"Yours Truly, Thomas" by Rachel Fordham

 


At the Dead Letter Office, Penny is used to reading other people's mail. Her job is to read the undeliverable missives and see if there are clues to help her get the letters into the hands of their rightful recipients. In many ways she's grown used to reading everyone else's news and notes, but when the letters from Thomas begin arriving, they catch Penny's attention in a way that won't let her go.

Addressed to a woman named Clara, Thomas's notes are full of remorse and introspection. He speaks of how he longs for her and wishes things had turned out differently. Writing a couple times a week, Thomas's letters soon become the highlights of Penny's days, and she takes it upon herself to find Clara and reunite the two, certain that if Clara could only see Thomas's heart, she would be just as moved as Penny as been.

But things are not always as simple as they seem. And while Penny is in Washington, D.C., Thomas is in Azure Springs, IA, trying to establish a new life and forge a new identity from the man he once was. Azure Springs is mostly welcoming, but he comes up against some puzzling opposition that weaves a thread of danger throughout the story.

In many ways this is a simple and sweet historical fiction story. I felt at times the twists in the plot were rather contrived, and the dialogue unrealistic, keeping me from wholeheartedly enjoying the book. I would recommend this for fans of light fiction or stories of starting over. 

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.