"The Midwife's Dilemma" by Delia Parr

The Midwife’s Dilemma (Apr. 5, 2016) by Delia Parr.*

Change is difficult, but times will change whether we want them to or not. Trinity’s midwife, Martha Cade, is certain that she will marry Thomas Dillon when he returns in February. But even her confidence in that falls short when he pushes her to move up their wedding date, presses her to go to New York with him (hence moving up their wedding) and strongly encourages her to end her days as a midwife. But even if she weren’t as passionate about her job, her career, her calling, as she is, she wouldn’t abandon the expectant mothers without a midwife to take her place. She is searching for a replacement, though she is not having any luck.

            Possibly ending her career isn’t the only change weighing on Martha’s shoulders. Her daughter, Victoria, is falling for young Dr. Benjamin McMillan. Despite their tenuous start, he and Martha are in accord, willing to utilize the other’s expertise in various matters. Fern and Ivy are back to their bakery, but, interestingly, they bring back Widow Jane Trew and her daughter, Cassie. There’s also a horse named Bella that was gifted to Martha, but she only seems to want to cause Martha harm. And then she’s back to Thomas. He loves her and she him, but his doggedness to rush her along is really dragging her down. She will need every ounce of faith and will to overcome obstacles and accept the changes that seem to come daily to Trinity.

            What I especially like about Delia Parr’s Martha Cade is that she’s created an admirable character, replete with flaws and worries like the rest of us. It doesn’t matter that her story takes place in 1831 in a small but growing town. Martha is something truly inspiring, for not only is she dedicated to her role as Trinity’s midwife, she’s passionate about it. She knows that she was called to that position. I think, too often these days, we are so busy being pulled in multiple directions that we don’t always know what our calling is. Or, if we think we do, how we go about living it and putting it to use in our lives.

            It is clear that Delia Parr writes skillfully with attention to historical detail, but I did not enjoy this novel like I did the first two books. The pace felt slower to me, so my attention sometimes waned, but it’s still a good story. It rounded out the series in a happily conclusive manner. The book’s message is so good, too. Aunt Hilda says it best, “Follow God, follow your heart, and follow your dreams. And if you ever have any doubt about what to do, just trust that He’ll guide you to the life He means for you to have.” That’s spectacular advice for anyone, at any age, no matter the era.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly 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.”