"The Tinderbox" by Beverly Lewis ... and a GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the release of Beverly's latest book, her publisher has agreed to give away a print copy of the book (US only). To enter, see the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post. (Contest ends June 20, 2019). If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and and pass your information along. Good luck!

Q: More than two decades have passed since your first Amish novel, The Shunning, was published, establishing what became an extraordinarily popular new genre of fiction. What have the years since taught you?

A:  Creating stories set in Amish country has been such a source of delight! This journey has taught me the importance of meticulous research and shown me just how universal some subjects truly are—love and loss, the need for hope, friendship, faith, and family. My constant prayer as a writer is to lift the spirit and stir the heart. I think this approach allows readers from all walks of life to relate to my Plain characters, however cloistered and unalike they may initially seem.

Q: The Tinderbox is your newest novel. Tell us a bit about it.

A:  With her parents’ twentieth anniversary approaching, eighteen-year-old Sylvia Miller finds her father’s cherished brass tinderbox left unlocked. Against her better judgment, she opens the heirloom, not realizing that what she is about to discover will alter everything for her close-knit Old Order Amish family. As a long-kept secret emerges into the light of day, can the Millers find a way forward through the turmoil to a place of forgiveness?

Q: Over the years, many readers have written to say how your books resonate with them at the heart level, in part because of the relatable themes. What are some themes found in The Tinderbox?
A:  At its core, The Tinderbox is a story about a secret that should never have been kept, and the damage done when the truth finally comes out. The importance of honesty and trustworthiness cannot be overstated—they’re foundational to every relationship, and ignoring that can bring a world of hurt to others. Fortunately, God’s grace and forgiveness provide a means of restoration, but it may take time and patience before we see the healing we hope for, and even then, it might not look like what we envisioned. God always has a better plan!

Q. With your fondness for writing, you must have another new project in the works right now. Can you reveal anything about that?
A:  The Miller family’s story will continue in The Timepiece, which releases in September 2019. As the only daughter, Sylvia has always held a special place in her Old Order family, one Adeline Pelham jeopardizes when she shows up at the Millers’ Hickory Hollow farm. It isn’t that Adeline means to be a threat, but her very existence is a reminder of the painful secret that has so recently upended the Miller household. And with Sylvia and her mother still struggling to come to terms with that news, this is a challenging time to welcome an outsider—especially this outsider—into their midst. Can God allow something good to come out of the mistakes of the past? Or does Adeline’s arrival mark one too many surprises for the Millers and their Amish community?

Q: Over the many years of your successful writing career, your books have been fixtures on bestseller lists like the New York Times, and to date you have been published in twelve languages. How do you explain the widespread appeal of your fiction?
A:  Honestly, only God could have orchestrated all I’ve experienced as a writer. I’m a storyteller at heart, and there are no words to express how touched I am by the opportunity to hear from so many lovely people from around the world. It’s a blessing to have such dedicated reader-friends!

Q: Is there an easy way to keep up-to-date on your current news?
A:  There are many great ways for me to stay in touch with my delightful reader-friends! Readers can visit my Facebook fan page, www.facebook.com/officialbeverlylewis, or my website, beverlylewis.com, to sign up for my free newsletter. The website also includes book excerpts and trailers, photo galleries, my monthly blog, authentic Amish recipes, and news about upcoming appearances, in particular my Spring 2019 Book Tour, which will take me to library and bookstore events throughout northern Illinois and Wisconsin, April 4 through 11. Touring is always a highlight for me because it gives me an opportunity to meet so many wonderful readers!

My review...

I’ve been a fan of Lewis’s books for years, so I’m always excited to see she has an upcoming release.

Sylvia Miller decides to peek at her father’s tinderbox’s, the contents of which her father has kept locked up for years. She had no idea that doing so would unlock her father’s past and secrets two decades old that would change her family and her relationship with her father forever.

This book takes the reader through a variety of emotions as the family and community come to terms with the fact that all they knew to be true isn’t as it seemed. Yet, through it all, the family’s faith in God and His promises doesn’t waver. The characters and struggles are realistically drawn. And the ending provides a cliffhanger that will leave the reader eagerly awaiting the sequel, The Timepiece, which, thankfully, comes out in September 2019.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Amazon purchase link

About Beverly...

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 17 million books in print. Her stories have been published in 11 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 You can learn more at http://www.beverlylewis.com/

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