Amish Midwives: Three Stories

by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, Kelly Long

From bestselling authors of Amish Fiction come three sweet stories about new life, hope, and romance.Bundles of Blessing by Amy ClipstonLost in grief after the death of her husband, Kristina Byler gave up remarrying and found comfort and purpose in becoming a midwife. She is surprised when Aidan Smoker--her ex-boyfriend and the man she was sure she'd one day marry--moves back to the community after living in Ohio for the past eight years. They're both certain there's too much pain in their shared past for them to have a future, but they keep finding themselves drawn together. As Kristina helps other women bring children into the world, she starts to wonder if a family of her own might be possible after all.

A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray

Haunted by secret guilt after a tragic accident, Joanna Zimmerman is sure she's left midwifery behind her. She keeps to herself, certain this is for the best. Her childhood friend Dwight Eicher knows Joanna hasn't been herself lately, but every time he tries to talk to her about what's wrong, she avoids his questions. When his sister, Susie, becomes pregnant, Joanna must decide if she can find the courage to return to the job she once felt so called to. Meanwhile, both Dwight and Joanna face romantic feelings that have the potential to change their friendship forever.

Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long (Also published in An Amish Christmas)

When Anna Stolis takes over for her aunt, the local midwife, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and unexpected help from the handsome and brooding Asa Lapp.

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Amish Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Audiobook, Romance

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2021

About the author

Hi! I'm a bestselling author of heartwarming romance and happily ever after.

Contemporary Romance (Non-Amish)
The Heart of Splendid Lake (2021)
The View from Coral Cove (2022)
On the Way to Christmas (Anthology) (2022)
Something Old, Something New (2023)
Starstruck (2023)
Finding You (2024)
With This Ring (2025)
Second Chance at Sunshine Inn (7/2025)
The Lighthouse at the Cove (12/2025)

Stand Alone Amish Fiction
Caring for the Amish Family (4/2025)

Guideposts Amish Suspense
A Heart Set Free (9/2025)


An Amish Legacy
1. Foundation of Love (2022)
2. Building a Future (2022)
3. Breaking New Ground (2023)
4. The Hearts of Shelter (2023)

An Amish Marketplace
1. The Bake Shop (2019)
2. The Farm Stand (2020)
3. The Coffee Corner (2020)
4. The Jam and Jelly Nook (2021)

An Amish Homestead
1. A Place at our Table (2017)
2. Room on the Porch Swing (2018)
3. Seat by the Hearth (2018)
4. A Welcome at Our Door (2019)

An Amish Heirloom
1. The Forgotten Recipe (2015)
2. The Courtship Basket (2016)
3. The Cherished Quilt (2017)
4. The Beloved Hope Chest (2017)

Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel
1. A Hopeful Heart (2013)
2. A Mother’s Secret (2014)
3. A Dream of Home (2015)
4. A Simple Prayer (2015)

Kauffman Amish Bakery
1. A Gift of Grace (2009)
2. A Promise of Hope (2010)
3. A Place of Peace (2011)
4. A Life of Joy (2012)
5. A Season of Love (2012)

Amish Anthologies
• An Amish Kitchen (2012) – Spoonful of Love (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Cradle (2015) – A Son for Always (This story complements A Mother’s Secret)
• An Amish Market (2016) – Love Birds (This story complements The Forgotten Recipe)
• An Amish Harvest (2016) – Love & Buggy Rides (This complements The Courtship Basket)
• An Amish Home (2017) – Home Sweet Home (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Summer (2017) – Summer Storms (Stand-alone story)
• Amish Sweethearts (2018) –Complements The Kauffman Amish Bakery Series and also has a sequel to my story in An Amish Summer
• An Amish Heirloom (2018) – Complements A Place at our Table
• An Amish Homecoming (2018) – Complements A Place at our Table
• Seasons of an Amish Garden (2019) – Complements The Christmas Cat, novella included in An Amish Christmas Love
• An Amish Reunion (2019) – Complements Room on the Porch Swing
• An Amish Christmas Bakery (2019) – Cookies and Cheer (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Singing (2021) (Collection of four stories by Amy Clipston)
• An Amish Christmas Wedding (2020) –Evergreen Love (Stand-alone story)
• An Amish Barn Raising (2021)
• An Amish Schoolroom (2021)
• An Amish Quilting Bee (2021)

Young Adult
1. Roadside Assistance (2011)
2. Reckless Heart (2012) (Kauffman Amish Bakery young adult book)
3. Destination Unknown (2014)
4. Miles from Nowhere (2015)

Non-Fiction
A Gift of Love (2014)

Seasonal
• A Plain and Simple Christmas (2010) Naomi’s Gift (2011)
• Kauffman Amish Christmas Collection (2012)
• An Amish Christmas Gift (2015) includes Naomi’s Gift
• An Amish Christmas Love (2017) –The Christmas Cat
• An Amish Christmas Bakery (2019)
• An Amish Christmas Wedding (2020)
• On the Way to Christmas (2022)

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novella collection of three stories all based on the theme of midwives.
Each of the midwives has devoted her life to midwifery .
I am drawn to Amish books because they live their lives a little differently than we do.
They are more accepting of things than we are . Find the good in little things ,are willing to help all and know when to let go and let God. Are they perfect? Of course not and neither are we but God still forgives us every time we ask it of him.
Strong resilient characters that I enjoyed getting to know.
I really enjoyed the strength that shone throughout this book.
Highly recommended.

Published March 2nd 2021 by Zondervan
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Noella Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 really great stories that I enjoyed reading. Short and sweet stories for sure.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have come to love almost everything I've read by these authors over the years, so it was no surprise that a book featuring novellas by each of them would be a delight to read. In each story, an Amish midwife not only gets to help bring new life into the world, but she also gets to find love. All three are easy reads, but my favorite was the last one written by Kelly Long.

3.5 Stars

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three novellas with strong heroines who devoted their lives to midwifery instead of marrying.

Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston found Kristina and Aiden once again in the same community. Kristina had her mind set she would never marry after the breakup with Aiden, but yet she felt drawn to him. Will the truth of why he had never married be to hurtful to find new beginnings and forgiveness for all the heartache?

Shelley Shephard Gray’s story A Midwife for Susie explored the friendship and issues facing Joanna and Dwight. Joanna’s struggles of overcoming a trauma made this is a touching story as her character became stronger with fortitude to do what she loved best, midwifery. This was my favorite tale in this collection with the depth found in the characteristics of the hero and heroine.

Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long was a repeated novella found in An Amish Christmas. Anna covering for her aunt on Second Christmas brought more than her aunt had expected. The deliveries were on a snowing night with Asa driving for her. This was my least favorite story for multiple reasons.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early ARC of this collection without any obligation to write a positive review. I have shared my own opinion.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great collection of sweet romances with the common thread of each heroine being a dedicated midwife. Each author brought their own flavor to the collection and made for variety. These authors are ones that you can always depend on to bring a great story to the table. I really enjoyed reading this as it was entertaining and brought a smile into my life. I found it interesting to learn about how an Amish midwife works and is so dedicated to helping others. I recommend putting this on your TBR pile.
I won a copy of this book from a blog. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

[Kav · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something for every reader who loves Amish romances in this collection. From reunion romance to insta-love to friends-to-more. I happen to like all of the above so I was a happy reader three times over. :-) And I loved the midwifery thread that's common to them all.

These well-known authors deliver what they do best -- riveting stories with heart and hope and the occasional toe-curl. Each story is a quick, satisfying read and -- hooray! -- this collection comes in trade paperback format (as opposed to the teensy-weensy mass market paperback) so the print's big enough to read!

[Connie Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy Clipston, Shelley Shephard Gray, and Kelly Long are all beloved Amish authors, and reading a story by any of them is a treat. Finding a book with all of them? Absolutely joy unspeakable! The three novellas in Amish Midwives all center around dedicated midwives who help deliver sweet babies, but haven't experienced the joy of having their own children. These heartwarming tales share hope, faith, and the wholesome values that are synonymous with Amish living, while exploring the different stages of love. From the excitement of new love to the thrill of love the second time around, Amish Midwives is a book to savor and enjoy. It is the perfect choice for fans of Amish romance!

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was never required to write a favorable review and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts.

[Pamela Pavkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives is an excellent book written by three authors Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kelly Long. Each author, using their own unique writing style, has written a story involving a midwife. Each story has characters that will warm your heart in different ways. Each story is filled with love, family, and babies. I enjoyed each story. I had read one story previously in a different book but I enjoyed reading it again.

I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.

[Kailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great collection of stories! Even though they had a common theme, each story was unique! I really enjoyed reading all of them, but my favorite was Amy Clipston’s story! I would recommend this collection!


I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Virginia Winfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read Amish romances and I really enjoy reading about midwives even though I would not have had a home birth.(too chicken). These three stories were fantastic. Each made me cry and laugh. I have always loved these authors. Each of these stories are very inspirational. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing stories of Amish midwives. These three had my attention captured immediately. I loved the details, characters, and lessons each story contained. Life and spiritual lessons were front and not glossed over which is important in a Christian book.
I highly recommend this beautiful book. It gets a 5 star rating from this reader. A copy was provided but these are my honest words.

[Kit McAlear · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was…actually really good?

First venture into Amish fiction, something I’ve always been fascinated in and never tried and I was pleasantly surprised how well it read.

I went in with a lot of preconceived notions and was proven wrong. Do not judge a genre by its cover!

3.75/5 stars.

[Linda Filcek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book of four short feel good stories.

[Diamond Jones-Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three beautiful heartwarming stories from three Phenomenal Authors. All three novels kept a smile on my face while reading.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bundles of Blessing (Amy Clipston) - 4 stars

I love Amy Clipston’s books and novellas, and this one was no different. It was super cute and I liked seeing Kristina and Aidan rekindle the romance from when they were kids. I don’t normally like a “misunderstanding” plotline, but this one was a little different.

A Midwife for Susie (Shelley Shepard Gray) - 3.5 stars

I liked this one too. I liked Joanna facing her fears and the romance was friends to more, which is always cute.

Christmas Cradles (Kelley Long) - 2.5 stars

This is not actually a Christmas story as it takes place on Second Christmas (12/26). The midwife Anna has to deliver several babies in a snowstorm. I didn’t like this one as much because it was somewhat instalove-y and I didn’t care for Asa’s secret which is revealed at the end.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives is a fabulous collection of three Amish stories. Each story captures the real lives of the Amish people and their faith. I fell hard and fast for each of the heroes in this collection. The heroines were just as amazing. One of the things I love about Amish fiction is that both of the main characters, the protagonists, are the heroes. Together they can solve anything, apart things are too difficult. It shows one just how much faith only can help as well as the friends and family of the couples. I enjoyed the clean reads. Their Christian ways of faith are something that we can all learn from. Anger and jealousy are two sins that we all should not succumb to but allow to swallow us up until we are not sure of ourselves or others. But once we put our faith in the hands of God, we can do anything and the weight from those feelings are lifted. These tales show readers so much more than just an incredible story that steals them away from the real world. There's more to life than what we take for granted.

Bundles of Blessings by Amy Clipston is spectacular. I love her writing. She always knows how to draw me deep into her fictional world. Her characters are addictive. Here, I follow along as a former dating couple grew apart in the past only to learn the real reasons why they were broken in the first place. A secret after so many years comes out. Neither one has forgotten the way the other one sets their hearts on fire. Their attraction is still burning despite the hurt of being torn apart. Now, they may just have the second chance at their happily ever after. I cannot stress just how good this Amish tale was. I loved every moment of it. Now, I'm left waiting for the next brilliant story from the superb writer, Amy Clipston.

A Midwife for Susie by Shelly Shepard Gray is another wonderful Amish story. I loved this one just as much as the previous tale. In this one, I got to follow an Amish wife who has never married, yet works as a midwife. Joanna is a hard worker. She is so easy to like. I felt like she was my own sister. Joanna works long hours to help mothers bring their babies into the world. Only Joanna ended up losing one baby and it has her rethinking her career choice. But then her childhood best friend and the other ladies she has helped convince that sad unfortunate things like that happens. They tell her only God can control it and that she does the best anyone can expect of her. This, then leads to her best friend, Dwight, begging on his sister's behalf for her to be his sister's midwife. Joanna finally agrees. This leads to her and Dwight spending a lot of time together. He makes sure she eats and rests. Dwight is unusual for an Amish male. Because he is the better cook. Joanna cant cook despite her best attempts. Dwight knows this and takes care of the cooking for her. He is such a kind, strong, and wise man. I loved these characters!

Christmas Candles by Kelly Long is the last perfect Amish adventure within the beautiful collection. In this particular journey, I followed a young Amish midwife as she takes over her aunt's clients. During this book she has to go through a snowstorm to each client's house to make sure the mothers have no issues delivering their babies. To go about traveling, Anna will need a young Amish man, Asa to deliver her to each place. As they travel together, the snow storm gets worse. Asa who swears off women, is attracted to the kind and strong midwife, Anna. Anna proves she is stronger and the perfect midwife for each client. Yet when on the last round, she ends up falling for Asa. But during an illness, he mentions another woman's name. Anna runs away in fear. Asa finds out what happened and seeks out Anna. I loved this sweet, engaging, and beautifully woven story. Kelly Long is just as talented at writing the best Amish stories as her fellow Amish writing friends. This book is a joy! I recommend it to all readers.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Stephanie Liller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives is a collection of three Amish Novellas that capture glimpses into the life of an Amish midwife. From the sudden moonlit knocks on the door to beautiful early sunrises, these authors take you along three page-turning adventures.
Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston
If you have ever read any of Amy Clipston’s novels, then it should come as no surprise to find a great message weaved into her stories for the reader. In “Bundles of Blessings” Clipston unwinds the story of Kristina Byer and Aiden Smoker. As the story develops, we learn of Kristina’s loss and Aiden’s heartbreak due to a terrible misunderstanding. Amy’s descriptive style of writing and development of each character will have you feeling the excitement that Kristina has for her gift to the awkward moments exchanged between her and Aiden (her ex-boyfriend) after not seeing each other in so many years “Then she stepped out onto the porch and came face-to-face with Aidan. Her heart jumped into her throat, and she froze in her tracks, her feet cemented to the porch as she looked up into his cerulean eyes” (Bundles of Blessings p. 17). As the storyline continues, the wedge that was drawn between the both of them is revealed. Will this wedge incite a further division or will it resolve into an open door of hope?
A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray
Immediately Shelley Gray engages the reader into her story of “A Midwife for Susie” by introducing two characters Joanna Zimmerman and Dwight Eicher. As the reader reads further, they will begin to piece together that there is something “distant and standoffish” (A Midwife for Susie p. 133) about Joanna. Trying to suppress her hurt and fear, Joanna makes a great effort at becoming a domestic Amish woman by trying her hand at cooking. “You know, you are a great many things Joanna, but domestic you are not” (A Midwife for Susie p. 147). As her family and friends continue to question her about what is going on, Joanna eventually opens up about her fear. Will Joanna confront her fear and be able to return to her calling as a Midwife? Will confronting these fears open her heart further to her friend, Dwight? A Midwife for Susie is such a heartwarming story and very well written, from a messy kitchen to one early breathtaking sunrise you will be absorbed in the pages. Gray uses similies such as, “Susie looked like a cat who’d just gotten a bowl of cream”(A Midwife for Susie p.169) and a descriptive style of writing that will easily transport the reader into the life of an Amish Midwife, the ups the downs and determination in between to keep going.
Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long (Also in An Amish Christmas)
Of all three stories “Christmas Cradles” is, in my opinion, is the coziest and romantic of the three. This makes a fantastic Christmas/winter read while snuggled up with some hot chocolate and a cozy quilt. This story could make the reader blush a few times with the sweet moments and attraction between Anna Stolis and Asa Mast. Christmas Cradles takes the reader on a snowy moonlit buggy ride to three homes to deliver Christmas boppli’s (babies). For Christmas eve, Anna takes over her aenti Ruth’s deliveries while her driver Samuel, is currently down with the flu that seems to be going around. Anna’s driver is replaced with an attractive man, Samuels son, Asa Mast. “A tall Amish man stood in the shadows of the streetlamp, and she searched his handsome face…”(Christmas Cradles p. 246). As the flu spreads and the snow falls, what will the night hold for Anna and Asa?

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amish Midwives is an anthology with 3 stories from 3 different Amish Midwives.

Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston introduces us to Kristina Byler. When her husband dies in an accident at work, she sells her house and moves in with her sister and brother-in-law. She finds purpose in her life becoming a midwife, who is good at her job and in demand. When she is told that her ex-boyfriend Aidan Smoker has returned to their community she is shocked to find out that he never married. He left her for a woman in Ohio and she married his best friend. They both still harbour feelings for one another and hopefully they will be able to sort out the miscommunication that caused their breakup 8 years earlier. I enjoyed this story about second chances. There is also a storyline of Kristina doubting herself when her sister had complications with the birth of her baby and has to be rushed to the hospital. Is Aidan returning God's Will? Should she continue with her career as a midwife after this scare? This was my favourite story of the three.

A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray Joanna Zimmerman is a midwife, who is having a crisis. Her last delivery ended in the death of the mother and she plans to give up midwifery due to her guilt. Her childhood friend Dwight Eicher knows something has been bothering Joanna but she won't talk about it. When his sister, Susie, becomes pregnant, she wants Joanna to be her midwife. Now Joanna must decide if she can find the courage to return to the job she once felt so called to. Meanwhile, both Dwight and Joanna face romantic feelings that have the potential to change their friendship forever. Guilt is a terrible emotion and one that can really drag someone down. Without giving away the story, I will say that I loved what Dwight, her mentor and even Susie say to her to help her get over the guilt. I also like when deep friendship develops into something more. All the beliefs of the Amish culture and religion come into play and make this a lovely story.

Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long This is the shortest story in the anthology and due to that there was very little development. Anna Stolis has taken over for her aunt, the local midwife. It is Christmas and she has several deliveries, and even has to doctor someone with a bad case of the flu. I really like how appreciative everyone is in this story, yet they take nothing for granted when it comes to delivering babies where the patient is someone not known. Anna meets the handsome and brooding Asa Lapp on one of her deliveries and they develop feelings pretty quickly. I am not a fan of insta-love and this seemed a bit like that. As you can probably tell, this was my least favourite of the stories.

[Ayla Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of all things birth and midwifery related, so when I was thrilled when I got the chance to read Amish Midwives. Amish Midwives is a compilation of three novellas by some of Amish Christian fiction's most popular authors. Each story follows an Amish midwife through her own set of challenges as she learns more about herself, God, and the plans He has for her. Of course, no Christian romance would be complete without a good love story and each of the novellas definitely delivers.

In the first novella, Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston, we meet Kristina Beiler and Aiden Smoker. Kristina and Aiden's relationship ended abruptly years ago, leaving both of them very confused and hurt. Kristina believed that Aiden had chosen another over her, but did he really? Or is there another explanation for what happened? I really enjoyed this story, and did not see the plot twist coming at all.

The second story, A Midwife for Suzie by Shelley Shepard Grey,, was my least favourite. Having grown up next door to each other, Joanna Zimmerman and Dwight Eicher have been close friends for years and have started to grow closer together. However, Joanna has started acting oddly after a visit to a neighbouring community, and seems to be withdrawing from everything she's always loved. I liked the premise for this novella, but struggled with the writing style. Personally, I prefer books with more dialogue than just telling what happened, and felt that the story lacked in that area. The storyline was interesting though and I enjoyed seeing Joanna and Dwight's relationship grow. I also appreciated seeing the close bond between Dwight and his sister, Suzie.

The final novella, Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long, was my favourite. Anna Stolis is temporarily taking over her Aenti Ruth's midwifery cases when she meets handsome bachelor, Asa Mast. Asa is stepping in for his sick Daad, who usually drives Anna's aunt to her births on wintery nights. The chemistry between the two was obvious from the very beginning and only grows as the story follows them throughout a long night spent driving through a nasty blizzard between births. Could this be a forever thing? Or will they only have a few hours before going back to life as usual? This was such a sweet fun-to-read Christmas romance!

All in all, this was a fantastic collection of sweet inspirational stories. If you enjoy Amish romance, you'll want to grab a copy of Amish Midwives.

*I received a complimentary copy Amish Midwives through the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**FTC DISCLAIMER: I RECEIVED AN E-ARC FROM THE AUTHOR AND NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. RECEIPT OF THIS BOOK IN THIS MANNER DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR THE CONTENT OF MY REVIEW.*

This is a novella collection revolving around the theme of midwifery. I've always found both the Amish and midwives fascinating and I enjoy the writing of all three of these writers so I was very excited about reading this. Each of these women are in a different season of their lives and find themselves facing the possibility of big changes. Each story is full of hope and romance and the promise of a new life.

Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston is about Kristina Byler, who has given up on the idea of remarrying and decided to build her life around being a midwife. She finds herself very surprised when Aidan Smoker, her ex-boyfriend and the man she was once sure she was going to marry, moves back to their community after having lived in Ohio for eight years. Even though, they're both sure that there's too much pain from their shared past between them, they keep finding themselves being drawn together. As Kristina helps other women bring their blessings into the world, she finds herself wondering if a family of her own might be a possibility for her. As always, Amy Clipston has written an insightful, empathetic story. Her characters are relatable and have a good lesson to teach. This story is about second changes, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

In Shelley Shepherd Gray's A Midwife For Susie Joanna and Dwight explore the idea of love that begins in a deep friendship and being able to forgive oneself. After a tragic accident, Joanna is convinced that she's left midwifery behind her. All Dwight knows is that his longtime friend hasn't been herself lately and he doesn't understand why. Every time he tries to talk to her about what's troubling her, she just evades his questions. When Dwight's sister, Susie announces that she's pregnant and only wants Joanna as her midwife, she has to decide if she's brave enough to forgive herself for the happenings in her past. I really enjoyed this novella. The friendship between Joanna and Dwight was sweet and will make an excellent foundation for a marriage. I definitely related to Joanna's tendency to be her own worst critic.

Kelly Long's Christmas Cradles finds Anna Stolis taking over for her aunt, the local midwife on Christmas night. She finds herself attending to multiple deliveries with the help of the handsome Asa Lapp. This story was sweet and interesting as each delivery had its own distinct challenges.

[Pam Graber · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you find a book authored by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kelly Long, snap it up! You're in for hours of great reading. Amish Midwives is just such a book. Each story is unique, and features a midwife who basically considers herself "on the shelf". Each woman has thrown herself into her job since marriage seems to be out of the question for her.

Clipston's "Bundles of Blessing" brings together widowed Kristina Byler with her former beau, Aidan Smoker. Kristina fell into midwifing when she was the only one available to help her sister deliver her niece. Since her husband's death, she has felt at loose ends and delivering the community's babies gives her purpose. When Aidan returns to take over his family's dairy farm, her feelings of betrayal come back, but so does the love she used to feel for him. Aidan also felt betrayed when his girlfriend ditched him to marry his best friend. Can they learn what happened years ago to break them up, and will they be able to get past the hurt that still lingers?

I loved Gray's "A Midwife for Susie". The emotion, and even the humor shown through as Dwight Eicher tries to convince Joanna Zimmerman to deliver his sister Susie's baby. Joanna decided to stop midwifing when her last delivery ended in tragedy. Her efforts to become a typically domestic Amish woman are thwarted at every turn. Can she get past her fear to go back to the one thing she is good at? Will her best friend Dwight still want her to deliver his sister's baby when he learns what drove her away from her vocation?

If I absolutely HAD to choose a favorite, though, Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long would probably be it. Anna Stolis gives her aunt a one night vacation from midwifing, and arrives to a flurry of babies. Asa Mast is also filling in for his father in driving Anna to her deliveries. His attraction to her is immediate but she's only in town for one night. Can he convince her to give him a chance, even after she learns his biggest secret?

I love these anthology-type books. The stories are more novella length, so it's easy to read one in an evening. These three stories were each gems, and I really didn't expect anything less from these three authors! Lovers of Amish romance will definitely want to pick this one up. I enjoyed every minute as I read Kristina, Joanne, and Anna's stories. I also appreciated that the women were all a bit older than the norm for Amish fiction. It was sweet to see them get their happy endings, too!

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three novellas about women with a passion for midwifing, who find love and a family of their own along the way.

Bundles of Blessings by Amy Clipston
Old flames reunite in this story about lost love and second chances. Kristina gave up her dreams of family after the death of her husband, finding joy in helping other women bring children into the world. Kristina and Aidan are convinced that there is too much in their past to consider getting back together, despite the encouragement of friends in the community. This is a engaging read, with compelling characters and the mystery of what broke them up in the first place. I liked their chemistry throughout as they reconnected, though the ending seemed rather sudden. But an enjoyable read!

A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepherd Gray
After a birthing gone wrong, Joanna is unsure about continuing her work as a midwife. But when her childhood friend becomes pregnant, she wants Joanna to attend her and has enlisted her brother Dwight to help convince her. Dwight is a wonderful brother to Susie, and his is supportive and encouraging of Joanna throughout. A beautiful novella of overcoming fear and trusting God.

Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long
Anna Stolis is covering for her midwife aunt over Christmas, but a busy night finds her attending multiple births in one night with the help of Asa Lapp. A sweet Christmas novella of love and new beginnings. Asa is more reserved, but finds himself opening up to Anna and I liked how he is willing to help as much as he can over the course of the busy night. I loved the stories behind the quilts and how the eventful night brings Anna and Asa together.

Overall, three wonderful heartwarming romantic stories of courageous women with a passion for helping other women, who find their own chance at family in this collection. Great for fans of sweet Amish romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Anissa Telle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives by Amy Clipston; Shelley Shepard Gray; Kelly Long is a wonderful collection of stories united by the common theme of the book title. Those who like this genre will be glad to see three strong heroines who have not followed the traditional Amish cultural norms find their own happily ever after. These three stories are fascinating glimpses into the life of Amish midwives.

In Bundles of Blessings by Amy Clipston, Kristina is reunited with an old boyfriend after she is unexpectedly widowed. Kristina has found joy in her new calling as a midwife and is stronger because of it. The misadventures of Kristina and Aidan are charming.

In A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray we meet Joanna who has stopped being a midwife after a tragedy that was out of her control. Her old friend Dwight helps her find healing.

Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long follows the adventures of Anna as she has multiple responsibilities to several mother's all at once. The tie ins to quilts and a new friend Asa was a wonderful addition.

The selflessness of Kristina, Joanna, and Anna was admirable. Their characters are believable and also inspirational. You will gain a deeper understanding of Amish culture. It was inspiring to see what God has in store for their future.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Zondervan Fiction in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives is a collection of three stories. Each charming story follows the life of an Amish midwife. The softly written Christian basis of the Amish lifestyles are intriguing and I wished each story was a complete novel of its own. Perhaps the authors will surprise us with full novel sequels!
In Amy Clipston's Bundles of Blessings, Kristina Byler is trying to deal with the grief of losing her husband, her midwife duties and confronting the fact that her former boyfriend has moved back to town after eight years. Kristina is uncertain she can make another go at romance but bringing babies in the world can't stop her from thinking of having a family of her own.

Shelley Shepherd Gray's A Midwife for Susie, Joanna Zimmerman believes it's for the best to stop her midwife practice until a childhood friend, Dwight, has a sister in need of a midwife's help. Joanna struggles with the decision whether or not to return to her occupation and the fact that she's falling for her friend.

In Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long, Anna Stolis has taken over the local midwife duties to find Christmas is a popular night for babies to make their appearances! Not only that but she finds help in a very handsome man, Asa.

There was nothing better than curling up to these stories on a chilly day with a warm coffee in hand. Five stars!

I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amish Midwives by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, and Kelly Long contains three heartwarming Amish tales. I enjoyed reading these sweet Amish novellas. I thought they were well-written with charming characters. Each story has a midwife who is considered past her prime (two unmarried and one widow). I liked the midwife theme and the unique way each author presented it. We get to see the role of a midwife in an Amish community. A midwife needs to be knowledgeable about her craft as well as compassionate, organized, and professional. I could not imagine going through a home birth (I needed pain killers). There is humor is each of the stories, but it is especially prevalent in A Midwife for Susie. I laughed at Joanna’s ineptness in the kitchen and the messes she created. Christmas Cradles is a sweet tale that has snow, Christmas, and beautiful handmade quilts. Bundles of Blessings has two people who once loved each other getting a second chance. I was quickly drawn into Amy Clipston’s appealing Amish story. Her characters and storyline are appealing. I was happy there was an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the novella. There are discussion questions for each short story. Amish Midwives is one of those books that provides a delightful break from real life. Amish Midwives contains three inspiring and emotional tales that will touch your heart.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives is a beautiful collection of three short stories written by Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray and Kelly Long.
In Bundles of Blessings, by Amy Clipston, Kristina Byler is blessed to be a midwife in her Amish community. She has given up on having a family, let along remarrying after her husband Lester passed away. One birth brings her in contact with Lester's friend Aidan, who was also her first boyfriend. Kristina keeps her guard up though because Aidan broke her heart many years ago. Can a secret once hidden change the lives of Kristina and Aidan? A sweet, must-read story!
The second novella is A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray. After a tragic accident, Joanna Zimmerman is not sure she can return to her career as an Amish midwife. Can her neighbor and friend, Dwight Eicher convince her of her God-given talents before she gives up?
Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long is the final novella in this collection. Anna Stolis agrees to take over her Aunt's midwife job for a day. With the help of Asa Mast she is able to deliver three beautiful babies and discover a growing relationship in a very short period of time. A lovely story to end this collection of novellas!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from the author and have given my honest opinion.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives is an anthology by three favorite writers.

Bundles of Blessing (Amy Clipston)

Kristina Byler loved being an aunt to fifteen-month-old Betsie Lin and her sister Katy. Betsie Lin enjoyed having Kristina live with her family in Bird-in Hand, Pennsylvania.

Aiden had been heartbroken again. He had when he left Bird-in-Hand. However, he was back and heartbroken again. He knew what being hurt and betrayed was like. Was he to be single or was there someone for him?

God had the best plan for both Kristina and Aiden.

A Midwife For Susie (Shelley Shepard Gray)

Joanna Zimmerman had sworn off her midwife duties forever. But, Dwight Eicher wanted her to deliver Susie’s baby. Could she tell Dwight a mother had died while she was overseeing the delivery? Could she ever forgive herself? She agreed to be Susie’s midwife but was she making a mistake? This is a beautiful story of love and forgiveness.

Christmas Cradles (Kelly Long)

Twenty-eight-year-old Asa Mast is strong and handsome. Beautiful Anna Stolis is twenty-six. She was serious, studious, and stern. yet Asa made her laugh. They were both single.

Amish Midwives is a beautiful anthology of the ups and downs of midwives and love. I give Amish Midwives 5*/5*.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three beautiful novella's in one. First one Bundles of Blessing by Amy Clipston After Kristina Byler loses her husband and moves in with her Mother-in-law she supports herself by becoming a midwife. When her ex boyfriend comes back in the picture can they repair the damage to their relationship. Great book of forgiveness. and moving on. Second novella A Midwife for Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray Joanna Zimmerman is a midwife after a mother dies in childbirth she hides her secret and gives up helping mothers. When her best friend Dwight Eicher's sister Susie wants her to deliver her baby can Joanne forgive herself and return to delivering babies. Beautiful story of forgiving and finding love. Third novella Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long Anna Stolis takes over for her aunt Ruthie to deliver Christmas babies. Asa Lapp will help her to get to the families since his father Samuel was sick. Asa never feels he will find love due to a accident that happened when he was in his Rumspringa. Will Anna be the love he is waiting for? Beautiful written stories. Loved them all. Great characters.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives: Three Stories
By: Amy Clipston, Shelley Shepard Gray, And Kelly Long
Amish Midwives is a collection of three novellas by three wonderful authors, and each one is a different story. Bundles of Blessings by Amy Clipston is a wonderful story and I was pulled in at the start and I could not put it down. This is Kristina and Aidan’s story. This is a heart warming story about a woman who has felt grief and turned to being a Midwife. A Midwife For Susie by Shelley Shepard Gray is another wonderful story about Joanna who has felt grief and has a secret and don’t know what she should do. Should she continue to being a Midwife or not. I felt sorry for Joanna. This is another story that grabbed my heart. Christmas Cradles by Kelly Long. Anna takes over midwifing for her aunt while she is away. Christmas and the weather is terrible . Will she be able to get to her ladies that need her. Another story that touched my heart. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan Publishing and the author, but was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amish Midwives is a heartwarming, novella collection that tugs at the heartstrings and gives the reader three individual stories of courageous Amish ladies that perform the role of community midwives.

This collection was a beautiful bind up of stories that includes first love, love rekindled, recovering from past hurts, and most importantly; learning to let go and let God. I was especially impressed how each story was so unique, and despite each having the same precept, each author definitely made the story her own.

I enjoyed all three stories, and I loved how quickly I was able to get through this. Each story had me invested in the characters and the plot, and I barely wanted to put it down once I started. I also really enjoyed how each author chose a different time of the year to set the story in, and everything came together beautifully.

I've come to expect great things from these three talented ladies, and this book definitely did not disappoint. I highly recommend this one!

Final Rating: 5/5.

Thanks so much to Zondervan for allowing me to advance read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Zondervan) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.