A story of faith, life, and love set in Ireland that I enjoyed. It is a Christian historical romance and contains scripture as part of the story. Saoirse survived a family tragedy only to have more bad luck follow her. Just when she thinks there might be a future even more bad things happen and she is determined to flee to protect the life and the people she is coming to love. But is it bad luck or are the events guiding her to her true path? Saoirse is a strong, resilient woman and I enjoyed reading her story. Her relationship with Owen is complicated as they each are struggling to find their way. Weaving is an integral part of the story and the relationship between Owen and Saoirse and I found it fascinating. The work, strength, and dedication to make the cloth that we take for granted is astounding. I recommend this book for readers that enjoy sweet historical romances.

Jennifer Deibel’s new release Heart of the Glen is a historical fiction romance with elements of family drama, suspense, and action. Deibel draws the reader in to Saoirse’s story and how she will fit in with the McCready family, particularly Owen. The descriptions of the townspeople and weaving were some of my favorite parts of the story.
If you enjoy historical romances with Christian themes, add Heart of the Glen to the top of your to be read pile. You won’t be disappointed, particularly if you enjoy stories with an Irish setting. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book by Deibel that I have read and eagerly await her next one. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the publisher for my review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Friday, January 24, 2025
Heart of the Glen





Owen is one of the main characters in this story. I already knew I would love him as my grandson's name is Owen. Owen McCready is an Irish Weaver in the beautiful town of Dunlewey, Ireland. The town is made up of many kind and passionate residents. They are hardworking and willing to help their neighbors in their time of need.

Saoirse Fagan came upon the town in a desperate situation. She was extremely fortunate to meet Owen's sister, Aileen, on the way.

Both Owen and Saoirse had difficulties in letting go of their past regrets. It wasn't until they listened, really listened to GOD that they were able to live the life GOD planned for them.

I absolutely loved the book. It had everything I love in a story. Romance. The location. The characters. Owen, Saoirse and Aileen were a joy to get to know.

Jennifer Diebel has a special talent in bringing her characters alive.

No one makes me escape to Ireland like Jennifer Deibel, and The Heart of the Glen is no exception! I can see the emerald fields dotted with sheep and cottages, smell turf fires, hear the ceilidh music, and taste the tea and brown bread. I am truly standing in Ireland when I read a Jennifer Deibel story. Meticulously researched with appropriate artistic license, Jennifer Deibel has depicted the struggles of life in Ireland in 1912. However, this beautiful romance is not too heavy and equally shows the joy and faith of the Irish community is the face of trials. This grumpy hero and his mysterious heroine learn to love each other while leaning on the Lord for His provision of the future. Gospel truth is beautifully woven into this story of forgiveness of others and yourself, but also the forgiveness and love of Christ. Splendidly written, this historical romance is the perfect armchair trip to Ireland!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I really did love it!

If you ever wondered how the Irish countryside is like, this book is perfect. Deibel's precise words of imagery make you feel as if you've stepped into the heathers and dusty roads, and that you've gone back in time.

The part that fascinated me the most was learning the art of weaving. The sheer size of the machine, learning the weaver's knot with one hand, working each thread in tandem...

And then there is Saoirse's story, which is full of grief and hardship. You could even say she's cursed. First, she arrives at her new job, only to find her employers suddenly died. Luckily, Aileen, a local, finds her and takes her in.

Saoirse is immediately enamored by Aileen's brother, Owen, who owns a sheep farm and is a master weaver. But unfortunately, Owen is attacked by bandits, leaving his arm severely injured.

Saoirse and Owen must work together to weave his biggest project yet or risk losing hte farm. As one bad event happens after another, will they be able to finish on time?

I'm just in awe of how strong and courageous Saoirse is despite everything. Many people would've given up, but she is all the more better for it, and it creates a stable and concrete relationship with her new family.

I NEED MORE!!!!

This story starts with Saoirse (incidentally, you pronounce that as seer-sha, which is definitely NOT the mess I was saying in my mind!) who gets dropped off to serve in a mansion that is completely closed up. No one's there, and her ride already left. She wanders the countryside and is then picked up by someone else. Which leads to everything else. I'm not giving anything away here.

I have always wanted to visit Ireland (did you know there are no snakes there? That's my kind of place!), and after reading one of Jennifer's books, I feel like I've been there.

I love the way faith is interwoven throughout the story, and how Owen sees the parallel between his own life and that of Gideon's. I love how God shows up. But I love that in general. 😉

I also enjoyed reading about the weaving process, and learning about the singing so they can find and keep the rhythm while weaving. That's fascinating to me.

If you love Irish romance, Jennifer Deibel is a must read author!

It did take me a while to get into the book-over halfway. And there was an inconsistency about drawing the parallel to Gideon, plus something about the weaving that didn't seem realistic (no spoilers), which is why I'm not giving this 5 stars.

~I was given a complimentary copy of this book. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~

Do you have a favorite book, movie, or TV Show that is set in Ireland? I’ve read so many good ones. One that has stuck with me is The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue.

Saoirse Fagan arrives at Drumboe Castle to start a new job as a housemaid and finds it abandoned. A tragedy has taken her family and home, and she is not sure what to do or where to go. She wanders on the road until a young woman, Aileen, finds her and invites her to stay in her barn. Will Saoirse find out what path life wants her to take?

My thoughts on this novel:
• I loved the Irish setting for this novel.

• I loved the romance between Saoirse and Aileen’s brother, Owen.

• This novel had a slow build and forced proximity romance tropes. These are both tropes I enjoy.

• I thought the details on weaving were fascinating.

• I also loved Stout – Owen’s dog in the novel. He’s a very faithful dog and also loved Saoirse. They know she’s a good person as the dog loves her.

• There is a landslide in the novel, and it made for a harrowing read.

• Saoirse carries a lot of guilt about the death of her family. She struggles and work through it by talking to her new friend Bridie as well as listening to Father Cunningham’s sermons.

• I was disturbed on how Owen was attacked repeatedly, and his sheep almost taken. Desperate times lead to desperate men.

• This novel is a sweet and clean romance.

• There is a great author’s note at the end of the novel about the inspirations for the story.

• There is also a preview of last year’s book by the author, The Irish Matchmaker. I want to read this book.

Overall, Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel was a sweet historical romance with a great Irish setting and theme of forgiveness.

Book Source: Review copy from Revell Books as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Heart of the Glen is a Christian historical fiction with strong themes of friendship and romance.

I struggled a bit with the pacing of this story, finding it too slow for my taste. However some might really enjoy this aspect of this relaxing and reflective read. What I did love was the village of Glentornan, its people, culture and social intricacies. I was thrilled to learn the real life backstory of this mysterious village and the author did a beautiful job of weaving reality with fiction. The characters of Saoirse, Owen and Aileen were Ernest and endearing, and each had their journey to conquer. Overall this is a heartfelt read that is likely to appeal to appeal to anyone looking for a warm and thoughtful read. 3.5⭐️

Thank you Revel! for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

What would you do if you lost your entire family and everything in the world that belonged to you, and you felt like it was all your fault? Where would you go? This is the situation that Saoirse Fagan faces at the opening of Heart of the Glen. Her initial instinct is to pack her bags and head to a new job far away, but upon her arrival, she finds that the new job is no longer an option. Feeling cursed as she wanders the Irish countryside, Saoirse winds up getting taken in by a brother and sister struggling to keep their farm and tweed business afloat. It doesn't take long because Saoirse becomes as valuable to them as they are to her - but she can't shake the feeling that they'd sever ties with her if they knew her true story.

This was such a beautiful story sharing the message of the hope of redemption. The relationships in Heart of the Glen are so heartwarming to discover, from Saoirse's friendship with Aileen, to her budding romance with grumpy Owen. Even the loyalty of Stout the sheep dog will warm your heart!

Two elements of Jennifer Deibel stories that I always look forward to are her deep dives into Scripture and her showcases of unique elements of Irish culture. In Heart of the Glen, she features the story of Gideon and relates his perseverance and faith to a more modern setting (albeit still a century+ removed from the current day). Her insights always give me so much to think about, and the message of this story is so important to hear! The cultural and historical elements featured in this story are the Irish tweed industry and the unique story of the town of Glentornan in County Donegal. I learned so much reading this book, and I'm so glad I read it!

Another wonderful heartfelt novel set in Ireland. Saoirse has just gotten to Drumboe Castle for her new maid position, a new start from the tragedy she left behind. But all is dark and a neighbor informs her that the lord of the castle passed away last week. Now what? She has come all this way and now has no position and cannot go back home. When a stranger finds her walking, she kindly offers to give her food and shelter for a day or two until she can find a position elsewhere or decide on where she is going to head to next. Aileen and Owen and hardly keeping things afloat, but the two siblings always seem to find a way. Carrying on their family's legacy, Owen is a weaver and so when he becomes injured protecting their land and sheep, worry comes with how he will keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Wanting to offer all she can in return for Aileen's kindness, Saorise offers to learn the weaving and help Owen. There is no way he has time to train this stranger that his sister has taken pity on. He has enough to worry about trying to do things himself! After a terrible storm has wiped out the town, and helping others Owen realizes that maybe having Saorise help won't be so bad after all. God always has a plan and Owen needs to trust it. As the two work together they realize they are both carrying a burden from the past but trusting in another can often lessen that burden. I really enjoyed this novel and the scenery that the author always paints of Ireland. Thank you to Austenprose for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

Jennifer Deibel always does such a great job with whisking the reader away to Ireland and immersing them in the culture and the land, and this book did exactly that. I felt like I devoured Heart of the Glen and I would have to say this was probably my favorite read by this author so far. I found it so enjoyable that I’m sure I will go back and listen to it in audio format at some point because I find her books to be so entertaining when around aloud in an Irish accent. The one I do in my head is not nearly accurate enough. I do appreciate the glossary of terms so I know what the characters are saying but I know I am so butchering the pronunciation!

I adored Saoirse and Owen together. I wish I could fully put into words why, but I feel like they just “fit,” if that makes sense! Man, each of them were fighting their own internal battles between Owen trying to keep his family afloat and Saoirse running from the guilt of her past. Just the subtle ways they came together to comfort and support each other, while each trying to unravel just what God’s plans meant for them and the world around them in general was just beautiful. And their chemistry was amazing! It wasn’t like “light the page on fire” explosive, but it was just so sweet and tender that it hit me in the feels in a different way. When they were working together in the weaving shed, I mean, come on! I will say I wish there was more at the end! I am begging for an epilogue here!! But I guess that just shows you that I loved the story and did not want it to end.

This was a delightful, atmospheric story. I could hear the Irish lilt as I read and gleaned new insight into old Irish customs.
Saoirse is a troubled soul haunted by the loss of her family. She is taken in by Aileen and Owen McCready after her employment opportunity falls through. Owen is a master weaver and sister Aileen helps on the sheep farm while he plies his trade. After someone attacks Owen, it is up to Saoirse to learn how to weave the tweed that will save the farm.
I loved the setting and the characters in this novel. They are stalwart and have a faith that is long-standing, and it sustains them through difficulties. A couple, Bridie and John, are the voice of spiritual wisdom, and showed friendship and hospitality. The portrayal of Stout the sheep dog was a highlight. I could just picture him, herding the sheep in response to the whistle commands that Owen used.
This book was a joy to read. It kept me turning pages, especially during the tense moments. The romance built slowly and was very sweet. A great addition to the list of novels by this talented author.
* A complementary copy of this book was provided by Revell on behalf of the author, and by NetGalley through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

Thank you to Revell Fiction for the ARC of Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this beautiful story set in an immersive early-1900s Ireland. The romance was sweet, the setting was beautifully described, and the faith themes were interwoven so thoughtfully.

I haven’t read a lot of books set in Ireland, and I loved how well this author described the setting with historical detail. I also enjoyed learning about weaving and all the intricacies that go into mastering that craft.

The romance was definitely a slow burn, but it was so wonderful to watch these characters grow spiritually and then finally realize how God had brought them together. I loved their sweet interactions and their time spent together in the weaving shed.

I think my favorite aspect of this book was how the author included Christianity in such a thoughtful way that encouraged my own faith. While the characters often struggled with their relationship with God, I loved all the reminders of God’s faithfulness even amidst their trials.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who would love to be immersed into this beautiful Irish setting and be encouraged in their faith.

From the first chapter, I was transported to the beautiful landscape of Ireland. Deibel is a master storyteller and her stories are not to be missed!

Irish words and phrases!
Sweet romance!
Christian themes and messages!
Trial and tribulation, but working with others and faith to overcome!

Lived all the characters in this book and their fantastic story!

"Saoirse Fagan had blood on her hands. She turned them over in her lap and studied her palms and fingertips. The crimson stain couldn't be seen, but it was there. She knew it. Could feel it seeping into her bones, forever changing who she was" (location 68). Saoirse feels she brings bad luck wherever she goes. So when she has a chance to help someone, she's all in. But then again, maybe she caused the trouble in the first place. Who knows? She's a very sympathetic character. I liked her.

This story was a little slow paced for me but I read a ton of suspense so it might not feel that way to everyone. It felt like it was more about the message of what Owen needed to learn than about the people but it was written well and it was moving and satisfying.

There were some fun nods to Irish culture and I loved the pancake flipping race. I could picture it and it made me laugh.
Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What a wonderful Irish tale; so rich with history, faith, emotion, and plenty of tea!
QUOTABLE:
"His words had soothed her raw and weary spirit like a cup of tea after a trying day."

I am immensely satisfied with Owen and Saoirse's story and all the turmoils they had to overcome. Additionally, I loved Stout, the dog. I happily recommend yet another of Jennifer Deibel's books.
☘Heart of the Glen
Release Date Jan 21, 2025
Published by Revell a division of Baker Publishing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received an eVersion from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion without expectation or compensation.

Heart of the Glen is a story of finding hope in despair and redemption in the midst of the fallout of our own mistakes. Jennifer Deibel writes stories in which tragic circumstances are part and parcel of the narrative. Set in Ireland, this tale begins with a young woman’s guilt and grief and moves through the pain and challenges of an entire community.

Perhaps more than I remember from other novels, this book carries a strong reflection on the Scripture and how God often uses tragedy to bring about His triumph, with the story of Gideon taking a central role.

It’s a story of friendship and a story of finding love. It doesn’t have a happily ever after ending and yet the ending is completely satisfying in the sense that God is at work in each and every life, making a way forward, even while the characters are having to lay down things that they would cling to along the way.

I enjoyed the book. It was thought provoking and really highlighted how easy it is to believe the lies that we tell ourselves rather than trust in the Lord. It also highlighted the beauty of community and the faithfulness of God in the midst of all the brokenness of the world.

I received a free digital copy and am giving you my honest opinion of the novel.

💚Heart of the Glen by Jennifer Deibel

When Saoirse Fagan arrives at Drumboe Castle to start her new job as housemaid, she is dismayed to learn that the lord of the house passed away a week prior. Already running from the tragedy that claimed the lives of her family members, Saoirse wanders the road through the darkening glen with nowhere to go until Aileen McCready offers her a lift and a place to stay for the night.

Aileen’s brother, sheep farmer and weaver Owen McCready, is known for his intricate and impeccably woven tweed. But when he’s injured, his entire livelihood is endangered. A new—and distracting—mouth to feed adds fuel to the fire, and Owen struggles to keep his family afloat. Though Saoirse is eager to help, even offering to learn the weaving craft, Owen is hesitant to accept aid from this strange young woman, no matter how inexplicably magnetic he finds her.

But Saoirse is not one to give up easily. She’s determined to convince the McCreadys that they need her—perhaps as much as she needs them.

🍀 About This Book:
- Christian Historical Romance
- Stand Alone Novel
- Ireland, 1912
- POV: Saoirse and Owen
- Forced Proximity
- Grumpy/Sunshine Dynamics
- He has a dog
- He’s a sheep herder and weaver
- She’s running from tragedy
- Published 2025
- Parents Guide: kissing, and some mild violence

🐾 My Thoughts:
This was such a beautiful story! Cami and I have some Irish ancestry so I’ve always felt a pull toward stories from this area. The stories make me feel connected to those who came before me. I felt like I got small glimpses into what life was like for them. There are strong themes of faith and forgiveness in this book. The question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” is addressed. I love how the author tied biblical stories to her characters and their individual circumstances. That is the magic and power of scriptures! The romance was sweet and included some swoony kisses. I would love to have Aileen as a best friend. This book was a page turner!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the book for lovers of historical fiction and admirers of Ireland. The vibrantly atmospheric and immersive descriptions of the Irish countryside, along with the high concentration of Gaelic vernacular throughout, makes this book feel like you’ve stepped within the borders of Ireland itself.

I did not end up pushing through to the end because by 25% through I felt the plot was moving much too slow for my tastes and I wasn’t connecting to the characters. Also, I personally found the Gaelic and high amount of Irish-cultural references confusing. There was an increasing amount of references to superstitions and cultural mystic beliefs, which I found surprising for a Christian-centered book.

This book wasn’t my cup of tea, but I think certain readers could really enjoy it!

Thank you to the author & Revell publishing for the complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.