Welcome, avid readers, to another edition of Jen's Jewels, where we delve into the literary treasures that add a sparkle to our reading lives. In this installment, we're diving into the enchanting world of THE IRISH MATCHMAKER by Jennifer Deibel. Set against the backdrop of a centuries-old matchmaking festival in the picturesque town of Lisdoonvarna, this novel promises a delightful blend of love, culture, and a touch of Irish magic. Join me as we unravel the threads of this heartwarming story, exploring the complexities of matchmaking, family, and the pursuit of love. So, grab your favorite reading nook and get ready to be transported to the Emerald Isle with The Irish Matchmaker.
Jennifer Vido: THE IRISH MATCHMAKER is set against the backdrop of a matchmaking festival. What inspired you to choose this unique setting for the novel, and how did it influence the story's development?
Jennifer Deibel: When we lived in Galway, we would often drive through the town of Lisdoonvarna and see signs for the annual matchmaking festival. This festival began in the late 1800’s when a doctor discovered the several mineral wells surrounding the area. Wealthy people began to travel to Lisdoonvarna to take the waters and looked for ways to match up their children.
This festival continues on today, and is held throughout the entire month of December, and is overseen by third-generation matchmaker, Willie Daly. This idea of this story sparked as I was learning about Willie’s family, and asked the question, “What would happen if a matchmaker was amazing at matching others…but not herself?”
Jen: Catríona Daly is not only a matchmaker but also the daughter of a well-known one. How did her family background shape her character and her approach to matchmaking in the story?
Jennifer Deibel: Catríona’s family history—much like any of us—truly shaped who she has grown up to be. And many of the wounds she suffered as a child are what have guided her desires to want to leave the usually sleepy village. She adores her profession, and truly believes in what she and her father do. But the older she gets, the harder it is for her to watch countless smitten couples fall in love, while missing out on that aspect of life herself.
Her early childhood years living poor on a farm, and her mother’s abandoning the family, had devastating effects on her worldview, as well as her hopes and dreams. But, through her renewed faith, it is exactly those things that lead her to exactly where she needs to be—and it’s everything she never knew she wanted.
Jen: The character of Donal Bunratty is described as a cattle farmer needing a wife. Can you share insights into Donal's journey as a single father and how it contributes to the themes of the novel?
Jennifer Deibel: Donal really did love his wife, Connie. While their marriage was more of convenience than of passion, they had grown to share a compassionate affection for one another. They’d grown up together, and their marriage really came about as a way to ensure their mutual survival.
Because of that, Donal never really saw the use for romantic infatuation or passion, and really is just looking for another partner to help him manage the home and farm. However, Connie’s loss really left a gaping hole in the Bunratty household—more than Donal even realizes. And it isn’t until he begins to feel things for Catríona that he’s never felt before, does he realize just how much he’s missing out on…and how much he’d let his faith wither.
Jen: Catríona takes on the challenge of making a match for Andrew, Lord Osborne's son. What complexities did you explore in creating this matchmaking subplot, and how does it intertwine with Catríona's own pursuit of love?
Jennifer Deibel: Andrew Osborne had come to the festival the year before and used the services of another matchmaker from a different village. That match failed. So, when Catríona sees him riding back into town, how heart leaps. His striking good looks and confident swagger immediately drew her attention. The connection between her and Andrew was a long shot at best, but when her father tasks her with matching the young lord, she sees her chance. The process does not bring about the best in her, and she ends up making some quite questionable—if less than honest—decisions.
I wanted to explore what someone desperate to change their own situation might do…how far they might go…in order to do so. And I wanted to see what might have to happen in order for a family like the Osborne’s to be open to such a match. It really comes down to personal identity—where is your sense of self anchored in, and how does that guide not only the person you are, but the choices you make.
Jen: The matchmaking business is often portrayed as a lighthearted endeavor, but it seems Catríona faces challenges in making her own match. What obstacles does she encounter?
Jennifer Deibel: Catríona’s biggest obstacle is that she wants more than what’s available to her in a local man. She longs to escape the hard life of a farmer’s wife, and the suffocating social world of someone who’s set down roots in the small village. Along with that, most people in the village look at Catríona for what she can do for them, rather than a potential match, so she’s often overlooked by any of the men who she might’ve been willing to consider.
Jen: The novel is titled THE IRISH MATCHMAKER. How does the Irish cultural setting contribute to the overall atmosphere and themes of the story?
Jennifer Deibel: My goal for this book is for readers to feel like they’ve just been on holiday in the Emerald Isle when they finish this book. It’s impossible to set a story in Ireland without the culture and atmosphere almost becoming a character in itself. Having lived there for over six years, I’m able to bring an authenticity to the sights, sounds, smells, food, and language than if I were to write in a location in which I’ve never been.
The Irish language is sprinkled throughout, and the characters participate in all the same local customs and traditions as are still celebrated today.
Jen: As an author, what message or emotion do you hope readers take away from THE IRISH MATCHMAKER, and how do you see the themes of love and matchmaking resonating with a contemporary audience?
Jennifer Deibel: My biggest hope for any of my books is that the reader walks away encouraged, uplifted, and perhaps even a bit challenged in her own faith journey. The characters in this book wrestle with many of the same issues we all do—reconciling faith in a good God when things go bad, balancing what we believe to be our hearts’ desires with what seems practical.
Since the dawn of man, humanity has questioned why bad things happen to good people, and question how a good God can allow the suffering of His children if he loves them so much. Donal and Catríona’s struggle with these themes are no different than anyone wrestling with those issues today. And I pray that as readers walk alongside them, and see them discover God in a fresh way, the reader will as well.
Jen: Do you have a website or blog where readers can stay informed about your upcoming works, subscribe to a newsletter for regular updates and exclusive content, and connect with you on social media to discuss your writing?
Jennifer Deibel: Absolutely! My website has all the information about all of my books, links to my social media, and a place to sign up for my monthly newsletter. My newsletter subscribers get all the news first—titles, covers, and chances to sign up for my launch teams!
Jen: What upcoming titles have made it onto your “to-be-read” list?
Jennifer Deibel: I cannot wait to read Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright, My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh!
Jen: Thank you for stopping by to chat about The Irish Matchmaker- best of luck with your unforgettable new release.
Jennifer Deibel: Thank you so very much for having me! It was an absolute pleasure chatting with you!
Sweet, Clean Historical Romance Love Triangle and Matchmaking Set in 1900s Ireland
As daughter of a well-known matchmaker, Catríona Daly is no stranger to the business of love--and sees it as her ticket away from the sleepy village that only comes alive during the annual matchmaking festival. Enter Lord Osborne's son, Andrew, who has returned to the festival after being disappointed by a rival matchmaker's failed setup. Catríona seizes the opportunity to make a better match for the handsome man--and for herself!
Cattle farmer Donal Bunratty is in desperate need of a wife after loss left him to handle the farm and raise his daughter on his own. Shy and lacking the finer social graces, he agrees to attend the matchmaking festival to appease his daughter. But when he arrives, it's not any of the other merrymakers that catch his eye but rather his matchmaker--who clearly has eyes for someone else.
Catríona will have to put all her expertise to work to make a match that could change her life forever. Will her plan succeed? Or will love have its own way?
Christian | Romance Historical [Revell, On Sale: February 13, 2024, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780800744854 / eISBN: 9781493444762]
Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher and freelance writer. Her work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic Magazine, and others. 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.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry filled with southern charm and hospitality. In between chapters, she interviews authors for her bi-weekly Jen’s Jewels column on FreshFiction.com. Most mornings, she teaches an arthritis-friendly water exercise class for seniors before heading to the office to serve as the executive director of a legal non-profit. A New Jersey native, she currently lives in Maryland with her husband and two rescue dogs and is the proud parent of two sons who miss her home-cooked meals. To learn more, please visit her website.
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