Official Review: The Midwife Crisis by Lyndsey Gallagher

[Julie Petitbon]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Midwife Crisis" by Lyndsey Gallagher.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The Midwife Crisis by Lyndsey Gallagher is a heartwarming contemporary romance. The story begins when Orla, a teenager in Galway, unexpectedly finds her calling while delivering her neighbor’s baby. “In those few moments, I realized with an unnerving clarity what to was to be a woman.” She is so awe-inspired by this powerful moment that it forever changes her path in life.

Ten years later, Orla lives in Edinburgh and works as a midwife. She loves the city, her friends, and her job but doesn’t have much time for, nor is she interested in, romance. However, when she meets Tom, a financial advisor who is auditing her hospital, there is an instant attraction. Initially, Orla thinks Tom is a wonderful distraction. After all, he is only in town temporarily, and she doesn’t want a commitment. However, the more she gets to know him, the more she falls in love with him.

When Orla receives a surprise letter from her estranged father, she feels compelled to reconnect. Tom and her father disrupt her normally predictable life, and Orla is unprepared for the conflicted feelings that surface. She learns that she must face her past before she can embrace her future.

There are many aspects of this book that I like. It has an interesting plot, utilizes sensory language exceptionally well, and evokes a plethora of emotions. I particularly appreciate the author’s skill in creating realistic, complex, and dynamic characters. Orla, for example, is a fascinating protagonist. Intelligent, compassionate, family-oriented, and loyal, she is also insecure, conflicted, and vulnerable. At the beginning of the story, she acknowledges that her reluctance to fully commit to a man stems from a childhood with an alcoholic and absentee father. Orla fears commitment and rejection, which cripples her ability to maintain long-lasting romantic relationships. Throughout the story, Orla examines her life, tries to reconcile her past, and learns to trust again. Through Orla’s reflections, actions, and conversations, characters like Tom, her brother, her parents, and her friends are adroitly developed as well.

Orla’s character shows great growth, and her story includes positive messages about the importance of family and the power of love. However, the message that I like the most is about the strength of women. Throughout the novel, Orla is inspired and awe-struck by the bravery and resilience of women. She revels in the wonder of motherhood, childbirth, and female power and even refers to women as everyday super-heroes. Additionally, Orla surrounds herself with dynamic women who support and care for each other, which further stresses themes of female strength and empowerment.

I rate The Midwife Crisis 3 out of 4 stars. It is a novel with strong and positive messages that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Grammatical issues, including tense shifts and run-on sentences, necessitate the deduction of a point. However, these errors do not interfere with the reading. I would not recommend the book to children, as it includes vulgarity and alludes to sex. However, readers who like contemporary romance with interesting views on love, life, and the awesomeness of womanhood will love this story.

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The Midwife Crisis
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[Stephanie Elizabeth]

What a unique sounding plot! Midwifery has always fascinated me; I will add this to my list! Thanks for the lovely review.

[Amy747]

Wouldnt it be nice if we all found our calling in life in such a stand out way?

[MsH2k]

This sounds like a book I would enjoy. I am in awe of midwives, and the author’s attention to character development is a draw. Thanks for the tip on the grammatical issues—I consider myself forewarned. Wonderful review!

[SenSmart]

One important thing was she surrounded herself with dynamic people. The word is DYNAMIC not people who refuse to change or evolve.

[smessemer-]

This book sounds very fascinating! I appreciate that this young girl started as a teenager and then followed her passion.

[WiltingFlower2001]

The description for The midwife had me hooked and I'm very interested in reading it

[Courtneyrobinson]

Its very inresting and eye catching it had me hooked from the start. It was very good so far and would love to finish it.

[Salma_asa]

Romantic novels are not my cup of tea, but orla's life has compelled me to change my view.I would like to give this book a try if i get a chance! Great review!

[kdstrack]

This sounds like an interesting story. Midwifery is becoming more popular and this book would interest a wide range of people. I enjoyed the way you described the character development. Thanks!

[Nisha Ward]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a book that looks at midwifery like this one in the romance genre. I especially like that it looks at the power of women and shows that we are not alone in this world.

[Adelle v]

The theme of this story sounds different from the normal plot found in romance novels. It got my attention. Thanks fir a great review.