Heart of the Glen

November 4, 2024
Deibel revisits the lush Irish countryside of The Irish Matchmaker in this heartwarming if somewhat uneventful historical. Saoirse Fagan has worried she brings bad luck ever since a house fire killed the rest of her family. Seeking a fresh start, she travels from Westmeath to county Donegal to find work as a maid. When her plans fall through and she winds up on a sheep farm belonging to Owen McCready and his sister, Aileen, master weaver Owen—who’s recently injured his arm—reluctantly conscripts her to fill an order of tweed fabric. As he teaches Saoirse to weave, sparks begin to fly, but when the town suffers a series of misfortunes—including a deadly landslide—Saoirse is sure her “ill fate” is to blame. She tries to run away to protect those she loves, and it’s up to Owen, Aileen, and other newfound friends to bring her back and help her start anew through her faith. This crisis point feels somewhat anticlimactic, and there’s little standing in the way of Owen and Saoirse’s relationship minus some miscommunications and Saiorse’s insecurities. Still, the rich, atmospheric background and winning chemistry between the leads mostly make up for it. The result is a cheery and charming tale of second chances.

December 1, 2024

It's the early 20th century in Ireland, and everything Saoirse Fagan touches seems to turn to ash, which reminds her of the house fire that killed her family. When circumstances leave her stranded in the wilderness of County Donegal without a position, it seems like more misfortune raining down. Generations removed from the Irish potato famine, siblings Aileen and Owen McCready can barely protect their family farm from bandits, but they still agree to take in the downtrodden Saoirse. When tragedy strikes the village, the priest issues a challenge to search for God's plan even amid suffering. The siblings and their guest must all decide which battles are most important to fight. VERDICT With perfectly paced and realistic romance, Deibel (The Irish Matchmaker) delivers another book that will leave readers feeling like they have traveled to historic Ireland right from their living rooms. Both a romantic comedy and a thought-provoking Christian read, Deibel's latest will appeal to fans of Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund and A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2025
Saoirse Fagan doesn't know what she is going to do. The job of head maid at Drumboe Castle that she has been promised no longer exists. As Saoirse hopelessly wanders along the road contemplating her bleak future, she encounters Aileen McCready, who insists on bringing Saoirse back with her to the sheep farm where Aileen lives with her brother, Owen. Saoirse's initial plan is to stay temporarily with the McCreadys while she searches for a new job. However, when Owen's hand is wounded, this threatens his ability to complete the weaving work he and his sister depend on to financially survive. Now Saoirse sees an opportunity to thank both McCreadys for all they have done if she can convince Owen to teach her the skills she needs to complete the order. In her latest inspiring romance, following The Irish Matchmaker (2024), Deibel writes elegantly and eloquently about faith and forgiveness as well as accepting and giving help. She also artfully informs readers about the fascinating history of tweed-weaving in Ireland.

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