FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

For 60 percent, I couldn’t put my finger on what was driving me nuts about this book. Then it hit me all at once and made the next 11 percent pure torture. So I’m done, and here’s what I landed on.

Neither lead acted their age. In fact, they both acted like impulsive, selfish eight-year-olds much more often than they acted like fully grown adults.

Catríona never could seem to remember that she had clients other than the rich guy she was intentionally matching poorly so he’d fall in love with her. Unethical, unprofessional, inappropriate… you name it! I’m not sure why her father and others in the community held such high opinions of her matchmaking skills (they claimed she was “the best” of the town, county, and country, but the best would act ethically and professionally). If I ran my editing business the way she ran her matchmaking one, I’d have clients running for the hills and telling everyone far and wide not to trust me with their precious books. (Thankfully, I run my business ethically and responsibly and cherish each and every client.) She even told one client that she hadn’t been treating him like she normally does her clients and then proceeded to give the excuses of being busy and having this very important client she had to match. Um, whoa. She just TOLD A CLIENT that she had MORE IMPORTANT CLIENTS than him???!! What in the world? Every client, as any good businessperson knows, is just as important as all the other ones. They each pay you a wage and expect good service. I cannot imagine treating my clients in the rude, immature, and ridiculous ways this lady did. And to basically forget you have a full load (plus an extra shoved-on-you client) simply because you’re trying to skip town with the rich guy? Wowzers, woman. Grow up.

Donal fooled me for a while. He seemed mature and responsible at first, taking care of his kid and his farm and all. But then push came to shove. We all know what happens then. The real truth comes out. He got a terrible business offer (basically a loan-shark sort of deal with a fast due date on the return) from a pair of elite, wealthy gents, and instead of praying about the idea and discovering the solution God had in store for him, he asked his NINE-YEAR-OLD daughter for advice (she didn’t have full understanding of the situation, of course, because she’s only NINE and has ZERO experience with crooked political types who are never happy unless they’re ripping off the little guys [like her daddy]) and—shock upon shock!—he took her advice and signed the paperwork. Not only that, but he left her home alone during a humongous, wild storm (hurricane or rain-wrapped tornado—it wasn’t made clear which it turned out to be) in order to impulsively head to town to sign the paperwork right then and there. Now, why on earth would he abandon his child, who should have been frightened as all get-out of the wild weather but somehow wasn’t (I’ve never known a child her age to not be petrified of tornados [which are much more prevalent than hurricanes in my area]), in order to make a business deal—and an atrocious one at that!

Then, after they go through a long search to rescue said child, Donal and Catríona somehow end up in a super passionate kissing session. How was that even a thing for these two? How had he even fallen in love with this lady who was smitten with and treating him poorly (way past abuse and/or neglect, if you ask me) for a guy with buckets and buckets of money and who Donal saw was a terrible flirt with all the servant girls? I mean, this rich dude was a flirty playboy at best and a vile pervert at worst. Not much leeway in between, if you ask me. And Donal knew Catríona was head over heels for the guy. Why would he let his heart yearn for a woman under such a surfacy, money-driven spell? That sort wouldn’t make a good wife for him or mother for his child!

And Catríona herself. Why would she let herself get wrapped up in Donal’s passion if she was still mooning over the rich guy? She hadn’t come to her senses about him up to this point even after he’d pushed himself on her, which made her uncomfortable but not so much as to immediately, or even belatedly, break off things with the guy. Was she asking to get accosted? I couldn’t really tell.

The kiss really came out of nowhere and made absolutely no sense.

I’m honestly not sure how I was supposed to root for these people. They didn’t make any smart or grownup decisions. They seemed to chase after things that weren’t biblically sound (which is never a good sign, if you ask me). And they weren’t even attracted to each other or considerate of each other for the majority of the book.

Romance? Eh, not so much. More like suspension of belief for however long it took me to decide to give up on this book.

Oh yeah. It was 71 percent. Not sure how that equated to hours spent, but however many it ended up being now feel completely wasted.

I was hoping to find out what happened to these fictional people, but at this point, I don’t even care.

I did like the parts of the festival that I saw. The dance and the tea and walk were very pleasant. I also loved how Ireland came alive under the author’s hand. That aspect was really well done. Deidre was my favorite character. She seemed the most realistic and responsible and delightful to be around. I wanted much, much more page time for her.

Content: pubs (excessive), alcohol, replacement expletives, replacement profanity, one expletive (through the first 71 percent of the story)

A wonderful historical fiction about one of my favorite places in the world, Ireland such a sweet romance . I highly recommend

I loved this book, very much enjoyed reading it and the setting in County Clare Ireland seemed such a beautiful setting. The Matchmaking Festival was something different and to read about it was fun and interesting. It is a wonderfully written tale and I was immersed in it and felt I was there.

Easy to read, g=heart-warming and fun, historical, sweet and charming. It is a feel good type of read and just the thing I needed to relax with at this time of year, Highly recommend. 4 1/2 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Revell for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Such a fantastical tale set in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland, 1905
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Matchmaking Festival which began in 1857 and continues every September to this very day!
The book blossoms with romance, delicately weaving in faith along with Irish terms.
I highly recommend it, alongside your favorite "tae". 🫖☕

I received this eVersion from NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel is a lovely work of historical fiction. This book is beautifully written. Set in Ireland of long ago, the setting is definitely one of the best parts of this book. Readers of historical fiction should love this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Until I got to the end of the book and the author talked about it, I had no idea that matchmakers were so big in Ireland. And that the annual matchmaking festival was a thing.

Overall, the book was a delightful, easy read full of charm and a bit of tension. You watch as Catríona struggles to impress Lord Osborne, his wife, and his eligible bachelor son, Andrew. Yet, she is far more at ease around Donal, a farmer she has taken as a client.

A few twists and turns get you to the ending most can anticipate - Catriona falls for Donal and becomes his wife.

It was my first time reading a book by Jennifer Deibel. I'll most likely be looking up other titles of hers now.

I just couldn't get into it. The writing style was wonderful, but it felt really out of place for romance. I felt it was more suited to literary fiction.

What's not to like about this book. First, I love this author. I have read all of her books and enjoy how they just take you away to a different time and place. This book is once again a great escape from your troubles. The characters were all well written and followed their personalities in how they reacted to what was going on around them. As always, the setting was described in minimal detail, but you can clearly picture the beautiful locations in your mind as you read. The story line was believable and flowed well. Excellent book I will no doubt read again!

Swweet Irish story that I read in a day. Loved the whole thing. great beach read. The writing was surprisingly good.

Catríona Daly is a matchmaker, taught by her father, in an Irish village called Lisdoonvarna. The annual matchmaking festival is upon them & she’s determined to finally meet her match, while also matching others. Donal Bunratty, who is a local farmer, is reluctantly attending the festival after his daughter made a birthday wish to have a mother again. Catríona ends up being Donal’s matchmaker & that’s where their story begins.

My favorite country I’ve traveled to is Ireland & I love all things Irish, so I was excited to read this one & I really enjoyed it! It’s so cool that this festival still exists after hundreds of years. The Irish Matchmaker is a very sweet love story!

This historical novel describes a matchmaking festival set in a town in Ireland. Catriona and her dad are both matchmakers, although Catriona has yet to find her own match. During the festival, she is tasked with matching playboy Andrew Osborne, whose gentry family wants an appropriate match for him, and whom Catriona secretly longs to wed. Fate has other plans when Catriona meets widower Donal Bunratty, a local farmer seeking a wife and also a mother for his little girl. Through many twists and turns, each person finds the "match" of his or her desire, along with help from neighbors and friends.

In some ways, this story reminded me of the biblical book of Job, in which all seems lost until one surrenders to faith in God. The Christian message is an integral part of the novel, but is not overbearing or preachy. The author has researched this novel well, and integrates historical characters with fictional ones. She also weaves her own beliefs and faith throughout the book. The only problem I had with this novel was the inclusion of Gaelic words and phrases, although there was a glossary in the front of the book. It was difficult to keep flipping to the glossary in this digital copy, probably easier with a print copy.

Readers who enjoy a sweet romantic novel with a historical basis will find this to be a welcome addition to their reading list, as well as readers who like all things Irish. (Besides, who can resist a little girl who is wise beyond her years, as well as friendly beasts whom she tends.) Highly recommended.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ideas expressed here are my own.

If you like Historical romance you will like this book. Catríona Daly helps her dad in this matchmaking business. When she is tasked with the job of finding a match for non other than Andrew Osborn she feels her dreams are finally coming true. She is not prepared to also have Donal Bunratty as a client. Donal only agrees to have a matchmaker because of his adorable daughter. Catriona and Donal both find themselves learning much more than they expected. I enjoyed reading this book.

Title: The Irish Matchmaker
Author: Jennifer Deibel

Ch: 30 plus epilogue

Pages: 320

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell


I have to say while not my favorite book by the author I still enjoyed it. I didn’t really like the heroine Catriona at the beginning. Sara the heroes daughter was actually my favorite character. And Donal was such a sweetheart but then I’m a bit of a sucker for the single dad troupe. But the heroine did redeem herself by the end.

I’ve seen readers saying this is a love triangle book, but I didn’t get that vibe even though there’s two guys in the story. That doesn’t mean love triangle that means the author wants to kept the readers on their toes and continuing to read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Book: The Irish Matchmatcher
Author: Jennifer Deibel
Publisher: Revell
Length: 317 Pages
Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars
Blog Rating: 4.5 Saltire Flags

Ireland
Catriona Daly is the daughter of a popular matchmaker and she knows the ins and outs of this business. She sees this is her only way out of this drowsy hamlet. Andrew is very good looking and rich but everyone thinks he might be her ticket to escape this time. Except even being Lord Osborne’s son he is looking for a wife.

Cattle farmer Dona; Bunratty is a widower looking for a wife he also has a daughter Sarahand only at her insistence he eyes Catriona but see’s her interest is elsewhere. Soon Catriona starts to change her mind, especially how she seems to start to care for this young farmer’s daughter and her father as well.

Can Catriona realize sometimes you do not need to look any further than your own backyard to see what potential a promising life with lots of love might bring. However will that be enough for our heroine Catriona? Is it money for selfish desire or love and a family that will last forever? Read and find out and see what she will choose.

I guess it is my fault and I did not realize this was a Christian romance. I tend to like my books with more passion in them. As for the writing, the story was good and I loved the relationship with the daughter and her father a lot so it definitely kept my interest from start to finish.

I got an arc from netgalley for an honest review. All words and ideas are my own

This story was a lovely tale of the matchmaking kind. Catriona was born in a community that celebrated matching people in a "famed home of romance". It was enlightening to read the story of how she was met to help match others but had yet to find love of her own. This story was rich in history and language of really creating the town and community of Lisdoonvarna, Ireland. From the description of the rawness of the land and the classes of people, to the lilt of the language and dialogue in this book, you really felt like you were hearing first hand of tale of finding love where you least expect it. The author gives a great beginning of painting the picture of the time period and how Irish people lived. It was authentic and original. You follow the ups and downs and when love is found, the author doesn't just stop there. You have more to read of their story, Catriona and her true match, how love, although sometimes is hard to find, you have to work to keep it and cherish it, even at the cost of sacrificing. I appreciate that the book was well rounded and had a lot of back story, a lot of middle substance and spectacular ending.

Great valentines through st. Patrick’s day read. Experience the Irish tradition of these two holidays through a famous festival that matchmakers match couples together with high success rates. But what happens when the matchmaker wants to get matched up? But the guy she wants matched with is not who she should end up with. Such a sweet story of how our story may end differently than we have planned it, and God knows best.

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel was absolutely delightful. I haven’t read such a sweet, smeary historical romance in such a long time. I actually enjoyed the male and female main characters, Donal and Catríona. There were realistic and dealt with some of the same existencial struggles that real people experience. Even though the story line is a tiny bit predictable, I still devoured it. The story starts off in the 1905 in County Claire, Ireland, at the start of the Match Making Festival. Grumpy farmer Donal keeps a promise to his daughter and attends the festival in hopes of finding a wife through the help of matchmaker Cary. And what follows is a sweet slow burn realization of love. With this being set in Ireland, there are words that the author uses that I’m not familiar with but it didn’t distract me from the text in general. I also like how the author weaved teachings from the biblical Sermon on the Mount through out the story and as an eventual conflict resolution.

If you’re a fan of historical romances, definitely add this to your TBR!

1920s, the countryside of Ireland, romance. Um, what more could we ask for?!?! Nothing.
I loved that I signed up for a period love story and ended up with s heartwarming story about love, community, perseverance, and hope.
4/5!!

This was a wonderful read. I loved every moment of this family trusting in faith and finding a new path. Just the right amount of romance and Sarah was perfect. Delightful!

What a charming story!! “The Irish Matchmaker” is my second read by Jennifer Deibel, and I simply can’t get enough of her work!! I absolutely adored Sara and Donal🥰 I have a special place in my heart for the single parent trope, and the father-daughter bond that Sara and Donal shared absolutely won my heart❤️

I also really enjoyed the premise of this story! I’ve never read a book where match-making was a central plot point before, but this story made me want to go snatch up some more matchmaking stories!! Seeing Catríona’s behind the scenes perspective during her matchmaking duties absolutely fascinated me!

I also have to say that Jennifer Deibel has true talent in intertwining faith elements into her stories. The way she tied in the sermon on the mount (aka “The Serpent on the Mound”😂) was both beautiful and inspiring❤️ I love when stories encourage my faith, and Jennifer’s writing definitely does that🙏🏻

Overall, I highly enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it to others🥳