Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

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1935 – Ireland

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.

One Comment

Welcome back to county Donegal, Ireland. This time Ms. Deible has set her story in a boarding school in an old family manor of Ballymacool.
I really got wrapped up in this story of an orphaned Brianna. She is a virtual slave to Mistress Magee who is a cruel taskmaster. Brianna has no idea why Magee is so antagonist toward her, but she tries to do her chores to the best of her ability. Maureen Magee’s attitude stems from long held secrets.
Michael Wray has come to the boarding school to supervise his cousin Adeline, who cannot seem to keep out of trouble. As Michael observes the goings on at Ballymacool, he gets to know Brianna and tries to ease her burdens. This hero is a kind and steadying force.
Ms. Deible paints a slice of life in 1935 Ireland and peoples her story with strong characters. One of the most interesting is Finnuola, a seemingly crazy old lady who lives in the woods. But she is crafty and wiser than she lets on. “Child, there is more to yer story than ye could ever know. And there are things the good Laird has for ye to do that no one else can do. Everything ye do, shows His glory to the world.”
Secrets are revealed, lessons are learned and faith is strengthened.
Be sure to read this beautiful story steeped in history.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

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Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel