The Runaway Bride

At a time when preserving the family fortune hinged on marrying into a family with a fatter bank account, Annalise Sinclair and Daniel Miller find themselves pawns in their fathers' schemes. Each man is secretly on the brink of financial ruin and hopes the other's fortune will save him. Romantic sparks light the way as their children head west to follow their dreams--Dan to build a railroad cattle spur that will connect the eastern U.S. to the West, and Annalise to set up practice (no one in 1869 New York will have a woman doctor). A few glitches along the way (a train derailment, a series of accidents allowing Annalise to demonstrate her physician's skills) slow their westward progress. The lack of conflict between the characters contributes to this novel's rather bland feeling. Chastain (The Last Dance) compensates by offering a well-researched look into 19th-century medical procedures. (July)