The Maid of Ballymacool

By Jennifer Deibel

Book Overview

"A slow-building, delicious romance wrapped in a mystery "--Erica Vetsch, author of the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries

Brianna Kelly has worked at Ballymacool House and Boarding School since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so . . . familiar.

When Brianna unearths an intriguing silver platter in the woods, she commits to learning its origins. Could the handsome newcomer hold the key? If so, their discovery could change everything.

"Deibel's update on the 'Cinderella' story features sympathetic, three-dimensional characters that readers will find easy to root for."--Publishers Weekly

"Deibel once again inventively draws on Ireland's fascinating history as inspiration for a compassionate and compelling sweet romance with a Celtic Cinderella-like flavor."--Booklist

"With rich language and historical detail, Deibel brilliantly emphasizes the story's central themes of love, faith, and redemption."--BookPage

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0800741749
• ISBN13: 9780800741747
• Release Date: February 2023
• Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Jennifer Deibel nails it again with another great story!!!

This is a review of the latest & upcoming by another of my historical fiction authors, Jennifer Deibel, titled "The Maid of Ballymacool," that will be released on Feb. 21, 2023. I love Jennifer Deibel's stories because they are set in Ireland, and this one is also set there as well. Ballymacool House, where the story takes place, was a real house, and there was a Boyd family who lived there, but the rest of the characters and story are all her own! One of the things I love about her writing is that she weaves her stories in real places, with real historical events which she thoroughly researches, with her own characters and narratives, and the result is a beautiful, real, and amazing story that I really don't want to end once I finish it!! That is exactly how I felt reading this book! I read it in 1 day, and when I read the last page, I really was sorry to see it end, as it really touched my heart because it was such a great story from beginning to end! Brianna Kelly, the maid at Ballymacool House boarding school for young girls, never has a minute to sit down, because she must do whatever the headmistress, Maureen Magee, orders her to do, because Ms. Magee found Brianna on her doorstep one day, and took her in all those years ago. It wasn't out of the kindness of her heart that Ms. Magee takes Brianna in, as she knows full well who Brianna is, but because she wants to get revenge for something that happened in her own past. So Ms. Magee treats Brianna like a slave, and keeps her real parentage a secret from her throughout the years, but now that Brianna is 20 years old, things are threatening to come completely unraveled for the headmistress, and she must do all she can to keep her dirty secrets, but sees no problem taking out her spite and hatred on Brianna. Brianna, on the other hand, knows no other life than Ballymacool House, and since this story takes place in 1935, Ireland, it is normal that a young orphan girl would find herself serving in the place where she grew up to earn her room and board, since her family is unknown to her. She has tried to make the best out if her life at Ballymacool House, and even though she knows Ms. Magee hates her, she just goes about her duties, trying not to rock the boat...but someone comes to the school that will do just that! Michael Wray, the heir to Castle Wray, finds himself on his way to Ballymacool House boarding school for ladies because his little 13 year old cousin, Adeline, who has taken a particular shine to him, is having troubles adapting to her new school as he is told, but is really causing havoc at the school, so his parents ask him to go and see if he can help her to settle down, and then report back to them. Being aristocracy, he has the power to do just that, and he hopes to get to the bottom of the problem with Adeline quickly, then get back to living his own life. Michael isn't like most of his aristocratic peers, as he is a kind and gentle man who doesn't think he is above everyone else, but this trip to Ireland may not be as fast as he hoped! When Michael arrives at Ballymacool House, he is greeted by the un-welcoming Ms. Magee, who runs the house as an absolute servant major, with rules and regulations aplenty, and who gives him the rundown on the real issues with his little cousin. She explains to Michael how Adeline, who comes from a rich and aristocratic family, looks down her nose at all the other girls, and has made no effort to befriend them at all, and Michael is sent by the family to deal with this problem. Michael, seeing a deep character flaw in his cousin, decides to stay at Ballymacool House, and work on helping Adeline to see things differently. But while Michael is helping Adeline, he meets Brianna, and immediately sees how she is horribly treated by Ms. Magee, and decides Adeline isn't the only one who needs his help! So Michael sets out to help make some changes to help Adeline adjust better, and along the way befriends Brianna