Member Reviews
An absolutely delightful book! I just finished reading this story and what a story! It captivated me from the very first chapter. Letters and majestic trees, the combination of these two makes my heart soar. I loved the idea, the story line, of corresponding with a secret friend. 😊
Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell find themselves in the middle of their families feud. It’s ultimately up to them to find a way to end the insensible differences amongst their parents.
The entire story kept me engrossed at all times. The feud and the secrets were very well written. I usually read historicals set in the 1800’s but thought to give this time period, 1920’s, a chance since I love this author’s writing. And let me tell you it was a delight to read. It transported me to the period, I’d pictured it all in my mind. The characters’ attires, the music they listened to, the books they read, the vehicles they drove, events surrounding the time and cities where the novel took place, everything was historically accurate, well researched facts. I appreciate when authors take their time to research and incorporate all those tidbits making their work more appealing to us readers, at least to me 😉
I always find it so neat to be familiar with settings used throughout a novel and the scene at Niagara Falls was fantastic. For one that has experienced the park and taken the Maid of the Mist tour, the descriptions of the falls were on point.
I felt deeply for Laura and Isaac. You cry with them in their dire moments but you also celebrate their victories. I loved Laura’s transformation, from her resigned and submissive conduct to one of resolution and courage. Isaac’s resolved was commendable too. I loved them both 😁
And who’s not going to love Mrs. Guskin? She was such a beautiful soul 😍
And what a sweet epilogue! It melted my heart 💕💕💕 In a true R & J fashion, ladder and all 😄
Laura 💚 Isaac
A beautiful story of forgiveness. A family feud that seemed like it’d never be mended but like the famous Roman poet Virgil wrote, “love conquers all”. A Romeo and Juliet story in a different era.
And I appreciate the Author’s Note stating the historical facts and the fictional ones.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Notice: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rachel Fordham uses elements famous in Romeo and Juliet and Rapunzel to tell a story of loss, feuding families, and love. Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell have two things in common: shoes and feuds. Once friends, the two were forced to sever contact when something ignites a long-lasting feud between their families.
Laura Bradshaw wrote a poem about her grievances and hid it in a maple tree. Isaac Campbell found her poem, which prompted him to write her a letter. This exchange turned into a long correspondence between the two.
Laura is a strong character who knows what she wants out of life, but her dreams are overshadowed by the dreams her father has for her. Isaac struggles to prove himself worthy of playing a role in his family’s shoe business.
Mrs. Guskins and Charles greatly encourage Laura and Isaac to take control and do what they want for a change. I enjoyed seeing these characters morph and grow into adults who want to grab the world by the horns and squeeze out every possibility.
This book has a classic feel, and it’s one that I won’t forget.
I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.
Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for my ARC of The Letter Tree. First, I loved the setting of 1920s post war America! The author did an amazing job with the locations and descriptions of clothing. Second, I’m a sucker for a Romeo/Juliet-esque love story and in the form of letters is my kryptonite. This novel is a perfect addition to the historical romance section. 4/5 ⭐️.
This book was really sweet. Between the couple that is writing letters to each other anonymously while also being rival families and then trying to find out why the rivalry exists. I loved the zoo aspect of the book and how it became integral to the storyline and the female protagonist's character development.
The Bradshaws and the Campbells were once friends. But now, they are enemies. Each trying to undermine the other. Laura Bradshaw is the heiress to the Bradshaw Shoe Factory. She has been writing letters to an unknown person via a tree located in the zoo, Isaac Campbell is the heir to the Campbell Shoe Factory and the recipient of Laura's letters. The two meet face to face and fiqure out that they have been writing letters to each other for years. When Laura is pressured by her father to marry a business associate. Will Laura marry the man her father has chosen for her? Or will the two put an end to the feud between the two families?
I found this was an enjoyable read. I was not sure how the story would develop but am glad it had HEA.
I received this copy of the book via Netgalley. I was not required to leave a positive review.
This tale of star-crossed lovers does exactly what it sets out to do. Add in a bit of mystery and a family feud and you have a winner! The Bradshaw and Campbell fathers may not like each other, but their children certainly do. This book follows their progress as they (re)discover each other and find ways to mend fences. The connections to Romeo and Juliet and You've Got Mail can be a bit heavy-handed at time, but I was swept into the world of 1920s Buffalo. Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own!
Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
I really liked this story. It takes place in Buffalo, NY in the early 1920"s. It like to read about that period in history, and I also liked the zoo setting and the animals. I thought the plot line was also interesting because not too many people write letters anymore (especially secret letters). I liked the romance as well as a little mystery. This book was a winner for me. Rachel Fordham is becoming one of my favorite authors, and I can't wait for her next book!
This book seemed hard for me to read. It was highly predictable and it took a while for it to grab my interest. I kept threatening to flip to the back halfway through and read the ending before I finished it, but I persevered and plowed through. That's a rather bleak description of a reading. The basic premise of the book is a Hatfields-McCoys type feud between rival shoemakers. And of course, their children fall in love with each other in spite of themselves.
The book contains the requisite bad guy in the form of a con-man, a bad girl in the form of a socialite, the heroine who desires nothing more than to get away from her father's bad moods, and the hero who wants to get to the bottom of the feud.
This book could have been written in epistolary style and lost nothing, but gained a lot. Frank, the elephant, would still have played a role in the plot, even if the style were changed. I think Frank was my favorite character in this novel by Rachel Fordham. I think I've read other novels by Rachel and enjoyed them, but this one was not my favorite. Still I'll give it four stars because others may like it immensely and think I am a nut bag, but I am an opinionated nut bag 😂. The only issue with the novel is that the plot moves too slowly and it is predictable.
Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Buffalo, NY 1920s. Historical fiction well-written story about two families, once business partners, turned enemies, and a forbidden romance. It flowed beautifully and the descriptions sucked me in. Love reading about the zoo, the park, and the Maple tree...the letters were so heartfelt. Sweet romance, star-crossed lovers with a happy ending.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
What a beautiful story of forgiveness that unfolds from a decades long feud and forbidden romance.
The Campbell and Bradshaw families have been business partners and best friends. When a tragic misunderstanding causes both the company and friendship to break apart, the youngest Campbell, Isaac, and Bradshaw, Laura, are forced to abandon their friendship.
Struggling with the sudden death of her mother and loss of her friend, Isaac, Laura finds solace in writing poetry and secret letters which she hides in her favorite tree at her favorite place, the Buffalo Zoo. A mischievous young Isaac finds himself stranded up that very tree in the zoo where he discovers the poem which leads to many letters between the two. Unbeknownst to them that they are trading letters with their sworn enemy, an undeniable bond forms between them. When they discover the identity of their secret pen pal, they must work together to uncover what created the feud in order to correct the past and protect the future.
A story filled with mystery, heartbreak, and joy that stays with the reader long after the last page is turned. I loved how the story centered around the letters where Laura & Isaac opened their hearts to their mysterious pen pal. This is definitely a must read!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
I wanted to add a little extra on to this review. I have been following this author on facebook for quite some time and really appreciate the genuineness about her and love for the foster care system. I highly encourage you to check her out there!
This was such an endearing book to read. The author takes the reader through a family feud and how it affects all of those around them. Woven throughout the book are the letters that are left in the tree over a period of 7 years. This was such a magical and unique aspect to the story! My favorite character was Mrs. Guskin and how she took such a motherly role with Laura!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
This cute historical romance had me from the beginning and I didn't wanna stop reading until I was finished. I loved this so much it was a great book.
I just reviewed The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham. #TheLetterTree #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
Delightful read with well written characters that I'd like to be friends with. Able was a tad predictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I am loving this book so much! I am so blessed that God has given me the gift of reading and writing.
I'm going to start my review by saying this, Mrs.Guskin is a good woman and is a blessing to Laura Bradford. Laura is lucky to have her. I wish I had someone like Mrs. Guskin!
She's full of wisdom and wonderful advice like this one;
I love this quote from the Letter Tree because too often we give our hearts to the wrong men and vice versa;
Make sure he’s coming back for the right reasons.”
“It’s not a bad thing if my dating Abel helps Father, too. I may want to leave here, but I don’t wish ill on Father. "“You’ve a generous heart, but you don’t have to make Abel fit into it.And as for your father, he’ll have to decide if he wants to be happy. again— you can’t force it. Whatever happened before, it wasn’t your fault. "
“You go and have agood time. And remember: the right man will want to know all of you.”
I wish this were the case in all relationships especially in mine.
God gave us a choice to choose who we want.
Sometimes, it doesn't always make sense.
I'm like Laura I am afraid to close the door on someone so.we can each move on. He's who I thought would be a friend for life but I guess not.
This was a wonderful story and I love the idea of putting letters in a tree. Sort of like a pen pal! And at a zoo of all places! "Sigh"
This fueding between the Campbell and Bradford families I didn't much care for but it definitely makes the story interesting!
In my opinion, this is the best novel that Fordham has ever written! I loved every minute of it!
I will be adding this one to my keeper shelf as well and I look forward to her next story!
I highly recommend this beautiful story.
Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own!
This was my first Rachel Fordham novel, and it won’t be my last.
A beautifully written story about two families, once best friends and business partners, turned enemies.
The split between families tore two childhood friends, Laura Bradshaw and Issac Campbell apart.
After a young Laura lost her mother in a car accident, she wrote a poem but quickly hid it in a tree so no one would find it. A young boy came upon the poem and wrote a letter to the anonymous girl. And the letters exchange continued for 7 years anonymously.
As an adult Laura is often trapped in her house and can only escape to the Zoo for short periods of time, she’s looking for a key to her freedom. Isaac wants more responsibilities with his fathers company and they both want answers to why their families hate each other.
I adored Laura from the beginning, her love of animals and books and how kind her heart stayed throughout her circumstances, she’s also very brave. Isaac is so sweet and caring, I loved that he was brave enough to take things into his own hands regardless of the consequences.
The love Issac and Laura have for each other is so sweet and the lengths they have to go to be together is quite the journey.
I loved every word of this story. It flowed beautifully, the descriptions sucked me in like a movie. I highly recommend this for any romance reader out there.
I received a free copy for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
A sweet retelling of Romeo and Juliet, only with a happy ending for our star crossed lovers in the 1920s. Feuds break families apart, but love brings us together.
4.25 ⭐️
“She closed her eyes, imagining a world where it didn’t matter that he was a Campbell and she was a Bradshaw. A world where they were free to make choices on their own, to pick the higher road.”
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Romeo & Juliet meets Rapunzel in 1924 Buffalo, New York. With childhood friends, forbidden romance, a good old-fashioned family feud, sweet letters, an air of mystery, and a zoo (literally), this story was a delight!
Laura & Isaac certainly had a lot to overcome during the course of the story. I loved the concept of falling in love with someone’s words, long before falling in love with their face, along with Laura’s journey to finding her voice & wanting to be loved for who she was, not just what people tried to make her.
A couple side characters, namely Mrs. Guskin & Charles, totally stole the show (in a good way!). They both warmed my heart so much with their respective friendships with Laura & Isaac.
The story was a good reminder on the bitter price of anger & the beauty of reconciliation. As a side note, compared to the author’s earlier books I’ve read, there wasn’t nearly as much faith content. Just a handful of references to church and God having a sense of humour. But as mentioned, the message was still excellent!
And that epilogue… so utterly adorable & the prime example of why I love Charles & Isaac’s friendship so much, haha!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Historical Fiction filled with a family feud, star crossed young love, and characters who love animals! I enjoyed every bit of this lighthearted story. Thank you #netgalley for the #ARC !!
This is a beautifully written, sweet, heartfelt story that takes place in update New York, in the early 1920s. Two childhood friends have not been able to see each other or talk to one another for years because of a disagreement between their families.
The Bradshaw’s and the Campbell’s were business partners in the manufacturing of shoes and close family friends, until they were not. Nobody seemed to know exactly what created the rift between the two families who are now competitors in the shoe business. Neither of the families have spoken to each other for years.
At age fourteen, Laura Bradshaw loses her mother to an accident when a car hits her crossing the street. Sometime later, at a park near her house, Laura stuffs a poem she wrote into the hollow opening of her favorite tree. When she goes back to get the poem a few days later, instead she finds a letter addressed to the poem writer. She responds with another letter that she places in the tree. This exchange of letters using the tree as a mailbox, goes on for seven years. The letters provide a welcome escape for Laura from her solitary, dull, lonely life.
Such a heartfelt, fascinating story as the letter writing continues for many years. When the identify of one of the writers is accidently discovered, it causes an unexpected dilemma. This is a fascinating story of commitment, the revelation of unscrupulous business dealings and the forgiveness of long-held grievances and secrets.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is the first book I read by Rachel Fordham and OMG…. I loved it.
The story, set in the 1920s, is about two families, the Bradshaws and Campbells, once close friends now enemies, which gave me Romeo & Juliet vibes. The world was described beautifully and the little details were amazing. It actually felt being there. The main characters are Isaac Campbell and Laura Bradshaw. I loved Laura and instantly connected with her, cause of her dreams, fantasy and love for animals. Her visits to the zoo and the memories of her mother and the emotions were well felt. The highlight for me was ‘her’ Maple tree, where for 7 years, she wrote and received letters from an ‘unknown’ person. The letters are so heartfelt that you just fall in love with handwritten letters again. Isaac is the sweetest protective guy and gosh, if I could fall in love with a fictional character, it will be him.
I can not wait to read more of Rachel Fordham books as this one was incredible. One of the best books I have read so far and definitely a must read if you like forbidden love, friends to lovers or enemies to lover tropes.