About the book:
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.
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 review:
This was a fascinating story that really made Ireland come alive. It felt like I was there with Moira as she experienced Ireland for the first time, the smells, tastes and scenery so descriptive it felt real to me. I really liked that there were authentic words thrown in and a glossary in the back so I could understand them! There was also some of the superstition and culture explained, which also helped flesh out the story. Moira was a wonderful character with a strong faith, even when she experienced different hardships teaching and from the townspeople. She wasn't perfect, however, as she did struggle with forgiveness. Sean also had his faith challenged and strengthened seeing how she dealt with hard things. I like that the gospel was clear. There was a wonderful couple who were very wise and gave great advice. There were some sweet romantic moments and a little bit of a love triangle and there were also some very difficult and sad situations but also redemption and hope and purpose. I would recommend this story if you like historical fiction!
I received this book free from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
The Author
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Jennifer Deibel
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...
Continue reading about Jennifer Deibel
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