You Will Not Want To Put This Book Down!

I was so mesmerized by this story. I did not want to put it down. It was so fascinating and trying to puzzle through certain pieces of this puzzle was entertaining.

I look forward to searching out more books by Rachel Fordham.

Audiobook: Narrated by Kira Fixx
I enjoyed listening when I couldn’t sit down and read. Kira Fixx did not distract me from the book with her reading.

I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell were once childhood friends. Their fathers co-owned a shoe company in Buffalo, NY in 1917. For unknown reasons, their fathers split the business and became enemies. The split tore the two friends apart. At the same time Laura’s mother was killed and her father became angry, distant, and overprotective, all the emotions you would find after a tragedy such as this Laura is overprotected with few, if any friends, except for a pen pal she corresponds with by letters exchanged through a tree in the Buffalo Zoo. As we take this journey with Laura we find what an amazing story this is. Highly recommended..

“The Letter Tree” by Rachel Fordham is a charming tale of how hidden letters can change the world for two lost souls and their entire communities. Seven years ago, a letter hidden inside a tree helped Laura Bradshaw to endure the tragic loss of her mother and gave her something to look forward to in her sad and lonely life, living with her overbearing father, with no joy in sight. When Isaac Campbell, the original letter-writer learns that Laura whose name he doesn’t know, is going to be pledged to another, he begs her to meet him and reveal her true self. That’s when he realizes that she is the only daughter of his family’s sworn enemy. Can the grown-up children of feuding parents bridge the bottomless chasm between them? Or is the bitter, strife-torn divide far too deep and ever too wide to be crossed? Read on to find out what happens in this awesome book penned in true Rachel Fordham style. You won’t want to miss a single one of Rachel’s books, which are well worth reading, in an enchanting, captivating world of their own, that you will want to linger in, long after you put the book down.

What a beautiful story of a young boy and girl growing up friends, then ripped apart by their families’ feud.

Laura and Issac have known each other forever. Their families are the Bradshaw and Campbells- their heirs and competitors of two magnificent shoe companies. The families were once one large company and have since had a HUGE feud (that no one knows the real reason) and they hate each other now.

Laura is forced to follow her father’s wishes and Isaac wishes for more as his father hands him menial tasks.

Each writes letters to a special friend, by way of the Letter Tree, a beautiful maple in the Buffalo zoo.

Fordham shares the story is born from the Adidas/Puma feud a couple decades after this novel is set, along with the zoo being such a beautiful, historical element. I am now off to read more about this Puma/Adidas feud I know little about.

I loved Lara’s persistence, Isaac’s calming quality and the mystery of Alex. Ruth was NOT my favorite by a long shot, which is a true testament to Fordham’s ability to write great characters!

The audio is great (save the investigator’s voice) so I recommend it too!

I'm an absolute softie for anonymous pen pal romances, and this was no exception. The tagline said "Romeo and Juliet meet You've Got Mail" and I said "yes please" (sidenote @ my friends who, like me, are obsessed with "Divine Rivals" this year, read this next. trust me. ...unless the fantasy element is what you liked about it... still read this but it's just hisfic soooo)

Thrilled to report that this was delightful. I read it in two days because I didn't want to put it down. It had the perfect amount of angst without being too much, and while it did fall into the tropes that are typical of this kind of story, it did put a twist on some of them that I very much enjoyed! I was rooting for Laura from the first page, she deserves the entire world, and I'm thrilled that Isaac is happy to give it to her, haha! (I'm not really an enemies-to-lovers girlie, so this "our parents are enemies but we used to be friends and don't really have beef" energy was PERFECT) The romance is definitely the most driving force of the book, but there's a bit of a mystery plotline as well. The mystery didn't have the most exciting finale, but again, the romance is the key thing, and it's adorable.

I laughed a lot, and cried a little, and it was perfect for me personally, tbh. Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to listen to "She Loves Me" on repeat. 5 stars!

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham is an engaging story about two families that were close at one point but a long ago feud tore them apart and kept the children from each other. Unknowingly the children kept in touch through letter writing, into adulthood. Once they figure out who the other is, they work together to solve the mystery of the feud and bring the families back together. This was a fun story that I enjoyed reading. It’s clean and has a sweet, happy ending.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my opinion.

The Bradshaw and Campbell families were once connected by their shoe factory, until a feud split the ties that bound them and their friendship was beyond repair. Now adults, Laura and Issac are struggling to find their place amongst their respective families, and each find solace in writing to their own pals, and leaving their letters in a tree.

I loved this novel based on “Romeo and Juliet” and “you’ve got mail”. The feuding families and star-crossed lovers plot had me instantly drawn in, and I loved the pen pal romance. There were a few plot lines that carried this story forward and I enjoyed all of them. This book has some romance, mystery, and family drama which I think will appeal to many readers!

I absolutely loved this book. This is one of my favorite time periods. I enjoyed the development of the characters and the way they dealt with the conflict. The mystery was interesting and the ending was the best!

A fun, sweet, intriguing romance! Loved the concept of leaving letters in the tree trunk and enjoyed these characters!

The heiress of a shoe company and the son of a rival shoe company - they used to be friends, but something split the families and their business apart. Laura has a mysterious pen pal - she leaves letters in a tree trunk at the zoo, and he answers. It's a sweet story as they work together and fall in love through their letters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham was a modern-day fairy tale whose prince and princess struggled to find the courage to face the villains, Hate and Greed, and to take a step of faith outside the confines in which their fathers had placed them. It was “Rapunzel” meets Romeo and Juliet meets You’ve Got Mail (with a twist). Through a torrent of emotions, a mystery (or two) to solve, some suspenseful moments, and a bit of divine providence, Fordham refused to allow her characters to remain stagnant.

For reasons unknown to them, Isaac Campbell, the “prince” of Campbell shoes, and Laura Bradshaw, the “princess” of Bradshaw shoes, were split apart at a young age and taught to hate each other and the rival companies. While Laura was kept out of social circles until it served a greater good for her father’s company, spending time in her room with her macaw and conversing with her housekeeper, Isaac was encouraged to enjoy life and leave the inner workings of his father’s company alone. Both felt stuck in the roles handed to them and longed to do more, be more than what was allowed.

The story moved at a steady pace, and I was fully invested. I loved the idea of the letters passed through a maple tree that started with a sad girl’s poem. No names, no details, just words that expressed feelings and dreams. And when it was finally time to reveal the people behind the words, the tug-of-war of emotions that followed was expertly written and even entertaining.

Though Laura and Isaac were easily my favorite characters, I wouldn’t be doing the story justice if I didn’t throw a little special light on Mrs. Guskin. She was the warm light shining in the Bradshaw household, a grandmother-like figure who served with patience and gave Laura the small taste of freedom she was seeking.

I enjoyed the backdrop of the Buffalo Zoo and Delaware Park and appreciated the fact that this story took place in Western New York, the complete opposite end of the big city New York State is often confused for. Of course, adding in Niagara Falls complete with a daredevil was the icing on the cake. The one snag I found with this, though, was the fact that I got caught up in details. I was unsure for a while whether they were in Niagara Falls, NY or Ontario as the hotel they stayed at was a Canadian hotel. That obviously was not enough to take a star away from the well-deserved five stars this story earned, but it did trip me up a bit. But an author has the luxury to do whatever they want in their story. That is the beauty of fiction.

I highly recommend The Letter Tree to anyone who loves a story of overcoming life’s adversities and stepping out in faith, a story where the characters learn and grow, and find out who God created them to be.

When Laura Bradshaw's mother is hit by a car and killed, two families are torn apart. Her family friends, the Campbell's, their son, and co-owners of the town's shoe factory are no longer allowed in her life. When the shoe factory splits and each family opens their own, all Laura's allowed to do is marry well and help make her father's factory, The Bradshaw Shoe Company, better than the Campbell Shoe Company. There is anger and guilt and resentment. And from the moment the company splits she's no longer allowed to have anything to do with her childhood friend, Isaac.

This story has You've Got Mail meets Romeo and Juliet vibes. It's not overdone though, and it holds its own! I really enjoyed the relationship between Isaac and Laura. I loved the idea of a letter tree and I loved the setting of the zoo! The way the two of them worked together to try and help their families was quite fun and I really enjoyed how this story flowed. I enjoyed the entire story and definitely recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I’ve long been a fan of Rachel Fordham, so I’ve been anxiously awaiting a new release since she has changed publishers, and I have to say that I’m not disappointed. If you love epistolary story lines, then this is definitely going to be one of your favorite parts of the book. It was really difficult to puzzle out how the feuding families of Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell could come to terms with each other. I found that the storyline did drag a little in the middle for me because I didn’t see the delightful plot twist coming. Laura is a huge animal fan, so the setting of the Buffalo New York Zoo in 1917 is the perfect setting for the hollow opening in the maple tree that has wrought a friendship.
This is her sixth book, and I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed each one and can easily recommend any of them. Her debut novel, The Hope of Azure Springs (which I highly recommend), is still probably my favorite. Yours Truly, Thomas is also an epistolary novel, so if you enjoy that style of writing, that would be an easy choice for your next Rachel Fordham novel. She’s been described as writing “Little House on the Prairie” style books for adults, and I feel that is an appropriate comparison. She takes historical fiction that has true to life occurrences and brings them to the best ending that can be wrought from each situation.
I purchased a copy of this book from Baker Book House and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

What a stunning story! This book is a perfect example of why the forbidden love trope is one of my favorite tropes. This was absolutely beautiful. I love how Isaac and Laura showed emotional growth, and their amount of chemistry is incredible. They are a match made in Heaven. The family feud is also very realistic. I love this book and I am so happy I got to read it. To historical fiction fans, I highly recommend it!

Brilliant. I absolutely loved this story. I loved the characters and the secret friendship through the letters and the "letter tree." So fun! Highly recommend.

Upstate New York in the early 1920's was a wonderful setting for Rachel Fordham's latest. I was immediately immersed in the world of the Campbells and Bradshaws, two feuding families who were once friends. I loved the letters between Laura and her secret friend and how they worked to overcome their situation. Very sweet and clean romance. Anyone who enjoyed Rachel's other books will love this one too!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 31 October 2023

The Letter Tree is a sweet historical fiction novel about Laura and Isaac in the vein of Romeo and Juliet - they are the children of men in a longstanding family feud. The twist is that they have been anonymously writing each other letters for years and leaving them in a hole in the tree. This means they have developed a sincere and deep relationship by the time their identities are made clear. But how in the world could they ever be together? The story follows what happens next, including another suitor for Laura and background involving both of their families. I found this story pretty simplistic and even clichéd at times. I am not always a fan of the duel timeline, but I thought multiple times that this story may have benefited from it. I often wanted more from the story.

How did I miss this book when it came out? The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham is a delightful romance that every historical fiction fan will love.

Laura Bradshaw loves happily ever afters and fairy tales. She imagines her prince charming coming one day to rescue her from her tower, where her father has imprisoned her ever since her mother passed away. Well, not really. But she feels trapped because of his behaviour toward her. His hatred for her mother and his hatred for a rival shoe company, Campbell Shoes, has made her life miserable and lonely. Her only solace is her anonymous pen pal, whom she has been writing to for years through a tree. Yep, a tree. She wrote her heart out one day and stuck her poem in a hole in a tree. Little did she know it would be answered, and she would find a BFF in a mysterious stranger.

Isaac Campbell is the heir to Campbell Shoes and has no idea the letter he found in a tree belonged to Laura Bradshaw, the daughter of his father's sworn enemy. As his correspondence with Laura grows into a desire to meet his "mystery woman," he has no idea that long-held secrets and family feuds are about to be exposed, changing their lives forever.

Rachel Fordham has created a book that not only has a Romeo & Juliet vibe, but it also has an added mystery man and a secret that will keep you guessing until almost the very end. If you like historical romance, you will love The Letter Tree.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson through NetGalley for my honest review.

A lovely story set in Buffalo, NY in the 1920’s, with both romance and a touch of social history. The Bradshaw and Campbell families were in the shoe business until a feud split the families apart, separating Laura Bradshaw from her friend, Isaac Campbell. Both are lonely, and unaware that they are the anonymous writers of letters left in a maple tree, written as diaries of their feelings and thoughts. Laura’s life has been sheltered, and Isaac has never felt the shoe business was his future. As the story unfolds, the reader is immersed in a different time period, more innocent than the worries in today’s world. I enjoyed the escape. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

YES🎆

I loved this.

The Letter Tree is a Romeo and Juliet mixed with You've Got Mail retelling. I admit the Romeo and Juliet part made me nervous for the ending, but don't worry.

We follow Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell. Their dads own rival shoe companies. They aren't allowed to be friends. Little do they know that they have been communicating all these years through anonymous letters. It's a adorable.

My fave part was the characters. Fordham's characters are unmatched in my opinion. We get Laura and Isaac's perspectives throughout, which is also a highlight. Isaac made me swoon so hard.
Laura and Isaac were dynamic and interesting. Their scenes together were filled with tension and unspoken feelings and I ate it up.

BUT they did communicate. They didn't let things go too long and made sure they were clear with each other the people around them about how they felt.

The side characters shined as well. Mrs. Guskin, Mr. Cannon, and Charles - loved!

The romance was so so cute. I loved Laura and Isaac together.

There was very light faith content.
It was clean with mild kiss scenes.
Highly recommend!

*I was given a free copy to read and review by the author and Net Galley. This is an honest review.

When I say I couldn’t put this book down, I mean that I read the entire book in less than 48 hours! The details of the story as well as the language and the style of the writing made me feel like I was taking a step back in time. The transformation of the two main characters was awe inspiring. After the first chapter, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to wait to hear how the story ended. There is so much to be learned from a love story like this, and even though this is set in the past, I think it can really resonate with young people today. I can see this book turning into a movie. Great story, great writing. 5 stars for a historical fiction romance.