The Tinderbox

Written by Beverly Lewis

Narrated by Stina Nielsen

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?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781980018506

Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 19 million books in print. Her stories have been published in twelve 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. Visit her website at BeverlyLewis.com.

Reviews for The Tinderbox

[classyhomemaker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Normally, I'd give this story three stars. However, I've given her last few a pretty low rating, and I liked this one considerably better, so I'm basing this higher rating on that.

Some things I really enjoyed about the book: Earnest is easy to love, having an open, sensitive heart toward his family and such a sweet love for his wife. The family sees that the shunning is extreme and a man-made rule, instead of a God-made rule. The importance of personal prayer is emphasized. Titus is a respectful beau who doesn't throw baby fits.

Things that bugged me: Sylvia acts a little sensitive and immature, in my opinion, by having a chip on her shoulder about Titus' mom's influence. Don't get me wrong---I definitely think a man needs to be ready to leave and cleave if he's gonna get married---but I didn't see anything super detrimental about him considering the advice and wisdom of his parents. And, he was willing to compromise with Sylvia with a good attitude. Also, the twist at the end is just a little (ok, a LOT) too coincidental for the time, but whatever. I'm just glad Lewis didn't try to wrap up that twist in a few short pages. I'll pick up part two from the library tomorrow.

[sheriawilkinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis

Sylvia Miller is an eighteen year old Amish girl. She discovers and old tinderbox in her Father's clock shop. She decides to open it, and what she finds inside holds a secret her Father has been hiding for decades. Soon the Millers life is turned upside down and life as they know (it) may never be the same.

The story moves at a fast pace with well developed characters. Set in Amish Country, I got the feel of what life was like for the Miller family. Ernest (her Father) and Rhoda (her Mother) are both likable as well as Sylvia. They are put through a lot, I wanted to see the family at peace and truly happy. Overall I enjoyed The Tinderbox and recommend to those who like Amish stories.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sylvia is a young Amish woman, anticipating her engagement and just generally enjoying life and her family. But then, like Pandora’s box, she opens a tinderbox belonging to her father that changes everything for herself and her family. Her father, Ernest, came from the English world twenty years ago to become Plain, and he married an Amish woman. But for all those years, he held a secret in his heart that was exposed when Sylvia snooped in the box. There were dire ramifications, not only for Earnest but also for his entire family. What happened with him while he was in the English world and what that meant for him and his family now is well told in this story. But what the future holds for them won’t be disclosed until the next book. This installment also has an unexpected occurrence, something surprising to them all. Interesting characters people this intricate plot, and as Beverly Lewis does so well, readers are soon drawn into the story and into the Amish community.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[ladyofthelodge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“The Tinderbox” by Beverly Lewis dealt with past problems and events catching up with Earnest, a well-respected Amish husband and father. The consequences to himself and his family for withholding information presented a picture of how things can spin out of control for even the most humble and faith-filled people.
I liked the idea that the book portrayed the problems of a family, rather than a sugar-coated view of Amish life. I think the book described the church discipline well. The characters were well developed and realistic.
What bothered me the most about this book was the seeming cruelty of the shunning of this Amish man for events that had occurred before he became Amish. Most people make a lot of mistakes when they are young, and these mistakes sometimes return to haunt us later in life. However, I disagree with having to harshly pay for those mistakes when one is a mature adult. I have read other books by this author, but the treatment of Earnest by a community of brethren, to whom he came for solace and support during a difficult time of his life, was quite upsetting. Earnest himself had this thought at one point during his time of discipline.

I also thought that Earnest’s daughter Sylvia should have been held responsible for prying into her father’s private materials and continuing to probe and pester him until the entire situation exploded. All in all, it seemed that the situation described made a mountain out of a molehill in a cruel and unnecessary way. However, I am not Amish, so maybe I am being too critical here.
I would like to see how the story plays out in the next book that continues this family saga.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[becky_l-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“Hard work puts meat on your bones...and builds strong character.” Ack, character: for sure and for certain the centerpiece of yet another Amish tale Beverly Lewis has brought us. A family and couple(s) are in crisis. The Tinderbox out in her father’s clockmaking workshop has tempted Sylvia ever since she was small. Little does Sylvia realize the Pandora’s Box she will be opening as she peeks inside.
While not a fast-moving book, The Tinderbox deals with some of the strongest human emotions possible: intense human love, lust, (very tastefully dealt with), anger, fear, deceit, betrayal, and despair. I have my suspicions about a few others that we may not realize until the sequel, The Timepiece, is out in September of this year.
It has been said that women are emotional creatures. I thought about this a lot as I read The Tinderbox. It was easy to put myself in either Rhoda or Sylvia’s place. I wondered if the stress and emotions would be unbearable.
God has said He will not give us more than we can bear. While Rhoda, Sylvia, Hannah, and Earnest all must have questioned this, God provided a special friend for the ladies as well as for Earnest in his time of need. It was fun to visit with the Wise Woman of Hickory Hollow, Ella Mae, yet again.
Everyone needs an Ella Mae in his/her life.
Five. That many months until the sequel comes out. I need it now. Lewis neatly sets us up for The Timepiece, and I, for one, don’t want to wait!
Quotable:
“Have you fallen so far that the Lord can’t reach down and pick you up?”
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.