Such a fantastical tale set in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland, 1905
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Matchmaking Festival which began in 1857 and continues every September to this very day!
The book blossoms with romance, delicately weaving in faith along with Irish terms.
I highly recommend it, alongside your favorite "tae". 🫖☕

I received this eVersion from NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel is a lovely work of historical fiction. This book is beautifully written. Set in Ireland of long ago, the setting is definitely one of the best parts of this book. Readers of historical fiction should love this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Until I got to the end of the book and the author talked about it, I had no idea that matchmakers were so big in Ireland. And that the annual matchmaking festival was a thing.

Overall, the book was a delightful, easy read full of charm and a bit of tension. You watch as Catríona struggles to impress Lord Osborne, his wife, and his eligible bachelor son, Andrew. Yet, she is far more at ease around Donal, a farmer she has taken as a client.

A few twists and turns get you to the ending most can anticipate - Catriona falls for Donal and becomes his wife.

It was my first time reading a book by Jennifer Deibel. I'll most likely be looking up other titles of hers now.

I just couldn't get into it. The writing style was wonderful, but it felt really out of place for romance. I felt it was more suited to literary fiction.

What's not to like about this book. First, I love this author. I have read all of her books and enjoy how they just take you away to a different time and place. This book is once again a great escape from your troubles. The characters were all well written and followed their personalities in how they reacted to what was going on around them. As always, the setting was described in minimal detail, but you can clearly picture the beautiful locations in your mind as you read. The story line was believable and flowed well. Excellent book I will no doubt read again!

Swweet Irish story that I read in a day. Loved the whole thing. great beach read. The writing was surprisingly good.

Catríona Daly is a matchmaker, taught by her father, in an Irish village called Lisdoonvarna. The annual matchmaking festival is upon them & she’s determined to finally meet her match, while also matching others. Donal Bunratty, who is a local farmer, is reluctantly attending the festival after his daughter made a birthday wish to have a mother again. Catríona ends up being Donal’s matchmaker & that’s where their story begins.

My favorite country I’ve traveled to is Ireland & I love all things Irish, so I was excited to read this one & I really enjoyed it! It’s so cool that this festival still exists after hundreds of years. The Irish Matchmaker is a very sweet love story!

Unfortunately for me, this will be my last Jennifer Diebel book. Her writing doesn't work for me. Her characters are flat and unbelievable. The faith content is fine, not great but not horrible.

This historical novel describes a matchmaking festival set in a town in Ireland. Catriona and her dad are both matchmakers, although Catriona has yet to find her own match. During the festival, she is tasked with matching playboy Andrew Osborne, whose gentry family wants an appropriate match for him, and whom Catriona secretly longs to wed. Fate has other plans when Catriona meets widower Donal Bunratty, a local farmer seeking a wife and also a mother for his little girl. Through many twists and turns, each person finds the "match" of his or her desire, along with help from neighbors and friends.

In some ways, this story reminded me of the biblical book of Job, in which all seems lost until one surrenders to faith in God. The Christian message is an integral part of the novel, but is not overbearing or preachy. The author has researched this novel well, and integrates historical characters with fictional ones. She also weaves her own beliefs and faith throughout the book. The only problem I had with this novel was the inclusion of Gaelic words and phrases, although there was a glossary in the front of the book. It was difficult to keep flipping to the glossary in this digital copy, probably easier with a print copy.

Readers who enjoy a sweet romantic novel with a historical basis will find this to be a welcome addition to their reading list, as well as readers who like all things Irish. (Besides, who can resist a little girl who is wise beyond her years, as well as friendly beasts whom she tends.) Highly recommended.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ideas expressed here are my own.

If you like Historical romance you will like this book. Catríona Daly helps her dad in this matchmaking business. When she is tasked with the job of finding a match for non other than Andrew Osborn she feels her dreams are finally coming true. She is not prepared to also have Donal Bunratty as a client. Donal only agrees to have a matchmaker because of his adorable daughter. Catriona and Donal both find themselves learning much more than they expected. I enjoyed reading this book.

Title: The Irish Matchmaker
Author: Jennifer Deibel

Ch: 30 plus epilogue

Pages: 320

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell


I have to say while not my favorite book by the author I still enjoyed it. I didn’t really like the heroine Catriona at the beginning. Sara the heroes daughter was actually my favorite character. And Donal was such a sweetheart but then I’m a bit of a sucker for the single dad troupe. But the heroine did redeem herself by the end.

I’ve seen readers saying this is a love triangle book, but I didn’t get that vibe even though there’s two guys in the story. That doesn’t mean love triangle that means the author wants to kept the readers on their toes and continuing to read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Book: The Irish Matchmatcher
Author: Jennifer Deibel
Publisher: Revell
Length: 317 Pages
Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars
Blog Rating: 4.5 Saltire Flags

Ireland
Catriona Daly is the daughter of a popular matchmaker and she knows the ins and outs of this business. She sees this is her only way out of this drowsy hamlet. Andrew is very good looking and rich but everyone thinks he might be her ticket to escape this time. Except even being Lord Osborne’s son he is looking for a wife.

Cattle farmer Dona; Bunratty is a widower looking for a wife he also has a daughter Sarahand only at her insistence he eyes Catriona but see’s her interest is elsewhere. Soon Catriona starts to change her mind, especially how she seems to start to care for this young farmer’s daughter and her father as well.

Can Catriona realize sometimes you do not need to look any further than your own backyard to see what potential a promising life with lots of love might bring. However will that be enough for our heroine Catriona? Is it money for selfish desire or love and a family that will last forever? Read and find out and see what she will choose.

I guess it is my fault and I did not realize this was a Christian romance. I tend to like my books with more passion in them. As for the writing, the story was good and I loved the relationship with the daughter and her father a lot so it definitely kept my interest from start to finish.

I got an arc from netgalley for an honest review. All words and ideas are my own

This story was a lovely tale of the matchmaking kind. Catriona was born in a community that celebrated matching people in a "famed home of romance". It was enlightening to read the story of how she was met to help match others but had yet to find love of her own. This story was rich in history and language of really creating the town and community of Lisdoonvarna, Ireland. From the description of the rawness of the land and the classes of people, to the lilt of the language and dialogue in this book, you really felt like you were hearing first hand of tale of finding love where you least expect it. The author gives a great beginning of painting the picture of the time period and how Irish people lived. It was authentic and original. You follow the ups and downs and when love is found, the author doesn't just stop there. You have more to read of their story, Catriona and her true match, how love, although sometimes is hard to find, you have to work to keep it and cherish it, even at the cost of sacrificing. I appreciate that the book was well rounded and had a lot of back story, a lot of middle substance and spectacular ending.

Great valentines through st. Patrick’s day read. Experience the Irish tradition of these two holidays through a famous festival that matchmakers match couples together with high success rates. But what happens when the matchmaker wants to get matched up? But the guy she wants matched with is not who she should end up with. Such a sweet story of how our story may end differently than we have planned it, and God knows best.

The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel was absolutely delightful. I haven’t read such a sweet, smeary historical romance in such a long time. I actually enjoyed the male and female main characters, Donal and Catríona. There were realistic and dealt with some of the same existencial struggles that real people experience. Even though the story line is a tiny bit predictable, I still devoured it. The story starts off in the 1905 in County Claire, Ireland, at the start of the Match Making Festival. Grumpy farmer Donal keeps a promise to his daughter and attends the festival in hopes of finding a wife through the help of matchmaker Cary. And what follows is a sweet slow burn realization of love. With this being set in Ireland, there are words that the author uses that I’m not familiar with but it didn’t distract me from the text in general. I also like how the author weaved teachings from the biblical Sermon on the Mount through out the story and as an eventual conflict resolution.

If you’re a fan of historical romances, definitely add this to your TBR!

1920s, the countryside of Ireland, romance. Um, what more could we ask for?!?! Nothing.
I loved that I signed up for a period love story and ended up with s heartwarming story about love, community, perseverance, and hope.
4/5!!

This was a wonderful read. I loved every moment of this family trusting in faith and finding a new path. Just the right amount of romance and Sarah was perfect. Delightful!

What a charming story!! “The Irish Matchmaker” is my second read by Jennifer Deibel, and I simply can’t get enough of her work!! I absolutely adored Sara and Donal🥰 I have a special place in my heart for the single parent trope, and the father-daughter bond that Sara and Donal shared absolutely won my heart❤️

I also really enjoyed the premise of this story! I’ve never read a book where match-making was a central plot point before, but this story made me want to go snatch up some more matchmaking stories!! Seeing Catríona’s behind the scenes perspective during her matchmaking duties absolutely fascinated me!

I also have to say that Jennifer Deibel has true talent in intertwining faith elements into her stories. The way she tied in the sermon on the mount (aka “The Serpent on the Mound”😂) was both beautiful and inspiring❤️ I love when stories encourage my faith, and Jennifer’s writing definitely does that🙏🏻

Overall, I highly enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it to others🥳

I enjoyed this book. Enjoyed how the characters interacted and how the story unfolded. Would recommend this book

This was a perfect springtime read, even though the story itself takes place in the fall. Spring is a time for renewal and new beginnings, two things this story personified beautifully. A matchmaker trying to match up everyone else is bound to get caught in the middle of things, and I felt for Catriona. Little Sara was one of my favorite characters, and Donal's plight tugged at my heartstrings. I very much appreciated the theme of trusting God to provide and recognizing that He doesn't always do that in the ways we expect.

A huge thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy to review. All opinions are my own.