I adore historical fiction, and this is such an interesting premise. I recommend because of the story itself, writing style, and its ability to transport you into a different world/time period.

“Hate is fueled by ignorance, son. The first step toward peace is the genuine desire to understand your so-called enemy.”

Seamus Jennings has lived long enough and endured enough to either harden his heart completely or teach him to see beneath the surface of things. Thankfully, he is the latter: an auld man with a keen eye for beauty, a mind that seeks truth beyond what is immediately noticeable, and a heart of gold even more pure than what he and his son use to craft the beloved Claddagh rings of their ancestors. It is Seamus who sees the wisdom of allowing the new landlord’s daughter to apprentice in the jewelry shop he shares with his son. It Seamus who sees that opening Annabeth’s eyes to the beauty beyond the poverty and hard edges of Galway’s residents will help her see their humanity, pride, and great worth. And dear Seamus also sees that Annabeth, though the very embodiment of their perceived enemy, has the opportunity to open and help heal his son Stephen’s wounded soul.

Stephen’s heart has endured more than enough sorrow to harden his heart toward the entire myth of love and the British people who represent the barrier to Ireland’s independence and also the murderers of his beloved brother. His pain has festered to bitterness with his situation in the family jewelry shop and the added fact that his father has allowed the British landlord’s daughter to apprentice with them. The face of all things wrong in his world, Lady Annabeth De Lacey is the cross he must bear in order to set things neatly for his intended path into a new future.

Anna does not mind her family’s relocation to Galway or the removal from court life that comes with it. Ireland is beautiful and the opportunity to find her creative expression in the Jennings family’s jewelry shop is a thrill she had not expected. And if she has to cast aside her heavy beaded dresses and intricate skirts in favor of pants for the sake of that art, then so be it. She has much to learn about the process of making the beautiful pieces that stock the shop, and more to learn about the people of Ireland, their culture, and their struggles. Seamus knows that Anna has an opportunity to bridge the gap between the two sides wrapped up in the bitterness of Ireland’s struggle to be free from Britain. It just may be that she also has an opportunity to chase away the fog of bitterness that has held Stephen for years.

Y’all, I cannot get enough of this book! I devoured the NetGalley and promptly threw down my money to purchase a physical copy. Jennifer Deibel has written an excellent story filled with culture and characters that got into my heart and quotes that made me stop frequently to ponder their weight. It would be easy to read The Lady of Galway Manor as a light read, but it would be a mistake to overlook the deeper beauty of this novel.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

Stephen wants to set out on his own but is now stuck with teaching an English high society woman Anna about jewelry making. Sparks fly but will that be enough to save each of them from a life of loneliness? Read to find out.

Author Jennifer Deibel pens her second historical fiction novel, setting it in Galway, Ireland during the war for Irish independence (1920s).

In A Lady of Galway Manor, English-born Lady Annabeth De Lacy moves to Ireland with her parents when her father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish. He arranges an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings’ jewelry shop, creators of the famous Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings wants little to do with the family’s jewelry shop, especially the “legend” associated with the Ring. When impoverished locals show their resentment at her father’s presence, Annabeth works with Stephen to overcome their own preconceived ideas, as well as deal with the English-Irish tension around them.

While Annabeth discovers the art and culture of Ireland, Stephen discovers that she is not like other British aristocrats. Annabeth feels a strong call to familial duty, yet she struggles with the idea of an arranged marriage which will improve her father’s financial standing but leaves her married to a man she dislikes.

Deibel crafts a delightful inspirational romance where friendship, love, and loyalty (represented by the Ring) are tested. The reader encounters descriptive narratives, historical detail, and faith elements in this second published work. Stephen closes his heart to love, but Annabeth helps to change that. Theirs is a slow building romance, bringing about significant change in both families, as they discover God’s plan.

Recommended for adult collections in public libraries and fans of historical fiction.

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.

Really lovely story filled with wonderful history and relatable characters. There was a challenge to all readers to be careful of how they treat others who are not like them. Though you might not understand everything someone has been through, empathy for them is far greater than pretending you know what they've experienced. I loved the story of how and why the Claddagh ring was made. When an author includes true history into their work, it creates a depth to it that others do not contain. The love story was sweet and one to cheer for. I was so glad to see how everything turned out. This is certainly one historical romance readers will not want to miss.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Revell via NetGalley. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review but am glad to do so. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Lady Annabeth De Lacy wants something to do—something to engage her mind and creativity and not bore her with balls, picnics, and the usual fare of a society lady in the 1920s. When she moves with her family to Galway Parish in Ireland, where her father has been appointed the new landlord, she begs him to allow her to study something creative.

Lord De Lacey finds Annabeth an apprenticeship with the Jennings—the famous silversmith family who inherited the shop which produces the famed Claddagh Ring. Annabeth treasures this opportunity to not only learn a new art form but to really get to know the people of Galway.

Annabeth doesn’t expect people to distrust her, shun her, or treat her unkindly. But all these things happen as she starts her apprenticeship. How will she overcome the prejudice she experiences as she tries to understand the hearts of the people in her new community?

Stephen Jennings can’t believe his father has accepted an apprentice—and a British one, at that. Stephen wants to escape the jewelry shop and all the cruel reminders of love. He’d rather use his design talents working with iron.

But as he gets to know Lady Annabeth, he comes to realize not all British feel the same about the Irish. As he struggles with his feelings of attraction, he must overcome long-held prejudices and judge Lady Annabeth on her own merits.

What I Liked About This Book

Although set in early 20th Century Ireland, the prejudices and turmoil described sound like what minorities and the majority face today in the United States. Pick any minority group—Native Americans, Blacks, Hispanics and examine the thoughts and biases those words evoke in the average white person.

Prejudices and biases live in the dark areas where we lack knowledge, and Annabeth represents white people who take the time to learn with humility. Stephen represents the struggles minorities face to accept allies after centuries of lies, deceit, and violence.

The sweet love story has strains of melodrama. If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, you’ll enjoy this book.

I am a mixture of Scottish, Irish and British ancestry. I can tell the difference in their accents and their particular slang. They are separate countries that are part of the United Kingdom. This story is about the differences and their similarities.


Lady Annabeth of Galway Manor is given the opportunity to apprentice at a silversmiths in Galway. This silversmith is known for making the Claddagh rings. I was given a claddagh ring as my wedding ring in a previous marriage. The claddagh ring represents love, loyalty and friendship. I have no idea why her father would agree to this other than he would use this later to persuade her to go on the path he is insistent on. Annabeth meets the people of the town and is drawn in. She learns their stories and history. She comes to love the area.

It is a book of the have and the have nots. The issue is what do they really have. Stephen and his friends and family have each other to rely on and to assist in times of need. Lady Annabeth and her family had no one to turn to when disaster struck the Manor. But the citizens of Galway were there to help.

Will Annabeth receive the love, loyalty and friendship she so desires?

I enjoyed this story. I loved the location in Ireland. It does make you want to go there and have a pint at the local pub. Maybe there will be a band and a good singalong as well.

I received this book from Revell to give a review.

Highly recommended! Well thought out and very well executed.Thank you for the opportunity to review this story.

I adored reading this book. The characters of Annabeth and Stephen were exceptionally well-written and developed throughout the book. I also enjoyed the side-characters of Seamus, Stephen's father. I thought that Seamus added a great deal of fatherly wisdom, humor, and love to the storyline. Looking now for more by this author.

It was a good story, however very predictable. I felt like I was reading the same "rich girl, poor boy" love story, just set in Ireland. I feel like there was no very much depth to the main characters and after the first few chapters I had already figured out the plot. It is a nice, fun read if you enjoy reading historical romance novels.

've always wanted to go to Ireland and I felt like this book took me a step closer. It did a really good job of showing the tension between the British and the Irish while not getting bogged down in too many details. I loved watching Anna come to love and appreciate the Irish people and culture and to see that what she'd always been told wasn't true.

Anna is a wonderful woman. "The court and all its rules and social graces always sat ill with her. She longed for adventure. Fun. Deep, meaningful relationships. And while those things did sometimes occur within royal circles, it had not been her own experience" (location 471). She feels the tension between wanting to live a vibrant life with her responsibility to her family as the firstborn.

There were other amazing characters who brought this book to life...Seamus with his joy and wisdom, Paddy who was willing to look past Anna's nationality to who she really was, and Emmaline who was a true, loving sister. Stephen felt very relatable. He's been hurt and has put a shell around himself so he won't get hurt again. It's hard to get past some deep hurts but he had Seamus there to help challenge him and to encourage him to open himself up again to really living.

Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Lady of Galway Manor, written by Jennifer Deibel was a delightful story written during the 1920s in Galway, Ireland. This story begins with a new landlord being posted to Galway by England. There is much unrest as the Irish are preparing to free Ireland from British rule.

Annabeth De Lacy’s father is the new landlord. She is a willful young lady and is not very happy living the life of a lady of the court. She talks her father into getting her an apprenticeship at the Jennings family, Seamus’ and Stephen’s, jewelry shop who are descendants of the creator of the famous Claddagh ring. The insignia is very much a part of Irish culture. Stephen, the son, is not happy having a British subject, a lady, working with him in the shop.

Stephen has been unlucky in love and is not in the market to love again. Annabeth is a very naïve young lady who does not understand the politics between Ireland and England. Her father treats the Irish as lesser men. Annabeth has compassion and strength to be able to realize that the Irish are no less men than the English.

I do not want to give away the storyline of this book because there is so much to learn in reading it for yourself. The tenuous relationship between the two peoples brings heartache and danger, especially to the English who are taking over the land.

I found that Ms. Deibel’s characters and devotion to the research of the history of the times bring this book to life. I loved the book and the story. It was easy to think that I was living during that period as I read more of the book.

Galway City, Ireland
April 1920

Stephen Jennings’s mother died when he was born. He runs the family’s jewelry shop along with his father, Seamus. Stephen had a fiancee who took his money and ran away thus leaving him skeptical of women and love. His dream is to accept an apprenticeship at an Iron and Masonry works.

Lady Annabeth DeLacy is the daughter of the new British landlord of Galway Parish. The local Irish residents do not like having a British landlord and they do not trust him. However, they know they have to stay in his good graces. Annabeth has requested that she be an apprentice to Stephen at his jewelry shop so he reluctantly accepts her. She shows real talent and is so interested in learning about Ireland, its people and its customs.

Annabeth’s father wants her to marry a much older man back in England but she does not want to and has asked for time to think about it. When her father learns his gambling has left them in dire straits, he insists that Annabeth accept the man’s proposal. What will she choose?

Annabeth shows true interest in her new place and wants to learn all she can about it. While she is attracted to Stephen, he is cool and aloof. I really liked his father Seamus. He’s is a lovely, happy man. I also liked the character Paddy McGinnty who owns the fish and chips shop. Would love to have some of those fish and chips because they sound delicious. All in all an interesting story I wish Stephen had been more forthcoming earlier in his feelings for Annabeth. The ending is good and satisfying.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am a new reader to Jennifer Deibel and if all of her books are this good, I am going to be reading more! Deibel takes the reader away to beautiful Ireland, with all of its rich culture and heritage. She world builds so well that I felt like I was there with the characters watching everything unfold. I loved Lady Annabeth, she was beautiful, kind, and full of goodness. Her selflessness was inspiring especially for the time period. The unusual circumstances of her becoming an apprentice at a jewelry shop made the story unique and very interesting to read. Then the relationship between Stephen and Anna was a whole other part. He was so angry and bitter, I wondered if he would ever overcome that. I absolutely adored Seamus and he was my absolute favorite character of all. Everyone needs a Seamus in their life!

Deibel does a wonderful job of incorporating a love story into this historical time period. There were so many challenges to overcome and that kept me reading until the very end. I was left with a desire to read more from Deibel and to visit Ireland! Learning the legend of the Claddagh was intriguing and I loved how the author kept that a part of the entire book. If you are a historical romance fan, this is the book for you! I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

My thanks to Jennifer Deibel, Revell and Net Galley for the ARC of THE LADY OF GALWAY MANOR.
Galway Parish in Ireland has been given another landlord in 1920, Lord De Lacy a pompous man. He does not have the interests of the inhabitants of his new seat at heart and is there purely for selfish reasons. Surprisingly, he agrees for Annabeth, his daughter to take up an apprenticeship with the local jeweller, Seamus Jennings, and his son Stephen.
Stephen has been jilted by his last love and is desperate to get away from the confines of the small town where everyone knows everyone, but when their new apprentice joins them she is interested in the inhabitants, and the mystery of the Claddagh Ring that the Jennings are famous for, discovering the Jennings are descendants of its creator.
The war for Irish independence goes on, leaving the British de Lacy family isolated and vulnerable to the fanatics who live in Galway. Annabeth has already decided that there are two sides to every story and has found affection for Galway, even though some of the people who live there are less than kind to her. She perseveres with her kindness, and because of it melts Stephen's cold heart who recognises that not all women are the same.
A very romantic story set within a difficult historical backdrop.

Title: The Lady of Galway Manor
Author: Jennifer Deibel
Genre: Christian
Rating: 4 out of 5

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the ÒliesÓ the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.

I don’t remember reading anything set during this period---definitely not recently---so I enjoyed the historical aspect of this. The Jennings men were both strong characters that I really liked. Annabeth’s father was a bit of a pompous, selfish jerk, but I loved her relationship with her sister. This was a sweet read with a lovely romance.

Jennifer Deibel lives in Arizona. The Lady of Galway Manor is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Revell in exchange for an honest review.)

Once again, Jennifer Deibel shows she is a talented storyteller who has a gift for painting lovely settings and creating characters that you won't soon forget and pull you into the tale as it goes.

If you like reading heart-warming historical fiction set against the backdrop of Ireland that is filled with faith and life, then I highly recommend you check out The Lady of Galway Manor. You won't be disappointed!

***Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.***

#theladyofgalwaymanor #revellbooks #jenniferdeibel #recommendedreading #netgalley

What a beautiful novel about the meaning and showing of true love, loyalty, and friendship just as the lovely Claddagh ring represents. Annabeth is British and she and her family have been given a living in Ireland. Now the Irish are none too happy with British rule and would like to be free. The British on the other hand don't agree with them and so they send more soldiers to keep the rebellions down. Into this hotbed of tensions is where Annabeth finds herself.

Annabeth was a heroine that could really be rooted for. She was unique in that she did not want to be just a society lady. She wanted more in life and so she was allowed by her father to work as an apprentice for a jewelry merchant and his son. Their specialty was the Claddagh ring. Annabeth also knew her place in British society and what was expected of her after a year. She hoped to get out of that particular arrangement, until she uncovers just how desperate her father and her family situation really is.

Stephen is an Irishman who is finished with love. He survived one heartbreak and did not want to experience another. Yet Annabeth gets under his skin and pulls on his heartstrings whether he likes it or not. These two were perfect for each other even if it took a while for them to see it. I enjoyed their character growth and how each found their way to eventually understand and possess the qualities that represent the Claddagh ring.

The Claddagh ring is very special to me as it was the first engagement ring my husband gave me. And he brought it all the way from Ireland. I enjoyed reading about its history and relearning the meaning.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

The Lady of Galway Manor is a romantic journey through the heart and soul of Ireland! Taking place in 1920s Galway City during the War of Independence, this Irish tale of love, danger, and legend utterly captivated me. Jennifer Deibel uses vivid imagery to place the reader right in the midst of Irish culture. I could see the hear the traditional music session in the local pub, taste the fish and chips, and see the emerald coast before me. As the story progresses, an Irish tradesman and a British lady put aside their prejudices and fall in love, and the sacrificial love they both exhibit is breathtakingly beautiful. Full of daring rescues and romantic tension, the plot is exciting and kept me riveted to the very end of the book, where I adored the lovely happy ending and closed the book with a contented sigh. I highly recommend The Lady of Galway Manor to those who love romance, adventure, and the Emerald Isle!

I received a copy of this book for review purposes, but my thoughts are my own. I really did love it!

Ireland is one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited, in real life and now in fiction. When a friend and I visited a few years ago we each bought Claddagh Rings, so I was familiar with the history, which made this story all the richer. I visualized the shop as if I’ve been in it, connected with the characters, and sank into this story with ease.

It is effortless to connect with Annabeth. She has clear vision and intuition and I like how open she is. I also loved Stephen’s tough exterior and soft center. I enjoyed their style of communication and their relationships with their families. The Irish setting, practically a character in itself (in a good way) kept me turning pages more slowly so I could savor every moment.

I learned so much Irish history and enjoyed every moment of it. This story centers on love, loyalty, family, and faith. The authors notes are an extra treat – so don’t skip over that.

Jennifer Deibel is a gifted storyteller. She has created a magnificent setting and characters that will live on long after you close the book. If you enjoy a sweet romantic historical faith-filled tale, The Lady of Galway Manor is for you. And if you’ve ever wanted to visit Ireland this is a wonderful way to do so.

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.