I really enjoyed this book, it was such a down to earth story that felt so true and realistic. There were lots of mentions of births and babies (I mean, what do you expect from a book with midwife in the title) but it wasn't overpowering and it wasn't graphic. The community feel of this book made me think of a modern day Call The Midwife which I really loved.

I loved all of the characters but especially Ella, or El as Dan calls her. She just has such as warm heart and clearly wants the best for everyone. She fits back into Port Agnes straight away and it's almost as if she never left. I could just see her staying there for the rest of her time and falling back in love with Dan, but she seemed set on staying for just the 6month cover period and then moving on again.

All of the midwifes are such a close knit community and really cherish their clients but also each other and this is so nice as you know that they would all be there for each other when needed. It feels like the kind of work environment that anyone would want to be in, where your colleagues become your friends.

Jo's writing enables you to conjure up images and scenes so easily, I could just envisage waking up to the smell of freshly baked bread and walking along the coast. I think that must be the dream, living somewhere near the beach and being able to get up at the crack of dawn to watch the boats come in.

This is the first book by Jo that I've read but I've now seen that there are more to come in the series and I can't wait to read them! A word of warning though, don't look for them on Amazon as there are spoilers if you haven't read this book yet.

4.5/5 stars
There is so much to love about this charming story including an enchanting setting and endearing characters.

The Setting: I’ve always had a soft spot for stories set in Devon and Cornwall and look forward to such novels, especially if the author takes the opportunity to immerse readers in the setting. Jo Bartlett immediately wins over my heart when she pops me into a small seaside town where the sounds, sights and smells are seamlessly worked into the narrative. Ella, our protagonist, draws her strength from her family and small community of Port Agnes. By describing the businesses, locals and tourists who make up the town, the author allows readers to experience Port Agnes through Ella’s eyes and heart.

Ella: Our protagonist is the epitome of sweetness and drive. I’ll admit, Ella’s determination to do what she perceives as right by her parents got a little much at times, as it’s blatantly obvious her parents simply want her to be happy. However, that’s pretty much a main conundrum Ella has to work through. She must figure out why she is so compelled to over achieve. At what point will she be ‘enough’? I love that we’re allowed to see Ella in her various roles: as midwife, friend, daughter and romantic interest. We’re also privy to her growth in each area.

Ella’s Parents: They certainly provide some of the biggest ‘aww’ moments and several of the funny ones too! The sense of love of family and love of community they create is a key element of the story. Jago is the quintessential Cornishman – proudly born and bred, no outsiders need apply. Lol. But it’s never too late to teach an old dog some new tricks and Jago himself comes to see the value in the tourist industry…

Dan: Our male protagonist is book boyfriend worthy with his charm, compassion and ambition. I wish we’d had a couple chapters from his perspective to really make his character shine. That said, however, through his interactions with Ella and others, his motivations are made quite clear.

The Midwife Role: I’ve always thought what a noble but often undervalued profession. I adored the midwives I met during my pregnancies and really enjoyed seeing the same spirit of commitment and competence reflected in the characters of this novel. Through the midwife unit in Port Agnes, readers get a sense of the inner workings of the town and the types of people living there.

The Story: This is a feel-good tale. I’ll admit, there are some cringe-worth moments, especially with Weller (whom, we should not be too hasty to judge), but the overarching sentiments are hope and love. Loose ends are all neatly tied up at the close and we have a pretty good idea of what’s happening with various members of the Ella’s immediate circle.

I fully enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more tales set in Port Agnes!

Ella leaves her hometown and plans to never look back, but she has to go home with her tail between her legs! Ella has to endure the consequences and the worst of it is her first love Dan Ferguson is still located in town. Then she finds out she is to be his sisters midwife. Oh, does she Pray she doesn’t cross paths with him at the same time as she attends his sister.

This book has a lot of wit and humor! The characters are strong and well developed! The storyline is great and the writer is tenacious with the twists!

I definitely would recommend this book.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

This very sweet book was written by Jo Bartlett, the name of one of my favorite characters from The West Wing, my all-time favorite show. I think I was destined to love this book before I even picked it up!

Ella was a wonderful character, a heart of gold and the one I was rooting for throughout the whole book. Her parents, while a bit overbearing, are also wonderful characters who want the best for their daughter while they still wrestle with some of their old-world thoughts.

Dan is a dream boat! Charming, helpful, caring, mis-understood and mis-trusted by the town because his heritage wasn’t traced back to that town as long as everyone else’s. Ella’s high school sweetheart and love of her life.

The story is sweet and was so enjoyable to read. This would make a cute beach read for the summer!

What a great start to what promises to be an extensive series! It is set in beautiful Cornwall and centred on a team of community midwives who serve the local mothers. Ella returns to the village with a broken heart and has to discover what she actually wants for her future. Through her, you see a close-knit community with strong bonds of family and friendship.

Ella's work takes her to a varied number of characters, each with their own story. Some of them have difficult relationships to work through and Ella's professionalism and empathy are needed to try to help them. You also get to see that not everyone is similarly community minded. Some, including Ella's father, are suspicious of the 'emmets' or 'comers-in' as opposed to those born and bred in the village. This is great story writing with varied charcters who you feel you actually know.
Thanks to the punlisher for a copy of the book

Cornwall has been my perfect holiday destination for many years, so any story that is set in this beautiful part of the world instantly grasps my attention.

In this story we follow the life of Ella Mahenick is a midwife who upped and left her hometown of Port Agnes for what she hoped would be a perfect life in London. However, as we all know too well, life doesn’t always follow the path we expect – or want – it to, and when Ella finds herself the talk of social media following being jilted at the alter, her wonderful new life comes to an abrupt end.

Ella is in desperate need of some time to recover from this unwanted scandal, and she soon finds herself heading back to Port Agnes to stay with her parents after she manages to secure herself a six month work placement there. The midwife community within Port Agnes welcomes Ella back with open arms, and she soon finds herself settling back into the life she had years ago, all whilst embracing the job she adores.

Ella’s return is far from smooth sailing though. She soon comes face to face with Dan – her ex boyfriend who is far from over her rather sudden, unexpected departure many years ago. There is clearly a misunderstanding between them, and they both seem to be holding a grudge against one another. As they find themselves being forced together once again whilst living within the village, It becomes apparent that they both harbour feelings for one another, but with Ella feeling hurt by both Dan and her husband to be in London, she is a long way from putting her trust in a man any time soon.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I can truthfully say that it won’t be the last. I loved the way in which this story was written, it really allows us to connect with Ella and understand her passion for her job on a much deeper level. The relationship between Ella and Dan was also lovely to follow, as they got to know one another once again, and had to face up to their past and what caused the demise of their romance all those years ago.

The characters were wonderfully developed and interesting, each of them having unique traits that changed the dynamic of the village considerably. Ella is one of those characters you just want the absolute best for, and I found myself really rooting for her and her happiness from the start.

A gorgeous storyline, a dreamy setting and characters that well and truly capture your heart. I fell in love with this story, and can’t wait to read future books by Jo Bartlett.

The Cornish Midwife
By Jo Bartlett

I just love reading about a character that is either a nurse or a midwife so when I was serendipitously asked to be a part of this blog tour, I immediately jumped on it. I am so glad I did. I also love a great second chance story and characters looking for a fresh start, and this book was all that I wanted in a fun and cozy escape read, with the right amount of drama and romance I exactly needed.

Main character Ella Mahenick is a midwife who left her hometown of Port Agnes for a perfect life in London, but as life would have it, plans do change. Coming back home to Port Agnes she was welcomed by the midwives community and do I love these women, but it also means facing the ever so handsome Ex Dan, who didn’t quite ever get over her sudden departure from Port Agnes.

I enjoyed this writing style where there is just enough going on to keep me entertained and keeping me turning those pages. I adored the characters and I was invested in their stories. I recommend this well written novel for a fun read for fans of second chance stories in a beautiful small town setting.

A captivating love story, set in a beautiful Cornish village, where the location and characters come to life to such an extent that the reader becomes truly immersed in their lives and invested in their futures. My first read by this Author, but it will definitely not be my last. Please join me in reading what may be a first for you too, but will invariably not be a last read for you.


Ella is back in her tiny home town, Port Agnes in Cornwall after a spectacular 21st century dumping in London on her wedding day. I say 21st century, due to the fact that Ella achieved notoriety for the said jilting, via various forms of social media. She moved back home with her parents, in order to hide from her notoriety to an extent. Ella has netted a 6 month temporary contract as a midwife in the local birthing centre, to give her the chance to ‘get her ducks in a row’ and decide about her future.

Unbelievably, Ella’s first community midwife appointment turns out to be with Lissy, the Sister of Ella’s first love, Dan, from back when she was 18. Dan was meant to follow Ella to university in London after a year, by which time he should have dealt with the fall out from his parents death. This never happened however and he just became increasingly distant towards her.

Ella is holding a grudge against Dan, not helped by the bad reputation he has in the village. However a combination of things start Ellie thinking that perhaps they are all wrong about him – giving a pregnant teenage girl somewhere to live, rent free, helping out his Sister, making his property renovations in keeping with the rest of the village, painting a wonderful mural in the birthing centre.

It becomes increasingly clear that Dan and Ellie still have feelings beyond ‘friends’ for each other, but how can Ellie start to trust him or indeed any other Man again, having been let down by both Dan and her former fiancé, Weller ?
Michael, a local, continues to threaten Ella and her parents regarding a business deal; can Ella get around his threats to resolve the issue of the Old Forge, before it bankrupts her parents and their friends? Will she jeopardise her future happiness with Dan, in order to resolve these problems?

Review of The Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett

This is the first book I have read by this author and really enjoyed it. A lovely feel good story (who doesn't like babies) with romance thrown in as well. All in a lovely setting. Recommend.

Midwife Ella Mehenick left the small Cornish town of Port Agnes for London and never looked back. But when her seemingly perfect life crashes down around her, there’s only one place she can heal her battered heart – the place she once called home.

The author has definitely left this open to become a series and I look forward to the next book. The characters are likeable and you find yourself becoming invested in them. This is an easy, feel-good read that makes you happy to read along.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Prior to being invited to take part in the blog tour for ‘The Cornish Midwife’, I hadn’t actually across Jo Bartlett before. I know where have I been? Having read and enjoyed ‘The Cornish Midwife’ as much as I did, I am now rather ticked off at myself for leaving it this long to discover what a flipping fantastic author Jo is! I really enjoyed reading ‘The Cornish Midwife’ but more about that in a bit.
I must be honest and say that it took me a little while to get into this story but once I got into it, I found it almost nigh on impossible to put the book down for any length of time. The book seemed to have developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t going to break any time soon. I loved the character of Ella and I ended up thinking of her as a friend. I felt all protective of her and there were several times where I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to either give her a hug or give a slap to whoever was upsetting her. I had to keep reading to see if she got the ‘happy ever after’ ending that she so deserved. The pages turned over at speed as I worked my way through the story. I would become so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and I also lost track of just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say a temporary farewell to Ella.
‘The Cornish Midwife’ is well written. Jo has one of those easy going writing styles that reads more like a chat between friends than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. Jo certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and draw you into the story. I loved the detailed way in which Jo describes Port Agnes. She makes it sound so idyllic that I was ready to go and pack a suitcase and go there for a holiday. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s all thanks to Jo’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. I found ‘The Cornish Midwife’ to be a light hearted and feel good story, which held my attention throughout.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Cornish Midwife’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jo’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

Ella returns home to lick her wounds after a broken engagement, to be near her parents again and to take up a job as a community midwife. She reconnects with her old friends and meets up with an old love. Could she make a life again in Port Agnes?

This was an engrossing read with great characters and a wonderful setting. I particularly liked the family element that was a large part of the story. The birth stories brought their share of drama to the book making it even more interesting.

I loved this easy to read, sweet, second-chance romance.

This book has the perfect balance of drama, humour and romance to keep me turning the pages. Ella returns home to heal after her engagement ends disastrously. She wants to hide, but the community at Port Agnes won't allow that and draw her into their close-knit, and for the most part, comforting world.

The immersive writing style is engaging, and the characters are relatable. The vividly depicted Cornish setting has memorable characters. The author highlights contemporary issues that affect coastal communities adding authenticity.

The community midwives team give the story its focus, with many heartwarming and poignant moments. There is a sense of camaraderie that is believable. Ella's life in Port Agnes is about second chances, new and rekindled friendships, a rebuilding of self-esteem and romantic possibilities with the man she left behind.

This is a lovely story.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Cornish Midwife is the first in a proposed series of novels which are set in beautiful Cornwall. In this first book we meet Ella Mehenick who has recently returned to St Agnes to live with her parents who run the local bakery. Moving back to St Agnes was never high on Ella's agenda but after a disastrous event which changed the course of her life, Ella is determined to make a fresh start. Using her midwifery skills, Ella finds a temporary job working as a midwife in the local community team and it is there were she starts to put her life back together again.

The author writes with such warmth, and a touch of light humour, about this small corner of Cornwall and brings the charming village of St Agnes, and the people who live there, to gentle life. It was especially lovely to get to know the other inhabitants of the village, especially Ella's parents, who only have her best interests at heart, but who, it must be said, can seem a bit overpowering, and there's also the lovely Brae, a school friend of Ella's who runs the local fish and chip shop. However, it is in the 'will they, won't they' relationship between Ella and Dan Ferguson, her first true love, where the story starts to get romantically interesting.

The Cornish Midwife gets the series off to a good start and sets the scene really well for other characters to have their turn in the spotlight. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this lovely series heads to next and can't wait to return to the charming village of St Agnes.

I knew I was going to enjoy this book from its opening chapter – the author’s style draws you in, I immediately liked (and really felt for) Ella and her wonderful parents, and I really wanted to find out how she put her life back together after her disappointment and very public humiliation. At the height of her midwifery profession in a London hospital (with her certificates on display behind the counter in her parents’ seafront bakery), she decides to return home to Port Agnes, covering the six month absence of a member of the community midwife team – and as she comes to terms with her return, and tries to decide whether it’s where she plans to make her future, the book is filled with a succession of small dramas within the community of the kind only the unpredictably of childbirth and babies can bring.

Ella herself is very much at the heart of the story, as she settles back into family life, running across old friends and getting to know the other members of the midwifery team. When she went away, she left behind Dan, the love of her life – now a successful property developer (with rather higher standards that Ella’s father believes), their paths cross once more, and there’s still the same spark that it might just be possible to fan into a flame. Her father has rather higher hopes for a relationship with her childhood friend Brae, who runs the fish and chip shop, and does everything he can to push them together – with some moments that are deliciously embarrassing and very funny indeed. But as well as following Ella’s love life, we also find out about the lives of the rest of the midwifery team, and those of others in the well-drawn Port Agnes community – all those little ups and downs of life, and the perfect way to start a new series as you get to know them all rather better.

The whole cast is excellent, but I really must say a special word for Ella’s parents. She was something of a miracle baby herself, and being in her thirties doesn’t stop them treating her like their precious little girl – and I found that particularly lovely. Her father Jago is a quite wonderful character – a proud Cornishman, fierce about the changes brought about with all the incomers and second-home owners, and I really loved his passion, however many problems it might cause.

I always really enjoy books with a strong sense of place and community, and you won’t find it done much better than this. The whole book has the feel of a Sunday night series, that strong central story line and established characters interspersed with dramatic moments they encounter – the obvious comparison is Call the Midwife, but with a contemporary setting, but (perhaps because of its setting too) I couldn’t help getting more of a feeling of Doc Martin (and they’re both series I always enjoy). And it also has the feel of a really involving saga, although I know that’s not a term often used for a story very much set in the present day.

I enjoyed it very much – a light and easy read, but with plenty of drama to keep the pages turning, filled with warmth, plenty of gentle humour, a few real tugs at the heartstrings, some great dramatic tension, a lovely touch of romance, and just a really perfect book to start a new series. I’ll be looking forward to my next visit to Port Agnes – there are a few friends I’d like to catch up with, and I rather like it there.

If you want a dreamy, feel good at the end, romantic escape read, this could be it.
I loved the characters, enjoyed the easy pace and both worried and laughed my way through this novel. I am looking forward to returning the the Three Ports area.

Beginning with moments away from a wedding, Ella finds herself with a missing groom. Not to fret, he has checked in and will be arriving shortly The trouble is, the church has been reserved for a celebrity wedding after theirs, so time is not on their side. Timing seems to be a theme in this book.
Many near misses at romance and opportunities. People trying to do the "right thing" end up with less than ideal consequences. I could so relate to being an "emmett," an outsider, even after having lived in one place for nearly twenty years.

I laughed when Ella tossed her ring into the throngs of overly excited female fans. Being dumped at the alter with hundreds of life=streamers filming brings its own set of consequences.
Being a "second chance" romance, you may figure out soon enough how part of the story will end, but oh what a joy getting there. The book has plenty of other moments to keep your interest and your hope up.
I am happy we will revisit Port Agnes and the midwives in future novels.

I love a bit of drama in a story and there's lots of it in this one! My favourite bits - apart from the romantic suspense, of course - were the midwifery bits. Reading about pregnant women and their labours from the medical side was fascinating, and a real treat. There was some other tension too, both on the romantic side of things and in Ella's day-to- day life, which kept me glued to the pages.

This is a lovely story, with a lovely setting, a wonderful sense of community, and a character with possibly one of the most important jobs in the world. Oh, and the romance is pretty darned special, too.

The Cornish Midwife by Jo Bartlett

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

Jo Bartlett brings readers a story of resilience and finding love thought lost once again.

This story was a bit different from my usual fare but overall I liked it pretty well. The story begins with a woman named Ella who is about to marry and have the life she's always wanted. Too bad her fiancé doesn't feel the same way. After an embarrassing and very public jilting at the altar, Ella returns to her home town to nurse her wounded heart and help out a growing midwife community. She quickly find friends and patients willing to welcome her kind nature into their lives. But her first love is the most surprising person to make an appearance in town. Dan and Ella were supposed to live happily ever after.....until Ella left town for university and broke Dan's heart. But Ella can't get involved again; she's only here for a short time as a fill-in midwife. Dan seems to make it his mission to make her change her mind and honestly, she just might let him. Could Ella make a life in this small town and really be happy. Her decision will determine the future for her life and perhaps, the lives of others she loves. I really liked the premise of the story and the characters. They were fun, engaging and witty. However, I didn't care for a lot of the things that were included, like: curse words/religious name exclamations, same-sex marriage and living together before marriage. These made the story less engaging which was sad, given the well written words. Thankfully, there was nothing explicit or I might not have finished the story. I will tell others about this story but will have to give warnings due to the inclusions mentioned before. Otherwise I would have been very happy to give this story 5 stars for it's creative plot and hilarious characters.

I received this temporary, complimentary E-book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

A sweet second chance romance that made me root for the characters and smile.
I liked the engrossing and entertaining story, the well written characters and the lovely setting.
It's a good read that I recommend if you want to read a well written and escapist story.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really really enjoyed this book! It has great characters and makes me excited for the next book in the series. By mixing birthing stories with the romance and lives of the midwives it felt like a modern day Call the Midwife which I think increased my enjoyment of it. I loved Ella and, although I was often frustrated by some of her decisions, I understood her thought process. Her struggles to live up to being her parents' miracle baby was interesting and not a perspective you often get. Usually the long awaited child is a bit spoiled and full of herself, but with Ella she feels like she has to be beyond successful in everything she does to make her parents' struggles worth it for them. This pressure doesn't come from them at all, it's something she has internalized and that she has difficulty overcoming. I also really liked Dan and how he was always so patient with Ella as she worked through everything going on in her life. The only part between them that I didn't understand was him not visiting sooner after her accident. She left messages with him through multiple means and he told her he wasn't sure she would want to see him. Did he not check any of his messages?!

I also loved the secondary love story between Anna and Brae. He was so sweet and my heart (much like Ella's) broke for him when he called into that radio show expressing how he felt he would never find love. Anna's ex was a jerk and I was so glad she found someone who would appreciate her and shared her dreams for the future. I could have read a whole book just about the two of them.