Action & Adventure
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The Runaway Midwife: A Novel
From the USA Today bestselling author of the Hope River series comes a new contemporary midwife novel.
Say "goodbye" to your old life, and "hello" to the life you've been waiting for…
Midwife Clara Perry is accustomed to comforting her pregnant patients…calming fathers-to-be as they anxiously await the birth of their children…ensuring the babies she delivers come safely into the world.
But when Clara's life takes a nosedive, she realizes she hasn't been tending to her own needs and does something drastic: she runs away and starts over again in a place where no one knows her or the mess she's left behind in West Virginia. Heading to Sea Gull Island-a tiny, remote Canadian island-Clara is ready for anything. Well, almost. She left her passport back home, and the only way she can enter Canada is by hitching a ride on a snowmobile and illegally crossing the border.
Deciding to reinvent herself, Clara takes a new identity-Sara Livingston, a writer seeking solitude. But there's no avoiding the outside world. The residents are friendly, and draw "Sara" into their lives and confidences. She volunteers at the local medical clinic, using her midwifery skills, and forms a tentative relationship with a local police officer.
But what will happen if she lets down her guard and reveals the real reason why she left her old life? One lesson soon becomes clear: no matter how far you run, you can never really hide from your past.
Say "goodbye" to your old life, and "hello" to the life you've been waiting for…
Midwife Clara Perry is accustomed to comforting her pregnant patients…calming fathers-to-be as they anxiously await the birth of their children…ensuring the babies she delivers come safely into the world.
But when Clara's life takes a nosedive, she realizes she hasn't been tending to her own needs and does something drastic: she runs away and starts over again in a place where no one knows her or the mess she's left behind in West Virginia. Heading to Sea Gull Island-a tiny, remote Canadian island-Clara is ready for anything. Well, almost. She left her passport back home, and the only way she can enter Canada is by hitching a ride on a snowmobile and illegally crossing the border.
Deciding to reinvent herself, Clara takes a new identity-Sara Livingston, a writer seeking solitude. But there's no avoiding the outside world. The residents are friendly, and draw "Sara" into their lives and confidences. She volunteers at the local medical clinic, using her midwifery skills, and forms a tentative relationship with a local police officer.
But what will happen if she lets down her guard and reveals the real reason why she left her old life? One lesson soon becomes clear: no matter how far you run, you can never really hide from your past.
Editorial Reviews
"The Runaway Midwife takes us on a journey from loss, grief and guilt to one of love, forgiveness and redemption. Patricia Harman deftly tells the story of a midwife who discovers that she, too, can soar like the island's wild swans." - New York Times bestselling author Mary McNear
"In The Runaway Midwife, Patricia Harman, delivers a fast-paced, engrossing tale of a woman on the run from a bad marriage and an estranged daughter […] The characters are convincing, the plot tight and the conclusion convincing." - Roberta Rich, author of The Midwife of Venice
"[Harman] draws on her experience as a midwife to add true-to-life detail to Clara's adventure, grounding the high-stakes story. Full of hope and heart, this will appeal to anyone tempted by the thought of complete reinvention." - Booklist
"[This] novel takes readers on a journey of transformation and self-discovery… the characters are dynamic, the central themes are relatable and the story will warm your heart and soul." - RT Book Reviews
"Harman's (The Midwife of Hope River) experience as a midwife shines thorough in the details in this quiet novel about a woman rediscovering her true self. Fans of Maria Semple's Where'd You Go Bernadette will enjoy this story of a woman's courageous reinvention." - Library Journal
"In The Runaway Midwife, Patricia Harman, delivers a fast-paced, engrossing tale of a woman on the run from a bad marriage and an estranged daughter […] The characters are convincing, the plot tight and the conclusion convincing." - Roberta Rich, author of The Midwife of Venice
"[Harman] draws on her experience as a midwife to add true-to-life detail to Clara's adventure, grounding the high-stakes story. Full of hope and heart, this will appeal to anyone tempted by the thought of complete reinvention." - Booklist
"[This] novel takes readers on a journey of transformation and self-discovery… the characters are dynamic, the central themes are relatable and the story will warm your heart and soul." - RT Book Reviews
"Harman's (The Midwife of Hope River) experience as a midwife shines thorough in the details in this quiet novel about a woman rediscovering her true self. Fans of Maria Semple's Where'd You Go Bernadette will enjoy this story of a woman's courageous reinvention." - Library Journal
Readers Top Reviews
NoteKindle john w j
I enjoyed reading this novel. It is fast paced and keeps your attention. The characters are interesting and the setting is wonderful. The novel included information on many of the birds from Canada. The novel includes a suicide, a fire, the birth of a baby, a ship wreck, threats, weaving, sheep, a cat, hiding, escaping a cheating and super stupid husband, regrets, adultery, a distant daughter, hippies, a dead body, a policeman, a smuggler, and more. However, in fair warning, there are parts of the book that as the reader, I could throw a rock at the main character. Those parts in the book distracted from a really good story. I do recommend this book and like I said I enjoyed the story so I give the novel an A++
Wendy Tuck
The Reluctant Midwife by Patricia Harman is full of rich complexity as her character's life falls apart and she has to cope with internal and external challenges. Many women and men, I suspect, find themselves in a life that is overextended and the demands on them nearly impossible to bear. I love the way the Reluctant Midwife uses desperation and her wits to find a way forward. The landscape is a perfect mirror for the struggles in the novel, and nothing develops the way I would have predicted. This is one of those books that you hate to put down, because it means saying good-bye, for now, to characters that made you wince, cheer, laugh, dread, and mourn. There's something elemental in this story, that points beyond the telling of a tale, that moves the heart, not toward perfection, but towards home.
bookaholic
I liked this book! I don't think it made it to "one of my favorites" list, but the writing was good, the motivation believable and the beginning pulled the reader in immediately. Throughout the book the writer created enough tension to keep the reader interested. While there were few incidents that were riveting, I found myself becoming involved with the people of Seagull Island, the weather and the main character. When the book ended, I was reluctant to leave. Unlike some books I've read and liked, this story stuck with me long after I finished the book. In my opinion, that's a real plus.
Judy Schaefer
Couldn t put this book down! In 399 pages, Harman, keeps the reader on the edge of mystery and danger. Why does a seemingly logical, respected, and stable person run? What circumstances lead a logical person to an illogical action? Or – is running away illogical? Perhaps it is logical. What secrets move us to choose one action over another? What horrific hurt invades our psyche and moves us to a risky strategy for ultimate self preservation? Identity is tested. Self confidence is tested. The core of a person s very soul is tested and challenged in the scenario created by Patsy Harman, herself not only an experienced writer but an experienced midwife. Some answers to all these questions are explored in THE RUNAWAY WIFE. The extraordinary decision to run grows, blossoms, and is fed by forest and lake – Lake Erie specifically. The woodsy cottage descriptions are exquisite and inviting, yet the fear and threats are mysterious and downright scary. Read this book with the light on.
Kim
Let’s start off with the very best thing about all of the books in the Midwife series—the characters. I am so drawn in each and every time to all the characters in her books. From Patience Murphy to Dr. Blum, Mary Proudfoot, and Becky to Mrs. Kelly, Nora and all the young men from the CCC camp. In Patricia Harman’s latest book- The Runaway Midwife there’s Clara, yet another character that I feel I know and immediately want only the best outcome for. The author doesn’t disappoint with this book. I loved the idea of Clara reinventing herself and also of her running away to Canada. I wasn’t sure I would want to be taken away from Hope River with The Runaway Midwife, but oh was the escape on the snowmobile worth it. I think almost everyone can relate to the fact that you can never truly escape from your past. I so enjoyed The Runaway Midwife and know without a doubt this will be a book I will want to return to over and over again! It goes without saying all of the books in this series are made so much richer by the fact the author has worked as a midwife herself. Each book rich with the details of the joys of birth, and sadness too. I’m so totally captured by the true beauty of childbirth—so richly and beautifully written by the author Patricia Harman.
