My Thoughts:

It’s been a little while since I’ve read a story based in an Appalachian setting, but every time I read one I remember how much I love them. A Chance for Kallie Mae is no exception and the way Gabhart takes your hand and slowly walks you through the house, the sass patch out back filled with goodies, and into the lingering woods behind the house, will have you settling into the same feeling. A book where the setting is as much the story as the characters are, transported me into my very own holler and set the stage for what I knew would be a beautiful story about perseverance.

Kallie Mae has had a difficult hand dealt her in life, but she’s weathered the storms proudly and boldly. Her mother passed away giving birth to Emmie who is now around seven and asked Kallie to take care of her. Her father, distraught in his own loss, essentially left Kallie to be the mother of the house and care for this new baby and raise her younger brother as well. That meant putting aside her own desires and wants, including the boy across the woods, Quinn. She’s convinced herself that he’s moved on and it’s for the better anyways considering the feud between their families. Spencers and Bertrams are only allowed to hate one another.

But a chance encounter brings Kallie and Quinn back together amidst the trees they spent their youth in and rekindles a love so deep neither of them can ignore it any longer. But they’re surrounded by danger because of this family feud and they have to figure out how to be together without ripping their families and themselves apart.

Quinn’s character is full of hope and optimism. He’s the rays of sunshine during the warm afternoons and Kallie’s constant concerns are always soothed in his presence. They really do complete one another and I loved how their affections were emotional and long lasting.

Kallie loves deeply, but she’s afraid to let her feelings for Quinn lose because she’ll never be able to bottle them back up. Plus, she’s got her little sister to raise and Emmie means the world to her. This little girl is amazing and my heart was broken into so many pieces for the pain she suffers in this story. She’s born with a large birthmark on her face and a lot of the townspeople whisper about her having the mark of the devil. This drives so many emotions for little Emmie and ultimately gets the best of her.

This book also features an amazing element related to education. In these parts, during this time, there was very little education for most people. The kids in the story only recently had a school house open up and are learning their letters and numbers. A wonderful woman overseeing the education system in the area makes it a point to start a school for all the adults to learn as well. This is a central piece of Kallie and Quinn’s story as well because they had always prayed about being able to go to school one day. Gabhart incorporates this element of hope into the story and reminds us that it’s never too late to do something we’ve always wanted to do.

A story filled with hope, perseverance, and a little prayer brings a town in feuding shambles to a place of revelation. It’s not an easy journey and there is danger, but there’s also a light at the end of that hard road if your heart can just hold on. I loved this story and can’t wait to read more from this author because of how much it stuck with me. I’m still mentally sitting down by the creek watching the crows bathe in the water.