The Amish Midwife (The Women of Lancaster County) [Kindle Edition]

Mindy Starns Clark (Author)

Book Description

A dusty carved box containing two locks of hair and a century-old letter regarding property in Switzerland, and a burning desire to learn about her biological family lead nurse-midwife Lexie Jaeger from her home in Oregon to the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country. There she meets Marta Bayer, a mysterious lay-midwife who desperately needs help after an Amish client and her baby die.

Lexie steps in to assume Marta’s patient load even as she continues the search for her birth family, and from her patients she learns the true meaning of the Pennsylvania Dutch word demut, which means “to let be” as she changes from a woman who wants to control everything to a woman who depends on God.

 

A compelling story about a search for identity and the ability to trust that God securely holds our whole life—past, present, and future.

 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mindy Starns Clark is the author of many books (more than 450,000 copies sold), which include A Pocket Guide to Amish Life, Shadows of Lancaster County, Whispers of the Bayou, and The Amish Midwife. In addition, Mindy is a popular inspirational speaker and playwright.

Leslie Gould, a former magazine editor, is the author of numerous novels, including Beyond the Blue and Garden of Dreams. She received her master of fine arts degree from Portland State University and lives in Oregon with her husband, Peter, and their four children.

Product Details

• File Size: 700 KB
• Print Length: 338 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0736937986
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004M5HKKC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,345 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Amish Midwife January 16, 2011

By Maureen

Format:Paperback

A deathbed confession... a dust carved box containing two locks of hair... a century-old letter about property in Switzerland...

Nurse-midwife Lexie Jaeger's encounter with all three rekindles a burning desire to meet her biological family. Propelled on a personal journey of discovery, Lexie's search for the truth takes her from her home in Oregon to the heart of Pennsylvania's Amish country.

There she finds Marta Bayer, a mysterious lay-midwife who may hold the key to Lexie's past. But Marta isn't talking, especially now that she has troubles of her own following the death of an Amish patient during childbirth. As Lexie steps in to assume Marta's patient load and continues the search for her birth family, a handsome local doctor proves to be a welcome distraction. But will he also distract her from James, the man back home who lovingly awaits her return?

From her Amish patients, Lexie learns the meaning of the Pennsylvania Dutch word demut: "to let be." Will this woman who wants to control everything ever learn to depend totally on God? Or will her stubborn determination to unearth the secrets of the past at all costs only serve to tear her newfound family apart?T

This book was filled with secrets that were hurting everyone. A great insight into Amish culture, I had a hard time putting it down. I felt as if they had all become my family and I want to go and spend time with them!
The next book in the series The Amish Nanny will be released in July 2011...can't wait!
There is a Family Tree available to read...it does contain spoilers so be aware! [...]

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Amish Midwife January 23, 2011

By Laurie

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I truly could not put this book down! It grabbed my attention from the beginning and kept me in suspense until the final pages. The story line and characters were extremely well written, and the spiritual insight inspired and encouraged me! I can't wait until the next book comes out!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars strong family drama February 5, 2011

By Harriet Klausner #1 HALL OF FAME

Format:Paperback

Just outside of Aurora, Oregon, three weeks after baby number 244 is born, her dying widower adopted father informs twenty-six years old midwife Lexie Jaeger with the rest of the truth that he and his late wife concealed from her. He tells her to never forget how he and her adopted mom loved her and finally admits his Montgomery County, Pennsylvania biological maternal grandma sent her a carved box. When her beloved dad dies, Lexie looks inside the box.

After helping 245 enter the world, Lexie decides to travel to Pennsylvania to meet her birth family and learn why she was given away. She leaves behind James who she has been seeing for several years as she obsesses with a need to know her kin. In Pennsylvania, she meets the family and assists Aunt Melia the lay-midwife accused of manslaughter when her Amish patient and baby died during delivery. However, as Lexie begins to learn about her roots, she finds secrets that her biological family feels are An Inconvenient Truth. She considers leaving for home, although she knows God would expect her to forgive those who let her down as a baby.

The first Amish Clark and Gould collaboration is a strong family drama that focuses on a person's bone-marrow deep need for a specific identification in which he or she believes they belong. With action provided especially by midwife responsibilities in light of the manslaughter charge and a supporting romantic subplot, The Amish Midwife is a terrific character driven tale as Lexie learns you can and cannot go home.

Harriet Klausner