The Midwife's Choice

In this sequell to "A Place Called Trinity" we are reintroduced to Martha Cade, a midwife in the town of Trinity, Pa. This is a time when new doctors fresh out of medical school question the traditional ways of medicine. Martha is the only midwife in this small town and is very much in demand by women in childbirth as well as to treat them for other illnesses. There is a new doctor in town and eventually she is able to befriend him. Martha is newly reunited with her 17 yr. old daughter, Victoria and she is torn between letting her go or keeping her by her side. Martha very much wishes that Victoria would be interested in becoming a midwife which has been a family tradition, but Victoria is more interested in writing and has the gift for it. Martha is the only midwife in town and knows all the secrets of the citizens---who is troubled, which wives are not happy and which husbands beat their wives. Also, Martha has befriended an old blind seaman and a 7 yr old orphan who have paired up together. She also trys to help anyone else who needs a friend. Faith and hope has a way of making the impossible become possible. If you have read the first book of this set, you really must read this book. However, this book can stand alone as "A Place Called Trinity" can also be read by itself.

In 1831 Trinity, Pennsylvania, a tired and saddened midwife, Martha Cade, returns home after handling the premature birthing of a stillborn. Still, she looks forward to tomorrow when her seventeen-year-old daughter Victoria returns home after running away six months ago. To her joyous surprise, Martha finds Victoria and another woman waiting for her.After the hugs and introductions, Victoria informs her mom that she will be going back to New York with June Morgan. Martha loses her temper and insists that her daughter stay home, but Victoria says she has a position with June and her husband. Later that night, June explains that Victoria works on the Morgan women's magazine as well as writes poetry. As Martha struggles with what is best for her family a visiting midwife gives her advice that will prevent her from alienating her daughter forever. Martha finds it easier to give advice than to accept it.This family drama is an engaging historical tale that enables the audience to observe how people lived in the Keystone State in the early 1830s. Martha is an intriguing personality as she fails to follow the advice she gives others when it comes to her beloved daughter. The rest of the cast enables the reader to better understand the heroine and or the era. Though lacking heavy action, readers who appreciate a rich Americana novel will gain much pleasure on this visit (or any of the previous trips) to Trinity.Harriet Klausner