Tame the Restless Heart

This is a historical romance, and was a doubleday book club selection. Description from the book back cover: Laura Purcell is a 25-year-old innocent who lives with her tyrannical father and submissive mother in a California religious community. When a traveling actor, Nickolas Orlando, befriends Laura, she throws caution to the wind and marries him. Nickolas is handsome, charming, and well-intentioned - but a rake. The couple seems to be doing well, but when one of Nickolas's affairs results in pregnancy, he flees leaving Laura destitute. Fortunately, Laura has learned a few things while helping the theater troupe, and eventually becomes a top executive with the venerable Barnum & London Circus. That's when Nickolas reappears and threatens Laura with a secret that could destroy all she holds dear.