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    The Midwife's Confession
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    The Midwife's Confession
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    The Midwife's Confession
    Ebook417 pages6 hours

    The Midwife's Confession

    By Diane Chamberlain

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    About this ebook

    Dear Anna,

    What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I’m so sorry…

    The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle’s suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle—her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family—described a woman who embraced life.

    Yet there was so much they didn’t know.

    With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle’s friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives—and the life of a desperate stranger—with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.

    Told with sensitivity and insight, The Midwife’s Confession will have you turning pages late into the night.

    From the bestselling author of The Lies We Told and The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes comes
    a story of deception that asks: How much is
    too much to forgive?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarlequin MIRA
    Release dateMay 1, 2011
    ISBN9781459201538
    Author

    Diane Chamberlain

    Diane Chamberlain is the bestselling author of twenty novels, including The Midwife's Confession and The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes. Diane lives in North Carolina and is currently at work on her next novel. Visit her Web site at www.dianechamberlain.com and her blog at www.dianechamberlain.com/blog and her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Diane.Chamberlain.Readers.Page.

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    Reviews for The Midwife's Confession

    4/5

    331 ratings36 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This book was provided to me via NetGalley from the publisher. I have to admit that I could not put this book down. I have never read anything by this author but after reading this book I think I will have to remedy this by reading more books by her. Her writing style flows well and it draws you in. This book is about a midwife who kills herself at the very beginning of the novel. In her death her 2 best friends find out that Noelle, the midwife, was keeping quite a few secrets. It is difficult to write this review without spoiling too much of the book. Tara and Emerson, the two friends left behind, are not only dealing with their own personal problems but now have to face some of the mistakes that Noelle made many years ago. This book is about friendship, family and grieving. I found myself so immersed in this novel and at times found myself drying tears from my eyes. I could not recommend this novel enough. Once you think you have all the secrets figured out Chamberlain throws a few more twists your way, keeping you on your toes. Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend that you run out to your local bookstore and buy it right now.
    • 5/5
      The storyline is a gigantic jumble of twist and turns. You will need a map, a guide, something to keep up with the characters and the timelines. If you have never given birth, you may question even wanting children after the grim experiences these women had in labor. I did not like Tara at all. Her constant doormat approach to her daughter was just stupid and ad nauseum. The plot is too riveting to be believed, but it is ENGROSSING. I give it my highest score for entertainment value. Diane Chamberlain has a master's degree in social work. She must know what she's talking about. You rock Diane.
    • 3/5
      A low-calorie read! some interesting twists but quite an obvious plot. Good read for a journey.
    • 2/5
      Average chick lit type book with a slight mystery and a "surprise" ending. There was nothing new or interesting in this book.
    • 4/5
      Wonderfully hokum in parts but I have to say I loved it. Somehow more emotional than Picoult and a definite page turner. I had to keep my wits about me as to which baby was which, but the surprises were well done and I thought the ending was excellent.
    • 4/5
      The book started slow. The story is told by several women, that is something I always love. I love reading about various women and them telling the story, so if you know any books like that, please do not hesitate to recommend those to me. I very much enjoyed this after a while though, because you get to know the characters more. The books also sometimes visits the past so if you do not like time jumping in your books this is not for you.The only thing I can say negatively is that the plot was not a surprise to me and it felt also very unreal. So this is going to be a 4 stars book which means a very good enjoyable read. Oh what to read now?.....
    • 3/5
      I was looking for a quick read and I got it.This is a page turner - a classic airplane/beach book. Every once in a while I just crave a quick easy read like this - it is the literary equivalent of a good lifetime movie - satisfying and diverting even though it isn't stretching my mind at all and when I am done I feel a little like I overindulged on a bag of doritos. Vague Spoilers ahead.****************************************************************************This book has a formidable chain of calamitous events. Deaths upon deaths, terminal illnesses, stolen babies, switched at birth babies all appear - I suspect I forgot a couple of plot points. It is pretty funny to think of them in the abstract - I don't know if daytime soaps have anything on this book - but it is written fluidly and if you are willing to go for the ride - it is perfect for those times when you need something that you can just pick up and put down but still is pretty absorbing while you are reading it.
    • 3/5
      This was a good book. It did not blow me away, however, I will tell you that I "thought" that I had it all figured out at the very beginning. I was pleasently surprised at the unpredictable twist at the end.
    • 5/5
      rabck from MyssCyn; so good I couldn't put it down. Noelle is a single midwife who commits suicide. Her close friends Tara and Emerson can't wrap their heads around why. A few weeks after the funeral, even more disturbing news surfaces - Noelle stopping practicing midwifery and the autopsy showed that she had been pregnant in the past. Going through her things, Emerson finds a letter started to "Anna". The clues keeps circling - Noelle had been a surrogate 5 times, and Anna had a missing child? Pieces fall into place in the end in a surprise ending.
    • 5/5
      As the synopsis alludes to, this is the story of three women. Their lives are explored through ups and downs, happiness and sadness, truths and lies. Friendships are strained (though unknowingly to the other party), bonds broken (secrets kept from friends and family, never a good idea) and boundaries crossed (naughty behavior now and then) and yet in each case the actions taken were done with the utmost love for those they felt they were protecting. It was amazing to watch the story unfold. The author has a unique way of writing the characters to life and despite the close knit nature of their relationships, you're treated as a member of the family. You feel for them; their pain is your pain, their confusion your confusion. As the story progresses secrets are revealed little by little, never too much at once; just enough to allow you to piece together a vague idea of what may have happened or what might be uncovered next. It was refreshing not to have it laid out point blank for you. It added a bit of mystery to it all without taking away from the emotional side of the story. The slow reveal is aided in part by the variety of voices through which the story is shared. A change in narrator can be hard for some readers (myself included) to absorb. You get use to one voice only to have to adjust to another and sometimes that change can interupt the stories progression in your mind. Here...it works, and rather well. You get to know each of the characters on a more personal level thus creating that reader/character bond and what's more you get to see the situation through another set of eyes without repeating it all again. Noelle, though one of the main characters to some aspect, reaches out to us from her journals and memories as her present state no longer leaves her able to participate more actively. Her life was a kaleidoscope of sorts, twisting and turning this way and that all with the purpose of reaching one final pattern of beauty but with those unfortunate combinations of brokeness reached in-between. Tara and Emerson, friends for life since their days in college and pillars of strength much needed for supporting one another through the coming times. Sam, Ted, and Ian....the male voices leaving their mark in a more subtle way yet still equally important to the overall story. The shifts between there narration are subtle and to keep you from having to guess who is whom, they are marked by a new chapter each time they change, but they are distinctive nonetheless I for one appreciated that because keeping track of the connections throughout the story was occupying my mind more greatly. Note to readers, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a pen and paper handy to jot a note or two....just in case. In short, it's a novel about women. How we live. How we love. How we connect with one another and how we will protect our loved ones til the end. From the quiet strength yet to be uncovered to the voice that is raised to help the multitudes, we are all different and yet share a common bond. Here, the range of those bonds are shown with a moving story that is sure to leave you contemplating life and all its mysterious ways. If you are a fan of women's fiction, or simply stories about friends, family, and the secrets they keep for better or worse, this is definitely one book you don't want to miss.
    • 4/5
      he Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain is a beautifully concocted mystery that incorporates family drama, friendship, love into a wonderfully enjoyable read. This is a book about discovering that someone you love and care about could be someone that you knew next to nothing about - and the illusion of familiarity can be shattered by merely a few words written on a piece of paper.Noelle is a midwife, and an incredibly close friend to Tara and Emerson who are shocked to find out that Noelle has committed suicide. Unable to reconcile with the thought that Noelle, a vibrant lover of life, would kill herself, her two friends dig deeper into her past, and come across a half-written letter that sends them spinning into a dark world of secrets which, when uncovered, prove to be life-altering for both Tara and Emerson.Author Chamberlain has craftily taken a mystery, and made it into far more than that. The friendship between Tara, Emerson and Noelle is spot-on in terms of middle-aged women sharing a comfortable life-long friendship. Plus, the way that the author explores the topics of loss is absolutely remarkable, and definitely heart-rending. At the same time, it was the very apt and deeply perceptive portrayal of teenagers Grace and Jenny that truly blew me away. This book is an excellent mystery and keeps you guessing till the very end - but above all, it is a book about friendship, about love and loss, experience and betrayal, and most importantly, about guilt and forgiveness. I definitely would recommend it to mystery lovers!
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed the book. The author did a good job with the mystery aspects of the story. Although I suspected part of the secret the book slowly unveils, I did not get it exactly right, which means Ms. Chamberlain did a good job. I did have difficulty believing that someone could have hidden so much of her life from her two supposedly closest friends. They really didn't know her at all. I will check out more from this author.
    • 4/5
      Very good story of 3 very good friends and the secrets they discover when one of them dies.
    • 4/5
      This was an excellent book. The author had such a way with words and held my interest to the end. The author did a wonderful job of weaving the lives of the characters into a wonderful mystery. The challenges the characters face involving family and friends are intense and keep the reader waiting for the next development. This is a really a good book to read.
    • 5/5
      When Noelle commits suicide, seemingly out of the blue, her two best friends try to uncover the Noelle they thought they knew. The face Noelle presented to the world was that of midwife, supporter of causes - especially ones involving babies, good friend to Tara and Emerson - was not the true Noelle. For years she has had to deal with the guilt of something she was responsible for - a secret that no one else knew.After finding a partial letter that Noelle had written before she died, Tara and Emerson set out on a path to try to figure out their best friend. The story is told from different points of view, but comes together beautifully. This was a book that I did not want to put down. I thought I had it figured out, but in the end, I was wrong.This is a great book exploring the relationships between mothers and daughters, and between women in general. Again - this would be a great book club pick. If you haven't read anything by Diane Chamberlain - this would be a good place to start!
    • 5/5
      a very well written piece of fiction which keeps you guessing until the end I enjoyed this very very much
    • 4/5
      The novel starts with the mysterious suicide of Tara and Emerson’s closest friend, Noelle. And everything, I mean everything is shroud in mystery. It had so many twists and turns, I had no idea what would come next. The Midwife’s Confession is told mostly in the present with four of the major characters narrating. Although each chapter is told in someone else’s point of view, the story moves along smoothly. Two things really stand out in this novel for me, the first being Noelle. I enjoyed the Noelle chapters, they added insight from her past that helped me understand her better. Truth be told, I still don’t understand her fully. After reading the novel, I realize that above all, she was a woman who was too afraid to tell the truth. Who, in love, did something that was so unimaginable that her guilt consumed her. What upset me the most is that she took a cowards way out instead of admitting the truth to her two close friends. Even so, like Tara and Emerson, I can’t be mad at her. She was beautifully flawed.The second was Ms. Chamberlain’s ability to write about relationships among women, specifically those with the mothers and daughters. I especially loved the relationship between Tara and her daughter Grace. I loved how they found their way back to each other after the death of Sam. He was the thread that tied them together. I was both surprised and moved how they reconciled. I thought above all, their struggles were the most honest account of a mother/daughter relationship. This novel was perfect in about every way. There were some flaws. Noelle was far from perfect and there are a few holes in her history, things I thought should have been revealed to make the story more cohesive. Overall, The Midwife’s Confession is excellent: mysterious, sad, a page turner from the word She and a must read.
    • 5/5
      I have enjoyed all the other Diane Chamberlain books I have read, and knew that I would enjoy this one too, but I think The Midwife's Confession is probably my favourite of hers so far.It's primarily the story of three friends: Emerson, Tara and Noelle. When Noelle commits suicide it's a huge shock to Emerson and Tara and they just cannot understand why she has done it, until they find part of a letter that Noelle had written some years earlier. They then set out to find out more about their lost friend.This is a riveting story. There were times when chapters ended on cliffhangers, and as the chapters were all fairly short, it meant that I wanted to keep reading all the time. This is a really well-plotted book, and such an easy read, with interesting characters. Highly recommended.
    • 3/5
      3.0 out of 5 stars Secrets, lies and betrayal...how well do you know your best friends?, April 26, 2011This review is from: The Midwife's Confession (ARC)On a beautiful day in September, Noelle commits suicide. Her two closest friends, Tara and Emerson, are completely shocked that the woman they had known -- caring, committed midwife, champion of babies-in-need, strong independent Noelle has done this. Why? Turns out that Noelle had a lot of secrets -- a history of lies, betrayals and a hidden past that neither of them knew.The story is a mystery and also a study in friendship and family relationships. The ability to write believable characters is a definite strength of author Diane Chamberlain. The women in her books are mothers, daughters, wives, etc. who are able to form strong bonds that are tested but that don't break even in the face of tragedy or heartache. Ultimately, this is a book about the extent that someone could go to in an attempt to make a wrong a right; or how loving someone too much can cause a person to do things that ordinarily wouldn't be considered. And at what cost?Told from the viewpoints of the key characters in the novel, the story also shifts back and forth in time as Noelle's friends and their children Jenny and Grace try to make sense of the suicide and to find answers to the questions it brought to light. It seems that none of them really knew Noelle at all!The book raises questions that made me wonder how well anyone can really know another person. Often we take what they say at face value without probing more deeply, and there can be periods of time when we are enough out of touch with someone that we miss a key turning point or ignore some essential signs.I read this book cover to cover over an afternoon. It was fast paced and absorbing; the only jarring note was the ending. Although some of it was wholly predictable, I was a bit dismayed at the behavior of one of the characters and I won't give any further spoilers to ruin it for anyone.Fans of mystery and relationship stories, and all those who love Diane Chamberlain's previous work won't want to miss this one!
    • 3/5
      When I read the synopsis of this book I was torn. The premise was interesting enough but I was afraid I might find myself caught up in a story that was overly contrived or at best, a good premise for a so/so Lifetime movie. What I discovered was a book with a lot of emotional depth. The story is told from multiple viewpoints and the characters all seem very real. I was shocked at Noelle's secret. So shocked, that I actually felt a little sick. This one mistake was something that affected so many people. People that knew and trusted her. The twists were mostly unexpected, though a few were obvious. Even though I had figured them out before they took place, it didn't lessen the emotional impact. The book did seem to drag in spots with what I felt was a little too much exposition, and I did find myself skimming over passages at times. All in all this was worth the read, and I did enjoy it, but it's probably not something I would read again.
    • 5/5
      In the blink of an eye a friend they thought they knew takes her own life and so Tara and Emerson embark on a journey to find out why. What they don’t realize is that in their mission for information about Noelle and her suicide only leads them to more questions. They find that happiness was just a mask she wore to hide a darkest of secrets that will change every life it’s touched when they learn “The Midwife’s Confession”.Diane Chamberlain has given us a storyline that could be taken from the front pages of any news paper or from the headlines from any CNN or CNBC report, with one exception, she gives it that human touch and in doing so will take her readers on an excruciating trip down endless dark hallways of a troubled woman’s mind. She tells it in the first person from the voices of several of her main protagonists and she does this with dialogue that’s easy to read and will take her audience into the hearts and minds of her characters, characters who will become friends as you entwine yourselves into their lives. Her readers will be in awe of the intimacy she gives us into her characters especially Tara and Emerson along with their daughters Jenny and Grace and as we her readers get closer to solving the puzzle of this mystery she throws us a curve ball with Anna and Haley. Her co-stars of this drama are equally important to the telling of the story and couldn’t be done without them. At the heart of this tale we find a love story, the love between friends, the love of children and the love of a spouse, but she fills the pages with twists and turns to get us there and at the end we will let go a breath we didn’t know we’d been holding.If you love a great mystery, a story of family drama, a drama in general and just really the telling of an incredible story by an amazing artist, mixed with angst filled scenes and nail biting edge of your seat drama, let this be your choice. You won’t be sorry you did. Put this on the top of your next “Must Read” list.
    • 4/5
      I really don't know why I'm not giving this a 5. A story about best friends, mothers and daughters and the secrets that are kept and lies that are told...and how it can turn your life around for better or worse. I can honestly say that I don't know how authors come up with stories like this with so many twists and turns and still able to tell it seamlessly. I love Diane Chamberlain's work and this one was just as good as the rest. I will definitely recommend this book. Well done! I received this book through NetGalley - Thank You!
    • 3/5
      This book was just ok for me. I have really enjoyed her other books that have unusual plot twists but this one seemed a bit more predictable to me. The story is also told from many different points of view and also alternated between time periods which I found a bit confusing. The plot started off better than it ended for me too. A midwife commits suicude and her friends must come to terms with not knowing her as welll as they thought they did as they uncover quite a few shocking secrets from her past.
    • 5/5
      The Midwife’s Confession is the 21st book by Diane Chamberlain. Tara and Emerson are close friends whose beloved friend and midwife, Noelle, commits suicide. As they struggle to learn the reason for it, they discover that the person they thought they knew so well was not who Noelle was at all. They also discover some dark secrets that will affect their lives and those of their husbands and daughters. The Midwife’s Confession is a story about deep and abiding friendships between women which also deals with some tricky ethical questions. The characters and well rounded, the dialogue is realistic and the plot has a few excellent twists. A thought-provoking page-turner.
    • 5/5
      This was a real nail biter!!! There wasn't a dull moment. If you are looking for a page turning, can't put down, one more page before bed time read, this is your book. Also when you think you have figured it out you haven't so keep reading it's worth every minute.
    • 5/5
      Wow! What a page turner-hard to put this Nook book down, even though as a good wine or gourmet meal, you want to make it last and savor every part of it until the end! “Confessions of a Midwife”, as good or better than Chamberlain’s “a Good Father and “the Secret Lives of Cee Cee Wilkes”, which were all outstanding and did not think another one could live up to my 5 star reviews; however, it did, as each of these books were different with many characters and twists, turns, plots, which leave you wanting more.

      Noelle is a powerful woman and even from the grave, every character in the book has been hurt by her actions in some way. Ultimately this is a story of forgiveness and the strong and complicated friendships between Tara and Emerson as they make peace with Noelle’s actions. In addition, there was much growth from Grace, as she finds out love is right in front of her. (love the usage of taking each character within sections to get to the raw feelings of the individual). Very powerful!

      Love the NC setting, as a native and love the strong southeast writers –Emilie Richards, Mary Kay Andrews, Charles Martin, Nicholas Sparks, and Dianne Chamberlain as each are very highly talented writers, each with their own writing style and character. I have read all the authors' books except for Dianne’s---currently trying to play catch-up buying her Nook Books as fast I as can read them. I am excited about reading her other works, as have a feeling each one will be as amazing as the previous one. A must read!
    • 4/5
      This was actually better than I expected - enough twists and turns to keep you guessing (even though there were a finite number of ways it could work itself out). Characters were well developed and believable, with the possible exception of the teenagers. All in all, it was a good choice.
    • 4/5
      I am a big fan of Diane Chamberlain. She is able to portray all the messiness of emotions and relationships in a way that pulls me in to the story, as if these people were my friends. This story starts with the suicide of a midwife, and the rest of the book is about her two best friends trying to sort out what was behind the suicide - partly in the present day, and partly through flashbacks to the past. It's a story about guilt, secrecy, and friendship. I found all the twists and turns to be predictable - there was nothing that happened that I hadn't already figured out - but it was still a good read. I would have liked the ending to be a bit more extensive, it seemed to wrap up really quickly, but that's my only complaint. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
    • 5/5
      Wow. Just finished this book in one sitting and I loved it. Although some parts of the book,are predictable, I could not see that ending coming until it was right upon me. The characters are so well developed through the story, what a shame I finished it!
    • 5/5
      The Widwife's Confession opens with Noelle, a midwife in North Carolina, taking her own life. When Noelle's best friends, Tara and Emerson, discover what she has done, they are at a loss. Both believed that Noelle was happy and that she had a flourishing career. But soon after her death Emerson finds one of Noelle's old midwife journals, and starts to question if her friend's life was really what it seemed. Together Emerson and Tara make a series of discoveries about Noelle, before making one that could shake their worlds forever.This was my first Diane Chamberlain novel but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this fast paced novel, full of twists and turns. Like a Jodi Picoult novel, things line up too perfectly and you would never expect a situation like this to develop in real life. But it does make for a good story and an interesting fast paced read. Once I got into this book, I had a hard time putting it down.