The Midwife's Secret

by Kate Bridges

IF AMANDA RYAN'S SECRET PAST WERE KNOWN, HER FRESH START IN LIFE WOULD COME TO A DEAD STOP.

No one would readily accept a divorced, barren midwife. Not even, she feared, Tom Murdock. For though he'd roused her slumbering womanhood, she could never be the wife he deserved! ...

Just when his battered faith in human nature was almost restored, Tom Murdock discovered that Amanda Ryan had outright lied to him, destroying their chances for happiness. Or had she? For this feisty, independent woman, who could never give him the family he'd dreamed of, had made him desire things he'd never imagined! ...

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Westerns

298 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

USA TODAY bestselling and award winning author Kate Bridges loves writing western historical romance and YA fiction. For research, she loves to travel to such faraway places as the Yukon, the Rocky Mountains, and London, England. Published worldwide, she’s been honored with Reviewers’ Choice awards and Top Picks on reader websites. When she’s away from her computer, you might find Kate with her family, canoeing the lakes or hiking the trails in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Reviews

[Patricia Ibarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story with a strong woman in charge of her own life! I enjoyed reading it very much. I also liked Tom, who is such a noble man, respectful of her lifestyle, not even thinking of changing her in any way or trying to subdue her, like was mostly the way of living back in those days. It also depicts quite clearly the struggles of a woman who suffers, not only for the baby she couldn´t have but also for being unable to have any children. Also the difficulties she has as a divorced woman and the prejudices of many people.
Her work for orphan children is also commendable, tkaing into consideration the circumstances that were common to every orphanage at that time. And the whole development of Tom and Amanda´s relationship with its ups and downs, is also lovable.

[Skylar Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little racy but the storyline was so good I loved the characters and the setting.

[Susan Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a book I will reread in the future. The story takes place in Canada so all the cities are familiar to me since I am Canadian. The hero and heroine are people to be admired. (Frankly I though Tom's altruism was too good to be true, but that's just me.) The secondary characters, especially the children, round out the story beautifully.
Our hero, Tom, and our heroine, Amanda, are swindled by Tom's unscrupulous partner causing financial hardship for both parties but especially Tom. Despite the unpleasant circumstances surrounding their initial meeting, the two fall in love. Amanda is barren and feels she isn't good enough for Tom since he always wanted a big family. They have to work through this issue as well as their financial situations.
Bicycles are introduced in this period of history and the reactions of the townsfolk show how every new invention is met with wariness.

[Nyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very beautiful story, the characters I've loved most of all because they are often common to have this type of novel.
Tom is simple but sexy in her way of being and Amanda is also a woman of today who are determined and struggle to survive. I liked it very much.

highly recommended

[Anabel González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gustó. Creo que no se trata mucho el tema de la infertilidad en las novelas de romance, y si lo hacen, pasa algo como que se descubre que la infertilidad no es tal o que algo mágico lo soluciona.