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The Ship's Midwife

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( 344 ratings, 53 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Ship's Midwife by Peta Miller is a historical fiction novel that captures the journey of a young midwife aboard a ship bound for Australia in the 19th century. Tasked with caring for pregnant women, she must navigate the challenges of life at sea, forming unexpected bonds and discovering her own strength amidst the turbulent voyage. The story beautifully intertwines themes of resilience, camaraderie, and the pursuit of hope in a new world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're captivated by tales of resilience and compassion set against a rich historical backdrop. It tells the gripping story of a midwife aboard a convict ship, blending elements of adventure, hardship, and hope. History enthusiasts will appreciate the vivid depiction of life at sea and the complex human drama interwoven with historical detail.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Lives are about to be irrevocably changed following a typhus outbreak on a cramped emigrant ship bound for Australia.

1850 Sarah Hallow is orphaned, penniless and alone, with only the skills learned from her midwife mother to guide her. Passage on a ship bound for the new settlement of Brisbane, Australia, is her last option. Though her skills are quickly dismissed by the ship's doctor, Sarah is pleased to find instant friendship with her cabin mate, Bridie, a fiery Irish girl with a sharp tongue and midwifery skills of her own.

When the two women come to the aid of a labouring woman onboard, Sarah's dreams of opening her own midwifery practice in Brisbane don't seem so impossible. Certainly not as impossible as her daydreams about the ship doctor's son, who only seems to have eyes for her friend.

But something else is lurking on the ship: a disease that has the power to take down even the strongest man and is about to rip through the ship like wildfire, leaving only devastation in its path. As caring for patients stretches Sarah and Bridie to their absolute limit, thoughts of the future are rapidly eclipsed by their determination to survive. If only they can make it to Australia with their lives and loves intact...

Inspired by true events, this is a meticulously researched, eye-opening, heart-breaking, soul-warming story of survival, love and grit for readers of Darry Fraser, Alison Stuart and Tea Cooper.

'A poignant story of love and loss and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity that will tug at your heart and have you reaching for the tissues...' - Alison Stuart, author of The Goldminer's Sister.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Ship's Midwife by Peta Miller is praised for its vivid portrayal of maritime history and the resilience required by those at sea. Set in the era of sailing ships, it immerses readers in the challenging lives of its characters, notably focusing on the complex role of a midwife in such a setting. Critics highlight Miller's ability to craft a narrative that is both engaging and educational, bringing historical details to life with a compelling story.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781867252931

Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises (Australia) Pty Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 June 2023

Country: Australia

Imprint: Harlequin Mills & Boon

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 155.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 353g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Peta Miller has been in the book trade for over twenty years, in both publishing and retail. When not writing, she works part-time at Berkelouw Books in Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast. In November 2018, Peta received the Charlotte Waring Barton Award for her unpublished manuscript, Sing Us Home, the prize being a mentorship with a HarperCollins author. After development, this manuscript has become The Ship's Midwife.

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