I’m really delighted today to be helping launch the blog tour and sharing my review for Mistletoe and Magic for the Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett: this is the sixth book in her wonderful Cornish Midwife series, published today (27th October) by Boldwood Books, now available as an ebook (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. Many thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
Another book in this lovely series – one I’ve been looking forward to every bit as much as every one that’s come before. I was entirely hooked from the first book in the series, The Cornish Midwife – a delightful story, great characters, filled with warmth and humour, and with the loveliest touch of romance (you’ll find my review here). The second, A Summer Wedding for the Cornish Midwife, was simply one of those perfect summer reads (you’ll find my review here) – and the third, A Winter’s Wish for the Cornish Midwife, broke my heart but left me with a smile (my review is here). I sadly just couldn’t fit in the fourth, A Spring Surprise for the Cornish Midwife (my January break…), but was happy to rejoin the series with the fifth, A Leap of Faith for the Cornish Midwife (you’ll find my review here) – very much Izzy’s story (and with the most perfect emotional touch) but also a nice introduction to Frankie’s daughter Nadia and her young family. It’s Nadia who takes centre stage this time… and I was really looking forward to my next visit to Port Agnes to find out more…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
But for single mum and busy midwife Nadia, it’s quickly turning into her worst Christmas ever.
Her marriage is over, and whilst her husband has moved on, Nadia finds herself back home, squashed into her mum’s spare room with her two small children. They might not be a perfect family anymore, but Nadia is determined to make this Christmas special for them.
Dr Hamish Spencer totally understands Nadia’s pain. As a fellow single parent, he’s struggling to cope with a rebellious teen daughter and a precocious six-year-old! Perhaps if he and Nadia join forces, they could make this Christmas slightly more memorable for everyone?
The last thing Nadia wants is a new man in her life, but she’d definitely like lovely Hamish as a friend. But Christmas has a way of melting the hardest of hearts and maybe a kiss under the mistletoe could change everything?
Back from New Zealand with her two small children after her marriage fell apart, now living with her mother Frankie in the tiny flat above the Cookie Jar cafe, Nadia’s desperately trying to be a good mother while wrestling with the demands of her work as a midwife. But six year old Remi has settled particularly well, firm friends with Daisy – they’re so lovely together – who happens to be the daughter of the local doctor, Hamish Spencer. There’s a bit of a spark between them when they first meet, both running late for the after-school pick up – and she’s very glad he gave her his mobile number when one of the expectant mothers she cares for needs an urgent appointment, and even more grateful for his ongoing support throughout a particularly emotional journey. As that storyline unfolds, Nadia’s finding it difficult to cope with her husband’s disengagement and the children’s disappointment when he fails to keep in touch – and Hamish is also a single parent, with a great deal of sadness in his past, a particular understanding of the work problem Nadia’s managing, and with his life considerably complicated by a teenage daughter who’s particularly protective.
We watch the development of the relationship between Nadia and Hamish – a couple who are really meant to find happiness together (oh, that kiss!) – while also following the stories, one of them particularly heartbreaking, of Nadia’s mothers-to-be. And, in the background, we also get to pick up the stories of all the other familiar characters from this lovely series – Nadia’s mother Frankie’s relationship with the lovely Guy (Jess’ father – and that’s another couple just made for each other), Izzy and Noah’s story (will he decide to stay in Port Agnes?), and Gwen’s hilarious adventures in the world of competitive dancing. You might choose to read this book as a standalone, perhaps to see why this series is so loved – you could easily do so, but I do think you might feel less engaged with some of the back stories that have made all the individuals feel like friends.
The storyline that brings Nadia and Hamish together – Genevieve’s difficult choice, and its possible consequences – is told with exceptional sensitivity, totally heartbreaking and extremely moving. But there are several other stories that engage at an emotional level too, something the author does so very well. It’s Christmas, always a time of heightened emotions – but there’s plenty of humour and lightness too, much of it focused on Gwen’s absence of filter, but with the preparations for the nativity play (fur, hot glue guns, competitive mothers…) running a close second. The romance I was hoping for certainly has its obstacles and a few surprises along the way, but I thought it was all quite perfectly handled.
This is such a lovely series, and this book really was the perfect addition – with all those wonderful characters and the many stories from the maternity unit, I do hope it’ll continue for some time to come. I’m looking forward to my next visit already…
About the author
Jo Bartlett is the bestselling author of over nineteen women’s fiction titles. She fits her writing in between her two day jobs as an educational consultant and university lecturer and lives with her family and three dogs on the Kent coast. Boldwood published the first title in The Cornish Midwife Series – part of a twelve-book deal – in April 2021.
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