Historical Fiction Review: A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel

Book Description:
All of her life, Irish-American Moira Doherty has relished her mother's descriptions of Ireland. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira decides to fulfill her mother's wish that she become the teacher in Ballymann, her home village in Donegal, Ireland.

After an arduous voyage, Moira arrives to a new home and a new job in an 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:
Jennifer Deibel creates an incredible picture of life in a small 1920s village. A Dance in Donegal engaged the senses and left me wanting to walk in the village and on the shore. Moira’s story is one of delight and despair. She’s traveled to a foreign country and knows no one, as she strives to fulfill her mother’s last wish. She meets some charming, warm, and friendly people and some who scare the wits out of her. In the book Moira meets Sean, a kind-hearted man who loves his village and people. I am fascinated by the legend and lore in the story, as well as the sprinkling of dialect. Jennifer Deibel lived in Ireland for six years and has captured the magic and beauty of the island. If you enjoy a tale well told, you’ll love this book as much I do. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.