Breakfast at Darcy's (46 page)

The Real Tara

The Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland, is said to be the ancient crowning place of the Kings of Ireland, so it is a particularly
appropriate name for my fictional island, whose ownership is passed on from one great leader to another during the story.

Finn McCool

Roxy and Eamon both tell Darcy tales of Finn McCool, a mythical warrior of Irish mythology or, to give him his ‘proper’ name,
Fionn mac Cumhaill. One of his most famous tales involved a young Finn meeting a leprechaun-like druid near a river. The druid
had spent seven years trying to catch the salmon of knowledge; the myth said that whoever ate the salmon would gain all the
knowledge in the world. The druid suddenly became successful at catching the salmon, and he asked Finn to cook it for him.
While doing so, Finn burned his thumb and instinctively put it to his mouth, swallowing a piece of the salmon’s skin. This
gave him all the salmon’s wisdom and in further stories he was able to call upon the knowledge of the salmon by simply sucking
his thumb.

Holistic Healing

Caitlin, Orla and Megan talk a lot about alternative forms of healing and about Tara having a unique energy about her. Reiki,
t’ai chi and crystal therapy are all forms of holistic healing. Taking a holistic approach when seeking treatment for a physical
or emotional condition means you treat your whole self instead of just treating the problematic symptom.

All the characters that come to the island benefit from Tara’s healing properties in some way. Some are inspired, some gain
new knowledge, others simply fall in love. But everyone who comes to Tara changes … and it’s always for the better.

Ali McNamara

Out now

FROM NOTTING HILL
WITH LOVE … ACTUALLY

Ali McNamara

Scarlett loves the movies. But does she love sensible fiancé David just as much? With a big white wedding on the horizon,
Scarlett really should have decided by now …

When she has the chance to house-sit in Notting Hill – the setting of one of her favourite movies – Scarlett jumps at the
chance. But living life like a movie is trickier than it seems, especially when her new neighbour Sean is so irritating. And
so irritatingly handsome, too.

Scarlett soon finds herself starring in a romantic comedy of her very own: but who will end up as the leading man?

‘Perfectly plotted, gorgeously romantic, has some great gags and leaves you with that lovely gooey feeling you get at the
end of a good Hollywood rom com’ Lucy-Anne Holmes, author of
The (Im)Perfect Girlfriend

978-0-7515-4495-4