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85th out of 151 books
—
127 voters
Kelly's Chance (Brides of Lehigh Canal #1)
Life for Kelly McGregor is a daily drudge of driving her overbearing father’s mules along Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Canal. She dreams of one day owning an art gallery where her own drawings and paintings are on display. But these dreams don’t include marriage. . .not after seeing what her father has done to her mother. How then can Mike Cooper, a general store owner, make her...more
Paperback, 218 pages
Published
January 1st 2010
by Barbour Books
(first published January 1st 2004)
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When I think of Wanda Brunstetter, I think Amish novels. But this one is not Amish, and even though I love the Amish novels that Wanda writes, this one was excellent! It is a wonderful historical novel about life in Pennsylvania and the struggles with living on the canal in the 1890's.
It is a relaxing and enjoyable story and I didn't want to put the book down. Reading the story of Kelly and her will-power to leave the poor and difficult childhood she had behind and of the man who falls in love...more
It is a relaxing and enjoyable story and I didn't want to put the book down. Reading the story of Kelly and her will-power to leave the poor and difficult childhood she had behind and of the man who falls in love...more
Kelly's Chance is the first in the Brides of Lehigh Canal Series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. The book is set in the late 1800's and based on the life of a girl who works on the canal for her father. Kelly is expected to do the work of two people and is not paid anything for her time. Her father has a short temper, especially after Kelly's sister, Sarah, took off to get married. Kelly promises herself that she will not get married because she sees her mom and dad in a working relationship, not a tru...more
Interesting story of canal life during the 1890's. Years ago my family took the canal boat ride in Coshoctan, Ohio. Having done that helped me visualize what life was like for the family in the book.
Itwas a hard life and Kelly has no hope of anything different in her future. But, Kelly is a beautiful artist and the young shop owner along the canal falls in love with Kelly. He is sure her art work is good enough to sell and offers to display her work in his shop. Kelly is attracted to Mike but h...more
Itwas a hard life and Kelly has no hope of anything different in her future. But, Kelly is a beautiful artist and the young shop owner along the canal falls in love with Kelly. He is sure her art work is good enough to sell and offers to display her work in his shop. Kelly is attracted to Mike but h...more
Kelly's Chance is the first book in the Brides of Lehigh Canal series, and the first book I've read by Wanda E. Brunstetter.
I have to admit, this wasn't my favorite book ever. I'm really into this general genre, but this book did not really speak to me very much. It's almost hard to put into words exactly what I didn't enjoy about this book. I found it slow-going, hard to get into and I really didn't feel much connection with the characters or care much if they ended up together or not. I think...more
I have to admit, this wasn't my favorite book ever. I'm really into this general genre, but this book did not really speak to me very much. It's almost hard to put into words exactly what I didn't enjoy about this book. I found it slow-going, hard to get into and I really didn't feel much connection with the characters or care much if they ended up together or not. I think...more
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I like to mix up my paranormal, YA, mystery, and historical fiction books with some Christian fiction from time to time. When I saw Kelly's Chance on NetGalley, I thought it sounded like the perfect foil for my heavier reads of late. I was right.
Kelly's Chance was the epitome of Christian romance: an unassuming heroine, a young man in search of a Christian wife, and their journey from casual acquaintances to something more. The feelings between the two were tender and well-described. This book...more
Kelly's Chance was the epitome of Christian romance: an unassuming heroine, a young man in search of a Christian wife, and their journey from casual acquaintances to something more. The feelings between the two were tender and well-described. This book...more
Aug 15, 2011
Rachel Brand
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
borrowed-from-lynne,
heartsong,
romance,
wanda-brunstetter,
historical,
christian,
2011,
amish-group-reads
Wanda E. Brunstetter is a very popular author in the Christian market, particularly when it comes to Amish and historical fiction, but I'm afraid I just don't see the appeal. This is the third book of hers that I've read and I must be missing something because I simply find her plots predictable and her characters one-dimensional. I feel like I'm being cruel, but there was very little that pulled me into this story and made me want to keep reading. I enjoyed learning about the canal and Kelly's...more
Great short love story. I enjoy the fact that it is a Christian romance. It isn't very enthralling--where I couldn't put the book down--and I knew the characters would end up together; however, it was a nice journey seeing how they grew to love each other and how they relied on the Lord to bring to pass His will.
Quotes I enjoyed:
p. 176 where Mike was reading Hebrews 10:35-36: "Cast not away...your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye hav...more
Quotes I enjoyed:
p. 176 where Mike was reading Hebrews 10:35-36: "Cast not away...your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye hav...more
I won this on Goodreads and can't wait to read it! I was especially excited to hear about it because I grew up in an area near the Lehigh Canal, so the history in this book will be meaningful for me.
ETA: I read this entire book in a couple of hours today and found it very enjoyable. The characters were very likable, and the historical background was very interesting. In a way, it had a bit of a Little House on the Prairie feeling to me, even though it is not a children's book and it does not tak...more
ETA: I read this entire book in a couple of hours today and found it very enjoyable. The characters were very likable, and the historical background was very interesting. In a way, it had a bit of a Little House on the Prairie feeling to me, even though it is not a children's book and it does not tak...more
I was a bit disappointed when I found that most of Brunstetter's books are classified as "romance" at the library... but I really enjoyed her writing style in Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club so I wanted to read more of her books. I had always thought that the romance genre was all corny, racy and nasty... but I decided to give this a go. I'm so glad that I did! No over-the-top drama (one thing I love about Brunstetter) and nothing raunchy... just true Christian romance :)
Where was the plot? I feel like the author was completely focused on her characters and forgot to include a plot. The character development wasn't satisfying. Did either of the main characters have a flaw? Mike tries to rush Kelly's feelings. Is that a flaw? Kelly assumes all men are like her father: overbearing and selfish. Is that really a flaw? At least there was no cheesy conversion scene...
I had planned on reading all three books in this series. But I just can't do it. I like Wanda Brunstetter's books, but this series is definitely not her best. But what I learned about the Lehigh Canal system was fascinating (thus the 3 star rating). In fact it has intrigued me enough that I have added the National Canal Museum as a place to visit with B in the near future.
Although the story line was interesting, I was disappointed in the character development in this book. I guess I had expected more from an author as well known as Wanda Brunstetter. The heroine went too fast from "man/marriage hating" to "yes, I will marry you". The book is not bad -- it just didn't have the depth I like.
I love Wanda Brunstetter's Amish books and have read most of them. This book was about life on the Lehigh Canal Navigation System in the 1890's. It was a nice story but there wasn't much excitement and it moved a little too slow for my liking. It was an easy read though.
This story is a simple story along the lines of Little House on the Prairy. The book takes place in the late 1800's about a joung woman struggling with growing up and falling in love. The book is a quick read.
This is a book that I won on "First Reads." I think that it is more fit for a teenage audience. I found it to be a little cheesy at times. However, I did find it interesting reading about life along the Lehigh Canal in Pennsylvania in the late 1800s...especially Kelly's job to drive her father's mules as they pull the boatloads of coal to various cities.
This book was very slow and predictable. The reading level would be for a 7th or 8th grader, took me a day to read. Did not like any of the characters. Description of Lehigh Canal was good.
Likeable characters, interesting book. Overall, I enjoyed it very much--even though it is not the kind of book I usually read (psychological thrillers). Liked the change of pace though.
A; Read the second book first, but this was still easy to follow. It looks like Wanda uses the same characters throughout the series but the focus of each book was on a different girl. Another easy to listen uplifting Christian story
This was a good book. It is different from most of the books I have read by Wanda. I have read several of her Amish novels and enjoyed them. This is not an Amish novel but is a good read!
This book dragged on for a long time. Perhaps it was the nature of the setting for the book and perhaps it's the author's style of writing. Nice ending though. :)
A Cinderella story. Two people brought together by strong religious believes and disires to achieve what is in their hearts and minds. Two thumbs up. Must read
Kelly's Chance by Wanda Brunstetter is a great book. I couldnt put it down. There is a little of Kelly McGregor in all of us. I cant wait to read book #2.
This book showed the interesting way that people lived in days gone by. A religious undertone with yout being pushy. I enjoyed it very much.
I won this, so 'yay' for that.
Honestly though, I didn't really enjoy it all that much though... Sorry! but it was sorta boring...
EDIT: Re-read it. Here's the skinny on why I didn't think much of this book:
The author did the whole "told, not shown" bit. I was TOLD Kelly and Mike liked each other. I was TOLD that her dad was mean and didn't think much of her painting. I was TOLD of the 'annoyingness' of that other girl. I wasn't SHOWN anything. There was not enough description, I think. Fleshing...more
Honestly though, I didn't really enjoy it all that much though... Sorry! but it was sorta boring...
EDIT: Re-read it. Here's the skinny on why I didn't think much of this book:
The author did the whole "told, not shown" bit. I was TOLD Kelly and Mike liked each other. I was TOLD that her dad was mean and didn't think much of her painting. I was TOLD of the 'annoyingness' of that other girl. I wasn't SHOWN anything. There was not enough description, I think. Fleshing...more
I won this book on good reads. What can I say? It was ok. So very predictable on the outcome. Reading level is for a much younger reader. i will recommend it for my 9th grade daughter. Feels like a made for tv movie for the Christian network channel. I read this in 3 hours.
Dove into this book, and finished within a day. I loved Kelly and Mikes' story. I didn't want to put it down. Thanks Goodreads.
Good short read. Kept my attention. Non stressful. Good read for when real life IS stressful.
This was a very interesting book, it really gave the reader a good glimpse of what it was like for those working along the canal and how difficult life could be. Of course, the love story was nice, and the happy ending made the book very enjoyable.
Ah, yes, one of my secret guilty pleasures - very bad, cheesy Christian romance novels.
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A nationally recognized authority on the Amish community, Wanda E. Brunstetter has seen her book sales over the two million mark. Wanda enjoys an uncommon kinship with the Amish and continues to visit their communities throughout the country. Her books have won numerous awards and topped several bestselling charts."
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