The Lady of Galway Manor

*** Enjoyable Irish Tale *** Galway City, Ireland, 1920 Claddagh rings, an Irish village, the War for Independence between the Irish and the British, finding common ground, several cups of Irish tea, some danger and romance are all beautifully woven together. “She never dreamed Galway would be so endearing and exciting. A city teeming with music, architecture, and art – the very last thing she’d expected. And it seemed God had created the moment as a gift to her very soul.” “On the surface, he seemed unbothered by the strange visit. But the fact that he’d downed three cups of tea in less than twenty minutes told otherwise. Some men turned to the bottle. Seamus Jennings turned to the cuppa.” I was gifted this book for my honest opinion without expectation or compensation.

The Lady of Galway Manor by Jennifer Deibel is a tale about a father and son silversmith’s who create claddagh rings and an English lady who wishes to learn the craft. The author transports readers back to 1920 in Ireland when the Irish rebellion is taking place. When Galway City gets a new English landlord, tensions rise. I thought The Lady of Galway Manor was well-written with developed characters. The author captured the time and place beautifully. The feelings between the English and Irish were realistic along with the attitudes of the people on both sides. The story captured the unrest and instability in Ireland. It was a tense time in the Emerald Isle. I liked Anna or Lady Annabeth De Lacy. She is an intelligent, creative, and compassionate woman. Stephen shows her around the city, and she gets a chance to truly experience it. She is amazed at the creativity (the arts) of the people. I just loved Stephen’s father, Seamus. He is a lively character who added humor to the story. Stephen is a dower fellow who wishes to get away from the legend of the Claddagh. Life has dealt Stephen some cruel blows which have changed him. He is bitter and is not willing to let go of it. The vivid descriptions of Galway City brought the scenery alive for me. I enjoyed learning about the history of the Claddagh (I have a sterling Irish Claddagh ring of my own). The romance between Stephen and Anna developed over the course of the book. I enjoyed watching Anna and Stephen fall for each other and deal with issues keeping them apart. The ending was lovely and emotional. I like how everything played out for the characters. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will be delighted with The Lady of Galway Manor. The Lady of Galway Manor will send you back in time where there is astonishing tension, a displeased silversmith, a devious dad, an artistic Annabeth, an unsolicited suitor, and a surprising secret.

The Lady of Galway Manor is a romantic journey through the heart and soul of Ireland! Taking place in 1920s Galway City during the War of Independence, this Irish tale of love, danger, and legend utterly captivated me. Jennifer Deibel uses vivid imagery to place the reader right in the midst of Irish culture. I could see the hear the traditional music session in the local pub, taste the fish and chips, and see the emerald coast before me. As the story progresses, an Irish tradesman and a British lady put aside their prejudices and fall in love, and the sacrificial love they both exhibit is breathtakingly beautiful. Full of daring rescues and romantic tension, the plot is exciting and kept me riveted to the very end of the book, where I adored the lovely happy ending and closed the book with a contented sigh. I highly recommend The Lady of Galway Manor to those who love romance, adventure, and the Emerald Isle! I received a copy of this book for review purposes, but my thoughts are my own. I really did love it!