The Midwife's Child

WW2 Resistance #3

by Amanda Lees

‘Save her,’ she begs, drawing her last, quavering breaths. ‘Save my baby. Find her father. And reunite them.’ Both of our tears fall on the tiny creature in my arms, only minutes old and already in terrible danger. There’s never any doubt – of course I’ll do all I can. But will it be enough?

Auschwitz, January 1945: forced on a terrifying death march from the notorious concentration camp, midwife and former secret agent Maggie must find the strength to protect the tiny baby girl her dying friend left to her care. Only days old, little Leah is in terrible danger – from the Nazis, from the freezing weather, from starvation.

So when a company of Scottish soldiers led by brave Major Jamie Maclean rescues the marching women, Maggie’s relief knows no bounds. But it’s on making herself known to Jamie that she has the biggest shock of her life – they fall in love at first sight, a lightning bolt of joy in the darkest of times. Jamie vows to do whatever he can to help Maggie recover, and to assist in her mission to find Leah’s father and reunite them.

But first Jamie must set off on an operation of his own, deep in Nazi-controlled territory, so after a tender farewell and a promise to see each other soon, he and Maggie part. And then, only days later, she hears the news every sweetheart dreads: he’s missing, presumed killed in action.

Grief-stricken and unable to believe Jamie’s fate, she swears to do everything in her power to find him. But her first duty is to little Leah, who looks up at her with such trusting eyes. Can Maggie find out what happened to Jamie, while keeping the tiny infant safe? Just how far can love, courage and a stubborn need to know the truth get her? And is Maggie really willing to risk everything for a man she may not even find alive…?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Holocaust

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2023

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does love really conquer all?

You’ll have to read Amanda Lee’s third installment of the World War Two Resistance series to find out.

‘Love story’ and ‘Auschwitz’ are not often three words one expects to be put together in a sentence. Let author Amanda Lees show you how love blossomed in the most unlikely of places.

Inspired by the real romance between John Mackay and Edith ‘Eci’ Steiner, Lees writes to spotlight hope, sacrifice and determination, three words that we do often associate with wartime historical fiction.

I think this is the best one yet; the author has blended historical fact and fiction, bundling everything I love about this cross and placed it within the pages of this fantastic read. You’ll notice themes of courage, duty, and love played out against a backdrop of considerable cruelty and hardship. Your heart will be softened knowing that in Maggie’s hands, Eva’s promise is sure to be carried out … at any cost.

Maggie, a prisoner, has been selected to work as a doctor in Auschwitz and has the misfortune of (1) working with Dr. Joseph Mengele and (2) being with her friend Eva when she gives birth in such the most extreme adversity imaginable. Both of these experiences have a profound impact on Maggie’s future. Author Amanda Lees plays off the polar emotions of love and hatred. We see Maggie deal with the most fearsome Nazi of all and then care for a sweet, innocent little girl who needs protection and nourishment. I loved seeing Maggie grasp a chance at happiness, knowing that if anyone could do it, she definitely could.

It was great reuniting with Lees's characters from books 1 and 2 and seeing Maggie’s character develop. I loved Lee’s ability to pull the past and present together with her use of timelines and flashbacks. This meant that I needed to be continually aware of chapter title clues, but was rewarded with a story rich in hope, compassion and overcoming against all odds.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, WWII historical fiction novel. It has a likable female protagonist, tragedy, loss, the horrors of the Holocaust, strength, resilience, hope, and a gratifying conclusion. This is the third entry in the WW2 Resistance series, and it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. The appearance of characters from the first two novels has piqued my interest in reading their stories. I listened to the audio book, and the author, who has a lovely voice, does an outstanding job voicing her characters.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Paris at First Light, the book right before this one in the WWII Resistance series I knew this book would be hard to get through. Yes, it was not an easy read, how could humans be so brutally cruel to each other without even seeming to care how it affected the ones on the receiving end. But more importantly this book is so important to read because despite its dark happenings it is a beacon of light. For in each situation there is hope. The characters display incredible bravery, and you see this displayed time and time again during war and tragedies. People going out of their way despite the incredible danger they may be putting themselves in they are right here doing all they can to help.
I highly recommend this book.

May 16, 2023 publish date.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midwife’s Child is book three in the WW2 Resistance series. Books one and two were The Silence Before Dawn and Paris at First Light. All three books in this stunning trilogy are five star reads. In this latest book, Maggie saves the life of tender newborn Leah. Born in a concentration camp, with a cruel doctor conducting horrifying experiments, especially on young children, Maggie does everything within her power to save little Leah. Willing to risk life or limb, Maggie is determined to deliver Leah safely to her father, a man who has lost most of his family.

Major Jamie Maclean proves a formidable ally when it comes to the lengths he goes through to assist Maggie. However, at some point, the
pair become separated, but not before strong feelings had arisen between them. Maggie has no choice but to assume the worst. However, she decides not to give up, and does what she can to find Jamie, even if this means fighting the powers that be when it comes to the responsibilities that she has.

Having read a considerable amount of historical fiction, as well as remembering history lessons from school, imagining the pain and travesty at Auschwitz and other concentration camps breaks my heart. However, this story surprised me. While on the one hand it brought tears to my eyes, there was also reasons to cry for joy. I love how strong Maggie was despite terrible opposition. I also loved how real her feelings were when it came to the despicable doctor who was conducting those experiments. I am sure had I been in her shoes I would most likely have felt the same way. And then, when you consider how much she loved the baby she saved, how compassionate she was to other concentration camp prisoners and how she wondered about happiness for herself, this book was utterly compelling and truly impressive. Amanda Lees writes amazing stories and I loved meeting all of the strong women in this series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midwife's Child is the 3rd book in the WW2 Resistance series, but it can be read as a standalone book. The majority of the story takes place after the Concentration camps have been liberated, but there are some chapters interspersed at the beginning that give information about what happened to Maggie and others while in Auschwitz. Maggie is a junior doctor who was arrested in Lyon, France trying to blow up railway lines. She ended up in Auschwitz working in the camp hospital with the notorious Dr. Mengele. She also works at the camp midwife. When Eva, a young Jewish woman gives birth in the barracks, they don't have any choice but to transport her to the hospital so she doesn't die from blood loss. Mengele allows her child, Leah, to live hoping to use her in one of his experiments when she is old enough. Before he has a chance, the Germans abandon the camp and march the prisoners west to get away from the advancing Russian troops. The allies are also advancing from the west and at one point, Maggie, Leah and a young nurse Hanna escape the group and are rescued. The rest of the story takes place after that time with Maggie trying to get back to France to find Leah's father. She falls in love with a British Soldier who saved her, and when they are separated and both on dangerous missions they are both in danger of losing their lives. Will they find each other again?

I have read a lot of WWII fiction lately and wasn't sure if I would be okay reading another one, but the emphasis on after the war intrigued me. Yes, there are some tragic and horrific scenes and descriptions set in the camps, but more of the book is set after that. Reading how they had to travel in areas that were held by the Russians, as well as some still under German control before getting to the allies was very interesting. I also learned a lot about the displaced persons and how the nazis tried to sneak into France to escape to Spain. I knew about Mengele, but this was so much more realistic and shared about the people affected not so much his experiments that I had read about in other books. This story was about the people who survived, those fighting in the resistance and for the SOE and SAS. The risks they took to end the war and bring war criminals to justice. It also tells about the everyday people and their trials and tribulations to try and get their lives back after the war. I liked the stories of friendship and yes, even the romance that develops under these terrible conditions. Little Leah was a beacon of hope to so many and I loved that she was such a strong baby and a survivor herself. This is a story of hope, forgiveness, strength, friendship, moving on, love, and courage. I also liked the notes at the end that Amanda Lees shares about her research and the people she met and talked to. If you like historical fiction and want to know more about how the prisoners of the camps survived and some of the spying and missions that went on to capture the nazi war criminals, then I recommend you pick up this well written story.

[Jayne Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely do quarter stars but I think 3.75 feels right for this. It is historical fiction about Maggie, who is imprisoned at Auschwitz. She is a doctor and delivers a baby shortly before the camp is liberated by the Soviets. She promises the mother that she will keep the baby safe and find the father. Her journey to do so is full of danger and close calls. Among other things, the book discusses the "experiments" conducted by Nazi doctors on the prisoners - I think calling attention to those atrocities is important. When I first checked this out from Hoopla, I didn't realize that it was 3rd in a series. Reading the previous books would have added some context for the character, but I don't think my enjoyment was hampered by not being familiar with those stories. The audio had some quality problems - swallowing and other sounds were not always edited out and there were a couple of places where sentences repeated. Overall, it was good historical fiction covering a viewpoint/time/place that I haven't read before.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Midwife’s Child, is the third book in the World War 2 Resistance series by Amanda Lees. It has a harrowing and emotional opening as a woman lies on the brick stove at the centre of her block in Auschwitz. Eva is a French Jew who has lost her twins to the hands of Dr. Mengele and is now giving birth to a little girl Leah. She calls her for her husband Antoine but he is not at the camp but she has Maggie, who was training to be a doctor and a nurse Hanna by her side, both fellow inmates at the camp. January, 1945 and orders are issued to begin marching from the camp. The Germans know the Soviets are drawing ever closer and they are trying to get rid of every piece of evidence of their crimes and brutality. Eva is in no fit state to be moved so Maggie agrees to smuggle baby Leah from the camp in the hopes that she can reunite her with her father. Maggie realises she knows Antoine through her work as a Resistance member and she is determined that she will fulfil Eva’s wish.

The chapters move back and forth between the months prior to the evacuation and the present where Maggie suffers greatly on the way and what follows thereafter is also detailed. My feelings regarding this are detailed further on. The scenes that are described are haunting and harrowing as an already weakened group suffer through the Polish countryside in winter. But Maggie is steadfast in wanting to keep her promise and as baby Leah clings to her she hopes with all her might that a miracle may occur in that she may reach safety and ultimately reunite with her Resistance colleagues. The group are ambushed as they walk but thankfully it is the Soviets who pick off the German soldiers and amongst them is a British man named Captain Jamie MacClean.

The minute Jamie set eyes on Maggie he fell in love with her and it was as if she was the one, he had been seeking his entire life. As the chapters progress and Maggie finds herself in a displaced persons camp, she too begins to reciprocate the feelings that Jamie has. But the love they share is to be severely tested time and time again. At times, I did think the connection and romance between the pair was down played a little bit in that other factors of the story took more precedence and I suppose this did initially annoy me but I came to realise that their relationship was a backdrop of sorts to a bigger story unfolding and that it would come to the fore and slot into place at the appropriate time. As the pair are separated due to the nature of Jamie’s war work, Maggie’s priority lies with Leah and her dedication is nothing short of remarkable. But at the back of her mind is always the hope that Jamie will survive the challenges that war will bring him and that they can be reunited but there is a lot of water to flow under the bridge before any of that could possibly happen.

I have to say that I much preferred the chapters when Maggie reaches Paris as opposed to the ones which focused on her time on the camp. I questioned why they were there given we knew the outcome but having had time to reflect they were necessary for the reader to really gain an insight and good understanding of what fuelled the fire in Maggie’s belly. She had been to hell and back, to the eye out of the storm and knowing what she knew and what she had experienced, it only inspired her to keep going with the cause. I thought the scenes set in Paris and the ones in particular which featured a hotel now turned into a centre for displaced people were great as they allowed a sense of mystery to develop as to what unusual characters were up to. It also showed how people freed from camps had to cope in their new, alternative world so very different to the one they had previously known. I loved how Maggie got right back into Resistance work and some of the characters that had featured in the previous books made a reappearance. One in particular, I feel there could be a further book about but that mightn’t happen. Maggie wants to strike back for all the people that were needlessly killed in Auschwitz and the millions of other people too. How she goes about doing this whilst staying true to her morals and beliefs was very good and also her longing for Jamie remained evident throughout also.

The first half of the book I did find quite confusing sometimes because it felt like I had skipped chapters and I knew I hadn’t. Which meant you really had to take note of the chapter headings which detailed specific dates and places in which the events of that chapter occurred. I found the chapters really moved around the place, back and forth up until halfway the halfway point and when this ended, I was slightly relieved because I then found the events and strands of the story much easier to follow. There was no more crossing over or repetition which didn’t move the story on. Instead things settled into a much better rhythm and I found my self enjoying the story much more as I didn’t have to be as aware of the headings as I needed to previously. The setting and the content within each chapter was clearer and much more structured than it had been before. This sounds like I have a major gripe with the book but honestly I don’t as once I what I found to be a problem sorted itself out I found it easier to follow what was going on and my empathy for the characters grew. So much so that I think Maggie, has been the best female protagonist out of the three books.

The words that strongly sum up Maggie would be for me resilience, persistence, determination, devotion and strength. She is just relentless in terms of her passion throughout the book. That once she makes a promise she never goes back on it and despite having suffered such trauma, suffering and brutalisation at the hands of the Germans at Auschwitz, she still wants to carry on to the bitter end and help her colleagues and friends in the Resistance network in any way shape or form that she can. It says that she spent only five months in the camp as she was captured when trying to plant bombs on a train line near Lyon and although this was a relatively short time period in terms of the overall war and how long other innocent people spent there still the effects of what she witnessed and endured are not to be under estimated.

Maggie’s burning desire to seek revenge on Dr. Mengele for all that he put young children through deserved nothing but admiration. She was like a dog with a bone. Once she had something set out in her mind she was determined to see it through to the bitter end no matter the hardship, hurt and anxiety that she would have to go through. I loved her for all of these traits and just the fact she had such a no-nonsense attitude. She always laid things on the line as they were and if she made a promise to someone as she did regarding baby Leah she would fulfil it no matter the challenges that presented themselves in the process of doing so. There was no messing around with Maggie. She wasn’t evasive or shirking away from her duties or responsibilities and having spent so long working for the Resistance Network she had built up so much strength both physically and emotionally that I really felt she was the right woman to show that love can conquer all and her inner strength and steadfastness are qualities which she had in abundance and what made me think of her as the stand out character in the series.

The Midwife’s Child was a great read and without question the best book in the series. If this proves to be the last in the series than it has ended on a high but I wouldn’t say no to another book as I think Amanda Lees writes so well about the work of women in the Resistance. She has given the women and their bravery, courage and strength a very strong voice. At times, this is a harrowing and difficult read which only further opens the readers eyes to the unnecessary atrocities committed by Hitler and his accomplices. The story that unfolds is very intense and detailed but amidst it all are rays of hope, positivity, unity and love which help in some small way to balance out of all the evil and horror that unfolds. It’s definitely one not to miss out on regardless of whether you have read the previous two books or not.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best

I can honestly say this was a great story based on real events. I too, have often wondered how the Allies could ignore all the information that was given them about what was actually happening. Was it the anti Semitism that was so prevalent amongst governments which sadly continues to exist even in the 21st century? Or was it they couldn't believe a so called civilized society like Germany could produce people like Dr. Mengeles, Hitler, Himmler, etc? The story of Doctors like Maggie and people like her who tried to bring humanity to places like Auschwitz, Bergen Belsen, etc run by the evil that gripped these inhumane places of man's inhumanity to man need to be told so it will never be forgotten. Loved the book and the characters. Maggie was a true humanitarian with all of the quirks of every one of us, rage and revenge but tender and loving as well. Jamie is a perfect partner for her because he too has wrestled with his nightmares. Beautifully written fictionalized story of how love in the end always triumphs.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed the book and Maggie, its lead character (who was a doctor, not just a midwife). It seemed this book is part of a series, and not having read the books that precede it, there were parts that made less sense to me.

[Kayla Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midwife’s Child by Amanda Lees is the sort of book that you find impossible to put down and stays with you long after you turn the last page. The main character, Maggie, is a powerhouse character. She is strength, she is determination, she is bravery, she is selflessness, she is phenomenal.

Maggie is sent as a political prisoner to Auschwitz from France and is ordered to work in the camp hospital due to her being a doctor. To Maggie’s horror, she finds herself working with the devil himself, Joseph Mengele. Maggie’s dear friend Eva gives birth in Auschwitz and while Eva fights for her life, Maggie vows to keep the baby safe at all costs. While on a death March, Maggie is rescued by a Scottish squadron leader Jamie, in the woods, her knight in shining armor. Maggie is determined to fulfill Eva’s dying wish: reunite the baby with her father in France, no matter what, even if that means possibly losing Jamie, the man she quickly fell in love with.

So many examples of love, bravery, honor, commitment, duty, and friendship are displayed in this novel. It’s a very well-written novel and Amanda Lees does an extraordinary job at bringing her characters alive and having you fall in love with them all. This is a must read. I wish I could give this book more than five stars.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Midwife’s child
By: Amanda Lees
This is the 3rd book in the Resistance Series, but can be read as a standalone. I loved all of these books. The first one was The Silence Before Dawn, followed by Paris at First Light and now this one The Midwife’s Child.

Auschwitz in 1945-Maggie is Auschwitz as a doctor, following Dr. Mengele’s orders, which is very hard as he is a Nazi. She is a resistance fighter who was in prison for her actions. One day she delivers a baby and the mother is dying. Her last wish as she pleads with Maggie’s is to “Save my baby. Find her father. And reunite them.” Dr. Mengele wants the little girl because she has blue eyes and he does experiments. Maggie must do everything in her power to get little Leah out of the camp.

Then the march begins, and Maggie along with others manage to escape in the hands of soldiers from the Red Army. Captain Jamie Maclean rescues them and will do everything in his power to help Maggie get Leah to her father. He realizes he is in awe of Maggie and feelings develop.
While on the search for Antoine, the father of little Leah she finds out Mengele has escaped and she knows he has something that was left behind that can prove what he and other Nazis did to the people of the camp.

This novel has intrigue, depth and had me up super late as I was thoroughly engrossed to find out if Leah would be reunited with her father in time. I highly recommend this novel as well as the others in the series.

I will miss this series, and look forward to more of Lees novels.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Stuff 'n' Things

The Midwife's Child is an emotional rollercoaster that although is work of fiction, it's based on things that actually happened and real people with the love story element between Maggie and Jamie being based on the true story of a Scottish Commando who met a young woman in a displaced persons camp who had survived the death march.

This is the third in this series but I think it works successfully as a standalone because whilst there are recurring characters, each book is a separate story which focusses on one of those recurring characters.

The Midwife's Child centres around Maggie, a former SOE Special Operations Executive) but now incarcerated in Auschwitz following her capture. There she finds herself working in the camp hospital where the devil incarnate, Joseph Mengele, practised his infamous experiments and where Maggie is determined to save the life of her friend Eva and new born, Leah. The end of the war is fast approaching and the Russians are getting close, Eva is too unwell to go on the forced march so she begs Maggie to save her child and reunite her with her father. A seemingly impossible task but one which Maggie vows to complete.

Told from two timelines, from her time as a doctor working in the 'hospital' at Auschwitz towards the end of the war and the period afterwards, The Midwife's Child is a story of exceptional courage, duty, love, friendship and hope and a story that I highly recommended to those of you who enjoy this genre and I have to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Midwife's Child.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie is in the Resistance but is captured after trying to blow up a train line in Lyons and taken to Auschwitz. Fortunately, Maggie is also a doctor and so she is made to work in the hospital, where she witnessed horrendous torture of the camp prisoners as well as witnessing the people who were chosen to go to the gas chamber by Josef Mengele.

Eva is pregnant and dying & Maggie helps her to give birth to a beautiful baby girl called Leah. But Leah has blue eyes and it is down to Maggie and Hanna, who also helps in the nursery to save her.

With the Russians fast approaching, Maggie takes Leah with her as the Germans match them through the woods to who knows where. We follow Maggie and Leah’s escape and journey back to France, where Maggie wants to find Leah’s father, Antoine and give him back his surviving child.

This is an emotional and powerful book, full of love and hate. A poignant story that even now, 78 years later, we still need to learn from it.

A story of courage, bravery, love and hope. A story that I will never forget.

You can see the research that has gone into this book. There are no holds barred and so there shouldn’t be. Millions suffered and died during WW2 and we all owe these people a massive debt. They died so we could live. Lest we forget.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Tracy Eyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. The Midwife’s Child by Amanda Lees is a historical fiction novel based on the events leading up to the end of the second world war. It’s told from the viewpoint of a former SOE turned POW who has survived her time in a concentration camp. It is the third book in the WW2 Resistance series and ties up a lot of loose ends. The story begins with Maggie, a resistance fighter and doctor who is living in a concentration camp treating patients. She works under one of the most hated men in history and vows to survive in order to recount all the pain and senseless death she has been made to witness. Having read the previous books in the series, I had already developed a liking for the main characters and was familiar with their relationships. I was already intrigued by Maggie and was very much looking forward to how the story was going to play out. In the beginning, I found the story a little tougher to follow than the first two books in the series because of its structure. The story contained a mixture of present time as well as flashbacks which I found to be a bit confusing. I found that as long as I paid attention to the dates at the beginning of each chapter, I was more able to focus on the series of events that lead to Maggie’s new identity. Overall, the story clearly wrapped up many of the loose ends from the second novel and I really enjoyed it.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Midwife’s Child, author Amanda Lees brings us yet another incredibly powerful Second World War historical fiction novel. This is the third instalment of her WW2 Resistance series but works well as a standalone story too, and it was my introduction to the series.

Amanda Lees is very quickly becoming one of my absolute favourite historical fiction authors. Her compelling storytelling captures your emotions from the very first page and immerses you in the story, taking you on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey through beautifully crafted tension, utterly heartbreaking moments and also heartwarming scenes of compassion, selflessness and light amongst the utter darkness of the subject matter.

The story of The Midwife’s Child is told through a fractured timeline. The majority of the narrative is set after the liberation of Auschwitz and throughout the gradual liberation of Western Europe, with some chapters providing flashbacks to Maggie’s experience in Auschwitz. This structure worked really well and the chapters are short and snappy which facilitates a fast-paced narrative packed full of tension.

This is a difficult read, covering some of the darkest topics in Second World War history such as the evil experiments Mengele conducted at Auschwitz, including those on children. It’s an utterly heart-wrenching story which had me sobbing throughout but it does also feature some really heartwarming moments of communities starting to reunite and rebuild after the atrocities of the Holocaust. Amanda Lees has an incredible storytelling ability which always evokes the most intense emotional responses I’ve experienced as a reader, even as someone who regularly reads very hard-hitting historical fiction novels.

One of the most powerful aspects to the plot is its exploration of survivor’s guilt and the psychological trauma experienced by the Holocaust survivors. This is an aspect of the history I find particularly fascinating as so many books stop at the liberation of the camps and don’t delve further into the lives of survivors after that. Holocaust survivor experiences are something we could never even attempt to understand fully but exploring this through meticulously researched stories such as The Midwife’s Child is a small step in that direction, so this aspect to the story was particularly powerful.

Amanda Lees writes strong female characters exceptionally well and we have a really courageous one in Maggie. She was selfless, compassionate, headstrong and fiercely determined throughout the story. Jamie was another courageous and well-written character who complimented Maggie well and I really enjoyed the historical romance element to the story we had through their characters.

Overall, The Midwife’s Child is a really powerful story which is truly going to stay with me for a long time. It is a must-read for all Second World War historical fiction readers.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published are completely honest and my own, and are in no way influenced by the gifting opportunity. Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Lees and Bookouture.

[Rod Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding and Heartbreaking

Amanda Lees has done an exceptional job of telling the stories of those who suffered unimaginable horrors, beyond human comprehension, at the hand of the Nazis during WWII. The characters are so well developed and many are based on the real life individuals. The main character of Maggie demonstrated that love for others, the will to live and the strength of the spirit was what kept so many alive and brought them back home after the liberation of the concentration camps. The story captured my attention on the first page. It is so historically accurate and well written that I didn't want to put it down until I was finished. These stories need to be told and remembered so that this kind of evil will never be forgotten and will never be allowed to happen again. I highly recommend this book !

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midwife's Child is the 3rd instalment of the Resistance Series by Amanda Lees and it didn’t disappoint. The Midwife's Child is a beautiful written, emotional novel following Doctor, POW and resistance fighter Maggie as she struggles to keep a promise that needs to be kept. A story of bravery, survival, strength, friendship and love with the most perfect ending. A page turner that had me up until all hours. A highly recommended series. I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Melanie Robertson-King · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first two books in Amanda Lees' WW2 Resistance series, I couldn't wait for this one. Wow! Powerful writing. I can only imagine how difficult this book was to write, but the author did it and did it well.

Book 3 in the series tells Maggie's story beginning with her time in Auschwitz. Her inner strength and determination see her through harrowing experiences, yet she comes out the other side stronger for them.

All the characters are well-written and easy to relate to, except for the bad guys, but even they were well-written.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

“She stared at him with a clear- eyed gaze that dared him to lie, eyes the colours of opals set in a face that some might call gamine and he would call beautiful, not least for the fire that burned behind it” - Amanda Lees 💜💜💜 I have to say I was left a bit disappointed. Yes the story was beautiful and kept me engaged but I felt misled by the title. I expected more about a midwife and her child but what I got was a strong female lead and a rather quick and unrealistic romance. Perhaps if I’d read the first two novels in the series I would feel more complete but it was not what I’d expected. It was a good WWII historic fiction though if that’s what you’re looking for.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straddled between the final months of the war and the months right after, the resistance team struggles with the ravages of the war.
Maggie is intent on exacting revenge, especially hunting down the bastard Mengele.
Some scenes are pretty intense and effectively capture the emotions and danger.
The love story between Jamie and Maggie serves to soften the grim reality of 1945.
It’s a good piece of historical fiction, interlaced with factual bases.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early read.

[Tricia Wright]

The Horrors of the WW11

Kept me glued to the storyline.
Sequel to another WW11 story that l have just read, kept the brilliant characters going.
I find WW11 stories fascinating.
I guess l was born only 11 years after the war ended.
I feel that l have led a very free and independent life and not had to experience the tragic suffering that went on throughout the world, at that time. I feel that it does one good to understand the experiences of people from former times, that gave us back our freedom to live in the way we do.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intense read for me. When I read of the atrocities that were committed, it is very emotional and heartbreaking.
The Midwife’s Child is a story that shows bravery and strength during a horrible time in our history. What courage!
Very well written WW2 novel by author Amanda Lees.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dual timeline story that tells the harrowing last days in a concentration camp and the months after liberation. I love WWII historical fiction but this was not my favorite book. The book started strong but I found my attention wandering later on in the book. I think the closeness of the dual timeline impacted the way I read the book. Things were talking about in one timeline but we’re talking about in the other timeline much later in the book.

[Polly Krize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As midwife in the brutal Auschwitz concentration camp, Maggie finds herself saving baby Leah, born in the last days of the camp. Marching through freezing weather and vicious Nazi soldiers, rescue from a group Scottish soldiers give her the heart to keep going, struggling for both of them to survive. Well written historical fiction.

[Karen Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This is about a woman doctor captured as she worked with the underground in France. She is taken to Auschwitz where she tries to save as many people as possible. Eventually with the camps being captured by the allies she returns to France. This has a happy ending with Mendele being captured which of course he never was. Good book with very realistic characters and as close to being accurate as possible.

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off strongly with Maggie, a doctor and French resistance fighter, incarcerated in Auschwitz as the Nazis began panicking as the Red Army approached the camp. The story of her survival and journey from the death camp back to her native France is good and Maggie is a strong character, but it began to get a bit too schmaltzy for me as the story went on. There were also a few too many happy coincidences for me to swallow.

[dorothy cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

This is a heartbreaking read. It tells the story of a Doctor (not a midwife as the title suggests). Maggie is a member of the French Resistance during the war. She ends up in Auschwitz working with Dr Mengele.
It is very readable but not accurate historically. Mengele escaped capture as we all know. The book states he was arrested in Poland!

[Catherine Navarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book

Love,love this Resistance Series! Highly recommend! I could not put this book down. All 3 books were riveting and the characters were very real. I felt each one's pain, joy and camaraderie. Beautiful writing, Amanda!

[Mary Sue Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A GOOD STORY

This is the story of a courageous female doctor serving with the SOS during WW2. It is A story of courage, friendship, sacrifice and love. It is well written and researched. I recommend.

[Jennifer Molyneaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different perspective on the life in Auchwitz. A captive doctor/midwife in the camp. She tries to save babies and other patients from the terrible medical/torture experiments of the Nazi Dr. Mengele.