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The Cornish Midwife #3

A Winter's Wish For The Cornish Midwife

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Brand new from the top 10 bestselling author of The Cornish Midwife. Perfect for fans of Call The Midwife
A secret love…

As winter descends on the coastal town of Port Agnes, midwife Toni Samuels’ mood is as dark as the winter clouds that roll in. Toni loves her job as a midwife, but her private life is falling apart. Because Toni is keeping a secret– a relationship with fellow male midwife Bobby that no one can ever know about.

A damaged hope…

Kind and gorgeous, Bobby is a huge hit at the midwifery centre, but he’s tired of keeping his feelings for Toni a secret – of always coming second best. He knows that Toni’s past is painful, but unless she can be open with her feelings for him, he’s prepared to walk away from their love.

Can love find a way?

Toni loves Bobby and wishes things could be different between them. But torn between her past and a future with him, everything seems hopeless. Until fate hands Toni one last chance…

Now Toni’s secret wish is in her hands…if only she can be brave enough to take a chance and make her dreams come true.

An uplifting and escapist read, perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Jessica Redland and Holly Martin!

What readers are saying about The Cornish Midwife...

'I love second chance stories. I love returning home stories. So a book combining both is an absolute winner for me. The Cornish Midwife is simply gorgeous. Stunning setting, wonderful characters, and oozing with warmth. A triumph from Jo Bartlett and a cracking start to what promises to be a fabulous series' Jessica Redland

'Perfectly written and set in the beating heart of a community, this story is a wonderful slice of Cornish escapism.' Helen J Rolfe

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 7, 2021

450 people are currently reading
507 people want to read

About the author

Jo Bartlett

99 books309 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer (Jaye) (Comments frustration) .
1,108 reviews64 followers
November 4, 2023
*Buried Secrets*

**4.5 Stars**

Each of the books in this series concentrates on a different midwife with recurring references to previous characters. It is worth reading them in order to avoid slight spoilers.

This is my favourite so far we get two midwives for the price of one, but the story predominantly focuses on Toni. She has a no nonsense, prickly and offish manner, I sometimes feel more drawn to these characters as they are often complex and there is usually a reason why they are the way they are this way and this is the case here.

We find out at the beginning of the book about the secret Toni is keeping. No one at work is aware apart from Bobby the first male midwife and his easy manner make him a hit with patients as well as the staff. Toni & Bobby are the worst kept secret as they try their hardest to keep their relationship under wraps, Bobby after 3 years has grown tired of being a secret and wants to be open. Toni is struggling and prefers to keep up appearances with her parents and their best friends that she is single.

She does not want to upset things and she is being manipulated especially by her ex mother in law to be her mum’s best friend. She wants Toni to stay close by her and not move on with her life and uses her MS to try to make sure nothing changes.

Toni is trying to please everyone but herself. When she makes a discovery she feels it needs drastic measures but if she takes that step she risks losing part of herself and Bobby who is the love of her life….

Will she dare to take a step towards a chance of happiness for herself?

I was really touched by this story that made me laugh, cry and everything in between as I escaped into their world
Profile Image for Melike.
489 reviews
November 19, 2023
I was only able to continue reading this book until the half way mark, then I skipped to the end and read the last couple of chapters. I could not understand Toni's decision to keep her relationship with Bobby a secret for all that time and her unhealthy relationship with her former in-laws to be. Not for me.
Profile Image for Susan Peterson.
2,001 reviews380 followers
October 15, 2021
This is a lovely, heartfelt novel about love, loyalty, and grief. Toni and Bobby have had a secret relationship for several years—although they love each other, Toni had suffered a terrible loss 5 years earlier, and the grief and guilt have left her unable to truly move forward, creating barriers of her own making. There are parts of this book that are sad and frustrating, but through it all there is a deeper layer of love and commitment. I was cheering on Toni and Bobby to find a way to make it work, for her to fully open her heart to love and a happy future!
1,728 reviews110 followers
September 28, 2021
Although this was the third in this series it read as a stand alone book. I loved the fact that it was set in Cornwall and I could picture the scenery and the sunshine. Although this book had a sad beginning it ended on a very happy note and I hope to read the first two in this series eventually. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sara.
1,547 reviews97 followers
September 9, 2021
I was interested in reading this book because the life of a midwife is usually so interesting and inspirational. Though this is part of a series, I had not read any of the others.
I have to say that it fell flat for me because the main character was so insipid and though I first felt sorry for her for the way she lost her first love, I found the aftermath of that to be ridiculous. Which it is and that gets resolved at the very end, but the whole journey of agony to that point was beyond belief and overdone. I would have liked to have gotten to know some of the other more interesting characters in the book, but the main story line left me bored as it was just too predictable. That said, I do believe there are many romance readers that will love this, sappiness and all.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.
Profile Image for Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey.
1,486 reviews71 followers
September 14, 2021
I’m loving the Cornish Midwife series from Jo Bartlett, and it was wonderful being back in Port Agnes, this time with Toni and Bobby’s story.
Full of love and hope but also grief and misunderstandings- this is an emotional read, and Jo Bartlett has again written sensitively and sympathetically as we live with the wonderful midwife community. With the stunning idyllic Cornish setting, it’s a brilliant story to escape into.
Profile Image for Tissie.
345 reviews20 followers
October 13, 2021
Toni’s life isn’t easy. Tragedy struck years ago, leaving her trapped in a web made of grief and survivor guilt. Those who should support her don’t acknowledge her struggles, and the risk of Toni having to sacrifice her whole life is real.

[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,359 reviews569 followers
September 19, 2021
It was so good to be able to catch up with the midwives of Port Agnes once again. This time we are focusing on Toni, and her really badly kept secret relationship with fellow midwife Bobby.

But what we as readers were unaware of until this book is just why Toni has been determined to keep Bobby a secret and once that is revealed, it makes some sense, even if it does feel like Toni is willing to throw away her future happiness because of it.

Given how dramatic the previous two books where, I must say this felt a lot calmer, more focused on all the midwives stories, and less on some of the births. It's allowing us a deeper connection with all the ladies plus Bobby, and I know I'm already eager for Jess' story in the next book.

There is a lot of angst from Toni about what she should do for the best, and a lot of the time I wanted to shake some sense into her, but what is clear is there is a lot more too her than the spiky person she may have been perceived to be before.

This can easily be read as a standalone novel but honestly the series is so lovely, why not go back and join it from the start.

A really enjoyable third book in this series that I hope will continue for a long time.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Profile Image for Nicola Clough.
879 reviews41 followers
November 12, 2021
This series has been so good but this one just has to be the best so far it has you so hooked straight away and so many twists and turns you really don’t no what will happen. Full of secrets and heartbreak and letting the past go to move forward. Plenty of romance and plenty of babies as well with great characters.
Toni is a midwife and loves her job so much she is keeping a massive secret as she’s having a relationship with another midwife Bobby but having to keep it a total secret as a number of years ago she was engaged and her partner died and she promised his parents she would be there for them and not forget their son. She feels she can’t tell them she’s seeing Bobby as they believe she belongs to their son even though he died. Problem is she just can’t forget her partner who died and Bobby isn’t wanting to keep it a secret any more but she can’t let everyone no. Then she learns she’s pregnant and she can’t tell anyone and things she should have an abortion but mistakes happen and Bobby finds out can he stop her and can they be together again or not and will everyone be happy with the decision she makes.
Profile Image for RomanceByTheBook.
614 reviews14 followers
October 18, 2021
As winter descends on the coastal town of Port Agnes, midwife Toni Samuels’ mood is as dark as the winter clouds that roll in. Toni loves her job as a midwife, but her private life is falling apart. Because Toni is keeping a secret– a relationship with fellow male midwife Bobby that no one can ever know about.

A damaged hope…

Kind and gorgeous, Bobby is a huge hit at the midwifery centre, but he’s tired of keeping his feelings for Toni a secret – of always coming second best. He knows that Toni’s past is painful, but unless she can be open with her feelings for him, he’s prepared to walk away from their love.

Can love find a way?

Toni loves Bobby and wishes things could be different between them. But torn between her past and a future with him, everything seems hopeless. Until fate hands Toni one last chance…

Now Toni’s secret wish is in her hands…if only she can be brave enough to take a chance and make her dreams come true.

A Winter’s Wish for the Cornish Midwife is the third book in The Cornish Midwife series, and this book can be read as a stand-alone. Readers who have not read the other two books will still enjoy the world Jo has created. But for me, I would have personally preferred to have read the previous two books before jumping into this one. I felt like I was missing the backstories for many of the main characters, and I wasn’t as excited about those big life-changing moments they were experiencing in this book. Now that being said, I still really enjoyed this book and planned on reading the previous two books. Also, I was expecting this book to be a light, easy romance read. It has romancey moments, but this book has more depth than I thought it would. It also deals with complicated issues and problems, and it includes so many big emotional moments within its pages.

Toni is a more serious romance main character; she isn’t that happy-go-lucky bubbly character that you often find in romance books. Toni has been keeping many secrets in her life; her friends don’t know that she lost her finance five years ago, and no one knows that she has been secretly dating Bobby, a fellow midwife. All the secrets Toni has been keeping start to boil over in this book. Toni feels like she is under constant pressure because of all these lies she has been keeping. She also feels like she needs to keep her fiancé’s parents happy. Now, the last sentence sounded awful, so let me explain before you think her would-be in-laws are terrible people because they aren’t. Toni blames herself for Aaron’s (her finance’s) death because she thinks the stress from their fight caused Aaron to have a brain aneurysm. This blame caused Toni to promise herself that she would do whatever it takes to make sure that she could ease the grief Aaron’s parents were feeling, and she also promised to always be a part of their lives. Toni finds herself going to their house for Christmases, birthdays, and other celebrations and realizes that she is stuck in this world where she will never be able to move on romantically with another man. The situation Toni finds herself in is quite complicated. And honestly, I don’t know if I would have done anything differently; grief and trying to protect loved ones is a difficult thing to navigate through. A good portion of this book is focused on Toni’s journey of starting to forgive herself and learning to move on from the loss of her fiancé. There are lots of highs and lows in her journey, and I thought Jo did a fantastic job at showing readers that sometimes the answers to life’s difficult questions can come from unexpected places.

Click on the link to read our full review on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/2021/10/...
Profile Image for Hannah Wilson .
434 reviews18 followers
October 5, 2021
This is the third instalment in The Cornish Midwives series and I've loved them all so far. It feels like I'm returning to a home away from home when I pick one of these up and I was needing another Port Agnes fix!

The book starts with a prologue and whatever you do, do not skip this. Oh my, I was in shock at the end as I really didn't expect that to happen at all, to be honest, I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting but it wasn't this. Straight away you get a little insight into Toni's past and why she is so secretive about her relationship with Bobby.

If you haven't read the previous books then you may miss this little insight but even though Toni and Bobby have tried to be super secretive about their relationship, they've not exactly done a good job of it. All of the other midwifes are sure of the relationship and even Bobby's family seems to have seen the signs, you just wish that she would be brave enough to go public as you can see how much she means to Bobby.

It was great to find out more about Toni throughout this book as you start to understand why she feels and acts like she does. Her past is always going to be a massive part of her life and you just know that it will take something just as big for her to start letting other people in. There were some times where I just wanted to force her into something or someone to see her and Bobby so that she didn't feel like she have to keep the secret in anymore. Her heart really is in the sweetest of places but like Bobby, you wish she could put her wants first for once.

We also get to hear more about Jess' fostering application and I have an inkling that there may be more to come in future books? There's just got to be something going on with Dexter there surely...?

Another amazing visit to Port Agnes with Anna, Ella, Jess, Toni, Bobby, of course Gwen (who could ever forget Gwen eh!) and all the other residents. How I would love a stroll along the beach with a portion of Brae's fish and chips and the wind blowing in my hair! Thank you so much to Jo for whisking me away for a lovely weekend!
Profile Image for Anne.
2,201 reviews
October 8, 2021
If you’ve read the earlier books in this lovely series, you’ll have been as intrigued as I was about the relationship between the very private and professional Toni and the unit’s only male midwife, Bobby. Everyone knew there was something going on, but it was clear they wanted to keep it a secret – and in this book we find out why, and follow their particularly emotional story.

It really is a story that tears at your heart – with guilt and a sense of duty making it look so impossible that the pair will ever be able to have their happy ending. Both characters are exceptionally well drawn and developed, very real – and the situation they find themselves in really is quite impossible, with Toni unable to look to the future with so many obligations tying her to the past. The families that surround them both are wonderfully drawn too – Bobby’s a chaotic sprawl of young and old, the warmth and love overflowing, while the one that Toni’s tied to… but I’ll leave you to find that out for yourself.

And, in the background, there’s the opportunity to catch up with the lives of the other midwives in the unit – the progress of Anna’s unexpected pregnancy, the marriage plans of Ella and Dan, Jess’s progress towards her dream of becoming a foster carer – as they handle the many day-to-day small dramas that cross the path of the community midwifery team. I must say I’m particularly caught up by Jess’s story, and her as yet undeveloped relationship with Dexter – I’m particularly looking forward to the next book in the series which will be picking that one up.

I’ve mentioned before that this whole series has the feel of a Sunday night TV series – a little bit Call the Midwife with a touch of Doc Martin – with a well-developed sense of place and community, filled with warmth and feel-good moments and a succession of small storylines that completely engage you. But while I can’t help talking about this book as part of a series, there’s absolutely nothing that need stop you from picking up this book (or any of the others) and reading it as a standalone – you’d very quickly become as immersed in the lives of this wonderful and dedicated group of women as I always am.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one – and I’m already looking forward to my next visit to Port Agnes.
234 reviews8 followers
September 7, 2021
Although I believe this is a book in a series, i have read it as a stand alone book and this did not seem to distract from the storyline.

Whilst we follow the personal and professional lives of a group of midwives working in St Agnes, the book focuses on Toni. Committed to her job, she hides a sad secret from her past when her fiance unexpectedly died. She made a promise at that time to his parents, that she would always hold him in her heart. However this has been to the detriment of her own happiness. Bobby, a fellow midwife, is in love with Toni and they have been having a secret relationship for the past 3 years. Bobby is now very fed up of the secrecy and wants to make things permanent. However Toni can not forget the promise she made and at the expense of her own happiness, ends the relationship. Can she find peace wirhin herself to reconsider jer decisions.
A lovely warm read, interlaced with babues being born and the developing storylines of the other midwives.
Worth a cosy, autumn evening read.
Profile Image for Jeanie.
729 reviews16 followers
August 29, 2021
NetGalley

Member Review
Cover Image: A Winter's Wish For The Cornish Midwife
A Winter's Wish For The Cornish Midwife
by Jo Bartlett
Pub Date: 7 Oct 2021
Review by

jeanie m, Reviewer
Last updated on 29 Aug 2021
My Recommendation
With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion
What a fabulous book,filled with love hope courage and misunderstandings set in the beautiful St Agnes the widwives are at it again its a quite a poignant tale to be told I can't praise this book enough and highly recommend ❤

260 reviews
November 25, 2024
I enjoyed this book and it was a good continuation of the series. The prequel is hard hitting but it is a heartwarming book.
77 reviews
September 6, 2025
Loved it, but felt the middle part of Bobby and Toni could have been shorter
Profile Image for Carly.
329 reviews12 followers
October 9, 2021
This is the third visit to St Agnes with the midwives Ella, Anna, Toni, Gwen, Bobby and Jess. This story focuses on Toni and Bobby. Their story was just as good as the others, in fact I think this is my favourite of the series so far.

I really enjoyed this book because it featured a lot about Toni’s past and why she is the way she is. In previous books I’ve not really warmed to Toni but this story was definitely like the ice breaker. Not only that but it also featured a lot of Anna’s life and where she’s at.

I’m hoping that there will be a fourth book which I’m guessing there will be as we need to read more on Jess now.
Profile Image for Meg.
53 reviews5 followers
September 28, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC of A Winter’s Wish for the Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett, in exchange for an honest review.

Following the lives of a group of midwives, this instalment focuses on Toni and her secret love, and Jess’ process into fostering. After a tragic past Toni finds it hard to let go and take the chance to act upon her true feelings for Bobby.

Bartlett’s latest instalment in The Cornish Midwife series follows Toni mainly as well as Jess, which allowed for a really enjoyable read. This book could be read as a standalone considering the story is devoted to telling the reader about these characters in a fresh, heartwarming way. Characters from the previous books are mentioned, so having knowledge of reading them adds to the familiarity of the group of midwives, but they are also reintroduced for new readers too. I thought it was nice to have already met these characters in the earlier works as they are really likeable and you can easily get lost in their stories.

The main difference in this story compared to the previous ones is the more somber tone felt through exploring Toni’s story. The author presents great sympathy for the character and her situation, as she is prepared to sacrifice her own happiness to keep others around her happy, which impedes her chances with Bobby. While the character has her own personal situation, she is also a key figure in the group of midwives helping expectant mothers deliver their children and the day to day tasks of a midwife.

Bartlett transforms the reader to the familiar little village in Cornwall that previous readers are familiar with. She conveys a sense of community and closeness between the characters which adds to the heartfelt element of this story. As mentioned, the author revisited some of our favourite characters like Anna and Ella. However, I did find that this novel was not too descriptive in comparison to the other novels, but I think that this novel had a more important task in delivering Toni’s story to the reader. The novel was more of a sad and heartfelt read, not as light hearted as the others which made a change to what readers might be used to having read the others in the series.

Overall, this was a brilliant book for some escapism in a beautiful setting following a group of midwives. This novel had more of a somber tone compared to the previous light hearted stories. If you are a fan of the other books in this series you will be surprised but not disappointed with this novel, whereas reading this as a standalone might conjure up different feelings.

This review will be published on my blog www.fortheliterature.wordpress.com on 06/10/21
Profile Image for Kel.
597 reviews16 followers
January 12, 2022
Wow what an emotional story this one was, once again it does contain possible triggers with regards to abortion, child loss and infertility. The stories about these lovely ladies and Bobby just get better and better, especially where we have now gotten to know them all so well. I found this story emotional throughout with highs and lows and lots of tears being shed throughout by the lovely Toni.

In this story we learn how Toni came to be with the midwives and what her secret is that has stopped her from letting everyone know she is in a relationship with Bobby. I found myself bleary eyed a few times whilst reading about her horrific loss and the blame in which she has instilled and has become deep rooted over the past 5 years.

Throughout the tears there is hope and both Toni and other ladies who have also had heart wrenching journeys see that glimmer in this story. A superb addition to the series so far and I already can’t wait to visit these wonderful midwives again to see what the new midwives bring to the group and check in on how everyone is getting on as their lives all start to head in different directions.
Profile Image for Frankie.
1,035 reviews75 followers
October 17, 2021
Winters Wish for the Corish Midwife is charming, it’s a beautifully emotional story that will tug at the heartstrings.

Winter’s Wish for the Cornish Midwife is the third book in the Cornish Midwife series, I’ve not read the previous two books but that’s nothing new for me, I tend to jump in midway through a series. In a way, you can read this as a stand-alone but I think you need to read the previous two first, I felt a little out of the loop at times. I will continue with the series, but not before reading the previous books first – that’s once I get down my mountainous TBR pile.

This book has a feel of ‘Call the Midwife’ with a little bit of ‘Where the Heart is’ thrown in, now I will admit I am not the biggest fan of either of the shows I tend to dip into them when there is nothing else to watch on TV or at Christmas. But I do love the community and friendship aspect of those shows and that is exactly what you get here, this book is all about love and friendship and moving forward.

I liked the prologue and that we see Toni’s back story first, we see what she went through, her heartache at losing her fiance and how that has impacted her life and the promises she made at an emotional time in her life. I do think that as the years went by she may have regretted promising never to move on and never to find love again, I rather think that was self of her mother in law to ask that of Toni, you understand that she was grieving but you can’t expect another person never to find love and be happy ever again.

This is what Toni has done, she stuck to her word even when she met Bobby, but you can see she is conflicted does she come out and tell the world about her past and finally move forward or does she continue to live this half-life to keep others content. It’s a difficult choice and for someone who is as private as Toni is, she doesn’t want anyone in she has hardened her heart and raised a wall around her, but deep down I thought she was lonely and frustrated and deep down I think she is a little unhappy – which also makes Bobby frustrated that he can’t share with everyone his feelings for Toni.

Overall I did enjoy the book, the story flows perfectly from one scene to the next even though I thought some parts were a little slow for my liking and as I hadn’t read the previous two books in this series, I did feel as though I had missed out on crucial parts in the plot and with the backstories of other characters but despite that, I did enjoy the book, it’s a lovely story of living life after heartache, of second chances of happiness and how important friendship and community are to a person life.
Profile Image for Julie.
2,655 reviews43 followers
December 28, 2021
Cosy, heartfelt and uplifting, Jo Bartlett takes us back to the gorgeous town of Port Agnes with her latest feel-good Cornish contemporary romance, A Winter’s Wish for the Cornish Midwife.

Midwife Toni is a woman with a secret. She adores her job and loves her colleagues and the Cornish community of Port Agnes, however, Toni can never be truly happy because of her secret: she is in a relationship with male midwife Bobby. Still troubled by past scars that refuse to heal, Toni is unable to move forward with her life and unwilling to take a chance on her happiness and her future with Bobby. Will Toni’s reticence and insecurity end up costing her a lifetime with the man who has come to mean everything to her?

Kind, gorgeous and popular, Bobby loves Toni, however, he is sick of coming second and tired of all the secrecy surrounding their relationship. Bobby wants to shout how he truly feels about Toni from the rooftops and although he knows about her painful past, he doesn’t know how much more he is willing to take. Will Bobby end up walking away from his relationship with Toni? Could the two of them ever have a future together? Or is their relationship destined to fail?

Just when everything seems hopeless and uncertain, fate steps in and gives Toni one last chance to go after what she truly wants. Will Toni find the courage to lay old ghosts to rest and grab her future with Bobby with both hands? Or is she going to lose everything all over again?

Jo Bartlett’s A Winter’s Wish for The Cornish Midwife is a delightful blend of humour, emotion and pathos that will bring a tear to the eye and make readers smile. Toni and Bobby’s story is moving, intense, powerful and one that tugs at the heartstrings as it explores healing from the past, taking a chance on happiness and falling in love when you least expect it.

Perfect for snuggling up with in the last few months of the year, Jo Bartlett’s enjoyable new novel A Winter’s Wish for The Cornish Midwife is required reading for romantics everywhere.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jaffareadstoo.
2,939 reviews
October 12, 2021
Returning to Port Agnes in the company of the Cornish midwives is something I look forward to and in this latest book we discover more about Toni and Bobby who are both midwives on the community unit. The secretive nature of their relationship has been something which has intrigued us since we first met up with them two books ago and to add another twist, Bobby is the only male midwife on the unit which presents its own set of challenges. However, it is his relationship with Toni which becomes all the more poignant as we discover the reasons why Toni in particular is reluctant to make a commitment.

Bobby and Toni's story really caught my attention and whilst I followed their story with interest and hoped that everything would eventually work out for them I was also just as interested in what was going on in the lives of the other characters. And that's what this author does so well, she brings everyone to life in such detail that you really care about each and every one of them. Some might be a bit more difficult to like than others but generally they're a great bunch and fill the stories with warmth, wit and oodles of compassion.

This is now the third book in the Cornish Midwife series and whilst it can be read comfortably as a stand alone, it sort of makes sense to start at the beginning in order to follow this lovely series which gives off such warmth that, with each successive story, it's like settling back down with a group of old friends. I especially love the Cornish setting and the way the community of Saint Agnes is always very much part of the story. As it's a series about a community midwife group there are details of births and whilst this is never overly dramatic, it does portray realistic situations, however, this doesn't intrude on the character driven aspect of the story.

Beautifully written by an author who has made this corner of Cornwall her own, A Winter's Wish for the Cornish Midwife carries the series forward in a really meaningful way, I can't wait to find out what happens in book number four.
Profile Image for Rachel.
1,013 reviews18 followers
September 7, 2021
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

Another great addition to this wonderful series! Jo Bartlett so effortlessly weaves multiple character storylines and interesting delivery stories - you never feel like the different storylines are interrupting one another or just there to fill pages. It's nice to get little check-ins with the main characters from the previous books.

We know from the previous books that Toni and Bobby have had something going on between them and I have been looking forward to finding out exactly what that something was. I understood Toni's reasons for not being open about her relationship with Bobby, but there were so many times I just wanted to smack her upside the head. I would have preferred her and Bobby just fighting it out rather than just giving up and making zero progress. I also found it a little frustrating how Bobby kept going back and forth on what he was willing to put up with - one second he's done and the next he's saying he wants whatever he can get. The redeeming part of all that was that Toni didn't wait to be sure she had a future with Bobby before having the "talk" with her parents and in-laws and that Bobby was able to gain some new insight. I couldn't believe neither of them had ever considered the idea of keeping Aaron's parents a part of their lives earlier than they did, but it made that final scene so much sweeter.

I'm really hoping the next book wraps up Jess's story. I'm so interested in getting to meet her ex and find out more about why he's suddenly so interested in getting back together. And, of course, I have to know if Dexter continues to be a part of her life!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jenn Webley.
401 reviews41 followers
September 26, 2021
Lovely to have another return trip to Port Agnes and the Midwife team. This is the third book in the series although can be read as a standalone. This time we focus on Toni (whilst nicely catch up with old favourites).
Previously unsure of Toni and why she seemed a little standoffish, this time we learn her back story – a personal tragedy that has affected all future relationships, if she was to ever go public with one. We were aware of something between Toni and fellow midwife Bobby but never the true extent of things until this book.
Once you know why Toni is the way she is, and acts the way she does, it is understandable if a little frustrating. Bobby is wonderful; kind and caring and has already proved how very patient and understanding he is. Pushed to his limits, he starts to think that it’s time to move on even if that would be the hardest thing to do.
I enjoyed the slight change of pace with this one, the previous two books were quite dramatic and this is more an emotional journey.
Toni is a lovely character; my heart really went out to her but at times I just wanted her to wake up a little and see everything from another point of view. She keeps a lot to herself which is a shame as she is surrounded by the most supportive people.
I liked the progression of the other characters stories too and I am very keen for the next book so we can hear more of Jess’ story.
A heart warming visit to the Cornish midwives this time but another great book in a very enjoyable series. Well written and full of loveable characters. Cosy up and have a read!
256 reviews
February 15, 2022
Toni is engaged to be married to Aaron. Who she has been best friends with since birth. Aaron is the man who puts everyone before himself particularly his controlling mother who uses her MS as a reason to be her! Until Toni finds Aaron dead in the shower. Can Toni keep her promise to Aaron? But will that stop her from living her own life?

This is book 3 in the series. I have read all the other books. Due to reading books 1,2 and 4 first. I knew that I couldn't leave the series with one outstanding.

Clearly due to the order i read the books in they work well as stand alone books. The series in order just gives you that extra back story about each character and their struggles.

Although this book is a romcom. Their are some emotional subjects included such as death, control, complications during pregnancy and lost relationships. However this does not take away from the feel of the book. It adds many twists and turns to the story and allows for character growth, story expansion particularly explaining some of the descriptions of each character received in other books.

Although I read this book last it still held my attention, particularly in the first quarter and last half, adding to my knowledge of Tonis behaviour and responsibilities.

On the other hand I did find the skip from the prologue to the first chapter slightly confusing. It lacked the expansion on the beginning of their relationship which I missed. It felt like jt had been an easy get together which I'm sure due to surrounding life events it wouldn't have been.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Pam Robertson.
1,443 reviews9 followers
October 11, 2021
This is a great series and I thoroughly enjoyed the first two in the series. The team spirit between the midwives makes for a warm and comforting read and the variety of the characters, both medics and community members makes for a rich story. Although you get to keep up with how the team members are getting on, this story focuses on Toni and Bobby's relationship and you realise why they have been so reluctant in the earlier books to become an official partnership. I did find Toni's situation frustrating to read and felt quite exasperated at how she allowed herself to be manipulated by her ex-fiancé’s mother.
You also follow Jess and her application to be a foster parent. I am sure that she will get her own novel in the series at some point and can see some potential there. I also like how issues of childlessness are interwoven into the stories as a contrast to the births which are described. The setting on the Cornish coast is gorgeous and allows moody walks along the beach and remote farms to be reached.
In short: A novel full of friendship and community
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book
Profile Image for Julia.
3,080 reviews93 followers
November 28, 2021
A Winter’s Wish For The Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett is a charming contemporary novel. It is the third book in the Cornish Midwife series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The reader follows the midwife team at the community unit in Port Agnes. We share the highs and lows, the worries and the celebrations.
All aspects of babies are covered as there are the sensitive topics of infertility, handicap and fostering. The reader’s heart breaks for some of the situations of the characters. The midwife team are supportive to all.
There is the theme of loss as some characters are frozen in a moment in time. There is the guilt associated with beginning to live and to smile again. There is also some emotional blackmail to deal with.
All the characters are well drawn, realistic, warm and welcoming.
The novel covers birth, death and all of life in between. I loved it. Why not grab yourself a coffee and a copy of A Winter’s Wish For The Cornish Midwife and receive a warm welcome on a cold day from the midwife team.
I received a free copy from Boldwood via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Elaine - Splashes Into Books.
3,884 reviews136 followers
February 27, 2023
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley, too,
For this awesome book, here's my honest review:

Gosh what a dramatic start,
Enough to go and break your heart!
This story is a moving one
Filled with memories of someone who has gone.

It is five years since Toni's partner suddenly died
Now her new love she's trying to hide.
Three years they've been dating
But still she's determined to keep him waiting.

With routines to be kept and memories, too
Just what will Toni decide to do?
Can she learn to move forward and be happy again
Or will she reject Bobby even though it causes her pain?

This is a story of the Cornish midwives who
Care for others and each other, too.
Read this to find out about their dreams and lives
In a story filled with love, babies, grief and surprises!

It is a tale of grief, loss and feelings,
Accepting the past but moving on, healing.
A story where love helps conquer fears
Showing things don't always end in tears.

With someone out to thwart new hopes and dreams
And new futures being planned, along with schemes
This is a lovely, heartwarming story of romances
Where love is at the heart of all their chances.
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