The latest book I'm reviewing is The Midwife's Tale by Delia Parr. It is set in Pennsylvania in 1830, where main character Widow Martha Cade works as a midwife in a small town. Her world is turned upside-down by many events, starting with her teenage daughter running off with a theater troupe. I expected this book to be a romance (just because so many of the books I review are), but this really isn't one. There is a hint of romance to it, but mainly it is just Martha's story, so the title is very apt. By the way, mentioning that it isn't a romance is in no way a negative! I really enjoyed this book. It delves deeply into Martha's life and several challenges, or "gifts," cause her to open her eyes wide to areas of her life that she didn't realize needed examining. Martha gets through all of her trials with grace and faith, and her character is well-developed and endearing. There were several times that I thought I knew where the story was heading, but I was mistaken. Several secondary characters were quite intriguing, especially Will and Samuel. This is a book about life, which often meanders in ways we don't expect, and the tale is well-told. I also appreciated the historical details, including the medical and midwifery knowledge of the day. I highly recommend this book.
I was given this book by the publisher, Bethany House, for the purpose of writing a review, but all opinions are my own.
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