Shannon here: Laura V. Hilton shares a romantic excerpt from her latest Amish Romance, The Bird House. Comment or answer the question at the end of any post dated Sept 7 – 11 to enter the drawing for a copy. Deadline: Sept 19th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Laura:
Chapter 1
Greta’s diary, 2012
Who I am, and all I believe, is marred with just one glance into angry steel-blue eyes. He seems to control my air, my ability to breathe. He makes me crave everything I know is sin. Pure becomes tainted, and lines are blurred. It’s my fault; I’m the one who isn’t strong enough. I’ve been damaged, broken. Josh’s words haunt me: “There’s a consequence for every choice you make.”
2015
The hairs rose on the back of Greta Miller’s neck, and her skin prickled the way it did whenever someone stared at her. She should be used to the attention. Used to feeling like a caged circus animal, with all the tourists who came into the Amish Country Store.
But this seemed different somehow. She turned away from the boxes of cereal she’d been unpacking, and her eyes met Joshua Yoder’s penetrating gaze.
He stood stock-still, not ten feet away, his hand holding his hat slightly above his head, as if he’d stopped mid-lift. His blue eyes narrowed.
Her mouth went dry. Her chest hammered.
“Greta….” He lowered his hat to his side and approached, a smile slowly forming on his lips.
Nein. She couldn’t deal with him and those emotions today. Or any day.
She fled down the aisle and ducked inside the door marked “Employees Only.” She would find some work to do in back until her shift ended.
As she dashed past the employee break room, she glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes till she got off.
He should be long gone by then.
She wiped away a renegade tear.
After Greta clocked out, she made a few purchases—a bottle of olive oil, a jar of yeast, a fresh pineapple, and several avocados—and surveyed the store. Nein sign of Josh. She sagged with relief.
“Bye, Greta.” Her cousin Rachel waved from the cereal aisle, where she’d taken over the task of unloading boxes.
Greta waved back on her way out the door. “See you tomorrow.”
Greta stepped outside and into strong masculine arms that swept her up against a solid chest and swung her around and around.
She screamed, trying to pull away.
The man stopped swinging and released her waist.
Josh.
His hands immediately cupped her face, and he pressed his lips against hers. Hard. They softened as they moved, igniting an unexpected fire.
She couldn’t keep from responding. Something inside her flared to life. She had a brief taste of peppermint before reality set in.
Nobody had the right to kiss her. Not anymore.
She shoved her hands against his firm chest. “Joshua Yoder!”
He let go with a wink, then bent and retrieved his hat, which had fallen off sometime during the assault, and plopped it on his head before jogging over to his buggy and jumping in.
Leaving her reeling. In more ways than one.
She grabbed the nearest support beam on the porch and watched him flick the reins and drive off with a grin and a wave.
About Laura: Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse releasing in October 2015. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is contracted for another three book Amish series set in the Jamesport area, with the first book planned for April 2016.
Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer. Learn more and connect:
Lighthouse Academy Blog Laura V. Hilton Blog Twitter Facebook Pinterest
About the book – The Bird House: Twenty–year–old Greta Miller’s daed has been injured in a farming accident during the summer. The supportive Amish community tries to help out, but Greta and her sister must work outside the home to make ends meet, and so Greta rents a booth at the farmers’ market. Because Greta is still in her rumspringa and free to explore the world, her family selects her to sell her homemade jams, jellies, and preserves to Englischers.
Josh Yoder wants to court Greta, but years ago, he made the mistake of rejecting her during a seemingly innocent game; which resulted in him leaving 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, hoping to win her back. 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, a series of unfortunate events pull Greta away from the Amish, leaving her rejected by those she loves. Will Greta get beyond her family’s distrust and return home? Will she prove her innocence? Or will she remain outside her Amish community?
Purchase Links:
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Question for Readers: Have you ever kept a diary or journal?
Come back Sept 14th for Caryl McAdoo!
Melanie Backus says
I have kept a diary in the past but now I just write notes on a small purse calendar. I love to go back from time to time and read what happened in my life in previous years.
melback at cebridge dot net
Shelia Hall says
yes when i was younger
Mary Ellen Ashenfelder says
I kept a diary many, many years ago when I was in grade school and high school. I wish I still had those diaries today to see what my thoughts and goals were back then.
kim amundsen says
I have journaled for the past 20 years.
Jan Hall says
I have never kept a diary.
ann austin says
When I was young I did keep a diary, kid things really.
Later on through the years, I have used a journal off and on, for a couple of years I listed all good things, at least 5 every day that went on with me. Not long ago i started another set of journal pages, just to vent off some unpleasant things about how badly a close friend has treated me. I made sure to list at least 5 pleasant things in my day. It helped me to let go of some resentments over her actions, and it brought good closure to a series of not so good days. It also helped me to move on, and make sure I had forgiven the hurts, and let go of it.
Maryann says
Yes, I kept a diary when I was a teenager. I laugh at some of the things I wrote. Life was sure alot less complicated back then!
Anne Rightler says
I have a birthday journal that I have kept up for the last few years. I forget a year here and there. I think I kept a diary as a youngster but nothing too interesting I’m sure!
Kelly Blackwell says
I’ve kept a diary off and on since I was ten years old. My first diary was very small and was a five-year diary. It was basically lined in such a way that really you could only write a paragraph a day. It was a nice way to start.
Shannon Vannatter says
I had forgotten about my journal. But a few weeks ago, I got to visit with a childhood friend. She said it was no wonder I turned out to be a writer because I used to journal about what I wore, who I saw, and what happened at the skating rink. I’d forgotten all about that, but I did. I only chronicled what I wore, so I’d make sure and not wear the same thing too often.
stvannatter says
I have a winner! Anne Rightler won the drawing. I appreciate Laura for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by!