THE LETTER TREE
BY: RACHEL FORDHAM

"The Letter Tree," written by, Rachel Fordham is a magnificent and very special historical romance that is so wholesome and classy. I really loved reading this and even though it takes place in the early 1920's it has a contemporary feel to it. I really applaud the author on keeping this romance clean except for some kissing that happens after the the female main character named, Laura Bradshaw and the main male character Isaac Campbell organically come together by way of feud, then friendship, and finally a romantic relationship. I'm also very impressed by Rachel Fordham's insight being a self-identified reader herself for taking the initiative by knowing what I know I crave the answers to after finishing reading a great historical fiction novel. She has eliminated the guesswork of what was actually factual or fictional by answering the questions and more in a helpful Author's Note. I wish that all authors would take that initiative.

In the prologue Laura witnesses her mother getting run over by a car and losing her life. They had been out having a lovely day together shopping and her mother has just bought Laura a book of fairy tales, when she tells Laura she'll be right back. Laura was only fourteen years old and has had a gaping hole in her life by losing her loving mother.

Laura lives with her father who doesn't allow any talk about what happened to her mother. He also doesn't discuss why he hates his old business partner who he used to manufacture shoes with the Campbell family. Laura is now twenty-one and her father is always too busy competing with his now enemy the Campbell family who they split up the company of making shoes seven years ago. Lucky for Laura she has a wonderful housekeeper who lives with the Bradshaw's and is more like a grandmother. Laura loves animals and going to the zoo where she has a secret letter writer whom they exchange letters by leaving them in a majestic tree.

Isaac Campbell is two years older than Laura and he didn't go to college, and he works for his father who never gives him any responsibilities at the shoe factory. He is the eligible bachelor and his meddling, but well meaning mother tries fixing him up with young women he doesn't have any interests in. He goes to the zoo at night because he can have some time away from home. Because he made a large donation to the zoo, he can go there after hours, gaining admittance from a friendly security guard. Him and Laura have been leaving letters pouring out their hearts to each other in their letters that they leave inside the tree. They are not aware of their identities of who each other are and who they are writing to each other. The reason being because they have blindly listened to each of their family's hate one another. It's not a spoiler to reveal this because it takes place within the first 5 percent of the novel.

Laura and Isaac were friends as children and they just accept that they are a part of this feud. This is a beautifully written story that the author says in her Author's Note that it is a combination of Romeo and Juliet and You've got mail. As the novel progresses the reader is given more background material, and it was difficult witnessing these two kind and thoughtful adults who had so much that they shared in common which is relayed in their hand written letters. It was hard knowing what they each left each other in their tree in the zoo, not communicate in person. I'm so grateful to have discovered this allegorical tale by my good friend Rosh's excellent review. Be sure to read her review here on Good Reads.

What really stands out for me in "The Letter Tree," is that this historical fiction that is written in a literary fiction style has not been done before. Sure we have all read Romeo and Juliet in our Freshman year of High school. We all remember viewing the movie starring Meg Ryan in 'You've got mail.' I loved them both. I loved the play written by Shakespeare although I'll admit it took a little while for me to fall in love with it. What makes this wonderful is that it's not the usual stories already told within the over saturated market, filled with insta-love and meet-cutes that happen to be so popular at the present time. So, if that's your end game you will not find it here. This definitely won't be for you, so I wouldn't recommend it to the reader who enjoys that common trope. No judgement here.

What you will find is two characters that are sketched full of empathy for each other's heart aches and difficult family circumstances. They have each suffered a profound loss which makes their relationship built by a genuine caring about each other built with kindness and mutual respect. They have no idea that they are writing to the person that they have been forbidden by the patriarch of each family to not associate with one another.

It is the 1920's and Laura is being pressured by her father to enter in a romantic relationship with a young man who promises her father that if he makes an investment in his *unknowable scheme* he will be gaining the upper-hand in the rival Campbell shoe company. She needs a chaperone because of the era so she agrees to date this young business man named Abel, who she hopes that she is making a good impression on. She knows next to nothing on what we today know the important character traits to look for when picking a good partner leading to a healthy marriage. All Laura has is her love of books and animals and her trusted stand in grandmother who is the housekeeper. Mrs. Guskins is the only one besides her pen pal who seems to understand her and who she can relate to.

Isaac has lost his young uncle who was like an older brother to him in the Great War. Like Laura he feels a visceral heartbreak of losing the only family member he could turn to who gets him. For Laura she deeply misses her beloved mother who left her a library of her books. When you lose the person who you could most depend on who you shared a deep and abiding love who made you feel seen and heard, but most importantly understood, it is a life altering wound. I really connected to these two characters Laura and Isaac because I lost my only sister who I felt closest to in a tragic accident on December 27, 2012. I talked to her on Christmas day for hours and she was so bubbly and warm and I miss her everyday. She had moved to New York and decided not to come back for Christmas because she was planning on moving in with my family and my father in January. She was closer to me than a best friend and I loved her more than any best friend that I have in my life. So I understand how deep the wound feels by never getting the closure from getting to say goodbye when losing a person who you have the most profound attachment to. Later when talking to my father after we lost my sister he told me that she was crying on Christmas day because she didn't come home for Christmas and she was alone when they talked on the phone. Yet, she was a pillar of strength and an anchor for me and listened to me for whatever I was venting about never giving me a clue how down she really felt. I still feel bad that I didn't know how hard of a time she was having during our last conversation because I would give anything if I knew that on Christmas 2012 that would be our last conversation. Usually I'm very good at reading people, I was too self centered about myself and will always wish that I could have cheered her up and just listened to her. Just listened. Since then my two sons have both moved out and are no longer needing that magical Christmas morning waking up with over bursting Christmas stockings and a living room filled with all of the toys they wanted. I miss watching their faces light up from viewing their innocent excitement from seeing that they were filled with joy that Santa delivered what they had expressed they were hoping to receive. Those days are behind me and even though I didn't like all of the tedious gift wrapping witnessing their easy to fulfill their happiness are some of my favorite Christmases.

So I really was moved how these two people who were both matured by their own tragic losses managed to validate to one another how they could put themselves into sharing what the other one was feeling. They got one another in ways that their remaining families didn't. I love the concept of exchanging hand written letters into their favorite tree at the Buffalo, NY zoo. It was or is this country's third oldest zoos. They did this for seven years so when Laura is twenty-one years old and starts being courted by abel her father's business partner, she writes a final farewell letter to Isaac thanking him for his friendship, but saying good-bye.

Isaac is crest fallen when he gets his last letter from Laura whom he doesn't know her identity and she doesn't know his either. They were in agreement in keeping their names anonymous. Isaac whose mother keeps arranging parties inviting the Buffalo societies youth he isn't interested in participating in. His best friend Charles is to soon be married to his true love. Charles doesn't understand Isaac's reluctance in not being more enthusiastic about courting the abundance of young women, who are over aggressive in the mating game. Isaac's heart belongs to his *wishing letter girl* who has just written her final letter to him. Can he learn who his true love is by writing to her and telling her that he would love to meet her in person at the Buffalo zoo? What are the chances of Laura returning to this beloved tree to retrieve his letter since she's already through exchanging letters? I couldn't help rooting for these main characters throughout the 85% remaining intrigue that switches back and forth between these two main characters.

There are a couple of mysteries that are woven into the plot. This gem of a novel really stole my heart and it is worthy of its Five Plus, Plus Sparkling Stars! There are very few other readers who have read this and of the ones who did everyone has rated it five stars that I'm aware of. This is one that I will never forget and a top reading experience of 2023.

Publication Date: October 31, 2023 Available Now!

Thank you to Net Galley, Rachel Fordham and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for generously providing me with my eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheLetterTree #RachelFordham #ThomasNelsonFiction #NetGalley
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THE LETTER TREE
BY: RACHEL FORDHAM

"The Letter Tree," written by, Rachel Fordham is a magnificent and very special historical romance that is so wholesome and classy. I really loved reading this and even though it takes place in the early 1920's it has a contemporary feel to it. I really applaud the author on keeping this romance clean except for some kissing that happens after the the female main character named, Laura Bradshaw and the main male character Isaac Campbell organically come together by way of feud, then friendship, and finally a romantic relationship. I'm also very impressed by Rachel Fordham's insight being a self-identified reader herself for taking the initiative by knowing what I know I crave the answers to after finishing reading a great historical fiction novel. She has eliminated the guesswork of what was actually factual or fictional by answering the questions and more in a helpful Author's Note. I wish that all authors would take that initiative.

In the prologue Laura witnesses her mother getting run over by a car and losing her life. They had been out having a lovely day together shopping and her mother has just bought Laura a book of fairy tales, when she tells Laura she'll be right back. Laura was only fourteen years old and has had a gaping hole in her life by losing her loving mother.

Laura lives with her father who doesn't allow any talk about what happened to her mother. He also doesn't discuss why he hates his old business partner who he used to manufacture shoes with the Campbell family. Laura is now twenty-one and her father is always too busy competing with his now enemy the Campbell family who they split up the company of making shoes seven years ago. Lucky for Laura she has a wonderful housekeeper who lives with the Bradshaw's and is more like a grandmother. Laura loves animals and going to the zoo where she has a secret letter writer whom they exchange letters by leaving them in a majestic tree.

Isaac Campbell is two years older than Laura and he didn't go to college, and he works for his father who never gives him any responsibilities at the shoe factory. He is the eligible bachelor and his meddling, but well meaning mother tries fixing him up with young women he doesn't have any interests in. He goes to the zoo at night because he can have some time away from home. Because he made a large donation to the zoo, he can go there after hours, gaining admittance from a friendly security guard. Him and Laura have been leaving letters pouring out their hearts to each other in their letters that they leave inside the tree. They are not aware of their identities of who each other are and who they are writing to each other. The reason being because they have blindly listened to each of their family's hate one another. It's not a spoiler to reveal this because it takes place within the first 5 percent of the novel.

Laura and Isaac were friends as children and they just accept that they are a part of this feud. This is a beautifully written story that the author says in her Author's Note that it is a combination of Romeo and Juliet and You've got mail. As the novel progresses the reader is given more background material, and it was difficult witnessing these two kind and thoughtful adults who had so much that they shared in common which is relayed in their hand written letters. It was hard knowing what they each left each other in their tree in the zoo, not communicate in person. I'm so grateful to have discovered this allegorical tale by my good friend Rosh's excellent review. Be sure to read her review here on Good Reads.

What really stands out for me in "The Letter Tree," is that this historical fiction that is written in a literary fiction style has not been done before. Sure we have all read Romeo and Juliet in our Freshman year of High school. We all remember viewing the movie starring Meg Ryan in 'You've got mail.' I loved them both. I loved the play written by Shakespeare although I'll admit it took a little while for me to fall in love with it. What makes this wonderful is that it's not the usual stories already told within the over saturated market, filled with insta-love and meet-cutes that happen to be so popular at the present time. So, if that's your end game you will not find it here. This definitely won't be for you, so I wouldn't recommend it to the reader who enjoys that common trope. No judgement here.

What you will find is two characters that are sketched full of empathy for each other's heart aches and difficult family circumstances. They have each suffered a profound loss which makes their relationship built by a genuine caring about each other built with kindness and mutual respect. They have no idea that they are writing to the person that they have been forbidden by the patriarch of each family to not associate with one another.

It is the 1920's and Laura is being pressured by her father to enter in a romantic relationship with a young man who promises her father that if he makes an investment in his *unknowable scheme* he will be gaining the upper-hand in the rival Campbell shoe company. She needs a chaperone because of the era so she agrees to date this young business man named Abel, who she hopes that she is making a good impression on. She knows next to nothing on what we today know the important character traits to look for when picking a good partner leading to a healthy marriage. All Laura has is her love of books and animals and her trusted stand in grandmother who is the housekeeper. Mrs. Guskins is the only one besides her pen pal who seems to understand her and who she can relate to.

Isaac has lost his young uncle who was like an older brother to him in the Great War. Like Laura he feels a visceral heartbreak of losing the only family member he could turn to who gets him. For Laura she deeply misses her beloved mother who left her a library of her books. When you lose the person who you could most depend on who you shared a deep and abiding love who made you feel seen and heard, but most importantly understood, it is a life altering wound. I really connected to these two characters Laura and Isaac because I lost my only sister who I felt closest to in a tragic accident on December 27, 2012. I talked to her on Christmas day for hours and she was so bubbly and warm and I miss her everyday. She had moved to New York and decided not to come back for Christmas because she was planning on moving in with my family and my father in January. She was closer to me than a best friend and I loved her more than any best friend that I have in my life. So I understand how deep the wound feels by never getting the closure from getting to say goodbye when losing a person who you have the most profound attachment to. Later when talking to my father after we lost my sister he told me that she was crying on Christmas day because she didn't come home for Christmas and she was alone when they talked on the phone. Yet, she was a pillar of strength and an anchor for me and listened to me for whatever I was venting about never giving me a clue how down she really felt. I still feel bad that I didn't know how hard of a time she was having during our last conversation because I would give anything if I knew that on Christmas 2012 that would be our last conversation. Usually I'm very good at reading people, I was too self centered about myself and will always wish that I could have cheered her up and just listened to her. Just listened. Since then my two sons have both moved out and are no longer needing that magical Christmas morning waking up with over bursting Christmas stockings and a living room filled with all of the toys they wanted. I miss watching their faces light up from viewing their innocent excitement from seeing that they were filled with joy that Santa delivered what they had expressed they were hoping to receive. Those days are behind me and even though I didn't like all of the tedious gift wrapping witnessing their easy to fulfill their happiness are some of my favorite Christmases.

So I really was moved how these two people who were both matured by their own tragic losses managed to validate to one another how they could put themselves into sharing what the other one was feeling. They got one another in ways that their remaining families didn't. I love the concept of exchanging hand written letters into their favorite tree at the Buffalo, NY zoo. It was or is this country's third oldest zoos. They did this for seven years so when Laura is twenty-one years old and starts being courted by abel her father's business partner, she writes a final farewell letter to Isaac thanking him for his friendship, but saying good-bye.

Isaac is crest fallen when he gets his last letter from Laura whom he doesn't know her identity and she doesn't know his either. They were in agreement in keeping their names anonymous. Isaac whose mother keeps arranging parties inviting the Buffalo societies youth he isn't interested in participating in. His best friend Charles is to soon be married to his true love. Charles doesn't understand Isaac's reluctance in not being more enthusiastic about courting the abundance of young women, who are over aggressive in the mating game. Isaac's heart belongs to his *wishing letter girl* who has just written her final letter to him. Can he learn who his true love is by writing to her and telling her that he would love to meet her in person at the Buffalo zoo? What are the chances of Laura returning to this beloved tree to retrieve his letter since she's already through exchanging letters? I couldn't help rooting for these main characters throughout the 85% remaining intrigue that switches back and forth between these two main characters.

There are a couple of mysteries that are woven into the plot. This gem of a novel really stole my heart and it is worthy of its Five Plus, Plus Sparkling Stars! There are very few other readers who have read this and of the ones who did everyone has rated it five stars that I'm aware of. This is one that I will never forget and a top reading experience of 2023.

Publication Date: October 31, 2023 Available Now!

Thank you to Net Galley, Rachel Fordham and Thomas Nelson--FICTION for generously providing me with my eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheLetterTree #RachelFordham #ThomasNelsonFiction #NetGalley
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Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson--FICTION, Thomas Nelson for accepting my request to read and review The Letter Tree.

A lovely story where a young lady of 21 romanticizes love and marriage. The synopsis sums the book up in its entirety and Fordham writes the complimentary story.

If I had the physical book I would have had 1924 paperclipped where I could see it. However, I had the E-book and had to virtually elbow myself a couple of times. Seriously, I found the societal differences sweet and part of the charm. While waiting on the Keurig (one coffee & one hot chocolate) and a search for the audiobook (Thank you Hoopla.) I was able to go from start to finish in just a few hours. It was not as if I wanted to rush through, it was me wanting the story to continue on when I had to get up.

The book did not disappoint. It is simple and smart. The author does not go over the top. This could be a grandmother telling her granddaughter how her grandparents met.

Would definitely recommend for young readers transitioning to adult books, as well as gifting adult Christian readers, particularly women, and adults in general. The book is light and clean.

As for the audio: The narrator was part of the attraction.

Sparkling, moving, and original. I loved it from start to finish.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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.