The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

All her life, Brianna Kelly has only known servitude. Under the firm and cruel headmistress Maureen Magee, Brianna works long and hard hours as a maid at the boarding school of Ballymacool. She gets by through her faith and through her walks in the woods, where she finds intriguing artifacts, like a tarnished silver tray.

Michael Wray, heir to Castlewray Estate, is given the unpleasant task of visiting Ballymacool to deal with his wayward cousin, a student there. He is appalled by conditions at the school – especially in Mistress Magee’s treatment of Brianna – and drawn into the mystery of the origins of the school and the fate of the former owners of the elegant house. Do Brianna’s treasured artifacts hold a clue?

A Cinderella romance set in Ireland in 1935, The Maid of Ballymacool charms on every level. Jennifer Deibel‘s deep, loving knowledge of Ireland shines, and so do the characters – sweet, oppressed Brianna, with her hidden strength, and Michael with his strong sense of justice and mercy. A delightful cast of side characters and a page-turner of a story ensure you won’t put the book down! Enjoy!