The Letter Tree

By: Rachel Fordham

Narrated by: Kira Fixx

Romeo and Juliet meets You’ve Got Mail in 1920s New York when hidden letters change everything for two lost souls and the community around them.

Seven years ago, a letter left inside a tree brought Laura Bradshaw an anonymous friend who helped her navigate the tragic loss of her mother and gave her something to look forward to despite the overbearing hand of her father. Life would be far bleaker, if not for her beloved Letter Tree, her dear friend, and her secret trips to the Buffalo Zoo. But even these rays of light are threatened when her father decides to play matchmaker in order to further his business goals.

When Isaac Campbell learns that his letter friend is destined to court another, he balks at the suggestion and begs her to break her rule of namelessness and meet him. Her words have endeared her to him, he’s ready to fall at her knees and beg her to choose him—that is until he sees her face. The stranger he’s become so attached to is not a stranger . . . but the only daughter of his family’s sworn enemy.

Can the grown children of feuding parents bridge the chasm between them? Or is the divide too deep—and too wide?

• Historical romance with a forbidden love story
• Stand-alone novel set in the 1920s

©2023 Rachel Fordham (P)2023 Thomas Nelson

Loved it!

Oh so good. Forbidden love, secret pen pals, mystery, and healing made this book by Rachel Fordham one you don’t want to miss. The characters felt real with real problems and real solutions, with real growth. I loved being transported back to the early 1920s and getting a better feel of what life was like then.

If you want a great historical romance to read, then I highly recommend this book.

letter-writing romance with flawed but growing characters, challenging us to be better

I didn’t know I needed this book right now. My weary heart and mind didn’t want anything too dark. Yet, I was craving something of substance. Enter a gentle, letter-writing romance with flawed but growing characters, challenging us to be better.

I enjoyed the coming of age aspects of the two main characters yearning to go beyond family expectations. This showed up in many realms but especially in deliberately choosing to no longer participate in hate.

This being a mash up of Romeo and Juliet with You’ve Got Mail, broad strokes of the plot are easily predictable. However, the way in which this would play out and the the life given to the characters by the narrator, kept me curious about the specifics.

The writer easily includes many historical elements and details to add interest to the 1920s Buffalo NY setting. The characters are also well written and grounded in that setting.

The narrator effortlessly switched from character to character making the story not only easy to follow, but making it come alive. The emotional portrayal for each character was very clear and dynamic. I was along for the ride and in the moment with them. The attitudes heard at times and in some voices (especially cheeky or wry comments) were so spot on that I chuckled out loud cheering them on.

This was a wonderful listen! The story was well written, but the narration drew me in. It was thought-provoking, yet heart warming, an overall enjoyable and worthy listen.

What a Wonderfully Told and Touching Story!

I loved the story and also loved the narration. The narrator's voice fit perfectly and made the story come alive so sweetly. I highly recommend this book for all those who love a gentle romance with just the right touch of suspense and drama.

A fun mash up of two beloved story classics.

This novel is a mix of The Shop Around the Corner (aka You've Got Mail) and Romeo and Juliet. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but the characters were so endearing I continued reading and soon couldn't put the story down. If you enjoy heart warming stories with rich descriptions, and characters you root for, this novel is for you.

As a Christian novel, the faith thread is very light. The kissing is elegantly written and the action (violence) is minimal.

All in all, I highly recommend this Christian historical romance. Rachel Fordham continues to be one of my favorite authors.

This Author- my new favorite!

A fresh take of a historical fiction that is clean and so interesting! I love the well developed characters, the plots, the animals and nature- everything!

The Letters

I found the book very lovely. Love the story behind the romance and how the found love.

The story line could result have happened families fund all the time.

Nothing felt wrong the pieces fit perfectly. I really enjoyed it and could not put it down.

two shoe companies ,letter

loved all of it! sad nothing was true, hope you keep writing for years to coome

Sweet story

This is a sweet story. Romeo and Juliet meets You’ve Got Mail is a perfect description.

Clean and fun novel

Rachel is a fantastic author that engaged my wife and I to want to continue listening more and more as we were driving down the road. It wasn’t over predictable and was very clean but kept romance alive very well. I would strongly recommend this book!