#NetGalley Book Review: Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham

This is a sweet historical romance.

Yours Truly, Thomas
by Rachel Fordham

File Size: 9546 KB
Print Length: 317 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800736338
Publisher: Revell (July 2, 2019)
ASIN: B07NDMW5C9
Genre: Christian, Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

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.

Review:
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 qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.