristina believed that Aiden had chosen another over her, but did he really? Or is there another explanation for what happened? I really enjoyed this story, and did not see the plot twist coming at all.
The second story, A Midwife for Suzie by Shelley Shepard Grey,, was my least favourite. Having grown up next door to each other, Joanna Zimmerman and Dwight Eicher have been close friends for years and have started to grow closer together. However, Joanna has started acting oddly after a visit to a neighbouring community, and seems to be withdrawing from everything she's always loved. I liked the premise for this novella, but struggled with the writing style. Personally, I prefer books with more dialogue than just telling what happened, and felt that the story lacked in that area. The storyline was interesting though and I enjoyed seeing Joanna and Dwight's relationship grow. I also appreciated seeing the close bond between Dwight and his sister, Suzie.
The final novella, Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long, was my favourite. Anna Stolis is temporarily taking over her Aenti Ruth's midwifery cases when she meets handsome bachelor, Asa Mast. Asa is stepping in for his sick Daad, who usually drives Anna's aunt to her births on wintery nights. The chemistry between the two was obvious from the very beginning and only grows as the story follows them throughout a long night spent driving through a nasty blizzard between births. Could this be a forever thing? Or will they only have a few hours before going back to life as usual? This was such a sweet fun-to-read Christmas romance!
All in all, this was a fantastic collection of sweet inspirational stories. If you enjoy Amish romance, you'll want to grab a copy of Amish Midwives.
*I received a complimentary copy Amish Midwives through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.
Amish Midwives by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kelly Long contains three heartwarming Amish tales. I enjoyed reading these sweet Amish novellas. I thought they were well-written with charming characters. Each story has a midwife who is considered past her prime (two unmarried and one widow). I liked the midwife theme and the unique way each author presented it. We get to see the role of a midwife in an Amish community. A midwife needs to be knowledgeable about her craft as well as compassionate, organized, and professional. I could not imagine going through a home birth (I needed pain killers). There is humor is each of the stories, but it is especially prevalent in A Midwife for Susie. I laughed at Joanna’s ineptness in the kitchen and the messes she created. Christmas Cradles is a sweet tale that has snow, Christmas, and beautiful handmade quilts. Bundles of Blessings has two people who once loved each other getting a second chance. I was quickly drawn into Amy Clipston’s appealing Amish story. Her characters and storyline are appealing. I was happy there was an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the novella. There are discussion questions for each short story. Amish Midwives is one of those books that provides a delightful break from real life. Amish Midwives contains three inspiring and emotional tales that will touch your heart.
This book contains three touching novellas about midwives and their personal struggles. Each of the main characters of the stories find purpose and fulfillment delivering babies and helping others. And each midwife ends up with a romance. These endearing tales of overcoming pain from the past and finding hope for the future offer a quick read, each easy to read in one sitting. The authors did a great job at presenting unique offerings that capture the readers’ heart. The characters seem quite real and their experiences authentic. I received a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own. Descriptions of each follow (taken from the book). #AmishMidwives #NetGalley
"Amish Midwives" features three stories about different midwives, just as the title implies. Each story presents a unique perspective on Amish women who dedicate their lives to bringing babies into the world. Whether dealing with past hurts, recent tragedies, or unexpected deliveries, the midwives approach their work in partnership with the new mothers and with God. The Christian message is overt but woven into the story in a delicate and thoughtful manner. Readers will sympathize with the midwives as well as with the new mothers, and gain an appreciation and understanding of the important role played by midwives in the Amish community.
I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Amish Midwives is an anthology of three easy-to-read novellas written by three very talented authors. Each novella is a unique story of hope, faith, and love with a common thread—the trials and triumphs of Amish midwives. The characters in each story are well-crafted and engaging. The plots flow smoothly at a steady pace. As expected, each story embraces a strong faith element. Sweet romance enhances each story. I enjoyed this charming, quick read and highly recommend it especially for lovers of Amish fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
Three short stories featuring the lives of Amish midwives who face personal challenges yet still see the wonder in assisting with births. All three were wonderful stories of faith and love even when tested by everyday trials. Definitely worth your reading time.
Three exceptional authors come together in writing their own novella regarding Amish Midwives. Each midwife is at a different stage in her life, one who is a widow, one who is unmarried and gave up delivering babies following a tragic delivery and one unmarried midwife who takes over for her aunt one night to help deliver babies.
You can’t help but laugh and maybe cry at the same time because the storylines will definitely keep you captivated. I recommend this book for someone who wants a quick and enjoyable read. You won’t be disappointed.
I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion and review.
I just read Amish Midwives. Thank you to Net galley and The publishing company for allowing me to read and review this book
All three stories are about a midwife, God and finding love
Amy Clipston -Author- Bundles of Blessing.
Follow Kristina and Aidan.
Shelley Shepard Gray - Author A midwife for Susie
Follows Joanna and Dwight
Kelly Long Author -Christmas Cradles
Follows Anna and Asa
All threes stories made me laugh.. I enjoyed the banter between the characters. I love how each author brought the couples together. Each story was similar but, each had a lesson to learn that was different,
Amish Midwives is a book with three novellas with the common theme of midwives and falling in love. All of the stories are quick reads. All three stories were enough for me to get to know the characters pretty well and to really like them. I’m not even sure which was my favorite because I loved all of the stories, but I guess if I were pressed hard enough, I would have to say Kelly Long’s Christmas Cradles. A whirlwind romance in one hectic night had me hooked. I highly recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and Zondervan for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you find a book authored by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kelly Long, snap it up! You're in for hours of great reading. Amish Midwives is just such a book. Each story is unique, and features a midwife who basically considers herself "on the shelf". Each woman has thrown herself into her job since marriage seems to be out of the question for her.
Clipston's "Bundles of Blessing" brings together widowed Kristina Byler with her former beau, Aidan Smoker. Kristina fell into midwifing when she was the only one available to help her sister deliver her niece. Since her husband's death, she has felt at loose ends and delivering the community's babies gives her purpose. When Aidan returns to take over his family's dairy farm, her feelings of betrayal come back, but so does the love she used to feel for him. Aidan also felt betrayed when his girlfriend ditched him to marry his best friend. Can they learn what happened years ago to break them up, and will they be able to get past the hurt that still lingers?
I loved Gray's "A Midwife for Susie". The emotion, and even the humor shown through as Dwight Eicher tries to convince Joanna Zimmerman to deliver his sister Susie's baby. Joanna decided to stop midwifing when her last delivery ended in tragedy. Her efforts to become a typically domestic Amish woman are thwarted at every turn. Can she get past her fear to go back to the one thing she is good at? Will her best friend Dwight still want her to deliver his sister's baby when he learns what drove her away from her vocation?
If I absolutely HAD to choose a favorite, though, Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long would probably be it. Anna Stolis gives her aunt a one night vacation from midwifing, and arrives to a flurry of babies. Asa Mast is also filling in for his father in driving Anna to her deliveries. His attraction to her is immediate but she's only in town for one night. Can he convince her to give him a chance, even after she learns his biggest secret?
I love these anthology-type books. The stories are more novella length, so it's easy to read one in an evening. These three stories were each gems, and I really didn't expect anything less from these three authors! Lovers of Amish romance will definitely want to pick this one up. I enjoyed every minute as I read Kristina, Joanne, and Anna's stories. I also appreciated that the women were all a bit older than the norm for Amish fiction. It was sweet to see them get their happy endings, too!
I received this book free from the author, but every opinion here is MINE!
Amish Midwives is a novella collection of delightful storeis about Amish women who have the role of midwive in their community. The stories are a nice collection of learning to let God have control of your life even if you have given up on love be it first love, or rekindling old love.
I really enjoy reading these novella collections as you can easily get through one story in a setting. All three stories were well written and had great character development. They were easy to follow and honestly easy to get engulfed in the storyline.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Zondervan) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love reading these short story collections as they are comfort reading to my soul.
I always recommend these short stories to readers who want to try the Amish genre. These three stories of midwives and babies are perfect quick reading. My favorite was A Midwife for Susie but all are excellent.
I listened to a bit on my Hoopla app through my library and the narrator is perfect. She grasps the characters beautifully.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Zondervan, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
I love Amish stories and these were delightful. I like these types of books because it's a chance to get to know different authors. The three authors here are well established although I am only familiar with the work of one.
Although all three stories featured an Amish midwife each story was unique. I especially loved the last one but felt it was over too soon. Maybe because I couldn't put down the book once I started it.
These are simple stories that are great to enjoy as an easy read. The storylines aren't overly complicated but they do draw you in and keep you engaged.
Amish Midwives is a heartwarming collection of three novellas. I have read previous books by all three authors and consider myself a huge fan of each.of them. I connected to each book and loved the characters. Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepherd Gray, and Kelly Long, thank you for writing charming stories that make us feel like we were there.
It was an easy book to fall in love with. I hope the characters in each story return in a future book someday . Until then, this book will be enough. Thank you netgalley and Zondervan for the gift of the arc. Tye opinions are my own.
Amish Midwives: Three Stories by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard and Kelly Long gives us three short and charming stories.
In Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston we get a second chance romance. Kristina gave up on love and having a family after the death of her husband. Now she is a mid-wife and helps others bring life into this world. Then her ex, Aidan comes back. I loved watching them reconnect and find each other again.
A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray brings friendship and second chances to life. Joanna suffers from past guilt and swears off ever being a midwife again. Her friend, Dwight, knows something is wrong and is ready to help her. I love how he cared for her and how their feelings for each other came about.
Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long gives a night of babies, new friends and maybe love? A sweet story as two people watch new life be born and discover more together.
Happy reading!
There are three enjoyable Amish romance stories in this collection.
Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston - Due to a misunderstanding, Kristina broke off her romance with Aidan years ago and ended up marrying a mutual friend. Now widowed, Kristina loves her work as a midwife but wonders if she will ever be a mother herself. Now Adam has moved back to town to take over his family farm.
A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray - Joanna has moved back to her hometown and is at a crossroads with her work as a midwife. Her best friend Dwight wants Joanna to be his sister's midwife, but she isn't sure.
Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long is my favorite story in the collection. For Christmas Eve, Anna is going to substitute for her aunt as the town's midwife. With uncle down with the flu, Asa is replacing his uncle as Anna's driver. With more than one mother ready to deliver, Anna and Asa spend one long night traveling together.
I liked all three of these sweet romances. They are nice light reads that are perfect for this time.
I loved each story and I like to read each author's book's! I loved Aidan and kristen story, such a hard time kristen went through. I was shocked to learn the truth of what happen between Aidan and kristen.
I loved the story between Joanna and Dwight's. Joanna to went through alot in her story. I am trying to word this so it's not a spoiler for people at the same time..
Kelly long book
Anna stolis is my favorite character in her story.
I hope you get your copy,
I was approved through netgalley.
Amish Midwives is a heartwarming, novella collection that tugs at the heartstrings and gives the reader three individual stories of courageous Amish ladies that perform the role of community midwives.
This collection was a beautiful bind up of stories that includes first love, love rekindled, recovering from past hurts, and most importantly; learning to let go and let God. I was especially impressed how each story was so unique, and despite each having the same precept, each author definitely made the story her own.
I enjoyed all three stories, and I loved how quickly I was able to get through this. Each story had me invested in the characters and the plot, and I barely wanted to put it down once I started. I also really enjoyed how each author chose a different time of the year to set the story in, and everything came together beautifully.
I've come to expect great things from these three talented ladies, and this book definitely did not disappoint. I highly recommend this one!
Final Rating: 5/5.
Thanks so much to Zondervan for allowing me to advance read and review this!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Zondervan) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.