Wow! Another incredible book by Beverly Lewis! The Tinderbox tells the story of an Amish family torn apart by a long-kept secret that is finally exposed. Results of the exposed secret are difficult and rip apart some relationships while drawing others closer together. I can't wait to read the second book in this series to find out what happens next! The book definitely ended with a cliff-hanger.

I always enjoy Beverly Lewis books.. Her descriptions of Amish life are like none other. I also enjoyed this book but was disappointed at the end when I realized the story continued. Looking forward to find out what happens to Sylvia.

Beverly Lewis does it again with creating an Amish family that is both traditional but faces issues of the 21st century. Sylvia is hoping to marry her beau come fall, but secrets of her father's younger life may change the path of her plans. Sylvia not only opens a Tinderbox but also a pandora's box of long ago secrets that could tear apart her family and waylay any future plans she may have.

The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis takes readers to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania. Sylvia Miller has always been curious about the brass tinderbox in her father’s clock shop. She knows that it is a family heirloom, but her father, Earnest keeps the box locked which peaks her curiosity. One day Sylvia is dusting the clock shop and finds the key to the box. She opens the it and is surprised by what she finds inside the box. Sylvia is puzzled by one of the items and reluctant to discuss it with her father. When Earnest realizes that Sylvia looked in the tinderbox, he feels he must tell his wife, Rhoda the truth about his past. This long held secret distresses Rhoda and it endangers his marriage just before their twentieth anniversary. When Sylvia sees that Rhoda is distraught, she presses her father for answers. His revelation stuns Sylvia and upsets their once close relationship. The ramifications of Earnest’s confession are just being felt. If word gets out, it can disrupt Sylvia’s engagement to the preacher’s son as well as their standing within their community. Can the Miller family recover from Earnest’s deception?

The Tinderbox is different from other Amish novels. It addresses unique issues. Sylvia is eighteen years old and has been courting Titus Kauffman, the preacher’s son. She is sure that he will propose soon. Sylvia has always been close to her father, but she does not understand why he is reluctant to discuss his past. When Sylvia gets the opportunity to look inside her father’s tinderbox, she cannot resist. Little did she know that her snooping would unleash a host of problems. In The Tinderbox we see what happens when an old secret is revealed and its repercussions. There is quite a bit going on in the story. Besides the secret, we have Sylvia’s relationship with Titus, Rhoda’s sister has suffered a miscarriage, and Preacher Mahlon Zook is dying. Mahlon Zook has cancer and he is the man who welcomed Earnest into the community. They have always been close, and his death is upsetting to Earnest. He needs to be there for the Zook family while dealing with his own problems. Titus is one individual I was not fond of in the story. As the story progresses, Titus’s disposition is revealed (I do not want to give anything away). The Tinderbox is well-written (as are all of Beverly Lewis’s novels) and the story progresses at a gentle pace (a little slow for my taste). The characters are developed and realistic. What I call Christian elements (prayer, faith, Scripture) are an intrinsic part of the story and the characters’ lives. We see how this secret causes issues of trust and creates a division. Is it possible to forgive and move forward? I like this phrase from The Tinderbox that addresses this issue “forgiveness is one of the greatest forms of love”. My favorite phrase from the book is “Remember, we’re connected to our heavenly Father by threads of love we can’t always see.” The ending will astonish readers and have you eager to read The Timepiece. The Tinderbox is a moving and intriguing Amish story.

I truly enjoy Beverly Lewis' books.

I feel like I have been to Hickory Hollow.

In The Tinderbox- painful secrets, past mistakes come to light
and must be faced head on and dealt with.
During challenging times, look to God
for help, for hope, and for direction.

This is the first book, I am counting the days until
I can read book two--The Timepiece!!

I want to visit Lancaster County
soak up the area while driving on the back roads

As a long time fan of Beverly Lewis, I was super excited to be able to read this book. I know with her books, I will always get an inspiring story, great characters and an unforgettable plot. That’s what I got with this one.

I loved reading Sylvia’s story. Not only did we get to follow Sylvia and her love, but we got to see her father and mother’s story as well. It was really interesting to read this book, with all the secrets that were hidden. That’s not something you see often with the Amish!

Seeing the way Sylvia was, the way her father had to deal with his past and his future with the Amish, really opened my eyes. The characters were beautifully chiseled and their roles were perfect. Each page turn had me wanting more and that’s just what I got!

The Tinderbox, while starting out a little slow for me, quickly became a fast read for me. I was up late into the night turning the pages of this 4 star read from the ever talented Lewis. With hope and forgiveness the center of The Tinderbox, this is a story that no one should miss. Grab your copy now, open the tinderbox and let God work through your heart.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

The Tinderbox is the first book about Earnest Miller's Plain family, to be followed by The Timepiece in the fall of 2019. Earnest Miller was raised an Englisher although he had always enjoyed spending time with his Old Order Mennonite grandparents. So it was not surprising that after the death of his parents and other life altering events he chose to seek a life among the Amish, the Plain folk. What was surprising was how those events from his past would come back to haunt him more than twenty years later, and how they would be brought to light.

Beverly Lewis has developed a story that probes the themes of honesty and forgiveness, of the value of seeking wisdom from the Lord and from those who have more life experience and spiritual wisdom than we currently possess ourselves. She has developed characters who have the opportunity to allow Christ to help them in the storm or to allow the waves to have their way. Her readers' hearts will be touched by the joy and the pain experienced by Earnest Miller and his family, and they may be led to meditate on the how their own choices impact the lives of those they love.

While it felt like this book got off to a slow start, by the time I had finished it, I was glad that I had read it. I look forward to the continuing story in The Timepiece. I am grateful to have received a copy of The Tinderbox from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

A box full of hidden secrets. A life of secrets. A very touching story. I have loved everything Beverly Lewis. This book touches on a heart wrenching secret kept by Sylvia's father, formerly Enlisch and not born into the Amish faith. When Sylvia discovers the contents of the box, a life full of secrets starts to unravel.

It is a really good book. I loved it and can't wait for the next book in the series. If you enjoy Amish fiction, you will definitely enjoy this book.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

"The Tinderbox " by Beverly Lewis is an Amish story that takes place in Lancaster County. The story is about the Miller family. Ernest and Rhoda have several children. Silvia is their oldest child. Ernest has a watch repair shop and is well respected by the Amish community where they live. When Silvia's parents are about to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary Silvia finds a beautiful tinderbox in the watch shop of her Dad's. She is curious about what the tinderbox could contain. She opened the box and the contents brought up lots of questions for her. this tinderbox is a family heirloom for her Dad. She eventually found the courage to ask her father about the tinderbox. He became very private and quiet after she brought up the tinderbox. Eventually Ernest told his wife Rhoda about what the secrets of the tinderbox really mean. He has hidden information about his past from his wife and the Amish community. The Amish have strict Old Order rules that must be followed. The Amish church punishes those who violate those rules. Sylvia is engaged to the grandson of the preacher. How will the secrets of deception affect this dear Amish family and Sylvia's engagement? The characters are so very endearing and described so well. The reader will find this story will grown on them and they will wonder how this family will make it through their trials. Thank you to Beverly Lewis and Bethany publishers, netgalley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book. I was not obligated to give a positive review of this book.

My Review:

Genre: Amish fiction.

My Rating: 3 and 1/2 stars.

My Recommendation: 16 up. Warnings below.

My favorite character/s: Hmm, I guess that would have to be Sylvia, she was an interesting character and I liked reading about her but I kinda disliked her relationship with her beau. It was like it was doomed from the start. *shrugs* That may just be me though.

My Verse for Sylvia is Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (King James Version.)

My Thoughts: I liked this book, I really did. It's just I didn't love it . . . But that's all on me. In no way is that because of the author. She did a wonderful job with this novel and I look forward to the next book in the series! Let's just go with it's not my cup of tea. Though that ending was slightly surprising and I NEED to read the next one! If you like Amish books you definitely need to check this one out! There was a good bit of intrigue to go along with the rest of the story and the ending has me wanting to read the next book so bad right now!


Spoiler Below!


Warnings: A character is divorced.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review and am truly happy to provide it! All the thoughts are my own.

Yes, I enjoyed this read, and be aware that all of the answers are not forth coming, there is a sequel coming in September 2019, and I am looking forward to it!
What a can of worms this young woman releases when she does what she is old enough to know better, and ready to join the church, but she opens a forbidden object that will change hers and her families lives forever.
This is just the beginning of the iceberg, and loved how as we get to the end of this book, there are more bombshells dropped.
Watch as the community’s relationships and opinions change, and yes, they are human, and all are sinners.
This is a very interesting book; the pages flew and I was too soon at the end!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Sylvie never expected to open up such a can of worms when she looked into her father's beloved tinderbox. She had been warned in the past that the contents were none of her business but curiosity got the best of her. Earnest, Sylvie's father, an Old Order Amish clockmaker's English past will come back to haunt him in a heartbreaking way. The whole family will suffer through a time of reckoning.

Readers will get a bird's eye view of the Amish life, faith, and love as one of their own is found to be untruthful. There are twists along the way which add to this unusual story. A surprise at the end will have readers eagerly anticipating the next book in September 2019. Highly recommended!

I liked The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis very much and it hooked me right away. The love shared between Earnest and Rhoda Miller spills over into the lives of their five children. Sylvia, the oldest, has dreams of having a close relationship like her parents have with her new fiancee, Titus. It was her curiosity about the one heirloom her father kept locked on a shelf in his shop that niggled at her imagination and tempted her since childhood. One day, by the merest chance, the box was left unlocked and because of that burning curiosity, she opened it and the ensuing can of worms had a ripple effect on her family and her relationship with Titus.

While the secrets in the box cuts deeply into the fabric of their lives, Sylvia begins to notice things about her own relationships along the way to healing her family. Titus, whom she thinks the world of, may not be the man she believed him to be. She is second guessing a lot of things that she took for granted yet she remains the kind, generous spirit her parents raised her to be. As she grows, she begins to think much more independently and I felt myself cheering her on.

At the heart of the matter is her father, and his sin of omission before joining the Amish community in Hickory Hollow. The family may never be the same and yet in the midst of it all, they begin to look at their faith in new ways. Beverly Lewis has created characters that have depth and appeal. They are alive with the tension and love that comes from facing serious challenges. I recommend this book for its strong characters, good plot and the promise of hope for better things to come.

The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis
Sylvia Miller snoops in her father’s Tinderbox, setting the course for a twenty-year-old secret to threaten to tear apart her family, her parents’ marriage and her community. It shakes the very core of everything she’s believed and has the potential to implode her relationship with her Dat. How can they all weather the coming storm?

When I first discovered Amish fiction early in my Christian fiction reading, Beverly Lewis was the author who introduced me this whole new world. I had devoured everything I could find by her! She’s always written with passion and a healthy respect for the Amish lifestyle. Therefore, I eagerly read this latest novel, barely wanting to put it down lest I miss something happening in the pages. And there’s a whole lot happening here to make your head spin! My heart ached for each hurt the characters experienced, for each doubt and fear and for strained relationships where there had been peaceful harmony. I think what I admired the most, is how they clung even closer to God and His promises in His word. Their faith never wavered and their struggle with their human emotions is something we all deal with from time to time. Sylvia, Earnest & Rhoda Miller are characters that I could easily see meeting if I ever visited the Amish community they were a part of. Though they went through fiery trials, each took it with a measure of grace and grew in faith as they depended on God to help them through it. I know I hate to see characters go through hard things, but I love seeing their growth in the end as it gives me hope in my own trials! Forgiveness, redemption, and restoration are strong themes in this one. Lastly, though I don’t like cliffhangers at the end of a book, there was enough closure to satisfy me and looking forward to “The Timepiece” coming September 2019.

This one’s for Beverly Lewis fans, Amish fiction fans and those who want an emotionally charged, faith-filled book with characters to care about.

*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via Netgalley and was not required to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *

Whew!
What an incredible story from Beverly Lewis. Leading up to this release of this book, Ms. Lewis’ Facebook page indicated that this was the most dramatic novel she’s written since her first book, The Shunning. And I have to say, this one takes the cake! This book is all out drama, and ends with a cliffhanger (now I have to wait until September to read the continuing story! UGH!!!).
We return to Hickory Hollow, an Old Order Amish community in Lancaster, PA to follow the dramatic turn of events for Sylvia Miller’s family. Earnest Miller, Sylvia’s father is an upstanding and well-respected Englisher-turned-Amish, and upon the death of his best friend Mahlon Zook, Earnest is torn apart. It seems that Mahlon expects him to pick up “the mantle” and take his place as preacher but Earnest harbors a secret that he has never revealed to anyone, even his wife of 20 years.
Sylvia is a faithful daughter who has always admired her father, though he speaks little of his “fancy” life. One day as Sylvia is cleaning her father’s workshop, she discovers the tinderbox that had been locked as a child is left open. Giving in to temptation, she searches the box and discovers something that sets her world spinning out of control. She is excited about her upcoming nuptials and being baptized into the church but with the revelation from her Dat, her whole future is in question.
This secret will tear at the very fabric of their family, community, and will test even the sweetest relationships between the Millers and their community.
What can Earnest’s 20 year old secret be? And what is that cliffhanger that happens that made me squeal, “NOOOOO”?!
There are guest appearances by other community members who have had their own stories told in novel length (such as the Lapp family from Ms. Lewis’ first novel as mentioned above). What I really appreciate about the setting of Hickory Hollow for a series, is that the stories of people aren’t overdone. Each character has already had their story told, they are a part of the community and would make appearances as expected, BUT the focus doesn’t continue to be on them. Instead, different community members have their own stories separate from others.
Read the book. You’ll love it. And you’ll be wondering how this conundrum is going to fix itself – all summer long.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is one of those books that I wanted to stew on a bit before writing a review. It's not terribly deep or difficult to understand...nothing like that...but it has some poignant life messages tucked into the story. It was actually a quick read, as you'll get sucked into the story behind the story....the main character opens something that doesn't belong to her, which turns out to be a veritable Pandora's Box. Several of her family members, as well as others in the community and outside of it, are affected by her one small action. At the story's end, several questions are still unresolved, leaving the reader with a sense of unfulfillment...this also leads to further stewing over what's happened and will happen. It looks like there will be a sequel to this story.