Once a Midwife: A Hope River Novel Paperback – November 6, 2018

I have really enjoyed reading the first 3 Hope River novels. The characters are so real and I can’t wait to start book 4 to see what happens with them. I don’t know what I’ll do when I finish it! I will stick with Patricia Harman’s books as I like her style of writing. Very enjoyable reading.

This is the insightful story of a young woman who chooses to be a midwife for her community in the days after WWI and before WWII. She lives in a tiny mountain community where the people are are poor and medical help non-existent locally. She, her husband, and their four children eke out a living from his small earnings and whatever she is given when she delivers a baby--usually produce, fresh meat, eggs, and occasionally a few coins. When WWII breaks out, her husband refuses to sign up for the draft since he served in WWI and had some horrendous experiences. Despite the neighbors and townspeople turning aganist them because he will not sign, he loses his job and her midwifery is all that they have to support them. The rapport between her and her husband during this time is very interesting and worth the read. Eventually, he is sent to prison because he would not sign--note he was not being drafted, just ordered, along with all able-bodied males, to sign up--he was sent to prison. Life was very difficult for her and her four children, but she kept them going with her midwifery, her garden, and whatever she could find to do. There is a bit of tedium in describing the topography and the dismal conditions and the ongoing struggle of this little family, but this instills in the reader the life that they were living. The strength of this book is in its ending which makes the reading worthwhile. I urge you to read it.

This is a truly lovely book that examines the difficulties of hate, fear, intolerance, prejudice, and our connection and responsibility to each other. This book explores what it is to hold ones ideals close even when the people you live don’t agree or can’t understand. It reminds us that the purpose of life is to be happy and to care for and love one another.Told in her easy to read and enjoyable style, Pat Harmon makes you feel at home in Hope River.

I've been a fan of this series by Patricia Harman for a while, and although it took me a few pages to reacquaint myself with Patience, I was happy to be transported to the early 1940s and life in Hope River.World War II is underway and Patience and her husband have many discussions about their viewpoints and feelings about whether the United States should be involved. She is still a practicing midwife, and as area women go into labor, she is often called to assist.Patience's friend, Bitsy, has returned to Hope River with a child she has taken in and is raising on her own, and Patience is especially grateful for the help and companionship she provides.At the forefront of this novel is the developments of World War II, and Patience's husband, Daniel's, refusal to enlist. Daniel served in World War I, and it is his experiences there that have led him to have these strong beliefs against US involvement this time. These beliefs, however, cause their family to be vulnerable to attacks from other people who don't understand or respect Daniel's position. They also leave Patience to the reality that Daniel will probably be arrested and imprisoned for a time, leaving her to handle everything alone.There is so much to love in this novel. Although this is part of the midwife series by Harman, and there are stories that truly capture that subject, this novel is more than just a story about a midwife. We are treated to a character that presents herself as real and flawed, and someone who I feel accurately depicts women in this time in our country. She is a mother. She is a midwife. She is a friend. She struggles and loves and works hard and despairs over things from time to time.Harman's novels always tie up rather well, but they also always leave me hoping that she will keep coming back to Patience again in the future. I'm crossing my fingers that this isn't the last we've seen of Patience or her family.

Sweet relaxing read. Food for thought about conscientious objectorsKind of idealistic about race relationsAnd so so so on

The book starts with the beginning of WWII, and ends a couple of years later. The center of the story is Daniel Hester being a conscientious objector and how this affects his family — especially when is jailed.

Historical fiction at its best! Enjoyable and educational. Very thought provoking. No matter your views of the world your eyes will be opened. Difficult to put down!

A heartwarming, eye opening story of love and overcoming hardships of WW11.Hope in the midst of life and deathThe writing was so beautiful I did not want the book to end.

Loved the book but you have to get the set

A great story, well told, that sometimes made me smile, sometimes made me cry and always kept me interested. Babies get delivered as always but there's a lot more to the story than that, as well as an update on familiar characters.