On the day before her Amish parents' twentieth wedding anniversary, nineteen-year-old Sylvia Miller stumbles across the key to the old brass tinderbox her father keeps in his Lancaster County watch repair shop. Piqued by curiosity, Sylvia unlocks the cherished heirloom, not realizing that what she is about to discover will splinter apart her happy life.
Once Sylvia overcomes her shock, she confronts her father about the contents of the box. To her amazement, the respected convert to the Old Order admits that he is not fit to be a member of the Hickory Hollow Amish church--in fact, he never was.
Burdened by the weight of his deception, Earnest Miller reveals the details about his past to Sylvia--and to his wife, Rhoda. The long-kept secret alters everything for the close-knit family, and when word of Earnest's deceit reaches others in the community, the truth pits Amish neighbors against one another and threatens to dry up Earnest's livelihood--as well as to break up Sylvia's engagement to the preacher's grandson.
Can the Millers find a way forward through the turmoil to a place of forgiveness and acceptance?
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.*
Reading updates
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Started reading
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16 April, 2019:
Finished reading
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16 April, 2019:
Reviewed