I was greatly entertained by this. There were a few points when people needed smacking, but hey, it's a Harlequin.

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This is a great book. I have one on my keeper shelf.

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Excellent. Carolyn Davis at her best.

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I was very disappointed by this book.

When I first started I was pleased that it took place in a different than usual setting (Minnesota, rather than the "wild west") and involved "normal people" rather than rich heiresses and gunslingers. I was also very impressed with the character of Leah, she was strong, yet knew when to compromise. She was also aware of the desires between men and women, yet she had principles. In fact I was also pleased that Gar and Leah waited until after they were married to have sex, a situation that seems rare in most historical romances today.

However, I soon found myself disappointed with Gar. He was quite manipulative later escalating into physical force to show his displeasure (he picked her up off her feet in anger and set her on a cabinet, therefore proving his control over her. A few chapters later, he squeezed her hard enough Leah thought it would leave bruises, but "since he wouldn't see them, it didn't matter." Leah seemed to be terribly preoccupied with soothing his anger not for anyone's safety but so that she wouldn't be the cause for any more of his suffering if he DID hurt her. This is not a romantic situation, this is dangerous.

I was terribly disgusted also that Gar and Leah were not embarrassed about kissing very heavily (to the point of arousal) in front of six-year-old Kristofer. This was about the point where I wanted to give up, but I struggled in the hope the book would redeem itself. It didn't, and so I gave up a few chapters later. The book also had some inconsistencies, but I think I could have forgiven those.

If Ms. Davidson had devote more time to research (or at least editing) and better developing Gar and Leah's relationship the wonderful premise of this story wouldn't have been wasted, I feel.

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Surprisingly, this novel takes place in Minnesota. I thought midwives were part of life's fabric in western states, not the Midwest. Wherever it took place, this book is interesting because it is so different from what I was expecting.

One evening, Leah Gunderson finds Gar Lundstrom at her door, begging her to come help his wife have her baby. The doctor refused to come for 2 reasons: he was drunk and he had told the Lundstrom's not to have another baby (he did not want to bury another child).

Gar blames Leah for his wife's death when she tries to save mother and child during a breech birth. Although Gar has a new child, he has no way to care for her; he is busy on the farm from daylight to dusk each day. His other child, Kristopher, is too young to do much. After trying various (unsuccessful) solutions, Gar comes back to Leah and tells her he will pay her to take care of Karen for the next 6 month, while he tries to find a live-in housekeeper.

After 6 months, Gar hasn't found a solution, so he asks Leah to marry him. By then, Leah loves the two children (Kris comes after school to play with the baby). Leah agrees.

Gar seems to be a cold fish. Then we learn that Gar married Hulda through a parents-arranged marriage. Hulda loved Gar (which is why she took such a serious step to have another baby); Gar liked Hulda. Gar has a very rigid idea of what men and women do within the bounds of marriage. He soon learns that he has not married a retiring, submissive wife; Leah is sassy, strong and considers her healing skills to be a gift to be shared.

This is an impressive story about two flawed people finding their way. Leah has secrets that she does not share with Gar; when he finds out that she shared them with another, he is devastated. The story is well-told with great pacing. I really enjoyed it. 4.5 stars

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My favorite by Davidson. I've read several more of her books since really liking this one, both novels and the shorter stories in the Christmas anthologies, and none have been as good as this one.

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The Midwife is an enjoyable story about a young woman, Leah Gunderson who weds Gar Lundstrom in a marriage off convenience. Leah who is running from a secret in her past marries Gar to help take care of his motherless children. Their marriage of convenience blossoms into something much more until the past catches up with Leah. I enjoyed reading this book from cover to cover .

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