A Dance in Donegal

By Jennifer Deibel

Book Overview

"Deibel's descriptions of Ireland's landscape, enticing cuisine, sonorous language, and vibrant culture converge to form a spectacular background for the story."--BookPage starred review

All of her life, Irish-American Moira Doherty has relished her mother's descriptions of Ireland. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira decides to fulfill her mother's wish that she become the teacher in Ballymann, her home village in Donegal, Ireland.

After an arduous voyage, Moira arrives to a new home and a new job in an ancient country. Though a few locals offer a warm welcome, others are distanced by superstition and suspicion. Rumors about Moira's mother are unspoken in her presence but threaten to derail everything she's journeyed to Ballymann to do. Moira must rely on the kindness of a handful of friends--and the strength of Sean, an unsettlingly handsome thatcher who keeps popping up unannounced--as she seeks to navigate a life she'd never dreamed of . . . but perhaps was meant to live.

Jennifer Deibel's debut novel delights the senses, bringing to life the sights, sounds, smells, and language of a lush country and a colorful people. Historical romance fans will embrace her with open arms.

"God's redemptive love is the highlight of this debut work . . . Fans of historical Christian romances in the vein of Kristi Ann Hunter and Jen Turano will want to keep an eye on Deibel."--Library Journal

"Deibel's exemplarily executed debut is a touching tale of love and forgiveness that also beautifully captures the warmth and magic of 1920s Ireland. The author's flair for vivid characterization is especially striking in Moira, whose realistic struggles with her faith give her memorable depth and relatability."--Booklist

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800738411
• ISBN13: 9780800738419
• Release Date: February 2021
• Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Friendly but Stand-offish

A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel Moria's Irish mother has told of all of her happy adventures in Ireland when she was a girl. Her mother finds out there is an opening to teach school in the small village she came from and talked Moria into accepting the teaching position. Ireland is much wilder than Moria's old home in Boston. The people are friendly, but some are a little stand-offish and hard to get to know. Moria loves her teaching position, she's given a small chalet nearby, where she can peacefully live. There is trouble afoot. someone is trying to scare Moria away. It could be one of her students who has made her job harder, by being disrespectful to her, at school, and in public. Sean is a thatcher, he's lived his entire life in the village. He meets Moria on her first day in the village and liked her from that first moment. Engaging characters and original story, makes this be a wonderful title. Many thanks for the complimentary copy of #ADanceinDonegal from #netgalley with no obligation to post a review.