I enjoyed traveling back to Azure Springs, Iowa. I also learned of something new, the Deal Letter Office in Washington, DC. How interesting that job would have been!!

Penny is a researcher at the Dead Letter Office find the lost address of letters that come to her desk. Then she gets the letters from Thomas to Clara and becomes invested, much more than she should be. When her curiosity peaks and she travels to Clara's home, does she find part of the reason to the sound of Thomas's letters. Knowing this, and the anticipation of moving to Philadelphia with her mother and uncle, Penny sets out for Azure Springs to meet the mysterious, but heart-broken, Thomas.

I so enjoyed this book, having grabbed my attention from the very beginning with mysterious letters. I also liked the characters of Penny and Thomas, both with their heartbreaks, but both wanting to find a new life. I think I liked this story better than the original Azure Springs story, maybe because the story peaked my interest more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader.

Another masterpiece by Rachel Fordham. Beautifully written. Endearing characters. Witty. Tender. Heartwarming. Five stars.

First sentence: After letting an involuntary squeal escape, Penny pulled the yellowed papers closer and pressed her lips to them. Then she began to devour the words again.

Premise/plot: Penny (Penelope Ercanbeck), our heroine, LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to read love letters--other people's letters. The opening I quoted is her sneakily reading her parents' love letters--she's not supposed to be reading them, and is caught in the act, if you will. As an adult, she continues reading other people's letters. She works for the dead letter office--and I suppose that gives her permission?

Penny falls head over heels in LOVE--the truly, madly, deeply kind--with Thomas (our eventual) hero (Thomas Conner) just by reading his letters to another woman. Thomas is writing CLARA. He doesn't give specifics as to why he headed off west leaving her behind in Virginia, but, Penny doesn't need those reasons. She is just living vicariously through his words--his many words--in his letters.

Thomas was heading west until a wagon accident leaves him stuck in a small town, Azure Springs, Iowa. He's in a dark, dark place until he receives a reply. NOT from his lady love, Clara, mind you, but by an anonymous writer from the dead letter office. It's an odd letter from a stranger--a promise of continued prayer. But it helps him realize the glass may just be half full instead of half empty.

Penny--the anonymous letter writer--has sleuthed her way to finding out more about Thomas and Clara. She's tracked down where he lives. And she has decided to pay him a visit. Not intending to show up at his doorstep and go SURPRISE, HEY I'VE BEEN READING ALL YOUR CORRESPONDENCE. WANT TO LOVE ME INSTEAD? But something a little subtler. She brings her dog, Honey along on the trip.

Will Thomas and Penny fall in love with each other? Can Penny at last have a love letter of her own?

My thoughts: The premise of this one is a little odd--even for Christian romance. (That's not to slam Christian romance. I read plenty of it.) I do wonder if the roles were reversed--if it was a male character working in the dead letter office who decided to track down and visit a female letter writer--if it would be seen in the same way--harmless, sweet, endearing.

It has two narrators: Penny and Thomas. The two do not meet for most of the novel. He's settling into a new town/new place. She's working at the dead letter office working on how to track him down (or Clara down, or both). Once they meet, it is fairly typical instant-attraction. The dog definitely adds interest to the romance...providing some humor and lightness.

I would have liked it more without a secondary melodramatic plot. I will never understand why Christian historical romances *have* to have a villain. Not a second option in a love triangle. Not just an ordinary human living life on his/her own terms that differ slightly and add tension. But an out-and-out villain. This book has villain(s). And there's the "mandatory" fire that provides an excuse for the heroine to be saved and the hero to be all manly manly in his saving. Again....why?

Without the melodrama, I think there's enough tension between the two. He has a few secrets. She has a few secrets. Neither wants to be the first to share. Both feel the other might be holding back something. There's a potential for miscommunication and misunderstanding without a flesh-and-blood villain entering the story.

Charming and sweet! This is one historical romance lovers will want to get their hands on. I found myself swooning throughout.

I found Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham to be a charming read. I loved her plot of using the Dead Letter Office as the premise for their coming together. I felt like this book flowed really well and that the characters were all well placed and played out. This book is a dreamy read with a splash of intenseness. It described to me the power of writing words out and sharing one’s soul through writing, beautifully done.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted on Christianbook, Barnes&Nobles

A love story with an epistolary theme? Of course I was going to read it. While it was slightly predictable and not as gripping as the first book in the Azure Springs series, I still enjoyed Yours Truly, Thomas.

~My Review~



Yours Truly, Thomas~Rachel Fordham

This was one of the best books I had read last year. It was very entertaining and I read it in about one sitting!

I had read one of the the first books by this author and I wasn’t really a fan the first time around. This story however was the complete opposite. I fell in love with this book from the
very first page. That’s why I always try to give an author at least 2 chances before I can decide if I’m going to continue reading their books or not.

This book was very lively,witty, and romantic.

As for the letters, I really loved them! Sometimes it’s my preference to not read a book mostly composed of letters. I’m an action type of girl. 😉
This novel was definitely the exception for sure! It was awesome!

The main character Penny was just a lovely and wonderful character.

I really loved reading this book and I highly recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a good read. It was a lovely and wonderful book. Also the book cover is just beautiful!



4 stars

Another great historical fiction that is sure to delight. I cant wait to read another book by this author.as her books are so sweet and wonderful.

Yours Truly Thomas is a fascinating book because it develops a plot where the heroine Penny Ercanbeck works at the Dead letter office. She keeps coming across letters from a Thomas to a Clara. She isn't suppose to get involved but she can't help herself. She wants to help Thomas. So she goes to find Clara and discovers she is dead.

Penny's own circumstances are becoming less appealing as she and her mother aren't on the best of terms since her father died and now her uncle is going to rescue them and insist Penny marry some much older men so she can be taken care of.

Penny decides to head out on an adventure. She has discovered the town where Thomas lives and she plans to find him and, well, she has no idea. Once in Azure Springs, she and her dog make friends quickly but also get into some mischief; however she meets Thomas and things progress better than they both realize until a fire risk both their lives and their budding relationship. Read the book to find out what Penny and her dog discover in Iowa. It is a sweet read for the summer.

I received this book from Revell through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a good story with well developed characters. The historical perspective is solid too! This story will remind you that letter writing, which in some ways has become a lost art, has an important place in everyone's lives.

What an endearing book! It is sweet but also heartwrenching because of the internal journey Rachel Fordham takes her characters through. There's genuine hopefulness as they seek forgiveness and restoration.

Agh, can we go back to letter writing?

we first meet Penny Erenbeck, who has been working in the dead letter office since her father’s untimely death. Penny works hard in order to get food on the table for herself and her mother. Life is much better and they are not priviledge individuals anymore and Penny’s mother hates being in poverty and longs for the social society. Penny’s Uncle shows up and gives Penny an ‘opportunity’ to have fortune and a suitor, but Penny is not interested. Penny longs for true romance, like the ones she reads in the dead letter office.

When Penny reads letters to a Clara Finley, from a man named Thomas, Penny is on a mission to find Clara and tell her that Thomas longs to have her by his side in Azure Springs, Iowa. However, when Penny discovers what has become of Clara, she has an urgency to write Thomas back and tell him. Although, Penny has her own issues and wants to escape and decides to not only send Thomas a letter, but maybe even meet him in person.

Thomas is a very heartbroken man. His past haunts him and he wants nothing other for it to disappear. He never liked to make roots, but Azure Springs seemed to draw him in. The people and the community seem to like him and he feels comfortable. Thomas mourns his beloved Clara and writes to her often. Will she forgive him of the past? Until this strange new woman comes to town, Thomas begins to see his life differently than before.

Will Penny tell Thomas the truth about who she really is? Will Thomas be able to except of the news of his beloved? Or will Thomas and Penny continue to be both heartbroken souls?

This book was wonderful to read and I really enjoyed the premise. I enjoy old time stories of the 1800s and early 1900s and what life was like. It was a different kind of story and you had to wait and see what was going to happen. It was a different twist than some books I’ve read recently. Lastly, I like to thank the publisher, Revell , and the site, NetGalley, for allowing me the opportunity to read this lovely story. I hope you will enjoy the book too.

Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham is a historical love story told with the help of letters. Penny opens and reads mail addressed to dead people. She is touched by the mail from a particular man, Thomas. This book is a beautiful love story set in a vividly depicted time period. I think a story propelled by a love story is one of the more difficult plots to achieve. Ms Fordham has done this quite successfully, writing a book that will keep your attention throughout. I highly recommend this book to readers that love historical novels and romances. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Yours Truly, Thomas was a unique storyline! I admired Penny for being brave and setting out for Azure Springs, Iowa to make sure a stranger was okay after reading letters he wrote which ended up in the dead letter office. I admired Thomas for making a change from the selfish man he had been in the past and wanting to help others. They experience a much different life in Iowa than Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, DC where they lived previously. Penny and Thomas both learn unexpected facts about each other and face dangers. I recommend this historical fiction book to others. I received a complimentary e-book from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Rachel Fordham created a lovable town that you don't want to leave in the Hope of Azure Springs. Yours Truly, Thomas takes you back there with two characters carrying a lot of heart and searching for hope. I loved that her characters bond over loss and walk through real things, and as a history nerd, I also really liked learning about a part of history I didn't know about before with the Dead Letter Office. This was a super easy and delightful read!

I requested Yours Truly, Thomas for review because I was intrigued by the idea of a dead letter office and how that would play into a romance novel. I didn’t get far into the novel before I realised it was the second in a series … and that I already own the first (The Hope of Azure Springs), but hadn’t read it.

So I decided I’d read The Hope of Azure Springs first. That was a good idea, and a bad idea. Good, because The Hope of Azure Springs was excellent. Bad, because it set a high standard for Yours Truly, Thomas to live up to. And, unfortunately, it didn’t.

The main issue was that Yours Truly, Thomas took a long time to get going. The nature of the story—the dead letter office—meant it had to start with Penny and Thomas in different places, and for there to be a reasonable period of time before they met. But I found the opening dragged as a result.

The story picked up pace and got a lot more interesting once Penny arrived in Azure Springs and met Thomas—and some of the other townspeople.

Penny—Penelope Ercanbeck—grew up in a privileged home, but now works in the dead letter office following her father’s death and the loss of his fortune. Thomas bought a farm in Azure Springs after becoming stranded in the small town. He writes letters to his beloved, Clara, describing his situation.

They aren’t delivered and end up in the dead letter office … where Penny reads them and becomes engaged in Thomas’s romance. Once the story got going, it was very good.

There was a mystery around Thomas and Clara’s relationship. We know something happened between them, and Penny tells him Clara died, although doesn’t say how. Also, I wasn’t entirely sure Clara was dead, and we don’t find out what happened until close to the end of the story. I don’t think it would have affected the overall story to know the truth of that earlier, and it would have meant the story ran more smoothly in the beginning. After all, this mystery wasn’t central to the plot. There was also a light suspense thread, as someone appears to be trying to sabotage Thomas’s farm.

I enjoyed watching Penny’s developing relationship with Thomas. I loved Penny’s rambunctious dog, Honeysuckle, and I enjoyed revisiting some of the characters from The Hope of Azure Springs. Yours Truly, Thomas does work as a standalone novel, and there is no need to read The Hope of Azure Springs first. (Although I still think The Hope of Azure Springs is a better novel).

Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This is a sweet historical romance. My rating 4.25 of 5.0.

Penny was raised in a wealthy home with all the society frills until her father died and his investments were mishandled. Penny felt fortunate to get a job as a clerk in the Dead Letter Office to support herself and her frustrated mother. Penny still has dreams of romance and becomes involved when she reads a romantic letter from a brokenhearted man to Claire, the love he left behind. But the letters aren’t reaching Claire and Penny becomes determined to get them to the young woman.

After finding news about Claire, Penny decides to locate Thomas who wrote the letters. Penny has to choose to go along with her mother’s plans to move in with her uncle or to stay where she is and support herself. While deciding her future she takes a few weeks off to travel to Azure Springs and find Thomas.

Thomas was running when a wagon accident left him stranded in Azure Springs. He didn’t plan to stay but has found a warm welcome and is starting to think this is a place to change his life.

Penny and Thomas meet and begin to form a friendship in the warm community of Azure Springs. They are both hiding the secrets of what brought them to town, but circumstances still push them forward. Meanwhile, someone is sabotaging Thomas’ efforts to start a farm with attacks that are increasing in danger. Can they find the strength and courage to expose their hearts and move away from the past into the future?

I love the “dead letter” element of the story and how it leads the characters to meet. Penny is such a sweet caring soul who is more than willing to leave her society life behind. Thomas is a man who feels he has done wrong and he is not sure he deserves a new start. Christian themes gently underline the story without being preaching. The author sets up situations that can provide redemption and forgiveness if the characters can turn there.

This is my second visit to Azure Springs with Ms. Fordham, having read The Hope of Azure Springs this past spring. The stories read fine as standalones. I enjoyed the warm characters, the light humor, and the easy reading. I recommend this to readers who enjoy sweet historical romance.

Source: 2019 NetGalley.

This book is interspersed with postal letters - a format I always enjoy. The characters are dealing with pain and trouble in a relatable, realistic manner. Several passages in the book struck me as meaningful, and I found the opening quote from C. S. Lewis to be particularly apt. At times, the pacing was off and the book dragged a bit. Overall though, this was a very enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions above are my own.

Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Rachel Fordham’s latest story is one that tells of two people longing for love brought together by a letter that was never meant to be sent.

I have enjoyed getting to know Rachel Fordham recently, both as an author and a person through her books and social media posts. Her caring and determined spirit comes through in both and I have been looking forward to what is next in her posts/books. This latest story will eventually take us back to the town of Azure Springs but begins in Washington, DC with the arrival of a letter to the Dead Letter Office. Penny Ercanbeck is an active employee who enjoys solving the puzzle of where a letter should have gone had it not gotten lost. She pours herself into the stories of those who have written their hearts to loved ones and yet was never received by the intended person. Her latest letter of focus is one of heartbreaking loss that spurs her into searching for the intended recipient. But her search will lead her to a devastating solution she didn’t expect to find. Penny is not giving up, however, and decides she will return the letter to the writer so that he will know why there has been no answer to his writing. Traveling to Azure Springs is her next step and her departure will give her the chance to have the adventure she’s always dreamed of having. And if her trip also puts off her mother’s latest schemes for her life, well, that’s just a bonus. Determined to be the one who brings closure to a hurting man, Penny arrives in Azure Springs with letter in hand. But upon arrival, Penny is unsure just how to go about telling Thomas who she is. Deciding to remain in Azure Springs until she comes up with a plan, Penny becomes friends with some of the locals who have come to know Thomas. Perhaps getting to know them will give her an idea. Unexpectedly meeting Thomas throws a wrench in her plans as he is even more attractive in person than he was in his letter. As her time in Azure Springs is fast passing, Penny will have to decide if she is willing to take a chance on love or if she will let her fears keep her from a new life with a wonderful young man. Thomas never expected anyone to read his letters to his former sweetheart. He wrote them as a way to find healing in the midst of incredible pain. Finding himself stuck in Azure Springs gives him the chance to mull over his life and seek out a place to call home. Perhaps it’s not the West as he had originally planned, but it is a nice town with lots of kind people in it. When Penny arrives in town, he is curious as to her purposes. Why is she so interested in him and his life? Surely such a pretty young lady has better things to do than spend time with him. When the truth finally comes out, Thomas will have a choice to either embrace the love and kindness of this unexpected young woman or hide himself away to protect his heart from hurt again. His choice will mean either a new life for them both or one filled with loss as they go back to life alone. As an avid fan of the “Postable” movies on Hallmark, I was excited to read this story of the Dead Letter Office in the late 1800s. Interestingly enough, the author had not written it with that series in mind as she had never heard of it before people mentioned it in their reviews. I loved the characters she created and the angst you could almost tangibly feel that they were going through. There was real hurt in the earlier lives of both Thomas and Penny and I really liked how Ms. Fordham conveyed that without going overboard with the description. We can all relate to Penny in our desire to be seen as someone who is more than our job or where we come from. I loved how brave she was to face her fear of the unknown and return a letter to someone who had lost something so precious. Thomas was a good character, too, as he was willing to move out of his grief into a better life even if it took a great deal of work. He refused to give up and forged ahead to make his existence thrive and meaningful. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and their conversations with the main ones. They provided both levity and conviction as well as wisdom for Thomas and Penny. I will certainly be recommending this book to others and hope they will enjoy it as I did.

I received this E-book free of charge from Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

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.