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.