A Dance in Donegal

A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel has Moira Doherty traveling to Ballymann, Ireland to teach. Her mother had made the arrangements before she passed. Some of the townspeople welcome Moira to her mother’s hometown, while others shun her and eye her suspiciously. Moira has a feeling that there is something about her mother’s past that she failed to disclose. Soon Moira has a group of close friends and Sean McFadden, the handsome thatcher, has caught her eye. Will her mother’s secrets, though, mess up Moira’s new life? A Dance in Donegal captures the beauty of Ireland. You can tell Jennifer Deibel loves Ireland from her beautiful word imagery. The Gaelic words and Irish customs helped to capture the locale. Moira Doherty was a naïve young woman when she began her journey. I liked the growth she experienced. I also enjoyed the cast of colorful characters. I like how the author described Moira’s emotions (very realistic). God, faith, scripture, and prayer are incorporated into the story. Moira brought her troubles to the Lord through prayer. She relied on Him for comfort and guidance. The romance was sweet and heartwarming. I was glad that the author added the mystery into the story because it gave it additional depth. A Dance in Donegal is a charming debut novel.

A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel is a fantastic debut novel! The story follows American Moira Doherty on a journey to her mother’s hometown of Ballymann in Donegal County, Ireland to be the village school teacher. But secrets from her mother’s past and town gossip make her question her reasons for staying in the small sea-side town. The author brings the village of Ballymann to life with her vivid landscapes of the Emerald Isle. As I walked the hills of the lush countryside with Moira, I could almost smell the chilled, salty air from the sea and hear the churning of the ocean waves. It made me long to visit such a place myself. Oh, to see all the green! This story held my heart from beginning to end. Moira is such a kind and gentle soul, I absolutely fell in love with her and wished we could be friends. It was difficult to watch her go through so much adversity, but it was a true inspiration to watch her faith mature and grow through it all. I can’t say enough about this sweet young lady! The romance between Moira and Sean is slow, sweet, and oh-so-swoon-worthy. I loved their slow-blossoming relationship, and especially how Sean recognized and respected Moira’s faith. The village of Ballymann is full of one colorful character after another. I loved getting to know each one of them, and I especially enjoyed getting to know some of the local customs. It was a treat to discover the finer details of Ireland and its people with Moira’s enthusiasm. Overall, I enjoyed every page of this story, and I can’t wait to read more of what the author creates. Fans of Christian historical fiction will enjoy this story. I would definitely recommend putting it at the top of your TBR! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Jennifer Deible's debut novel is an absolute masterpiece! In brilliant storyteller fashion, she sweeps you into Donegal, Ireland and the life of Moira Doherty. Come along on this exciting tale of following where the Lord leads you and doing what He has called you to do, no matter what those around you may think. This book is an excellent read for those who love historical fiction with Biblical Truths woven into the story. I absolutely recommend it and am looking forward to the Author's next book! ***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.***