The Runaway Midwife - by Patricia Harman (Paperback)

About the Book

"P.S. insights, interviews & more..."--Cover.

Book Synopsis

From the USA Today bestselling author of the Hope River series comes a new contemporary midwife novel.

Say "goodbye" to your old life, and "hello" to the life you've been waiting for...

Midwife Clara Perry is accustomed to comforting her pregnant patients...calming fathers-to-be as they anxiously await the birth of their children...ensuring the babies she delivers come safely into the world.

But when Clara's life takes a nosedive, she realizes she hasn't been tending to her own needs and does something drastic: she runs away and starts over again in a place where no one knows her or the mess she's left behind in West Virginia. Heading to Sea Gull Island--a tiny, remote Canadian island--Clara is ready for anything. Well, almost. She left her passport back home, and the only way she can enter Canada is by hitching a ride on a snowmobile and illegally crossing the border.

Deciding to reinvent herself, Clara takes a new identity--Sara Livingston, a writer seeking solitude. But there's no avoiding the outside world. The residents are friendly, and draw "Sara" into their lives and confidences. She volunteers at the local medical clinic, using her midwifery skills, and forms a tentative relationship with a local police officer.

But what will happen if she lets down her guard and reveals the real reason why she left her old life? One lesson soon becomes clear: no matter how far you run, you can never really hide from your past.

From the Back Cover

Midwife Clara Perry is accustomed to comforting her pregnant patients, calming fathers-to-be as they anxiously await the births of their children, and ensuring the babies she delivers come safely into the world.

But when Clara's life takes a nosedive, she realizes she hasn't been tending to her own needs and she does something drastic: she runs away to start over again in a place where no one knows her, or about the mess she's left behind in West Virginia. Heading to tiny, remote Seagull Island in Canada, Clara is ready for anything. Well, almost. She left her passport back home, and the only way she can enter Canada is by hitching a ride on a snowmobile and illegally crossing the border.

Deciding to reinvent herself, Clara takes a new identity--Sara Livingston, a writer seeking solitude. But there's no avoiding the outside world. The residents are friendly, and they draw "Sara" into their lives and confidences. She volunteers at the local medical clinic, using her midwifery skills, and forms a tentative relationship with a local police officer.

But what will happen if she lets down her guard and reveals the real reason why she left her old life? One lesson soon becomes clear: no matter how far you run, you can never truly hide from your past.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Reluctant Midwife: "This title is sure to appeal to fans of American historical fiction or anyone else looking for a story with plenty of emotion, spunk, and community spirit." - Library Journal
"This poignant, powerful novel does not shy away from the gruesome facts of life and death. Fans of the BBC's Call the Midwife and Carol Cassella's medically minded novels will enjoy Harman's inspirational and introspective story." - Booklist
"Harman's (The Midwife of Hope River) experience as a midwife shines thorough in the details in this quiet novel about a woman rediscovering her true self. Fans of Maria Semple's Where'd You Go Bernadette will enjoy this story of a woman's courageous reinvention." - Library Journal
"In The Runaway Midwife, Patricia Harman, delivers a fast-paced, engrossing tale of a woman on the run from a bad marriage and an estranged daughter [...] The characters are convincing, the plot tight and the conclusion convincing." - Roberta Rich, author of The Midwife of Venice
"[This] novel takes readers on a journey of transformation and self-discovery... the characters are dynamic, the central themes are relatable and the story will warm your heart and soul." - RT Book Reviews
"[Harman] draws on her experience as a midwife to add true-to-life detail to Clara's adventure, grounding the high-stakes story. Full of hope and heart, this will appeal to anyone tempted by the thought of complete reinvention." - Booklist
"The Runaway Midwife takes us on a journey from loss, grief and guilt to one of love, forgiveness and redemption. Patricia Harman deftly tells the story of a midwife who discovers that she, too, can soar like the island's wild swans." - New York Times bestselling author Mary McNear
"The Midwife of Hope River...is still on my mind days after finishing. From start to satisfying conclusion, it is a beautifully imagined novel, a marvel of a debut, rich with fully realized characters and events. This is one I'll read again, more slowly next time." - Johanna Moran, author of The Wives of Henry Oades
"Midwives are warriors in this beautifully sweeping tale." - Kirkus
"Memoirist Harman (Arms Open Wide; The Blue Cotton Gown), herself a certified nurse-midwife, takes readers back to hardscrabble times and adds plenty of medical drama and a dash of romance, to offer an uncommonly good piece of American historical fiction." - Library Journal