EXPLORING THORNY FAITH ISSUES IN FICTON by KELLY IRVIN

EXPLORING THORNY FAITH ISSUES IN FICTON by KELLY IRVIN
Tuesday, July 23, 2024 by Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Matters of the Heart

AUTHOR: Kelly Irvin

PUBLISHER: Zondervan

GENRE: Amish romance

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: 2nd book in Amish Calling series

TARGET AGE: 16 and up

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR KELLY IRVIN TO PATTI’S PORCH. KELLY TALKS ABOUT HOW SHE USES HER PERSONAL STURGGLES TO ADDRESS DIFFICULT QUESTIONS OF FAITH IN HER FICTION.

EXPLORING THORNY FAITH ISSUES IN FICTON

Kelly Irvin

I often work out (or try to work out) my thorniest spiritual questions by writing stories. All of my novels have spiritual themes running through them—from why do bad things happen to good people to how God calls us to forgive the unforgiveable. Matters of the Heart is no exception. It deals with the question of how we continue to have faith even in the face of devastating loss. My definition of faith is believing (or trusting) in a God you can’t see.

Declan Miller is in danger of losing something he holds dear. He can’t understand why God would allow this to happen. I’ve faced a similar situation. Ten years ago, I suddenly lost my ability to walk normally. Two years later I was diagnosed with a progressive motor neuron disease and stage 4 ovarian cancer within a month of each other. I thought I was a solid Christian. I attended church and Sunday school regularly. I helped with our ministry feeding people experiencing homelessness. I made sure my kids went to church and youth group. And yet, when my health fell apart, I railed at God. I shook my fist at the sky. I cried out. It turns out I was a fair-weather Christian. My Sunday school teacher asked me if I still believed God was good. Of course, I said yes because that’s what believers say. But I wasn’t so sure. I was in fake it until you make it mode.

It’s taken a long time—and I still have days when I argue with God about it—to mean it when I say God is good all the time. I don’t like this lesson I’m still learning daily. Neither does Declan. He can’t believe a good God would allow him to lose the occupation he’s centered his life around since he was a child. Bethel struggles with the knowledge that her future children will likely be born carrying a genetic mutation that will result in a terrible, progressive disease. How can she bring that fact into a relationship with Declan. It’s not right.

Matters of the Heart is the story of how these two believers come to see God’s hand moving in their lives. It’s also a sweet romance and full of humor. Readers will see that Declan maintains a tenacious grip on his sense of humor. A gift from God, no doubt. Bethel learns that sometimes laughter is the best medicine.

Here’s a excerpt from Matters of the Heart:

“I’ll start then.” Her [Bethel’s] heart thrummed against her rib cage. The breeze failed to cool the sudden heat that rushed through her body. “Have you decided to not let your cancer stand in the way of courting?”

“The scan didn’t have any of those pesky cancer cells. The chances of it coming back are small.” Shadows hid Declan’s expression. “Have you decided to not let your family’s genes stand in the way of courting?”

“I can’t change my heredity. I see other couples having boplin and not worrying. I reckon I’ll have to learn to do the same.” It was either that or remain a single Plain woman who deprived herself of the most important things in life every Plain person wanted—marriage and children. “Have you decided being friends—if it’s even possible—isn’t enough for you?”

“Have you?”

“Jah.” Bethel whispered the single syllable and let it ride on a sudden gust of wind that carried it away into the treetops and across the sky. “I have no choice. My heart refuses to let my head win the argument.”

Declan chuckled softly. “Mine either.”

“So what now—?”

Declan’s lips covered Bethel’s. The kiss was soft, deliberate, almost a question. Bethel turned so she could slide her arms around his neck. Question answered. Declan’s embrace tightened. Uncertainty fell away in a rush of heat from a flame that burst from dry kindling at the first struck match. Soft turned fierce, deep, determined. Don’t ever let him stop. Don’t ever let him stop.

Declan leaned back. “I’ve wanted to do that since fourth grade.”

Bethel drew a shaky breath. “You have not.” Her voice sounded high, like someone else’s. “Okay, maybe you have, but I wasn’t thinking about it in grade school.”

“Miss Prim and Proper.” Looking mighty satisfied with himself, he grinned so wide his dimples nearly popped. “I happened to know from eavesdropping on my schweschdre and their friends, that girls do wonder what it’s like to kuss a guy . . . and such.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t wonder about it.” Bethel managed a weak laugh. “I said I didn’t think about kissing you.”

The heat roasting her cheeks rose another hundred degrees.

The chuckle turned into outright laughter. “Fair enough.” Declan drew closer. So close Bethel could see a tiny scar over his left eye she’d never noticed before. “As long as you think about it now.”

The second kiss went on and on. Declan’s hands ran down her arms, touched her hands, then clasped her face and held her there. She couldn’t have moved if she wanted to. She definitely did not.

Everything about it was so perfect. Danki, Gott, danki.

Was it right to thank God for kisses?

Startled, Bethel opened her eyes.

Declan did the same. He let go. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. Nothing, I, we should probably slow down a bit.”

Declan touched her face and let his finger trail down her cheek and across her collarbone. Sparklers danced across her skin in the wake of his touch. He picked up her hand and kissed her fingers. This had to be what grasping a live wire felt like. “You’re right.” He slid farther away. “It’s just that I’ve waited so long for this I sort of exploded. I’m sorry if I got carried away.”

“You didn’t. I promise you didn’t.” Bethel clasped her hands to keep them from reaching for him. Even distance couldn’t dampen the fire. “I think you have so much pent-up emotion from everything going on in your life that it all came rushing out at once.”

“There might be truth in that.” Declan leaned back and stared at the sky. Then at Bethel. “But my feelings for you were driving that train.”

His tone was matter-of-fact. No embarrassment. A simple statement of truth. “That’s gut.” A laugh burbled up in her. “I’m glad to hear it. It was nice.”

Declan’s eyebrows rose. “Nice?”

“Gut. Wunderbarr. There’s no word in Deutsch or English or German to describe how it—how you make me feel.”

“We should probably try courting before we do that again.”

“That’s a gut idea.” So why did it take every ounce of self-restraint to keep from sliding across the bench and kissing him again? “What did you have in mind?”

“I think we should take a walk down to the creek.” He dug around under the seat and came up with a flashlight. “Then if I get fresh with you, you can shove me in the water to cool me off.”

“Or vice versa.” Bethel laughed. Laughter never felt better. “You keep your distance. I’ll keep mine.”

Blurb for Matters of the Heart:

He’s the joking auctioneer of the community.

She’s the serious nursery worker who cares for her siblings.

What future could they have together?

Declan Miller has always had feelings for Bethel King. Back when they were in school, she was the smartest girl in the class—and, in his opinion, by far the prettiest. Now the two of them are in their twenties and while the attraction is still there, Declan is as hesitant as ever to let Bethel know how he feels. His wisecracking personality covers a heart that’s afraid of rejection.

Bethel can’t deny that Declan is nice, funny, and pleasing to the eye—a perfect match if you asked any girl in the area. But marrying Bethel would also mean marrying into her family. Two of her younger siblings have muscular dystrophy, and her sister Claire is now showing signs of having the same disease. Fiercely loyal and nurturing, Bethel has promised herself that she will always care for her family members. And with a good chance that she carries the gene and could pass it on to her children, Bethel has tried to convince herself that marriage and family just aren’t in the cards for her.

When a devastating diagnosis of his own turns Declan’s world upside down, Bethel is the friend he looks to for understanding, compassion, and a realistic outlook. As they share their dreams and fears and grow together in faith, a bond begins to develop between the two. Perhaps their combination of optimistic extrovert and thoughtful introvert really isn’t such a bad thing—perhaps it’s actually a part of God’s beautiful design.

Declan Miller is the joking auctioneer of his Amish community. Bethel King is a serious caregiver for siblings coping with a degenerative disease. Yet every time their paths cross, the sparks fly. Is there a future together for them?

Award-winning author Kelly Irvin has written more than thirty books and novellas, including Amish romance, romantic suspense and her debut women’s fiction title The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos released last year. Her latest Amish romance, Matters of the Heart, released July 16. She has published seven romantic suspense novels. The best-selling novelist worked as a newspaper reporter before spending more than twenty years in public relations. Kelly now writes fiction full-time. She lives with her husband, photographer Tim Irvin, near San Antonio. They are the parents of two children, four grandchildren, and two ornery cats.

Connect with Kelly:

Website

Facebook

X @Kelly_S_Irvin

Instagram @Kelly_Irvin

TikTok @kellyirvinauthor

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Comments

Priscilla Bettis From Texas At 7/24/2024 2:47:05 PM

Matters of the Heart sounds good. Great excerpt!

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Priscilla. Thank you for stopping by! I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy at least one of the books Kelly has written!

Kelly Irvin From Texas At 7/23/2024 2:16:24 PM

I love it that you were intrigued by the excerpt, Sherry. Amish communities and Amish as individuals vary greatly. The rules are set by each community. There's no central church organization. Some are very conservative. But a kiss, yes there are kisses!

Sherry From Minnesota At 7/23/2024 12:13:10 PM

I've never read Amish romance before, but when I read the exert above, I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued that Amish doesn't mean waiting until the last page for the first kiss:)

Reply by: Patti Shene

LOL Sherry! I had the same impression until I read a few Amish novels. Kelly is a wonderful author and I think you would enjoy her books. Thank you for stopping by.