Discover A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. Gabhart – a heartwarming Christian historical romance set in 1911 Kentucky where childhood sweethearts, forbidden love, and the hope of moonlight schools collide amid a bitter family feud.
In this inspiring story of second chances and quiet courage, Ann H. Gabhart brings to life the power of education, forgiveness, and rediscovering love when it feels long buried. Perfect for fans of clean Christian fiction and heartfelt historical romance, this novel reminds readers that God can redeem our deepest dreams—even when family expectations and old wounds stand in the way. If you love stories rich in Appalachian history, friends-to-more romance, and faith-filled encouragement, you won’t want to miss Kallie Mae’s journey.
Meet Ann Gabhart
Ann H. Gabhart has been crafting heartfelt stories since she was ten years old, when she first wrote a mystery starring herself as the clever detective. A true country girl at heart, she lives on a farm in Kentucky and draws deeply from its rich history, landscapes, and people for her novels. Her books weave together romance, family relationships, and just the right touch of mystery, always pointing readers toward hope and faith.
Fun Fact: I am a country girl through and through. I walk out on my farm with my dog every day and love feeling close to nature as I hear the birds, feel the sun, rain or snow, and watch the deer leap and run off across the fields. Sometimes, I take my characters with me on those walks and ponder their next moves or motivations to help me get the words flowing when I’m back at my keyboard.
About the Book: A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann Gabhart
What This Story Is About?
What happens when childhood dreams of love and learning clash with a generations-old family feud?
She believed her dreams were buried until one is rekindled, but the other threatens to cost her everything she loves.
Kallie Mae Bertram has harbored two dreams since childhood: to learn to read and to one day marry Quinn Spencer. But her first dream slipped away when her little sister died of a fever and her mother passed in childbirth. Kallie promised to care for the baby and her younger brother, which meant putting aside her own desires in order to keep her family together. But then a moonlight school for adults offers Kallie hope of finally fulfilling that goal.
After Kallie’s father forbids her from seeing Quinn, her second dream seems impossible until her frantic search through the woods for her missing sister leads to an unexpected encounter with Quinn—their first meeting in six years. The love they shared as children burns stronger than ever, awakening hopes Kallie thought were forever buried. But with their families locked in a bitter feud, following her heart could cost Kallie everything she’s worked to protect.
Tropes & Themes
Friends to more (childhood sweethearts reconnecting after years apart)
If you’re searching for uplifting Christian romance that blends sweet second-chance love with powerful themes of education, family redemption, and faith, A Chance for Kallie Mae delivers a heartfelt escape. Ann H. Gabhart masterfully shows how God can redeem broken dreams and mend old wounds through courage, kindness, and quiet persistence. This inspiring Christian fiction story reminds us that hope and love can bloom even in the hardest seasons. Perfect for fans of clean historical romance who crave authentic Kentucky settings and stories that linger with encouragement long after the final page.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Ann: Kallie Mae has a strong feeling of responsibility to her family since her mother died in childbirth when Kallie was thirteen. That tragedy kept her from being able to attend the new school being built close to her. She still desperately wants to know how to read but thinks she’s too old to have a chance for schooling now.
She also has put off any thoughts of love or marriage since she feels so tied to caring for her younger brother and especially her little sister, the baby her mother died bringing into the world. When a school for adults opens up, her dream of learning to read becomes a reality, but her chance for love seems lost when she is faced with an impossible choice.
What is the heart of the romance in this story?
Ann: When children, Kallie Mae Bertram and Quinn Spencer, met in the woods to have fun exploring and talking about anything and everything while praying a school would open close enough for them to walk to it and have the chance for education. They kept their meetings secret because their families were in a feud that went back to the War Between the States when one family supported the South and the other the North. More has happened since to keep the feuding fresh between the families.
When Kallie’s mother dies and Kallie has the responsibility of caring for her baby sister, she can no longer slip away to meet Quinn. Plus, her father forbids her to have anything to do with a Spencer. Years pass with no contact between the two, but when they have a chance meeting in the woods where they once met, long buried feelings awaken again in a love now between adults instead of children. The family feud and their fathers’ hatred for each other stand in their way. Definitely, friends to more after six years of trying to forget their young love when they last met at ages thirteen and fifteen.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Ann: I want readers to embrace the joy of reading and consider what a privilege it is to have schools and teachers with a desire to make sure no one misses out on education. What we take for granted – the chance to go to school – was once not available to some who lived in remote areas. One woman’s desire (Cora Wilson Stewart) to eliminate illiteracy in a Kentucky County led to thousands of adults learning to read all across the country. I also hope readers will feel the strength and healing of family relationships when people are willing to put aside differences.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Ann: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) I always put a Scripture reference whenever I autograph one of my books. I try to pick one that relates to the theme of the story. In this story, Kallie Mae’s little sister, Emmie, has a birthmark on her face that leads some to make unkind remarks about her.
While Kallie Mae hopes for kindness toward Emmie when she starts school, that doesn’t always happen. Emmie has to find ways to forgive when she is the brunt of rude taunts and to be thankful for the kindness she also encounters. I like to believe there are more of us with the desire to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving than those who are not, but we all need the Lord’s help to keep those kind feelings uppermost in our minds.
About the Author
ANN H. GABHART has been called a storyteller. With 40 published books, the title fits. Ann wraps her stories around Kentucky historical times. She’s written about Shakers, explored unique Kentucky settings for stories like The Pursuit of Elena Bradford and The Song of Sourwood Mountain, and mined her family history for Angel Sister, Scent of Lilacs, and more. For her new release, A Chance for Kallie Mae, Ann heads back to the Appalachian area in 1911 to share about the first Moonlight Schools that gave adults a chance to learn to read. Ann keeps her keyboard warm on her Kentucky farm where her dogs, Frankie and Marley, make sure she gets plenty of exercise.
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories, honest author interviews, exclusive giveaways, and the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
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In Becca Kinzer’s laugh-out-loud Christian romantic comedy Not What We Pictured, a perfectly planned proposal goes hilariously wrong and strands a determined photographer at a charming Tennessee bed and breakfast, where unexpected romance, family healing, and a reminder of God’s treasured identity await.
Meet Becca Kinzer
Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois, where she’s worked as an ICU nurse for over twenty years. After handling plenty of real-life stress and drama on the job, she pours her energy into writing lighthearted romantic comedies that bring laughter and heart to readers. A classic-movie lover, she weaves in subtle nods to old films and actors throughout her stories.
Fun Fact: I used to be a runner and completed a couple of marathons back in my twenties. Even though I don’t run anymore, the lessons in perseverance I learned on those long miles still shape and inspire my creative life every day.
About the Book: Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer
What happens when a well-meaning sister tries to create the perfect marriage proposal… and everything goes hilariously wrong?
McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She’s spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She’s ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister’s boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best-laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right?
Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom’s bed and breakfast is struggling and there’s a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn’t have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska.
With the ring nowhere to be found, all McKenna can do is wait and use the time to build her portfolio and plan her next career move. But she also can’t help getting swept up in Nate’s bed and breakfast renovations and in planning a community concert with the townsfolk. As both await news of Nate’s suitcase, it begins to seem their serendipitous meeting, and the proposal gone wrong, could actually be everything going right . . . and that this may be their chance at a love neither could have pictured.
If you’re craving Christian fiction that delivers big laughs alongside genuine heart, Not What We Pictured is pure delight. Becca Kinzer’s warm, witty voice makes you feel right at home in a story that celebrates God’s treasure in every person—no matter their background or past mistakes. This Christian romance blends lighthearted fun with deeper themes of forgiveness, identity in Christ, and second chances, making it perfect for fans of clean, feel-good contemporary romance. You’ll laugh, root for McKenna and Nate, and walk away reminded that God sees us as His beloved—no performance required.
Author Interview: Behind the Scenes
What inner struggle drives your main character(s)?
Becca: At the beginning of the story McKenna is simply trying to help her younger sister have a perfect marriage proposal experience. But like a lot of my stories, that simple endeavor soon turns into a comedy of errors. Interwoven in the chaos, however, are themes of forgiveness and learning where our true sense of identity comes from, especially when complicated family dynamics are involved.
What is the heart of the romance?
Becca: I’d say the heart of this romance is how a false first impression can still eventually lead to true love. McKenna and Nate’s personalities initially clash at the beginning, but as they’re thrown together in forced proximity and soon find themselves working together to repair a bed and breakfast, they discover they have a lot more in common than they originally thought.
What do you hope readers carry with them?
Becca: I hope readers have a blast reading this story and are reminded that God absolutely treasures them no matter what their background or upbringing looks like.
What Bible verse encouraged you during this story?
Becca: All of Psalm 139 comes to mind, but especially verse 13 when I think about my character McKenna in this story. Since she was adopted, she questions whether she’s as valued as her sister, who was their parents’ biological daughter. I love how this verse reminds us that we are all cherished and special to God. As a writer I can sometimes be tempted to base my worth and value on sales, reviews, contest wins, and so forth. But this chapter and verse is such a great way to ground myself back in God’s love.
About the Author Becca Kinzer lives in Springfield, Illinois, where she works as a critical care nurse. When she’s not busy taking care of sick patients or using up all the storage on her phone with pictures of her dog, she enjoys making up lighthearted stories with serious laughs. She is the author of multiple titles including Dear Henry, Love Edith, which won the 2024 Carol Award for debut novel. Not What We Pictured is her fourth novel.
Hosted by Kelly Jo Wilson, the Christian Romance Book Nook is your cozy, faith-filled corner of the internet for Christian romance. Kelly connects readers with uplifting stories and honest author interviews. She shares exclusive giveaways and celebrates the joy of knowing you’re never alone in your love for clean romance focused on Jesus.
Come join our growing community, new friends, new books, and plenty of bookish encouragement are always waiting for you!
Join the Christian Romance Book Nook Community
Want early access to Christian fiction author interviews, new releases, and exclusive book giveaways?
In this episode, Kelly chats with Heidi McCahan about her new book A Winter of Sweet Secrets, a Christian romance set in Alaska, and writing through seasons of uncertainty—and how God’s timing, even when confusing, is always right. Heidi opens up about her Alaskan childhood, the ministry impact of her family’s roadside café, and the publishing whirlwind that led her to sign nine book contracts in a single week. From the heart behind A Winter of Sweet Secrets to the behind-the-scenes reality of writing for both Love Inspired and Sunrise Publishing, Heidi shares candid insights, encouragement for aspiring authors, and powerful reminders about trusting God’s plan even when it’s not on our preferred schedule.
Heidi is a bestselling author of uplifting Christian romance set in small towns with big heart. With multiple published titles through Love Inspired and Sunrise Publishing, Heidi crafts hope-filled stories that reflect God’s grace in everyday moments. Originally from Alaska and now living in North Carolina, she’s a wife, mom of three, and a goldendoodle’s favorite human—often found with a good cup of coffee and a book that ends in happily ever after. Visit HeidiMcCahan.com
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Heidi McCahan’s New Book: A Winter of Sweet Secrets
“A sweet and heartfelt story of family, forgiveness, and finding love in unexpected places. With charming characters and a small-town Alaskan backdrop, A Winter of Sweet Secrets delivers a delicious mix of romance, resilience, and a dash of mystery that will keep readers turning pages long into the night.” –RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author
What will it take to save her family’s candy company…and end a decades-long feud?
For generations, the Evergreen Candy Company has been a beloved small-town Alaskan tradition run by Jovi Wright’s family—until now. With her grandparents no longer at the helm, Jovi’s parents are considering selling it. When her sister calls with the news, Jovi hops on a plane back home to help rescue the family business. Her plan: launch Grammie’s salted caramel chews as a new product. But with Grammie’s memory fading and the recipe missing, Jovi has her work cut out for her.
Still reeling from being jilted by her fiancé, Jovi welcomes the distraction of trying to re-create the recipe from scratch. The distraction she’s not so sure about is single dad Burke Solomon. The disillusioned author and his adorable little girl have moved in to his late aunt’s cabin just down the road from her grandparents’ home, where she’s staying. And the discovery that their families have been feuding since before either of them were born is too irresistible to ignore.
With a looming deadline and the stresses of single parenthood, the last thing Burke needs is a bright-eyed optimist like Jovi next door. But he finds himself asking for her help adjusting to life in Evergreen more than he’d like to admit. And untangling the history of what happened to the friendship between his late aunt and Jovi’s Grammie provides an antidote to his writer’s block. But when Burke unearths several shocking family secrets, will revealing them settle the feud or bring everything he and Jovi have been working toward crashing down around them?
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me during the Kickstarter! I’m so grateful for you!
Finding Forevermore is available today!
Her family secrets. His guilt. One road trip that changes everything.
Raven Cunningham has built a quiet life between the shelves of a small-town bookshop, ghostwriting stories for others while hiding her own. She’s long believed her father abandoned her, until a letter from her late grandmother reveals a shocking truth.
Convinced the reclusive author J.C. Nevermore is her father, Raven sets out to uncover the real story. When her childhood friend Cole Walker, a former Army medic wrestling with his own scars, offers to help, she’s not sure if she can trust him . . . or herself.
As they chase clues and revisit old memories, what begins as a search for answers becomes a journey toward something deeper.
Finding Forevermore is a heartfelt story about faith, family, and the kind of love that’s anchored in God’s unfailing grace.
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