All her life, Boston-born Moira Doherty has relished her
mother's descriptions of the Emerald Isle. When her mother dies unexpectedly in
the summer of 1920, Moira is compelled to fulfill her dying wish--that she
become the teacher in Ballymann, the beloved village in Donegal, Ireland, she's
heard so much about.
After an arduous voyage, Moira begins a challenging new job in an unfamiliar
and ancient country. Though a few locals offer a warm welcome, others are
distanced by superstition and suspicion. Rumors about Moira's mother are
unspoken in her presence but threaten to derail everything she's journeyed to
Ballymann to do. Moira must rely on the kindness of a handful of friends--and
the strength of Sean, an unsettlingly handsome thatcher who keeps popping up
unannounced--as she seeks to navigate a life she'd never dreamed of . . . but
perhaps was meant to live.
My Thoughts:
I have never had the chance to go to Ireland but this beautiful book made me feel that I did have a little bit of a visit in 1920, without even leaving my own house. Moira has just suddenly lost her mother and her mother's dream for her was for Moira to go back to Ireland to the land her mother loved. The chance comes along with the job of the local schoolteacher.
Deciding to take this chance of a lifetime Moira steps onto the green hills of Ireland with adventure in her heart and the memories of her dear mother's blessings. Little does she know that this land has a way of hiding secrets and those secrets can be most deadly. And the people can be most stubborn.
This was a most enchanting read and the author did a great job immersing the reader in the culture, superstitions, and even the lyrical language. There was a slow burn romance and quite a few surprises along the way that absorbed this reader. There was a very strong spiritual thread throughout as well, and not at all in a preachy way.
This was my first Author Deibel story and I look forward to reading more of what she pens.
I received 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.
About the Author:
Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher whose
work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions
Mosaic magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience
abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of
culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and
Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children.
You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com.
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