Enchanting. Anyone who has been to Ireland or longs to visit will find an enchanting read in Jennifer Deibel's debut novel, A Dance in Donegal. Having lived in Donegal herself, Deibel's vivid descriptions paint picture of the Emerald Isle so real it's only possible by one who has experienced the land, people, weather, and culture first-hand. How lovely to have a bit of Gaelic sprinkled throughout the book, helping to flavor the well-told tale. The peat, the rock walls and the thatch roofs add to the Irish charm!

Of course I loved reliving the Irish culture through Deibel's rich vocabulary and believable characters. A Dance in Donegal follows the journey of Irish-American Moira Doherty who has heard of her mother's beloved Ireland for years. After her mother passes away, Moira follows her mother's wishes and goes to Ireland to teach school in her mother's hometown. She arrives on a dark and stormy night, and that sort of describes her first experiences in Donegal. As Moira meets a variety of interesting personalities, tries to figure out who to trust, and navigates cultural and language differences, she grows and changes, learning as much about herself as she does about her beloved Ireland.

A Dance in Donegal includes everything a good novel should--happiness, sadness, conflict, intrigue, and of course, some plot twists. Don't start reading the book unless you've got time to finish it. It's that kind of book.

Thank you, Jennifer! Can't wait to read the next novel, and the one after that!

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

A Dance in Donegal is like a hot cup of tea on a chilly winter's night, and this beautiful debut novel, in my opinion, has already made a name for author Jennifer Deibel. If you've ever wanted to visit Ireland and have never had the chance, this book will make you feel like you have had the opportunity to do so. The reader can easily see the painful amount of research that went into the writing of it, and I truly wanted to take my time reading this one to savor each and every page.

We first meet protagonist Moira Doherty right after the death of her beloved mother in 1920's Boston. Her mother's dying wish was for Moira to travel to her hometown of Ballymann, Ireland to become the new school teacher. Moira chooses to honor her mother's wishes, but isn't quite prepared for the enormous task placed before her. Ballymann is steeped in superstitions, there seems to be a great mystery surrounding why her mother left Ballymann in the first place, and she finds herself isolated and struggling to fit in with the locals. Moira is determined to see her mission through though, and she'll soon learn that through faith in the Heavenly Father and amazing friends, she is capable of more than she could have imagined.

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful story, and could hardly believe that it's a debut novel. The setting is idyllic and atmospheric and had me totally wrapped up in this charming beautiful village. I loved how strong the scriptural basis for everything is within this story, and even though the locals of the village still partake in superstitions, God remains their first and foremost always, and I especially loved Peg, Sean and Colm. Perhaps my favorite part of the story, however, was Moira herself. I admired her bravery, her strength, and her unwavering faith no matter what obstacles come her way. She's the type of protagonist I wanted to cheer for right from the start, and I loved how the author chose to end her journey. I always admire stories where the romance plays a central part but isn't the entire story, and the romance within this one was definitely the perfect balance.

I didn't know quite what to expect when I picked this one up, but wow did I end up being pleasantly surprised. Jennifer Deibel is an author I will definitely be reading more from in the future, and she's absolutely an author to watch out for within the Christian Historical fiction genre.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, Irish tales or stories with a strong faith component, then go ahead and pick this one up. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Final Rating: 5/5.

Thanks so much to Revell publishing for allowing me to read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Moira is a young woman from Boston who desires to fulfill her mother’s dying wish. Moria heads off to Ballymann, in Donegal, Ireland where her mother lived and taught. It is part of her mom’s past she was never told about and is surprised at the town folk’s reaction to her when she gets there.

The author walks readers through this charming quaint town and gives them a glimpse of life in the past, with its beliefs and superstitions. Life is hard and things become harder for Moria when she stumbles upon her mother’s secret. There is a strong spiritual thread in this story that shows Moria doing the hard things like loving her enemies. I liked how the author took readers through beautiful countryside landscapes and shined the light on the community and it’s culture.

The author has a map of Ballymann, Ireland. It helps readers to picture the events that happened in the book. She also includes a glossary and pronunciation guide for all the Gaelic words. This is a great book to escape in and one to discuss for book club.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

Jennifer Deibel pens her debut historical fiction novel, setting it in rural Ireland during the 1920s.

In A Dance in Donegal, Irish-American Moira Doherty travels to Ballyman, her mother’s hometown in rural Ireland, to teach in the village school following her mother’s recent death. Moira knows little of her mother’s earlier life in Ireland except the vivid descriptions Moira heard all of her life from her.

Meanwhile, the villagers remember her mother and are not very welcoming except for a few. She is treated with suspicion and faces superstitions as she builds a life for herself. Handsome and dependable Sean befriends her, as well as his mentor, Colm and his wife Peg, while others believe the worst, based on hearsay about her mother. What will it take to change the others when Moira herself doesn’t know the truth? Will she solve the family mystery and find her place?

Deibel does an excellent job in creating the fictional Irish village, and the reader will enjoy the breath of fresh air with its pastoral setting. Although the book starts out slowly, it is refreshing to read a book with a slower pace. Delightful characters, descriptive narratives, and a few plot twists work together to show us God’s purpose in our circumstances. Faith elements are sprinkled throughout without it being heavy handed. Be prepared to read of God’s love and forgiveness as this story unfolds, and Moira discovers the truth behind the rumors.

Recommended for adult collections in public libraries. Historical fiction fans will be delighted with Looking forward to the next book by Ms. Deibel, coming in Spring 2022!

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews.

A beautifully written, detailed, emotive and thought-provoking tale. I absolutely loved this story from start to finish..

What a beautiful debut novel by Jennifer Deibel. I have been anxiously awaiting the chance to read this lovely story set in Ireland in the 1920s. After her mother dies, Moira Doherty leaves Boston for Ireland to teach in the local village where her mother grew up. What a courageous undertaking to travel alone to a new country. In addition, Moira also experiences a spiritual journey during these difficult times.

Moira experiences one extreme or the other based on rumors about her mother's past that she herself was unaware of. People either became true friends or shunned her.

"But why would someone wish me ill? What have I done to anyone in this town?'
"I don't know dearie. I'd say ye need to watch yer back and make sure ya say her prayers. Saint Michael’s yer man for that he is.'

I was experiencing a difficult time in my own life while I was reading this story, and I think it's natural to have questions, and doubts, and to cling to the promises of the Lord during those moments as Moira did. "Come to me, ye who are weary. And I will give you rest. The familiar promise from scripture whispered deep in her heart and soothed like water in a parched land."

Set in Ireland, A Dance in Donegal is a well-researched, authentic, vividly engaging, sweet romance, with themes of redemption, forgiveness, and belonging. I highly recommend this beautiful debut by Jennifer Deibel, and I look forward to reading what she writes next!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy! All opinions are my own.

Jennifer Deibels tells a wonderfully descriptive tale in her debut book, A Dance in Donegal. I feel like I've been to Ireland of old!

With the regular use of Irish Gaelic, the reader is immediately immersed in the setting and the story. Moira Doherty travels from Boston to Ballymann, a village in Donegal, Ireland, to fulfill her mother's dying wish, to become a teacher where she once lived. Once she arrives, she is eager to learn everything she can about the people and the area. Moira expected to be welcomed warmly because of her mother. She didn't expect rumours, innuendo and hostile people.

Fortunately, she is lucky to make a few close friends. One of them being Sean, who seems to appear when she needs him the most. I loved the growing romance between the two, especially the profound faith-based messages that ran throughout this story.

While I struggled with Gaelic and how to pronounce most of the words, I still enjoyed this story. I saw an early copy, so I hope there is a translation in the final product.

An excellent debut novel from an author I will definitely keep on my radar!

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Revell through NetGalley.

I was so excited to read this debut novel by Jennifer Deibel because I love all things Ireland, having lived there for a period of time myself. This book exceeded all of my expectations! I was easily transported back to early twentieth century Ireland by the wonderful descriptions of the beautiful setting. I could imagine the smell of the wet grass and the strong peat in the homes and envision the small town and its people. I very much liked the characters, especially Moira, as she navigated a difficult situation and her faith grew during her new adventure. The faith elements were very well integrated in the story and often made me pause and reflect on my own spiritual journey. The romance was well written and clean and I enjoyed getting to know Moira and Sean. And I think dear Peg was my favorite! As the story progressed, I had a hard time putting down the book, as I wanted to know more about the mystery of Moira’s past. I very much enjoyed this novel and look forward to more books by this author. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The strongest aspect of this book was the look at Irish culture--the language and the customs were beautifully conveyed. The setting was really, really well written. The plot, however, didn't quite work as well as I hoped it would and there seemed to be inconsistencies that just weren't developed enough to make them feel plausible. For instance, Moira is initially welcomed by a local family--despite them knowing Moira's mother's scandalous secret--and yet, when Moira aids one of her sick students, Aedach, a young man, they suddenly take that a sign that she's immoral and shun her. As for the sick young man, the interactions with him frankly confused me; I never really understood how old he was supposed to be. On the one hand, it was scandalous that she was alone in his home with him, but on the other hand, he's referred to more than once as a child. So, the community's reaction to Moira helping him was confusing as well; if she's helping a sick child, why would anyone be upset about that? If he's not that young, like on the verge of finishing up school and it's truly improper for Moira to be helping him, why aren't others more willing to help? There's a sexual assault in the book that felt somewhat contrived, like it was thrown in without a good enough reason, particularly as the repercussions for it (both what happened to the perpetrator and how the victim would really have to deal with it) weren't addressed. When Moira's "secret" is finally revealed, that revelation came a little too easily, and again, the repercussions weren't really addressed. I liked the opening of the book, and I loved the final scene, but the middle just wasn't as well-developed as it could have been.
3 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Escape to the windswept shores of Ireland and experience a small Irish village through the eyes of Moira, the new American schoolteacher who has returned to the place of her mother’s birth to shepherd the students of the small community. Upon her arrival, she finds that her mother’s reputation is not what it should be, and she deals with foes young and old who hold the past against her. Amid it all, the kind and handsome thatcher Sean shows strength and compassion through various trials and tribulations, and an undeniable connection is formed. As troubles abound, Moira questions her choice in starting this new life she never dreamed of, but that God has designed especially for her.
Rich with descriptions of the Emerald Isle and her culture, this story allows escape to the wonderous place that is Ireland. I truly felt like I was standing on the cliffs of Ireland with Moira. I could hear the Irish music floating on the wind. I could hear the lilt of the voices in the village. I could see the rolling green hills dotted with thatched cottages and stone ruins. As someone who is longing to visit Ireland, this book was a fantastic escape until I can experience the real thing. The story was rich in historical knowledge and cultural depiction that I loved, and I feel like we really get a glimpse of life in a small Irish village in the 1920s. While the story is a wonderful example of redeeming love and forgiveness, this was not a light-hearted story. It is rich with lessons and spiritual truths, but there are parts of the narrative that are much heavier in subject than I ever expected. However, the heavy parts of this book clearly define the message of God’s redeeming love and restoration, which is perfectly depicted by the time you reach the story’s wonderful ending. I wish the romance were more prominent in the plot, but the protective and handsome hero and strong heroine make the love story sweet as they face troubles together. With strong spiritual truths, unparalleled depictions of Ireland and her culture, well-developed and heartfelt characters, a gentle romance, and a heartwarming conclusion, this story is a well-written gem and should not be missed. I highly recommend A Dance in Donegal to any fellow lover of Ireland and her culture, and I cannot wait to see what Jennifer Deibel does in her next sweeping Irish romance.
I received a copy of this book from the author and the publisher for review purposes. My thoughts are my own. I really did enjoy it!

I have never been to Ireland but this book sure makes me want to visit! What an amazing debut novel by Jennifer Deibel. Because of her mother's death Moira Doherty leaves Boston to take a teaching job in the town of Ballymann where her mother is from. Right from the start she is not exactly welcomed to the village and we come to find out secrets in her mother's past. The town and country of Ireland are very vividly described. I just loved that! This is a work of Christina fiction and a great historical read!

In a time where most of us aren’t traveling we need all the books set around the world to let us live vicariously! I have always been fascinated by Ireland and I was excited to step into a book that took me there in my mind. The descriptions were vivid and abundant and those who can’t paint pictures in their minds from what they’re reading will have no trouble transporting themselves to Donegal. I personally struggled with there being a little too much description and not enough dialogue but that may be just me.
The characters were sweet but I don’t know if classifying this as a romance is completely accurate, yes the couple ends up in a relationship but there wasn’t a whole lot of actual romance along the way which my romance loving self was really wanting more of.
Also, as a heads up for people that struggle with a different dialect in its written form this book was chock full of Gaelic words and words written the way that Irish folk pronounce them.
Overall this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but those who like descriptive sweeping tales are sure to find a new author to enjoy!

Thank you to Net Galley and Revell for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own. This is the story of Moira Doherty, an American-Irish citizen. Her mother has told her so many good things about Ireland, so when her mother dies in 1920 Moira decides to go there. She is hired as a teacher in Ballyman, a village in Donegal, Ireland. Some people want to be friends, but some are distant because they have heard rumors about Moira and her mother. Lots of adventure as Moira finds her special place in Ireland, and her true love. I liked this book. I though the author did a great job of describing Ireland, and I liked the language. Sometimes the language was a little hard to read, but using the natural language of Ireland made the story more authentic. I hope the author continues to write more historical fiction books.

To be honest, I just couldn't get into this book. Chapter 7 and I still wasn't engaged in the story. Why? If this was an entry in a contest, these would be my responses to the author in hopes of making her story improve and succeed:

-I felt the dialog wasn't realistic and was a bit stilted.
-It was "choppy"--jumping from thoughts to other thoughts to surroundings, I felt like I was ping-ponging from thought to thought. It was an effort to read and stay with the story. Nothing really drew me into Moira's world and reached out to keep me there.
-What's Moira's "why?" I mean, I know she has a dream that prompts her to go but that's not her "why." Why should I, as the reader, care about her story? And what is it that Moira has to lose? I don't really care if she goes to Ireland or not. Make me care.
-Page by page telling not showing.
-With the amount of personal thoughts and "telling," I honestly feel this story would have been better if it had been told in 1st person.

This is a story by a compassionate person who has a good idea but needs some more coaching to really get the craft of writing dialed in. I'm sorry, I think Jennifer needs to be mentored by a better writer or perhaps start with some novellas that she can refine her craft in. I understand it takes heart and determination to write a full novel and congrats to her for accomplishing that, more fail and that than not.

I will not be posting this review anywhere but here because I feel authors work so hard to get their work published that a bad review is like telling someone their baby is ugly--it's just not nice. I hope some of my why's for dislike are helpful in growing as an author--my heart is to make better what you already have; I know you can or else you wouldn't have gotten this far.

Such a cozy story nestled in beautiful Ireland! I found myself smiling as Moira suffered mishaps and learned the ways of the Irish after landing a job there as a teacher . . . all the way from Boston. The rumors from when her mom once worked there haunt her as the small village scrutinized her, but with some good tragic plot twists, the truth sets her free allowing her to dance. This novel will leave any historical romance lover swooning. ❤️

I cannot believe that this is the authors debut novel. This has been one of my favorite books I have ever read. I loved the descriptions of Ireland. Moira and Sean were great together from the beginning. I loved learning about some of the Irish superstitions and what was done during a funeral. I could not put this book down. It was great to learn about what really happened to Moira’s mother all those years ago. I look forward to reading many more books by this author. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

A very well written inspirational book. Good plot and character dynamics. Loved the setting. I recommend this book to fans of historical books. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

A Dance in Donegal is Jennifer Deibel's debut novel! When you are debut author I feel like cover design is so important in order to draw in readers. The cover of A Dance in Donegal completely caught my eye and beckoned me to join a literary journey to the captivating coast of Ireland. Jennifer Deibel did a marvelous job painting the rocky landscapes and the changing moods of the ocean with her vivid word pictures. The addition of Irish words and customs added richness and realism to the story and also taught me some things about Ireland and its heritage/customs that I never knew.

When I started reading, I was getting some definite "When Calls the Heart" vibes and I was worried this was going to be a story that felt overly familiar. However, after the first third of the novel, the story takes many surprising turns and I was drawn into the tale more and more. This is Christian fiction and the message of trusting God, following His leading and forgiving those who hurt you are strong throughout.

My favorite quote happens to be from my favorite character, Peg; "I remember when it first dawned on me what God was truly sayin'." Peg continued. "It doesna matter what the world says I am. It doesna matter even what I believe myself to be-- and I have some dark thoughts when it comes to me own heart, to be sure. If I believe in the Laird Jesus Christ, and what He did fer me. I canna be condemned." We are often hardest on ourselves, and it was a great reminder to me that what God thinks of me and says about me in the Bible is more significant and truthful then how I perceive myself.

What did not work for me, was the lack of connection I felt towards the main character. I found I just did not care when bad things happened to her, and I wanted to care. I wanted to connect. I wanted to cry, or feel afraid, rejoice in her happiness or something! I felt more of a connection to the Sweeney's, who were secondary characters -- they added such a richness to the novel. I suspect this will not be a problem as the author wirtes more and settles into a writing groove, so to speak...and who knows...maybe you will feel completely the opposite from me and be totally connected to the character.

Overall, this was an excellent debut novel and I am looking forward to reading more from Jennifer Deibel in the future.

Thank you, Jennifer Deibel, Revell, and Net Gally for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This book follows Moira as she moves from the United Sates to Ballyman in Ireland for a teaching job.

Early on, we detect there is some sort of mystery surrounding Moira's mother, whom had immigrated from Ireland to the United States before Moira was born. Many people believe her mother to have been involved in a scandal.

As Moira maneuvers through the challenges she faces with the move, about her mother's past, and learning the language and building relationships, we see how she handles each situation with respect and prayers.

This book is religious and very well written.

This book was rich in all things Ireland and Irish culture.
I definitely felt immersed as I read this book.
For me while the setting was vivid I had a hard time truly connecting with any of the characters. I really crave on page chemistry between the main characters, especially in a romance. This kind of writing and how the Christian faith was incorporated reminded me kinda of the old "Lori Wick " days. At least in structure that's how it felt.
If you want a Irish experience with a good dose of drama, this may be the read for you, it just wasn't me cuppa.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally, all opinions are my own and honest.