Darlene Franklin

This was a re-read for me and I enjoyed it. I read another one in this series earlier in the Christmas season - Christmas Belles of Georgia - but I enjoyed this one more. This one takes place over the course of four years at the Barncastle Inn where they have themed Christmases. The first book has a medieval theme, the second one WW2, the third a pirate theme and the last one is the first Christmas when Jesus was born.
I really liked the idea of different themed Christmases and it made the books interesting. Two of the stories have very fast romances which I don't really love but I still enjoyed the overall story. The second two stories the people already know each other which I found much more believable.
Overall though I found the stories enjoyable and completely clean which is nice. The writing was pretty good for the most part.… (mehr)

Enjoyed reading about life on the steamboat 'Cordelia' in the 1890's. Blanche Lamar was without money and a home following her mother's death. She suddenly receives a request from the father she never knew to come by steamboat to receive her inheritance with the help of a man named Ike Gallagher. Blanche will take to the river and the life aboard the steamboat. She will also get to know her father and realize he is a man she loves and doesn't want to lose. An interesting ride up and down the river as people learn to love and work together.… (mehr)

Only in the darkness can one truly appreciate the Light.

What a lovely way to spend a few hours! Four wonderful stories set in the 1800’s, all featuring the call of women to help women. In those days, trained doctors knew very little if anything about childbirth, making the midwife a vital part of the birth process as well as in the care for the new mother and infant.

In the west where life is so different, or is it .... to the city where poverty and even a voodoo queen, life forces these trained midwives to stretch themselves to be ready to help those in need. From a one room cabin where charms are believed to help in the birth, to the single mother there to help anyone who is in need, their mission doesn’t change, even for those who work in the oldest profession known to women.

I thoroughly enjoyed all four of these novellas. These heroines were strong, stood up for themselves and their patients and brought change into the lives of those around them. This ARC was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.… (mehr)

Heart-felt, endearing stories of four women who have felt called to be a mid-wife. All of these ladies come from different backgrounds and deal with a different set of circumstances to get their jobs done . Each must bring awareness to the community, help them get past their prejudices to help the suffering women and the conditions they live in.

All of these mid-wives are willing to fight with all they have to give the women in their care the best, hoping to ensure that mom and baby got the care they need to live through the birthing process. I liked how the men in these stories came aware of the need and are eventually willing to help in the fight.

I liked reading about these strong female leads and their compassionate, leading men. At first, the men do not understand the drive of their lady loves have but then seeing them in action, they get it. I enjoyed learning about how mid-wives are viewed in Ozark Mountains, 1868, 1868 Denver, 1871, N.Y. City, 1889, and New Orleans, 1890 and what these women went through to do their jobs. It was eye opening. We have come a long way to get to what mid-wives offer today.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org… (mehr)