About the Book

Book: The Amish Midwife’s Secret

Author: Rachel J. Good

Genre: Inspirational Amish Romance

Release Date: November 27, 2018

“A beautiful story of forgiveness and second chances.” -Shelley Shepard Gray, New York Times bestselling author

They won’t see eye-to-eye until they meet heart-to-heart…

Kyle Miller never planned on becoming a country doctor. But when he’s offered a medical practice in his sleepy hometown, Kyle knows he must return… and face the painful past he left behind. Except the Amish community isn’t quite ready for Kyle. Especially the pretty midwife who refuses to compromise her herbal cures and Amish traditions with his modern medicine…

The more Leah Stoltzfus works with the handsome Englisch doctor, the more she finds herself caught between the expectations of her family and her own hopes for the future. It will take one surprising revelation and one helpless baby in need of love to show Leah and Kyle that their bond may be greater than their differences… if Leah can find the courage to follow her heart

About the Author

Inspirational author Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. The author of several Amish romance series, she grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for many of her stories. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.

Rachel’s Amish series include Sisters & Friends (Charisma House/Harlequin), Love & Promises (Grand Central), Hearts of Amish Country (Annie’s Book Club), and Surprised by Love as well as several anthologies—Springs of Love, Love’s Thankful Heart, Plain Everyday Heroes—and the Amish Quilts Coloring Books.

Guest Post from Rachel

The Amish and Herbal Remedies

As many of you know, my Amish novels are based on real life. I get ideas from hanging around Amish friends, hearing their stories and observing their lives. I’d never invade their privacy by telling their stories exactly as they happen, but the things I learn trigger plot ideas.

I’ve always been fascinated by the way the Amish approach healing. Once thing I’ve learned is that, although they’re usually willing to visit doctors, they don’t always take the medicines that are prescribed. Instead, they often substitute herbal remedies. That, and several visits to one of my favorite Amish natural products stores, gave me an idea for one of the conflicts in The Amish Midwife’s Secret.

Leah, an Amish midwife, prefers herbal remedies. Of course, that puts her in direct conflict with Kyle, the new Englisch doctor in town, who only believes in science and traditional medicine. Put the two together and lots of sparks fly. Of course, some of those sparks are also of a romantic nature.

Leah is not only a midwife, but her family owns a natural products store. She knows the best herbs for healing. Rather than sending a small boy to the hospital for pneumonia, Leah covers the baby’s chest with a warm mixture of onions and other herbs and spices (some Amish friends prefer raw onion for congestion), and she feds the baby fresh pineapple juice for his cough.

As a doctor, Kyle is horrified. He wants to admit the baby to a hospital at once. And he expects the old country doctor he’s replacing to back him up. Instead, Dr. Hess informs Kyle that many of the Amish go to doctors for a diagnosis, but then rely on herbal treatments rather than prescriptions.

Kyle, who’s been debating about whether to stay in Amish country or move to a big-city hospital, decides to remain in Lancaster and make it his mission to prevent the Amish midwife from harming newborns and their mothers. He certainly doesn’t expect to have his eyes opened to other ways to handle illnesses. But he has to admit, Leah’s methods do seem to work. When a crisis comes, they soon discover that it takes both of them to save a baby.

***

A extra little secret: Those of you who get my newsletter already know this, but Kyle in The Amish Midwife’s Secret appeared in two earlier books. The Midwife story stands alone, but if you want to know more about Kyle and Emma’s past, you can find it in the Sisters & Friends series, Book 1, Change of Heart, and Book 2, Buried Secrets.

I love reading books about the Amish. I always think I know everything about them, then an author will write one and I learn new things like I did in this book. The Amish very seldom go to the hospital unless it is life and death. It was interesting to learn more about midwives and how much they are depended upon.  I also was intrigued about the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Leah is a very compassionate woman who loves helping the midwife in the community. She also helps run a store that has natural herbs for sale. It always interests  me when a book talks about organic herbs for healing. I wonder if we are missing out on using some of these products today that could be beneficial to patients.  That will be a subject that I will have to explore more on my own. 

When the doctor in the town decides he is ready to retire he calls on someone who used to live there to take over his practice. Kyle graciously accepts the doctor's offer to come for a few days to look over the practice. There is a deep secret that he has carried for years that may prevent him from staying as the new doctor. As Kyle and Leah work together in the clinic there seems to be  little attraction between the two. I was shocked when Leah told Kyle she couldn't continue as a midwife once she is married. Her soon to be husband will not allow her to.  

There are a lot of misunderstandings throughout the story that cause friction between characters. I didn't realize how strict the Amish were like  unmarried women and men are not allowed to be alone together at all.  It would take a lot for me to adjust to their ways. I loved getting to know Kyle and Leah and how easy they seemed to work together. Will Kyle stay and take over the practice ?  The story is quite emotional when secrets come out. I cried throughout the book as Kyle wrestled with the past. Leah has her own secret and when the two secrets are finally revealed, it brings a deeper understanding of how people struggle with forgiveness. There are a few surprises in the book that I didn't expect. The author has written a very good story about what happens when secrets are hidden and how much secrets can hurt people. It's a great lesson about forgiveness and compromise as well. I think this is the best book she has written and I won't forget how Kyle and Leah both learn what unconditional love is.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

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Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a grand prize package of two faceless Amish dolls and an autographed copy of The Amish Midwife’s Secret and Plain Everyday Heroes!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d66f/the-amish-midwife-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway