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...
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reviews
Jun 10, 2010
Brenda
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 02, 2010
Molly
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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 fa 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 fa More...
Oct 12, 2010
Jodie
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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
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Oct 24, 2010
Camille
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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 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 More...
Sep 24, 2010
Kelli
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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-desc 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-desc More...
Oct 26, 2011
Rachel
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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
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Jul 22, 2010
Diane
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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 nee 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 nee More...
Jan 26, 2010
Mary (MrsBrownsFan)
rated it: 
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 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 More...
Sep 23, 2011
Cassandra
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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...
Jan 30, 2010
Lewestover
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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.
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Mar 13, 2010
Wade
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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.
Feb 11, 2010
Holly
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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.
Jan 26, 2010
Nanci
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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.
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Apr 20, 2010
Margaret
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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.
Feb 09, 2011
Cathy
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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
Oct 20, 2011
Lori
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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!
Sep 06, 2011
Brigitte
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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. :)
Feb 02, 2010
Mark
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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
Feb 03, 2010
Heidrun
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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.
Feb 06, 2010
Jan
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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.
Mar 01, 2010
Elise
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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. 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. More...
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Jan 27, 2010
Kara
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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.
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Feb 02, 2010
Regina
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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.
Jan 28, 2010
Katie
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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.
Jan 24, 2011
Amy
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Ah, yes, one of my secret guilty pleasures - very bad, cheesy Christian romance novels.
Feb 06, 2010
Karen
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I received this book free in a Goodreads First Reads drawing.
One of the reviews said it seemed geared toward 7th or 8th graders, which I agree with. It also seemed to have been written BY a 7th or 8th grader. Just did not care for the style or the storyline much at all. It was very predictable and redundant.
One of the reviews said it seemed geared toward 7th or 8th graders, which I agree with. It also seemed to have been written BY a 7th or 8th grader. Just did not care for the style or the storyline much at all. It was very predictable and redundant.
