The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel ~ Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: The Maid of Ballymacool

Author: Jennifer Deibel

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: February 21, 2022

Brianna Kelly was abandoned at Ballymacool House and Boarding School as an infant. She has worked there since she was a wee girl and will likely die there. Despite a sense that she was made for something more, Brianna feels powerless to change her situation, so she consoles herself by exploring the Ballymacool grounds, looking for hidden treasures to add to the secret trove beneath the floorboards of her room.

When Michael Wray, the son of local gentry, is sent to Ballymacool to deal with his unruly cousin, he finds himself drawn to Brianna, immediately and inescapably. There is something about her that feels so . . . familiar. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she commits to learning its origins, with the help of Michael. What they discover may change everything.

Fan favorite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a budding romance, and a chance at redemption.

 

My Thoughts

I love how Jennifer Deibel transports me to the Emerald Isle in her books. This one took me to Ballymacool house in a very Cinderella-esque storyline. The entire story takes place in Ballymacool. It was intriguing to find out more. The characters were lovely and I wanted to know how Brianna arrived to the situation she is in. 

Brianna, our main character, is easy to love. She has overcome so much in her young life and you want to cheer her on to get the best in life. The hatred that the head mistress has for her is truly appalling. You will definitely despise her. But through all that Brianna remains a gentle soul and so caring towards others. She has these romps through the woods where she finds treasures and visits Finnuala who is like a grandmother to her. 

Oh goodness, Michael is our leading gentleman, is equally as gentle and I found him to be very gallant towards everyone. He is definitely the perfect hero as he tries to solve everything possible for Brianna and make things right. The way the romance develops in the story was sweet and one that makes you get that deep sigh of contentment when reading. 

Overall I thought this story was quite lovely and kept me intrigued. I wish there would have been just a tad bit more resolution with Maureen Magee, the head mistress, I felt like there could have been just a bit more towards the end regarding her life. The faith element was strong throughout the storyline  and I really enjoyed that faith is at the forefront of these characters. 

If you enjoy Christian Historical Romance then you will enjoy this one and all of Jennifer's other books!

My Rating: 4 Stars/Really Liked it!

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

 

About the Author

Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher and freelance writer. Her 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.

Debut novel, A Dance in Donegal, releases February 2, 2021 from Revell. Follow Moira Doherty to the wilds of rural Ireland in 1921. Available for preorder wherever books are sold.