YOURS TRULY THOMAS by Rachel Fordham, Reviewed by Nicole Cook and Winnie Thomas

NICOLE'S REVIEW:
“What if Thomas’s life is altered all because his letter came to me and not to Clara?”

In Rachel Fordham's latest novel, Yours Truly, Thomas, she charms her readers with a beautiful story of redemption, second chances, and discovering God’s grace and purpose for our lives.

The journey begins in 1883 at the dead letter office in Washington D.C. as Penny Ercanbeck sorts letters and tries to locate their recipients before the letters are disposed of. She finds several letters written by Thomas to his beloved Clara that are filled with pain and regret. Penny’s quest to deliver the letters to Clara takes some unexpected twists and turns. Suddenly Penny finds herself on a train headed to the town of Azure Springs in search of Thomas. Penny is immediately welcomed to the town by some familiar faces from Rachel Fordham’s debut novel, The Hope of Azure Springs. Readers will love the cameo appearances from many of their favorite residents of Azure Springs, including Em and Caleb Reynolds, Margaret, Abraham, and Eliza.

Rachel Fordham authentically weaves the faith aspects into the storyline, while incorporating the sweet romance developing between Penny and Thomas and the essential role that God has in their lives. Readers will wish they could live in Azure Springs and be friends with Penny, Em, Margaret, and the rest of the charming cast of characters. There is something for everyone in this novel…. romance, danger, faith, and rich historical details.

The beautiful letters penned in Yours Truly, Thomas will find a place in the hearts of the readers everywhere. Letter writing has become almost a lost art in the 21st century with email, social media, and smartphones easily accessible for instant communication. Handwritten letters from previous generations contain treasured memories of the past, and Rachel Fordham gives readers an opportunity to experience some of those memories firsthand through Thomas and Penny’s correspondence. Readers who enjoyed Rachel Fordham’s debut novel will not want to miss this delightful return to Azure Springs.

Yours Truly, Thomas is highly recommended for readers of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy books by authors such as Jody Hedlund and Carrie Turansky.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

WINNIE'S REVIEW:
From the dead letter office in Washington, D.C. to the plains of Azure Springs, Iowa, Rachel Fordham’s book Yours Truly, Thomas took me on a romantic adventure to remember. The settings are unusual and interesting, and I felt an urge to travel to Azure Springs and meet the people there. The main characters, Penny and Thomas, both have hurts and problems in their past to overcome, but they are engaging and well-drawn. The stellar cast of supporting characters adds flavor and color to the story. I especially liked Margaret with her managing, but loveable, ways.

Fordham’s writing is descriptive, clear, and concise, and her idea of letting the letters tell part of the story was brilliant. Themes of redemption, faith, and forgiveness of self and others run through the tale and give it depth and an added dimension. With adventure, romance, a bit of suspense, and a whole lot of heart, this book is one to savor and enjoy.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Nicole for providing some Additional Quotes:
“I think I fell in love with someone else’s love story."

“He’d tell me it is my job to do all I can in this life to make each day better. He’d tell me to get in and change what I can. And what I cannot, he’d tell me to hand over to God.”

“Your very presence makes me believe I can be more than what I was before. I am not sure what led you to Azure Springs. But I believe God was in it. He must have been. There is no other way something so beautiful could be born of so much pain.”

Click here for NICOLE'S INTERVIEW with RACHEL AND enter her GIVEAWAY for a paperback copy of both BOTH YOURS TRULY THOMAS and HOPE OF AZURE SPRINGS

BackCover Blurb:
For three years, Penny Ercanbeck has been opening other people's mail. Dead ends are a reality for clerks at the Dead Letter Office. Still she dreams of something more--a bit of intrigue, a taste of romance, or at least a touch less loneliness. When a letter from a brokenhearted man to his one true love falls into her hands, Penny seizes this chance to do something heroic. It becomes her mission to place this lost letter into the hands of its intended recipient.

Thomas left his former life with no intention of ending up in Azure Springs, Iowa. He certainly didn't expect a happy ending after what he had done. All he wanted to do was run and never look back. In a moment of desperation, he began to write, never really expecting a reply.

When Penny's undertaking leads her to the intriguing man who touched her soul with his words, everything grows more complicated. She wants to find the rightful owner of the letter and yet she finds herself caring--perhaps too much--for the one who wrote it.

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