The Maid of Ballymacool: A Novel

Jennifer Deibel

Feb 2023 · Baker Books

About this ebook

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.


"Deibel's update on the 'Cinderella' story features sympathetic, three-dimensional characters that readers will find easy to root for."--Publishers Weekly

"Deibel once again inventively draws on Ireland's fascinating history as inspiration for a compassionate and compelling sweet romance with a Celtic Cinderella-like flavor."--Booklist

"Jennifer Deibel has done it again with The Maid of Ballymacool, a hopeful historical romance novel about unrelenting faith and new beginnings with just a pinch of mystery. With rich language and historical detail, Deibel brilliantly emphasizes the story's central themes of love, faith, and redemption."--BookPage

Ratings and reviews

This is an enjoyable story to read. While is starts out slow, once the story gets going it becomes hard to put down. This story is descriptive and easy to imagine. It is well written and easy to read. I enjoyed the wisdom of the older characters in the story. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

This book was amazing! I loved Brianna and the whole host of lovable and quirky characters that brought this story to life. I am SO enamored with this book and the truly stunning talent that I’ve discovered in Author Jennifer Deibel! Though this was my first book by her, I am already a huge fan of her style and will be looking to read the rest of what she has available, along with keeping an eye out for what comes next from her!

I so enjoyed this book! I loved the setting. I loved the characters. And as I read the story and the strict rules and regulations, reminded me of my mom's experiences as a young student. It is a beautiful story and Brianna lives a life of servitude at the Ballymacool house and school for girls. The secrets will keep you guessing and so if you like a little mystery with your romance, you will love this book as well. I loved the Christian feeling of this book and how the circumstances of her

About the author

Jennifer Deibel is the author of A Dance in Donegal (winner of the Kipp Award for Historical Romance) and The Lady of Galway Manor (a Parable Group bestseller). Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and in other publications. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com.