With All Her Heart by Kelly Irvin
Published by: Zondervan Fiction
Publication Date: January 28, 2025
Series: Amish Calling – Book 3
Genres: Amish Romance / Christian Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eARC via NetGalley
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Bonnie is successful in her crafts shop but fears no man will see past her disability to her strong and loving heart. Elijah dreams of leaving the family business to focus on his carvings. Can they find a new path together?

Elijah Miller is a quiet and painfully shy man with a talent for carving the handmade toys and furniture that tourists in the Amish shops love. The large, boisterous Miller family is anything but shy. With a thriving auction business, they want him to do what he hates most: taking the stage and calling the auctions. He loves his family and wants to support them, but will they allow room for Elijah to follow his own dream?

Bonnie Yoder began the Homespun Handicrafts with her friends, Sophia and Carol. Each has a physical disability to overcome but together they prove that wheelchairs and rollators will not stop them from building a business and a craft community. Bonnie, with her chestnut curls and pretty face, yearns for a husband and family of her own but fears her spinal condition will keep any Amish man from choosing a life with her. Can a man like Elijah see past her walker to the woman behind it?

With the support of his beloved dog, Slowpoke, Elijah finds the courage to bring in samples of his handcrafted toys for Bonnie to consider for display in the shop. Through her advice, Elijah begins to see a possible new life doing what he loves best. Bonnie, in reconnecting with this old school friend, fears that the hope for a relationship that she feels may be another disappointment.

Can Elijah and Bonnie help each other find the lives they want and the love they desire?

My Thoughts and Reflections

This book follows the story of Elijah Miller, a painfully shy young man, and Bonnie Yoder, a young woman with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Honestly, “painfully shy” isn’t even the best way to describe Elijah, and Bonnie realizes this, making accommodations so he feels more comfortable. However, Elijah’s family of auctioneers doesn’t recognize his discomfort. He is expected to be involved in the family business—not just in any capacity, but specifically by calling auctions.

Bonnie has not let SMA get her down. She co-owns a handmade gift store with two other women who also have special needs. They do quite well, and Bonnie is not only skilled at sewing but also has an eye for display elements and keeps the books. Elijah is drawn to Bonnie’s inner and outer beauty but struggles to hold conversations.

Elijah and Bonnie’s relationship moves slowly due to the internal struggles both face given their differing abilities. Elijah can’t seem to carry on a conversation without his dog, Slowpoke, around, and Bonnie thinks that her disability means she has been given a different lot in life. They spend most of their time trying to help the other overcome their confused sense of self but not enough time working on their issues themselves, therefore, drawing things out longer than needed.

While I understand that this book was written as a labor of love to uplift those with disabilities and show that they can lead normal, happy lives, the number of characters in the book with some kind of limitation felt inordinate. Even taking into consideration the Amish community’s higher prevalence of genetic diseases due to the founder effect (as explained by Irvin in the foreword), it didn’t feel realistic to me. As someone born with a birth defect and a disability, the only time I’ve met that many people with special needs was in a hospital setting.

“The beginning of a smile blossomed into a full-fledged grin. Her grip tightening on the rollator handles, Bonnie paused, suddenly breathless.” p. 17

The story started a little slow but picked up once Jocelyn, Bonnie’s mother, became more present. It was easy to understand a mother’s worry, concern, and encouragement of her daughter, as she tried to help Bonnie see that she was limiting herself with her thinking—even though Bonnie believed she was simply being realistic. For me, Jocelyn was the character who stole the show. Perhaps it was her age, which is close to mine, or for some other reason, but I found myself captivated by her.

I will say this: I really, really wanted to make some good food while reading this story. There were times I read the menus from various events out loud to my husband. I believe he’s still waiting for his food! He’ll have to wait a little longer, though—I don’t have as much time as the Amish women. Plus, they help each other out with the cooking, and it’s just me in this house.

With All Her Heart is the third book in the Amish Calling series. However, it can be read as a standalone. It’s a sweet story that not only deals with a variety of disabilities with ease but also encompasses themes of childhood friends to romance, swearing off relationships, and second chances. With All Her Heart is a sweet story ready to showcase areas of life that others often avoid. Fans of Beverly Lewis, Kathleen Fuller, and Wanda E. Brunstetter will enjoy Irvin’s writing style. A solid story with likable characters great for all the Amish romance fans out there.

What was the last book you read that
featured people with differing abilities?

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.