In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of
Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without the trappings and finery of the British
Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with
the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh ring.
Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than make a career in his family's
jewelry shop. The past has taught him to no longer believe in love and the
"lies" the Claddagh ring supposedly promises. How can he peddle what
he now finds offensive?
The war for Irish independence gains strength, and the De Lacy family is caught
in the crossfire. As events take a life-threatening turn, Annabeth and Stephen
will discover that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty can only be made
stronger when put through the refiner's fire.
My Thoughts:
What a beautiful novel about the meaning and showing of true love, loyalty, and friendship just as the lovely Claddagh ring represents. Annabeth is British and she and her family have been given a living in Ireland. Now the Irish are none too happy with British rule and would like to be free. The British on the other hand don't agree with them and so they send more soldiers to keep the rebellions down. Into this hotbed of tensions is where Annabeth finds herself.
Annabeth was a heroine that could really be rooted for. She was unique in that she did not want to be just a society lady. She wanted more in life and so she was allowed by her father to work as an apprentice for a jewelry merchant and his son. Their specialty was the Claddagh ring. Annabeth also knew her place in British society and what was expected of her after a year. She hoped to get out of that particular arrangement, until she uncovers just how desperate her father and her family situation really is.
Stephen is an Irishman who is finished with love. He survived one heartbreak and did not want to experience another. Yet Annabeth gets under his skin and pulls on his heartstrings whether he likes it or not. These two were perfect for each other even if it took a while for them to see it. I enjoyed their character growth and how each found their way to eventually understand and possess the qualities that represent the Claddagh ring.
The Claddagh ring is very special to me as it was the first engagement ring my husband gave me. And he brought it all the way from Ireland. I enjoyed reading about its history and relearning the meaning.
I was provided 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 the author of A Dance in Donegal. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. 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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