The Midwife of Venice (2012) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“Quick, relatively easy read about a Venetian midwife in the late 1500s and her husband. Loved the concept of the story. The ending felt rushed and almost like it tied up a little too neatly.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Enjoyed reading about life during the 1500s in Venice. Life was unbelievably difficult and so uncertain.”

• Rated 2 stars

“Jewish midwife from sixteenth-century Venice ghetto delivers Christian baby of a countess miraculously saving baby and mother. Grateful count pays her enough to ransom her kidnapped and enslaved husband. This was another one that was just merely okay.”

• Rated 4 stars

“A pretty quick, rip-roaring read with a little bit of service-y history thrown in for good measure. I wish it hadn't been quite so predictable but whatever, I enjoyed it nonetheless.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Full of hope and unlikely adventure, The Midwife of Venice was brave and charming read.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Loved the historical information. Characters endured great trials to reunite.”

• Rated 2 stars

“Interesting history and research but terrible plot and simplistic predictable characters.”

• Rated 5 stars

“I really loved this novel, and could not put it down. I am excited to learn that there is a sequel out there. This novel had all of the aspects that I look for in a great book.....a historical setting, so I can learn something from reading it. Great, vivid characters. A love story intertwined with a mystery or intrigue of some sort. Suspense. Realistic, vivid details and a happy ending. This novel had it all. A quick read too, and an easy one for someone who is not really into Historical Fiction.”

• Rated 3 stars

“3.5 stars. I enjoyed the characters and the setting but found much of the plot improbable.”

• Rated 3 stars

“This is a debut novel and a seasoned reader will be able to pick up on that fact pretty quickly. I had to suspend belief in more than one scene and the plot was quite flimsy with no doubt how the novel would end. The author will have a sequel in 2013, hopefully she's learned a bit more about writing and it will be something to try. Overall, not bad but not excellent.”