Member Reviews

This book is a must read for historical fiction fans. I love the plot and characters and will read more from this author for certain. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Heartbreaking, yet beautifully written, The Midwife's Promise follows a dual timeline. Alternating between France in 1944 and the US in 1992, it details the story of Sophie, her life as a midwife during the WWII, and also her present day experiences (in 1992) as she prepares to celebrate her 90th birthday.

The plot expertly toys with the reader's emotions as it twists and turns, weaving the stories of Sophie's past with Sophie's present day life. The storyline, filled with loss, sacrifice, and love, is deeply touching and compelling. It is expertly written and a thoroughly gripping read.

Kind thanks to Storm Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced reading copy of The Midwife's Promise. The ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fantastic piece of story writing! I was glued to it, touched by the events and characters and would highly recommend it. I enjoyed it so much that I listened to the audiobook too.
I will leave my positive review on Goodreads, on my Instagram page and recommend it in my Facebook reading group. Thank you, Storm Publishing. for granting me the opportunity to review this.

Was this review helpful?

what an absolutely fantastic book. an emotions read which is set in dual timeline but very easy to follow. I couldn't put it down. and thoroughly recomend this new book by Eliza Graham

Was this review helpful?

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Eliza Graham is one of my favourite authors. Her writing is exceptional and I am always totally captivated by her books.

This is a dual timeline story set in WW2 France and the 1990s in USA. Sophie is a midwife who bravely helps Jewish children escape into Switzerland. Her own daughter Camille meets the man of her dreams and gets married.

1992 Sophie is about to turn 90 …. she decides it is time to tell her secret to her family …..

A must read for historical fiction fans!

Was this review helpful?

Oh my goodness, what an emotional read. I was completely absorbed by this book and really didn't want it to end. Fabulous. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A lovely read set between war torn France in 1944 and New England in 1992. I feel like you know the characters in the book when you start reading it.

Was this review helpful?

Omg this book was brilliant, gripping, shocking and lovely characters.. be prepared to shed a tear for sadness and joy. I have not read a book so good in a long time!

Was this review helpful?

This is a serious, emotional, heart-breaking historical fiction and one that I just couldn't put down. This is the story of Sophie, the war, her daughter and a newborn baby. This is a tory of fear, courage, family and doing everything in your power to keep those you love safe and away from harm.

This is a beautifully and intensely written book with wonderfully developed characters. For most of the book you will be reading the story of the war, the 1940'2 but there is another timeline in 1992 which is where the story starts and ends. This story will take you on a very emotional ride but one you won't be able to put down or let go of.

I love this book, this story and the author has done a wonderful job. I highly recommend this to all.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?

A beautifully written and heartwrenching WWII story. Written in flashback fashion but easy to follow the storyline. I loved the characters and the story they told. A must read!

Was this review helpful?

Although this story begins in 1992, it rapidly moves back in time to 1940s France where you will find yourself remaining for all but the last chapter. As usual I will not be rehashing the plot here as I believe that the professional blurb writers do a better job without giving anything away. Eliza Graham has a gift of writing with changes of pace throughout. At times it is drawn out and descriptive and then the reader is thrown into fast paced action, where you will want to read on rapidly. Be aware that this is not one of those books where all is well after a climatic scene of danger. It is a tale of compassion, duty, insecurity, horrific crime of man by man and above all family love. Babies are born, people find love and yet loose it again. All in all, a roller coaster of an emotional ride. Powerful and all in all worth reading.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I found it very moving. Although written across 2 timeliness, this didn't affect the development of the story. It was so easy to see how decisions were made by the main characters Sophie and Camille. Family relations can be fraught during difficult times, such as the War.
I loved the story and found it an emotional read that expressed the sentiments very well.

Was this review helpful?

Not my cup of tea, but my mum read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not my cup of tea, but my mum read it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

Eliza Graham brings readers to occupied France during World War II in her latest novel. Following midwife Sophie and her daughter Camille at the height of the German occupation of France, readers find themselves resisting the Nazi regime while trying to protect themselves from the looming arm of the Vichy state. Separated by Camille’s marriage to a collaborator, Sophie flees from Lyon to the countryside, where she continues to smuggle Jewish children across the border into Switzerland while also tending to patients and resistors across the French countryside until her path crosses with Camille’s first pregnancy forcing her back to Lyon and into danger. Graham’s characters are the star of the show, and the complex relationship between Sophie and Camille, as well as the evolution of their relationship as the novel progresses and time passes, is fascinating, engaging, and compelling. As for the setting in occupied World War II Lyon and the French countryside, Graham brings the tensions of the war and the uncertain loyalties and lack of trust to the forefront of the narrative. Graham’s novel of a mother and daughter in a dangerous wartime situation is fascinating, compelling, and totally enjoyable, and readers of historical fiction will certainly enjoy this fantastic book.

Was this review helpful?

"The Midwife's Promise" is a remarkable historical novel written by Eliza Graham. It is a dual-timeline story set between 1942 and 1992. The novel revolves around a mother and daughter's life during World War II. Sophie Hansen, the protagonist, is a midwife, and the story tells us about her life during the German occupation of France. She not only helped bring children into this world but also helped them escape the Nazis and reach safety across the border. The story starts with Sophie's 90th birthday when she decides to reveal the secret that she has kept from her son since his birth. She reflects on her life and the many heartbreaking and life-changing decisions she had to make in order to survive. Although the book was a bit slow-paced at times, it still managed to hold my interest. The sacrifices that the characters had to make were truly heartbreaking, and the choices they made led to a dramatically change the course of their lives forever.

Was this review helpful?

This is such a powerful and moving story, reducing me to tears, hurting my heart, and totally captivating me. It’s the story of Sophie, a midwife in France during world war 2, and of the trials and ordeals that become a part of her life in those dangerous and brutal times. No one and nowhere is safe, and many times Sophie helps women through childbirth, until she is called upon to help her own daughter, Camille. As secrets become revealed, Sophie and Camille realise the danger that they are in, and the urgent need for escape. Camille is very weak, having just given birth to twins, and Sophie has to use all her professional skills to get them out of harm’s way. Helped by the sisters at the local convent, and Rosa, a young gypsy girl who has recently given birth herself, can they find a way to safety?
The story has a dual timeline, which I love, and is beautifully written, with a cast of very engaging characters. It is heartachingly compelling, and I loved it.

Was this review helpful?

This is a dual-timeline story, told mostly during WWII. This is the story of Sophie, a midwife, and her daughter Camille. Sophie is celebrating her 90th birthday, a major milestone, and is ready to reveal a secret she's held on to for ages. Camille is ready to give birth and sends a note to her mother Sophie who is a midwife, but is also in hiding due to almost being caught by the Nazis. She's worried about it and sends a note to her mother for help. This is a great story of resilience, love, difficult choices, motherhood, and how far one would go to protect her kids as she navigates the landscape of WWII. Another great historical fiction read!

Thanks to Storm Publishing, Netgalley, and the author of the ARC of this story.

Was this review helpful?

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.


A heartbreaking read set in a heartbreaking time period.

At first, I was a little overwhelmed by being introduced to many characters at once, but that is definitely a me issue.

The story is gripping and will make you feel sad emotions, I tried to remember that Sophie gets to celebrate 90 with her family in her own home.

Wonderful storytelling by Eliza Graham, look for future books

Was this review helpful?

This is an excellent dual timeline historical fiction book set in 1992 USA, and France during World War Two.

It is the tale of Sophie, a dedicated midwife and nurse and her daughter Camille, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. It is a well written compelling read that will stay with me for a long time.

Very highly recommended!!

Was this review helpful?

Wow this was a really good book. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Midwife's Promise by Eliza Graham. This was a heartbreaking historical novel of WWII set in France. It has a dual timeline between 1942 and 1992. I have never read a book by this author before but I will now seek for others by her. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I would highly recommend it to others. I gave it a 5 star rating.

Was this review helpful?