The Heart's Bidding - A Heartwarming Amish Story

 💖💖💖💖💖/5

The Heart's Bidding by Kelly Irvin, book one in the Amish Calling series, is a faith filled story  sweet, heartwarming story about trusting G-d and allowing G-d to show you what is best for you all. A story that drew me, not letting go until the last page.

 

Rachelle Lapp teaches special education to developmental and disabled Amish students, especially her brother Jonah who has developmental and learning disabilities. She loves her students and is gifted teaching in this area of education. When the parents committee of the Lee’s Gulch Amish School decides to send their Special Ed students to an English school, where they can get occupational teaching, Rachelle’s future looks uncertain. Her choices are to either apply for a teaching position at another school, possibly far from home, or give up teaching altogether; neither of which make her happy.

Toby Miller is an Auctioneer for his family’s successful auction business. Toby, his brothers and Dad are always away from home and on the road going from town to town wherever business takes them. Toby is too busy to marry and settle down; what woman would want a man who is never at home. Toby did not feel that any woman would marry him and want to be alone raising his children while he was on the road. Then he meets pretty Rachelle Lapp who turns his head and makes his heart beat. Rachel teaches Toby’s sister, Sadie, who has Down syndrome. Together, Toby and Rachelle advocate for their siblings who have learning disabilities. Toby wonders if he could be more than a friend to Rachelle; if she would welcome an auctioneer, who is on the road five months out of the year, court her. There are some matchmakers trying to help Toby and Rachelle come together; his family and their siblings, Jonah and Sadie.

 

Ms. Irvin wrote a wonderful, heartfelt, sweet, and moving story that had me reflecting on how he Amish would differ in how they value children with different abilities; especially developmental disabilities. Jonah and Sadie were such sweet kids who had such a love for life and those who were their friends and family. In this life we all have good and bad things that happen to us and in this story the characters also had good and bad times when unpredictable things became a part of their lives. I highly recommend The Heart's Bidding to other readers.

 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.