Once a Midwife is the third book in the Hope River series and perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first two books. While I enjoy historical fiction, I couldn't get past Harman's writing style and her barely veiled attempts to make political statements about recent world events by drawing comparisons to the events of WW2. When I started reading it, I thought the premise was interesting but after fifty pages or so, I found myself skimming just to get through it. Even though there were some heavy topics and themes in the book, Harman's writing seemed more suited for a YA reader. I understand she was writing from Patience's diary but the tone was too conversational and felt immature for an adult. The writing was just too simplistic and I got bored quickly. WW2 historical fiction is something I really enjoy and seek out but Once A Midwife was a really big disappointment to me.

While I've read that the first two books of the series are better, I just don't think that I can get past Harman's writing style. Harman's books are clearly not for me.

2 stars.