My Bookshelf: The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes

The women in Ashley’s family have helped mothers usher new life into this world for generations. But what if it’s Ashley’s turn to have a new life?

        Ashley Tolliver has tended to the women of her small Appalachian community for years. As their midwife, she has seen it all. Until a young woman gives birth to a baby at Ashley’s home and is abducted just as Ashley tries to take her to the nearest hospital. The new mother is dangerously bleeding and needs medical attention. Now Ashley is on a mission to find the woman and her newborn baby…before it’s too late.

        Hunter McDermott is on a quest—to track down his birth mother. After receiving more media attention than he could ever want from a daring rescue of a young girl, he received a mysterious phone call from the middle of Virginia from a woman claiming to be his mother. He seeks out the aid of the local midwife—her family has assisted in the births of most babies for many generations; surely she can shed some light on his own family background.

        Ashley isn’t prepared for the way Hunter’s entrance into her world affects her heart and her future. He reignites dreams she has long put aside, dreams of earning her medical degree and being able to do even more for her community. But is it commitment to her calling or fear of the unknown that keeps her feet firmly planted in the Appalachian soil? Or is it something more—fear of her growing feelings for Hunter—that make her hesitant to explore the world beyond the mountains?

 

        The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes is her first ever contemporary fiction novel, and is the first book I have ever read by her. Although I do own another one of her novels—A Flight of Fancy—and have actually started it, I just haven’t gotten around to finishing it since I have had so many other novels to read the past few months. However, I really enjoyed The Mountain Midwife, and found it extremely interesting, captivating, and super sweet. It had such a compelling, what’s-going-to-happen-next storyline that made this such a wonderful book to read.

        Ashley Tolliver has followed in her mother’s—and grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s and…you get the picture—footsteps by becoming a midwife to the women of her small Appalachian community. However, there’s nothing she wants more than to have the chance to attend medical school, but her midwifery practice—and her patients—is keeping her in her community. Then, the appearance of a young girl on her doorstep, and Hunter just days later, threaten to change everything.

        Hunter McDermott’s life was thrown upside-down the day he got the call from someone claiming to be his mother. Now, he’s determined to find her—and where he came from—so he searches out Ashley to see if she can help. However, he’s only met with more unexpected events when he finds himself drawn to her despite their very different upbringings. Will he be able to put his questions about his parentage to rest, and will he find something he never knew he was looking for in the meantime?

        In The Mountain Midwife, Laurie Alice weaved together two wonderful characters into a heartwarming story of love, and finding what one’s really looking for. I really enjoyed reading this novel, and therefore happily give it all five bookshelves, as well as a high recommendation to anyone who is looking for something good to read. This novel will touch your heart, captivate your mind, and leave you wanting more of Ashley and Hunter’s sweet story. I know I will definitely be reading it again!

        Happy reading!

I received a copy of this book from Laurie Alice Eakes and Zondervan Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

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All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Laurie Alice Eakes and Zondervan Publishing.