Description:
In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings 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 run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the "lies" the Claddagh Ring promises.
Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.
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
My Thoughts:
This is my first book by Jennifer Deibel and one of very few that I’ve read set entirely in Ireland, so I was very curious about this story! I really enjoyed visiting the Emerald Isle and am looking forward to seeking out this author’s previous novel and taking another trip to such a vivid country.
Ms. Deibel says that her books are a love letter to Ireland and I could very quickly see the truth in her statement. Her love for the people and the land comes through on almost every page. I loved getting to see the story through the eyes of Annabeth, someone who knows very little about anything Irish and is learning so much about her new home. I loved her kind spirit and curiosity. It took me a little longer to warm up to Stephen, though I did come to really like him, as well. I'm not sure if it's how quickly I read the story (which was pretty fast), but I did think the change in their relationship happened a little abruptly. One day Stephen is being a bear, then suddenly everything is different. Though I was a little confused about the timing of everything, so that may have had something to do with it, as well.
I will say that Seamus was quite possibly my favorite character! He loves his son so well, even as Stephen wonders if his father is losing his mind with some of the decisions he makes. He is kind and generous and I so appreciated the wisdom shared through him.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!
As always, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by! Having 2 little ones now, I'm definitely here less than ever. I also heard someone voice a truth that had been in the back of my mind, but that I hadn't ever truly pondered: no one really takes the time to read blogs, anymore. Podcasts are the new thing right now, I think.
Anyhow, links are below, as always. Have a lovely day!
