An enchanting Cinderella story that keeps readers hoping for that ‘happily ever after.’ The setting for Jennifer Deibel’s The Maid of Ballymacool is Ireland, 1935. She has included all the necessary characters for a fairy tale set in the twentieth century. Brianna Kelly is the abandoned baby left on a doorstep with directions for her care. The stepmother role is played by rejected Maureen Magee, headmistress of the Ballymacool House and Boarding School for Girls; where baby Brianna is condemned to a lonely, rootless life of solitude. Brianna’s only friend is Finnuala, a wise, auld woman who lives in the woods where Brianna escapes to find peace and beauty; away from the beatings and abuse she receives from the dreaded Magee. From what seems like another world and yearning for a purposeful life, comes the handsome prince, kind, compassionate, book lover Michael Wray of nearby Castle Wray. Michael is sent to help discipline his obnoxious, ill-mannered cousin, Adeline, a boarder at Ballymacool; a well written bratty character to dislike. The only link to Brianna’s past has is a chain with a pendant bordered with fleur de lis and hand carved letters on the back.
Jennifer Deibel deftly weaves mystery and romance into this tale along with lush descriptions of Castle Wray; its history, its grounds and Ballymacool’s dreary interiors but peaceful surrounding woods. As the mystery unfolds between the House of Ballymacool, the guest cottages, and the woods, the characters slowly develop fresh hope, trust, and a need for forgiveness. Securing the bonds of family and the importance of finding one’s true identity are key themes that make The Maid of Ballymacool a delightful, fulfilling Cinderella story.

Ireland in the mid-1930's is the unique setting for this coming of age story. A tale of a young, mistreated servant in a school for girls has some surprisingly touching moments.
The backstory is slowly revealed and the plight of Brianna Kelly's situation begins to make sense. Her friendship with the kind gentleman Michael was tender and added a bit of hope to her difficult life. There were some nuggets of spiritual wisdom from the older woman Finnuala that had me rereading passages. I loved how she encouraged her to remember that she was special in God's eyes, a "daughter of the King", and not to give into despair. Brianna's faith and upbeat attitude despite how she was treated was inspiring. She has a lot of opportunities to learn forgiveness; something that is hard for most of us. It was hard to read some of the mean-spirited actions done to her. The ending brings it all together, though, and leaves a feeling of hope that good things can come through difficult times.
Recommend to readers who enjoy historical Christian fiction with a bit of tender romance! 4.5 stars

Ireland ~ The Conflict ~ Girls Boarding School ~ Isolation ~ Cinderella Story ~ Innocence ~ Love ~ Historical Fiction ~ Murder ~ Friends ~ Mystery ~ Romance ~ Abandonment ~ Engaging Characters ~ Christian Fiction ~ 1930s ~ Highly Recommend

Thanks so much to Revell for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Well written with good characters and a very interesting plot, it kept my attention through out.
Brianna works so hard at Ballymacool House, rarely getting time off and hated by the headmistress. She can’t understand why the woman is so antagonistic toward her. I couldn’t wait to find out what all the mystery was about. I was not disappointed at all. Very nice indeed.

My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.

A story that will tug at your heartstrings, a sweet young woman, that you want to help as she is being treated so horribly. Why? Well the answers do come with a few hints are dropped along the way that play into the answers.

I loved the treasurer seeking and the interaction with nature that young Brianna embraces. Along with most of the people at the estate that seem to see the love Brianna, along with newcomer Michael Wray.

We are given a glimpse into what life was like on the estate, along with a look at the Irish countryside, and the workings at the school! We are also gifted with some sweet romance, and some life lessons.

I will be looking for more by this author!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

With a cast of incredible characters, Gothic elements, and an intriguing plot, this story sucked me in and was incredibly hard to put down. I immediately reread it once I finished it. I loved everything about it, even the diabolical school mistress!

My favorite characters were Brianna Kelly, Michael Wray, and Maureen Magee. Brianna never gave up even though she was mistreated and living in such a bleak environment. She was able to find joy and retained her sense of wonder when it would have been so easy for her to give up. Michael was the perfect match for Brianna; he helped her see her worth and bring about justice. Maureen Magee was the most complex character in the book, and while I abhorred the way she treated Brianna, she was a brilliant antagonist. She is the woman you love to hate and I was saying, “Yessss!” when all was revealed and she got what she deserved.

I highly recommend reading this book with the message that everyone’s life is precious and we are greatly loved by God. However, due to some of the content: slapping, verbal abuse, and adultery, I think this should be read by older readers and not necessarily teens.

If you are reading this as an ebook, be aware there is a glossary of the Gaelic words and phrases that are spoken throughout the story. I didn’t realize that until I finished the book. lol

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a delightful retelling of Cinderella, with a heroine who works night and day as the lowly servant for a mean and vindictive guardian. Brianna is a sweet charming young woman who is easy to love. The hero is unwittingly called to Ballymacool boarding school to intervene for his niece and finds himself drawn to the mysteries that surround the school, its' headmistress and Brianna. Michael and Brianna soon find themselves seeking answers to secrets from the past.
I absolutely love when a story slowly unfolds into something beautiful as I read the much anticipated happily ever after. Ms. Deibel's love for Ireland, its history and culture shimmers within her beautiful prose, captivating her readers imagination. Artfully woven within, is the search for purpose and personal identity that will resonate with readers.
One of my favorite quotes:
"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."
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Maid of Ballymacool
by Jennifer Deibel
Pub Date: February 21, 2023
Revell
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I am so glad I picked up a book in 2019 with this authors name on it. I found one of my favorite author's and have continued to read her!~ This is one of my most anticipated books of 2023. It did not disappoint.
Fan favorite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a budding romance, and a chance at redemption.
I loved this book and highly recommend it.
5 stars

I'm so thankful that I chose to pick up Jennifer Deibel's debut novel a few years back, as I discovered a new favorite author along the way. Her beautiful prose just gets better with each new title she releases, and I find myself wanting the real world to come to a halt each time I pick one up, as I just want to lose myself in the wonderful book worlds she creates.

Her upcoming release, The Maid of Ballymacool, was one of my most anticipated 2023 releases, and it definitely did not disappoint. A beautiful, historical fiction retelling of Cinderella, I could barely bring myself to put it down, and I loved the complex story woven around an atmospheric setting in Ireland.

Brianna Kelly's earliest memories are of being put to work at Ballymacool, and her life has changed very little since. She constantly faces the wrath of her guardian, an older woman who runs Ballymacool's boarding school, and has had to come to terms with her life being the challenge it is, with no hope of that fact ever changing. When Michael Wray is sent to the school to deal with his unruly cousin attending the boarding school, there's an instant spark between the two. Michael can't stand to watch the abuse that Brianna faces on a daily basis by the one who is supposed to be her caregiver, and he's determined to help her out of her situation. However, how could Brianna ever act on the feelings she's developed for Michael, when their situations in life couldn't be more different?

Jennifer Deibel's mastery of the written word shines through to readers on each and every page, and I think this may just be my favorite by her yet. The central them focuses around identity, and remembering whose you are amongst all of life's challenges, and I appreciated that the faith element was at the front and center. The romance is sweet, swoon worthy, and slightly slow burn which I loved, and I thought she did a wonderful job of adding an original element to the Cinderella storyline.

The mystery is well plotted and paced, and even though I thought I'd had it all figured out, the final reveal still ended up leaving me quite surprised. One of my favorite parts of all is that one of the POV's is from the villain of the story, and I think it added an even stronger element to the story, as the reader got to learn the quirks and reasonings behind her treatment of Brianna.

All in all, this one was even more than I was hoping for, and I love how much more this author hones her craft with each and every title she writes.

I can't possibly recommend this one enough, and I can't wait to see what this author has in store for her reader's in the future.

Final Rating: 5/5.

Thanks so much to Revell for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Revell) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

The Maid of Ballymacool is the first book I’ve read by author Jennifer Diebel. From the first line I was intrigued. After the first chapter I was hooked. The scenery, the plot, the mystery, the injustice and the Gaelic mixed in through the tale, drew me in more and more to find out the truth and set the heroine on a better course. And the romance was beautiful, the hero’s devotion to her steadfast and true. I am looking forward to reading other books by this talented author.

I received this complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel
Release Date: February 21, 2023 by Revell
Genre: Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance
5 Stars

Description: 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. Fan favorite Jennifer Deibel invites you back to the Emerald Isle in the 1930s for this fresh take on the Cinderella story, complete with a tantalizing mystery, a budding romance, and a chance at redemption.

Malice, solitude, antics, mystery, several heart wrenching moments, special treasure expeditions, suspense, sweet and tender romance, and so much more are all captured in this fantastic novel, The Maid of Ballymacool, by Jennifer Deibel! I highly recommend this book to everyone -- especially those who enjoy historical fiction and/or romance.

The Maid of Ballymacool exquisitely captures faith, family, and culture in a beautiful and memorable way. Each character is well developed, and every scene is remarkably described in this emotionally engaging, multi-faceted story of finding one’s identity.

The main character of The Maid of Ballymacool is Brianna. She certainly exemplifies Philippians 1:4-9 and to be content in every circumstance (Philippians 4:11b). This well-written, fictional character has inspired me to be more Christ-like and be more obedient to Him and His commands -- no matter what my circumstances are. Additionally, another impactful character, Finnuala, tell us that our purpose in the world has precious little to do with what job we hold -- it is to do with the way we impact the people around us. When we focus on God, His ways, and being obedient to Him, everything is meaningful and the impact we have on others will inspire them to follow Him, too. As with Brianna, each one of us are meant for something more -- something meaningful.

I am already missing the characters, the engaging dialogue, and the beautiful setting; I must re-read this outstanding novel soon!

As soon as possible, I will be reading Jennifer Deibel’s other two books, A Dance in Donegal and The Lady of Galway Manor.

I appreciate the eArc of The Maid of Ballymacool I received from Revell through NetGalley.com. I was not required to write a review or paid to do so. The words above are my honest review.

#TheMaidofBallymacool #JenniferDeibel #Revell

Fantastic story of love and treasure. I adored this book and would recommend it to anyone! Brianna is a maid for the Ballymacool house. When not working Brianna loves searching for treasure in the woods on her daily walks. When she comes across one particular treasure, Brianna's life will change forever. Michael Wray is sent to Ballymacool to observe his cousin and fix her attitude. He quickly meets the maid and is drawn to her. Brianna and Michael need to work together to solve the mystery of Brianna's treasure, and her past.

I love this charming and mysterious novel set in the Emerald Isle about a maid at a boarding school called Ballymacool and her dashing rescuer Michael Wray.

Brianna doesn't know who her parents were or anything about her past except that she was left on the doorstep of the owner/headmistress of Ballymacool. She longs to learn more about who she is and who her parents were. Her only link to the past is a broken pendant that is falling apart. She works hard and finds respite in the woods when she can sneak away without the headmistress knowing where she has gone. As long as she keeps her head down and accomplishes her tasks, she'll be fine.

Michael Wray is the son of the local aristocratic family. He has the fun job of being sent to observe his cousin and stop her troublesome causing ways at the local boarding school of Ballymacool. His adventures are only just beginning and they have to deal with a whole lot more than just his cousin's antics.

With each new clue Brianna and Michael stumble upon they begin piecing together a bigger puzzle. Someone will be very happy to see Michael and his meddlesome ways leave the school. But I was sure happy he ended up there and all the fun that was revealed through his goodness and taking an interest in helping Brianna and in her welfare. He can sense something is not right and sets to work figuring it out.

The ending was very satisfying. Especially after piecing together all the details that were revealed throughout the book. A great mystery and sweet and tender romance story that will leave you grinning and cheering these two on!

Content: Clean. Some mild moments of suspense but nothing graphic. Talk of death. Some sweet kisses but nothing further. This is a Christian Fiction novel.

I received a copy from the publisher, Revell, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

This is a Cinderella retelling, but it's also a story of finding one's identity in Jesus. The author weaves fact with fiction in this period piece. The abuse the heroine experiences was difficult to read, but the overall story is a beautiful love story. Characters are well developed, and the Irish setting is charming. Brianna is an easy character to connect with and root for. And her faith, no matter the circumstance, was encouraging.

The Maid of Ballymacool is a retelling of Cinderella. It is done in a very creative way. As soon as I started reading it I knew this would be a great read. And it is. I enjoyed the landscape of Ireland and the wonderful way the author described it. The characters are so likeable and you just have to love Brianna and her sweet spirit. The hero, well he is just that. He is smitten with Brianna from the beginning and quickly became her advocate. This is a lovely read with a sweet and satisfying ending. The author is new to me and I am so impressed with her writing that I will be reading her back list.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

The Maid of Ballymacool is a story of finding our identity in Christ, and His purpose for our lives, even when we feel like giving up the search. Brianna Kelly had given up on her dreams years ago and struggled to believe that there was more to her life than what she was at that moment: a maid who was treated more like an indentured servant than a member of the staff. It didn’t help that she had no idea who she was or where she came from, aside from what the headmistress of the Boarding School - where she had resided for as long as she could remember - had told her. Which wasn’t much. The one connection to her past Brianna did have was a broken pendant she wore around her neck, but even that piece of jewelry held no answers. Or did it?

Michael Wray was not a stereotypical member of the ascendancy class he had been raised in, and preferred to spend time with the people of the community. That, or getting lost in a good book. Honestly, who could blame him? When he was sent to Ballymacool House to watch over his cousin, Adeline, he began to make small changes to the routines of the school’s mealtime tradition. Changes that were met with mixed reviews. He also began to catch Brianna’s eye, and soon her heart.

I enjoyed reading this Cinderella-meets-Rapunzel story and watching the characters interact with each other. Honestly, all the characters had their own little spotlight at times, each with a personality that came through to add to the story. Jennifer Deibel took great care to make sure everything had a purpose in the story as she took us on a treasure hunt, searching for answers about Brianna’s past and who she was called to be in the present.

I also loved the attention God received in this story. No matter what happened to Brianna, no matter how difficult her life became, she never forgot Who made her, and always sought to please Him.

This is definitely a book I would recommend, especially to those who love historical fiction with a bit of intrigue and a strong Christian message.

I was quickly drawn into this story as readers first meet Brianna and become aware of her harsh living conditions. Then we meet Michael Wray who goes to Ballymacool boarding school at the request of his parents. They want him to find out why his cousin, Adelade, is struggling with her studies and see if he could help.

Brianna Kelly catches Michael’s eye. He has the strangest feeling they’ve met before. Brianna says she’s lived in Ballymacool all her life. They couldn’t have possibility met. Michael thinks this woman is a breath of fresh air. So, when he catches Mistress Maureen Magee, screaming, at Brianna he goes to check on her. The head teacher and Mistress Magee make this school a toxic environment to be in. Michael wonders if this is why Adelade is not thriving.

He then discovers a few things that make him want to learn more about the mysteries surrounding the school. It’s then he finds some shocking secrets about the boarding school and Brianna Kelly, an orphan whose tried her best to please Mistress Magee, but.no matter how hard she tries, it’s never enough. She only wants to be loved, and belong to a family, a place.

Brianna goes through some heart-wrenching events in her life, but she finds a way to be alone with God and nature to regenerate her soul. I felt for Brianna, and the older woman living in the woods, named Finnuala. She is a strong, grandmother type figure for Brianna. She prayers for her,and trusts God to keep her safe. Finnuala tells Mistress Magee, “Ye have no idea the treasure ya have in that lass, do ya?”


This author weaves a compelling tale that reminded me a little of a Cinderella story with a wonderful mystery to solve as they must deal with the wicked stepmother (in this case the villainous Mistress Magee) Both Michael and Brianna are kindred spirits, and I enjoyed their time together as much as they did. This is a fairy tale type story I couldn’t put down.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

The Maid of Ballmacool is a well written historical romance. I throughly recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher for Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel is an emotionally-driven novel that will keep you reading until the last page.

Brianna Kelly is sorely abused by her employer, who has known Brianna all her life. While she is part of the staff at Ballymacool, Brianna is treated like a servant. She is abused both physically and psychologically by her employer Maureen Magee. Right away, you are hoping someone will rescue her.

Enter Michael Wray. He's at Ballymacool to check on his cousin. But he discovers the abuse Brianna is receiving at the hands of the school's Headmistress. Not only does he set out to make things better for Brianna, but he also finds himself drawn to her.

I loved the romance in this book and how Michael respects Brianna, whereas others do not. I detested Maureen Magee (and rightly so since she is the villain in the story), but I simultaneously felt sorry for her. The characters are well-written and draw you right into the story.

Throughout the book, the constant use of Gaelic without any translation of what was being said left me feeling left out of the conversation. I didn't know until the end of the book that there was a glossary of all the Gaelic terms. It would have been better if this were in the front of the book—just a thought.

All that aside, the story was brilliant and moving. The romance is sweet and innocent, and the faith elements are inspiring. I will miss the characters and look forward to Ms. Deibel's next book.

I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

A touching love story with a search for true identity mixed in.

This book tackles hard topics in a refreshingly hopeful way. Jennifer Deibel weaves real history throughout her book, which I absolutely love. The time period is not my favorite but it still was very engaging. Watching our heroine overcome the extreme hardships she faced while falling in love was beautiful, even though the abuse she dealt with was sometimes hard to read about. All of the characters feel very layered, even the "bad" characters had deeper nuances. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Also, I love a good glossary!

Star Rating: 3/5
CW: Toxic relationship, abuse

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.