The Letter Tree

by Rachel Fordham

Overview

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
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780840718563
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	10/31/2023
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishing
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	8,138
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Rachel Fordham is the author of Where the Road Bends, A Lady in Attendance, A Life Once Dreamed, The Hope of Azure Springs, and Yours Truly, Thomas. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters. She is a busy mom, raising both biological and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about). She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington. Learn more at rachelfordham.com; Instagram: @rachel_fordham; Facebook: @rachelfordhamfans.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'The Letter Tree is a little bit You've Got Mail and a little bit of Hallmark's Signed, Sealed Delivered and all sweet, immersive romance. Using delightful and beloved tropes to spin her own unique historical tapestry , Fordham's latest character-driven historical is destined to enthralled readers of Robin Lee Hatcher and Gabrielle Meyer.' —Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration and The Mozart Code — Rachel McMillan, Author

Editorial Reviews

Readers will enjoy Laura and Isaac's unique personalities at odds with the social expectations of 1920s Buffalo and its entertainments like flagpole-sitting and rolling over Niagara Falls in a barrel. A commercial subplot adds to the drama, and the beloved old elephant Big Frank adds to the charm.

Historical Novel Society

08/01/2023

In the 1920s, the Campbell and Bradshaw shoe companies are bitter rivals after their founding fathers fall out. Consequently, Laura Bradshaw and Isaac Campbell are raised to have no association with each other. Lonely after losing her mother and living with a distant father, Laura starts corresponding with an unknown author of letters that are hidden in a tree near her home. Several years pass with the letter correspondence being Laura's only source of comfort, so she begins dating her father's young business acquaintance even if he cannot compare to her anonymous correspondent. Meanwhile, Isaac unknowingly converses with Laura via the letter tree and believes that no woman will ever measure up to his mystery writer. Then Isaac and Laura meet, and their secret identities are eventually revealed. Although Isaac and Laura were raised to hate each other, years of heartfelt writing override their families' feud, and they resolve to discover what caused the rift. VERDICT Incorporating elements of Romeo and Juliet and You've Got Mail, Fordham's latest (after Where the Road Bends) will become a favorite for fans of romances with star-crossed lovers who still find their way to a happily-ever-after.—Eve Stano

Library Journal