REVIEW: Once again I am reminded that Soraya M. Lane writes some of the best Historical Fiction you will find in the book world today. She bases her novels on Historical facts and creates such wonderful characters. I love when I can read a book and learn something along the way and also get so involved with the characters that I actually forget I’m reading a book. She writes books that I don’t want to put down until I’m done. Sadly, I have to. 

The Secret Midwife was one of those books. I was so wrapped up in the lives of the characters and all the horrible things they were going through to stay alive at Auschwitz. This book is not based on actual characters but on the many experiences of the Polish Resistance. Soraya Lane actually prompted me to do a little research on my own on a few subjects in her book. One of them shocked me so much, I had to see if it really happened and it did! 

I loved the duel timeline. It was about 90% during the war years if not more. The other part was told by one of the characters that survived internment at Auschwitz. I have read several books that took place during this time and her book was spot on. Maybe the conditions were a bit worse than I remembered reading. Maybe, I just took it harder this time because I was invested in the characters. Emilia is the Midwife and Aleksy is the doctor who helps her treat some of the women. 

There is a love story that develops between Emilia and Aleksy. It starts as admiration and friendship. It is very secondary to the story. It was a beautiful relationship that was allowed to grow after the war. The things that happened at Auschwitz will break your heart. My heart is still a little broken for all those that suffered there and were not able to leave. Thousands a day were exterminated at Auschwitz.

If you enjoy learning while you read, getting involved with the characters and being able to feel all the feelings these folks suffered, you will absolutely love this book. We need these books to show us what really happened even though some believe it never happened in the first place. We need to know our history. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don’t forget to support the authors your read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from @Soraya M. Lane, @Netgalley and @LakeUnionPublishers. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

SYNOPSIS: From the bestselling author of The London Girls comes a story of courage and resilience amidst the horror of Auschwitz—and one woman’s last chance to share it with the world.

London, 1995: When on the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz a news broadcast runs an appeal for information on the identity of a midwife who saved hundreds of lives, Emilia knows it is time to finally tell her story.

Occupied Poland, 1942: Despite the constant presence of German soldiers in her village, Emilia is allowed certain freedoms as a midwife—the most precious is innocently cycling past Nazi checkpoints to the homes of expectant mothers on her rounds. But Emilia has a secret: for years she’s also been visiting the hidden Jewish mothers and working for the resistance…until she is betrayed.

Suddenly a prisoner of Auschwitz, Emilia is surrounded by horror and despair. When she is put to work as a midwife in the camp, she realises that she has a chance to bring a small glimmer of hope to the pregnant women of Auschwitz. Alongside a brave imprisoned doctor, Aleksy, and an innocent outcast, Lena, she comes up with a dangerous plan. A plan that if discovered could mean a fate far worse than death, but if they act undetected, they could save countless lives…

The Secret Midwife is a work of fiction, but inspired by many real-life accounts of the Polish resistance, the brave doctors, nurses and midwives imprisoned in the camps and those who fought to save as many lives as possible in Poland during World War II.