Susan's Blog: With All Her Heart by Kelly Irvin – Likeable, Thoughtful Characters

Sunday, November 24, 2024

With All Her Heart by Kelly Irvin – Likeable, Thoughtful Characters

Kelly Irvin’s newest novel With All Her Heart – is the third book in the Amish Calling series. I enjoy Kelly’s Amish themed books and looked forward reading this story.

With All Her Heart is a little different from most of the author’s other novels. In the introduction the author mentions that Amish communities may have a higher rate of disabilities or diseases because of marriage within their community and the limited gene pool. She also mentioned the love and acceptance the Amish have for their children, family, friends, and members of their community.

The main character in this book is Bonnie Yoder who has a disability called spinal muscular atrophy. Bonnie is co-owner of a shop with two of her friends who are also disabled. Bonnie is smart, beautiful, hardworking, and wants to be independent as possible. Bonnie would love to be married and have children. But she is resolved to remain single and not be a burden on others because of her declining health.

Thankfully, Bonnie has the love and support from her mother, Jocelyn Yoder. Jocelyn husband Marlin died two years ago, but he is still a part of her life.

But God is at work and may bring the unexpected into their lives. Like Elijah Miller a quiet and shy man that Bonnie had gone to school with. Or Jocelyn’s brother Uriah bringing his friend Theo over to see what things need work, repairs, or maintenance on Jocelyn’s property.

I enjoyed reading this book and the characters were very likable. I especially enjoyed Jocelyn, she was loving, caring, supportive and honest in dealing with her grief. Theo was a refreshing character, honest and open. I also liked Elijah. Though he was shy, he learned to work through that which is hard, and to fight for what he wanted.

It was eye opening to think of how challenging it would be to have a disability and live life without the modern-day conveniences that can make everyday tasks a little easier.

I enjoyed reading With All Her Heart by Kelly Irvin and recommend it. If you enjoy Amish themed novels, or a little romance, or Kelly Irvin’s novels be sure to get her newest book which will be released on January 28, 2025.

I would like to thank Zondervan Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of With All Her Heart by Kelly Irvin. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

No comments:

My Colors Will Be Clear

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight seeing, smooth knees, color-less dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, "chinchy" giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need position, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my destination is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few. My Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of the One that gave me life, drew the line in blood for me in the hour of my destiny.

I am one of Christ's remnant people. I belong to Him and none other. All I do to bring this life to another is done because of that blood covenant poured out for me.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. I must share will all that one more might hear and be drawn from the flaming darkness that longs to consume. Reach for another, touch but one more!

Until that moment...He will have no problem in recognizing me- my colors will be clear!!!

Not only are the words inspiring but so is the man behind them. The above letter was written by a Pastor in Africa who was undergoing severe persecution. On the eve of his execution he sat down and wrote the above note.