Customer Reviews

Midwife (Harlequin Historical)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of Carolyn Davidson's best - and that's saying a lot! I did something with this book that I've only done once before - after reading the last page I turned back to page one and reread the whole story. Mrs. Davidson's writing was responsible for this. She gave me just enough glimpses of Garlan and Leah's thoughts of each other to make me want to go back and relive their growing romance.
Yes, Gar, who was in an arranged marriage, was interested in Leah before his wife died, but he was loyal to his wife. Yes, Leah did notice Gar, but she was too innocent to know what she yearned for from him. No, they never approached each other because they were both honorable people. But nature and a very wise neighbor arranged for the two to be brought together.
Leah is the perfect woman for Gar Lundstrom, a fact which he soon comes to realize. She is spunky, sassy-mouthed, and loves his children as her own. So what if Gar is bossy and unbending at times? That only endeared him to me by showing that although he really wanted to be in control of his emotions, he wasn't. His flip side is a needy soul who wants what only Leah can give him. What reader can resist falling in love with a man who says "I love you" first?
The minor characters in the book are wonderfully written. The author does a wonderful job of reminding us what it's like to have a baby in the house.
Long may Carolyn Davidson write! And I can only hope she is teaching other authors to weave stories as touching and endearing as hers are, for this lady truly has the gift of storytelling.

A great story of an old profession -- THE MIDWIFE --
Garlan Lundstrom is widowed, losing his wife in childbirth, and scaring his emotions.
Unable to take care of his little daughter and still run his farm [a very taxing life] and care for his young son, Gar seeks out Leah Gunderson to care for his little Karen.

Leah developed an all encompising love for the Lundstrom children and had a wary respect for their father. But what would happen when this stalwart farmer learned the horrible secret that had sent her on the run?

Gar expected to get a biddable wife and mother for his children when he decided to offer marriage. Leah's spirited presence and sometimes ungovernable sass lightened his dark and lonely existence and her womanly virtues tempted him to regret his decision not to bed her. [Oh, what a frustrating mistake!]

Leah brought Gar many delightful surprises - many restless nights and became the "woman of his heart".

And finally some blondes on a cover that do justice to the story.
Delightful phrasing and a good look at the times, 1892 in Minnesota -- great characters - especiallly Eric Magnor.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - a great addition to your library!

Davidson never fails to bring her readers to a magical time in history when tough women survived the odds! This book was so heart-warming. It is a great read. It will stay on the keeper shelf for years to come!

I picked up the sample and was hooked enough to buy it and words can't fully describe how happy I am that I did. I'm ever the skeptic on books with 100% glowing reviews because my taste always seems to be the polar opposite on books like that with the few rare occasions where it's not.

The Midwife is one of those rare occasions.

Leah Gunderson is a widow living in Kirby Falls, MN. Throughout town she's known as the Widow Gunderson and the local wash woman, but in addition to that she's known for her medicine man like skills. Through the grapevine in secret it's known that she's also skilled as a midwife. On a winter night, Gar Lundstrom comes to Leah begging for her help in delivering his baby. The town doctor refuses to come after warning Gar and his wife Hulda after their last stillbirth that she shouldn't be carrying anymore children.

With a breech birth imminent Leah has to make the decision to do a caesarian or both mother and child will die. Although Hulda's death is a sure thing with or without it due to the blood loss. Gar blames Leah for the death of his wife naturally.

Weeks later, Gar comes to Leah in the middle of the night with his daughter Karen in his arms. As a farmer and a man he has no idea how to take care of a newborn and with his farm being a full time job it's impossible for him to do it alone. Guilt tripping Leah, he convinces he to care for baby Karen for the first 6 months of her life until she's a bit more self sufficient as a baby and until he can get a full time, live in housekeeper to help him with Karen and his son.

After 6 months, Leah is in love with baby Karen and feels like her mother since in reality she is Karen's mother being the only women the baby's ever known. After exhausting his options, Gar realizes that Leah would be the best choice for a live in housekeeper but as his wife as well. Still bitter with Leah over Hulda's death and telling her she owes him and taking on his own guilt he asks her to marry him and she agrees.

I couldn't help but love both Leah and Gar. He's cold and hard but he's just a man living in the wild colds of Minnesota who only knows about farming and little about family and love. That is until Leah and comes his wife and shows just how much she loves his children. The two of them eventually accept both parts of their guilt over Hulda's death and becomes friends then lovers slowly then without an fanfare they realize that they've been in love from the beginning.

But Leah has many secrets that are slowly unraveling. I admired Gar's patience and acceptance of Leah's secrets. When he learns of the first he's understanding and in shock but pleased. But then the big one starts to rear its head and when Leah is reluctant to confess but confides in another Gar's jealously starts to show. But is Leah's confidant really a threat to her marriage or not? The minute her confidant came into the picture I had a hunch about his identity but no one else did.

Overall, I loved the pacing. From beginning to end there was no idiotic big misunderstanding and no stupid and annoying hero or heroine, just two flawed people who really love each other and grow to trust one another. Leah and Gar have a true, developing relationship that grows to love and never feels fake.

Take it from one VERY picky reader when I say you won't be disappointed in this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The love scenes were poetically written and, although I didn't quite get into the Swedish male MC at first, I was loving him by the end. His comment about how married couples should treat their time in the bedroom was touching, and it was good advice as well. The only thing I didn't like was that the plot was predictable in places and seemed to falter and lose steam near the end [I found the back and forth to town over her legal issue to be confusing rather than intriguing - esp. when she seemed to forget all about it after returning home.], but it did pick back up. All in all, a good book.

THIS HOtttt.. LOVE STORY MELT MY HEART SRINGS TO PUTTY!
WITHIN THIS LOVE STORY'S Lifeline.. IT DOESNT MATTER HOW MANY DAYS IT TOOK ROME TO BE BUILT CAUSE THIS STORY MOVED ALONG FAST AND THE LOVE WAS SWEETTTT TILL THE LAST DROP. I'll never forget this treasure called: THE MIDWIFE!It was indeed an endearing pleasure to have read.
Ms.Davidson Iam sold also Iam a new found fan. You (((rock))) Carolyn Davidson!!!!

Carolyn Davidson writes about love with beauty and grace. The Widwife is another wonderful story from a talented author. You cheer for the characters from the first page, swept along in their growing love for each other--I could not put the book down and you won't be able to either.