About the Book

Book: Delia and the Drifter

Author: Melody Carlson

Genre: Historical Romance (Western)

Release date: February 15, 2021

An arranged marriage to save the family from ruin?

Delia Blackstone knows what her mother is up to—she intends to marry her off to an older man who is all fortune and no future. And Delia’s having none of it.

When a mysterious visitor appears on the family doorstep and offers an opportunity for Delia to travel from Pennsylvania to Colorado, Delia knows it is time for her to strike out on her own and discover a new life. Along the way she encounters a handsome drifter who captures her heart. But is he interested in trading his exciting life of adventure for love?

Two murders, a missing will, and a number of puzzling relationships are enough to unsettle anyone—even smart, capable Delia. Who can she trust? And can she trust her heart in matters of love?

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Review:

Rebelling against the life laid out for her by her mother and stepfather, Delia takes her life into her own hands by boarding a train and heading west to reunite with her estranged father. Upon arrival she finds that her father has died, and herself thrust into ranch life, with a rivalry with a step-sister she never knew existed as she fights for her claim to her father's legacy.

I liked how Delia rolled up her sleeves and dove right into ranch life, getting to know the staff, and her father through the words of the ones who worked alongside him. She is an intelligent and capable woman, yet she did tend to be too trusting, trusting people who had already proved themselves to be unworthy of that trust. I enjoyed her friendship with Caleb, and how she finds ways to stand up for herself, though I wish that Wyatt had been more present in the main body of the story.

Overall, I loved the Colorado ranch setting of the story, but I felt that some aspects were predictable, and I just wanted to stop Delia from walking right into it. But as a whole it was an entertaining western adventure, filled with drama, faith, romance and mystery, with interesting characters and new beginnings.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.

More from Melody

I love historical stories about women. Particularly ones in the American frontier and old west. Probably because I grew up hearing pioneer stories from my grandparents, whose parents arrived in covered wagons. But contributions made by pioneering females is often overshadowed by their male counterparts. That’s why I enjoy researching and telling these fictional yet reality-based stories of women who lived and loved and did their part to settle the frontier. To me they are the unsung heroes of the West.