I really enjoyed this read, and it kept me page turning for answers. I also looked up when Ireland finally achieved independence.

I could see why the locals did not care for the Lord and his family, they wanted to be rid of British rule over them, similar to what went on in the US many years prior.

How would you feel if you had to marry a creepy old man, well, that is what is seems to be happening to Lady Annabeth, and we are there as she comes to terms with her fate.

This story gifts us with some sweet romance, people with strong faith in God, and some that will go with the mob thinking. Be sure to read the author's notes at the end, they are a gift, and we are also given an epilogue!

This is the second book by this author that I've read, and will be looking for more!

I received this book through Net Galley and LibraryThing, and was not required to give a positive review.

A lovely book about a Lady from England who’s father is the newest landlord Of County Galway. She takes an internship at an Irish jewelry shop and becomes close with the men that own the shop. Enjoy!

I really liked this romance story involving the history of the Claddagh Ring.

I really liked Anna's character in this book since she really went against the grain for ladies of her time (even trousers). Stephen and Anna's relationship is very complex, from his not believing in love to her duty to her family, but I loved seeing it develop over the jewelry apprenticeship.

I really did not like Lord De Lacy's character since he was a so over the top it wasn't believable. I think a little more compassion may have made that character more compelling and conflicted instead of coming off like a tyrant.

The symbolism was necessary in the overall story for the history and spirit of the Claddagh plus faith, but it felt a little forced sometimes.

Overall, I liked the main characters and the uniqueness that this book brought in the Claddagh background.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

The Lady of Galway Manor is a historical fiction novel written by Jennifer Deibel.

Summary: English Annabeth De Lacy has been brought up to believe that all Irish are uncultured, uneducated, and in need of saving by the British.

But now that her father is tasked with running Galway Parish in Ireland, she starts to see that maybe things aren’t as she imagined them to be.

As she gets to know the Irish citizens, she finds a warm and friendly people who have been oppressed for far too long.

Can she make a difference and help those who need her when they are wary of British interference? Or will an Irish rebellion threaten all she knows and loves?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. It covers a fascinating time in history that I enjoyed exploring. The characters are fun and interesting, and there is a unique plot too.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a historical novel with a little romance.

I would like to thank Revell for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

This story takes place during the war for Irish Independence, where Annabeth De Lacy’s family moves here from Britain to a political post. Her ambitious personality leads to much boredom when she’s kept home, so in light of her interest in art and design, her father arranges an apprenticeship at a local jewellery shop. Her curiosity of the local culture grows and she finds her worldview vastly challenged. She develops a relationship with the shop owner and his father, that fuels her love for the local people. Danger lurks in the background as rebels seeking independence make plans. Enjoy a story that reminds us our perceptions are not always what they seem and the healing from past hurts doesn’t mean hurt will no longer be present. If you enjoy historical fiction this will be one you will enjoy!

I'll be the first to say I am not a huge Historical Fiction fan, but I am really trying to branch out of my typical mystery/thriller comfort zone.

Deibel is a fantastic author, a wonderful story teller and this book has all of the right ingredients for an excellent reading experience. The history, is of course where I struggled, because there was a slow burn and build to get to the finale, but it was worth it, a great story and overall if you are a big HF fan you must pick this one up.

Additionally I loved reading about Ireland and the Irish history!

The Lady of Galway Manor by Author Jennifer Deibel is a prime example of enchanting historical fiction! This engaging story truly captured the time of unrest in Ireland years before they gained their Independence. Jennifer Deibel's skilled pen and knowledge of Ireland shine through in this beautiful story. I have a Claddagh ring and loved learning about The Legend of the Claddagh Ring.

I loved that one of the settings in the book was the shop where the Claddagh rings were made. Seamus and his son Stephen take on the daughter of a British aristocrat and teach her how to make this beautiful jewelry. (I love Seamus! And Stephen, the cantankerous, grew on me.)
"The magnitude of this opportunity wasn't lost on her. And She vowed to make the most of absolutely every moment. Even if it meant dealing with a cantankerous host."
"Anna marveled at all the nuances that could exist in one single design. While each piece of jewelry included the same elements-the hands, the heart, the crown-no two were exactly alike." The heart stands for love. The crown, loyalty. And the hands stand for friendship. "Incredible. Tis truly breathtaking work you do." "The jewelry they make is absolutely stunning."

Themes include: civil unrest over the long standing issue of freedom between the British and the Irish, recognizing the skewed and often inaccurate views about the "other side", and the fact that there's always a choice. A beautiful gentle faith arc, family relationships, loyalty, sacrifice, loss and love all beautifully merge to make this a wonderfully poignant and romantic story.

I highly recommend The Lady of Galway Manor by award winning author Jennifer Diebel. Fans of historical fiction and fans of Ireland will love it! If I ever get back to Ireland, I am going to go to Galway! And I'll keep all her tips from the author's note at the end of the book in mind!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy of The Lady of Galway Manor. All opinions are my own.

I have not read anything by Jennifer Deibel before but she has immediately become a favorite.

I asked to read this book through Netgalley.com based mostly on the cover picture. I was not disappointed at all. The book was very informative and interesting. It is a historical fiction, Christian book. A lot of the background is based in history. I read an ARC copy and the editing was very well done, though not perfect.

This is not a preachy kind of Christian book, it has an undercurrent in that the main lady character relies on her faith in many things. The thing I was most disappointed with was in the epilogue, there was one thing that was not resolved UNLESS there is going to be a sequel and it gets resolved there. It is left in such a way that it is possible. I hope that is the case as I'd like to have that resolved also.

I give this a 4 out of 5-star rating and would recommend this book to all who like Christian, historical fiction.

I've read several books about the "Irish troubles" and independence from the British. This novel portrays this on a very personal level between Anna and Stephen. I also enjoyed the history of the Claddagh ring and the artistry involved.

The Lady of Galway Manor was the first novel I've read by the author (although her debut is on my TBR list too), and what a lovely Irish story it was!

I really enjoyed the beginning interactions between Anna and Stephen, especially considering Stephen's dislike of all things English and Anna's being a member of English nobility. I would describe this as a sweet, slow-burn romance, but there's definitely an immediate spark between the two. To me, what shined the most in the story was the Irish dialect and culture that felt wholly authentic. I really liked the descriptions too, especially since Ireland is on my bucket list to visit.

An important aspect of the novel was the friction (and that's probably putting it too lightly) between the Irish and the English. I knew some of that history, but this story made it more real to me. The themes of prejudice and forgiveness were well done and didn't feel like a political message so much as a display of the facts about both sides.

If you're looking for a historical novel with a bit of a slow burn romance or if you're fascinated by Irish culture, I think you'll enjoy this one!

*I received a copy of this novel free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

I love reading Jennifer Deibel's books. She pulls me into the story and allows me to live in Ireland for a bit. This story was particularly appealing to me because of the Claddagh ring. My daughter brought me one from Scotland, and I wear it to remind me of God's love for me. In the book, Stephen shares the history of the ring with Annabeth, and it's simply beautiful. And I love Annabeth's character, because she's so unexpected for her time and position in her life. Stephen is a bit brooding but lovable. Deibel's historical details show how unsettling life was for the Irish and how Annabeth's family grew to understand their plight. The romance just adds to the beauty of this story. This is a lovely story filled with hope in the midst of difficulty. If you enjoy Irish stories or historical romance, you'll enjoy The Lady of Galway Manor. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A beautiful story of Annabeth, daughter of a lord and the new landlord of the area. Stephen, a local jeweler of the area, is told by his father he will take her on as his apprentice, something he has never done before. Stephen has been in love before, and his outlook on love in general, is that it is fake, not at all real. As he gets to know Anna, he sees her kindness and how she treats people. With war on the horizon, he considers how she acts very different from most British he has encountered. After an act of violence against her family, he realizes how much he has grown to love her, rescuing her from a deadly fire. She already knows she loves him, even though he often pushes her away for reasons she doesn't understand. Her family is attacked again and Stephen and his father Seamus help them again. Great story!

This book goes into great details about the History of Ireland and its tragic, violent relationship with Great Britain. The writing was lovely, and I learned so much about Claddagh rings (how random and cool!) and I really liked the main character. She was full of grace and elegance, and stayed true to her heart. My new favorite book by this author!

The Lady of Galway Manor is my new favorite book written by Jennifer Deibel. I really liked it. Four and a half stars.

Set in Galway amidst the unrest between the Irish seeking independence, and the British Lords who suppress them, this book is a historical triumph.
Stephen an Irish artisan is asked to take on an apprentice. He’s more than surprised when Annabeth the daughter of Lord De Lacy shows up to work with him. Stephen has no time for an Englishwoman or any other for that matter. He’s been burned and isn’t looking for the complication, no matter how attractive she may be.
Annabeth knows nothing about the Irish and is surprised by their authenticity. She’s drawn to their community and begins to see through Stephen and his father Seamus that they are much more than she expected.
They come from vastly different backgrounds but as they spend time together they find the differences that separate them might not be as great as they thought. Stephen begins to see Christ lived out through Annabeth’s care toward him and his people. Can he risk his heart for a chance at this kind of love?
This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it.
I was given a copy courtesy of Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group. This I my honest review.

Annabeth De Lacy just wants to learn about Irish culture. The problem is that, as a member of the British aristocracy whose father was sent to be a landlord in Ireland during the 1920s, her presence is resented. Her father convinces a local jewelry maker to let her apprentice under him, finally allowing her the chance to learn about the people who are now her neighbors. The fact that said person is also young, handsome, and single is just an added benefit.

I enjoyed this book! As much as I read books based in England, I realized while reading this that I rarely read books about Ireland. It was fascinating to get this glimpse into their culture and history, and Jennifer did an excellent job recreating the Gaelic language and Irish accents. I also loved that the jewelry makers in question specialized in the iconic Claddagh designs, and so the story it was told as well. I had never heard about this style of jewelry before, and just a few days after finishing this book I was at a book club and one of the girls there was wearing a Claddagh ring, which really brought it to life for me.

I really only have two complaints about this book. First, it was really hard for me to place the time period that this book took place without being told that it was 1920. Everything may have been completely accurate (again, I'm not super familiar with Irish history), but I am familiar with this era and my initial guess at a time period was still in the 1800s. My second complaint is that there were some points where the characters felt a bit melodramatic. Stephen, especially, seemed a little over the top at times when it came to his disbelief in love and rejecting the notion that it was real.

Overall, this was an enjoyable historical romance with a fascinating glimpse into Ireland's past.

Once again Jennifer Deibel transforms the seemingly ordinary into an enchanting and atmospheric tale. I especially loved learning more about the claddagh rings and the history behind them.

A delightful story with the added reminder of God's grace and mercy. Wonderful inclusion of the mix of characters and how classes have made such an impact on life a we know it.

The time is post World War 1, the location is Galway, Ireland, the major players are Lady Annabeth De Lacy and Stephen Jennings, the situations are tense from the get-go. Lady Annabeth's father is the new landlord for the Galway area of Ireland. The locals, for the most part, are resistant to the British rule of the area and plan to make a point of telling the British Government they are not welcome. Lady Annabeth, or Anna, as she likes to be called is a rather creative type person who wants to learn silversmithing and the making of the Claddagh designs in jewelry. Her father arranges an apprenticeship with Stephen Jennings and his father. Stephen reluctantly takes her under his wing and teaches her about the jewelry, the people, and the customs of the area.

The De Lacy family is in dire financial straits due to Lord De Lacy's mismanagement of family funds. He has been posted to Galway as a last ditch effort to bring his standing with the nobility up to snuff, only he doesn't tell his family this. What he tries to do is to coerce Anna into a marriage with a man many years her senior, a man whom Anna knows to be a bully, but a man who is willing to bail them out financially. Anna does not want this marriage at all, and her younger sister, Emmaline is willing to take it on because she wants to live in the nobility/society circles. Anna doesn't want her sister to take on this man because of his reputation and age. She feels it is too great a sacrifice.

Jennifer Deibel has taken real conflicts and woven them into the warp and woof of a completely readable novel. She has also taken the best and worst traits of mankind and made believable characters who are flawed and real. The events in the book help to move the plot at a steady pace and keep the reader engaged. There wasn't much I didn't like about the book. The autonomy that Jennifer has imbued into Anna gives her the ability to design special jewelry for customers and for herself.

Five Stars, two thumbs up, and a Celtic Cross Claddagh


Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel is a great historical fiction that tells of a beautiful story of love finding a way to blossom in times of uncertainty, upheaval, and change.

What a wonderful, wonderful story. I love anything that takes place in Ireland, and being able to visit Galway City (era 1920s) was just breathtaking. The descriptions of the landscapes, structures, fashions, and life in this place and at this time…lets just say that the author has a real talent.

I loved this story of Annabeth and Stephen. That despite their differences of family, upbringing, and current social situations they found something in one another that went above all of those things. Their story and the progression towards the ending was slow, powerful, and romantic. I liked their respective characters as well. Both were likable, realistic, and had strong moral compasses. The passion and love that developed is evident as well.

Many changes were taking place politically at this time, and the author did a great job adding that feeling of unrest and volatility to the storyline gave things a sense of urgency and importance. I liked the balance between reality and romance.

I enjoyed the plot, pacing, and I loved the ending. I also enjoyed the Author’s Note at the end giving reference and inspiration.

A great read for anyone that loves historical fiction.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Revell Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 2/1/22.