The Timepiece

by Beverly Lewis

As the only daughter, Sylvia Miller of The Tinderbox 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 Englisher--especially this Englisher--into their midst.Despite the Millers' unexpected hospitality, Adeline is well aware that she's treading on Sylvia's turf, and she feels guilty about doing so when Sylvia is grappling with issues of her own. Not only is Sylvia trying to rebuild her trust in her father, but she's uncertain what to make of her once-promising engagement to Titus Kauffman, who hasn't pursued her since she confronted him. Adeline wishes she could help Sylvia, but she's not sure that either she or Sylvia is ready for that level of closeness in their relationship.Can God make something good 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?

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Amish Fiction, Christian, Adult Fiction

329 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country and both a schoolteacher and an accomplished musician, has been an award-winning author for over a dozen years. Her acclaimed novel, The Preacher's Daughter, was a 2006 Quill Book Award finalist in the romance category. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado."

Reviews

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

New York Times Best Selling Author Beverly Lewis pens an excellent sequel to The Tinderbox. Just coming off a six week ban for hiding the fact, from the Amish Church , that he was a divorced man, Earnest Miller is shocked to learn he has a daughter from his first marriage.
In The Timepiece Lewis wasted no time picking up from where she left off in The Tinder Box. We find Rhoda and Earnest inviting Adeline into their home and introducing her to their family. Trying to make her feel welcome they ask her to spend the evening with them. But an evening turns into two weeks as they get to know each other. Soon Earnest introduces Adeline to Preacher Kauffman and his wife. Sylvia Miller is engaged to their son Titus. Soon Titus is wanting to know what else Earnest is hiding from the Amish people. This adds tension to their already stressful relationship. Titus asks Sylvia not to spend time with her half sister, fearing that Adeline will lead her away from the Amish faith.
Will the Amish church believe that Earnest didn't know he had an English daughter by his first marriage when he confessed to the church about his past? Will Titus and Sylvia' s fragile engagement survive this family's latest upheaval? Is Titus more concerned about Sylvia or about how things look to the Amish community?
I thoroughly enjoyed this warm hearted easy to read story. It's about forgiveness and about time. The past , present and future of Earnest Miller and his family. I was especially touched with how the Miller family excepted Adeline into their home and did their best to make her feel welcome. Earnest and Rhoda spent hours with her answering questions about the Amish faith and their plain life.
If you read Amish Fiction you will love The Timepiece. All fans of Beverly Lewis should read this book. I would recommend that you read The Tinderbox first in order to better follow along in this book.
I borrowed a hardcover edition of this book from the local library. I was not asked to do a review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Louise Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but wraps up way too fast at the end. It could have been longer. But then, I never want Mrs. Lewis' books to end. ❤

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable conclusion to the previous book, “The Tinderbox.” Forgiveness, repentance, newfound faith, and acceptance are major themes. Everything wrapped up in a thoughtful, encouraging way, and I found the sequel even better than the first book.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Earnest grew up in a church similar to the Amish, he didn't join until after his divorce. Twenty years after his marriage to Rhoda, his past caught up with him, and he just served 6 weeks under the bann because of his sin. Imagine his surprise when Adeline shows up claiming to be a daughter from that first marriage--a daughter he never knew existed. She always assumed her stepfather was her father, so she was surprised to read about it in her mother's diary. She sought Earnest. While it is clear from the beginning Adeline loves worldly things too much to become Amish, her time spent with her Amish family will leave a mark upon her life. Earnest's other daughter Sylvia questions her relationship with her fiancée, Titus, when he seems more interested in outward appearances than on them. Sylvia decides to postpone joining the church until she feels forgiveness in her heart toward Titus and toward his family's treatment of her father during his bann. The book shows Adeline's desire to find what she is missing, and Sylvia's struggles to find the true meaning of love. I enjoyed this book that appears to be a revisit of a family the author wrote about in a previous book. Someday I hope to find the earlier book and see this family at an earlier period in time.

[Jordyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book! Finished this tonight sometime.. but I'm updating it as read now.. Loved the ending so so much!

[Bernice Izzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the typical Amish book which I love to read. Their faith and life just interest me. This one ended a lot happier than the first one.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel continues the story Ernest the clockmaker and his family that began in “The Tinderbox.” They now learn about Ernest’s English daughter, Adeline, who is a surprise to them. But Adeline is welcomed and embraced by all of them, and true affection is evident with them all. However, others, namely Sylvia’s fiancé and his family, are not so accepting. In this well-written tale, several thought-provoking themes are explored. Sylvia must decide if her love for her English sister overrides what her fiancé tells her she should feel and do. Rhoda, Ernest's wife, is surprised by her husband’s first daughter, and has to decide how she will react to her. And throughout the story, both Ernest and his family, including Adeline, rely on their faith in God, that they will be able to be a family that will be acceptable in both the English world and the Amish community.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adeline finds out when her mother died that her biological father was Amish, so she finds him and stays with his family for several weeks. She starts developing a relationship with her Amish sister who is having trouble with her boyfriend, one reason because of her father having a child out of wedlock. Adeline goes back to finish college and plan her own wedding discovering her own faith.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! Great story!!

[Jody Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely escape novel full of just enough unexpected twists to keep you fully engaged. The Amish life, while peaceful from the outside looking in, has its share of turmoil. The premise of the book is that the father, who became Amish as an adult, had fathered a child in an earlier marriage and she comes to Lancaster to meet her father. The knowledge of a previous, unknown marriage and a daughter left the Amish community shaken. Following the family's shunning and the father's repentence, there was forgiveness and restoration. It wasn't all smooth sailing but it exemplifies how relationships can be stronger and deeper following true repentance and forgiveness.

[Leslie McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the sequel to The Tinderbox, but it could be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I'd suggest reading them in order to gain a greater appreciation for the characters. The book has strong themes of family and faith, as is typical in Lewis's books. Topics addressed in this series is a bit different from the author's other stories, and I love the way the Englisch characters are blended in with the Amish ones. I enjoyed the story, which had strong character development and vivid imagery, and found it to provide a satisfying conclusion to the series.

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

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second book of this series, but I did feel it was a little slow. It was good to see how the series ended and how things worked out for Sylvia and her family.

[LINDA BOURG · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second part to the Tinderbox. It was a good read, love the characters. A story of finding the path to happiness and family ties. Enjoyed this one but not as much as the first part.

[Ann Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Timepiece is a spellbinding mix of history and present day as we learn the story of an Amish father who is suddenly connected with his English daughter. Turns out, he had a life no one knew about when he was English but that relationship ended and he sought the peace and solitude that became his new Amish life. Married to Rhoda now with a large family, Earnest is stunned by this turn of events but quickly rallies. Adeline is welcomed warmly into her Amish family and becomes close with Sylvie, her Amish half sister and a myriad of younger half brothers. It is her relationship with Sylvie that is especially touching. I know you will enjoy this visit to the Millers' Hickory Hollow farm as much as I did. And watch for romances turning in unexpected directions for both Sylvie and Adeline under God's powerful hands.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sequel to The Tenderbox and I throughly enjoyed reading the conclusion to the first book. In the first book, Earnest confesses to his family that he was once English and married briefly before becoming Amish. This causes a great deal of gossip and Earnest is put under the bann for six weeks. In this book things are getting back to normal when another surprise hits the family. I loved all the characters especially Sylvia who finds her engagement to Titus less than she expected.cant wait until the next Beverly Lewis book is published.

[June Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another enjoyable story by one of my favorite Amish fiction authors.

I found the main character in this story, Sylvia 'Sylvie' Miller, to be very likable because she was willing to admit when she made a bad decision and then went on to learn and grow from the experience. The surrounding characters, sub-plots, and setting are well-developed, too.

Highly-recommended!

I borrowed this book from the local public library.

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**This book is completely clean in language and content. :0}

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[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good conclusion to the story that started in 'The Tinderbox'. I really liked how Beverly Lewis was able to take many themes (sisterhood, forgiveness, love, integrity) and weave them into a story that was engaging and lovely. I enjoyed watching Sylvia come into her own, and learn to rely fully on what God wanted for her life, rather than just what she wanted for herself.
And, of course, a few visits with the dear Wise Woman of Hickory Hollow just sweeten the whole thing!

[Margaret Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was not only entertaining but educational as we see the Amish lifestyle through the eyes of an 'Englischer' (as Non-Amish are referred to). I appreciated also the reality of emotions and questions that come after a 'break-up' as Sophie had. However I did think aspects of the story were 'fanciful'-even in the way of the Amish belief system as they rely heavily on the Ordnung-rules of their forefathers-than the Bible.
Overall the story was lovely and educational.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story of love and forgiveness!

When Adeline Pelham shows up looking for her father, who happens to be Amish, he and his family welcome her into their home — and their lives, even though it brings many challenges for them. I can certainly understand this… an English girl, her Amish father, who obviously had a girlfriend or wife before he joined an Amish community, married his current wife and had a family.

Beverly Lewis does an amazing job showing the problems that occurred after Adeline met her father and was invited to stay with them. I think the whole idea is amazing — and this is truly one story you won’t want to put down until the very end!

If you can, make time to read The Tinderbox first, then dive right into The Timepiece…

Happy Reading!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series. While I’m not particularly religious, I like the good feeling that I get when I read these books. While the stories are predictable, they are a nice change of pace from the heavier books that I read.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picks up where the previous book left off. The story is about family and forgiveness and faith. There is also a bit of romance, but that is a minor plot point. The focus is on family. It took a while for the story to get going, but once it did, I enjoyed it.

[AnnaLee Conti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet Amish story

The arrival of a surprising visitor upsets Sylvia Miller's plans for her future . Can she trust God to work all things out for her good? A bit predictable but a sweet read.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about a young woman who finds out her biological father is Amish and her meeting of him and his family.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book by Beverly Lewis.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of many that I will read this year! You are rooting for everyone in the family. I highly recommend this book!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christian fiction set in an Amish community just isn’t for me. The story had a very slow start and then had huge gaps in time that didn’t flow well.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Beverly Lewis is who started bme Amish Fiction. Her books are the best.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes the reader through the journey of Slyvie Miller as she adjusts to life with an englisher sister and in the process learns more about love and forgiveness. I felt drawn in to the story and was happy to read how it turned out.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m expanding my horizons this year and reading Amish fiction by different authors, but there’s just nothing like a Beverly Lewis book.

[ANNETTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Done!! I loved the characters and the beautiful storyline. Loved the "Forgiveness and Love ' part the best.