The Maid of Ballymacool is for all lovers of Ireland, fairy tales, and Cinderella stories. Brianna is a 1935 Irish Cinderella who works hard day and night for a school mistress who has raised her, but never cared for her. We slowly uncover the why and backstory long before Brianna does, which is interesting. Michael is just the perfect prince like character who realistically comes from a wealthy family and in 1935 people were going more against class divisions so this is an interesting take on their romance. I absolutely love the dance scene which is their version of Cinderella's ball, I would say. The romance in this novel is super sweet and the center and heart of the story. Mostly I just love reading about Ireland and picture some of the places I've visited.

Wow! I read this book in one day since it was so engaging and hard to put down! Brianna lives at Ballymacool Boarding School as an unpaid, overworked servant at the Emerald Isle in the 1930's. You have to admire her work ethic and efforts to have a good attitude, especially toward the headmistress, who has secret reasons for giving Brianna the longest hours and extra hard work. Brianna fights loneliness and isolation, but relies on her faith in God. When the wealthy son of local gentry comes to deal with his troublesome, entitled niece, he is surprised at the way the elite, rigid school is run, without nurture. The book stole my heart and I look forward to reading more by this author!

The Maid of Ballymacool, by Jennifer Deibel, offers a touching story of loss and redemption. Enriched with a sprinkling of classic Cinderella elements, it is a heartfelt novel with an engaging storyline. Page after page, this book features interesting characters, detailed settings, dangerous secrets, and surprising motivations.
 
As a setting, County Donegal, Ireland in the mid 1930s is an influential presence within the story. So too is the stately Ballymacool House, and the woods surrounding it that give plenty of room for the story to unfold. Rooted in this setting are the characters who make this novel memorable. Throughout the book, their insecurities, fears, needs, and desires are believable and heartrending. The experiences, the choices, and the struggles that the characters endure are thoughtfully developed, gradually revealing a story that is quite moving. Because the characters persevere and fight for redemption and wholeness, they become an inspiration, and their story becomes one of encouragement and hope. They show that even though life can be very hard and rife with injustice, God’s strength, grace, and forgiveness are always available to make the process of healing and restoration possible. 

Throughout the novel, the characters struggle earnestly to find the healing and hope that might be waiting on the other side of their heartbreak. But it is in that search for hope and healing that this novel explores its significant themes. From beginning to end, The Maid of Ballymacool is a novel that balances hope and despair, perseverance and struggle, and faithfulness and uncertainty. As the novel journeys through and beyond hurt and heartache, it is uplifted by moments of grace and gentle reminders that truth, purpose, and love are always worth pursuing.

The Maid of Ballymacool is certainly a special novel. With true talent, detailed research, and genuine insight, Ms. Deibel has written a book full of heart, courage, second chances, healing, and hope. I gladly recommend it.

*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through Austenprose PR. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.

These characters were so well written, each one came through the story shining in their own light. I sometimes feel like characters lose their original personality or shine throughout the story, but Ms. Diebel done a fantastic job portraying them in her story. The story has a bit of Cinderella-retelling feel about it. I think that's all that can be said without spoiling the plot. The book is set in Ireland, at a girls school. I loved the feel of the surroundings that was built throughout the story. The ending sent me on a plot twist that I didn't see coming! Also, I want to comment on the gorgeous cover! The colors blend so well together as well as giving the sense that the girl on the cover, whom we presume is the main character, Briana, is looking for something more. All she's ever known since she was a baby is the boarding school.....but surely there's something more for her. This definitely rated 5*'s with me. I will be recommending this book to others!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Diebel and Bethany House Publishing for giving me this arc version in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story opens in 1935 in County Donegal, Ireland. Brianna, a housemaid, has known no other home than the Ballymacool House and Boarding School for Girls. The school is run by a tyrant who detests and misuses Brianna for no known reason. Brianna has accepted her abysmal life, but clings to dreams she once had hoping for better. Once Michael arrives at the school to oversee his cousin who is a problem student what he finds is unsettling. What Michael had thought was a reputable and safe school for girls is anything but. He cannot understand why Brianna is treated as though she is enslaved. Can he uncover the reason?

The story content highlights the different paths people can choose. Vengeance and revenge collide with kindness and the truth. There is a varied cast of characters, all vividly brought to life. Unimaginable secrets are revealed, and lives are changed as a result.

This is a well told moving story that embraces faith, hope and love. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a sweet story about a young woman discovering her worth & her place in the world. Brianna was a victim of basically an abusive employer who exploited her on the basis of something which happened in the past. The synopsis says that this is a bit of a twist on a Cinderella story: and I agree with that. There are perhaps a few shades of Jane Eyre in it as well.

I just: didn’t really enjoy it as much as some of the other stories in the series. I don’t know what it is: perhaps I never really got into it, perhaps I did not really connect with Brianna. Perhaps she’s just a bit too much like a fairy-tale character?

It is certainly an interesting conclusion to the series, although I didn’t see many connections with the previous ones.
I’d still recommend it, but just not a favourite.

Thanks to Revell Books for approving my request for this title on Netgalley. This did not influence my opinions which are entirely my own and freely given.

“So much death and pain, but mingled throughout a rich, lasting beauty. To try to remove one would destroy the other.“

There’s nothing more effective to sum up Jennifer Deibel’s most recent gift to us than this quote. Brianna Kelly toils perpetually under the relentless demands of the harsh headmistress of Ballymacool. An orphan, thankful for the roof over her head and never questioning her place in the world beyond the grueling demands heaped upon her, Brianna’s world is shaken by the arrival of Michael Wray. Michael’s ideas about a person’s value do not quite fit in with the attitudes of others in the ascendency class. What begins as simply doing the right thing and treating others with respect opens the door for him to see the beauty of Brianna’s character. But his convention-breaking ideals can’t change the fact that she is not of his class and is bound to live an untethered existence in the shadow of the great house.

Deibel’s exploration of identity extends far beyond the illogical romance between a man of means and a woman of none. Growing up without parents or any inkling where they came from and where they went has left Brianna wondering who she is for so long she no longer bothers. When she is brought face to face with the facts of her early life, and what it means for who she is and who she will become, the pain of knowing battles fiercely with the pain of not knowing. Only Brianna can decide what to do with that knowledge.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me a copy to read and review. All opinions expressed here are my own and are completely genuine.

“Ballymacool was believed to be one of the finest boarding schools in the county, if not the whole of Ireland. But what he was seeing stood in stark contrast to that.”

Most of us Americans would say we have a decent grasp on US history. But, alas, how many of us know much about other country’s historical struggles? Jennifer Deibel returns us to Donegal County, Ireland, to learn of Irish War of Independence in 1919, and the preceding years.

What better way to learn history than through a story, complete with a beautifully recounted love tale reminiscent of Cinderella. Deibel is a wordsmith, putting the reader in the forest to smell the musty earth, see the majestic trees, and hear their whispering in the wind. This makes meeting a secondary character, Finnuala, all the more mysterious and slightly spooky.

Do you love to have an antagonist that you can take out all your negative emotions on? If so, Deibel provides the perfect scapegoat. Oh, how I enjoyed the negative emotions that that person evoked, making my anger feel righteously justified!

The occasional Irish phrases, words, and slang, never exactly interpreted, but given great contextual clues; allgive great authenticity and local color to the novel.

Perhaps what I appreciate most, though, was that Deibel shows that there are evil and righteous people on both sides of the conflict. This is a truth our own country would do well to remember.

If you read only one foreign-set novel this year, consider The Maid of Ballymacool. If you are a fan of faith that produces growth, fairy-tale-like love stories, historical fiction of foreign countries, this is a book you won’t want to miss! I highly recommend anything Jennifer Deibel pens!

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads via NetGalley, plus I won a copy via For the Love of Books Giveaway, plus I bought my own copy. Keeper shelf material! No positive opinion was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:


“All she needed were her walks in the woods, her treasures, and the good Lord.”

“She had never really had minded the cold. It was all she had known in many ways.”

“No, he was dangerous because he awakened something far more treacherous in her. Something she couldn’t afford to cultivate. Something deadlier than any poison or illness. Hope.”

“We were not blessed with our position in the community in order to lord it over others. On the contrary. We must use our authority to stand up for those who cannot do so for themselves.”

“Yer purpose in this world has precious little to do with what job ya hold. It’s to do wi’ the way ya impact the people around ye.”

“tis only One who knows the whole truth, and it’s not our job to take that mantle upon ourselves. We’d crumble under the weight of it.”

The Maid of Ballymacool is a sweet and clean, faith-filled retelling of Cinderella set in 1930s Ireland. Brianna was a lovely character and I couldn't help rooting for her. Michael, her love interest, was very caring and capable. The romance is very gentle and would be appropriate for teen readers. I appreciated the bits of Irish history in the story and the author's explanation in the back. The Irish phrases sprinkled throughout helped set the atmosphere. A glossary is located in the back of the book. Recommended for fairy tale lovers and anyone with an interest in Irish historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

I really loved this story. I loved the romance and the secret of where Brianna really came from. I loved that Michael was such a different gentleman. I loved the twists and turns. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

The character Brianna Kelly is the star of this book by Jennifer Deibel. She could be likened to Cinderella without the rotten stepsisters. She definitely has an evil guardian, Maureen Magee.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my own opinion of it. Overall, it is an entertaining read. Briann is an oppressed and overworked orphan who was left on Magee's steps as an infant. She is a sweet girl who has a love for the woods behind the Ballymacool buildings. She finds the area to be her place of solace and she looks for 'treasure' there. She found Finnuala and her cabin when she was a child and loves to visit the elderly lady. Finnuala is one of my favorite characters.
Michael Wray is sent to Ballymacool by his parents to be a watchful eye over his niece who is causing problems. He is an interesting character, likeable and caring. He sees more than the simple actions of Adeline. He sees things aren't what they should be at the school.
I liked the book. There is tension, mystery and budding romance. A little disappointed in the conclusion for Magee to be honest.

Title: The Maid of Ballymacool
Author: Jennifer Beibel

Ch: 33 plus epilogue

Pg: 343

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: Revell

If anyone can get me to enjoy a Cinderella retelling, it’s Jennifer Deibel with her newest book The Maid Ballymacool. If Jennifer writes it and sets it in Ireland, I’m going to read it.

The Maid Ballymacool is set in 1930s Ireland and Brianna Kelly is a maid at a boarding school. Who’s pretty much much treated like Cinderella and her only friend is Finnuala who is like a grandma fugue to Brianna.

And Michael Wray the hero is the son of a neighboring landowner. But Michael is so much better than any Prince Charming in a fairytale because he is a man of faith and sees Brianna’s worth.

The Maid of Ballymacool is a faith filled Cinderella like retelling set-in beautiful Ireland and it’s also a book I finished in one day.







I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a blog tour I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

The Maid of Ballymacool is a lovely story that is part romance part mystery set in the town of Ballymacool, Ireland in the 1930s. Ballymacool House actually exists, and the author expounds more on this in her notes at the end of the book which I also enjoyed reading.

Brianna Kelly is an orphan who is mistreated by the schoolmistress of the Ballymacool House and Boarding School where she was raised from infancy and where she now works hard as a maid. Despite the lack of parental love in her life, Brianna's spirit is not broken because she loves the woods and nature and finds refreshment for her soul there. She is a lovely character and my heart ached for her. When Michael Wray is sent to the school to see about his young mischievous cousin, he meets Brianna and is immediately attracted to her.

Yes, this has the definite feel of a Cinderella story and I was curious about the mystery surrounding Brianna, which kept me engaged in the story. Irish history comes alive as the author describes life in the boarding school and small town, with its characters, some of which make an appearance from her previous book A Dance in Donegal, which I read. The dialogue is interspersed with Gaelic expressions, which I liked, but they were not followed by a translation so I had no idea at times what the phrase meant.

The ending was very satisfying and finally, Brianna goes through an emotional period as she comes to understand what was taken from her. Throughout the story, she seemed accepting of her mistreatment and never rebelled against the schoolmistress, but as the plot moves along we finally get to see how Brianna is truly affected by all that has happened to her and how she gains the courage to stand up for the respect of which she is deserving as a human being.

This was a quick and enjoyable read, but may be triggering for those who've experienced physical and emotional abuse. However, the themes of jealousy, isolation, self-respect, resilience, and justice make this an interesting novel, especially after coming out of a global pandemic.

A wonderful story with great characters. I felt like I was in Ballymacool. Michael Wray didn't want to go to Ballymacool. His parents insisted he go.

Brianna lived at Ballymacool all her life. She couldn't escape the cruelty she found there. I so desperately wanted to help Brianna. Her circumstances were terrible. Michael appeared and gave her hope.

Hope changes everything. It gives you the ability to withstand unbearable circumstances.

When I first received THE MAID OF BALLYMACOOL I was unable to read it due to prior reading obligations. Now I wish I had chucked those books out the window and gotten right to this one. I absolutely do believe this is the author's strongest writing yet. You cannot help getting lost in the world she creates. I loved the time I spent at Ballymacool House and Wood and was fascinated to read in the author's notes that they are still there though Ballmacool is abandoned, roofless and covered in vines. I can't wait to do more online research on this. Though the story is fictional it is based upon many true events. Just my type of book, very well researched.
Brianna Kelly has known no other life than Ballymacool House and Boarding School. Abandoned there as a baby she grew up there and is a maid there. In charge of her is Mistress Maureen Magee, the headmistress of Ballymacool House and Boarding School for Girls. Very mean, she never sees reason from anyone around her. People aren't born mean so then you say to yourself what happened personally to make her like this? Mistress Magee absolutely hates Brianna with every fiber of her being, but Brianna can remember a time long ago when she was extremely young that she wasn't like this towards her. As we are reading, we have to try to piece together why she hates this young lady so much. Michael Wray, the son of a local gentry is sent by his parents to the school the corral his young cousin who is a bit pranksterish and outspoken for the school. He is there to keep an eye on her and keep her inline. Upon meeting Brianna, he is drawn to her quiet, shy and reserved way. Something about her feels familiar, have they met before? Brianna spends her free time in the woods surrounding Ballymacool and has a special tree she has been going to for years for relaxation and where she has found treasure. There is in my opinion a gothic feel to the book, a slow burn romance, a headmistress who is hiding something and a mystery just begging to be solved. I could not turn these pages fast enough. There is also a glossary of terms at the back of the book which is very helpful plus the author's notes that I'd advise because it gives helpful information pertaining to the story. Excellent book!

Pub Date 21 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I admired Brianna’s character. She endured grueling hardship under Magee's hand but was still able to maintain her sweetness and kindness. Still managed to find things to praise God for. We can learn many things from Brianna.

Michael was the perfect "prince" for Brianna--a member of the ancestry class whose kindness rivaled her own. I liked that he saw her when Magee did everything possible to make it seem as if she was invisible.

The romance between Brianna and Michael was slow and sweet for many reasons. And I liked that he became her friend before any romance began.

The Maid of Ballymacool will remind readers that God has a plan and purpose for their lives and that it's important to find their identity in the right place.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through the Revell Reads program and NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

Author Jennifer Deibel pens her third historical fiction novel, setting it in County Donegal, Ireland during the mid-1930s.
In The Maid of Ballymacool, twenty-year-old Brianna Kelly lives and works at Ballymacool House and Boarding School for Girls, after being abandoned there as an infant. A highlight of her life is discovering treasures hidden in the wooded areas where she regularly walks. Upon finding a silver platter, she seeks to discover its origin, unaware that it will change her life.
Michael Wray is sent to Ballymacool to helpAdeline, his young and unruly cousin, to settle into school and not be expelled again. He finds himself drawn to Brianna and helps her uncover the mystery behind the platter. He sees her as a person, not someone below him in class.
Deibel crafts a delightful inspirational romance where friendship, romance, and a mystery tie the storyline together. Descriptive narratives, historical detail, faith elements, and delightful secondary characters add to the reader’s enjoyment. Brianna and Michael have a slow-building clean romance that the reader sees developing from the moment they meet. The mystery surrounding Brianna’s family is at the heart of the novel, and involves several characters.
Recommended for adult collections in public libraries and fans of historical fiction.
Aside: the locale for this book was of particular interest for me, as my family (many, many generations back) came from this area of Ireland.

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews.

The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel is a book set in Ireland. Brianna Kelly has worked all her life at the Ballymacool Boarding School for girls. The headmaster, Mistress Magee takes delight in giving Brianna the most odorous of tasks. She has to labor from before sunup to sundown and beyond. Of course, the girls who are boarders also make it hard for her as they look down on her because they feel that they are privileged and far superior to the likes of her.

Help comes in the form of a gentleman sent by his family to see to his cousin who wreaks havoc at the school. Mistress Magee is at the point of dismissing the young cousin Adeline from school. Michael Wray is tasked with setting her straight. He also notices the treatment that Brianna receives and stays on to discover just how this school is run, as it is obvious there is something sinister going on with Mistress Magee.

I loved the characters in the book and how the author played with their characters. Characters who did not seem crucial to the story ended up playing an important part in the novel as it progressed. I loved reading this book and it will be one of my “keepers”. I have read other novels by Ms. Deibel and loved them also.

I have a new favorite book! This was my first novel by Jennifer Deibel and she completely won me over. I fell in love with the characters and Ireland and the entire story she wove around Ballymacool. The Cinderella twist was charming and fit the story perfectly. I felt the pain and loneliness she suffered throughout her life. The main character’s faith was challenged and interwoven beautifully throughout the book. The mystery wasn’t overpowering and felt authentic. The romance was sweet and heartfelt. The entire story was just wonderful. A must read!

*I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

The Maid of Ballymacool is an extraordinary Cinderella retelling enriched by the beauty and culture of Ireland! The tender romance of Michael and Brianna is paired with a mystery buried in Ireland’s tumultuous past, and the result is a riveting and breathtaking tale! I especially loved the glimpses of the villain’s point view as truth comes to light, motivations are revealed, and the mystery unravels. Rich with spiritual truths and life lessons, this story speaks to the soul as much as it entertains. Brianna’s strength, graciousness, and forgiveness in the face of such disdain are astounding and inspiring. The messages in this book are deep and proclaim the love and power of Jesus Christ to the reader. A powerful gospel-filled story— with a touch of Irish enchantment— makes this a captivating escape to the Emerald Isle!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher for review purposes. My thoughts are my own. I really did love it!