I like the idea of finding old letters of lovers, and trying to figure out their history. Having both the to and fro of the letters, it makes for a more comprehensive read. I also liked the photographs and letters littered in the text and the story of Fred and Gertie was sweet if predictable.
However, I did not care much for Lisa and her part of the story at all. The book also resembled "Possession" and "The last letter from your lover" too much to feel original, especially as Possession is a very hard book to beat in general, not to mention in its own category.
All in all a sweet and short book, and may be of interest to those into genealogy and historical romance. However, I still feel I'd be more likely to recommend Possession.

This novel was a delight to read, I actually tried to go slow (found it really hard!) because I wanted to experience all the feelings the story was calling from me. From the cover to the little illustrations throughout the book, the length of the book (perfect for this kind of story), everything was just right. The last time I felt like that with a book was with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; so needless to say, that if you enjoyed that book, you will definitely enjoy Dear Heart. It is also written in letter form for those who like that format, it has art, history, and romance; it has everything. Please, please read it! You will find it a total satisfaction!

Lisa Anderson is a school teacher in her mid-thirties. She has mostly moved on from a longtime relationship that ended with her beau saying something like ‘I’m not interested anymore’. Lisa’s mother has recently died so Lisa is cleaning out her mother’s house to prepare it for sale. Lisa finds an antique writing box in the attic that is full of “courting letters”. Lisa doesn’t recognize the names of the writers but she soon becomes enchanted with their courtship through letters.

Gertie and Fred met in England near the turn of the century. Fred moved to Chicago to help find work for his younger brothers and himself. He was sad to leave Gertie behind but he had a duty to take care of his family. Still, he had never met anyone like Gertie and he couldn’t help but write to her, sharing his sentimental musings keeping her advised of his activities.

Gertie was a young woman of 35 who spent her years helping in the family business. After her father died, Gertie helped her frail mother take care of their home as a boarding house. Gertie had thought a relationship was developing with Fred but then he announced he was moving to America. Gertie is ensnared with Fred’s sensitive prose and sharing through his letters. She has boarders who show interest in her but she still has dreams of Fred. Gertie must decide if she should accept an offer of marriage rather than continue to wait for Fred who has never spoken for her hand.

Unexpectedly Lisa meets a good-looking man and they discover common interests and mutual attraction. Things are developing nicely until he stops coming by and calling. He doesn’t answer her calls either. Lisa tries to overcome her new disappointment. Meanwhile, Lisa is sure there aren’t gentle, poetic men like Fred anymore and she wonders who this couple were and what happened to them.

The letter courtship is charming and the story shares wonderful word images of the times and places. There are lovely illustrations along with postcards and photography of the settings shared which add to the interest. This is not an action story but it has a gentle, quaint charm in the presentation through the letters. I enjoyed Lisa’s struggles and triumph in romance too. I recommend this to readers who enjoy sweet, gentle romance.

I received this title through NetGalley.

Wow. Just wow! Dear Heart: The Courting Letters by Judith Pinkerton Josephson is an old-fashioned love story based on fact. The author shares the romance between Fred and Gertie who courted by mail over 100 years ago. Their letters filled with poetry and romance will take you back to a gentler time when courtliness and love was a priority. How I wish some of the courtliness and old-fashioned romance existed today as the courtship of Fred and Gertie was lovely indeed.

The main character, Lisa who is a teacher, discovers the letters does family research. Her modern day romance is a counter-point to Fred and Gertie's old-fashioned romance. Lisa has to make a similar decision that Gertie made when it comes to love.

It's not often I write about one of the first romance books I ever read, I will now, as The Courting Letters and the love between Fred and Gertie reminded me so much of one of my favorite books called Mrs. Mike. In the book Mrs. Mike Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Mike Flannigan and the young Katherine Mary O'Fallon fall in love. Their love is often tested much like the love between Fred and Gertie.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

This was a sweet, light read based on letters exchanged in the early 1900's by the author's grandparents. It is a nice reminiscence of how people used to communicate, and a reminder of how patient they had to be compared to the instancy of today's world. The author is lucky to have such letters in her possession.

I was provided a copy of Dear Heart: The Courting Letters by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. The main character finds old letters telling of a couples love. Through the letters hopefully, she will regain faith in love again.

My sister in law wrote a book about the neighborhood she grew up in and lived most of her life in. She died a year ago, June 1, 2016. Today is June 6, 2017. After she passed away I found the novel that she wrote and was waiting for the editing to be done by a publisher. (Yes, she did have a publisher set up to distribute it.) I read her novel and it was written so poorly, past and present confused, past tense used where it was supposed to be present (in a flashback). I struggled to read it, but pushed myself to finish. Why am I writing all this? It is because this book reminds me of my sister in law's novel. I am sure that the author is a nice person and wants to tell this story which is near and dear to her heart, but it is just not written well and I after reading 10% of it, I just can not push myself to repeat the same situation I was in last year.

I do apologize for requesting this book and giving a bad review, but since I did want to give it a review, I am writing my honest opinion. I looked at a few reviews on goodreads.com and I can't understand how some people reviewed it with 4 or 5 stars, but each of us have a different opinion.

"Dear Heart: The Courting Letters" is a sweet, romantic, but very slow moving novel. Would I recommend this book to a friend? Without reservation. But I also won't remember much about it in a month.

I read this book in one sitting, it was that good. This was beautifully written and you forget it is a work of fiction. It is a mix of today and history woven together to make a beautiful story

After I read this, and realized the publication date had already happened, I bought a copy for my Mom for this upcoming Mothers Day. I loved every single page and recommended the addition of this book to my local librarians. I think we'll being seeing it on the cyber shelves in Bradford VT

I thought the book was charming. I've always liked books that were set in times gone by and the courtship of Fred and Gertie by letter was so sweet. At times, I wanted them to get on with it already, but that's just not the way things were done. This really was a sweet book.

This is a sweet story following the courtship of a couple in the early 1900s. The story is told through letters exchanged over the course of a few years, as well as a narrative about the lives of both characters. Interwoven is the story of Lisa who has discovered these courting letters in the attic of her recently deceased father. I enjoyed the this book. Thanks NetGalley and eFrog Press!

Thank you to NetGalley and Efrog Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the premise of this book -- a story told mostly through letters. Overall, it was a nice story, however I was disappointed in the delivery of the story. The writing was very simplistic ... almost juvenile in its delivery. Perhaps it might appeal to a younger group?

My favorite type of read - A love story that is all the more better because its true..
Romantic and hypnotizing. When I had to put it down I ached until I could pick it up again

DNF – naïve and naff, soapy and soppy. If you think there's a great story in nicely-wrought, detailed antique love letters, present them as a family memento – don't do this to them.

The book description caught my eye. I love when something from the past touches the present day.
In this book, it is a modern woman who discovers old love letters in her deceased parents' home. Only, she has no idea who the couple is and why her parents had the letters.

Over time, she learns more about herself including the desire for a strong connection like Gertie and Fred had a century earlier. Ultimately, the connection to the authors is revealed thanks to a long time family friend. Gertie and Fred are her ancestors who she did not remember from her early youth.

Scattered throughout the book are photos of Gertie and Fred as well as snippets from their correspondence. This added a definite credibility.

What ended up surprising me (as it wasn't hinted in the description on NetGalley) is that Gertie and Fred are the author's ancestors. Lisa, however, is a fictional character she developed to help tell the story. Such a wonderful tribute to family.

Lovely book, I was surprised to find it came from a real story but it was just lovely

Worth losing sleep over, stayed up all night to finish it. Loved it.

Lisa Anderson is ready to give up on love. After the failure of long-term relationships and bizarre Internet hook ups she’s all but done with the idea of finding her ideal mate. One day she comes across an old box in an attic. The box is labeled courtingletters and inside Lisa finds letters over 100 years old and learns the story of Fred and Gertie who met in 1907 in England. While the two became fast friends their relationship was put on hold when Fred’s family moved to America to find a better life. Fred and Gertie began writing to each other across the ocean, but long distance relationships are never easy as Lisa is beginning to discover as her own life mirrors Gertie’s when the man that she has fallen for must return to Spain