Margaret Deland

In this story from Margaret Deland, young Phillipa Roberts falls in love and decides to take matters into her own hands when her chosen beau is bashful about returning her ardent affection. But what she thinks is a harmless helper takes on a life of its own — and threatens to destroy the blossoming romance.

Set in the nineteenth century in a quaint community on the Ohio River, The Iron Woman is a romance novel that recounts the twists and turns of the courtship between teenage sweethearts Blair Maitland and Elizabeth Ferguson. There are a number of formidable obstacles that stand in their way — including the staunch disapproval of Blair's mother, a widowed iron magnate.

As lovestruck youngsters determined to make a life together, Letty Morris and Alfred Price made a daring runaway attempt in an effort to elope. However, their plan was dashed when a concerned clergyman informed their parents. Will their ill-fated love ever be revived?

In Margaret Deland's most popular novel, a sleepy little town finds itself rent asunder by religious controversy when hard-line Calvinist preacher John Ward begins praying publicly for the salvation of his independent, free-thinking wife, who harbors some rather unorthodox beliefs about Christianity.