Yours Truly, Thomas

"Yours Truly, Thomas", from author Rachel Fordham, is a compelling and touching inspirational historical romance. The story is given added depth by touches of adventure, mystery, loss and redemption, and unexpected hope. The years that Penny Ercanbeck has spent as a clerk in the Dead Letter Office

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of the Washington, DC Post Office have left her with a longing for something new and bright and exciting to enter her life. What she finds is a beautifully poignant letter from a man named Thomas, and she determines to make sure that the letter will reach the intended recipient. On a great impulse, she travels from DC to Azure Springs, Iowa. Her leap of faith leads her not to the addressee of the letter, but to the letter writer himself, Thomas Conner. When Fate brings Penny and Thomas together, their lives will be forever changed. Thomas must face the secrets and despair of his past, and Penny must learn that following your heart means following your faith and living with an open heart and open mind. Can the two of them resolve all issues and build and happy future together? To learn Thomas' secrets and read his poignant letters. turn the pages of "Yours Truly, Thomas". You will greatly enjoy this wonderfully-written story.

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via LibraryThing

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I requested and was granted an advanced copy of this book to read and review. The review is my honest opinion of the book.
My first impression is that even though the book is listed as a Christian book, there is very little in it to verify that. God is mentioned a couple of times and the Bible is

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mentioned a couple of times, but other than that, not so much. There were so many missed opportunities. But, all in all, it was a good, clean book.
The main characters were quite well developed and you felt like maybe you had met them. The other characters were mainly just "bit players".
The story flowed well and the plot was unique. I liked that the letters were interspersed throughout. Only a couple of times did the letters make it seem too repetitive. The plot progressed too fast to make it a believable story, but it's not meant to be, it's fiction. The book held my interest throughout.
It is hard to know if the editing will be fixed or not, but for an advanced reader copy, it was pretty good. I did notice a few errors, but not so many that it interfered with my enjoyment.
Would I recommend this book to my friends, yes? I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

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Title: Yours Truly, Thomas
Author: Rachel Fordham
Pages: 320
Year: 2019
Publisher: Revell
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Oh, how I so enjoyed this novel! There is another novel set in the same town that is before this book titled, The Hope of Azure Springs. I didn’t read it before reading Yours Truly,

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Thomas and I was still thoroughly enraptured! I think each book is set in the same town and of course there are characters known by readers from book one, but they can stand alone.
I wasn’t sure by the picture on the cover if I would enjoy the story, but I was again reminded not to judge a book by its cover. Inside there are themes of forgiveness, compassion, courage to face the past and much more! Thomas is the lead male character who is running from his past and has run into much trouble, prolonging his stay in the town of Azure Springs.
The lead female character is Penelope or Penny, who works at the dead letter office. She isn’t to read the letters and get attached but just look for clues in the letters in the hopes of uniting them to the stated recipients. However, Penny has become attached deeply within her heart when she opens the first letter she sees written by Thomas. What he reveals of his heart I think is part of what captured hers, as she determines to bring happiness, as she views it, to the love of Thomas’ life. It’s what she didn’t expect and finds out that will grab the heart of the reader and pull them into the book even more!
The story isn’t all romance; there is mystery and intrigue, action and some laughter when you enjoy reading what Penny’s dog “Honey” does out in Azure Springs. Honey is a special dog and her antics made me laugh aloud at times! I hope you enjoy this trip into the fictional world of Azure Springs and the unique cast of people crafted to inhabit the small town. I plan on reading the first book in the series and I bet I am going to enjoy that tale as well! Will you join me?
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.

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**Special Note**
I received this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Fordham is a very good writer. The book is suitable for a Christian reader--so clean you could run a toothpick through it! The plot is great. I mean, I don't recall ever reading a book about working in the Dead Letter

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Office. It's a very unusual idea, but Ms. Fordham made it work. Imagine going through undelivered mail and spend hours trying to correctly redirect it to the right person. Today with all our advanced technology, it might seem easy-peasy, but back in the late 1800s, I'm sure it had its challenges!

Despite the many good things I have to say about this book, I found it hard to feel connected. This was not a gripping tale for me. I honestly have no desire to re-read it. It's a nice storyline, but there is nothing about this book that screams "Keep me."

Having said all this, I know that many Christian readers out there are always looking for another good clean read. This would definitely be suitable and I'm sure you may enjoy it far better than I did.

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In the 1880s, Penny works in the dead letter office where she becomes intrigued by letters written by Thomas to Clara. Penny decides to find this girl since obviously the letters weren't delivered because Thomas's words are so touching and sincere. I admire Penny's determination to find Clara and

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eventually Thomas, something I could see myself doing. I enjoyed the story as it unfolded and as a result, I read the book in a couple of days, even though I knew pretty much from the beginning how it would end. I didn't anticipate some of the details, however, which made for some interesting surprises. My only concern is that the parts of the plot seemed a little unrealistic. It's hard to imagine a young woman during this time period travelling alone to a completely unknown place. Things fell neatly into place once she arrives. The cynical part of me had a hard time wrapping my mind around that also at times. I enjoyed the story overall.

*I was given a copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.*

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We are back in Azure Springs, Iowa and have visits with former characters from The Hope of Azure Springs, and it is beginning to feel like home!
We first meet Penny when she is working in the Dead Letter Office, a different sounding job, and they are on the lookout for valuables to the delight of

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the Government, but she is drawn to a letter from a man she has yet to meet, Thomas.
Thomas is running from his past, but fate has placed him in Azure Springs, and he seems to like it here, but danger does lurk!
Now fate enters with bold moves by Penny, and these two are places together, and you will have to see if a relationship can take place between these two.
There are surprises here, and they keep unfolding right up to the end of this story, and you will be quickly immersed here. I for one would love to continue, and I thank the author for the epilogue!

I received this book through LibraryThing, and was not required to give a positive review.

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It is 1883. Suffering a reversal of fortune after her father’s death, Penny now works in the Dead Letter Office in Washington, D. C. Her mother is bitter, longing for the old days when they were part of the society scene. Penny is captivated by letters from someone called Thomas writing to Clara,

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letters that all end up in the Dead Letter Office. She decides that she must reunite these two people, whose love has been interrupted by something unknown to her. Thus begins Penny’s journey to Azure Springs, to find Thomas, and perhaps find a new direction in her own life. There is a bit of mystery in the tale, as well as some intrigue and adventure. There are strong themes of redemption and hope, and also of forgiveness and friendship. The characters are well developed, and the story is well plotted. The author does a very good job of describing the plight of a young working girl finding her way after suffering a loss as well illustrating the sorrow a young man brings on himself through his own selfish actions. Well written, this novel has much to commend it.

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Years ago I watched a series on the Hallmark channel about a group of people who worked in the dead letter office of the post office. Like the characters of that serie Penny Ercanbeck also works for the post office reading dead letters and trying to get the letters forwarded to the rightful owner.

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She works hard trying to support herself and her widowed mother. Life has gotten hard for her. They were used to so much more before father died. She is a cheerful woman trying to make the best of a bad situation. One particular letter touches her heart so she goes above and beyond the call of duty to find the owner of the letter. Will she find love in the process. A delightfu read!

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Have you ever wondered what happens to letters that can’t be delivered for some reason? Penny works at the dead end office opening mail that can’t be delivered hoping she can figure out where they really need to be sent to. I would love that job. Can you imagine the letters you may read of

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someone looking for a lost love? Penny takes her job serious and is determined that one such letter needs her extra care in delivering it to the rightful owner.

Thomas has poured his soul out to a woman in letters that reach Penny’s desk. They are moving and very personal which causes Penny to go the extra mile and find this woman. I think Penny was starting to have feeling for Thomas who she has never met. Going on an adventure Penny finds herself in the same town as Thomas.

Penny is a good character and I think she is looking for a purpose in her life and someone to love her. Maybe that is why she has started a friendship with Thomas. She knows his thoughts and has read his inner most struggles so perhaps she can help him forget about this woman he has been writing to.

There is a bit of mystery surrounding Thomas that I couldn't wait to find the answer to. Why did he keep writing this woman who it seems he has hurt emotionally? What dark secrets from his past is he running from? The author does keep my attention as she writes a story that is emotional and filled with danger. It is a great lesson in forgiveness and vengeance. Anger can cause someone to do things they wouldn't normally do. In this story the author does a great job showing what grief and anger can do to someone and it sure hit home for me.

Letter writing use to be the best way to correspond between people. Today we are all texting, emailing, leaving messages and losing that personal relationship by not writing our feelings down so so others can read them. I would love to get letters in the mail from people. Maybe someday we will pick up letter writing again and have words to cherish and keep.

I received a copy of this book from Librarything's Early Reviewers Program. The review is my own opinion.

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I enjoyed going back to Azure Springs in Yours Truly, Thomas. The residents of the town are welcoming to newcomers. It is like visiting old friends. Penny Ercanbeck works in the Dead Letter Office where they try to get letters to their intended destinations. She is particularly taken with love

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letters and dreams of having a man write to her one day. When Thomas’s letters to Clara come across her desk, they touch her heart. She feels like she knows Thomas and wants to help him. Penny ends up traveling to Azure Springs where she takes up residence in Margaret Anders yellow boarding house. What follows is a sweet story that will touch your heart. I thought Yours Truly, Thomas was well-written, and it progressed at a gentle pace. I enjoyed the letters that were interspersed throughout. Lettering writing is a lost art today which is such a shame. I remember looking forward to getting correspondence when I was younger (pen pals). Penny’s dog, Honeysuckle (aka Honey) is a sweetie who provides comfort to Penny as well as a listening ear. Honey’s antics in Azure Springs had me chuckling (and happy my dogs do not like mud). Penny’s first encounter with Thomas as well as her second provided plenty of giggles. I always enjoy a book that brings out a variety of emotions as did Yours Truly, Thomas. I like how Thomas’s backstory was slowly revealed. As I got to know him, I understood why God led him to Azure Springs and why Penny was sent to aid him. Friendship, understanding, love, forgiveness, grief, family drama, heartache and humor in one thoughtful, heartfelt story called Yours Truly, Thomas.

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I liked how differently this book started from many others. I loved the letters being a big part of this story. It was fun to learn a little story about how the dead letter office worked back in the past. I enjoyed reading about Penny and Thomas. These two characters each learned a lot of lessons

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when they made it to Azure Springs. I did a bit of laughing and crying through this book. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

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I absolutely loved this historical fiction book that is set in the 1800s in Azure Springs, Iowa and I enjoyed learning about the workings of the dead-letter office. I was vaguely familiar with this office in Washington, DC but I didn't realize the true efforts of the people who worked there in

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trying to get the mail to the intended recipients. The heroine of Yours Truly, Thomas is a clerk in the dead-letter office and she is especially diligent in finding the people for whom the mail was intended. One letter touches her especially and she travels to Azure Springs, Iowa so that she can make sure that Clara gets her letter from Thomas. What follows is a story filled with a little humor, some mystery and intrigue, and the realization that even though life doesn't always end up the way we thought, the results can offer happiness.
The letters written by Thomas to Clara, the letters exchanged between Thomas and Penny, and the letters that Penny writes to her friend Diana and to her own mother are all a reminder of a time when handwritten letters were the norm and certainly not the exception. I recall writing letters to my friends, to my cousins, and even to pen pals and this wonderful novel has helped me recall the excitement of receiving a lettter in the mail. I am so in love with Yours Truly, Thomas!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and I voluntarily chose to write this review.

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I have once again had the honor to work with Revell Books for a book tour ❤ @revellbooks⁣⁣
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Today's book is ⁣⁣
Yours Truly, Thomas ⁣⁣
By: Rachel Fordham ⁣⁣
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*Review* #bookreview ⁣⁣
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It's 1880

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something, and Penny is a young woman who unfortunately has experienced a major reversal of fortune. Now, she works at the dead letter office, where letters go when they can't be delivered. The clerks try to find the recipients of said letters. While I found Penny's job fascinating, I also felt such a sense of sadness. Opening other people's mail every day, seeing the great and terrible lives they have lived, while you just stand there opening more mail. I am sad for her. Thomas's letter, to an unknown Clara, is an adventure waiting to happen. What happened to Thomas and Clara? Penny decides to find out. Ultimately, she goes to find Thomas in Azure Springs. Now what? It's time for Penny and Thomas to piece this puzzle together. The rest, you can read for yourself! Penny is a sympathetic character, but she's also naive and much too dreamy about life in general. Some call her romantic, but it's more like a bit annoying. She needed more common sense. Thomas is sympathetic as well. He's forlorn and melancholy. I wanted good things for him because he's deserving. This story is about loss, love, breaking down then building back up. It's a great example of keeping faith for another chance, and the gifts given to us all, both in disguise and obvious. It's a don't give up, and keep hoping for better read with heart and charm.

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A very nicely done story! Set in the 1880s, this story gives an interesting glimpse into life in that time period. Working in the 'Dead Letter' office of the postal service, Penny's job is to try to help lost letters get to intended recipient. It's an interesting, but sometimes boring job. However,

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she can't help but get caught up in letters that Thomas sent to Clara. They are both heart-warming and heart-wrenching, and she wants to help them resolve whatever tore them apart, and get them back together. But she also yearns to have someone love her like Thomas loves Clara. So, against the rules of her job, she gets involved, and tracks down the home of Clara. What she discovers leads her to travel westward to meet Thomas, and the whole course of her life is changed. I enjoyed Penny's adventure and meeting the townspeople who came to be her friends. There are good people and bad, and both good and bad things happen!! But the story plays out to a satisfying ending.

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This story follows the adventure of a young women named Penny who is stuck working in a dead letter office because she doesn't see any other options. Unbeknownst to her though it is through her daily reading of letters that are bound for nowhere that her life takes an unexpected turn and plummets

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her into a life of discovery, danger and love. A letter from a man she doesn't know who is writing to a love he will never have sends her on a journey to a place called Azure Springs where she is able to find hope again and a promise of a future. This was an excellent novel. It flowed very smoothly and was successful at keeping my attention. I would like to see a sequel to this story.

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Oh, Rachel Fordham’s Yours Truly, Thomas is a gem. For any reader that enjoys swooning over a historical romance, this is a book for you.

As an employee of the Dead Letter Office, Penny Ercanbeck reads other people’s mail—at least, the letters that don’t reach their intended recipient. When

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she opens a letter from a brokenhearted man, her romantic side can’t help taking over, and she determines to find a way to fix what has been broken.

Yours Truly, Thomas begins as an unconventional romance, but it proves to be sweet and oh so heartwarming. I fell in love with Fordham’s characters and cannot wait to read more from her in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Thomas cannot help writing to his long-lost love Clara. However his letters never reach Clara, but they do reach penny in the dead letter office of the Postal Service. While Penny is told to forget Thomas and his letters, she cannot do so. Who is this man Thomas and why are his letters not being

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received by his love Clara? A believer in True love, Penny decides to find Clara and deliver her letters from Thomas. What will happen when Clara receives the letters from her long lost love Thomas? This was a great book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Thank you very much Library thing for sending me this book through the early reviewer‘s program.

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Penny is a young lady whose current fortunes have her working at the Dead Letter Office where she reads mail that cannot be delivered in the hopes of finding a way to redirect it. She is not to get involved but rather remain impartial. But when she reads the letters that Thomas writes to his love,

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Clara her romantic heart cannot help but try and bring them together. This sets her life on a path totally unexpected.

Yours Truly, Thomas is a well written historical romance that brings the reader back in time with a lovely plot and well contrived characters. It moves along at a good pace with plenty of twists to keep the reader's interest. It was a delightful escape to a different time with a satisying ending.

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