What’s not compelling about a love story that begins with letters? Especially when the letter-writer is mysterious and brooding and unknown to the heroine?
That’s what intrigued me about this novel anyhow. I enjoyed getting to know about the history of the dead letter office. I had no idea. And Penny is an engaging heroine with an interesting background. That she became an almost Cinderella type character—from rich to poor—added a nuance. The story of the over-bearing and controlling relatives also added layers to the story.
The town both the hero and heroine wind up in is delightful. Almost everyone there is a uniquely cast minor character. The twins are certainly hilarious.
There were a few places I found myself hurrying through as I read, places where I felt some of the story we already knew were being rehashed internally a little much, but overall, I enjoyed the book’s sweet romance.

Letter writing has become a lost art. I loved receiving mail from my grandparents who lived in England. I would get excited when I saw a letter in the mailbox from them. Now over 50 years later I can pull out a letter and relive the moment. I have a token of their love saved.

Do you believe in destiny? Was Penny meant to meet Thomas? When one of his letters landed in the dead letter office, she was intrigued. She knew she had to make sure the letter got to it's recipient.

Have you ever made a decision on impulse? What happened? Did you live to regret it? Penny and Thomas' story would have been different if she wasn't the one who got his letter.

All our stories would have been different if we didn't take a chance or a gamble. Some examples are leaving one job for another, entering a relationship and sometimes just taking a risk.

Penny took a leap of faith that she was doing the right thing. Her risk left her vulnerable but it was worth it. Could Thomas take that chance?

I really enjoyed the story. I also loved where the author spoke of how her husband and her have made memory books of their love story. Very sweet and romantic.

I recommend this book to others that need to remember that life is about taking risks. It can pay off.

I received this free to review from Revell Books.

Dead letter office employee, Penny Ercanbeck, has the responsibility of rerouting letters to their final destination. She has a good track record and she is flummoxed with the letters from Thomas to Claire which should have been delivered. She’s so invested, that she visits Claire’s hometown to find out how to resolve the issue. The letters, though, are undeliverable.
Thomas, from the letter-writing, finds himself in Azure Springs, Iowa. With plans to go west, he unexpectedly finds himself growing roots in Iowa. When a local homestead becomes available for sale, he decides to give it a try as he is escaping his prior life in Virginia.
Spurred by an upcoming change-of-address from her mother, Penny throws caution to the wind and goes in search of Thomas to make sure he is alright.
Thanks to Fleming H. Revell Company for providing me an ARC for a review in my own words.

Rachel Fordham's Yours Truly, Thomas is a must read for all ages. This clean romance is one that you can share with your younger readers. It's captivating and difficult to put down. It is beautifully written in a way that caused me to forget I was reading a novel and not watching a movie. It is filled with sweet romantic gestures, humor, happiness, sadness and anticipated suspense. This Christian Romance contains wholesome revelations of faith, forgiveness, friendship and love.

Rachel Fordham masterfully intertwined characters from her debut novel in such a way that allows you to hold a secret excitement that you know the story behind the characters, without making you feel lost or confused if not having read her debut novel, The Hope of Azure Springs, prior. I highly recommend this book!!! I'm sure you will love it as much as I did!

I had a hard time reading through Yours Truly, Thomas because I felt it was sluggish and not very interesting. But after I finished it, I was surprised that I enjoyed it. I'm glad I read it!

Yours Truly, Thomas begins with Penny working in the dead letter department of the post office. These workers open undeliverable mail and read the contents to find clues to who it may belong to. With a bit of detective work, they sometimes are able to forward the lost letters. Penny opens a letter from a man named Thomas and feels an instant attraction to the lonely and sad man. When her uncle tries to take over her life, Penny packs up and takes a leave of absence to Azure Springs to where the mysterious Thomas lives. She finds his handsome, kind, and everything she could ask for in a husband.

As I said before, I thought the book slow. I felt like I read and read and nothing much happened. But if you have a few hours on a rainy day, grab a cup of coffee and try Yours Truly, Thomas. You might feel as I did, that overall, it is a nice story!

YOURS TRULY, THOMAS by RACHEL FORDHAM (Review originally appeared on my blog - Beneath Still Waters)

*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review.*

Yours Truly, Thomas is a historical romance novel set in the late 1800s. It centers on a young woman named Penny who is an employee of the Dead Letter Office. Penny, a self-proclaimed romantic, has a tendency to get too emotionally connected to the dead letters she comes across in her work. One such letter is penned by a man named Thomas. He writes to a woman he clearly cares deeply for, yet his letters are not successfully delivered to her. As Penny sets off to deliver the letter to the woman it was written for, she unexpectedly finds herself on a journey to Azure Springs. It is in this small town where Penny finds answers for her uncertain future, as well as love.

This book is outside the normal genres that I read, so my frame of reference is fairly limited! I thought the book started out very strong - I loved the concept of the main character working at a dead letter office. I was instantly drawn into this storyline. I absolutely LOVED Penny's friend Dinah. She was a fun character and provided a nice balance to Penny for the few oddballs like myself who aren't romantics. :D I identified so much with her and wish we could have seen more of her in the novel (or maybe she could be the star in another book?). Margaret, with her little wise tidbits (and meddling!), was another one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed the setting of Azure Springs.

Fordham has a very nice writing style. She uses good imagery and everything has a nice flow instead of feeling forced or choppy. It gives her book a nice cozy feel, like sitting down with an old friend. My one criticism is that I felt that there was room for more development in the story, particularly in the last half. A certain part of the ending in particular - I won't give any spoilers - seemed rushed to me and needed a bit more fleshing-out.

But honestly - this book is worth reading if only for this dialogue right here:
"That tree survived a fire that devoured all its neighbors. It survived, and if you look at the base of it you'll see saplings. Whether of not it has scars, it's doing something. If you're that tree, then there's a reason that you're here. That tree fought for its life. Fight for yours." Guys, I don't even know how to begin to tell you how much I needed to hear that. Because I am that tree - scorched and with scars. This passage reminds us to keep fighting, even when we feel like giving up, and that we - just like the tree - can still create something beautiful. This was one of many messages of hope woven through the novel, but it was definitely my favorite.

This book is wonderful! I fell in love with the main characters, and their ways of dealing with grief and the lives that had been handed to them. I love the idea of working for the dead letter office! This is a wonderful historical read to pick up.

While I was growing up, my father worked for the post office and once I asked him what happened to letters that couldn't be delivered. He told me about the dead letter office, where undeliverable mail goes to die. When I saw that this book was available, I knew I wanted to read it.

Penny Ercanbeck has been working in the dead letter office for three years. She has had some letters cross her desk all from the same man, and all signed, "Yours Truly, Thomas." There is something plaintive in the letters to a Clara who lives in Alexandria, VA, that Penny decides to do something about it.

First she has to figure out who Clara is, and when she does, she goes to find Clara, only to find that she is dead. Second, she has to figure out where Thomas is writing from. Once she finds that, she decides to go to find Thomas and find out his story.

Rachel Fordham has written a great romance about two people who need some healing from things in their lives, and then they have to fight outer demons as well. Her writing style is extremely readable and her plot pacing is on point. Her characters are well-rounded and fully engaged in their roles within the book. These are all signs of great writing.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a romantic letter from your one true love.

I want to thank Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

Yours Truly, Thomas
by Rachel Fordham

Revell

Christian

Pub Date 02 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Yours Truly, Thomas through Revell and Netgalley:

Penny Ercanbeck has been opening other people’s mail. Dead ends are an everyday reality for the clerks at the dead letters office. Penny dreams of something more though, she dreams of intrigue and romance and a little less loneliness. After receiving a letter from a broken-hearted man Penny uses the opportunity to do something heroic. She makes it her mission to put the letter in the hands of the woman it was intended for.

Thomas has no intentions on ending up in Azure Springs, Iowa, after leaving behind his former life. He certainly was not expecting a happy ending after what he had done. What he had wanted to do was run and never look back. He began to write in a moment of desperation but never really expected a reply!

After Penny’s undertaking leads her to the man who touched her soul with his words everything becomes more complicated. She wants to find the rightful owner of the letter and yet she finds herself caring–perhaps too much–for the one who wrote it.

I give Yours Truly, Thomas five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Suspense, intrigue, hate, love, romance and a thriller all rolled into one. If you are looking for an amazing clean read that will leave you on the edge of your seat, then this is the book for you. The characters are realistic and the story is compelling. I enjoyed it immensely.

Not your average love story but that is what draws you to it. The mystery, the wanting the two characters to meet. The very unforgettable and not your average meeting. This novel is endearing and so normal! It was an epic fail that was completely adorable.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Stunning, beautiful story - takes you back to Azure Springs, small town setting of Rachel Fordham's debut novel of the same name. 'Yours Truly, Thomas' has such endearing characters - with the plot set around letter writing was clever and unique. As I read it reminded me of my youth when I wrote many letters, and received them in the post, from friends and family all over the world. I loved the insight into the Dead Letter Office - which I'd never heard of. So clever! It was nice to revisit the town, though this can be read as a stand alone and wouldn't ruin the story if you read this first.

There were times when I would have loved to know a little bit more about both Thomas & Penny's background, but it is nicely done and I thought both the prologue & epilogue were perfect ways to begin and end the story. So much to love about this book. I literally stayed up half the night because I could not stop reading.

The inspirational element is subtle and not overbearing. The reminder that our lives have seasons of joy as well as the struggles, are just a part of life. Not always because of choices or actions and redemption is possible for all, thanks to a loving God who cares for us.

Looking forward to more from this author. I received a complimentary eARC from Netgalley. This is my honest review.

What a great story!!! I loved Penny and Thomas! I was fascinated with this book and the "Dead Letter Office" How cool would it have been to get to open up letters and read them!

My thoughts...I picked up this book to review because I'd heard so many good things about it. I've never read anything by Rachel Fordham, so I was interested to experience her writing style and was curious about the story line of "Yours Truly, Thomas." My overall impression was very good! The story was very sweet, and when I finished I had that happy, satisfied feeling.
The premise of this novel is one that I haven't read before. Penny works for the Dead Letter Office (which reminded me of a show I really love called "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" that has a similar plot line), and takes a personal interest in Thomas, a man that writes deeply heartfelt letters. I love Penny's character. She genuinely wants to help someone without gain for herself. Her compassion really shines in this story. Thomas is a vulnerable, broken man, which is honestly the kind of male character I love the most. They have space to grow in a story, with so much potential to soften and change, especially when a heroine enters their life.
I love the journey these two go on, especially the courage they both display to face their fears. The pace is steady and the romantic tension is more sweet than edgy. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and would read more by Rachel Fordham.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to give an honest, unbiased review, which I did.**

A sweet story with a fun twist! Penny and Thomas don't meet until much later in the book than usual, which made me anxious for the story to get on with it. And then she doesn't tell him about her connection to him with the letters, which made me even more anxious for them to get on with it! I liked the small town of Azure Springs and the sense of community there, especially with the woman who runs the boardinghouse and helps the wanderers understand what they are searching for. I didn't feel much chemistry between Penny and Thomas, but I liked them both as individuals.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Yours Truly, Thomas is a very good inspirational romance. Good plot with believable characters. A good easy read. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This book was exciting and interesting. Rachel Fordham has written an excellent take of mystery and romance. The storyline is about a girl, who has lost everything, but gains more than she ever hoped for. It also is about a man, who has his own skeletons in his closets, that gains a new beginning in an unexpected place.

Overall, I think this book is different because of the mystery of it all.

A pleasure to read, and will probably read again.

I received a free copy of this book for my honest opinion from the publisher.

Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham – A Pleasant and Enjoyable Read

After reading the description of Yours Truly, Thomas I found myself intrigued at the storyline and setting of Rachel Fordham’s newest book.

Following the death of her father, Penny had taken a job to support herself and her mother. For three years she has been working as a clerk at the Dead Letters Office in Washington DC. It’s at work that she comes across romantic letters written by a man named Thomas to a woman named Clara Finley in Alexandria. Penny takes it upon herself to try and get the letters to Clara, only to find out that she had died in a tragic accident. That’s just the beginning and soon Penny finds herself on a train going to a place she’s never been, Azure Spring Iowa, to try and find the man who has touched her heart through his letters to another.

I found the idea of a Dead Letters Office intriguing and how, over 135 years ago, they would have researched to try and find a recipient of an undeliverable letter. I liked the character Penny, she was kind, thoughtful, caring and romantic. She was also very brave, adventuresome and a bit naïve.

In the story about Thomas, there was a bit of a forgiveness and redemption theme going on. Thomas was a better man and he changed and grew through difficult circumstances and wrong choices he had made in the past. In this story, you can see how friendships can impact others and make a difference for good, people like Dinah, Margaret and Abraham.

The Christian faith is not an overt part of the story, but God, prayer, and providence are mentioned. I think it would have been a richer story if faith had played a more prominent role. The story is clean and free of sexual immorality and profanity.

Yours Truly, Thomas was a pleasant and enjoyable read. This is the first book I’ve read by Rachel Fordham and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of Yours Truly, Thomas by Revell Publishing and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

Yours Truly, Thomas
By Rachel Fordham
Rating: 4/5

A heartwarming read!

If you’ve ever imagined a romance via love letters, you’ll love this book! Fordham is able to create such an endearing love story between Penny and Thomas that is not overly sweet nor corny. Definitely for fans of Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

Penny works for the Dead Letter Office in DC and is a romantic at heart. She loves reading those dead letters which cause her sympathetic heart to fall in love with its writer and reader. When she comes across a letters from Thomas to his dear Clara, she tries her best to deliver the poorly addressed letters. This story is her journey of searching for purpose and identity. She makes it her mission to deliver her letter but surprises occur along the way that will redirect her life in a big way.

I don’t remember ever reading a book from Fordham but I was pleasantly surprised at how easy her writing style is and how comforting the story and characters were. She weaves a poignant story of pain, loss, hope and love. The characters have depth and the reader can feel their grief and journey with them through healing.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for some inspirational historical romance.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

I have recently read two other books about a Dead Letter Office. This one by far is my favorite. The book cover is beautiful and makes you want to pick up the book. Rachel Fordham came out as a debut author last year with her first book The Hope Of Azure Springs. I fell in love with this small western town and this very talented author. After you finish reading Yours Truly, Thomas, if you have not yet read her first book, it is a must read. They both are stand alone books, but you will enjoy being shown around the town and meeting some of the other town characters. For three years Penny has worked in Washington, D.C. at the Dead Letter Office. She has become very involved emotionally with letters that keep coming in from a gentleman named Thomas. She is one of the best at her job and can solve almost any puzzle. She has one of the highest numbers for letter returns.
Our heroine and hero in this story, Penny Ercanbeck and Thomas Conner both have lost a loved one and are looking for a new start. Out of all the people from Azure springs, Margaret a middle age lady who owns and operates the bright yellow boarding house is my favorite. She is full of spit and vinegar, but house a heart of gold. I have only one negative thing I can say after finishing Rachel's latest book. I will have to wait a year for the next one.
I received a complementary copy from Revell Publishers through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.