Official Review: The Midwife Crisis by Lyndsey Gallagher
Posted: 13 Feb 2020, 22:18
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Midwife Crisis" by Lyndsey Gallagher.]
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.
******
The Midwife Crisis
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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.
******
The Midwife Crisis
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon