Once a Midwife

A Hope River Novel

By: Patricia Harman

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Welcome back to Hope River in New York Times best-selling author Patricia Harman’s newest novel as midwife Patience Hester, along with her family and friends, faces the challenges of the home front during World War II.

The women of Hope River trust midwife Patience Hester, whose skill in delivering babies is known for miles around. But though the Great Depression is behind them, troubles are not, for Europe is at war...and it can only be a matter of time before the US enters the fray.

And while some are eager to join the fight, Patience’s husband, Daniel, is not. Daniel is a patriot - but he saw too much bloodshed during the First World War and has vowed never to take up arms again.

His stance leaves Patience and their four children vulnerable - to the neighbors who might judge them and to the government, who imprisons Daniel for his beliefs.

Patience must support their family and fight for her husband’s release despite her own misgivings. And with need greater than ever, she must also keep her practice running during this tumultuous time...relying on generous friends, like Bitsy, who has returned to Hope River, stalwart neighbors, and her own indomitable strength to see them all through.

©2018 Patricia Harman (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Just okay

Storyline and narration a bit hollow. Didn’t enjoy it as much as the first two.

Good, just slightly short of great.

I was eager to dive into this one as I'm such a huge fan of this series and of Patience the midwife. This story picks up in 1941-42 when the US is entering what will be eventually known as World War II. Patience's husband Daniel served overseas during the first World War and still isn't over the trauma from what he saw and did. Even though he is very patriotic, he does not support this war effort, and his efforts at avoiding the war and signing up for the draft (even though he has his reasons) cause a ton of trouble for Patience and their four young children. This story is about the tension and stress they all endure as a result of Daniel's beliefs and his eventual imprisonment for refusing to sign up for the draft.

I'll admit that while this was a story that I didn't stop listening to (or turning the pages, as I listened while I also read a paperback), it was just slightly less compelling to me as the first two books in the Hope River series. Whether it is because I was missing that people-helping-people community vibe from the Depression-era setting in the first two stories, or whether it is because WWII stories are less interesting - I just felt Patience's stress deeply. Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed the audiobook tremendously and will certainly reread. And I'm glad for the ending that the author gave this one. But I'm hopeful that this author will write another Hope River story with a little more happiness for these two.

Tavia Gilbert does a nice job narrating. I'm not sure why they went with a different narrator for this story when Anne Wittman also did a nice job portraying Patience in the first book; I am always confused by mid-series changes. I did think that Bitsy's portrayal was so very different than I typically imagine her (and so different than she has been portrayed via audio in the first two books) that it brought me completely out of the story every time she spoke. Still, I enjoyed listening to this story and I'd recommend this audiobook for those interested. I think it was well worth the credit that I spent on it.

Great book

I enjoyed the books. So far all the books in the series are good. This narration was a bit of an aggravation for me because I had gotten accustomed to narrator Book #2’s voice. The the narrator did a really good job!

Not my favorite book of the series

I wish there was not so much singing in this book! I felt it very loud & interruptive.
As with the second book, there were inconsistencies with the original book.
The story itself was good. I enjoyed the series as a whole. But did not enjoy that there was a different narrator who did the voices, specifically of Bitsy & Becky, differently.

My favorite in the series

This one was my favorite in the series. Good story about hard times and hard decisions.

Wonderful series!

This is a wonderful series of books. Well done in every area, enjoying so much!

excellent

the narrator was extraordinary ..making the story even better relevant .. historical and very enjoyable read

Once a midwife deserves 5 stars in all categories!

Once upon a midwife is the third book in this series and like the other 2 It ended too soon!
The author has the ability to pull you into the book immediately & doesn’t disappoint.... I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
I highly recommend this author & the narrator was equally fantastic !

Interesting

Have always liked these stories; however, this one the storyline seemed more focused on the war and how it affected them with the midwife role an afterthought.

Poor narrator compared to first three books

The narrator in the first three books in this series was terrific. The narrator in this 4th book was awful. She sang the songs referred to as if she was some loud soloist. It was like nails on a chalkboard. Also her volume went way up and then down. Very disturbing.