Welcome to First Line Friday!
Today I’m featuring

The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel.

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 ÒliesÓ 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.

Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel.

From Goodreads

Author Information

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 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 http://www.jenniferdeibel.com . Her debut novel, A Dance in Donegal, releases Feb. 2, 2021 from Revell and is available for pre-order wherever books are sold!

From Author Website

First Line

[Graphic Text]: Galway City, Ireland, April 16, 1920 – No one ever tells the truth about love.

My Review

The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel takes us to Ireland in the 1920. I loved how history came to life in this story. The perspectives of the Irish toward Englanders and vice versa, which lead to Ireland’s fight for independence … it was all very real.

Though not necessarily the author’s intention, it was also a mirror into some of today’s tensions in the U.S. If you feel like you don’t understand the racial divides, this is a wonderful read. I have long believed that story, especially one that removes us from our individual situation, builds empathy for real life situations. The Lady of Galway Manor does exactly that.

As for the story itself, at times it was slow and at times I couldn’t read fast enough. Overall, it was a beautiful story. One I think fans of Laura Frantz will enjoy.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Retail Links

Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
Goodreads | BookBub

Now it’s your turn.
Pull out the book beside you and leave a comment with the first line.

First Line Friday is hosted by Reading is my Super Power.

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