The Desert Midwife

Aussie Outback Medical #1

by Fiona McArthur

What if the love of your life forgot who you were?

When outback midwife Ava May meets Zac on a flight to Alice Springs, they tumble into a whirlwind affair. But an exciting adventure leads to a terrible accident, with shattering consequences. The couple who had so much going for them now find themselves with everything to lose.

Devastated, Ava retreats to her family cattle station to help salvage what she can of the critical situation. But at home on the drought-ridden farm, her brother is being pushed to his limits, and as his depression intensifies, Ava must step in to prevent another family tragedy.

Against the majestic backdrop of Australia’s Red Centre, old dreams are shattered, new babies are born and true love takes flight.

By Australia’s renowned midwife and bestselling author of Mothers’ Day, The Desert Midwife is a romantic drama about strong women, medical miracles and new beginnings.

Genres: Romance, Australia, Contemporary, Audiobook, Chick Lit

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2019

About the author

Fiona McArthur has worked as a midwife for thirty years. She is the clinical midwifery educator inner rural maternity unit and teaches emergency obstetric strategies while working with midwives and doctors from remote and isolated areas.

Fiona has written more than thirty romances, which have sold over two million copies in twelve languages. She has been a midwifery expert for Mother and Baby magazine and is the author of Aussie Midwives. She has also written the novels Red Sand Sunrise, The Homestead Girls and Heart of the Sky. She lives on a farm in northern New South Wales.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midwife Ava May was seated beside a good-looking young man on the flight who turned out to be a doctor, heading to Alice Springs for a month as a locum in the hospital. Ava was also about to be working in the maternity ward at the same hospital, so she and Zac Logan would no doubt come across one another. The instant connection they both felt astounded them, but they went with it, knowing there was also no future in the affair as Zac would be returning to Sydney.

The terrible car accident which occurred after they had known each other a week had a shocking outcome; one which Ava wasn’t sure she could reconcile herself with. Her withdrawal to the family cattle property – Setabilly Station - where her mother and grandmother were the backbone and strength Ava needed plus with her brother and his pregnant wife nearby, meant Ava could try to find peace. But the drought had intensified, and the repercussions were putting pressure on the family.

What would be the outcome to a situation which had become untenable?

The Desert Midwife by Aussie author Fiona McArthur (herself a midwife) is another wonderful read which explores the life of an outback midwife; the miracle of birth; the shattering of dreams; and strong women. It also includes Indigenous cultures; the majesty and magic of Uluru and deep friendships. A well-written drama which I thoroughly enjoyed, The Desert Midwife is one I highly recommend.

With thanks to Penguin Random House AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine and Tess the Springer. I won’t be on GR for a bit. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

It wasn't what I expected from the cover and the title. I really wanted to love this book and I am so disappointed that I didn't. It was just a pure flat line for me no highs or lows. The story along with the characters was slow and boring and right from the beginning I just didn't click with any of them.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional journey!

Wonderful characters living in beautiful country. Lots of love and angst, laughter, and heartbreak - current and past. It was a very emotional journey, very well written.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh there were tears and heart-ache and then joy, pure joy and happiness that brought a huge sigh and smile, MS McArthur really knows how to pull a reader in with her real life characters, people that become friends, this story had the emotions flowing as we get to know desert midwife Ava and emergency doctor Zac and a cast of amazing characters that show strength, I hope you pick this book up because it is a must read.

Ava May has been born an bred in the outback desert, she comes from a family of strong woman and men, her mother and grandmother are nurses and Ava follows in their footsteps but becoming a midwife, she is very close to the indigenous people and their ways. When Ava is coming back from a flight from Sydney she meets Zac and there is no stopping the sensual feelings that leap between them and an affair begins but an accident stops things in their tracks.

Zac Logan is escaping to the outback for a while to get his head back in the right space after a tragedy has changed his life, looking or finding love is not on the cards for this Sydney man, but meeting Ava on the flight changes everything for him, he falls in love, who would have thought that love at first sight does happen not Zac, but when the accident happens with shattering outcome he struggles. Ava and her family ask him to stay and recuperate at the cattle station and he goes and becomes very close to this wonderful family, and helps with their problems.

The setting is amazing, the writing just beautiful, MS McArthur has shown us the struggles of the land and what drought does to families, the births in the outback and the needs of the indigenous people. Getting to know Ava's family her struggling brother Jock and his pregnant wife Hana, her mother Stella and grandmother Mim was fabulous, and of course Ava and Zac wow what a journey they have to a beautiful HEA the strength and courage shown had me cheering them on. This one is going to stay with me for a long time to come, thank you for another keeper, this is one that I highly recommend.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
A romantic drama with plenty of medical action, all set to a stunning outback backdrop, The Desert Midwife is a book that encapsulates the circle of love and life. Fiona McArthur makes a triumphant return with her latest novel, it is full of heart, romance, good times and hard times. I enjoyed The Desert Midwife immensely.

A book about finding love and losing it very quickly in devastating circumstances is at the very heart of The Desert Midwife. Fiona McArthur’s latest full length novel introduces the reader to Ava, a dedicated outback midwife and Zac, the object of Ava’s affections. It is definitely love at first sight when these two clock eyes on a flight. Zac and Ava cannot deny their attraction to one another. They engage in a swift and passionate affair, that is broken by an awful accident the couple are tragically involved in. The after effects of the accident has strong implications for Ava and Zac. It ultimately tears them apart. Ava decides to seek solace back home, at her family’s cattle station. While tending to her own broken heart, a health crisis occurs very close to home and Ava must take charge before things go from bad to worse. Meanwhile, Zac struggles with his thoughts, feelings, memories and the lasting effects of the accident. Can he find a way back to Ava, or has he lost her for good?

I loved how the focus of The Desert Midwife was on Australia’s red centre. From Alice Springs to Uluru and the surrounding areas, The Desert Midwife is a touching tribute to this valuable slice of our country. I appreciated the full and detailed descriptions of the landscape, complete with the fauna and flora that inhabits this part of Australia. There is a strong visual quality to McArthur’s writing in so many of the setting sequences, which impressed me greatly.

Fiona McArthur made me feel extremely comfortable with her character set. From the leading couple, Ava and Zac, along with the appealing supporting cast, McArthur works hard to build our connection to these people. We come to experience their innermost thoughts, feelings, upsets, celebrations and so on. Emotion is injected into the protagonists at all points in the novel and I found myself sympathising with many players in this novel, across a range of situations.

Fiona McArthur is known for her prowess in the romance department. If you are a fan of instant love style connections, then Ava and Zac’s romance will definitely draw appeal. The realist in me made me question the swiftness of this relationship, but it sure is a romantic tale if you are happy to go along with it. Adding in a side complication of a tragic accident and memory issues puts a wonderful dramatic spin on things. I’m sure it will send plenty of hearts in a flutter.

The Desert Midwife is not just about relationships, it offers an insightful and comprehensive account of life in remote areas, with a focus on medical care. Within this narrative, thanks to the medical background of these practicing professionals, the reader is given a very good picture of medical care in the outback. This extends to resource distribution, indigenous health and culture, mental illness and antenatal care. Thanks to Fiona McAruthur’s first hand experiences, which has been carefully inserted into this novel, I came away with a better understanding and appreciation for a practicing medical professional in the red centre.

With my feelings dipping up and down with each new challenge our leads were faced with, The Desert Midwife proved to be a thoroughly emotive read. I loved the focus on love, life, kinship and life’s challenges. One to draw in close, The Desert Midwife is comforting and life affirming read.

*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

The Desert Midwife is book #106 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Desert Midwife by Aussie author Fiona McArthur is one of those books that took me by complete surprise. I had read a few reviews where people had enjoyed this book, but for some reason, I thought it was going to be just an okay read, but I’m so pleased to say I was wrong
.
This was a truly beautifully written book with great characters and a setting you can easily visualize this book is one that I won’t forget anytime soon. Highly recommended.

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's love at first sight for midwife Ava and doctor Zac when they meet during a flight. Despite their lives being vastly different, Zac is certain of one thing- that he wants to spend the rest of his life with the woman that stole his heart. He's about to propose when they're both in a car accident, leaving Zac with no memory of their short time together.

Ava's not about to give up without a fight though! The insistence that her handsome man recuperates at her family station is met with mixed responses, mainly from her mother, Stella, who's reluctant with her daughter's decision, and grandmother Mim, the true romantic.

There's a lot of conflict of emotion for the two during this time. On one hand, Zac is trying to figure out exactly why he's attracted to this kind stranger. On the other is heartbroken Ava, who's ready to give Zac up if necessary. Meanwhile, Ava's brother, Jock and sister in law, Hana needs them both to prevent another tragedy.

Central Australia is brought to life here. I really loved experiencing Uluru, Alice Springs and the Aboriginal communities through Ava and Zac's eyes. The battle with no emergency services and basic medical care in remoteness plays a huge factor throughout, as well as men's mental health awareness.

As always, the babies are the real stars of the story! There's nothing quite like witnessing their welcome to the world.

The Desert Midwife was yet another gem from the extremely talented Fiona McArthur!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

[Em&M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I deducted a star for overuse of cliches, but I enjoyed the story. I liked that it attempted to capture some of the reality for women off rural stations giving birth. For most women the fact is, you spend a month or even more living in town before giving birth because you don't want to risk your baby. If something goes wrong at home, you're simply too far away from help. The cattle station heroine was relatable and realistic, reminding me of my mother's two months in a flat during the wet season waiting for overdue me to come. I liked that it draws attention to the difficulties of pregnant rural women. In recent years funding drop offs have seen support and facilities for pregnant women in rural towns withdrawn. In QLD rural towns considered to be centres no longer have the facilities for a cesarean. Women who have been spending that month in town only to find during labour emergency procedures are nessassary have to be flown across the state hundreds of kilometres to a centre that has such resources. Imagine the fear for yourself and your baby during those hours in limbo.
I also enjoyed the connection to country in the book. All the characters have some form of spiritual experience in the ancient land of central Australia. While I can't speak for the authenticity of the indigenous women and communities McArthur introduces us to, the strong community-drivien women remind me of the indigenous girls of the north I've met. The respectful and practical tone emphasises these people are like us, just with a different culture, which is not always the impression left by some authors.
As to the actual story, obviously I loved the characters, especially the women, who felt real and relatable. I understand the instant draw to Zac, but found the fast speed of their relationship a little unrealistic. *spoilers from here*
since when is 2 months a ~long~ engagement? I think by any standards it's rather short. The amnesia play was also cliche, and personally I would have liked to have seen this taken advantage of for a slower more romantic take 2 where they fall in love all over again. Alternatively, Jock attempting suicide could have happened much earlier in the book and Ava rushing home could have created the rift the couple has to negotiate. I found all of it happening melodramatic and it seemed to compress an already short romantic time line, hence the docking of 1 star. That being said I still enjoyed this book and it's definitely heavy on romance and drama. I love a good outback Australian read, so for that alone I was satisfied. More cute babies never goes astray either...

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a lot to like about Fiona McArthur’s newest rural romance novel, The Desert Midwife.

Sparks fly when Outback midwife Ava May, and locum emergency doctor, Zac Logan meet on a flight to Alice Springs, and within the week both are considering the possibility of a shared future. Then a shocking accident robs Zac of his memory and with it perhaps, their dreams of happy ever after.

The Desert Midwife is set in The Northern Territory, moving between Alice Springs, Kata Tjuta, and Ava’s family cattle station, Setabilly, situated around 70km from Uluru.

While the romance is central to the novel, McArthur explores several social important issues in The Desert Midwife, from the difficulties associated with maternity care in remote areas, to the emotional and financial stress experienced by station owners affected by the extended drought, and the importance of Uluru to the Anangu, the Pitjantjatjara people.

Unfortunately it was the initial romance that I found largely unconvincing. While I’m willing to believe in the possibility of love at first sight, I found it hard to believe a man of Zac’s background, and circumstance, would really be willing to propose within a week, especially given the practical obstacles to the relationship.

I did like the characters of Ava and Zac though, and enjoyed the attraction between them. Ava’s mother, Stella, and grandmother Mim, are wonderful characters, both strong, interesting women. Jock, Ava’s brother, is sympathetic, struggling as he is with depression.

A story of strength, struggle, family and the miracle of love, The Desert Midwife is an engaging read.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The settings were great and some interesting characters but the warp speed romance made it a bit of a struggle for me.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book as I waited a while to get it. I have loved this authors other books but for me this one was predictable.

[Kate McMurry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Australian medical romance with an amnesia plot

Ava May is a 25-year-old, highly talented midwife, who serves patients in the Australian outback.

Zac Logan is an emergency doctor, who is from a wealthy family and has lived in urban settings his whole life. He is a widower whose wife was in a serious accident and in a resulting, brain-dead coma for 12 months, because Zac was willing to indulge her grieving parents until the wasting away of her body was just too obvious for them to deny. They finally agreed to pull the plug two months ago. Zac has been dealing with this trauma via escaping from the scene of the tragedy by accepting temporary assignments in different outback areas of Australia.

Zac and Ava meet on a plane flying to the outback area of Australia where she was born and raised. He is on his way to his second month-long, medical assignment, and she is also on her way to a temporary position, because she moves around a lot for her job. They form an immediate rapport, begin an intense, seven-day affair, fall in love, and he proposes. But immediately afterwards, before they can formalize their relationship, they are driven off the road by a carelessly speeding tourist. Though neither Ava nor Zac is seriously, physically injured, Zac develops retrograde amnesia. The last three weeks of his life have vanished from his mind, including his entire relationship with Ava.

This plot is an entertaining Australian homage to the 2012 movie, The Vow, starring Channing Tatum, with the roles reversed, and the MMC vs the FMC having amnesia.

This is my first time reading anything by this author. She is a midwife herself and has lived and worked in the Australian outback. Her background has created an extremely authentic flavor with the setting and Ava's profession.

As someone who lives in the USA, everything about the Australian bush setting and lifestyle was fascinating to me. In addition, Ava and Zac are extremely sympathetic protagonists. There is also a lovely secondary romance between Ava's widowed mother and a wealthy Italian businessman. Ava's maternal grandmother is an important subcharacter, as well, and I really enjoyed her.

In most romance novels, if a lot of page space is given to the FMC's job, I tend to get bored, but not in the case of this novel. Everything about Ava's work as a midwife I found fascinating. And Zac is an extremely sympathetic character as an emergency doctor.

There is no sex onstage in this novel, but in spite of that, there is definitely strong chemistry between Ava and Zac.

I am definitely going to read more novels in this series.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona McArthur’s novels are always packed with emotion and drama and The Desert Midwife is no exception. Be prepared to run through a box of tissues and a block of chocolate as you indulge in this story.

Unlike McArthur’s previous novels, this is set in the red centre of Australia – think Uluru and Alice Springs. It makes for a more isolated story with fewer characters, but it’s no less fun. Ava has grown up on a station near Uluru and now works as a midwife between Alice Springs and outback communities. When she meets locum emergency department physician Zac on a plane, sparks fly. Even though the timing isn’t perfect, Ava and Zac start a relationship that was meant to be casual but becomes very serious in a short space of time. Zac even goes to meet Ava at Yulara (the small town near Uluru) after making a quick decision in town. But on the way to Uluru, the couple are in a car accident and things are turned on their head. Their relationship is back to the very start. Ava doesn’t want to intrude, but will she fight for their love?

The Desert Midwife is a story in two parts, each with a very different tone. The initial romance between Zac and Ava is fun but intense with a very positive, hopeful tone. Even if you don’t believe in love at first sight, you can’t help but get caught up in the whirlwind of their romance and put the niggles to the back of your mind. After the accident, the emotions are turned upside down and the book becomes much more serious in tone as Ava copes with the loss of her relationship but also family issues. This is when more characters are brought into the narrative, the most memorable being Ava’s mum and grandmother. Mother Stella is an interesting character with a romance of her own. It’s sweet, but I didn’t feel it got quite the page time that it deserved. Mim, Ava’s grandmother is spiky, bold and feisty. She was adorable with her wisdom and her modern ideas. As for Ava and Zac, both come across as sensible, which made the insta-romance more believable for me. Their connection is instant and powerful. It makes what happens later even more poignant.

The Desert Midwife covers other issues besides romance including drought, men’s health, indigenous culture and antenatal care in the outback. All are handled sensitively and are natural parts of the narrative. I loved reading about Uluru and the feelings both Ava and Zac experienced, it’s an incredibly spiritual place and McArthur captures the essence beautifully. Overall, the story is a dramatic but ultimately satisfying read.

Thank you to Penguin for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars


This was a nice average outback medical romance story until the author kicked it up a notch by including the amnesia trope, which is one of my favourite romance tropes, and gave the story a little more oomph.
The beautiful descriptions of the Aussie outback has me itching to get back on the road for more outback adventures.

Heartwarming and a pleasing ending.

Listened to the audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by ABC Audio
Read by Caroline Lee
Duration: 11 hrs, 38 min. 1.50x Speed

[Dave Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that honours a great country.

The story brings out the greatness of the spirit of this country, the land and its people. The Australian spirit is alive in the land that tests it daily. Well written, thank you.

[Courtney Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very feel good ending ❤️❤️

[Jodie- Readthewriteact · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Fiona Macarthur's books. She writes such strong female characters. Drawing from her own experience as a midwife can write birthing scenes in a way that are realistic and beautiful. This novel was filled with all the love and romance making my heart sing. Just a beautiful story really about people finding each other and finding their way back again.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.MA.ZING!! Absolutely gorgeous story. I love, love, loved the indigenous significance throughout the entire book!! So, so lovely!!
I have been to Uluru & Kata Tjuta (twice) & it really is such a spiritual and magical place that does offer such a strong feeling & pillar of peace & strength to indigenous & non-indigenous individuals unlike anything nor anywhere else!!!
Wonderful FM!!! Just wonderful!! 😘😘

[Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a mixed bag of emotions I had whilst reading this book. You sure know how to pull a reader in Fiona. Joy, fear. Sadness & happy endings. Such a great read.

[Cookie1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read from this author. The story centres around Ava, who is a midwife in Central Australia. She meets Zac on the plane returning from professional development course. They become lovers, but of course something gets in the way. Zac has proposed but then he and Ava are in an accident on the way out to Ava’s family station. This leads leads to many problems. The station is suffering severe drought and this too leads to some near disasters.

[Fiona Lowe]

If you want a sense of life in the red centre of Australia, a feel for the desert, some insight the challenges of living in this remote area from a settler perspective AND a HEA, this is your book :-)

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely Aussie read!!!:)

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, having travelled in the area in which this story was written. The characters were very likeable, the plot believable and not fraught with frustrating “ on again, off again” relationships which are often the case in romances. I liked her sensitive management of mental health issues associated with the real life struggles of farming in appalling drought conditions and also her inclusion of the local indigenous community in such a lovely positive manner. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Kay Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story. Such a great setting so beautifully used as a part of the story. I felt as if I knew Ava and felt her pain. Such a strong character as were the other women in the story. Sensitive portrayal of difficult issues. Highly recommend this book.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first five or so pages were a bit rough and somewhat off-putting, much like the male lead. But after that, everything flowed rather smoothly. The two romantic leads fit together quite well, and it seemed almost inevitable that they would be drawn to each other. The brief portion of the book dedicated to their insta-love romance was delightful. The remainder of the book, however, was just dark, dreary, and devoid of hope. I definitely cried much more than I smiled throughout this book.

Some of the chapters focused on peripheral characters, occasionally even going so far as to be narrated by one of them. Those instances were a bit distracting. And while they did give an overall feeling of the family and their daily life, they didn't really add to the main love story. Additionally, the romance between the mother and her beau was never fully explained, so it just left me wanting to know more about what transpired between them (past and present).

The dialogue seemed to flow very naturally between the charactes for the most part, and generally helped advance the narrative of the love story. There were a few brief instances where I didn't catch the meaning of what was being said or was somewhat confused by things.

The ultimate ending was a good happily-ever-after one, but the near end seemed rather abrupt, with very little buildup to the ultimate resolution or aftermath.

[Stacey Houllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona McAthur Storyline of the Desert Midwife was really great made me feel the emotions of the characters she created in the storyline The story of two people falling for each other in plane trip back to Alice Springs . A doctor who is recently widowed after the death of his wife in car accident that he was driving the car and a midwife who has her own things to deal with. But after days together he proposes to her wanting to go to Uluru to do properly on the way they have car accident whete she is driving. He looses his memory and she takes him to her family farm to recover. Her mother is carrying a secret, her grandmother is fierce lady and her brother marrried to Hanna. He is struggling with depression due to drought and Hanna is pregnant with his baby..

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for anyone who loves midwives and midwifery stories. There was a lot going on in this book and I really liked the main characters and the amnesia storyline. Great for anyone who wants to really experience the true nature of the outback - very authentic.

[Dianne Pymble-Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the descriptions of the outback and the rigours of farm life. However, I found the storyline predictable and a bit Mills & Boon style. Our book club discussion showed all ten of us felt the same way. Not a terrible book, but not exciting either.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this might have been predictable, but it wasn’t. A wonderful read, with great locations, strong female characters and warmth. A worthwhile read. Great Australian fiction.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It felt like an old friend. The description of Uluru and the outback was beautiful. So descriptive I felt as if I was there.