Can a young woman living during the California Gold Rush find deliverance from her mother's abusive control and freedom to follow her heart? Eighteen-year-old Abigail Marie Clothier refuses to get married. Her passionate desire to teach children in a mining community nestled in the hills of northern California during the California Gold Rush empowers her to defeat formidable circumstances. Abby's mother threatens to disown her if she refuses to marry Senator Thomas Wyndham of Buffalo, New York. Is Abby's faith strong enough to conquer the fear that keeps her chained in emotional bondage and take bold steps to reclaim her life and independence? On her journey toward healing, she faces dangers inherent in traveling west by wagon train. She overcomes severe illness, Indian raids, near starvation, kidnapping, and the death of loved ones. Meeting the challenges of these hardships allows her to embrace both a satisfying career and the love of the man of her dreams. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 9.0px 'Adobe Devanagari'; color: #a11400} span.s1 {font: 11.0px 'Adobe Devanagari'} As an overseas missionary in two countries, Janie Rittenhouse worked outside the U.S. in the English Mail Department answering letters from listeners to Trans World Radio. She published devotional articles for several supporting churches and spoke at missionary conferences. She also earned a Master of Music degree from Western Michigan University and taught classroom music in public and private schools in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Mexico. Her varied work and living experiences provide a prolific background for writing fiction. Living in New Mexico for several years sparked Janie's interest in the romantic history of the area. Runaway Romance is her first historical romance in a series of books called Gold Rush Brides. Currently she resides in New Mexico with her husband, has two married daughters, and occasionally enjoys the company of two grandchildren. In addition to teaching private piano lessons in her home, Janie heads up the Nursery Department at a Baptist Church in New Mexico.