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Hope River #3
Once a Midwife
Welcome back to Hope River in New York Times bestselling author Patricia Harman’s newest novel as midwife Patience Hester, along with her family and friends, face the challenges of the home front during World War II.
The women of Hope River trust midwife Patience Hester, whose skill in delivering babies is known for miles around. But though the Great Depression is behind them, troubles are not, for Europe is at war…and it can only be a matter of time before the U.S. enters the fray.
And while some are eager to join the fight, Patience’s husband, Daniel, is not. Daniel is a patriot—but he saw too much bloodshed during the first World War, and has vowed never to take up arms again.
His stance leaves Patience and their four children vulnerable—to the neighbors who might judge them, and to the government, who imprison Daniel for his beliefs.
Patience must support their family and fight for her husband’s release despite her own misgivings. And with need greater than ever, she must also keep her practice running during this tumultuous time…relying on generous friends, like Bitsy, who has returned to Hope River, stalwart neighbors, and her own indomitable strength to see them all through.
The women of Hope River trust midwife Patience Hester, whose skill in delivering babies is known for miles around. But though the Great Depression is behind them, troubles are not, for Europe is at war…and it can only be a matter of time before the U.S. enters the fray.
And while some are eager to join the fight, Patience’s husband, Daniel, is not. Daniel is a patriot—but he saw too much bloodshed during the first World War, and has vowed never to take up arms again.
His stance leaves Patience and their four children vulnerable—to the neighbors who might judge them, and to the government, who imprison Daniel for his beliefs.
Patience must support their family and fight for her husband’s release despite her own misgivings. And with need greater than ever, she must also keep her practice running during this tumultuous time…relying on generous friends, like Bitsy, who has returned to Hope River, stalwart neighbors, and her own indomitable strength to see them all through.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2018
548 people are currently reading
4100 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Harman
15 books653 followersPatricia Harman has spent over thirty years caring for women as a midwife, first as a lay-midwife, delivering babies in cabins and on communal farms in West Virginia, and later as a nurse-midwife in teaching hospitals and in a community hospital birthing center.
She spent over a decade in the sixties and seventies in her wild youth living in rural communes in Washington (Tolstoy Farm), Connecticut (The Committee for Non-Violent Action) and Minnesota (Free Folk). During the Vietnam years, she and her husband, Tom Harman, traveled the country, often hitch-hiking, as they looked for a place to settle. In 1974 they purchased a farm with a group of like-minded friends on top of a ridge in Roane County, West Virginia. Here on the commune, they built log houses, dug a pond, grew and preserved their own food and started the Growing Tree Natural Foods Cooperative.
It was during this time that Patsy attended her first home birth, more or less by accident. "Some people are destined," she has written. "I was staying at a woman friend's commune when she went into labor and I ended up delivering my first baby." Soon after, Harman traveled to Austin, Texas to train with a collective of home-birth midwives. When she returned, she became one of the founding members of The West Virginia Cooperative of Midwives. Her passion for caring for women and babies led her to become an RN as the first step in getting licensed as certified nurse midwife. In 1985, with her children, a yowling cat and her husband she traveled north, pulling a broken down trailer to begin her training at the University of Minnesota where she received her MSN in Nurse-Midwifery.
For the past twenty years, Ms. Harman has been a nurse-midwife on the faculty of The Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University and most recently West Virginia University. In 1998 she went into private practice with her husband, Tom, an OB/Gyn, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Here they devoted their lives to caring for women and bringing babies into the world in a gentle way.
When, in 2003, the cost of liability insurance for Obstetrics sky-rocketed from $70,000 a year to $110,000, the Harman's decided to give up deliveries. Though many loyal patients grieved the loss of their favorite mid-wife/physician team, the change in life style gave the author time to begin writing her first book, The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir.
Patricia Harman still lives and works with her husband, Ob/Gyn Thomas Harman, in Morgantown, West Virginia at their clinic, Partners in Women's Health Care. Though she no longer attends births, she provides care for women in early pregnancy and through-out the life span. She brings to this work the same dedication and compassion she brought to obstetrics."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
January 24, 2020
Rated 4.5 - ONCE A MIDWIFE continues Patience Hester’s life as a midwife, as well as wife and mother in rural West Virginia, when America fought for freedom in WWII. So many interesting things happen to this family in an era that might be forgotten without novels such as this. I loved reading about rolling bandages for the Red Cross as much as learning to square dance.
Author Patricia Harman makes it all come alive with people’s hearts, prayer, and unforgettable settings. I love the way Harman sets a scene. All the characters have their thoughts on the Pearl Harbor tragedy, and even though they’re distant from where it occurred, the way people reacted in that time period is so realistic. We tend to forget what social media has done to how we face news. Looking back is so fascinating. And the midwife focus is so good.
Patience’s veteran husband, Dan, becomes a pacifist during the draft and refuses to sign up. This adds good tension from all sides of the story. How his family looks at him, and how the community responds, is familiar and chilling at the same time. Where did our freedom to choose go? It made me angry for his sake, but I felt his wife’s and family’s quandary as well.
There are moments of heartbreak and joy in this family’s story, but mostly it’s about Patience and her ability to endure everything that’s thrown at her with eventual love and understanding. Her struggles are realistic and heartfelt.
While reading this book, I finally realized how close to home this war came to us. I get why my grandparents taught me to stock a pantry. The Great Depression and WWII put many stressors on families. Just the black-out nights had to be terrifying for the children, let alone their fear of starvation and so many other things.
My only criticism is that the book is both too long and too short. When it ended – I wanted more, even though the end was satisfying. But yet again, sometimes while reading, I wanted less. That’s because we experience the characters’ lives through Patience Hester’s point-of-view, then she rehashes a day’s event in a journal entry.
That sometimes felt like duplication and a good place to trim the book’s page-length, even though those journal entries gave me insight into Patience’s hope and fear. After all, it took me over a month to read this book, because it wasn’t easy to read cover-to-cover in one sitting. I had to take breaks with faster-reading books in-between. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it, because I most certainly did – it’s just the type of book that I need to read in portions.
That also doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy the detail, quite the contrary – I relished it. It’s just that some of the repetition seemed to slow the pacing that my reader anxiety wanted to speed up. I’m not quite as patient as Patience.
Even with that minor quibble, I could read a steady diet of Patricia Harman’s novels. They truly relax me and take me down-home to a place and people I love in one of my favorite places to vacation, West Virginia.
Even though this is the third book in the HOPE RIVER series, I feel strongly that new readers can settle into it fairly easy. I read and enjoyed the first book, THE MIDWIFE OF HOPE RIVER., but skipped the second one. This novel jogged my memory enough about what happened in the first book, even though it has been five years since I read it.
Because Romance Junkies is a romance review site, I need to make a point that this book isn’t Historical Romance, but classified better as Historical Fiction with romance elements. The main couple in the book are a man and wife who love one another but struggle throughout this book with their differing views on WWII. Their struggles are just like any couple’s, giving beautiful insight into what it means to truly love someone until death do you part. And yes, there is a HEA, so you don’t have to fear for your heart.
Page 115 made me smile when Patience talked about going through her seed catalogs when the February winter blues got to her. I had just been doing the very same thing an hour before I read that. It’s nice to know some things haven’t changed with progress and the digital age. At least for some of us.
What an endeavor! After 487 pages, I realized what a huge accomplishment this book is for the author. Much of it contains a daily journal entry by Patience, in addition to the myriad of things that happened to her and her family and friends. That’s a lot of ideas, filled with intricate historical detail that makes this book so special.
If you want to step back in time with the brave spirit of this country’s pioneers, this book will give you that and more. Even though it was the 1940s, and more modern than actual pioneer days, they still did much of everything for themselves in rural America when wartime rationed most purchases. If you couldn’t make it or grow it, you did without.
A good story, ONCE A MIDWIFE takes you back to a wholesome America that struggled, while reminding you of the value of a life well-lived. Fans of the HOPE RIVER series will enjoy reconnecting with characters they’ve loved. For those who love Christmas stories, this novel is rich with detail about what this holiday was like in the 1940s.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Print copy provided by the author for an honest review.
Author Patricia Harman makes it all come alive with people’s hearts, prayer, and unforgettable settings. I love the way Harman sets a scene. All the characters have their thoughts on the Pearl Harbor tragedy, and even though they’re distant from where it occurred, the way people reacted in that time period is so realistic. We tend to forget what social media has done to how we face news. Looking back is so fascinating. And the midwife focus is so good.
Patience’s veteran husband, Dan, becomes a pacifist during the draft and refuses to sign up. This adds good tension from all sides of the story. How his family looks at him, and how the community responds, is familiar and chilling at the same time. Where did our freedom to choose go? It made me angry for his sake, but I felt his wife’s and family’s quandary as well.
There are moments of heartbreak and joy in this family’s story, but mostly it’s about Patience and her ability to endure everything that’s thrown at her with eventual love and understanding. Her struggles are realistic and heartfelt.
While reading this book, I finally realized how close to home this war came to us. I get why my grandparents taught me to stock a pantry. The Great Depression and WWII put many stressors on families. Just the black-out nights had to be terrifying for the children, let alone their fear of starvation and so many other things.
My only criticism is that the book is both too long and too short. When it ended – I wanted more, even though the end was satisfying. But yet again, sometimes while reading, I wanted less. That’s because we experience the characters’ lives through Patience Hester’s point-of-view, then she rehashes a day’s event in a journal entry.
That sometimes felt like duplication and a good place to trim the book’s page-length, even though those journal entries gave me insight into Patience’s hope and fear. After all, it took me over a month to read this book, because it wasn’t easy to read cover-to-cover in one sitting. I had to take breaks with faster-reading books in-between. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it, because I most certainly did – it’s just the type of book that I need to read in portions.
That also doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy the detail, quite the contrary – I relished it. It’s just that some of the repetition seemed to slow the pacing that my reader anxiety wanted to speed up. I’m not quite as patient as Patience.
Even with that minor quibble, I could read a steady diet of Patricia Harman’s novels. They truly relax me and take me down-home to a place and people I love in one of my favorite places to vacation, West Virginia.
Even though this is the third book in the HOPE RIVER series, I feel strongly that new readers can settle into it fairly easy. I read and enjoyed the first book, THE MIDWIFE OF HOPE RIVER., but skipped the second one. This novel jogged my memory enough about what happened in the first book, even though it has been five years since I read it.
Because Romance Junkies is a romance review site, I need to make a point that this book isn’t Historical Romance, but classified better as Historical Fiction with romance elements. The main couple in the book are a man and wife who love one another but struggle throughout this book with their differing views on WWII. Their struggles are just like any couple’s, giving beautiful insight into what it means to truly love someone until death do you part. And yes, there is a HEA, so you don’t have to fear for your heart.
Page 115 made me smile when Patience talked about going through her seed catalogs when the February winter blues got to her. I had just been doing the very same thing an hour before I read that. It’s nice to know some things haven’t changed with progress and the digital age. At least for some of us.
What an endeavor! After 487 pages, I realized what a huge accomplishment this book is for the author. Much of it contains a daily journal entry by Patience, in addition to the myriad of things that happened to her and her family and friends. That’s a lot of ideas, filled with intricate historical detail that makes this book so special.
If you want to step back in time with the brave spirit of this country’s pioneers, this book will give you that and more. Even though it was the 1940s, and more modern than actual pioneer days, they still did much of everything for themselves in rural America when wartime rationed most purchases. If you couldn’t make it or grow it, you did without.
A good story, ONCE A MIDWIFE takes you back to a wholesome America that struggled, while reminding you of the value of a life well-lived. Fans of the HOPE RIVER series will enjoy reconnecting with characters they’ve loved. For those who love Christmas stories, this novel is rich with detail about what this holiday was like in the 1940s.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Print copy provided by the author for an honest review.
January 11, 2019
I was excited to get reacquainted with Patience Hester after reading the first two books in the Hope River series. Set during WWII, the family faces challenges in their marriage and in their community. Patience's husband, Daniel, having fought in WWI is unwilling to register for the draft. After the fighting and brutality he experienced he vowed to never take up arms again. Patience wants to support Daniel but sees the need to fight against the tyranny of Hitler and the Japanese, causing conflict between them.
Patience is grateful for the support of her good friend Bitsy, who had recently returned to Hope River. Bitsy, when able, also assists Patience in her duties as a midwife.
Patience is far from perfect, but she imbraces her role as midwife, friend, mother and wife. The novel addresses the sacrifices made during the war, life in a small town and the joys and sorrows of family.
Though this is book three of a series, could easily be read without reading the first two books.
4.5 stars
Patience is grateful for the support of her good friend Bitsy, who had recently returned to Hope River. Bitsy, when able, also assists Patience in her duties as a midwife.
Patience is far from perfect, but she imbraces her role as midwife, friend, mother and wife. The novel addresses the sacrifices made during the war, life in a small town and the joys and sorrows of family.
Though this is book three of a series, could easily be read without reading the first two books.
4.5 stars
January 29, 2019
I listened to this and almost gave up a dozen times. The narrator has a pleasant enough voice...except when she sings, and I swear that half of the book was made up of songs. Putting that aside, Ms. Harman was trying WAY too hard to make a political statement by tying things from WW2 to the news of today. It didn't work. And the conflict between Patience and Daniel was done in a heavy-handed way in some parts and barely skimmed over in others. I liked the previous books but I doubt that I'll be reading/listening to another by this author.
October 19, 2019
The Hope River Series continues to be one of my favorites and I have waited impatiently for this third installment for what feels like ages. When I received a review copy from the publisher, I was THRILLED because I wanted to see how Patience and Daniel, Becky and Isaac were doing in Union County, West Virginia.
Once A Midwife picks up in November 1941, which is about 5-6 years after The Reluctant Midwife. What will eventually be known as World War II is brewing and everyone in the community is talking about it. Most are eager for the US to become involved and help rid the world of tyranny and then there is Daniel Hester, Patience's husband. Daniel served in World War I and while he was a hero, the things that he saw and did left an impression on him that he cannot shake. He has sworn that he will never participate in war again and he absolutely means this.
The community forms clubs and groups dedicated to patriotic service but Daniels declines any participation at all. This of course makes people talk and also unfortunately causes friction in his otherwise happy marriage. When Daniel refuses to register for the draft, the law becomes involved and soon Daniel's wife and children begin paying for his unpopular beliefs.
And then Daniel goes to prison.
I won't beat around the bush here: Once A Midwife was much harder for me to read the the previous two books in this series. This one doesn't have the friends-helping-friends vibe that I loved from the two earlier books set during the Great Depression, where the community had to band together or go without and starve. In this book, there was quite a bit of dissension, disagreement, and ill treatment of people with different beliefs and politics, and because Daniel and Patience were on the receiving end of that, it was tough for me to read. I love these two. I've followed them across two books previous to this one and over more than a decade of trials, tribulations, and very happy times. So to see them suffer over anything at this point makes me hurt, regardless of belief and politics.
HOWEVER, I had honestly never heard of the term "conscientious objector" before. So to learn that is what Daniel technically is fascinated me. ONCE AGAIN, Patricia Harman gave me this and a ton of other things to learn all about while I was reading. (I love that this series introduces me to parts of history that I otherwise didn't know.) For example, I had also never heard of the Double V campaign.
As far as birthing and midwifery, which has played a large role in the first two books: Patience is still a midwife, but she is practicing so very little now. Perhaps this is because people are not wanting to use her services because of her husband's beliefs or perhaps people have moved on to preferring hospitals over midwifery services at this point in history. Either way, there are only a few birthing scenes in this book. Drastically fewer than in the previous books and perhaps this is why the book is titled what it is.
It wouldn't be a Hope River book without tackling a few other pertinent issues of the time. In particular, I enjoyed the glimpse of how people in this place, during this time, viewed interracial couples and mixed race children.
I love these characters SO MUCH and I love this little close-knit community. I so, so appreciate the continued peek into their lives, even as history has moved from the Great Depression into the World War II-era. But I'm hoping for another installment after this one. Even though this book does end on a good note, I would love to spend more time with Daniel and Patience under less stressful, more happy circumstances. And I would love to spend some more time with Isaac and Becky, who less page time here than I had hoped for. (I am thankful for Bitsy Proudfoot's space on the page. Love her!)
Like the others, this book can certainly stand alone. But I would highly recommend that readers start at the beginning of this series to see Daniel and Patience in their true element, when they are most themselves and happy, so they'll fully understand why this period of their lives is so difficult for them and so they'll know all of the colorful cast of characters as well as I do. They are all so wonderful.
GOOD GOLLY this is one of my favorite series. I know I keep saying that in each review, on every media platform where I review and talk about these books. This one isn't my very favorite of the series, but that's because I love the Depression-era Union County community spirit so much and because I generally like reading about World War II less than the Depression. Either way, this is good stuff right here and I want more please!
Audiobook Notes: In the first book, which was told from Patience's point-of-view, there was a different narrator (Anne Wittman). In this installment, Tavia Gilbert narrates. She does a good job and I enjoyed the audiobook very much, but I always wonder why narrators are switched mid-series when the POV's remain the same. If I could offer one critique, I would say that the voice used for Bitsy Proudfoot threw me off every time Bitsy spoke. Her character just doesn't strike me as loud or brash as she was portrayed in this audiobook, so every time she spoke, it pulled me out of the story until her scenes were finished.
Overall, I did enjoy this audio tremendously and I will certainly listen again with future rereads. It was totally worth the credit that I spent on it and I would recommend it to others that are interested.
Title: Once A Midwife by Patricia Harman
Series: Hope River #3
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
Publisher: HarperAudio
Length: 11 hours, 10 minutes, Unabridged
Note: Since I have audiobooks for the previous two books in this series and the audiobook is already published at the time of my blog tour review post, I purchased my own audiobook copy of this book with my own money from Audible so I could alternate listening and reading my print copy, as I have previously done with other titles in this series.
I received a paperback finished copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I purchased an audiobook copy of this book with my own money from Audible, Inc. Receipt of the complimentary copy does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
Once A Midwife picks up in November 1941, which is about 5-6 years after The Reluctant Midwife. What will eventually be known as World War II is brewing and everyone in the community is talking about it. Most are eager for the US to become involved and help rid the world of tyranny and then there is Daniel Hester, Patience's husband. Daniel served in World War I and while he was a hero, the things that he saw and did left an impression on him that he cannot shake. He has sworn that he will never participate in war again and he absolutely means this.
The community forms clubs and groups dedicated to patriotic service but Daniels declines any participation at all. This of course makes people talk and also unfortunately causes friction in his otherwise happy marriage. When Daniel refuses to register for the draft, the law becomes involved and soon Daniel's wife and children begin paying for his unpopular beliefs.
And then Daniel goes to prison.
I won't beat around the bush here: Once A Midwife was much harder for me to read the the previous two books in this series. This one doesn't have the friends-helping-friends vibe that I loved from the two earlier books set during the Great Depression, where the community had to band together or go without and starve. In this book, there was quite a bit of dissension, disagreement, and ill treatment of people with different beliefs and politics, and because Daniel and Patience were on the receiving end of that, it was tough for me to read. I love these two. I've followed them across two books previous to this one and over more than a decade of trials, tribulations, and very happy times. So to see them suffer over anything at this point makes me hurt, regardless of belief and politics.
HOWEVER, I had honestly never heard of the term "conscientious objector" before. So to learn that is what Daniel technically is fascinated me. ONCE AGAIN, Patricia Harman gave me this and a ton of other things to learn all about while I was reading. (I love that this series introduces me to parts of history that I otherwise didn't know.) For example, I had also never heard of the Double V campaign.
As far as birthing and midwifery, which has played a large role in the first two books: Patience is still a midwife, but she is practicing so very little now. Perhaps this is because people are not wanting to use her services because of her husband's beliefs or perhaps people have moved on to preferring hospitals over midwifery services at this point in history. Either way, there are only a few birthing scenes in this book. Drastically fewer than in the previous books and perhaps this is why the book is titled what it is.
It wouldn't be a Hope River book without tackling a few other pertinent issues of the time. In particular, I enjoyed the glimpse of how people in this place, during this time, viewed interracial couples and mixed race children.
I love these characters SO MUCH and I love this little close-knit community. I so, so appreciate the continued peek into their lives, even as history has moved from the Great Depression into the World War II-era. But I'm hoping for another installment after this one. Even though this book does end on a good note, I would love to spend more time with Daniel and Patience under less stressful, more happy circumstances. And I would love to spend some more time with Isaac and Becky, who less page time here than I had hoped for. (I am thankful for Bitsy Proudfoot's space on the page. Love her!)
Like the others, this book can certainly stand alone. But I would highly recommend that readers start at the beginning of this series to see Daniel and Patience in their true element, when they are most themselves and happy, so they'll fully understand why this period of their lives is so difficult for them and so they'll know all of the colorful cast of characters as well as I do. They are all so wonderful.
GOOD GOLLY this is one of my favorite series. I know I keep saying that in each review, on every media platform where I review and talk about these books. This one isn't my very favorite of the series, but that's because I love the Depression-era Union County community spirit so much and because I generally like reading about World War II less than the Depression. Either way, this is good stuff right here and I want more please!
Audiobook Notes: In the first book, which was told from Patience's point-of-view, there was a different narrator (Anne Wittman). In this installment, Tavia Gilbert narrates. She does a good job and I enjoyed the audiobook very much, but I always wonder why narrators are switched mid-series when the POV's remain the same. If I could offer one critique, I would say that the voice used for Bitsy Proudfoot threw me off every time Bitsy spoke. Her character just doesn't strike me as loud or brash as she was portrayed in this audiobook, so every time she spoke, it pulled me out of the story until her scenes were finished.
Overall, I did enjoy this audio tremendously and I will certainly listen again with future rereads. It was totally worth the credit that I spent on it and I would recommend it to others that are interested.
Title: Once A Midwife by Patricia Harman
Series: Hope River #3
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
Publisher: HarperAudio
Length: 11 hours, 10 minutes, Unabridged
Note: Since I have audiobooks for the previous two books in this series and the audiobook is already published at the time of my blog tour review post, I purchased my own audiobook copy of this book with my own money from Audible so I could alternate listening and reading my print copy, as I have previously done with other titles in this series.
I received a paperback finished copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I purchased an audiobook copy of this book with my own money from Audible, Inc. Receipt of the complimentary copy does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
January 18, 2019
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and found this to be lacking. The flashbacks to the previous book used whole passages verbatim and I'm not sure why an editor allowed that to happen. The main character, Patience, lacked the charm she'd possessed in the first book. I still enjoyed the historical qualities, but it feels much more forced than the first book in the series. There was also less midwifery and the book was less enjoyable without it. Some of the character development and plot elements felt unrealistic. The settings and atmospherics were the best of the book here.
September 17, 2018
3.5 rounded up.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy.
This is the 3rd book in the Hope River series that I have read. Midwife Patience is married and has 4 children. The story begins at the beginning of WW2 and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This book is more about the war and it’s effects on Patience and her family than the previous books about midwifery. It is a bit longer too at nearly 500 pages. I enjoyed this book, and I felt that it got better as it went along. Patience learned through her trials that she had strength and a community of treasured friends.
This can easily be read as a stand alone book if the first two books in the series haven’t been read.
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy.
This is the 3rd book in the Hope River series that I have read. Midwife Patience is married and has 4 children. The story begins at the beginning of WW2 and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This book is more about the war and it’s effects on Patience and her family than the previous books about midwifery. It is a bit longer too at nearly 500 pages. I enjoyed this book, and I felt that it got better as it went along. Patience learned through her trials that she had strength and a community of treasured friends.
This can easily be read as a stand alone book if the first two books in the series haven’t been read.
November 21, 2018
I loved the first two books in this series, so much so that I preordered this one and leapt on it as soon as it came out. The premise is so great: a midwife in a very small southern town in the 1940s, dealing with difficult births, racism, politics, and human drama.
But I'm sorry to say this book has lost a little steam. It's not as in-depth; for example, the baby births are more like, "I helped Mrs. Smith deliver a set of twins today," rather than "I arrived at the Smith's farmhouse to find her husband signalling me wildly from the porch." Also, many interesting scenes are glossed over and told in retrospective dialogue (see highlights).
This story is mostly about a frustrated Patience reacting to her husband's pacifism in the face of WWII. There is less happening in this book, more weather and waiting. It picks up in the second half, and I still appreciate the setting and premise. But if there's going to be a book 4, I'd suggest going back to Patience as the driver of the story, and take the time to get into the various scenes instead of telling us about them after the fact.
But I'm sorry to say this book has lost a little steam. It's not as in-depth; for example, the baby births are more like, "I helped Mrs. Smith deliver a set of twins today," rather than "I arrived at the Smith's farmhouse to find her husband signalling me wildly from the porch." Also, many interesting scenes are glossed over and told in retrospective dialogue (see highlights).
This story is mostly about a frustrated Patience reacting to her husband's pacifism in the face of WWII. There is less happening in this book, more weather and waiting. It picks up in the second half, and I still appreciate the setting and premise. But if there's going to be a book 4, I'd suggest going back to Patience as the driver of the story, and take the time to get into the various scenes instead of telling us about them after the fact.
May 16, 2020
I read and enjoyed the first two books in this series. Since the setting was during the Depression Era, they reminded me of the 70’s show The Walton’s, but a bit on the darker, grittier side.
When I reached the third book I was already excited to read it because the setting was during WW2, my favorite period to read about. Once A Midwife turned out to be even more excellent than I expected. It is a book rich with period details about being on the homefront in West Virginia while the World War rages.
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg, 167)-“Friendly as anything, the five children lay in the grass laughing and looking up at the sky. If only real war were like this. No blood. No lifeless bodies carried away on stretchers. No mothers’ cries of grief.”
When I reached the third book I was already excited to read it because the setting was during WW2, my favorite period to read about. Once A Midwife turned out to be even more excellent than I expected. It is a book rich with period details about being on the homefront in West Virginia while the World War rages.
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg, 167)-“Friendly as anything, the five children lay in the grass laughing and looking up at the sky. If only real war were like this. No blood. No lifeless bodies carried away on stretchers. No mothers’ cries of grief.”
October 9, 2020
Patience Hester is a farm wife, mother and midwife in the small town of Hope River, WV, as World War Two breaks out. Life in Hope River was already hard at the tail end of the Depression, and it gets harder as local boys leave for war, strange weather repeatedly endangers the town, and Patience's husband Dan unexpectedly takes a stand against the draft.
I didn't feel that this book was very well-written. Lots of information awkwardly put into dialog that could more smoothly have been conveyed to the reader in exposition. The plot wasn't very tight; it sprawled into a lot of dead ends. For example, the incident with Patience and the bear had to no bearing on anything else and could have been left out. Too many characters and too much going on to keep track of. And the prose is pretty plodding and pedestrian.
But I had to at least give this book three stars for two reasons. First, the setting in time and place is very well done. I could easily imagine myself in Hope River in 1942. Second, Patience and her neighbors are such likable characters, very warm and relatable, and I loved how they supported each other - for the most part. If there weren't some conflicts, there wouldn't be a story would there?
So, even though I thought the writing left a lot to be desired, I would read other books in this series.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Author of The Saint's Mistress: http://camcatpub.com/thesaintsmistress
I didn't feel that this book was very well-written. Lots of information awkwardly put into dialog that could more smoothly have been conveyed to the reader in exposition. The plot wasn't very tight; it sprawled into a lot of dead ends. For example, the incident with Patience and the bear had to no bearing on anything else and could have been left out. Too many characters and too much going on to keep track of. And the prose is pretty plodding and pedestrian.
But I had to at least give this book three stars for two reasons. First, the setting in time and place is very well done. I could easily imagine myself in Hope River in 1942. Second, Patience and her neighbors are such likable characters, very warm and relatable, and I loved how they supported each other - for the most part. If there weren't some conflicts, there wouldn't be a story would there?
So, even though I thought the writing left a lot to be desired, I would read other books in this series.
Like my reviews? Check out my blog at http://www.kathrynbashaar.com/blog/
Author of The Saint's Mistress: http://camcatpub.com/thesaintsmistress
September 3, 2018
I got this book through the goodreads giveaway. It is the Third of a series of the "Hope River" This one takes place as the war in Europe is starting. Patience is a mid wife and continues to deliver babies in her area. Her husband is the local Veterenerian. He has already fought in World War one and has vowed to never fight in combat again. When he is told to sign up for the draft he refuses more pressure to join comes and he will not go to war considering himself a pacifist. The family is harassed and judged and the Dan the spouse is eventually jailed for his refusal. This book takes place over a year and a half. since it is a third book of the series, there are references to the other two books but it is still easy enough to follow this book without reading the other two. A pretty good read. For those who have read the first two books will probably like this third installment.
February 1, 2019
My ears “read” this book, via an audiobook and to be quite honest, this was a horrible story to listen to. I have never experienced a book like this, one which the author feels the need to add so many songs into their story. Not just mention of a song that the characters may be singing or listening to, but actually verse upon verse of dozens of songs. Perhaps reading this book, it would not have been as irritTing, but listening to the narrator sing was aggravating beyond belief.
Truly not sure why I continued listening? But once so many hours are already invested, you want to finish the story and not leave it undone. Would I recommend this as an audiobook??? A resounding NO!!! In print format....possibly. But wasn’t overly thrilled with the book on a whole.
Truly not sure why I continued listening? But once so many hours are already invested, you want to finish the story and not leave it undone. Would I recommend this as an audiobook??? A resounding NO!!! In print format....possibly. But wasn’t overly thrilled with the book on a whole.
September 10, 2018
During the war years 1940-1945 Patience Hester shares her experiences of midwifery, mother, wife and homemaker in the Hope river area.
Her husband Daniel, takes a stand for his beliefs.
I won this Free book though Goodreads First-Reads.
Thankyou Goodreads for sending me this heartwarming book.
Her husband Daniel, takes a stand for his beliefs.
I won this Free book though Goodreads First-Reads.
Thankyou Goodreads for sending me this heartwarming book.
September 3, 2018
I wept so many times in this book; for joy and for heartache. People's lives are hard and become much harder after our country's entry into World War II. There's rationing and a lack of strong young men to do manual labor and to help raise their families.
Daniel is a pacifist; he's been through the Great War and seen the horrors and declines to register for the draft. His wife Patience is a midwife with a past as an activist. Their beliefs are both strong and test their marriage.
This wonderful book takes us back to a time when family members had chores and worked hard but also enjoyed a much fuller life than most of us do now. A lifesyle that strengthens family bonds. It wasn't always easy; it wasn't always fair but it was a full life. I'm left with a renewed hope and love for this world of ours.
Thank you to Goodreads for a copy for my review.
Daniel is a pacifist; he's been through the Great War and seen the horrors and declines to register for the draft. His wife Patience is a midwife with a past as an activist. Their beliefs are both strong and test their marriage.
This wonderful book takes us back to a time when family members had chores and worked hard but also enjoyed a much fuller life than most of us do now. A lifesyle that strengthens family bonds. It wasn't always easy; it wasn't always fair but it was a full life. I'm left with a renewed hope and love for this world of ours.
Thank you to Goodreads for a copy for my review.
April 25, 2023
Solid 4.5 stars! I feel the ending could have been more well rounded and I really wanted to finish a specific story within the book (trying not to give anything away) but I couldn’t put it down! Started and finished it today!
August 26, 2025
I just love this three book series (The Midwife of Hope River, The Reluctant Midwife and Once A Midwife) This is the final book of the three. While there are once again, many Midwife birth stories woven in, the heart of the books are the stories of the towns around Hope River.
In this book World War 2 has begun and hardships come both to Patience and her husband Dan and to all the families in town. This beautiful story of how we help carry the ones we love, in times of trial, is definitely worth the read.
In this book World War 2 has begun and hardships come both to Patience and her husband Dan and to all the families in town. This beautiful story of how we help carry the ones we love, in times of trial, is definitely worth the read.
June 15, 2019
What a shame. This book started as a 4 Star, became a 3, and in the last few pages went down to a 2. I loved the other midwife books but this one has hardly anything to do with midwifery. The good parts were about how this small rural community in the early 1940’s was dealing with the war. The conflict concerning Daniel’s pacifism was interesting. However, the book went on for at least 150 pages too many. What’s with all the songs? I feel sorry for anyone listening to this book on tape with so much singing, it was bad enough having to read them. And worst of all was the totally unnecessary violence - what was the purpose in having their old dog never come home? And then the absolutely disgusting and sad bit at the end with the chickens and Three Legs - why?? No reason for that. And then, after going on for so many pages, things just resolved in a few short pages. Such a disappointing book after the first two midwife books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2019
Midwife adventures
The author gives a new perspective to the beginning of WWII and the US entering the war. I always love reading about midwives and their exciting adventures. Characters were interesting and narrative easy to follow. I will read more of Ms Harman writings!
The author gives a new perspective to the beginning of WWII and the US entering the war. I always love reading about midwives and their exciting adventures. Characters were interesting and narrative easy to follow. I will read more of Ms Harman writings!
November 23, 2018
While I absolutely adore this midwife series of books from Patricia Harmon, I have to admit that I didn’t love this one as much. I love the historical fiction aspect of the previous books - really putting in to context the hardships of the Great Depression/Prohibition era. This book didn’t transport me into WWII era as much as I had hoped. In anticipation of this book coming out, I reread the first Hope River book but as it turns out I didnt’ need to because Harman spends a good portion of each chapter recapping what happened in previous books (it was a bit annoying and redundant). I kind of hoped that Harman would combine Patience and Becky’s stories together for this book since book 1 and 2 were individual stories but instead, Becky was completely dismissed. Bummer. While I sincerely enjoy rereading Book 1 and 2, I don’t think I will reread this one in the future.
March 31, 2020
This is my second book by Patricia Harman and I enjoyed it just as much. This time the novel takes place during WWII and is about the trials and tribulations of midwife Patience Hester, and her family in rural West Virginia. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and thought it was well paced. I did listen to this one on audio and thought the narrator did an excellent job. I think this would be an excellent pick for historical fiction lovers, especially if you’re wanting something not as heavy as the typical WWII drama.
July 10, 2019
Update* Changed from a weak 3 down to 2 stars. I almost gave up on this several times and very rarely do I not finish once I've started a book. This 3rd in the series was less than enjoyable overall, the birthing scenes, which is what carried book 1, were lacking dimension and were almost an afterthought. The author should advertise her next book as a political statement, not try to springboard off another subject.
December 5, 2018
An appealing glimpse of small town life in West Virginia just prior to WWII, told from the perspective of local midwife Patience Hester, her conscientious objector husband, and their busy family. Here is a link to my review:
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
February 12, 2019
I received this book in a goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this story. The wartime drama and the beautiful stories of life and birth. This is the first book I have read by this author but I will probably read more of her work.
March 20, 2019
Wonderful, wonderful read.
The writer places the reader into the story in a way that the reader feels as though she is right there with the characters. Very enlightening presentation of that time in our history.
The writer places the reader into the story in a way that the reader feels as though she is right there with the characters. Very enlightening presentation of that time in our history.
May 25, 2020
I enjoyed this, the 3rd book in the "Hope River" trilogy. This one brings us up to WW2 and how it has impacted the characters that we came to know in the first 2 books. Light, easy reading, well researched with interesting and believeable characters.
December 1, 2018
"The drums of war still roar, but even in these dark times, the hope is still there"
I loved this book so much!! 😭😭😭😭😭 wonderful!
I loved this book so much!! 😭😭😭😭😭 wonderful!
January 10, 2019
Hope River series
#1 The Midwife of Hope River
#2 The Reluctant Midwife
#3 Once a Midwife
#1 The Midwife of Hope River
#2 The Reluctant Midwife
#3 Once a Midwife
November 15, 2020
A good installment of the Hope River Midwife novels. This latest book is not my favorite of the three but is still a good, engaging story.
My primary issues with Once a Midwife are two.
First, I think she glosses over the race related stories. In the back commentary, she is asked about this and states that she believes WV was unique and people judged people more on their work ethic and goodness. This is a white woman speaking and I don’t know if the black people in the community would have the same opinion. No spoiler, but the issue is an interracial marriage and public celebration honoring it. I just don’t see this happening anywhere in the US in the 1940’s. My own interracial marriage in 1987 in the NE US had detractors enough. I think Harman was very naive here.
Second, I didn’t follow Harman making Patience’s character so much more dependent and whiny than the earlier books. She does have her get her “warrior midwife” back, but I wasn’t sure about this angle of the story. However, this was the author’s decision and wasn’t fantastical like the race topic.
I loved the birth stories again, especially the retained placenta story. Patience sure runs into a lot of women randomly giving birth here and there where she saves the day. Can’t say I’ve run into this much in my daily life, but hey, it’s a novel about a midwife.
My primary issues with Once a Midwife are two.
First, I think she glosses over the race related stories. In the back commentary, she is asked about this and states that she believes WV was unique and people judged people more on their work ethic and goodness. This is a white woman speaking and I don’t know if the black people in the community would have the same opinion. No spoiler, but the issue is an interracial marriage and public celebration honoring it. I just don’t see this happening anywhere in the US in the 1940’s. My own interracial marriage in 1987 in the NE US had detractors enough. I think Harman was very naive here.
Second, I didn’t follow Harman making Patience’s character so much more dependent and whiny than the earlier books. She does have her get her “warrior midwife” back, but I wasn’t sure about this angle of the story. However, this was the author’s decision and wasn’t fantastical like the race topic.
I loved the birth stories again, especially the retained placenta story. Patience sure runs into a lot of women randomly giving birth here and there where she saves the day. Can’t say I’ve run into this much in my daily life, but hey, it’s a novel about a midwife.
July 19, 2019
Once a Midwife is the third book in the Hope River series and perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first two books. While I enjoy historical fiction, I couldn't get past Harman's writing style and her barely veiled attempts to make political statements about recent world events by drawing comparisons to the events of WW2. When I started reading it, I thought the premise was interesting but after fifty pages or so, I found myself skimming just to get through it. Even though there were some heavy topics and themes in the book, Harman's writing seemed more suited for a YA reader. I understand she was writing from Patience's diary but the tone was too conversational and felt immature for an adult. The writing was just too simplistic and I got bored quickly. WW2 historical fiction is something I really enjoy and seek out but Once A Midwife was a really big disappointment to me.
While I've read that the first two books of the series are better, I just don't think that I can get past Harman's writing style. Harman's books are clearly not for me.
2 stars.
While I've read that the first two books of the series are better, I just don't think that I can get past Harman's writing style. Harman's books are clearly not for me.
2 stars.
February 3, 2022
This is the third book in the Hope River series and as much as I loved the series as a whole, this was my least favorite of the three books. The writing is a little simplistic and I remember that from the first book as well. The story takes place during World War II. Normally when I read books set during this time period, I am in tears many times. That didn’t happen when I read this one. Something was lacking, not sure what. There were not as many births in this book as the others and that’s part of what made the series so good, Patience being a midwife. I missed that. This book could be read as a stand alone but I definitely recommend reading the first two before this one. I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading the series, it is worth the read.
February 6, 2025
I liked being able to return to Hope River and the characters from the first book but this was more about WWII than midwifery care in the 1900s. A bit slow and repetitive. Too many songs… Harman quotes so many songs in all her books lol it’s a bit random.
But interesting to hear about a war from the perspective of a Pacifist.
But interesting to hear about a war from the perspective of a Pacifist.
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