It’s 1884 and the rise of the steel age in Pittsburgh. Delia Blackstone, who has just returned from two years at university, can’t figure out why she feels like she just doesn’t fit in at home. Her parents treat her as if she is a major disappointment to them, and they can’t wait to marry her off to a rich suitor — no matter his age.
But one day Delia receives some major news that shocks her to her core, unraveling everything she thought she knew about herself and sending her on a lone journey to Colorado.
During her travels, she meets the dashingly handsome Wyatt Davis, a self-proclaimed drifter who is heading to Alaska’s gold mines to make it big. As Delia and Wyatt each realize an attraction between them is growing, they must both determine where they would like life to take them.
“Delia and the Drifter” raises some interesting, thought-provoking topics, including knowing when it’s right and appropriate to obey one’s parents and elders; having and displaying the traits of kindness, strength and courage instead of traits like deception, cruelty and selfishness; pride versus prudence; knowing whom to trust; dealing with heartbreak and rejection; and learning that when God opens a new door, all you have to do is walk through it.
Carlson provides a great set of characters in “Delia and the Drifter” — many extremely likable, and some not so much. The book’s plot is also filled with many suspenseful moments and arcs, which I’m not going to spoil here — much of the plot comes as a surprise, so you’ll just have to read the book to find out for yourself. Even though it’s a nice, sweet romance, “Delia and the Drifter” has a bit of a “whodunnit” in it.
Also, I can’t wait to follow the story of Miranda, one of this book’s special characters, in “Miranda and the Miner.”
Five stars out of five.
The author provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“Delia and the Drifter” (Westward to Home series, #1) by Melody Carlson