Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Caty Daly is a matchmaker in Donnegal, Ireland and we find her in the midst of the Matchmaking Festival. She is tasked with two important matches, each on a different side of the economic spectrum of the county: Andrew Osborne, a handsome Lord’s son whose match fell through the year before, and Donal, a farmer whose wife died six years ago but his daughter has begged him to attend the festival.

A gentle novel exploring the small town life of early twentieth century Ireland, it touches delicately on faith in the depth of despair. Caty is a headstrong character and the family dynamic between Donal and his daughter Sara is sweet. Caty’s goal to get out of her small town is understandable, as is her infatuation with the gentry - Andrew. This historical fiction tale is a quick read and a sweet, evolving romance. Highly suggest for those looking for a historical clean romance.

The Irish Matchmaker is a sweet story of small town, country life. Donal and Cat are that typical couple that have circled around each other for years living in a small community until they have their Aha moment...sometimes life, perspective, and circumstances can do that. While some of the big plot turning events lacked a little consistency and believability, the overall effect made its point. A delightful story that makes you long for village life.

Deibel’s newest release does not disappoint! She whisks the reader away to Ireland and the town on Lisdoonvarna during the matchmaking festival! I was immediately taken in by the sights, sounds, and people of the town. Donal, Catriona, Sara, Jimmy, and even Owen. I loved the atmosphere and felt like I was there watching the festivities.

The underlying theme of the sermon on the mount was expertly and naturally woven into the story. I loved the faith aspect that was such a natural part of the story. Deibel has created such a lifelike world that you become a part of it when you read. The Irish Matchmaker is a lovely historical christian fiction novel and one that I recommend reading. I received a complimentary copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

My favorite book by Jennifer! And I love all her books so that is saying alot. Catriona vows to never go back to the life of farming where once she and her father struggled to make ends meet. Now considered middle class, she longs for true love and of course it wouldn't hurt if she married a handsome wealthy young man whom she is supposed to be matching with someone else.
In comes farmer Donal who is a bit reluctant to find a match, but does so at his daughter's request because she really wants a mom. Also, supposed to be matched by Catriona, but he can't help rather being with her then the ladies she sets him up with.
Full of Irish culture, humor, twists, and turns, this gem will have you sighing with the unexpected satisfying end.

This was a great story set in Ireland. I loved reading about the setting and characters. The author, Deibel, does a fantastic job of allowing the reader to feel a part of the story. The story is about Catriona, the daughter of a well-known matchmaker, trying to find a match for a widowed cattle farmer, Donal. Donal has a little girl and he hopes to find a wife who will be a mother to his child. He attends a special match-making festival at the request of his daughter. Unfortunately, he does not find the one he is looking for among the many women attending. As the story goes Donal realizes that the matchmaker herself could be the woman of his dreams but does not know how to let her know. There is also a little angst in the form of a gentleman who is also interested in Catriona.

This book has it all - a good single Dad story with a precious daughter that made the story even better; a matchmaker who is kind and sweet and someone you are cheering for to find love for herself. This is a very clean Christian romance that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good love story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Catriona and her father Jimmy Daly are matchmakers in the town of Lisdoonvarna
in Ireland. Each year in September there is a festival where single people
can find love with the help of a Matchmaker.

Donal is a farmer and a single father who is trying to meet ends.
His daughter Sarah encourages him to take part in the festival in order to find love but also have a new mother.

Catriona is supposed to help Donal find a suitable match... But they soon develop a friendship that will change all her plans.

Donal's faith is rekindled through the challenges to keep his farm and he must learn to trust God to provide for his needs, for if God clothes the flowers of the fields he can do it for his family too.

Catriona's strength allows her to take the best decision in the end and to not settle for less. God has the best in store for her.

It's a beautiful love story, once you start it you want to finish it, I really love the characters and their courage to move ahead to rebuild their
lives.

Let's all go to the matchmaking festival in Ireland and see if we can find love! Jennifer Deibel's latest novel will bring delight and joy and two people discover that what they really want is not nearly as complicated as they believed. Matchmaker Catriona is determined to leave rural life behind. She has been charged with making a match for a wealthy family and believes she can convince them to allow her to marry the son, rather than someone else. She is also charged with matching single father and widow Donal and he soon realizes that the only person he is interested in is her. Will the two finally realize how important they are to each other, or will they continue to dance around the obvious. Lots of fun and a delightful read, you won't want to miss this!
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher. I truly enjoyed it!

In The Irish Matchmaker, Jennifer Deibel once again makes Ireland come alive with her lyrical writing voice and vibrantly-drawn characters. The story engaged all my senses and I felt as though I were right there in the pub with Catríona and her father or at the farm with Donal and Sara, the sights & sounds & smells almost tangible. I have also somehow gone the majority of my life without knowing about the matchmaking traditions of the Irish, but I’ve recently read a couple of novels – including this one – centered around matchmakers and I find it so charming. The family tradition element is especially fascinating, and the author’s note at the end of this story made me want to learn even more.

I loved Donal, our story’s hero, and his precocious little girl Sara. Quite a pair these two make, and I melted more than once at how Sara has her dad wrapped around her little finger. She doesn’t take too much advantage of this, though, unless it comes to pushing the young widower to find a wife… and then she’s delightfully not afraid to employ all the adorable wiles at her disposal. Donal is a bit of a tragic hero and my heart ached for him at the impossible situations he finds himself in with his farm and livelihood. He’s quiet but steady and doesn’t think he’s interested in romance. But keep those fans handy because he just may surprise himself before all is said and done! The faith journey on which Deibel takes Donal in The Irish Matchmaker really touched me, not only because it was so meaningful but also because I just loved Donal so much and was rooting for him to succeed.

Catríona is the kind of heroine you want as a friend, her natural warmth setting you at ease and her spirited personality promising an adventure. She made me smile whenever she was on the page, simply because her energy felt so lively and engaging. She doesn’t overpower Donal, though…. well, not much anyway lol. They complement each other nicely, as a matter of a fact, and I very much enjoyed watching them fall in love. And can we have three cheers for a heroine who’s a bit more plump than the norm? I adored the relatability of her character (in other ways besides appearance too) and loved her sense of humor.

Bottom Line: The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel is lovely and charming and sweet, and its layered characters will settle right into your heart… even the cows. What a delightful setting for a novel, too – a quaint Irish village known for its annual matchmaking festival (and what fun that would be to observe!). Beautiful faith lessons are integrated naturally into the story, developing the characters even further without distracting from the plot. And ohhhh the romance is so swoony and edifying and I’ve been living in a happy little glow since I closed the last page. A must-read for fans of Laura Frantz and Lori Benton – with an Irish twist!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

Loved everything about this book. The setting, the story, the characters. Didn't know anything about Irish Matchmaking but learned so much.

“Making the perfect match is both art and science—but love doesn't always follow the rules.” ☕📚

This is a new release for February 13, 2024, by Jennifer Deibel.

What a story!
To be honest, when I saw the LONG list glossary of Irish words in the first couple of pages, my heart sank. There were so many. And I’m Scots-Irish and familiar with some!

I glanced over them briefly and decided to just jump right in, not wanting to take the time there.

The culture, language, and lifestyle of Ireland are very authentic right from the start. As a very quick reader, this is not one you can rush through. It’s much too rich. I worried it might feel like I was bogging down, but it ended up not being the case at all once the star of the story was introduced, eight-year-old Sara! She was a hilarious, spunky, fun addition to this romance story.

WHAT’S THERE TO LOVE? What I liked was the unusual plot line. I’ve watched many a ‘hallmark-ish” movie about the matchmaking festivals that still occur, but this story had quite the twists and turns. I like it when I can’t predict everything that is to come.
I loved Catriona’s heart despite her hard life. Not only does she take care of her father, she seems to take care of everyone! One of my favorite parts was when she came to Sara’s rescue early on, in the face of bullies. I enjoyed being annoyed with Catriona when she was being such a fool about Andrew. But Sara and her father were truly the best part of it all.
It was refreshing to read a novel about an Irish town that didn’t feel cheesy-fake Irish with words that Irish folk don’t say like, “Top of the morning” or talk of four-leaf clovers. haha

ANY CAUSE FOR PAUSE? My advice is to just keep reading if you feel a little overwhelmed with Irishness - I thought it was worth it! If you are not into Irish culture, this is not the book for you!

CONSIDER READING IF… you want a clean romance with realistic struggles like poverty, grief, and pride that must be dealt with, and believable characters that take a while to figure it all out, but are entertaining and precious as they do! 😀

MY RATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 This was released on February 13, 2024.

☕📚 Thanks to Revell and NetGalley. I received a complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ☕📚

Classic romance plot. Lovable characters and interactions.

The setting and writing help you immerse yourself in the Irish counties as you follow Catriona, Donal, and Sara’s story.

Immerse yourself in the rich history of Irish matchmaking. A practice they devote an entire month-long festival to. This story will give you a taste of factual history, along with a really lovely romantic storyline! Catriona Daly, the daughter of a well-known and well-respected matchmaker, has decided to use the festival to match herself to a rich bachelor and free herself of small-town life. Widower, Donal Bunratty has granted his daughter, Sara's birthday wish and agreed to attend the festival and see if he can find her a mother. The two connect and due to certain circumstances, Catriona ends up being Donal's matchmaker. Their relationship is quite sweet and I really enjoyed their fun demeaner with one another. I also really enjoyed Catriona's interactions and relationship with Sara. With plenty of fun, a moving faith thread, and a sweet romance this story is sure to please almost anyone!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Revell eARC
I look forward to Deibel's books every spring because it's a wonderful time of year to spend in the Irish countryside. I adored Donal and Sara in this book. This was such a beautiful father and daughter relationship. I loved their trust and love for each other, and I wanted nothing but the best for them. The Irish Matchmaking Festival was such a fun plot for this book. It was an interesting look into something that I knew nothing about, but it worked so well. I also liked all of the tension the author created in this book. There were so many different kinds of conflict that left me really connecting with the characters and rooting for most of them. Deibel has a way of transporting the reader, so along with these characters, I was also swept away into the descriptions of the beautiful land and farm at the center of this story. To tie it all together, she used the Sermon on the Mount as her theme of this book, and what a beautiful reminder it was to have it here. This was lovely and I look forward to what she writes next.

The Irish Matchmaker is a thoroughly enjoyable read! With a cast of kind and sweet characters, its appeal is vast. Matchmaker Catriona has successfully guided many couples to a happy marriage, all except herself. Meanwhile, widowed Donal is facing pressure from a Matchmaker of his own, his daughter. This sweet romance will appeal to many.

An unmatched matchmaker and a farmer who does not want a match create quite the pair as the Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival turns the Irish town and its residents on their ears. Catriona Daly and her father come from a long line of Irish matchmakers and it seems as though Caty is going to have her hands full making another match for a certain gentleman after the last one made for him did not stick. Caty would not mind being his match, but she also has a job to do. What Caty does not want is to be stuck in Lisdoonvarna for the rest of her life, and certainly not married to a farmer. Donal Bunratty has been married, but raising wee Sara and managing the farm since his wife passed has not left him inspired to seek another partner.

In her new release, Jennifer Deibel drops us right into the heart of the merriment. Her settings are lively and full of character. Her characters draw us in and bring us alongside them in the daily routines of life on the farm and in the town. We are partnered with them as residents and visitors alike search for a partner in life and, possibly, in love. Caty may be the matchmaker, but is she prepared for the match that finds her?

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.

This is a fun, sweet book about love and matchmaking. It also has a big, beautiful emphasis on trusting the Lord who takes care of the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. I loved Donal. He is a great father and isn't afraid to dance a silly dance or try something crazy to make her happy. It was fun watching him grow when faced with nearly insurmountable difficulties.

It was interesting reading about a month long matchmaking festival. When I read the end and found it was an actual event that still continues, I was flabbergasted. It was quaint and unusual. I loved it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'd recommend it. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is the second novel I have read by Jennifer Deibel and I will say - I will be looking for more.

She does a great job developing her characters and you want them to win in the end!

I enjoyed Donal and Cate. The idea of a match maker and people happy with it was the way things were just done is absolutely fascinating. The premise had me researching more of the history.

I just reviewed The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel. #TheIrishMatchmaker #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel in return for an honest review.

The Irish Matchmaker is an enjoyable Christian historical fiction novel. Generally not a genre that I read, I was pleasantly surprised. I loved the father-daughter relationship and the descriptions of Ireland. Taking place in 1905, centered around a Matchmaking Festival, the reader meets Catriona Daly, a matchmaker and the daughter of one. She has found love for others in the community, but not for herself. Her dream of finding her own person who will take her away from Lisdoonvarna is dimming, until she is asked to make a match for Andrew, Lord Osborne’s son. Catriona would like to be his match, but things become complicated when Donal Bunratty, a father and struggling farmer takes part in the festival because his daughter wants him to, and Catriona has caught his eye.

3.5 stars
Author Jennifer Diebel creates an authentic Irish feel for readers through vivid local language and setting description. It’s easy to picture the matchmaking festival in her village and the surrounding areas as characters meander here and there.
The story follows local matchmaker Catriona Daly as she faces yet another festival as a single woman responsible for helping people find their true love. Catriona seems a wise character at the beginning but then becomes singly focused on her personal goal. There are moments, however, where her kindness shines and so she’s not an entirely selfish character.
Donal is a likeable hero and one can’t help but feel his pain as he tries to navigate the matchmaking process – all for the love of his nine-year-old daughter. Sarah is an adorable child and adds much to the storyline.
There are plenty of humorous situations and equally awkward ones. The story has an ebb and flow, giving readers plenty of narrative. As well, readers will learn a lot of gaelic as the author’s signature style peppers the pages with vocabulary.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Such a cute story! I loved the setting and the focus on all of the Irish matchmaking. It was fascinating to think about a matchmaking festival and all the couples that got their start that way. Catriona and Donal’s story was cute too- I’m glad she didn’t settle on Andrew. I only wish more would’ve been said about Andrew and his obvious disrespect for all the women he interacted with, especially those “below” his station. Loved the way Donal and Sara loved and cared for each other too!