The Midwife of St. Petersburg: Book Review and Giveaway

Recently, I won the book "The Midwife of St. Petersburg" by Linda Lee Chaikin from another blog. Since I have found so many other generous bloggers, I would like to do the same and pass the book along. But, up first is my review.

Synopsis: Karena Peshkova grew up under the direction of her midwife mother, Yeva, and desperately wants to follow in her footsteps. But due to her mother's Jewish heritage, Karena's dream is far from attainable. She and her family live in Czarist Russia, where the poor and Jewish peasants are often persecuted.

Karena's brother, Sergei, becomes involved with the Bolsheviks, a fascist political sect willing to do anything to overthrow the Czarist government. Karena unwittingly becomes suspected as a traitor and must flee from the Okhrana, the secret Russian police. The plot thickens as the man she is falling in love with, Aleksandr Kronstadt, whom she meets through her father's high society side of the family, becomes the lead investigator for the same police wanting to convict her.

Alex realizes his deep feelings for Karena and must decide what is most important, clearing the name of the women he loves or advancing his military career under the direction of the Czar. Along the way, both seek answers to their many questions on faith.

"The Midwife of St. Petersburg" borders on historical fiction along with being classified as Christian fiction. At first, I was taken aback by the authors writing style but eventually fell at peace with her wording and descriptions. The story was rather winding and lengthy. The author continued to add more and more plot without any remorse for my desperate want of answered questions.

Although the novel was very well researched, I feel that she could have been a little more in depth with Karena discovering the answers to her faith. I thought the building romance between Karena and Alex was also too unreal at times. All in all, I was left wanting more at the end.

Who would like to take a turn with the book next? Leave me a comment. If there's anyone interested, I'll choose a winner on Wednesday.