The brand new instalment in the top 10 bestselling Cornish Midwife series!Midwife Izzy is devastated to learn that her beloved grandmother is dying. Abandoned as a baby by her own mother, her grandparents have been the only family Izzy has ever known and she wants to spend every last precious moment with them. New locum vicar, Noah, is a wonderful support - kind, considerate and always there for Izzy whenever she needs a shoulder to cry on. But secretly Noah is battling his own doubts about his faith - how can he offer Izzy comfort if he doesn't truly believe his own words? When Izzy and Noah are brought together to support grieving parents, Noah reaches breaking point. He can't stay in Port Agnes and live a lie. But Izzy is adamant it's the only place she can be.... Will love find a way or will Izzy's hopes of a future be dashed? Praise for The Cornish Midwife 'Stunning setting, wonderful characters, and oozing with warmth. A triumph from Jo Bartlett.' Jessica Redland 'Perfectly written and set in the beating heart of a community, this story is a wonderful slice of Cornish escapism.' Helen J Rolfe "I absolutely love the Cornish Midwife series, especially being an aspiring midwife from Cornwall. Despite being fiction, these books never fail to motivate me to carry on studying when things get tough and really become The Cornish Midwife myself." Tegan from Reading with Tegs (book blogger and trainee midwife) "I get so absorbed in the books from the Cornish Midwife series, I can't put them down. The characters are like my colleagues, a tight group of people who love the job they do. The stories are truly captivating and make me feel like I am working alongside the characters, as the series mirrors my working life as a Midwifery Care Assistant so well." Sandra Twyman, Midwifery Care Assistant and avid reader
This instalment concentrates on Midwife Izzy, she is so close to her grandparents who virtually brought her up when her mother abandoned her as a baby. Throw into the mix her mother who continually puts up posts online as if she is the model daughter much to Izzy’s dismay. Izzy’s heart is breaking as her beloved grandmother who she calls Nonna is dying.
In the meantime locum vicar Noah is heading to Port Agnes, he has a crisis of faith and his overbearing father continually berates him and belittles him. Noah has many fans from his last parish they have set up a social media page calling it ‘the hot vicar’ lol. Something he finds unwelcome and embarrassing.
Izzy’s grandmother loves the church and Izzy has already made her mind up about Noah thinking the opposite but as he supports the family Izzy realises her assumptions were wrong.
Everyone can see that they are made for each other, then a scandal breaks involving Noah’s father, this brings the press into the equation. Noah then decides he must leave when they decide to hunt down Izzy. Noah is leaving to protect her. Izzy views it as him running away when the going gets tough
I have mixed feelings about this book. It starts off very sad and then it lifts you up with the birth of a baby. Then later in it’s sad again and even towards the end it was difficult to read. It evoked memories of loosing family members which is not something I want to read about. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Predictable yet heartbreaking - comes with a trigger warning for cancer and stillbirth
Izzy is a midwife, and usually lives with her Grandparents in Redruth but they are currently renting a houseboat in Port Agnes as they make memories together - her grandmother, Eileen, has terminal cancer.
Noah is a church minister who is currently questioning his faith after the death of a young man he was desperately trying to help. He is sent to St Jude’s in Port Agnes temporarily by his Godfather, in the hope that the change will do him some good.
Eileen finds solace in St Jude’s and in the company of Noah, who always manages to find the right thing to say, whatever the situation. He is introduced into the family and plays a pivotal role, especially for Izzy as she learns to trust him. The question hangs over them; will he stay?
This was a quick, easy read that i completed in a day. I laughed out loud and sobbed my heart it - it was quite a rollercoaster! Whilst I’m not religious, one of my favourite quotes of the book was ‘There are good things and there are God things. If you can only do good things at the moment, that’s enough’. I think this should be a mantra for everyone!
While the main storyline was a little predictable, it was the other themes of the story that made this a great read. The fact that Izzy was raised by her grandparents and the love between them, the midwifery and the amazing work of the team there, Frankie’s side story which was lovely nonetheless and the role the dogs played throughout.
There was only one part that I found a little too cheesy but otherwise it was a great Romance. The cancer storyline was upsetting and all too relatable but it gave the whole thing a realism, and the way it was dealt with was, in my opinion, nicely done. I didn’t realise this was the fifth novel in a series, so will definitely be looking up the others!
If you are a crier, then make sure you have tissues handy while you read this, as at times it was overwhelmingly emotional and I had a big lump in my throat.
Although there is still midwifery and some babies involved, this book is Izzy's story, and all she wants to do is make the end of her grandma's life as pleasurable as possible. She has a painful relationship with her mother and doesn't let people in easily.
Eileen, Izzy's gran, is drawn towards the church in Port Agnes, and as a result brings temporary vicar Noah into their lives.
Noah is having a crisis of faith of his own, and is struggling whether he even wants to be a vicar any more. And to say Izzy isn't the only one with objectionable parents would be an understatement.
As much as I did like Noah, and I loved his growing chemistry with Izzy, just the fact he was having trouble with his own belief in God, had me more on edge than normal when a vicar is present in a book. There isn't particularly much explicit religious based content, but I was constantly on edge for it, as it's never something I enjoy in a book, as a result I just couldn't quite get into the flow of this story as much as I wanted to.
At least with regards Noah.
The storyline involving Nicole though completely gripped me, and i absolutely loved getting to know Frankie at lot more, and hope she is getting her own book soon!
It's another enjoyable instalment in the series, and I hope to read more from my favourite midwives soon.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Jo Bartlett you’ve done it again. Broken my heart and then mended it again with your beautiful story of Izzy and Noah. I loved the idea of the houseboat for Izzy’s grandparents and her time with the two of them was so special. The slow burn of Izzy and Noah’s relationship was so lovely to read, they both had such need for eachother at such difficult times in their lives. Jo Bartlett writes with such compassion and difficult subjects are covered so sensitively and I’ve loved being back in this warm and inviting community in Port Agnes.
I think I’d maybe better alert you to the fact that you’re definitely going to need tissues for this one – tell you what, make it two boxes, just to be on the safe side. Izzy’s lovely grandmother Eileen is terminally ill – her grandparents brought her up, surrounded by love and taking the place of a mother who was never there for her – but she’s still active thanks to her current drug regime, and she and her husband George have hired a houseboat in Port Agnes for the summer to be closer to their much loved midwife granddaughter. There’s a certain inevitability about how things progress, but it’s beautifully handled – the relationships between them all are something particularly special, and there are plenty of moments of lightness and sheer joy throughout.
Missing her garden at home in Redruth, Eileen enjoys spending time at St Jude’s, looking after the flowers – where Noah is covering the absence of Reverend Sampson. Noah’s struggling with his faith after a traumatic personal experience – and he could also rather do without all the social media attention he’s been getting through his “hot vicar” following on Instagram. At first, Izzy’s not quite sure what to make of him – but her barriers are lowered when they find themselves supporting a young couple through the extreme grief of their loss, and a lovely supportive relationship begins to develop. But life intervenes – as Eileen’s health worsens, Noah isn’t there when she needs him – and the possibility of a happy ending amid all the sadness looks increasingly unlikely.
I’d hate anyone to get the impression that this book is all tears and sadness though – it most certainly isn’t, it’s filled with warmth and ultimately uplifting, and the emotional content is really sensitively handled and nicely balanced by the focus on the day-to-day business of the midwifery team and the lives of all the individuals we’ve grown to know through the earlier books. There are some of the loveliest events and celebrations – and I did particularly enjoy the development of Frankie’s story, a character previously rather more in the background who I really warmed to. There’s plenty of light humour too – much of it provided by Gwen and her total absence of filter.
There’s a real chemistry between Izzy and Noah – the story is told from both their perspectives – and I was very much invested in them both, two people I entirely took to my heart. And relationships are something the author does so well – that closeness between Izzy and her grandparents was really moving and especially well handled. I also enjoyed (wrong word maybe?) Noah’s struggles with his faith, the support of his uncle and the more combative relationship with his father – and the way that particular storyline then unfolded. And I really have to mention the dogs – particularly little dachshund Pablo, a real character and a wonderful source of emotional support.
Although you’d be missing out on the background, this story really is strong enough and sufficiently self-contained to be read as a standalone – but, if you do, I guarantee you’ll want to read the rest of this wonderful series. Despite the many tears, I really loved this book – and recommend it really highly.
It’s easy to see why so many readers have fallen under the spell of Port Agnes and the Cornish midwives. Jo Bartlett’s wonderfully poignant, engrossing and emotional series continues to go from strength to strength and the latest installment, A Leap of Faith For the Cornish Midwife, is a hopeful and feel-good page-turner guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.
Midwife Izzy is devastated when she hears the news that her beloved grandmother is dying. When her mother had abandoned her as a baby, Izzy’s grandparents had taken her in and given her a home. They are the only family she has ever known and it breaks Izzy’s heart to know that she doesn’t have much time left with her grandmother. In desperate need of comfort and support, she turns to local vicar Noah for help, unaware that the locum has got problems of his own to contend with…
Kind, considerate and gentle Noah is always there willing to lend a helping hand and a listening ear when needed. Nothing is too much trouble for Noah and knowing how much support Izzy needs at the moment, he is always there ready to dispense advice and offer a kind word when needed. But lately Noah has found himself grappling with his faith. He has been having doubts about his future in the church and he cannot help but wonder just how much help he can be to his parishioners when he cannot find strength and comfort in the words he is using to soothe the locals of Port Agnes.
When Izzy and Noah are brought together to comfort grieving parents, they both come to a startling realization. Noah can no longer stay in Port Agnes where he is constantly haunted by his old life as a vicar whilst Izzy cannot imagine ever living anywhere else. Can Izzy and Noah find a way to be together even if all the odds are stacked against them? Or is Izzy going to end up heartbroken and disappointed?
Jo Bartlett’s books aim for the heart and do not miss! A Leap of Faith for the Cornish Midwife is a heartwarming story that will make readers laugh and cry. A touching, dramatic and emotional tale about love, loss, grief and hope, A Leap of Faith for the Cornish Midwife is told with sensitivity, compassion and plenty of heart.
Izzy and Noah are two wonderful characters that readers will care for. They are mature, complex and believable protagonists I couldn’t help but become invested in and while reading the book, I kept everything crossed that love would find a way to keep them together.
With A Leap of Faith for the Cornish Midwife, Jo Bartlett has written an enjoyable and uplifting romantic treat that makes for required summer reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Leap of Faith for the Cornish Midwife is a charming romance reader that will tug at your heartstrings.
Oh, Jo knows how to write a story that takes my emotions on a wild and unforgettable ride. Once again, I find myself falling head over heels in love with the Cornish Midwife world. This is the fifth book in the series, and like other books, in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone (Jo does a fabulous job at bringing her readers up to speed). But it is a beautiful series, so I highly recommend reading the other books in the series; you won’t be disappointed.
A Leap of Faith For The Cornish Midwife focuses on Izzy, whose story we started to follow in the previous book. Izzy has a wonderful relationship with her grandparents. They raised her, and Izzy just adores them. In the last book, Izzy is trying to come to terms that her Nonna (Eileen) is sick and doesn’t have much longer to live (you may want to grab the tissue box for this book). At the beginning of this book, we learn that Eileen underwent a medical treatment that helped subside her symptoms enough to allow her to live a little longer. Izzy and her grandparents plan on spending this precious time they have left doing all the things Nonna had on her bucket list. Izzy’s relationship with her grandparents made this book shine for me. It reminds me of my close relationship with my Nanny and how important it is to cherish the time we spend together.
I have to hand it to Jo; she knows how to make each book in this series unique and stand out in its own way. There isn’t a book that I haven’t enjoyed. Each story tackles an important issue: grief, family problems, faith, or societal issues. Jo does a wonderful job at approaching these issues in a well-thought-out manner; you can tell that she has done her research. This book focuses on faith and how hard it can be to keep one’s faith in God when cruel and heartbreaking things happen. We see this crisis of faith in Noah, a vicar; he is struggling with his faith because of the tragedy he went through. I enjoyed watching Noah’s journey and how events in the book helped him to see the good in the world. As always, this book has plenty of wonderful and heartbreaking midwifery moments.
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion*
Another great book for this series! Jo Bartlett does an amazing job of balancing the romance parts of the stories with the midwifery parts. This is probably the most emotionally exhausting of the books. Between Izzy's grandmother's failing health and Nicole's miscarriage there is just so much going on - I highly recommend you keep a box of tissues nearby. But don't worry, there are plenty of uplifting and happy moments to keep this from being too heavy. I loved getting to know Izzy more and seeing her with her grandparents more. Her mother is a piece of work and would have loved just one scene where Izzy let her mother know what she thought of her (even just a post on Facebook to show people what she was really like) - but these characters are all much better people than me. Noah and Izzy came into one another's lives at exactly the right time for both of them. Noah's story and crisis of faith is one that I think a lot of people could relate to. I'm not a religious person and I was worried this would have too much of that kind of a tone to it - I was so glad to see that was not the case. Faith is an important part of the story for many of the characters but I didn't feel like I was being smacked over the head with it. Perfect example of it being a part of who some of the characters were, but not all they were. I hope the way in which Nicole's miscarriage is handled helps people better understand what a family goes through and offers help with how to be supportive.
You also get a quick check-in with all of the characters/couples from the previous books. It was good to see how Jess was doing and that her father was still putting in the work to be in Jess's life. His little romance with Frankie is especially adorable. I can't wait for the next book!
I have read and loved all of The Cornish Midwife series, but I can honestly say that none of them have ever gripped my heart and made me cry so much.
If you have read any of the other books in this series, then you know that Izzy is a midwife in Port Agnes, but what few people know is that her Grandmother Ellen is dying, Izzy's Grandparents are the people who raised her and loved her when her own mother was too narcissistic to care. But to fulfill one of Izzy's Grandmothers' "bucket list" requests, Izzy and her Grandparents are staying on a houseboat for the summer.
But there is a new temporary vicar in Port Agnes, But Noah was struggling with his faith, not only because of the loss of a very close friend, his overbearing father but also being stalked by a member of the congregation, who took photos of him and posted them online. But from his first day in Port Agnes, he met some wonderful people, especially Ellen, who from their first meeting embraced him as a friend, and introduced him to Izzy.
But nothing is smooth sailing in life and Izzy and Noah's summer had been a myriad of storms, but when things start to settle will they be able to find each other again?
I cannot tell you just how much I loved this book, evening if it's heartbreaking in parts. You can tell that not only did the author take a lot of care researching the book, but poured all her love into the words too!
I absolutely love the Cornish midwife Series so was eagerly looking forward to reading this one which is the fifth instalment in the series. These books Can be read standalone if you haven’t read the series but for the full enjoyment I highly recommend you Read them all.
This story concentrated on the character of Izzy as the central focal point of the story although the other Midwife’s and inhabitants of Port Agnes also feature including the introduction of Noah the new stand in vicar of the parish who is the subject of lots of attention albeit not always of the welcomed variety. Can Noah help Izzy to work her way through how she is feeling about her grandma nonna illness and can Izzy help Noah to work through what is going on behind the closed doors of the church and in his heart.
This was a heartwarming yet heartbreaking in places instalment and I was hooked from the first page and almost read it in one sitting. It felt fabulous to be transported back to the amazing midwifes and the fabulous job they do caring from the people of port Agnes. These books have a real Community spirit of friendship love and kindness and how everyone works together to make living their a better place.
A highly emotive book, with some very difficult subjects covered.
Midwife Izzy lives with her grandparents, who have brought her up after her mother moved to the other side of the world. When they discover her grandmother does not have long to live, the family move into Port Agnes to build precious memories. Can they fill Eileen's final days with love and joy?
Vicar Noah finds himself covering the parish of Port Agnes, whilst doubting his own beliefs. Can he help the family cope with their feelings whilst struggling with his own?
Unfortunately I found the predictable relationship between Izzy and Noah very slow, and not totally believable. I did however adore Pablo and Franny, who were beautiful little characters!
The book also covers some extremely difficult maternity storylines, which I personally struggled to read. The author tackles them sensitively, but they made for tough reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review. This is the latest book in the Cornish Midwife series and although you don't have to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one, I'd recommend you do because Port Agnes is a lovely place to be and the team of midwives are a fabulous bunch of people to get to know.
This book mainly concentrates on Izzy who is trying to come to terms with the fact that she doesn't have long left with her beloved Nonna and what life will be like for her and her Grandfather and we have Noah who has been sent to Port Agnes to cover the absence of the Reverend Sampson. Unfortunately Noah has his own troubles with a crisis of faith and worries about how he can offer comfort to the community.
Fabulous to be back in Port Agnes and I'm already looking forward to my next trip.
Let me just start with saying that I adore the midwives of Port Agnes, their friendship and companionship just shines a beacon throughout the story. The main character Izzy is such a sweetheart and a wonderful character, who I was rooting for throughout the book. The other main character, Noah, wasn’t bad either. But I found him less interesting than Izzy. This book will tug at your heartstrings, and while I do enjoy some emotional parts of a story there was just a bit too much sadness in this to make me feel-good afterwards. There was also some anger and guilt, especially from Noah, that just ruined the mood. But if you don’t care about that, or are less sensitive than me to that kind of stuff, the book is a great story about love, family, friendship and loss. --- Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I am absolutely loving this series and was super excited to get to visit the wonderful midwives again. During this visit we spend more time with Izzy who we've briefly been introduced to in the past.
As Izzy and her Grandparents relocate for summer, Izzy becomes acutely aware of the life firsts that she is going to miss out on with her Grandmother. Which in turn makes her even more determined to spend time with her and make the most of the time they do have.
With the addition of some new characters including the latest arrival for Bobby & Toni. Plus the ever popular Reverend Noah who is stepping in for summer, it was great to get to know some different characters.
What is there not to love in this heartfelt series, each book is full of emotion as we spend time and go through the highs and lows with these wonderful ladies and their families.
I haven't read all of the books in this series as yet, but the ones I have are highly enjoyable.
We venture back to the gorgeous Port Agnes. In this book we follow Izzy and Noah (the hot vicar) and watch their slow-burning relationship begin to ignite. The midwives are all so lovely, and there's such a fantastic sense of community spirit between them and the other residents of Port Agnes.
As always Bartlett comes up trumps with a beautifully written story which is uplifting, heartwarming and in places absolutely heartbreaking.
There are some hard hitting themes which are dealt with in a sensitive manner (stillbirth and cancer).
Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.
How she does it ? Each one of her books is amazing . I should say that this one was the most emotional for me . This is Izzy and Noah story . She was raised by her grandparents because her mother never wanted her . Now her grandma is dying and she trying to spent as much time with her as possible . The new vicar is a young man who is having douth about his faith . Her grandma is the one who will bring them together . Together they help a couple who lost ther baby . I loved that we see again all the midwives . I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Life's beginnings and endings define this emotional and heartwarming story. Izzy experiences an emotional journey of loss and love. Her grandparents are lovely people who have brought Izzy up, and her grandmother's illness makes her vulnerable. Gradually she realises the value of good friendships and understanding from the other midwives and the new vicar, Noah. Full of poignancy and gentle humour, this is a page-turner that touches your heart. Authentic characters, a coastal setting, and an engagingly emotional plot make this one of my favourite books I've read this year.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I love this series by Jo Bartlett. Each midwife has her own story and this book focuses on Izzy, who is spending the summer with her grandparents on a houseboat in Port Agnes. Unfortunately for Izzy, her grandmother Eileen is dying and she knows their time together is limited. Vicar Noah is a great support for Eileen even though he is questioning his calling and his future. Even though Izzy and Noah find themselves becoming more attracted to each other, it becomes difficult for them to see a way forward.
This series just gets better with each book. Izzy who was brought up by her grandparents and loves them very much is devastated by the news that her grandmother is dying. Noah is filling in for Reverend Sampson as vicar of St Judes and he is struggling with his faith and beliefs. Such a sad start to this book and my heart ached for Gracie’s grieving parents. Port Agnes is a special place and when Izzy meets Noah she is drawn to him. A special and uplifting story full of babies, dogs, warmth and good deeds.
How lovely to catch up with the busy midwives at Port Agnes unit. Lovely to catch up on the babies being born. This book has sensitively dealt with many taboo subjects and it was a book I cried out and sobbed with in many places. The book introduced the new fit vicar Noah and he was lovely to read about and to see him grow unseen he love of Eileen and his Godfather Jeremy. This was a lovely book. Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Another lovely read from Jo Bartlett, I loved being back with the familiar faces of the midwives. This story centres in Izzy. Izzy is trying to come to terms with the prospect of losing her beloved grandmother Eileen who has terminal cancer. When Noah and his wee dog Pablo arrive in the village to stand in for Reverend Sampson he helps both Izzy and Eileen deal with the future ahead of them. Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for no 5 in the Cornish Midwife Series.
It's great to catch up with the midwives of Port Agnes, if you're a regular reader of Jo Bartlett's Cornish Midwife series. If you haven't read any of them you have a great series to start. Izzy has a tough time ahead with her grandmother's cancer spreading and her mother acting like neither of them matter. But meeting new vicar Noah is like a breath of fresh air for Gran and a lesson in trust for Izzy.
I have loved every book in the series the storylines for each character has been perfect reading getting to know each individual member of the story has been great. Love is storylines regarding midwives and how they work in the small community. If I could write it more than 5 stars I would do. Can't wait to see what Jo brings out next x
Another wonderful addition to this series of The Cornish Midwife. Telling the story of Izzy, with all the familiar characters. So well written, has a bit of everything, drama, joy, heartache, love, strong friendships, hilarious one liners from Gwen. Just like the rest of the series I couldn’t put it down.
I love the Cornish Midwife series, each book still makes references to people who were in the other books, so you don't feel like you are losing touch with anyone. This book, was no different, but oh my, it was sooo sad. I cried so much! But I couldn't not read it! It was a beautiful story just like all of the others in this series. I can't wait for the next one.