The Tinderbox By Beverly Lewis

The Tinderbox
by Beverly Lewis
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764232831

One of the things I like most about my days is when book mail comes! When I received The Tinderbox from Bethany House for review, it was an excellent day!

Summary:

I've marveled at Dat's ability to accept the Old Ways so readily, considering his modern upbringing. Mamma says it's like he was born to be Amish. Maybe so, but all the same, I wished I knew something more about his past.With her parents' twentieth anniversary approaching, eighteen-year-old Sylvia Miller finds her father's cherished brass tinderbox left unlocked. Against her better judgment, Sylvia opens the heirloom, not realizing that what she is about to discover will splinter apart her happy life and alter everything for her close-knit Old Order Amish family. As the long-kept secret emerges into the light of day, can the Millers find a way forward through the turmoil to a place of forgiveness?

My Review:

I can't tell you how long it's been since I've read any Amish genre. You'd think with our visits up to Lancaster country I'd have devoured all of them. Beverly Lewis is definitely my favorite author in this genre. Reading The Tinderbox was like wrapping myself in one of her beloved quilts.

This book was different than what I'm used to with Amish fiction. It was a fresh twist on how Englischers fit into the Plain world. Earnest has been part of the Plain world for 20 years. It's clear as we read the story that he's fit in perfectly with their ways. When his daughter Sylvia opens up the tinderbox that's she's wondered about since she was little, she has no idea what is about to happen. I think we've all been there, right? We think we want to know about something, and once we do we wish we could give back what we know and never think of it again.

Of course this comes at the same time she becomes engaged to Titus, the preacher Kauffman's son. There's really never a good time for your world to spin out of control, but at this time in her life is when Sylvia would want it the least.  As she gets to know Titus better, we get to watch their engagement unfold. Can I just say for the record that I really liked Sylvia's insight as she gets to know him better. I also love her (and the other ladies) interaction with the Wise Woman, Ella Mae.

Now we can't talk about this The Tinderbox without talking about Earnest and Rosalind. When we meet them, they've been together for 20 yrs. You can feel the adoration and love between them. It's so sad how secrets can come to light and how destructive they can be. In an Englischer world, the secrets might not have the same impact, but in the Amish world they can be life changing. I thought my heart was going to break numerous times as I read this story and watched the Miller family work through the past.

I read this book in just a few days. The busyness of life sometimes gets in the way of my reading. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the writing. There are twists and turns that you just aren't expecting and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I was happy to get to the end of the story and read that the conclusion to it will be out in September. It's called The Timepiece. I'm looking forward to it!

About The Author:

Beverly Lewis (beverlylewis.com), born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in 12 languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family.