The Midwife's Dilemma

It is April 19!  I looked up some events that happened on this day and three of them were absolutely horrible (bombings and killings). We see enough of that on the news (newspaper, online, and in person).  Did you know that . . .  the Revolutionary War began on this day in 1775, the first running of the Boston Marathon in 1897, Marie Antoinette married King Louis XVI of France in a proxy wedding in 1770 (proxy weddings were common for royalty at that time), Mae West (I just loved her) is sentenced to ten days in jail for obscenity for her play Sex in 1927, and in 1956 Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier of Monaco.  

The Midwife’s Dilemma by Delia Parr is the third book in the At Home in Trinity series.  Martha Cade lives in Trinity, Pennsylvania in 1831.  She has been alone the last few months since Fern and Ivy Lynn left town to take care of personal business.  Thomas Dillon (who wishes to marry Martha) went as their escort.  Martha’s daughter, Victoria has been helping Aunt Hilda (not really a relative).  Martha suffered a terrible loss when her horse, Grace died recently.  Martha used Grace to get to her midwife appointments and birthing (she was also who she talked to).  Martha now has to rely on other people for transportation.  Thomas, Fern, and Ivy finally return home and they bring Jane Trew and her daughter, Cassie with them (new project).  Jane is hiding a secret, but no one wishes to pry.  Thomas now wishes for a decision from Martha.  Will she or won’t she marry him?  It is not an easy decision, because Martha knows she would not be able to continue her practice.  Martha needed to find someone to replace her if she decides to marry Thomas.  Martha also has to deal with her daughter, Victoria’s new romance.  Victoria has been seeing Dr. Benjamin McMillan (without her mother’s knowledge).  Now they wish to get married (and want Martha’s permission).  So many decisions for Martha.  Will she make the right ones?  Join us in The Midwife’s Dilemma to see what is happening in Trinity and if Martha makes the right choices.

The Midwife’s Dilemma was not as good as the first book in the series.  This book was mostly Martha trying to decide whether or not to get married (I am not kidding).  Martha goes back and forth on her decision, lamenting the loss of her horse (and not willing to accept anyone’s help on getting a new one), and upset that her daughter wants to marry her enemy (Dr. McMillan).  I, personally, did not understand what Thomas saw in Martha (I kept hoping the guy would land someone more decisive and appealing).  The Midwife’s Dilemma is nicely written and easy to read.  The Christian theme is very prevalent throughout the book.  I just felt that this book was an add-on (that was not needed).   Martha has really been trying to make up her mind this whole time (through the whole series).  The Midwife’s Dilemma is really not a stand-alone book.  You need to read the previous books in order to understand everything that is going on in this book.  I give The Midwife’s Dilemma 3 out of 5 stars.  The book does have a sweet ending that wraps up all the storylines nicely.

The first two books in the At Home in Trinity series are The Midwife's Tale (my favorite in the series) and The Midwife's Choice.  I received a complimentary copy of The Midwife’s Dilemma from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.  If you have time, please make sure to leave a review of the books you read.  They do not have to be long, but they make a big difference to authors (and, ultimately, us).  

I am off to pick up more leaves and do some painting (things for the house).  I sincerely hope all of you have a special day.  Stay safe, take care, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

P.S.  In case you are wondering I am still reading That Darkness by Lisa Black.  I couldn't handle more of it last night, so I started reading Berry the Hatchet by Peg Cochran (which is wonderful) and finished Tiffany Girl by Deanne Gist (which is a long drawn out romance novel).   That Darkness reads more like non-fiction or a police procedural manual than a fiction book.