Twenty-year-old Greta Miller’s daed has been injured in a farming accident, and both Greta and her sister must work outside the home to make ends meet. Because Greta is still in her rumschpringe, her family chooses her to sell homemade jams, jellies, and baked goods at a local farmers’ market. Josh Yoder wants to court Greta, but years ago, he made the mistake of walking away from her…and the … her…and the Amish. Three years later, he’s back, but Greta wants nothing to do with him. Josh struggles to fit in and rebuild relationships he destroyed. Knowing Greta’s family needs help, he steps in. When Greta admires one of his birdhouses, he gives it to her, hoping that it will open the door to more.
But as their friendship begins to grow, scandal and danger pull Greta away from the Amish, leaving her rejected by those she loves and in harm’s way. Will Greta be able to return home? Or will she remain forever estranged from her beloved Amish community?
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THE BIRD HOUSE by Laura V. Hilton is the third book in The Amish of Jamesport series.
THE BIRD HOUSE is the love story of Greta Miller and Josh Yoder who have been friends and then sweethearts as far back as either can remember.
Three years ago, Josh just up and left leaving Greta broken hearted. Little did she know that he was fighting his own demons. It wasn’t until he found the answers (of God’s grace, that God loved him, and how to listen to God’s word with his heart) on the Appalachian Trail that he was able to return to the Amish, to his family and hopefully to the girl he had always loved.
Greta has had many burdens to carry since Josh left including her Daed’s accident that rendered him handicapped and unable to work. Then he suffered a heart attack which means more debt and responsibility. She is virtually the sole supporter for the family and struggling at that. Even though she said she wouldn’t, she finds it impossible to harden her heart to the love of her life when he returns. However, when she’s doing all that she can and is lied about by her sister and so wrongly accused by the church leaders, even told that her Daed’s heart attack is her fault, she runs away losing her faith in the process.
Taken in by what she assumes was a loving woman with her best interest at heart, soon becomes apparent to be just the opposite. Has God really abandoned her? Can’t he see how desperate her family has been even selling off their livestock to survive? How can she escape? How can she find her way home? Is there anyone even looking for her? Will reading Josh’s journal open her heart back up to God?
The author tells a heart tugging story of God’s love, redemption and opening your heart up to hear him speaking to us if we will only listen. She tells how a wedge was driving in between Greta and Josh but how God’s love and guidance can not only bring them back together but strengthen their love both for each other and for him. Laura has the ability to have you on the edge of your seat anticipating trouble on the next page to having you remembering to believe in the power of prayer. Yes love may make the world go round, but God’s love will lift you up, hold you near and strengthen you against anything thrown at you as shown in the writings in this book.
I highly recommend THE BIRD HOUSE. Even being the third book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. After reading it though, you will be wanted to go back and read book one and two to read the detailed stories of some of the other wonderful characters in the story. After reading this whole series, I know without a doubt that I will be checking out more series by this wonderfully talented author. With her dedication to detail, warmth and growth of characters and spiritual references that lift one up, I think I can also say that if you pick up any book by this author that you won’t be disappointed.