The Reluctant Midwife Audiobook By Patricia Harman cover art

The Reluctant Midwife

A Hope River Novel

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The Reluctant Midwife

By: Patricia Harman
Narrated by: Heather Henderson
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The USA Today best-selling author of The Midwife of Hope River returns with a heartfelt sequel, a novel teeming with life and full of humor and warmth, one that celebrates the human spirit.

The Great Depression has hit West Virginia hard. Men are out of work; women struggle to feed hungry children. Luckily Nurse Becky Myers has returned to care for them. While she can handle most situations, Becky is still uneasy helping women deliver their babies. For these mothers-to-be, she relies on an experienced midwife, her dear friend, Patience Murphy.

Though she is happy to be back in Hope River, time and experience have tempered Becky's cheerfulness--as tragedy has destroyed the vibrant spirit of her former employer, Dr. Isaac Blum, who has accompanied her. Patience too has changed. Married and expecting a baby herself, she is relying on Becky to keep the mothers of Hope River safe.

But becoming a midwife and ushering precious new life into the world is not Becky's only challenge. Her skills and courage will be tested when a calamitous forest fire blazes through a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. And she must find a way to bring Isaac back to life and rediscover the hope they both need to go on.

Full of humor and compassion, The Reluctant Midwife is a moving tribute to the power of optimism and love to overcome the most trying circumstances and times and is sure to please fans of the poignant Call the Midwifeseries.

©2015 Patricia Harman (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Medical Tearjerking Witty Heartfelt Midwife

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The Midwife of Hope River Audiobook By Patricia Harman cover art
The Midwife of Hope River By: Patricia Harman
Engaging Storyline • Well-developed Characters • Pleasant Voice • Historical Authenticity • Heartwarming Moments
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This is one of my all-time favorite series. While the first story features Patience Murphy, the midwife, this story features Nurse Becky Myers. If you've listened to the first story, you may remember her from her small role as the home health/public health nurse with the small office in town. The Reluctant Midwife tells Becky's story after she returns to West Virginia after a short time up north, after she left to go work in Dr. Blum's private practice office. She returns with Dr. Blum in tow, now his primary caretaker, after he has suffered a tragic event that has left him disabled. Becky will come to rely on friends and neighbors around her to get back on her feet after losing everything during her time up north.

I love this story because it has a great Depression-era West Virginia setting and the characters are all fantastic. I love the way the New Deal is highlighted through Becky's time working with the CCC. It shows how hard it was for folks to get back on their feet during the Depression and how a community worked best when it was able to lean on the people within it.

This audiobook was well worth the credit that I spent on it and I'll certainly listen to it again in the future. Heather Henderson did a nice job narrating and giving a voice to Nurse Becky Myers.

One of my favorite stories.

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At first it was not very interesting but the more I listened the more I liked it it was a very good book ver

The reluctant midwife

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I didn’t want the audiobook to end.
I am downloading her next book now. I will be on the lookout for more of her books. The narrator was fantastic.

Great Audiobook

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I found the story interesting. I have dealt with children who
We’re selective mutes, but never adults.

Hard to get into at first.

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I enjoyed listening, though I wish Anne Wittman would have read the second book. Heather Henderson’s voice sounds machine-like.

Good sequel

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Life took me to Alabama but I’ll Always be a WestVirginia girl! I absolutely Loved this book! It has been in my Audible library for years just sitting there ignored over and over until this week when I decided to give it a try. What a delightful surprise! Such a great read/listen.
My parents and family grew up in WV during the same time period as the story but this author brought to life to many similar stories I’ve heard over the years in my own family.
I don’t understand the negative reviews bc I was engaged in the story lines and characters the entire time. It did take a chapter or two (chapters are brief) to get into the story but the characters soon came alive. The story line of Dr. Blum and Becky was so truthful yet heartwarming for me since I was my mothers caregiver for over 10 yrs while she progressed into dementia. I could see this as a movie complete with period appropriate wardrobe, speech, setting, etc. I had my own movie going on in my head the entire book. Narrator did an excellent job. Highly recommend!!

Wonderful!

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Exceeded my expectations, with a good look at family, friends and difficult times of our history. Give it a try

Fantastic look at history and the struggle to surv

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This book was wonderful! I enjoyed the story and the characters. I found the story easy to follow too.

Some things to mention just in case:
-There are some scenes with profanity, but it wasn’t laced throughout the entire book.
-There are a couple spots where male genitalia is discussed in a medical setting with some crude terms.
-For those who are looking for books without intense romance, I would consider this to be a good option.

Definitely worth your time!

If you don’t mind some profanity…

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It’s really good story not walking away from someone who needs you. It shows how hard life was during the great depression and how people help each other.

Never giving up on someone you care about

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very well written and well read. it was surprisingly interesting and held my attention throughout. narrator was quite good. only thing I didn't like was I felt it ended very abruptly. I do recommend it.

surprise

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