Reviews

A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel

cindysbookcorner's review against another edition

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3.0

A lovely book set in Ireland, full review here: http://encounterswiththedavisfamily.blogspot.com/2021/02/a-dance-in-donegal.html

kfrickle's review

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mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I thought this was a great story. I was transported to the Irish country side, and I loved every bit of it. The faith content is very strong in the book which was a big plus for me. Also, I really loved the romance as well. 

bookwormwendy's review against another edition

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5.0

What a delightful story! I enjoyed the setting immensely, since I have Irish ancestry, myself. The dialogue made it easy to "hear" the Irish lilt in my mind. This story contains love, mystery, intrigue, and kept my attention throughout. I shed a few tears, but also found a touch of humor. I definitely recommend it! I look forward to reading more books by Jennifer.

rek56's review against another edition

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inspiring

4.0

jan1234's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars
This is the first book I've read by this author. Whilst I did enjoy this book, I did find the pace quite slow. I would have preferred the glossary of terms, being at the beginning, instead of the end of the book. It would have been helpful at the beg (esp as I read the kindle version via ku)
I appreciate the Christian aspect running through this book. The themes of trust, redemption and forgiveness are all in this book. I will def read more from this author.

elainegl's review against another edition

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5.0

Being part Irish myself, I enjoyed listening to this book set in Ireland. Moira grew up in Boston, but after her mom dies, Moira moves to her mother’s hometown in Ireland to be a teacher. Not everyone welcomes her though. There seems to be a mystery surrounding why her mom left years ago. Faith and the Bible is weaved throughout the book. I have to admit that the willingness to forgive so quickly was a little unrealistic to me, but maybe that just shows my lack of faith. It was a lovely book though! I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

freddikb's review against another edition

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1.0

Moira Doherty moves from Boston to Ireland in 1921 to teach in a village school, fulfilling her mother’s dying wish. What she does not expect is to uncover a family secret she knew nothing about.

Ireland is one of my favorite settings, one of my favorite places to visit. However, as much as the details of Ireland were captivating, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I was not able to finish the story.

*I received this book free from Revell in exchange for my honest review. What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

nadiabryn's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition

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4.0

A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel has Moira Doherty traveling to Ballymann, Ireland to teach. Her mother had made the arrangements before she passed. Some of the townspeople welcome Moira to her mother’s hometown, while others shun her and eye her suspiciously. Moira has a feeling that there is something about her mother’s past that she failed to disclose. Soon Moira has a group of close friends and Sean McFadden, the handsome thatcher, has caught her eye. Will her mother’s secrets, though, mess up Moira’s new life? A Dance in Donegal captures the beauty of Ireland. You can tell Jennifer Deibel loves Ireland from her beautiful word imagery. The Gaelic words and Irish customs helped to capture the locale. Moira Doherty was a naïve young woman when she began her journey. I liked the growth she experienced. I also enjoyed the cast of colorful characters. I like how the author described Moira’s emotions (very realistic). God, faith, scripture, and prayer are incorporated into the story. Moira brought her troubles to the Lord through prayer. She relied on Him for comfort and guidance. The romance was sweet and heartwarming. I was glad that the author added the mystery into the story because it gave it additional depth. A Dance in Donegal is a charming debut novel.

amanda_speights_author's review against another edition

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5.0

In her debut novel, A Dance in Donegal, Jennifer Deibel paints beautiful pictures with her words.

I was able to experience the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of Ballyman, Donegal with Moira Doherty who travels to her mother’s homeland from Boston to teach school. Ballyman is a small village in Ireland that is shrouded in superstition, and rumors about Moira’s mother.

This novel is a beautiful story of grace and forgiveness that is a must read!