The Amish Midwife

Title: THE AMISH MIDWIFE
Author: Mindy Starns Clark & Leslie Gould
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
February 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7369-3798-6
Genre: Inspirational/women’s fiction/Amish

Lexie Jaeger is a nurse midwife. When her adoptive father dies, Lexie is left with a burning desire to know her biological family. When the midwife that mentored Lexie recommends that she help out a lay-midwife in Pennsylvania, Lexie is hesitant at first, but agrees when she learns that Marta Bayer, a Mennonite, might be related to her.

Marta is less than enthusiastic about Lexie’s arrival. She does everything she can to convince Lexie to leave, but fact is, Marta needs her. She is under investigation for the death of a mother and child, and is unable to practice. So Lexie takes over Marta’s patient load, even though Marta makes it clear that she isn’t welcomed or wanted. In return, Lexie asks for information, but Marta is extremely reluctant to give any, but finally she contributes a piece of the puzzle, leaving Lexie more confused than ever.

The Amish community Lexie is serving encourages her to let it be. They are worried about what might come to be if the secrets are freed. But Lexie is stubborn, and determined to unearth the secrets at all costs. This determination could only serve to tear her newfound family apart...

THE AMISH MIDWIFE is the first non-mystery I’ve read by Mindy Starns Clark. I’ve long loved her mysteries, and at first, when I picked up this book, I didn’t recognize her voice. But I soon became engrossed in this story, and couldn’t put it down.

I’m not adopted, so in that way I couldn’t relate to Lexie, but I did care for her. I couldn’t understand at first by Marta was treating her the way she did, when she obviously needed Lexie, and I was glad that others in the community accepted her without questions, even if they weren’t willing to divulge the information she wanted. I had to keep reading to find out what the secrets were and the decisions that Lexie would make regarding where her home would be. This is a truly great book. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 330 pages.