A Dance in Donegal
A Dance in Donegal book cover

A Dance in Donegal

Hardcover – February 2, 2021

Price
$6.75
Format
Hardcover
Pages
352
Publisher
Revell
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0800739638
Dimensions
5.5 x 0.94 x 8.5 inches
Weight
1.31 pounds

Description

"Jennifer Deibel's debut is rich in atmosphere, family mystery, and sweet romance. A gem!" -- Julie Klassen , author of The Bridge to Belle Island All her life, Boston-born Moira Doherty has relished her mother's descriptions of the Emerald Isle. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira is compelled to fulfill her dying wish--that she become the teacher in Ballymann, the beloved village in Donegal, Ireland, she's heard so much about.After an arduous voyage, Moira begins a challenging new job in an unfamiliar and 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."With an authenticity born of having lived in Ireland herself, the author deftly paints a lush landscape, colorful customs, and memorable characters with personal journeys of their own. This impressive debut marks Jennifer Deibel as an author to watch."-- Jocelyn Green , Christy Award-winning author of Veiled in Smoke "Fans of Catherine Marshall's Christy will want to clear room on their favorites shelf because this one's earned a place alongside!"-- Kristy Cambron , bestselling author of The Paris Dressmaker and The Butterfly and the Violin Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher whose work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom , in Missions Mosaic magazine, and other publications. 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 www.jenniferdeibel.com. Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Award for Historical Romance) and The Lady of Galway Manor (a Parable Group bestseller). Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom , in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. 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 www.jenniferdeibel.com.

Features & Highlights

  • "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

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(119)
★★★★
25%
(99)
★★★
15%
(60)
★★
7%
(28)
23%
(91)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

I didn't put it down once I started reading

A Dance in Donegal is a Christian Historical Fiction novel by Debut
author Jennifer Deibel. Historical Fiction is a favorite genre of mine
and I always look forward to reading Debut authors, so I dove right
into the book.

The time is the 1920 and 1921.The setting begins in Boston and mainly
transpires in Ireland. Moira Doherty has grown up hearing all the
wonderful stories about Ireland from her mom. Moira makes a change
in her life when her mother passes away in 1920. Her mom had a wish
for Moira to get a Teaching Job in Ireland and Moira decides to honor
her mom by doing so. Moira arrives in Donegal Ireland, after some traveling
troubles, to begin her new life. She thought she would be welcomed with
open arms from the Townspeople, but she is not. She is hearing "whispers"
and rumors surrounding her Mom's past. She does have a small circle of
friends who are supporting her, and one is a "handsome" man by the name
of Sean. Moira is trying hard not to be deterred by the "rumors" as she
really wants to fulfill her mothers dream for her. Will there be a friendship
or something more between Sean and Moira? Will her mothers secret
be unraveled and will it send Moira back home to Boston? Ohhh, you will
need to grab this book and read it to find out!

WOW, such a FANTASTIC debut novel! I truly enjoyed reading A Dance
in Donegal. The setting was so serene. The characters all had a story
to tell and the author told their stories very well. The Christian aspect
is strong with lots of scripture and faith. I snuggled up with the book and
a cup of Tea and just devoured this book until I was finished reading. A book
that keeps my interest is a GREAT book!!