I didn't expect to be so into this book. I started it to make sure I read something about "helping the war effort" and I like these kinds of stories enough. I was so hooked I read it straight through. I love the narration! This was heartbreaking and beautiful.
I can't say too much more because I don't want to reveal too much but it is lovely. Give it a listen.

1992: In New England, planning for Sophie’s 90th birthday is underway. Feeling her age with the upcoming birthday, Sophie very much wants to give her granddaughter a special gift from her past but in doing so, she will be forced to open up about her own history she has kept mostly to herself for several decades.

1942: Sophie is a well-respected midwife, who values human life above all else. Delivering babies and caring for new mothers is her life’s work. After losing her husband unexpectedly, Sophie leaves her Paris apartment and finds solace in helping others across the country. When she is asked to help aide young Jewish children to the Swiss border, Sophie’s only hesitation is the separation from her own daughter in order to keep her safe. Though the distance pains her heart, Sophie knows keeping her daughter in the dark about her resistance activities will keep her from harm as she is now married to a man who does business with the Germans. When her own daughter ends up with a difficult pregnancy, Sophie knows she must come out of hiding to help her. While fleeing for Lyon the course of Sophie’s life changes forever.

The Midwife’s Promise is a frame story beginning and ending with Sophie’s 90th birthday, but the life she led as a midwife in France is the real story, one of motherhood and its difficult choices, as well as sacrifice in wartime. Sophie’s journey is one that will have you reaching for the tissue box. It should come as no surprise she kept much of her past in the past, but her strength of character is admirable.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, and the author Eliza Graham for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Midwife’s Promise is out now. All opinions are my own.

In 1992, Sophie, who is about to celebrate her 90th birthday, must share a long-held secret with her son. Told in two time lines, this story showed a different look at World War II. Sophie, a midwife, who consistently risks her life to help others, finds herself in danger. There is love. There is tragedy. There is risk. The story was engaging. At times was heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. Sophie’s courage, strength and love are what allowed her to continue and make the decisions she had to make to survive. The story shows how one decision can change the course of your life.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fantastic job.

Much like one of our main characters, Camille, I loved getting lost in this book! Beautifully Narrated by Naomi Frederick, The Midwife's Promise tells the story of Sophie and her journey as a midwife, mother, and aide to Jewish children attempting to escape Hitler's regime. Bouncing between the present day and Sophie's past, we hear a story of love, loss, and motherhood through the eyes of Sophie and Camille. This story had me on the edge of my seat, laughing, and tearing up in the best of ways. A must read!


Thanks to Net Galley, Eliza Graham, Dreamscape Select and Storm publishing for the ARC!

Just a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of love and life and death. WWII and the Nazi occupation did not stop the birth of new children or the need for midwives. This is the story of Sophie…a midwife and he life as a mother and midwife.

Great characters and great story.

I adore this book. I binged the last half of it. I had to know what was going to happen! I was so shocked by the big event that occurred. I knew something was going to happen because of the cover, but I didn't think it would be that.

Once again.... I AM S H A T T E R E D !!
What an absolutely heartbreaking story, and yet, totally uplifting and wonderful...

This is the story of Sophie. A midwife who is turning 90 today. But as her family is celebrating her big day, she drifts off into the past, and recounts the story of her life...through her eyes...for all of them, and all of us.
You WILL cry. But at the same time, you will laugh and smile too. And, if you are like me your heart will be touched, will be exploding with love, and will be shattered beyond recognition...all in one book!

You see, Sophie is a mid-wife. And she was VERY active during the Hitler regime...and was also active with trying to help Jewish children escape.

But in the interim, she had to give up time. Time with her own family.

Cami (Camille) is her grown daughter, who is now all grown up and having a baby of her own. But, when a scare arises, she reaches out to her Mom for help. Even though she KNOWS this is not a good idea with all that is going on around them...
And in true MOTHER form, Sophie has to go to her daughter to offer her help.

The story that unfolds is phenomenal, and one that will stay with me for a long time.

I am not familiar with this author, but will be looking for more from her!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!!

Thanks to #NetGalley, #StormPublishing and #DreamscapeSelect for an ARC of this audiobook which is releasing today, 12/6/23.

#TheMidwifesPromise by #ElizaGraham and beautifully narrated by #NaomiFrederick.

Follow me on FB @ #BookReviewsWithElaine or IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr for all my upcoming reviews and previews.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, this book is excellent!!! A lot of WWII books are focused in the camps, whereas this one was not. A bit of a different take on the war times,.. a heartbreaking story, but also filled with triumph and heartwarming moments! The writing was so well done I felt like I was in the moments with them throughout feeling all the emotions. I personally really enjoy duel timeline flashbacks stories as well!

The story of Sophie and Camille will have you both smiling, and crying! Highly recommend

Thanks to Net Galley, Eliza Graham, Dreamscape Select and Storm publishing for the ARC!!

Ill give it 4.75 I love the childbirth details in the first chapters …the France scenery and the fact that Sophie was a refugee like me .
“Family mattered most “ I relate to this a lot
Also, the worldly perspectives are so good.
Cooking is a passion for Camé.
Thank you netgalley for this great book.

3.75 Stars
A heartbreaking story about a midwife during WWII

It's 1992, and Sophie is on the verge of celebrating a monumental milestone - her 90th birthday. But before she can revel in the joyous occasion, she carries a deep secret that has weighed heavily on her heart for decades, a secret that she now feels compelled to share with her family.

I have to admit, it took me a while to immerse myself in this book. However, once I finally did, I didn't want to put it down. Sophie's journey was filled with unimaginable obstacles and heart-wrenching moments as she fearlessly navigated through the treacherous landscape of war. If you enjoy historical fiction and don't mind a slower pace, this book is for you.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Eliza Graham, Dreamscape Select, and Storm Publishing for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

The Midwife's Promise by Eliza Graham
Narrated by Naomi Frederick

New England, 1992 We start with Sophie living in the US, about to celebrate her 90th birthday. She's had a good life, a full life but also a life that holds so many secrets. There are three people she has had to hold back from discussing. She's said little about her beloved husband, Bernard, who died more than fifty years ago. But she's also said absolutely nothing about a woman and her newborn baby, a woman she's never been able to forget.

France, 1942 Sophie has loved her work as a midwife, she's loved it so much that she's often left her husband, Bernard, and her daughter, Camille, to their own devices. Sophie is always yearning to be out there helping, always running off to take care of others. The guilt has hit her many times about how little time she has spent with Camille. Now Camille is a grown, married, and needs her help and Sophie will go to her even though Sophie will put so many people in danger by doing so. Finally, Sophie is ready to put her daughter first.

But war doesn't have time for those who want to make up for slights of the past. War will run over all plans to do better, to make amends, to try to be the present mother making up for not being present in the past. Now that Sophie will do anything for her family, this really is her very last chance.

We see the war in France from various angles. There are the people being persecuted for who they are and there are the people being persecuted for who they help. Sophie's daughter Camille is safely married to a wealthy businessman who loves her and can shield her from much of war's deprivation. So even though Sophie is elsewhere, hiding and helping, nursing those who need her skills, she's content that her daughter is in good hands. But then she gets a note from her daughter and she knows she must go to her no matter the risk. What she does now has a bearing on the future and she will carry the weight of her decisions for the rest of her life. There is a gentleness to this story during all the brutality and I appreciate the softness and matter of fact-ness of the narration of the audiobook as I listened to heartbreaking events.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC.