A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel: Book Review with Revell Reads

About the book
Title: A Dance in Donegal
Author: Jennifer Deibel
Genre: Historical christian romance
Release date: February 2, 2021

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.

About the Author

Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher whose work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at http://www.jenniferdeibel.com.

Book Review:

What a great read. The characters were interesting and the Ireland setting really had that authentic feel that I love to experience. Moira and Sean didn’t have the best of beginnings, which made their journey together exciting and funny as they learned each other’s dance of sarcasm. Moira’s history is sparse, and having the bit of mystery burrowing through the story kept the pace on point and drew the characters together. I loved the faith message and the growth Moira and Sean experienced through their troubles. I honestly worried that Moira would not have her happily ever after. I was so invested in the story, I couldn’t put it down. Everything seemed to conspire against Moira, to the point I wished I could jump into the story and be her friend. Excellently done. I received a copy of the book from RevellReads. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.